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Matthew Vaughn in Talks With Potential ‘Kick-Ass 2′ Writer/Director

Rob Keyes — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:54:54 +0000

One of the surprise hits among critics last year was the adaption of Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.’s Kick-Ass comic book mini-series. The Rated R superhero comedy of sorts was directed by Matthew Vaughn without studio backing due to fears about the riskiness of its extreme and controversial content.

Vaughn raised the money himself and after debuting a few Kick-Ass clips at San Diego Comic-Con, there was immediate interest and it was picked up by Lionsgate shortly thereafter. It opened in theaters on April 16, 2010 and brought in just under $100 million at the worldwide box office. So, what’s up with Kick-Ass 2?

With mostly positive reviews, strong word of mouth and home video sales, fans (and cast members) have since demanded a sequel, but there’s been a serious lack of movement on the project. After the release of Kick-Ass, Vaughn was recruited by Bryan Singer – ...

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Matthew Vaughn Considering Multiple Mark Millar Comic Projects

Sandy Schaefer — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:04:53 +0000

It’s almost a certainty that a sequel to this past summer’s X-Men: First Class will actually happen, at some point. However, the film’s director (Matthew Vaughn) isn’t waiting around for that comic book project – instead, he’s eying a couple of other superhero-oriented titles concocted by original Kick-Ass comic writer, Mark Millar.

The bad news for some fans is that Kick-Ass 2 isn’t one of the Millar projects Vaughn has his eye on. However, adaptations of the (somewhat) controversial writer’s comic Superior and upcoming graphic novel release, The Secret Service, are both being considered as possibilities for Vaughn’s next directorial effort.

We received confirmation a couple weeks ago that Vaughn has gone ahead and purchased the screen rights to Superior, which reads as somewhat of a change-of-pace for Miller – a writer ...

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Mark Millar Gives ‘Kick-Ass 2′ Updates; Matthew Vaughn Unlikely to Direct

Rob Frappier — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:03:32 +0000

Comic book writer Mark Millar is riding high on the success of his darkly comic superhero series Kick-Ass. The second part of the trilogy, which follows wannabe superhero and high-school student Dave Lizewski in his awkward attempts to fight crime, is currently in its third issue (out of a seven issue miniseries) and has consistently been a top-seller.

Of course, much of Millar’s success comes in large part from the popularity of the Kick-Ass film, which was directed by Matthew Vaughn. In addition to strong performances from its leads, including a starring turn from Chloe Moretz as the vicious child assassin Hit-Girl, it was Vaughn’s stylish direction that helped Kick-Ass make such a successful leap from the page to the big screen.

That’s why Millar must be pained to finally ...

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Why Do You Care if Critics Hate the Movies You Like?

Paul Young — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 05:50:40 +0000

[With all the heated discussion over our Green Lantern review (and pretty much any other superhero movie these days), we thought it might be an opportune time to resurrect this article from last year - Ed.]

“Opinions are like armpits – everyone has them and some of them stink,” so the old adage goes. This phrase rings doubly true when it comes to movie critics and their reviews of films.

The word “critic” is derived from the word “critique” which is defined by Dictionary.com as “a criticism or critical comment on some subject.” Film critics in general simply critique a movie based on their personal feelings and experiences. Why then do people get totally upset when a review for a film goes in the complete opposite direction of their personal experiences?

In other words: Why do people care if critics hate the movies they like?

In ...

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Inception Leads 2011 Saturn Award Nominees

Ross Miller — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:57:31 +0000

As we edge ever closer to the biggest movie award ceremony around, the Oscars, we have another set of nominations to mull over: The 37th Annual Saturn Awards.

While the Oscars, Golden Globes and the BAFTAs tend to recognize the more “serious” films (some would say in a way that is out of touch), award ceremonies like the Saturn Awards nominate films that average moviegoers would likely champion as their favorites of the year – not to mention the ceremony also recognizes the best TV shows and DVD release the year had to offer.

