Donald Sutherland

Sequel CATCHING FIRE Officially Titled THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 24th, 2012 at 12:18 pm

In a somewhat unsurprising move, Summit Entertainment announced today that the Hunger Games follow-up has now officially been titled The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.  The pic is based on author Suzanne Collins’ second book in the Hunger Games trilogy, Catching Fire.  Brand recognition is everything when it comes to tentpoles, and audiences are consistently treated as though they’re unable to put two-and-two together when the exact same cast returns in a new movie with a different title.  Nevertheless, Summit added The Twilight Saga moniker to all the Twilight films, so the move was almost inevitable.  Hit the jump for more.

THE HUNGER GAMES Heads Back to IMAX Theaters; New Poster Released

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 20th, 2012 at 7:53 am

Lionsgate may have finally settled on a director for the sequel Catching Fire, but The Hunger Games is still busy doing gangbusters at the box office.  It was the number one film for the fourth weekend in a row (the first movie to do that since Avatar and The Dark Knight), and now fans will get another opportunity to see Gary Ross’ adaptation on the big, big screen.  Starting April 27th, the film will open again for a one-week limited run in select IMAX theaters.  Only about 100 IMAX theaters are participating in the engagement, but if your town is one of the lucky ones and you missed the film in the large-screen format the first time around, now’s your chance to catch it before the pic out of theaters.  Moreover, Lionsgate has released a new poster specifically designed to mark the occasion.  Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group Co-Chair Rob Friedman had this to say about the re-release:

“It’s wonderful that so many fans have expressed interest in seeing The Hunger Games in the immersive IMAX format, and many of these are repeat viewers. We’re delighted that IMAX has been able to accommodate them through this special one week re-engagement.”

Hopefully those checking out the IMAX version of The Hunger Games are going to actual IMAX theaters instead of reformatted regular theaters (it really does make a difference).  Hit the jump to check out the poster.

Donald Sutherland THE HUNGER GAMES Interview

by Christina Radish    Posted: March 12th, 2012 at 8:41 am

In The Hunger Games, adapted for the big screen from the best-selling novel by Suzanne Collins, actor Donald Sutherland plays Coriolanus Snow, the president of Panem who rules over the twelve districts with his own brand of brutality. He is the architect of the nation’s oppressive rule and the man who senses the danger in 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) becoming a heroic underdog in the Games.

At the film’s press day, Donald Sutherland talked about what he looks for in roles now, the parallels he sees between this film and Occupy Wall Street, how he views President Snow, what he thinks of Jennifer Lawrence as an actress, and how he plans to do a father-son cowboy film with his son, Kiefer Sutherland. Check out what he had to say after the jump:

Over 35 New Images from THE HUNGER GAMES [Updated with 3 More Images]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 29th, 2012 at 11:05 am

A slew of new images from the highly anticipated adaptation of The Hunger Games have gone online. I’ve been extremely pleased with all the trailers thus far, and I can’t wait to see how director Gary Ross takes on the material. I think he’s assembled a terrific cast and the book should make for quite an entertaining moviegoing experience. For the uninitiated, The Hunger Games takes place in the post-apocalyptic country of Panem. As a means of reminding Panem’s 12 districts that the country’s government holds all the power, one teenage boy and one teenage girl are randomly selected from each district to participate in a televised fight to the death called “The Hunger Games.” If you’re wary of spoilers, these new images only seem to be from the first half of the movie. Most of them are from the scenes that take place in the Capitol (complete with the kooky-lookin’ futuristic costumes and Josh Hutcherson‘s Peeta practicing his camouflage), with a few looks at Katniss’s life in District 12.

Hit the jump to check out the images. The film also stars Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, and Donald Sutherland. The Hunger Games opens on March 23rd. [Update: We've added three more images after the jump.]

New Images from THE HUNGER GAMES and BYZANTIUM; New Set Photos from RIDDICK

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 27th, 2012 at 11:28 am

New images from The Hunger Games and Byzantium have gone online along with a new set photo from Riddick.  The image from The Hunger Games gives us another look at Donald Sutherland as the villainous President Snow.  Reading the books, I thought Sutherland was a fine choice because A) he can convey the heartlessness of the character; and B) the role will probably keep to the unofficial rule that after the year 2000, Donald Sutherland can’t be in a movie for longer than 15 minutes.

