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Mufasa: The Lion King follows in the footsteps of Cruella and Maleficent, adding to the growing pantheon of Disney prequels. But these films only scratch the surface of the stories hidden in the background of Disney's animated classics. Given its success, the studio is likely looking to continue this new trend, and there are plenty of options for them to choose from.

Most of Disney's protagonists exist in lush and intricate worlds, which have rich histories unto themselves. Whether it's digging into the motivations of an iconic villain or exploring the lore behind a unique and legendary world, there are countless directions the next prequel could take.

Audiences Need to See How Tarzan Became King of the Jungle Young Tarzan Would Be a Compelling Prequel

Based on the novels of Edgar Rice Boroughs', Disney's Tarzan tells the story of a young boy who winds up alone in the jungle after a shipwreck.

The '90s were a special time for sci-fi. With the release of Jurassic Park and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, film studios began to recognize the practical potential of CGI and other special effects. Films like The Matrix revolutionized cinema with techniques such as slow motion, influencing not only sci-fi and action films but nearly every genre across the industry. However, many 90s sci-fi films were overlooked at the time and are only now receiving the appreciation they deserve.

A lot of great sci-fi films from the '90s had a dark, grungy aesthetic that made them less family-friendly, thereby limiting their audience. Several were independent productions that had to find creative ways to work around small budgets. Additionally, 90s sci-fi often leaned into the strange and unconventional, which led to poor reception from critics and a lack of awareness among general audiences. Exploring the sci-fi films of the '...

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The 2024 U.S. elections had to be one of the most entertaining elections in the United States history. While I know that many people are taking it very seriously as they should it is also true that at the end of the day, you have to believe that everything will be fine. So, with that sentiment and because of my love for any media about the complex nature of politics we compiled a list of the best political TV shows that you should watch right now.

The West Wing (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – NBC

The West Wing is a political comedy-drama series created by Aaron Sorkin. The NBC series is set in the West Wing of the White House and it follows the administration of the fictional two-term Democratic President Josiah Bartlet as they deal with...

One of the best action movies, not only for action icons Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes, but of all time, is now available stream for free. So, if your Halloween fever has now passed, it might be worth pushing the memories of ghosts and ghouls away with Stallone and Snipes at each others throats in the future.

The movie is, of course, 1993s action movie masterpiece Demolition Man. Starring the perfect one-two punch of Rocky and Rambo star Sylvester Stallone and Blade actor Wesley Snipes, the movie tells the age-old tale of a no-nonsense cop from the 1990s who finds himself tracking his nemesis, the psychopathic criminal Simon Phoenix, across time after they are both cryogenically frozen. Directed by Marco Brambilla and starring Sandra Bullock, Nigel Hawthorne, Benjamin Bratt, and Denis Leary alongside Stallone and Snipes, Demolition Man is now available to stream for free on Tubi. You can check out the official synopsis below.

When Walt Disney Pictures' Wish arrived on movie screens in 2023, marketing materials heralded it as a celebration of the Disney Animation legacy, a movie loaded with Easter eggs for Disney fans to spot over the runtime. Fans who sat through the closing credits would also enjoy a montage of character portraits from every Disney animated movie to date, though keen eyes would spot one glaring omission. 1985's The Black Cauldron did not get a shout-out from Wish.

In the almost 40 years since hitting cinemas, The Black Cauldron has earned something of a reputation as Disney's blackest sheep a movie so embarrassing the company would rather pretend it doesn't exist at all. Indeed, the Disney theme parks only feature a handful of off-hand references to The Black Cauldron. Tourists will not spot the characters signing autographs in Fantasyland. Disney television networks that helped other flop movies of the same period Tron,...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

A Nightmare on Elm Street 1-3 Vinyl from Mondo

A Nightmare on Elm Street, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors’ soundtracks are available on vinyl for $40 a piece from Mondo.

Each expanded 2xLP album features the original soundtrack on the first disc and additional themes and cues on the second disc. Shipping in November, they feature artwork by Mike Saputo.

A Nightmare on Elm Street is composed by Charles Bernstein. It’s pressed on 140-gram “Boiler Room Blast” colored vinyl and housed in a gatefold jacket with liner notes by Bernstein.

Freddy’s Revenge is composed by Christopher Young. It’s pressed on 140-gram...

The 1993 action movie classic, Demolition Man, is due to be released on 4K Uhd just in time for Christmas. The new release of the sci-fi action outing will reportedly be available from December 10 in the U.S. and December 9 in the U.K., courtesy of Arrow, according to X/Twitter user Dawn of The Discs. Starring action movie icons Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes, this tale of a cop from the past who finds himself tracking a familiar criminal in the future has achieved newfound popularity thanks to how much the present-day world seems to be aligning with the movie's vision of tomorrow.