Last year the Saturn Awards were dominated by a little film called Avatar (you may have heard of it), but as you’ll see below fan favorite Inception dominates things this year with a whopping nine nominations, while other popular films like ...

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Return of the Sidekick – The Time is Now

Paul Young — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:20:32 +0000

Sidekicks have been a part of television and movie history since the very beginning of Hollywood’s timeline. Going back as far as Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid where the Tramp’s sidekick was a young Jackie Coogan as ”the kid”, sidekicks have been a popular and necessary part of any hero’s known associates.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when the first sidekick appeared in cinema history, but one thing is for sure, most leading men or women wouldn’t be near as interesting, and sometimes, as effective without them. Recently Hollywood has made a legitimate effort to bring back the classic sidekick in shows like No Ordinary Family and movies like Kick-Ass and of course, The Green Hornet. But in order for the sidekick to make a proper return there are some questions we must answer: Why are ...

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2011 People’s Choice Awards Winners

Anthony Ocasio — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:45:07 +0000

For 37 years, the People’s Choice Awards has been celebrating the fan favorites in film, television and music. In preparation for tonight’s awards ceremony, over 35 million votes were cast by the American public in hopes that their favorite film, television series, actor or musician will take home this coveted award.

For the second year in a row, the multifaceted Queen Latifah will be serving as host of this fanatical gala. With over 43 separate categories having to fit within the given timeslot, something tells me that Queen Latifah is going to be forced to move things along at a swift pace in order to fit each category within the 2-hour time-limit.

Fortunately, no matter what happens, Screen Rant will here with as many of our writers as possible to participate in a live chat of the People’s ...

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Our Favorite Movies of 2010

Sandy Schaefer — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 22:55:01 +0000

We’ve spent the last few days carrying on about the worst films of 2010 and the biggest disappointments in the hopes of healing our and your collective psyches from the damage sustained after watching inane movies like Jonah Hex or Furry Vengeance (*shudder*).

Now we turn our attention to the high points of 2010 – namely, the movies that met or exceeded our expectations and entertained us enough so as to earn a permanent spot on our personal favorites films list.

While a favorite movies list does not strictly correspond with a best movies list (case in point – flicks like Citizen Kane or The Seventh Seal aren’t traditionally considered proper choices for a fun Saturday night viewing), there’s certainly a good deal of crossover between the two. A number of this year’s ...

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The Top 10 Movie Moments of 2010

Kofi Outlaw — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:19:41 +0000

As 2010 comes to an end, most sites are busy compiling top 10 lists ranking the best films of the year. While I always appreciate a good top 10 movie list, I’ve slowly come around to the opinion that at year’s end, it’s not just the discussion of entire films that dominates the talk around my holiday dinner table, but also the best scenes and/or moments that stuck in moviegoers’ minds.

So, following in the tradition started by our list of the best movie moments of 2009, I’d once again like to submit to you, the readers, Screen Rant’s top 10 movie moments of 2010.

This was an odd year in cinema. 2010 started off with moviegoers still caught up in the phenomenon of James Cameron’s Avatar; people were wondering ...

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‘Avatar’ Tops List of Most Pirated Movies in 2010

Mike Eisenberg — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:10:54 +0000

There are plenty of threats to the entertainment industry every year, but movie piracy consistently comes up as the biggest. Authorities continue to seek avenues to shut down the illegal downloading of movies, but apparently it is not enough. In 2010, nearly 100 million downloads were recorded – and those were just the top ten most pirated movies of the year.

The misconception with pirated movies is that those who watch on their computer are not actually going to the theater. For the most part, we can assume this is true. But when a film like Avatar comes in at the top spot with 16.5 million illegal downloads, one must wonder how many of those people also contributed to the movie’s record-breaking $2.7 billion at the worldwide box office.

