Lockout Movie Passes Giveaway (Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa & Winnipeg)

Image courtesy of Alliance Films

Want a chance to win movie passes and see up the upcoming scifi/action flick Lockout starring Guy Pearce? Look no further because we have passes to giveaway for advance screenings in Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa & Winnipeg!

Lockout Synopsis: "MS One is an experimental prison in space where the 500 most dangerous criminals on planet Earth are kept in an artificial sleep. Leading a humanitarian mission, the daughter of the US president, Emilie Warnock (Maggie Grace) arrives on board the station, just as an unprecedentedly violent mutiny breaks out. Emilie and the crew of MS One are taken hostage by the inmates. President Warnock decides to send Agent Snow (Guy Pierce) to MS One with the sole mission of saving Emilie and nobody else..."

Lockout stars Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Peter Stormare and is directed by James Mather & Stephen St. Leger.

Toronto Screening Details:
Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2012; Showtime: 7:30 PM
Location: Scotiabank Theatre - Toronto, 259 Richmond Street West in Toronto, ON M5V 3M6
Click here for Toronto Screening & Enter PIN of TOMOXIELOCKOUT

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Halifax Screening Details:
Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2012; Show Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Empire Bayers Lake, 190 Chain Lake Drive in Halifax, NS B3S 1C5
Click here for Halifax Screening & Enter PIN of HALMOXIELOCKOUT

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Ottawa Screening Details:
Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2012; Show Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Coliseum, 3090 Carling Ave in Ottawa, ON K2B 7K2
Click here for Ottawa Screening & Enter PIN of OTTMOXIELOCKOUT

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Winnipeg Screening Details:
Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2012; Show Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Empire Grant Park 8, 1120 Grant Avenue, Unit 127 in Winnipeg, MB R3M 2A6
Click here for Winnipeg Screening & Enter PIN of WINMOXIELOCKOUT

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There are a limited number of passes for the screenings, so act quick!

Missed your chance? See Lockout in theatres when it opens in wide release on April 13, 2012!

Thank you to Alliance Films for the movie passes giveaway - hip hip, hooray!

Lockout Trailer:

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame Smith (Book Review)

Book: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Reason to Read: March Book Selection for the 2012 Movie Moxie Book to Film Club

It's funny how out of all of this years selections this is the one that has caused the most excitement and I admit even the title makes me laugh; plus out of all the mash-ups recently from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters its the first with a film adaptations so I knew I had to include it in the 2012 Movie Moxie Book to Film Club.

I'm a huge fan of vampire books and films, although I do stray more to the paranormal romance angle over hunters and history but I decided to go in with an open mind. One of the things about the book that intrigued me the most was the fact that it is epistolary-style (defined as collection of documents which can include diaries entries, clippings, letters, etc); but I didn't end up finding that as intriguing as it felt. I loved the idea and the actual diary entries that were included but I found the combination of styles confusing, even though it wasn't often used. I often felt disoriented not knowing whose perspective we were reading from or if it was a memory, story, or current action. I don't think I've ever experienced that before while reading, which made it a challenge to get into the groove of it.

It was also a big reminder for me that I although I love watching horror film, I rarely enjoy reading horror - it feels way more deep seated to read something gross than see it and this book had some extremely visceral descriptions that creeped me out. I was surprized that it had a 'message' feel to it, which shouldn't have been a surprized given that it follow Abraham Lincoln but I'll put that to the fact that very intrigued by history.

That being said, I am really looking forward to the adaptation, a lot due to the fact that I love the director Timur Bekmambetov who brought us the visually stunning films Night Watch / Nochnoi Dozor, Day Watch / Dnevnoy Dozor and Wanted. I think the highly styled action will be fantastic and I'm very much looking forward to someone else's take on the book, because it didn't do much for me. I'm completely unfamiliar with star Benjamin Walker who plays Abraham Lincoln so that will be interesting to see what he does with the role. I did see the trailer on the big screen recently in front of The Hunger Games and it looked freaking awesome. It was clear from the crowd though that they were mostly unfamiliar with the film as it got quite a vocal (and somewhat confused) reaction. They should join the Book to Film Club, and then they'd all be in the know!

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter will be released on June 22, 2012.

Film Fan Fridays for Friday April 6, 2012

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday April 6, 2012!