You can check out some of the special features that will come with the Demolition Man 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition release below.

- Brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films, approved by director Marco Brambilla

- Includes both the domestic...

Demolition Man is a cult classic action film released nearly 30 years ago, featuring Sandra Bullock, Sylvester Stallone, and Wesley Snipes. Memorable jokes include "The Franchise Wars," which pits fast-food corporations against each other in violent battles. Taco Bell is the only remaining restaurant in the year 2032 in the U.S. version of the film, and the company gained free advertising through the product placement.

Demolition Man isn't Sylvester Stallone's most iconic action film, but it nevertheless endures as a cult classic nearly 30 years after its release. Beyond being one of Sandra Bullock's first big roles and a showcase for Wesley Snipes' villainous side, Demolition Man is memorable for its depiction of a futuristic utopian society enforced by oppressive measures, not to mention the clever social satire it delivers along the way.

Awakening from cryogenic sleep, Stallone's Sgt. John Spartan is a complete fish out of water. Nonetheless, he must...

It's easy to point out the iconic heroes from '90s Disney movies. Their admirable traits, such as Mufasa's noble leadership or Ariel's bravery, make them the kind of protagonists that give audiences a little inspiration along the way. However, there are villains that, when studied, are also easy to label as iconic.

Generally, the antagonists all have bad intentions, and don't wish to become good. Identifying them as the best villains doesn't mean to say that their cruel actions should be idolized. Rather, they might have funny lines, a great story line, or are simply performed brilliantly. The '90s was a great time for iconic villains to shine.

Clayton Didn’t Start Out Quite so Villainous

Tarzan (1999) GAnimationAdventureComedy

A man raised by gorillas must decide where he really belongs when he discovers he is a human.

DirectorKevin Lima, Chris BuckRelease DateJune 18, 1999CastTony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Glenn Close,...

The '90s has been recognized as a strong decade for Disney movies. Animations had vastly improved since 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and started to depict more up-to-date stories, although some still had problematic elements.

The characters in any Disney movie are vital in appealing to a wide audience. The heroes have to display courage and have relatable traits, while the villain needs to be strong enough for the hero to contend with. In between the two extremes fall the characters who provide comedy to lighten up the narratives and keep things fresh.

Fun-Loving Terk Speaks Her Mind

Tarzan (1999) GAnimationAdventureComedy

A man raised by gorillas must decide where he really belongs when he discovers he is a human.

DirectorKevin Lima, Chris BuckRelease DateJune 18, 1999CastTony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Glenn Close, Alex D. Linz, Rosie O'Donnell, Brian Blessed, Nigel Hawthorne, Lance Henriksen, Wayne KnightWritersTab Murphy, Bob Tzudiker, Noni WhiteRuntime...

Playwright Alan Bennett has written original screenplay The Choral, which will begin filming this summer.

There’s a reason a remake of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads monologues (pictured above) was one of the first things put into production when the pandemic started in 2020. Not only were they easy to film with a single cast member, but the texts are also regarded as modern classics of drama, each story a masterpiece in construction and storytelling. You only have to watch the original versions to see the astonishing power of David Haig in Playing Sandwiches or Dame Thora Hird in A Cream Cracker Under The Settee.

The Choral, meanwhile, is Alan Bennett’s first original script written for the screen in forty years, after 1984 comedy A Private Function. The synopsis reads as follows:

Set in Ramsden, Yorkshire in 1916, the plot centers on the chorus master and most of the men of the ambitious local Choral Society,...

Historical dramas can incorporate humor to make characters from the past more relatable and human. Some historical dramas, like "The Madness of King George" and "Napoleon," use comedy to explore the quirks and flaws of historical figures. Movies like "Marie Antoinette" and "The Favourite" take a modern, satirical approach to historical events, using humor to critique societal norms and behaviors.

Historical dramas are plagued by their reputation as stuffy and somber affairs, but some movies have a surprising funny side to them which proves there is still plenty of vitality in the genre. Since they so often deal with seismic events in global politics or the lives of world leaders, many historical dramas shy away from using humor too much, but it can be a valuable tool to help bridge the gap between the past and the present. Using comedy to its full potential doesn't just make a movie funnier.

The new biographical drama “Golda” features Helen Mirren in a transformative role as Golda Meir, the so-called “Iron Lady of Israel” who faced high-stakes responsibilities and decisions during the Yom Kippur War. Written by Nicholas Martin and directed by Guy Nattiv, the Bleecker Street contender is Mirren’s first big play at a potential Academy Award nomination in many years, so let’s look back at her four Oscar races.