On the other end of the spectrum is
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2010 Scream Award Nominations

Ross Miller — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:18:13 +0000

We’re now into awards season once more (time flies, doesn’t it?), with the Emmys having come and gone already. Now we have the annual 2010 Scream Awards which celebrates the more fan-friendly type of movies and TV shows that the Oscars and the Emmys might not honor. And the great thing is YOU get to vote for the winners!

Last year they honored such fan-favorites as Star Trek, Watchmen and Fringe with nominations, which I’m sure pleased many of you. Even if they still nominate some questionable movies, there’s no doubting that for the most part, the Scream Awards are a lot more in line with the majority of the movie going audience who pay to see movies purely to be entertained.

Even if the Scream Awards tend to honor the “right” movies however, this year’s ...

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The 10 Great Performances by a Child Actor

Mike Eisenberg — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:44:23 +0000

Many directors have spoken openly about the difficulties of working with child actors. Every once in awhile, however, a child actor brings forth a tour de force nobody saw coming and puts those directors to shame. Today, we’ve compiled our ten favorite U.S. performances of all time by a child actor.

There are plenty of fantastic performances to choose from, but few have the power to truly take over a movie. On the other hand, how many times have you cringed at every word spoken by an unseasoned child actor?

Still, experience is irrelevant in this situation. Regardless of the number of Gerber baby food commercials a youngster has starred in, their age dictates they have yet to put ‘the real work in’ as the saying goes. Expectations are almost always low and that is what makes the following ...

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Why ‘Kick Ass’ is Kicking Butt in DVD/Blu-ray Sales

Roth Cornet — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:27:27 +0000

Lionsgate announced yesterday that Kick Ass “proved dominant across all revenue channels this past week.” The film debuted in the number one position in DVD and Blu-ray sales – as well as the top movie download on iTunes since its release August 3rd.

The critical success of Kick-Ass hinted at the potential for excellent performance in home entertainment sales. While it wasn’t a huge surprise, for many of us, it offers a welcome sense of validation. Those of us who believed in the film’s potential for ‘cult’ success were rewarded with quantifiable proof this week.

Last April, there was much ado about nothing with regard to the film’s “failure at the box office.” In fact, the film was only a “failure” when measured against the inflated projections for opening weekend ...

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DVD/Blu-ray Breakdown: August 3rd, 2010

Mike Eisenberg — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:22:36 +0000

This week’s home video releases finally give us a reason to break out that dusty wallet. While there are no blockbusters in the mix, there is plenty to look forward to screening on that living room television.

From child superheroes to wet gangsters and wimpy kids, this week’s releases kick off August very well. Considering next week is almost entirely comedic releases, this is a good chance to get your action fix or fill of corruption.

All of the following movies are currently available on DVD and Blu-ray:

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NEW RELEASES

Kick-Ass – One of the best movies of 2010 has finally reached home video. When we reviewed Kick-Ass, our own Kofi Outlaw gave it a 4.5 out of 5 stars. While ...

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Mark Millar Talks ‘Kick-Ass 2′

Chris Schrader — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:23:34 +0000

[This article contains SPOILERS about Kick-Ass!]

Even before the film adaptation of his comic book Kick-Ass was released, writer Mark Millar was already talking to the cast and director Matthew Vaughn about his plans for a sequel. Most of the information being shared was simply hearsay, but the consensus seemed to be that regardless of the specifics, Kick-Ass 2 would most definitely be a darker story than its predecessor.

Speaking with MovieWeb about the DVD and Blu-ray release of Kick-Ass, Millar confirms he’s in the middle of writing his follow-up to the comic and hopes to have it finished by Christmas. He expects cameras to start rolling on its celluloid counterpart in April, as soon as Vaughn is finished with directorial duties on X-Men: First Class.

As for the plot of Kick-Ass ...

