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Have Your Say: Films Of 2012 Thus Far

Dark Horizons - Sun, 09/09/2012 - 13:20

The Summer Movie Season comes to a close this weekend and we're now two-thirds of the way through 2012. Today is a good time to look back at the films that have hit cinemas thus far this year and reflect on what you have enjoyed, what you've loved, what met your expectations, what disappointed you, and what left you vomiting on the sidewalk.

Below is my own take on the year so far from the few films that have clicked with me, the ones I had various issues with, the painful experiences I wouldn't do again, and the stuff I've missed or haven't caught thus far which I'm determined to see before the year's out. My general feeling sadly is that it has been a rather piss weak year thus far.

What are your favorites? Please leave your responses in the comments below:

Most Enjoyable Films Thus Far:
"The Avengers," "21 Jump Street," "Kill List," "The Grey," "Ted," "The Cabin in the Woods," "Headhunters," "Chronicle"

Impressive But Oddly Disassociative:
"The Dark Knight Rises"

Solid, Should've Been Seen By More People:
"The Woman in Black," "John Carter," "The Secret World of Arrietty"

Solid, Hype Level Was About Right:
"The Hunger Games"

A Pretty Good TV Movie At Best:
"Haywire"

An Unremarkable TV Movie At Best:
"Magic Mike," "Man on a Ledge"

Decent Starter With Potential, Sequels Need To Improve:
"The Amazing Spider-Man," "The Bourne Legacy"

Deeply Stupid Movie, Enjoyed It Anyway:
"The Expendables 2," "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter"

Best Gratuitous Nudity, Better Than Expected Film To Boot:
"Savages"

Had Potential But Almost Wastes It All:
"Bel Ami," "The Dictator," "God Bless America," "Silent House," "Safe House"

Some Good Elements That Didn't Gel, Ultimately A Disappointment:
"Dark Shadows," "Men in Black III", "The Innkeepers"

Impressive FX, Absolutely No Other Redeeming Qualities:
"Total Recall," "Snow White and the Huntsman"

Fascinating, Ambitious, Deeply Flawed, Disappointing:
"Prometheus"

Just Plain Atrocious:
"Piranha 3DD," "Battleship"

Would Not Watch Again:
"Intruders," "Albert Nobbs," "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," "Underworld Awakening," "Mirror Mirror," "Wrath of the Titans," "Lockout," "Seeking Justice," "Gone."

Wanted To See But Haven't Had A Chance Yet:
"Beasts of the Southern Wild," "Bernie," "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," "Brave," "Cosmopolis," "The Deep Blue Sea," "The Intouchables," "Killer Joe," "The Lady," "Lawless," "Monsieur Lazhar," "Moonrise Kingdom," "ParaNorman," "The Pirates! Band of Misfits," "The Raid," "Side by Side," "The Sound of My Voice"

Categories: Science Fiction

New & Returning Series Premiere Dates

Dark Horizons - Sun, 09/09/2012 - 11:10

Summer is coming to a close and the new Fall TV season is about to kick off with many series both old and new set to be launched in the United States and the United Kingdom over the next two months. There's so many in fact that it's a bit confusing as to when specifically each of these shows will premiere.

Today comes a handy schedule to keep you on track. The list has been divided into three - returning show season premiere dates in the U.S., new show pilot airdates in the U.S., and British series premiere dates in the United Kingdom.

The returning shows I'll personally be tuning in for before the year's out (in alphabetical order) - "30 Rock," "American Horror Story," "Bones," "Burn Notice," "Castle," "Dexter," "Doctor Who," "Fringe," "The Good Wife," "Homeland," "The Hour," "The Killing [Forbrydelsen]", "Merlin," "Q.I.," "Red Dwarf," "Sons of Anarchy," "Supernatural," "The Thick of It" and "The Walking Dead".

Of the new shows premiering I intend to give "Arrow," "Copper," "Hunted," "Last Resort," "Revolution," "Ripper Street" and maybe one or two others a shot if the reaction is good. Some of the most interesting stuff like "Hannibal," "Red Widow" and "The Following" isn't until mid-season.