With a career in film going back to the 1960s, Mirren saw her first Oscar nomination in 1994 in the Best Supporting Actress category for her performance in “The Madness of King George.” Directed by Nicholas Hytner, this biographical comedy-drama tells the story of King George III and how his Lieutenants tried to adjust the rules to run the country after he went mad. Mirren played his wife, Queen Charlotte, and she was one of four citations for the movie at the 67th Academy Awards,...

A reboot of 1993's Cliffhanger is in the works, but Demolition Man 2 is Sylvester Stallone's best follow-up to one of his '90s hits. Cliffhanger was a big hit for Stallone in 1993, with Stallone portraying mountain rescue expert Gabe Walker, long-haunted by a failed rescue mission in the movie's opening. Walker and his fellow rescue experts Hal Tucker (Michael Rooker) and Jessie (Janine Turner) find themselves battling professional thief Eric Qualen (John Lithgow) and his gang, who are in pursuit of three cases full of millions of dollars in the mountains.

Cliffhanger is set to be revived on cinema screens, with Stallone himself on-board and the new Cliffhanger described as a reboot in Deadline's report. While Cliffhanger remains one of Stallone's career highlights, his 1993 action-comedy Demolition Man not only shares that distinction, but has also grown in appreciation in the decades since its release. Stallone has also spoken of...

Nigel Hawthorne was a revered actor of stage and screen, whose dignified presence elevated any project. Before his passing in 2001, he appeared in numerous Royal Shakespeare Company productions, and became a household name in the UK for his roles in popular BBC series "Yes, Minister" and "Yes, Prime Minister." The winner of six BAFTA awards, Hawthorne crafted a career as a respected character actor, performing on Broadway and appearing in acclaimed projects from Steven Spielberg's "Amistad" to the Ian McKellan-led "Richard III." He also did "Demolition Man."

A product of Sylvester Stallone's team-up with action producer extraordinaire, Joel Silver, "Demolition Man" is exactly the kind of over-the-top '90s blockbuster you'd expect to come out of that pairing. It's about John Spartan (Stallone), an LAPD cop who gets cryogenically frozen, only to be thawed out in 2032 to help track down his arch nemesis, Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes). Phoenix...

Regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation, Sir Ian McKellen had been a pillar of British theatre for decades before venturing to Hollywood. After his early days in London theatre, including a stint in the 1970s with the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company, he crossed the pond in 1981 to play Antonio Salieri in a Broadway production of "Amadeus" — and took home a Tony Award. The movies beckoned, bringing McKellen to a new level of fame that crested when he was tapped to play the wise and courageous wizard Gandalf in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Meanwhile, McKellen also made headlines in 1988 when he came out as openly gay in 1988 and was then knighted by the Queen in 1991.

While Gandalf is the most iconic of his many roles, by no means is it his only memorable performance in film and television. For a refresher course on his extraordinary career,...

Alan Gibson's 1982 TV miniseries, "A Woman Called Golda," isn't widely discussed in the pop culture firmament, but when it first aired, it felt like an event. A biography of Golda Meir, the Prime Minister of Israel from 1969 until 1974, "A Woman Called Golda" boasted an all-star, award-winning cast that boggles the mind. Meir herself was played by Ingrid Bergman in what would prove to be her final screen role. She was joined by the likes of Ned Beatty, who played an American senator, Robert Loggia who played Anwar Sadat, and Nigel Hawthorne, who played King Abdullah I of Jordan. Judy David played the young Meir. From 1917 to his death in 1951, Meir was married to a man named Morris Meyerson, and Meyerson was played by Leonard Nimoy, acting in scenes opposite both Davis and Bergman.

"A Woman Called Golda" aired in two 2-hour parts, starting on April 26 on CBS. The project was overseen by Harve Bennett,...

“What I have an opinion about 25 years ago, it’s not necessarily the opinion I have now,” admits Brian Cox as response to the viewpoint the Succession star offers on the likes of Johnny Depp, Michael Caine, Ed Norton, Game of Thrones and others in his new memoir Putting the Rabbit in the Hat.

“I don’t really dismiss or disrespect anybody who goes for this profession because it’s a tough, bloody profession,” the seasoned Shakespearean thespian adds with the hindsight of a career spanning more than 60 years.

First released in the UK late last year and out today Stateside, the 384-page book proves to be part meditation on the craft, partially very personal, partially political (Scotland-born Cox is very much in favor of Independence for the former Caledonia) and full of tales of legends including Peter O’Toole, a wig-tossing Vanessa Redgrave and Spike Lee and digging in to do the job.

Welcome to The B-Side, from The Film Stage. Here we usually talk about movie stars and not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones they made in between. Today, however, we talk about Oscar movies (!) that time has relegated to B-Side status.