Posters: Fightville / The Moth Diaries & Bully (Courtesy of Alliance Films)

The vast majority of our releases this week are limited release (7 out of 8!) and there is lots to choose from including 4, count 'em 4, Canadian films. Starting here at home those Canadian films including The Girl in the White Coat and Lovers in a Dangerous Time, plus two co-pros of the Canadian/Irish boarding school/vampire The Moth Diaries (I have to see this one!) and China/Canada co-pro documentary The Vanishing Spring Light. If documentaries are your thing there are even more to choose from including the MMA doc Fightville which I have been very much looking forward to, plus we have awareness doc that's Bully which has been getting lots of attention not only for the subject matter, but also for it's rating controversy in the States (Bully is rated PG here on Ontario; see the parameters of that rating here). Last up for limited releases is The Salt of Life / Gianni e le donne, a sequel to Mid-August Lunch.

In wide release this week we have only one film taking on a larger number of screens and that is American Reunion, a part of the American Pie series and has it really been long enough for them to reunite? Wow.


Images: Lovers in a Dangerous Time Still & American Reunion Poster

Have a great holiday weekend & a fabulous Good Friday!

Shannon

Festival Watch

Reel World Film Festival
12th annual festival celebrating diversity in film, video, and new media
April 11 - 15, 2012 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

TIFF Kids International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival for Children and Youth
April 10 - 22, 2012 at TIFF Lightbox in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Friday April 6, 2012 Releases

American Reunion
Writers/Directors: Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg (Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay)
Cast: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Seann William Scott, Mena Suvari, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Jennifer Coolidge, Eugene Levy, Natasha Lyonne, Shannon Elizabeth
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Bully
Dir: Lee Hirsch (Act of Honor, Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony)
Documentary
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Fightville
Dir: Petra Epperlein & Michael Tucker (Gunner Palace)
Documentary
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

The Girl in the White Coat
Writer/Dir: Darrell Wasyk (Mustard Bath, H)
Cast: Pascale Montpetit, Joey Klein, Monique Mercure, Julien Poulin
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

Lovers in a Dangerous Time
Writers/Directors: May Charters & Mark Hug - feature film directorial debuts
Cast: Mark Hug, May Charters, Gillian Adamson, Saskia Gould
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Moth Diaries
Dir: Mary Harron (American Psycho)
Cast: Lily Cole, Scott Speedman, Sarah Bolger, Sarah Gadon, Judy Parfitt
Canada/Ireland
Limited Release
No Official Film Site Found, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Salt of Life / Gianni e le donne
Dir: Gianni di Gregorio (Mid-August Lungh)
Cast: Gianni di Gregorio, Valeria de Franciscis Bendoni , Alfonso Santagata, Elisabetta Piccolomini
Italy
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Vanishing Spring Light
Dir: Xun Yu - feature film directorial debut
Documentary
Canada/China
Limited Release
Official Facebook Page, IMDb Page, No Trailer Found

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of April 6, 2012**

The Moth Diaries Movie Passes Giveaway to Advance Screening

Image: Courtesy of Alliance Films

Want to chance to win movie passes giveaway for an advance screening of upcoming vampire film The Moth Diaries this Thursday April 5, 2012 here in Toronto?

Here is how you can enter for a chance to win (2 ways!):
1. Join any one of my mailing lists by 12noon EST today (April 4, 2012), and reply to the giveaway email between noon and 5pm. Winners will be selected at random and contacted tonight (April 4, 2012).
2. Like the Movie Moxie Facebook Fan Page and keep an eye on it tonight (April 4, 2012) for an additional chance to win.

The Moth Diaries is directed by Mary Harron (American Psycho) and stars Lily Cole, Scott Speedman, Sarah Bolger and Sarah Gadon.

Here's the synopsis: "At an exclusive girls' boarding school, a sixteen year-old girl records her most intimate thoughts in a diary. The object of her growing obsession is her roommate, Lucy Blake, and Lucy's friendship with their new and disturbing classmate, Ernessa. Around her swirl dark rumors, suspicions, and secrets as well as a series of ominous disasters. As fear spreads through the school and Lucy isn't Lucy anymore, fantasy and reality mingle until what is true and what is dreamed bleed together into a waking nightmare that evokes with gothic menace the anxieties, lusts, and fears of adolescence. At the center of the diary is the question that haunts all who read it, "Is Ernessa really a vampire?" "

The Moth Diaries opens in Toronto on April 6, 2012.