I'll definitely tune in for "Archer," "Being Human UK," "The Borgias," "Breaking Bad," "Futurama," "Game of Thrones," "Justified," "Luther," "Mad Dogs," "Poirot," "Sherlock," "Teen Wolf," "True Blood," "Wallander" and "Whitechapel" when they return in 2013.

The shows I still haven't gotten around to as yet but I'll try and get to soon include "Boardwalk Empire," "Community," "Downton Abbey," "Hell on Wheels," "Louie," "Mad Men," "Political Animals," "Revenge" and "Spartacus".

RETURNING SERIES - U.S.A.:

Already Returned in August
"Boss: Season 2" (Starz)
"Grimm: Season 2" (NBC),
"Hell on Wheels: Season 2" (AMC)
"Strike Back: Vengeance" (Cinemax)

Saturday, September 1st
"Doctor Who: Season 7, Part 1" (BBC America)

Tuesday, September 11th
"Parenthood: Season 4" (NBC)
"Sons of Anarchy: Season 5" (FX)

Thursday, September 13th
"Glee: Season 4" (FOX)

Sunday, September 16th
"Boardwalk Empire: Season 3" (HBO)

Monday, September 17th
"Bones: Season 8" (FOX)

Thursday, September 20th
"The Office: Season 9" (NBC)
"Parks and Recreation: Season 5" (NBC)
"Up All Night: Season 2" (NBC)

Friday, September 21st
"Haven: Season 3" (Syfy)

Sunday, September 23rd
"Treme: Season 3" (HBO)

Monday, September 24th
"2 Broke Girls: Season 2" (CBS)
"Castle: Season 5" (ABC)
"Hawaii Five-O: Season 3" (CBS)
"How I Met Your Mother: Season 8" (CBS)
"Mike & Molly: Season 3" (CBS)

Tuesday, September 25th
"NCIS: Season 10" (CBS)
"NCIS Los Angeles: Season 4" (CBS)
"New Girl: Season 2" (FOX)
"Private Practice: Season 6" (ABC)

Wednesday, September 26th
"Criminal Minds: Season 8" (CBS)
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Season 13" (CBS)
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season 14" (NBC)
"The Middle: Season 4" (ABC)
"Modern Family: Season 4" (ABC)

Thursday, September 27th
"The Big Bang Theory: Season 6" (CBS)
"Grey's Anatomy: Season 9" (ABC)
"Person of Interest: Season 2" (CBS)
"Scandal: Season 2" (ABC)
"Two and a Half Men: Season 10" (CBS)

Friday, September 28th
"Blue Bloods: Season 3" (CBS)
"CSI NY: Season 9" (CBS)
"Fringe: Season 5" (FOX)

Saturday, September 29th
"Star Wars The Clone Wars: Season 5" (Cartoon Network)

Sunday, September 30th
"American Dad: Season 8" (FOX)
"Bob's Burgers: Season 3" (FOX)
"Dexter: Season 7" (Showtime)
"Family Guy: Season 11" (FOX)
"The Good Wife: Season 4" (CBS)
"Homeland: Season 2" (Showtime)
"The Mentalist: Season 5" (CBS)
"Once Upon a Time: Season 2" (ABC)
"Revenge: Season 2" (ABC)
"The Simpsons: Season 24" (FOX)

Tuesday, October 2nd
"Hart of Dixie: Season 2" (The CW)
"Raising Hope: Season 3" (FOX)

Wednesday, October 3rd
"Supernatural: Season 8" (The CW)

Thursday, October 4th
"30 Rock: Season 7" (NBC)

Sunday, October 7th
"The Cleveland Show: Season 4" (FOX)

Monday, October 8th
"90210: Season 5" (The CW)
"Gossip Girl: Season 6" (The CW)

Thursday, October 11th
"The Vampire Diaries: Season 4" (The CW)

Sunday, October 14th
"The Walking Dead: Season 3" (AMC)