Hit the jump to check out the image along with more on Byzantium and Riddick.  The Hunger Games is due out on March 23rd; no release date has been announce for Byzantium and Riddick.

THE HUNGER GAMES TV Spots and New Images

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: February 23rd, 2012 at 6:53 pm

I hope you’ve got your tickets for The Hunger Games because they’re disappearing quickly. Making the tickets available a month in advance seems like a great move on the part of Lionsgate, considering The Hunger Games pre-sale just beat the previous Fandango record holder for the first day of sales, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. The buzz around the project is really starting to rev up and we’ve got some new TV spots and images to show you after the jump.

The Hunger Games, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth and directed by Gary Ross opens March 23rd. Hit the jump to check out the new looks.

New Character Images and IMAX Banner for THE HUNGER GAMES; Advanced Tickets On Sale Tomorrow and Mall Tour Announced

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 21st, 2012 at 2:29 pm

Calling all Hunger Games fans: we’ve got a good deal of Panem-related material to wade through today. A batch of new images and an IMAX banner from the film have been released, and Lionsgate announced that advanced tickets for the film go on sale tomorrow. Additionally, the studio is planning a national mall tour to give fans a chance to meet the actors from the film at their local shopping mecca. Director Gary Ross, stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and more will be popping up at malls across the country to participate in fan Q&A’s. I’m not exactly sure The Hunger Games needs a mall tour in order to drum up awareness (it feels very 80s pop star), but I guess it gives superfans a chance to interact with the cast.

Hit the jump to check out the images and banner, as well as the full list of participating mall tour cities which includes information on which actors will be at which events. The Hunger Games opens March 23rd.

The Red Pill Viral Update: MEN IN BLACK 3, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, THE DARKEST HOUR and THE HUNGER GAMES

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: December 11th, 2011 at 1:25 pm

As The Dark Knight Rises revved up their viral campaign earlier this week , it overshadowed other movies in the midst of their own marketing. The Dark Knight Rises’ “Operation Early Bird” granted early access to the prologue for people close to specified IMAX theaters and a new trailer is expected to drop on Monday. However, there are other properties that are vying for your attention and your dollars, such as Men in Black 3, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Darkest Hour and The Hunger Games. Hit the jump for an update on each of these unique campaigns.

New Trailer for THE HUNGER GAMES

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 14th, 2011 at 7:32 am

Lionsgate has released a new trailer for The Hunger Games.  For everyone who was confused on the set-up and the premise, this trailer will get you up to speed.  Unfortunately, that’s about all it will do.  While it’s clear that director Gary Ross has not shied away from the garish fashion and make-up of the Capitol’s residents (I imagine some are going to be jarred out of the experience by Elizabeth Banks looking like she’s 80 and speaking with a British accent), there’s still no hint of the violence and brutality of the books.  I can understand why they would leave that out of the trailer, but I’m absolutely baffled as to why there’s almost no footage from the actual Hunger Games.  That’s the meat and potatoes of the set pieces, and I have no idea why they wouldn’t at least throw in some quick flashes of the action scenes. My best guess is that they’re still working on the special effects and didn’t have anything 100% finished to put into the trailer (or they’re saving those scenes for the next one).

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, and Donald Sutherland.  The Hunger Games opens March 23, 2012.

Teaser Trailer for THE HUNGER GAMES

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 28th, 2011 at 8:38 pm

Lionsgate has released the first trailer for the film adaptation of The Hunger Games.  The movie is set in the future in the ruins of what was once North America and is now known as “Panem”.  The story centers on Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a young woman who must survive a televised fight to the death between her and teenagers from other the other districts of Panem. You won’t really get any of that from this teaser trailer.  You won’t get much of anything except Katniss running through the woods, dodging fireballs, shooting an arrow, and a really good look at the logo.  This is not a movie that sells itself and there are plenty of folks thinking “Oh, great.  Another Twilight mixed with second-rate Battle Royale.”  They need to be convinced or at least intrigued.  This teaser plays only to the fans and as someone who enjoyed the book, even I was underwhelmed.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  Directed by Gary Ross (Seabiscuit), the film also stars Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, and Donald Sutherland star.  The Hunger Games opens on March 23, 2012.