To tackle such a task, Conor and I welcome the incredible Chris Feil of the This Had Oscar Buzz podcast. Our guest and his co-host Joe Reid dive into myriad films that were released to significant awards buzz, only to earn zero Academy Award nominations.

In today’s episode, we each choose one film to focus on. Conor’s pick is the 1976 Woody Guthrie biopic Bound For Glory. The film earned six Oscar nominations, including wins for Cinematography and Best Music, Adapted. Chris’ pick is Ironweed from 1987, starring Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep, adapted from William Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name.

Disney Plus has a huge back catalogue of the Mouse House’s biggest and best movies, and they’re adding more all the time. Case in point: this coming week will see the arrival of 1999’s Tarzan on the streaming service for the first time, as well as its sequel, Tarzan II.

Based on the novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan stars Tony Goldwyn as the legendary Ape-Man, a human orphan raised by gorillas in the depths of the African rainforest. Minnie Driver plays Jane Porter, the English explorer who discovers Tarzan and his tribe along with her father Professor Archimedes Q. Porter (Nigel Hawthorne). Also on board are Brian Blessed as John Clayton, the blood-thirsty hunter, and Glenn Close and Lance Henriksen, who voice Tarzan’s adoptive gorilla parents.

Considered the final film of the so-called Disney Renaissance era (1989-99), Tarzan was also the last movie for a while...

It sounds like Disney is not planning on slowing down the release of their live-action remakes of classic movies. Following the recent announcement that 1997's beloved mythical adventure Hercules is all set for adaptation, there are now reports declaring that 1999's equally popular Tarzan will be next in line.

The report comes via Disney insider Daniel Richtman, which states that the studio is developing a live-action Tarzan movie. Details on the movie are currently unknown at the moment as the project is said to be in very early development over at Disney, with no other information available other than that the movie is expected to be a remake of the cherished animated version.

There is also currently no word on the potential cast and crew for Tarzan, but,m rest assured, fans will be taking to social media very soon with passionate suggestions as to who they think should take on these iconic roles.

We have certainly entered a period of nostalgia, 22 years after Sylvester Stallone flexed his muscles in ‘Demolition Man’, he has confirmed a follow-up is being developed.

Stallone has been spending his self-isolation wisely recently by conducting a fan Q&a on his Instagram account. During the session, the burning question arose from one keen fan as to whether a sequel for the sci-fi actioner would ever get that sequel? To which Stallone confirmed that it will happen and that Warner Bros’ are actually working on it now.

“I think it is coming. We’re working on it right now with Warner Brothers and it’s looking fantastic, so that should come out. That’s going to happen.”

Also in news – Star Wars Day Mouth Off: What the Future holds for the Galaxy far, far away

The Marco Brambilla directed 1993 film tells the story of two men: evil crime lord Phoenix played by Wesley Snipes,...

This four part, eight hour miniseries turns the fate of a family of German Jews into a sprawling drama that covers all the bases of the holocaust horror. It was strong stuff and a big Emmy winner, boosting the careers of James Woods and Michael Moriarty. His warped charisma as a psychotic Nazi is so good that he’s consistently more interesting than the courageous victims. As for Meryl Streep, she became an instant star — everybody remembered her from this. Although it’s been called ‘The Holocaust for Dummies,’ it’s a quality show. Looking from today’s perspective, after forty years of Political Correctness adjustments, I’m not sure any two viewers will react in quite the same way.

Holocaust

Blu-ray

CBS Television Studio / Paramount

1978 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 7 hours, 36 min. / Street Date September 24, 2019 / 43.19

Starring: James Woods, Meryl Streep, Michael Moriarty, Joseph Bottoms, Rosemary Harris, Fritz Weaver, Tovah Feldshuh, Deborah Norton,...

“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,” Shakespeare wrote of Britain’s care-burdened monarchs. Try telling that to the Academy.

Once again, playing British royalty has proved to be a tried-and-true route to Oscar glory, with Olivia Colman as the latest actor to be nominated for an Academy Award for portraying an occupant of the British throne. Colman plays the 18th-century Queen Anne, the last of the ruling Stuarts, in Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite.” The film has lived up to its name throughout the awards season and now has 10 Oscar nods to its credit, tying Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma.”

If Colman takes home the statuette on Feb. 24, she would become the third actor in the last dozen years alone to win an Oscar for playing a British king or queen. Colin Firth was named best actor for his portrayal of George VI in “The King’s Speech,” which also...

The upcoming BBC adaption of the children’s classic “Watership Down” ain’t no fluffy tale.

Voiced by John Boyega, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, Olivia Colman, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton, Daniel Kaluuya, Rosamund Pike, Gemma Chan, Peter Capaldi and Taron Egerton, this daring band of bunnies must join together to battle dark forces in order to survive.