Wednesday, October 17th
"American Horror Story: Asylum" (FX)
"Suburgatory: Season 2" (ABC)

Friday, October 19th
"Community: Season 4" (NBC)
"Nikita: Season 3" (The CW)
"Whitney: Season 2" (NBC)

Tuesday, October 23rd
"Don't Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23: Season 2" (ABC)
"Happy Endings: Season 3" (ABC)

Friday, October 26th
"Touch: Season 2" (FOX)

Friday, November 2nd
"Last Man Standing: Season 2" (ABC)

Thursday, November 8th
"Burn Notice: Season 6, Part 2" (USA)

January 6th 2013
"Downton Abbey: Season 3" (PBS)

March 31st 2013
"Game of Thrones: Season 3" (HBO)

Early 2013 TBD
"Archer: Season 4" (FX)
"Dallas: Season 2" (TNT)
"Enlightened: Season 2" (HBO)
"Girls: Season 3" (HBO)
"Justified: Season 4" (FX)
"Shameless: Season 3" (Showtime)
"Spartacus: War of the Damned" (Starz)
"Suits: Season 2, Part 2" (USA)

NEW SERIES - U.S.A.:

Already Premiered in August
"Copper" (BBC America)
"Major Crimes" (TNT)

Monday, September 3rd
"Switched at Birth" (ABC Family)

Tuesday, September 11th
"Go On" (NBC)
"The New Normal" (NBC)

Wednesday, September 12th
"Guys With Kids" (NBC)

Monday, September 17th
"The Mob Doctor" (FOX)
"Revolution" (NBC)

Monday, September 24th
"Partners" (CBS)

Tuesday, September 25th
"Ben and Kate" (FOX)
"The Mindy Project" (FOX)
"Vegas" (CBS)

Wednesday, September 26th
"Animal Practice" (NBC)
"Guys With Kids" (NBC)
"The Neighbors" (ABC)

Thursday, September 27th
"Elementary" (CBS)
"Last Resort" (ABC)

Friday, September 28th
"Made in Jersey" (CBS)

Sunday, September 30th
"666 Park Avenue" (ABC)

Wednesday, October 10th
"Arrow" (The CW)
"Chicago Fire" (NBC)
"Nashville" (ABC)

Thursday, October 11th
"Beauty and the Beast" (The CW)

Tuesday, October 16th
"Emily Owens, M.D." (The CW)

Friday, October 19th
"Hunted" (Cinemax)

Friday, November 2nd
"Malibu Country" (ABC)

October TBD
"Transporter" (Cinemax)

Early 2013 TBD
"1600 Penn" (NBC)
"The Carrie Diaries" (The CW)
"Cult" (The CW)
"Do No Harm" (NBC)
"The Following" (FOX)
"Friend Me" (CBS)
"Golden Boy" (CBS)
"The Goodwin Games" (FOX)
"Hannibal" (NBC)
"Infamous" (NBC)
"Mistresses" (ABC)
"Next Caller" (NBC)
"Red Widow" (ABC)
"Save Me" (NBC)
"Zero Hour" (ABC)

RETURNING & NEW SHOWS - U.K.

Already Aired in August
"Accused: Series 2" (BBC1)
"George Gently: Series 5" (BBC1)
"New Tricks: Series 9" (BBC1)
"Parade's End" (BBC2)

Thursday, August 30th
"Good Cop: Series 1" (BBC1)

Saturday, September 1st
"Doctor Who: Series 7, Part 1" (BBC1)

Saturday, September 8th
"The Thick of It: Series 4" (BBC2)

Saturday, September 8th
"The Scapegoat: Series 1" (ITV1)

Sunday, September 16th
"Downton Abbey: Series 3" (ITV1)

Saturday, September 29th
"Merlin: Series 5" (BBC1)

Thursday, October 4th
"Red Dwarf: Series X" (Dave)

Saturday, November 17th
"The Killing [Forbrydelsen]: Series 3" (BBC4)

Fall 2012 TBD
"Dancing on the Edge" (BBC2)
"The Fall" (BBC2)
"The Hour: Series 2" (BBC2)
"Q.I.: Series J" (BBC2)
"Ripper Street: Series 1" (BBC1)
"Top of the Lake" (BBC2)

January 2013 TBD
"Being Human: Series 5" (BBC3)
"Mad Dogs: Series 3" (Sky1)

Categories: Science Fiction

Ben Foster Enjoys A "Red Light Winter"

Dark Horizons - Sun, 09/09/2012 - 11:10

Ben Foster ("Contraband") is attached to star in Adam Rapp's indie drama adaptation of his own bleak play "Red Light Winter" says Variety.

