My Take On The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Premiere Episodes

Everyone else has done one so I might as well as throw my take into the mix. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has potential, but it is it’s own thing. I know Amazon had some limitations in terms of what they could reference since they only purchased the appendices to then tell an original story loosely based in Tolkien’s prehistoric Europe. I am going to address points directly because I want to shed light on issues I have read and heard. 

First off the cast is capable and I had no problem with there being characters who were black or Indian or whatever because the acting for what they were given was solid. I will use the example of Tim Russ playing Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager. He played a Vulcan beautifully and the fact he was black never stuck out as an issue. From the Dwarf Queen to the Elf Warrior to the Harfoot (Proto-Hobbit) Patriarch, the acting and casting felt seamless. If anything that struck me as odd was the use of African drum beating whenever they showed the Harfoot Patriarch looking into an ancient book of lore because to me it would be like playing cliche Asian music if someone of Chinese or Japanese, etc., nationality appeared on screen. To me that was arguably a bit unnecessary because a person’s race, creed, culture, sexual orientation should not be why a person was cast. The best person for what they are trying to accomplish should be the only thing that matters. 

This brings me to another thing I heard reviewers stating on YouTube. I did not at all get the impression Elrond is gay anymore than Sam and Frodo were closeted homosexuals as some stated when the Peter Jackson trilogy was released. That is rubbish in my opinion and I think anyone that took issue with anything Elrond did in the first two episodes should ask themselves why are they so sensitive? Maybe it went over my head because I did not get that impression at all.

Now as for everything else, it was pretty to look at. I liked to subtle things they threw in there like the Ents watching the meteor come to Middle Earth or what appears to be the shadow of Morgoth above the Two Trees. Other things like a fell beast fighting I think a great eagle did not belong because those were clearly never seen before until the Nazgûl used them in the Third Age of Middle Earth as depicted in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. There are some hints that someone may be Sauron or Gandalf, which for Gandalf, the Wizards were not sent to Middle Earth until the Third Age. They were sent together to bolster the free peoples of Middle Earth to fight against Sauron, but they were not allowed to match power for power so hopefully they are not playing loose with that. Some complaints levied were for things that have not even aired yet so even those that have been highly critical are still going to watch it and I am going to watch it because while not perfect, it got my interest up enough to want to see what happens next.

I could nitpick the Orc who did not have bow legs, which most should have as seen in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy with the exception of the Uruk Hai, but I have not seen anyone mention that because it is all in the details and clearly The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has a lot of them, but it is just getting started and I hope it succeeds, but if it does not then let it be because people did not like the approach or story and not the rants of people making anyone who is remotely a fan look foolish. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will have new episodes streaming Fridays for the next six weeks on Prime Video.

(C) Copyright 2022 By Mark A. Rivera

All Rights Reserved.

TOP GUN: MAVERICK CONTINUES TO BREAK RECORDS, BECOMING THE BEST-SELLING

 TOP GUN: MAVERICK CONTINUES TO BREAK RECORDS, BECOMING THE BEST-SELLING 

WEEK-ONE DIGITAL SELL-THROUGH RELEASE OF ALL TIME IN THE U.S.

 The Year’s Biggest Movie Event Soars Into The Top 20 Best-Selling Digital Releases Ever 
In Just One Week

 

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—September 2, 2022—Paramount Home Entertainment today announced that Top Gun: Maverick has flown past the competition to become the #1 Week-One Digital sell-through title of all time in the U.S. and in major territories around the world.  Released for sale across Digital platforms on August 23, the film has already become one of the Top 20 best-selling digital releases in history after being available for only one week.  In addition, the Digital release of Top Gun: Maverick was the top-selling item on Amazon.com in the U.S. across every category on the site on Day 1.

Top Gun: Maverick continues to thrill audiences around the world, earning more than $1.4 billion at the global box office and still climbing after 14 weeks in theatres.  Currently the #6 highest grossing film in domestic box office history, the #1 film of 2022 is also the highest grossing film of Tom Cruise’s acclaimed career.

The Top Gun: Maverick Digital release takes fans deep inside the making of the global smash hit with over 110 minutes of action-packed bonus content^*, including in-depth behind-the-scenes looks at what it took to make the worldwide blockbuster.  The film lands on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray^™, and DVD November 1.  