The four-part BBC series follows a group of rabbits who flee their warren to escape destruction. On their journey to find a new home, they face vicious predators predicted by terrifying visions from an all-seeing seer named Fiver (Hoult).

Also Read: Richard Adams, 'Watership Down' Author, Dies at 96

“All the world will be your enemy,” one rabbit warns in the first trailer released Tuesday. “And when they catch you, they will kill you — but first, they must catch you.”

“This isn’t about cute rabbits,” Boyega, who voices Bigwig, warned on Instagram last week.

It would be all too lazy to compare Terry Gilliam and his attempts to make a movie about Don Quixote to its main character – an old man foolishly picking fights with windmills. A better comparison might be Sisyphus, the mythological Greek king whose deceitfulness was punished by forcing him to roll a boulder uphill repeatedly, arduously and monotonously. It's an analogy Gilliam has made himself over the decades since he first got the idea to make the movie.

Now, 29 years after he secured financing for the picture for the first time,...

Who rocks the best bowl-full-of-jelly belly in movie history? Father Christmas has shown up in enough movies that he has his own subgenre: the Santa Claus movie, a whole category of family friendly fantasy films dedicated to exploring the magic of St. Nick.

Here are some of the most memorable movie portrayals of Santa Claus.

1. Edmund Gwenn in Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

The gold standard for cinematic Santa Clauses, Gwenn plays Kris Kringle, a department store Santa who insists he’s the real thing. Gwenn’s performance as Kringle was so convincing that he won the Oscar for Best Supporting...

It’s great when a fancy costume picture really has something to say — Alan Bennett’s crazy tale of a king’s episode of mental illness becomes a highly entertaining comedy of errors, but with serious personal and political ramifications. Nigel Hawthorne is exceptionally good as the sovereign whose brain has de-railed; Helen Mirren, Ian Holm, Rupert Everett and Amanda Donohoe variously try to help him — or steal his crown.

The Madness of King George

Blu-ray

Olive Films

1994 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 111 min. / Street Date October 31, 2017 / available through the Olive Films website / 29.98

Starring: Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren, Ian Holm, Amanda Donohoe, Rupert Everett, Julian Wadham, Jim Carter, Rupert Graves, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Anthony Calf, John Wood, Robert Swann, Peter Woodthorpe.

Cinematography: Andrew Dunn

Film Editor: Tariq Anwar

Production Design: Ken Adam

Written by Alan Bennett from his play

Produced by Stephen Evans, David Parfitt

Directed by Nicholas Hytner

Every few years the...

"The Furniture" is our weekly series on Production Design. You can click on the images to see them in magnified detail.

by Daniel Walber

Play adaptations are frequently criticized for not being “cinematic” enough. It’s as perennial a complaint as it is a silly one. Many of the best play adaptations don’t abandon their more theatrical elements, they use cinema’s unique capabilities as an especially potent additive.

The Madness of King George is a great example, a film that juxtaposes the visual freedom of on-location shooting with the precision of period sets. Adapted by Alan Bennett from his own play and directed by Nicholas Hytner, it chronicles the Regency Crisis of 1788. King George III (Nigel Hawthorne), perhaps as a result of porphyria, lost his grip on reality. The Prince of Wales (Rupert Everett) petitioned Parliament to have his father removed from power, and to have himself declared regent.

Simon Brew Jun 19, 2017

The Madness Of King George is a film that was sold off the back of a story that wasn’t true…

Nominated for four Oscars, and bringing the late, great Nigel Hawthorne to the attention of movie audiences (following his sensational work in television and on the stage), The Madness Of King George was a real breakout hit. Premiering in December 1994 (just two months after filming wrapped!), and released in the UK in March 1995, the film won one Academy Award, three BAFTAs, and grossed over $15m in the Us alone.

But there’s one story about the movie that continues to circle. And it’s to do with its title.

The film is based on Alan Bennett’s play, The Madness Of King George III, that tells the story of the health issues that King George III suffered during his reign in the 18th century. But when...

Juliette Harrisson Jun 8, 2017

As the nation goes to the polls, we revisit two political comedy classics, now available on Netflix UK...

Yes Minister/Yes, Prime Minister was a BBC sitcom that ran for five series and one special between 1980 and 1988. It starred Paul Eddington as the Right Honourable James Hacker MP (later Prime Minister), Nigel Hawthorne as Sir Humphrey Appleby, Permanent Secretary to the Minister for Administrative Affairs (later Cabinet Secretary) and Derek Fowlds as Bernard Woolley, Principal Private Secretary to the Minister for Administrative Affairs (later Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister). It was written by Sir Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, and was a favourite show of then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

See related Doctor Who series 10: Empress Of Mars review

Technically, it was two shows: the original Yes Minister and a sequel series called Yes, Prime Minister. However, while there are some obvious differences between the...