The story follows two male friends who travel from New York to Amsterdam and become caught up in a love triangle with a prostitute (Kirsten Dunst), bringing to the surface dark undercurrents in their troubled friendship.

Foster plays one of the pair, an anxious emerging writer, in a role that Mark Ruffalo was originally slated to play. Billy Crudup was also previously attached to star.

Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen and Scott Rudin are producing. Shooting aims to kick off in December or January.

Categories: Science Fiction

Casting News: Keaton, Leigh, Fisher

Dark Horizons - Sun, 09/09/2012 - 11:10

Robocop Michael Keaton is taking over the villain role that Hugh Laurie dropped out of in Jose Padilha's "Robocop" reboot at MGM and Sony Pictures.

Keaton will play the evil and ultra-rich CEO of Omnicorp, the company that makes RoboCop. [Source: Heat Vision]

The Spectacular Now
Jennifer Jason Leigh has joined the cast of James Ponsoldt's adaptation of Tim Tharp's novel "The Spectacular Now" which is currently filming in Georgia.

Miles Teller plays an introverted high school senior who attempts to save the life of a social outcast (Shailene Woodley). Leigh plays Teller's mother. [Source: Variety]

Plush
Frances Fisher ("The Lincoln Lawyer," "Titanic") is set to join Catherine Hardwicke's "Plush". Fisher will play the new nanny of Emily Browning's rising rock star character.

Browning's character finds herself in a spiral after losing her band mate and brother to a drug overdose. [Source: Variety]

Categories: Science Fiction

"Bomber" Heist Tale Gets Adapted

Dark Horizons - Sun, 09/09/2012 - 11:10

Mythology Entertainment and Anyway Entertainment have scored the screen rights to former FBI Special Agent Gerald Clark and journalist Ed Palattella's upcoming non-fiction book "Pizza Bomber" about a disastrous 2003 bank robbery says Deadline.

A Pennsylvanian pizza delivery man entered a bank telling the teller he’d been shackled with an explosive device around his neck and forced to pull off a heist. As he exited, the bomb went off and killed him instantly.

Ultimately it was discovered he wasn't a victim but a co-conspirator unaware that a real bomb would be involved. The actual mastermind was a woman who is currently serving life plus thirty years in prison.

Clark Peterson, Bradley Fischer, James Vanderbilt, Ron Senkowski and Edward McGurn will produce the film which is currently going by the title "Collar Bomb Heist". If the story sounds familiar, it bears distinct similarities to Ruben Fleischer's comedy "30 Minutes Or Less".

Categories: Science Fiction

Chan-wook Park Unleashes The "Brigands"

Dark Horizons - Sun, 09/09/2012 - 11:10

South Korean filmmaker and "Oldboy" director Chan-wook Park is in talks to direct Craig Zahler's thriller script "The Brigands of Rattleborge" for Red Granite Pictures and Mythology Entertainment says Variety.

The story follows a sheriff and a doctor who seek revenge against a group of bandits who use the cover of a torrential thunderstorm to rob and terrorize the occupants of a small town.

Zahler's script made the 2006 Black List of best unproduced screenplays but the violent content is extreme enough that the project has been languishing for several years.

Bradley Fischer, Riza Aziz and Joey McFarland will produce.