After more than 30 years of service as a top naval aviator, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot. Yet, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past when he returns to TOP GUN to train a group of elite graduates and comes face-to-face with Lt. Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of his former wingman, "Goose". Bitter rivalries ignite as the pilots prepare for a specialized mission, which will require the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it.

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U.S. Rating:   PG-13 for sequences of intense action, and some strong language

 

About Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Paramount Pictures controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, and Paramount Players. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

 

About Paramount Home Entertainment

Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.  PPC is a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide.  The PHE division oversees PPC’s home entertainment and transactional digital distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television Studios, Paramount Players, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CBS and applicable licensing and servicing of certain DreamWorks Animation titles.  PHE additionally manages global licensing of studio content and transactional distribution across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies

Tom and Jerry: Snowman's Land, is coming to Digital & DVD on 11/15 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

 

Trailer - https://youtu.be/7eIivLasAkM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year   TOM AND JERRY: SNOWMAN’S LAND   Available on Digital & DVD November 15, 2022 BURBANK, CA (August 30, 2022) – Just in time for the holidays, everyone’s favorite cat and mouse duo are back in action as Tom and Jerry: Snowman’s Land releases on Digital and DVD November 15, 2022 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the all-new, full-length animated family holiday film is filled with 72 minutes of toe-tapping tunes and hilarious hijinks and 3 classic episodes. Tom and Jerry: Snowman’s Land will be available to own on Digital for $14.99 SRP(US and Canada) and on DVD for $19.98 SRP ($24.98 in Canada).  It’s time to chase that holiday spirit with Tom and Jerry! With magic in the air, Jerry and his nephew, Tuffy, make a snow mouse that miraculously comes to life! To keep their new friend, Larry the snow mouse from melting, Tuffy and Jerry must race him to the fabled Snowman’s Village. In hot pursuit, Tom and devious Dr. Doublevay have their own plans for Larry’s magic. Get ready to go dashing through this epic tale filled with songs, snow, thrills, laughs and even a bit of holiday magic!​ Tom and Jerry: Snowman’s Land features the voice talents of Kevin Michael Richardson as Larry, Kath Soucie as Tuffy, Laraine Newman as Mrs. LePage, Stephen Stanton as Doctor Doubleyay and Lightning, and Rick Zieff as Meathead and Narrator, Carlos Alazraqui as Floyd, Kimberly Brooks as Snow Cop and Little Girl, Joey D’Auria as Butch, and Regi Davis as Snow Mayor,. Tom and Jerry: Snowman’s Land is produced and directed by Darrell Van Citters (The Tom and Jerry Show). Story by credit Will Finn (The Tom and Jerry Show) and Jase Ricci (Teen Titans Go! and DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse). Teleplay by credit Jase Ricci.   ABOUT DIGITAL Digital movies or TV episodes allow fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital movies or TV episodes are included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. With digital, consumers are able to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones through retail services. For more information on compatible devices and services go to wb.com/digitalmoviefaq. Consult a digital retailer for details and requirements and for a list of digital-compatible devices. BASICS Release Date: November 15, 2022 Feature Running Time: Approx. 72 min Enhanced Content Running Time: Approx. 27 min DVD Price: $19.98 SRP ($24.98 in Canada) Audio – English; French; Latin Spanish  Subtitles – English; French; Latin Spanish

HBO Renews HOUSE OF THE DRAGON For A Second Season

 

• The HBO Original drama series HOUSE OF THE DRAGON has been renewed for a second season.
   
• HOUSE OF THE DRAGON debuted Sunday, August 21, to the largest audience for any new original series in HBO history. The first episode has now been seen by over 20 million viewers across linear, On Demand and HBO Max platforms in the U.S., based on a combination of Nielsen data and first party data.
    
• Logline: Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” the series, set 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones,” tells the story of House Targaryen.
   
• Season 1 cast: Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans. Additional cast includes Milly Alcock, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Emily Carey, Harry Collett, Ryan Corr, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jefferson Hall, David Horovitch, Wil Johnson, John Macmillan, Graham McTavish, Ewan Mitchell, Theo Nate, Matthew Needham, Bill Paterson, Phia Saban, Gavin Spokes, Savannah Steyn.
   
• Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming quote: “We are beyond proud of what the entire HOUSE OF THE DRAGON team has accomplished with season one. Our phenomenal cast and crew undertook a massive challenge and exceeded all expectations, delivering a show that has already established itself as must-see-TV. A huge thank you to George, Ryan, and Miguel for leading us on this journey. We couldn’t be more excited to continue bringing to life the epic saga of House Targaryen with season two.”
   
• HOUSE OF THE DRAGON garnered strong critical praise for the “flat-out stunning” show (Entertainment Weekly), with IGN declaring “It’s good to be back in backstabbing Westeros.” Los Angeles Times hailed it “a new, engrossing chapter in HBO’s epic,” and Wall Street Journalnoted it’s “as captivating as any season of ‘Game of Thrones.’”
   
• Season 1 credits: Co-Creator/Executive Producer, George R.R. Martin; Co-Creator/Co-Showrunner/Executive Producer/Writer, Ryan Condal; Co-Showrunner/Executive Producer/Director, Miguel Sapochnik; Executive Producers Sara Hess, Jocelyn Diaz, Vince Gerardis, Ron Schmidt. Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood.”

BECOMING ICONIC: JONATHAN BAKER Streaming September 13

 

BECOMING ICONIC: JONATHAN BAKER Streaming September 13 Neal Thibedeau’s Documentary Bears Witness to the Perils Feature Film Directing with Jonathan Baker (INCONCEIVABLE starring Nic Cage) Featuring Interviews with Directors  John Badham, Jodie Foster, Taylor Hackford, and Adrian Lyne and Cameos from Nicholas Cage, Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway  Available Exclusively through Fandor  on iOS, Android, Prime Video, YouTube TV, Comcast and Fandor.com   "A surprisingly interesting journey into the life of Jonathan Baker, a film director who had the face the dark side of production studios when making his feature film debut." - Federico Furzan, Movie-Blogger.com "Becoming Iconic tells you how to be a leader on set and manage everyone around you from crew to studio without killing yourself of sheer exhaustion. You're going to pay a few bucks to see this film." -  Alan Ng, Film Threat Becoming Iconic: Jonathan Baker, a Fandor Exclusive, explores the perilous journey of first-time filmmaker Jonathan Baker as he navigates the industry with help from some legendary industry veterans. The documentary examines the process of filmmaking from the ground up through the eyes of top directors as they tell their stories and share their wisdom. The film features Jodie Foster (The Silence of the Lambs), Adrian Lyne (Jacob’s Ladder), John Badham (War Games) and Taylor Hackford (An Officer And A Gentleman). Directed Neal Thibedeau (Intersection), Becoming Iconictakes viewers into the intense and often unpredictable work on first-time filmmaking. The film was produced by Daniel Herther, with Janek Ambros and Mark Kaplan acting as co-producers. Jonathan Baker has always been enthralled by smart storytelling and larger-than-life figures, taking inspiration from greats like Ernest Hemingway to guide his own sensibilities as a writer, producer, director and adventurer. Studying film in his native New York City and at USCs, Baker began his entertainment career as a writer, director and producer of projects. More recently he founded Baker Entertainment Group, a multimedia development and production company based in Hollywood. Baker is also a successful entrepreneur who grew a start-up venture, SkinSpa, into the leading full-service day spa in the U.S. before selling that brand in 2011. While focusing on Baker Entertainment Group and his evolving work as a film director, he remains active in the personal care field and has currently developed a new signature brand, Jonathan Baker EST 1962, which introduces its first line of many pure aromatherapy products.  And for something completely different, Baker bought Warren Beatty’s house and has meticulously renovated it. It was in conversations with Beatty that Baker first began his career as a feature director. BECOMING ICONIC: JONATHAN BAKER On Digital & Streaming Exclusively on Fandor September 13 77m | United States | Not Rated