Simon Brew Oct 7, 2016

From Demolition Man and James Bond through to Speed 2 and Steven Seagal: the movies filmmakers took on to get other projects made.

One for the studio, one for yourself? That’s sometimes been the case when it comes to making movies, and we suspect – under the surface – it happens more than we’re ever told. However, every now and then, it becomes clear that someone has signed up for a movie, with getting the film they really, really want to make as the hidden reason. Such as in these cases…

Nigel Hawthorne: Demolition Man

The late, great Nigel Hawthorne wasn't much of a fan of the much-liked Sylvester Stallone-Wesley Snipes showdown, Demolition Man. In his autobiography Straight Face, Hawthorne called the experience of making the film "miserable", and wasn't impressed with the time lost on set waiting around for Stallone and Snipes.

But...

Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation by Cecil Beaton

This week marks the 90th birthday of her majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in 1926. The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on the 21st of April and her official birthday on the second Saturday in June. (Trooping of the Colours)

She is the world’s oldest reigning monarch as well as Britain’s longest-lived. In 2015, she surpassed the reign of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, to become the longest-reigning British monarch and the longest-reigning queen regent in world history.

Looking to celebrate her Majesty’s birthday? First, everyone rise for the national anthem of the United Kingdom.

God save our gracious Queen!

Long live our noble Queen!

God save the Queen!

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us:

God save the Queen!

For more on the Queen’s schedule, visit the official site: www.

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Some bad guys just want to collect antiques, or sand down a nice coffee table. Presenting our pick of 9 affable action movie villains...

Villains come in all shapes and sizes, from the hulking and formidable, like Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, to the more lithe and cunning, like the maniacal Scorpio in Dirty Harry. The most memorable villains almost always have one thing in common, though: whether they're blessed with brains, brawn or both, they're intimidating and powerful in some way. They're a worthy foil for the hero (or heroine) of the piece.

So what happens when a villain comes across as, well, just plain nice? Sure, they may have the henchmen, the money, the gadgets and the guns. But some villains seem just too easy-going and friendly to be properly intimidating. This isn't to say the performances are bad; in some cases, they're scene-stealingly brilliant.

Glenda Jackson: Actress and former Labour MP. Two-time Oscar winner and former Labour MP Glenda Jackson returns to acting Two-time Best Actress Academy Award winner Glenda Jackson set aside her acting career after becoming a Labour Party MP in 1992. Four years ago, Jackson, who represented the Greater London constituency of Hampstead and Highgate, announced that she would stand down the 2015 general election – which, somewhat controversially, was won by right-wing prime minister David Cameron's Conservative party.[1] The silver lining: following a two-decade-plus break, Glenda Jackson is returning to acting. Now, Jackson isn't – for the time being – returning to acting in front of the camera. The 79-year-old is to be featured in the Radio 4 series Emile Zola: Blood, Sex and Money, described on their website as a “mash-up” adaptation of 20 Emile Zola novels collectively known as "Les Rougon-Macquart."[2] Part 1 of the three-part Radio 4 series will be broadcast daily during an...

Simon Brew Oct 8, 2019

It's not quite a mystery solved, but screenwriter Daniel Waters once explained where Demolition Man's three sea shells came from...

This article comes from Den of Geek UK.

There's an argument that suggests the closest Sylvester Stallone ever really came to playing Judge Dredd wasn't in the 1995 film of the same name, but in his earlier sci-fi action film, Demolition Man. It's not a brilliant argument, but it's an argument nonetheless.

We've had an awful lot of time since Demolition Man, which co-starred Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock, and the late Nigel Hawthorne. But one of the residing mysteries of it centers on, well, is the toilet. More specifically, the three sea shells that have replaced toilet paper in the future.

Whilst we're no closer to working out how the three sea shells work, we do now know where the idea came from. They were the creation of screenwriter Daniel Waters,...

It's not quite a mystery solved, but screenwriter Daniel Waters has explained where Demolition Man's three sea shells came from...

There's an argument that suggests the closest Sylvester Stallone ever really came to playing Judge Dredd wasn't in the 1995 film of the same name, but in his earlier sci-fi action film, Demolition Man. It's not a brilliant argument, but it's an argument nonetheless.

We've an awful lot of time for Demolition Man, which co-starred Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock and the late Nigel Hawthorne (a man who was less of a fan of the movie, using it as a stepping stone to get The Madness Of King George made). But one of the residing mysteries of it centres on, well, the toilet. More specifically, the three sea shells that have replaced toilet paper in the future.