THE EAGLE DVD Review

by Scott Wampler    Posted: August 2nd, 2011 at 10:06 am

When one hears the name “Channing Tatum”, many things come to mind:  rippling abs, an affected homeboy-like cadence, a backwards ballcap, those oft-murmured rumors about Tatum’s former life as a male stripper (not a joke).  Something one doesn’t tend to think upon hearing the name “Channing Tatum” is:  brilliant actor.  Kevin MacDonald’s The Eagle– starring Tatum, in addition to Jamie Bell and Donald Sutherland– is the latest attempt from Camp Tatum to change the way we think of the former Step Up 2: Tha Streets star.  Many of you avoided The Eagle when it hit theaters in February, but now that it’s on DVD, we’re free to discover what– if anything– we missed.  What’d we think?  Find out after the jump, folks…

HORRIBLE BOSSES Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 8th, 2011 at 6:51 am

For an R-rated comedy, the humor doesn’t always have to be about shock value and gross-out gags (although those certainly don’t hurt).  It can be about strong dialogue and fantastic performances and Seth Gordon’s Horrible Bosses manages exactly that.  It’s the fourth major R-rated comedy to hit this summer and it may be the best one so far.  While it lacks the warmth and maturity of Bridesmaids, it’s also a tighter, sharper narrative that keeps a laser-like focus on delivering non-stop jokes and never letting the plot stall.  But more than its pacing, Horrible Bosses thrives because every actor is working at the top of their game.  Leads Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis each maintain their own comic style but find a way to make those styles work in concert with each other.  Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, and Colin Farrell relish playing the eponymous bosses with Farrell and especially Aniston getting to show audiences a new side of their acting talents.  The result of the sharp writing, profanity-laden humor, and killer performances make Horrible Bosses one of the year’s most consistent comedies.

Adaptable: THE HUNGER GAMES

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 15th, 2011 at 8:30 am

The process of adaptation is a difficult one.  Yes, the story framework is in place and there’s usually a built-in fanbase as well, but screenwriters must wrestle with what they can include, what they can excise, and what they can change.  A popular adaptation can’t alienate the fans but it also can’t exclude those unfamiliar with the source material.

Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games is the first in a trilogy of young adult novels.  Lionsgate hopes they have the next Twilight on their hands even though the plots of the two books couldn’t be more different.  I’ll break down what works in the book, what will succeed in the movie, and where director Gary Ross will have difficulty in his adaptation.

Donald Sutherland Cast as President Snow in THE HUNGER GAMES

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: May 31st, 2011 at 8:53 am

Lionsgate has just announced that Donald Sutherland has been cast as President Snow in The Hunger Games.  According to the press release, “President Snow has been the autocratic ruler of Panem and its contained districts for some 25 years at the outset of the story.  With a snake-like appearance, he is cruel and ruthless in his intimidation and control tactics.”  With over five decades experience in Hollywood, Sutherland can do this role in his sleep.  But for young fans who don’t know his work, rest assured, he’ll be a great President.

Hit the jump for a recap of the other actors cast in The Hunger Games, as well as the press release.

THE MECHANIC Blu-ray Review

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: May 26th, 2011 at 6:02 am

Action films are weird. What used to be the summer blockbusters of yore are now reduced to a off-season release dates. In the mid 1990’s The Mechanic would have starred Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger, and been a big summer action film. The 2011 version hit theaters in January, and did reasonable business for what it is –around $30 domestic, or less than what Pirates 4 did on its opening day. Though by no means a great film, the Jason Statham-starrer is relatively entertaining, and doesn’t mess around. Statham stars as a hitman who takes on an assistant (Ben Foster), and comes to realize the people he’s working for (headed up by Tony Goldwyn) are not above board. Check out our review of the Blu-ray of The Mechanic after the jump.

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