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Comic-Con 2010 Friday Schedule: Our Film Panel Picks

Rob Frappier — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:44:00 +0000

Yesterday, we dissected the opening day schedule for the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con. So far things look great, with a lot of awesome panels both in the world of TV and in the world of film. Today, we’re taking a look at the schedule for Day Two of Comic-Con 2010. Check below to see our top movie panel picks for Friday, July 23rd.

Once you’re done penciling in your Friday plans, don’t forget to check back here at Screen Rant on Saturday and Sunday as well to see the Day Three and Day Four schedules.

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Drive Angry 3D Panel and Footage

10:30-11:30 Summit Entertainment: Drive Angry 3D in Hall H

A vengeful father hunts down the people who brutally killed his daughter and kidnapped her baby in the newest film shot ...

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Aaron Johnson Reportedly Locked For X-Men: First Class [Updated]

Rob Keyes — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:17:18 +0000

Just over a month ago, Kick-Ass star Aaron Johnson was spotted having lunch with Matthew Vaughn and James McAvoy who had recently signed to play Professor X in X-Men: First Class. With Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn helming the X-Men prequel, the obvious connection was made and speculation put Johnson as a possible candidate to play Cyclops, the leader of the X-Men.

This wasn’t the only connection however, as Bryan Singer (who was directing X-Men: First Class but is now only producing) had met with with Aaron Johnson as well for Jack the Giant Killer – a movie Singer is directing and using to help find candidates to play roles such as Cyclops and Jean Grey in First Class.

Now, reports are surfacing that indicate Johnson ...

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For Father’s Day: Our 15 Favorite Movie Dads

Paul Young — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:59:59 +0000

Everyone has a dad but not everyone has a father. Anyone can bring a child into this world, but it takes a true man to be a father. Fathers aren’t always perfect either, which is what makes them so special. They have their flaws just like everyone else – but they try to overcome those flaws for the sake of their children.

Movie fathers, for the most part, are exactly the same way. I’m not talking about the Al Bundy or Peter Griffin buffoon father figures that get laughs by acting un-father-like. I’m talking about the forthright, honest, dependable and yes, sometimes flawed men that have inspired us onscreen to be better fathers in real life.

So while we at Screen Rant take today to spend it with our fathers (if they haven’t passed away), and/or with our children, for your reading ...

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Weekend Movie News Wrap Up: May 9, 2010

Niall Browne — Sun, 09 May 2010 14:08:39 +0000

This weekend:

Iron Man blasts to the top of the box office; This Means War for Chris Pine; Kevin Durand feels Real Steel and learns to count to Four; NBC just loved J.J Abrams and the Undercovers; Rob Minkoff goes on a Chinese Odyssey; Hayden Christensen cracks The Genesis Code and there’s lots, lots more!

Box Office

Iron Man 2 blasted into the top of top of the box office over the weekend. The Robert Downey Jr superhero pic grossed an estimated $135 million. The start comes hot on the heels of the sequel’s impressive international debut last week. Jon Favreau’s first Iron Man movie opened to $102 million in 2008. The Marvel hero’s debut was in line with studio expectations , and it should rank in the top five starts of all time, behind The Dark Knight, Spider-Man 3 and Twilight: New Moon. The film has now banked$300 ...

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Kick-Ass 2 Shooting Next Year for 2012 Release Date

Rob Keyes — Wed, 05 May 2010 11:24:08 +0000

Now that Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn has signed with 20th Century Fox to direct X-Men: First Class this summer, when will he get to work on Kick-Ass 2?

Kick-Ass creator and writer Mark Millar is launching a new mainstream comic magazine in the UK titled CLiNT and in its first issue, he’ll be kicking off the sequel to Kick-Ass to continue the comic book series which will eventually form the basis for the story of the Kick-Ass movie sequel.

Understandably, Matthew Vaughn has a lot of offers coming in and several projects on the go for the next few years. According to the official statement regarding CLiNT magazine and the Kick-Ass sequel, production will begin next year.

“‘Kick-Ass 2: Balls To The Wall’ has been scheduled for production in ...

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