Whilst we're no closer to working out how the three sea shells work, we...

Director Steven Spielberg's 1997 classic Amistad made its debut on the Blu-ray format for the first time earlier this week. Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Djimon Hounsou and recent Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey lead an all-star cast in this drama based on the true story about a group of slaves who overtake their captor's ship and try to return back to Africa. To help celebrate this, we have a contest where our readers can in copies of this new Blu-ray of the harrowing drama, which was nominated for four Oscars. Take a look at how you can win below.

Winnners Receive:

Amistad Blu-ray

Here's How To Win!

Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

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Director Steven Spielberg's...

Curious to know what movies and TV shows are coming to Netflix Watch Instantly over the next few weeks? Get a head start and mark your calendars using the list below, just released to us by Netflix.  Avail 4/1    A League of Their Own (1992)  Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Lori Petty, Rosie O'Donnell, Jon Lovitz, David Strathairn Two small-town sisters join an all-female baseball league formed when World War II brings professional baseball to a standstill. As their team hits the road with its drunken coach, the siblings find troubles and triumphs on and off the field.    Amistad (1997)  Morgan Freeman, Nigel Hawthorne, Anthony Hopkins, Matthew McConaughey, Chiwetel Ejiofor&nbsp...

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Inspector George Gently

The latest batch of George Gently episodes come to DVD on 1 April and you’d be a fool to miss out on this boxset. As you will recall, season five ended with Gently and Bacchus, shot and wounded on the floor of Durham Cathedral. Would they recover? Would they ever work again? Well given that there is a season six I don’t think you can accuse me of releasing a “spoiler” if I tell you that the duo made a full recovery. However, it wasn’t an easy road, especially for Bacchus whose wallowing in self-pity eventually led him down an unhealthy path of booze and gambling. Older and wiser, Gently realized that work was the best therapy and he quickly got back to doing what he does best — solving murders.

Even by George Gently‘s own standards, season six features a lot of introspection as...

After the Academy Award for Best Song was won by ‘It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp’ at the 2006 Oscars, host Jon Stewart quipped, ‘For those of you who are keeping score at home, I just want to make something very clear: Martin Scorsese, zero Oscars; Three 6 Mafia, one.’

If the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences specialises in one thing at a sophisticated level no other collaborative body could ever hope to match, it’s giving awards to the wrong people. Sometimes, it almost seems like a deliberate act of petulance. Try finding anyone outside of Robert Zemekis’s immediate family who considers Forrest Gump to be a better picture than Pulp Fiction (one win) or The Shawshank Redemption (IMDb’s Best Film Ever Made; no wins).

In 1999, The 71st Academy Awards became to many people, the apogee of undeserved Oscars and the rabid invective from...

Next in line to inherit the throne of Royal films is Diana. The film takes audiences into the private realm of one of the world’s most iconic and inescapably public women – the Princess of Wales, Diana (two-time Oscar nominee Naomi Watts) — in the last two years of her meteoric life.

On the occasion of the 16th anniversary of her sudden death, acclaimed director Oliver Hirschbiegel (the Oscar-nominated Downfall) explores Diana’s final rite of passage: a secret love affair with Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan (Naveen Andrews, “Lost,” The English Patient), the human complications of which reveal the Princess’s climactic days in a compelling new light. Diana is in select theaters now.

As long as filmmakers have been bringing the lives of England’s Kings and Queens to the silver screen have moviegoers been going to the cinemas to be schooled in British Monarchy.

So Arise, Sirs and Ladies,...

Today’s film is the 1983 short Dead on Time. The film stars Nigel Hawthorne, Rupert Everett, and Rowan Atkinson, is directed by Lyndall Hobbs, and written by Richard Curtis. Curtis’ writing career stretches back over 30 years, having worked on tv shows such as The Black Adder and Mr. Bean, and written movies such as Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral, before making his directing debut with 2003′s Love Actually. His newest film, titled About Time, opens in limited release in American theatres this weekend before expanding to wide release next weekend.

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The post Saturday Shorts: ‘Dead on Time’, written by Richard Curtis appeared first on Sound On Sight.

Odd List Ryan Lambie Simon Brew 24 Oct 2013 - 06:46

Another 25 unsung greats come under the spotlight, as we provide our pick of the underappreciated films of 1995...

The year covered in this week's underrated movie rundown was significant for a number of reasons. It was the year that saw the release of Toy Story - the groundbreaking movie that would cement Pixar's reputation as an animation studio, and set the tempo for CG family movies for the next 18 years and counting. It was the year that saw James Bond (played by Pierce Brosnan for the first time) emerge for GoldenEye after a six-year break. It was also the year of Michael Mann's Heat, Dogme 95, and the moment where Terry Gilliam scored a much-deserved hit with 12 Monkeys.