### ABOUT CINEDIGM   For more than 20 years, Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) has led the digital transformation of the entertainment industry. Today, Cinedigm entertains consumers around the globe by providing premium feature film and television series, enthusiast streaming channels and technology services to the world’s largest media, retail and technology companies. As a leader in the rapidly evolving streaming ecosystem, Cinedigm continues its legacy as an innovator through its adoption of next-generation technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, through its proprietary, highly-scalable Matchpoint™ technology platform. For more information, visit cinedigm.com. ### ABOUT FANDOR FANDOR is your invitation to cinematic delights, thrilling filmmaker discoveries, and underseen curiosities. Like a passionately curated film festival in your home, FANDOR offers artfully entertaining American indies and the boldest in cult treasures, global voices, and non-fiction storytelling. Our ever-growing streaming library rewards the adventurous on iOS, Android, Prime Video, YouTube TV, Comcast and fandor.com. Visit www.fandor.com for more information.

The fifth season of "The Handmaid's Tale." The new season returns on September 14, 2022

 

Hulu has debuted the official trailer for the fifth season of "The Handmaid's Tale." The new season returns with two episodes on September 14th. New episodes stream Wednesdays.

 

TRAILER: HERE
 

SEASON SYNOPSIS: June faces consequences for killing Commander Waterford while struggling to redefine her identity and purpose. The widowed Serena attempts to raise her profile in Toronto as Gilead’s influence creeps into Canada. Commander Lawrence works with Nick and Aunt Lydia as he tries to reform Gilead and rise in power. June, Luke and Moira fight Gilead from a distance as they continue their mission to save and reunite with Hannah.
 

SERIES SYNOPSIS: Adapted from the classic novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale is the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly the United States. Offred (Elizabeth Moss), one of the few fertile women known as Handmaids in the oppressive Republic of Gilead, struggles to survive as a reproductive surrogate for a powerful Commander and his resentful wife.
 

STARRING (series regulars): The series stars Elisabeth Moss, Bradley Whitford, Yvonne Strahovski, Max Minghella, O-T Fagbenle, Samira Wiley, Ann Dowd, Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, Sam Jaeger.


CREDITS: “The Handmaid’s Tale” is produced by MGM Television and executive produced by Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Elisabeth Moss, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, Eric Tuchman, Yahlin Chang, Rachel Shukert, Sheila Hockin, John Weber, Frank Siracusa, Steve Stark and Kim Todd. The series is internationally distributed by MGM.

Social: 
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook @HandmaidsOnHulu | #HandmaidsTale

A REIMAGINING OF CLIVE BARKER’S 1987 HORROR CLASSIC “HELLRAISER” TO DEBUT IN THE U.S. EXCLUSIVELY ON HULU OCTOBER 7

BURBANK, Calif. (August 24, 2022) – “Hellraiser,” a reimagining of Clive Barker’s 1987 horror classic from director David Bruckner, will debut in the U.S. exclusively on Hulu on October 7 as part of the streamer’s annual “Huluween” celebration of fright-filled content.  

In the all-new “Hellraiser,” a young woman struggling with addiction comes into possession of an ancient puzzle box, unaware that its purpose is to summon the Cenobites, a group of sadistic supernatural beings from another dimension.

The ensemble cast includes Odessa A’zion (“Fam,” “Grand Army”), Jamie Clayton (“The L Word: Generation Q,” “Sense8”), Adam Faison (“Everything’s Gonna Be Okay,” “Yes Day”), Drew Starkey (“Outer Banks,” “The Devil All the Time”), Brandon Flynn (“Ratched,” “13 Reasons Why”), Aoife Hinds (“The Long Call,” “Normal People”), Jason Liles (“Stereoscope,” “Rampage”), Yinka Olorunnife (“The Transporter”), Selina Lo (“Boss Level,” “Q8 Unleashed”), Zachary Hing (“Halo”), Kit Clarke (“Leonardo”), with Goran Visnjic (“The Boys,” “Timeless”) and Hiam Abbass (“Succession,” “Blade Runner 2049”).

A Hulu Original, in association with Spyglass Media Group, the film reunites Director David Bruckner, Screenwriters Ben Collins & Luke Piotrowski, Writer/Producer David S. Goyer and Producer Keith Levine, all of whom were teamed on 2020’s “The Night House,” along with Producers Clive Barker and Marc Toberoff and Executive Producers Gary Barber, Peter Oillataguerre and Todd Williams. Chris Stone and Gracie Wheelan serve as co-producers.

 

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