Categories: Science Fiction

Red Dwarf X, Banshee, Ripper Street Promos

Dark Horizons - Sun, 09/09/2012 - 11:10

Red Dwarf
Three years after the 'Back to Earth' three-parter and thirteen years on since the end of the eighth series, "Red Dwarf" is returning shortly for a full six-episode tenth series on British digital channel Dave HD. Today comes word that an October 4th premiere date has now been set.

Efforts have been made to take the show back to its glory days (namely Series 3-6) in terms of the production, even though the narrative is set a decade after the last full series. These episodes were shot in front of a live studio audience, set designed to evoke past seasons, have action set on both Red Dwarf and Starbug, and include the return of physical models for the effects sequences.

The first episode has the crew receiving a distress call from the Trojan, a doomed Space Corp ship. Thrill turns to horror when Rimmer discovers the Trojan is commanded by his all-conquering, younger brother Howard. At the same time Kryten decides to install a new ship computer, the lethally logical Pree.

Banshee
Joining Cinemax's push towards original content is the new original series "Banshee" which "True Blood" creator Alan Ball serves as executive producer on. A specific air date in January is expected to be announced in coming months and the first trailer has just gone online, albeit an extra short teaser which doesn't give much of anything away.

The story is set in a Pennsylvania Amish country and features an enigmatic ex-con/martial arts expert posing as a murdered sheriff who imposes his own brand of justice while also cooking up plans that serve his own interests.

Ripper Street
Something I missed from the other week as well today. The BBC have released this very early tease for its impressive sounding eight-part drama series "Ripper Street" which is set around Whitechapel in 1889 - six months after Jack the Ripper claimed his last victim.

Originally thought to be held back until early next year, there's now indications the show could pop up sometime before the year's out on both BBC and BBC America.

Categories: Science Fiction

Kubrick Scripts Being Turned Into Film, TV

Dark Horizons - Sun, 09/09/2012 - 11:10

Entertainment One and Philco Films are teaming to produce both a TV movie and a mini-series based on two unproduced screenplays of the late Stanley Kubrick reports Deadline.

The telemovie, entitled "Downslope", follows the activities of Confederate Army Colonel John S. Mosby who sets out to settle the score after Custer captures and hangs several of his men.

The mini-series is "God Fearing Man" and follows Canadian minister Herbert Emerson Wilson who became one of the best safe-crackers and most successful bank robbers in early 20th century America. Stephen R. Clarke is adapting the script for television.

Steve Lanning and Kubrick’s son-in-law Philip Hobbs, who both worked closely with the filmmaker for more than fifteen years, run Philco Films. They took the projects to eOne which produces such shows as AMC's"Hell on Wheels", DirecTV's "Call Me Fitz" and ABC's "Rookie Blue".

Categories: Science Fiction

Michael Douglas To Play Ronald Reagan

Dark Horizons - Sun, 09/09/2012 - 11:10

Michael Douglas is in discussions to star as actor-turned-U.S. President Ronald Reagan in the $10 million indie drama "Reykjavik" for Participant Media says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story is set over several says in 1986 when Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev met for talks in a spa in the Icelandic capital to iron out peace against the backdrop of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Kevin Hood ("Becoming Jane") wrote the screenplay.

Ridley Scott was previously linked with the project but Mike Newell ("Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," "Great Expectations") is now in talks to direct. Scott remains onboard as producer along with David W. Zucker, Mark Sennet and Stewart Mackinnon. Shooting kicks off in March in Germany.

Categories: Science Fiction

Hendricks In Gosling's Directorial Debut?

Dark Horizons - Sun, 09/09/2012 - 11:10

"Drive" star Ryan Gosling, co-star Christina Hendricks and producer Marc Platt are looking to re-team on "How To Catch a Monster" which will mark Gosling's writing and directing debut reports The Film Stage.

Described as a "modern day fairytale" with suspense and fantasy noir elements weaved in, the story is set in a vanishing city where a single mother of two (Hendricks) is "swept into a macabre and dark fantasy underworld while her teenage son discovers a secret road leading to an underwater town". The pair must solve the mystery if they're all to survive.

It's expected the project will be sold at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival with production aiming to kick off in the Spring.

Categories: Science Fiction
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