As ever, we're focusing on a few of the lesser-known films from this particular year, and we've had to think carefully about what's made the cut and what hasn't.

Feature Simon Brew 28 Jun 2013 - 07:11

Ever watched a big movie, and stopped with a jolt when a star of a British sitcom pops up? Us too...

This feature is all the fault of the late Richard Marner. As the incompetent Colonel in 'Allo 'Allo, he built a performance that was indelible in our eyes. Thus, when he turned up in a big Hollywood thriller as the President of Russia, we unsuccessfully stifled a guffaw. A big guffaw.

And it got us thinking: what other times has a British sitcom star appeared out of the blue in a big movie, causing a sedentary double take from the comfort of our local Odeon? Glad you asked.

Two things. Firstly, this isn't designed to be a complete list, and also, we've covered films made after the actor or actress confirmed rose to prominence in a sitcom. Oh, and another thing: none of...

Born from a conversation between Austin Film Society programmer Lars Nilsen and local actor/filmmaker Jonny Mars, a new Afs recurring series starts in July: "That's Genius." In the words of Nilsen, the film series will serve as "a way for film professionals to share works that they [think represent] 'genius' in the world of some film discipline."

Austin filmmakers David and Nathan Zellner -- who directed the features Kid-Thing and Goliath -- have selected the inaugural movie in this series: the 1982 animated movie The Plague Dogs [tickets], which screens on Thursday, July 25 at the Marchesa. The Zellners will host the event, and filmmaker Martin Rosen will attend for a post-screening Q&A.

The Plague Dogs, which Rosen adapted from the novel by Richard Adams, follows two dogs who escape from a lab that has been performing tests on them. As a result of the experiments the lab has been running on animals,...

By Raymond Benson

We expect nothing less than greatness from that Cadillac of DVD/Blu-Ray labels, The Criterion Collection, and this month’s releases do not disappoint. I’m betting that even hardcore Cinema Retro readers may not have seen these two brilliant classics—one a silent film from 1923, the other a British work of wonder from 1936—both containing jaw-dropping visuals that will amaze even the most cynical of cinema aficionados.

First up—Safety Last!, the film for which actor Harold Lloyd will be most remembered. Lloyd was often called “the third genius” (after Chaplin and Keaton), and his works were not readily available to Baby Boomers because he had refused to sell them to television at the low price he was offered. Lloyd always felt his films were worth more, and rightly so. This was a guy who made many more pictures than either Chaplin or Keaton and transitioned...

With Bullet to the Head Sylvester Stallone has done what his action movie compadre did recently with The Last Stand. He has reinvented himself, post-Expendables, in his own image. That is the action hero persona which thrived in the 80s, was tempered in the decade following as the unease surrounding the relentless violence inherent in the films grew, and then through an almost self-parodic journey ended with the battle royale supercast of The Expendables.

With Arnie’s The Last Stand and Stallone’s Bullet to the Head the action hero is back and what is refreshing is that the advancing years of the two stars is no barrier, indeed is in some way integral to the characters.

The two actors will forever be linked to several of their more prominent roles. Their names will immediately conjure up the actors in the various films; The Terminator, Rocky Balboa, Conan, John Rambo and so on.

British comedy may not be in quite as healthy a position as it used to be, but for good reason classic shows like Fawlty Towers, Only Fools & Horses and Rising Damp are still counted as among the best British TV products of all time, while relatively newer shows like The Inbetweeners, The Office and Shameless have inspired Us spin-offs. The success of the shows relies on the strength of their writing and even more so the appeal of their characters – they are the charismatic anchors who inspire audiences to return, with eminently quotable catch-phrases and immediately recognisable quirks.

As a lifelong lover of British comedy, I’ve created a list of 50 characters (no more than one per show) representing what I feel to be the best of the genre. So without further ado, I present in alphabetical order The 50 Greatest Fictional UK TV Comedy Characters of All Time.

1. Sir Humphrey Appleby – Yes,...

Outstanding actor of stage and screen who made his name as Bri in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg

The British theatre changed for ever when Joe Melia, as the sardonic teacher Bri, pushed a severely disabled 10-year-old girl in a wheelchair on to the stage of the Glasgow Citizens in May 1967 and proceeded to make satirical jokes about the medical profession while his marriage was disintegrating. The play was Peter Nichols's A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, which transformed the way disability was discussed on the stage. It made the names overnight of its author, the director Michael Blakemore, and Melia. Albert Finney took over the role of Bri on Broadway.

Flat-footed, slightly hunched, always leaning towards a point of view, Melia, who has died aged 77, was a distinctive and compassionate actor who brought a strain of the music hall to the stage, a sense of being an outsider.