Lily Cole stars in The Moth Diaries, an Alliance Films release. Photo Credit: MD (Québec) Productions Inc.

DVD Release for April 3, 2012

Time to take a look at a selection of DVD releases for Tuesday April 3, 2012!


Images: War Horse 2DiscBlurayCombo -© Disney. All Rights Reserved / Todd and The Book of Evil Season 2 & Chasing Madoff Courtesy of eOne Films

• Tyrannosaur Brilliant directorial debut from Paddy Considine taking a really heavy drama and giving it a lot of heart and humanity through a formidable cast of character played by Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman & Eddie Marsan.
• Being Elmo: A Puppeteers Journey An inspiring journey into the life of muppeteer Kevin Clash; a wonderful portrayal of creativity, art, love and mentoring.
• We Bought a Zoo I really, really want to see this can't possible sound like it's really based-on-a-true-story inspiring tale about a family who literally does, buy a zoo.
• War Horse World War I story of a boy and his horse, and I've heard this one really is a tear jerker.
• The Real MASH A thoughtful and insightful documentary on the stories, inspiration and effect of the power behind the TV show M*A*S*H (not currently available on Amazon.com)
• Misfits Series 3 (Blu-Ray only) This UK series is very high on my need to see list, and I almost don't even want to share it's release because it reminds me I'm behind on my watching! But that would be unfair as I'm sure many will be excited to get it in their hot little hands.
• Todd and the Book of Pure Evil Season 2 This Canadian high school set supernatural horror comedy is just a hair off of my tastes (it's very *guy*); but the commercials always make me laugh. For the US folks out there, the DVDs for Season 2 are not yet available south of the border but Season 2 has started to air on Amazon Instant Video on an episode by episode basis.
• Torchwood Miracle Day Doctor Who spin off and this forth season (series for the UK folks) is a UK/USA co-production and centres on the mystery where anyone who could have died, doesn't. Leave it to those Brits to freak us out by ideas alone!
• The Odds Canadian card sharking (I think that's a sub genre - I can think of at least 3 films) film I really want to check out.
• Chasing Madoff documentary based on the book Harry Markopolos about unveiling a Ponzi scheme.
• I also want to give special mention to The Corridor, which although not currently available on DVD this Canadian high-concept scifi/speculative fiction story about a bunch of regular guys who encounter something extraordinary is now available via Bell VOD, Cogeco, MTS, Rogers, SaskTel, Shaw VOD, Telus, VCC, Videotron, iTunes, Sony, Xbox, Google, RODO (see more details here) as well as instant video on Amazon.com (US).

Titles on Amazon.ca(Canada):


Titles on Amazon.com (US):

Book to Film Club April Reading: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Book to Film Club April Reading Selection: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

I'm really excited about this month's selection: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I've never read it before and it definitely falls in the category of must-books and I think all the literary ladies in my life love it. I wanted to write lurve it, but correct spelling felt more appropriate than enthusiasm in this particular instance. I know almost nothing about it, and it's a bit of a gamble as the film is still very much in the early stages (although is noted as 2012), and as of yet doesn't have a director attached. I'm not worried though, as if it takes it's time to come to us it will put us ahead of the curve when it arrives.

Happy Reading!

Join the Movie Moxie Book to Film Club at any time. For title announcements, Book to Film Club news and monthly selections you can sign up for email updates here. Our final three books and entire year schedule will be announced very soon.

Book to Film Club March Wrap Up: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Book to Film Club March Reading Wrap Up: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Wow, I have to admit this one was a challenge for me. I found the epistolary-style (collection of documents which can include diaries entries, clippings, letters, etc) confusing and I didn't quite connect to the characters including protagonist Abraham Lincoln (yes, the 16th US president), who plays the vampire hunter. But, I could easily sense the love of history in it and I imagine if they get visceral in tone just right it could be quite brilliant. I'll look forward to seeing the film adaptation and interpretation, and I have a feeling with this one I'll like the film better than the book!

Things to ponder on the book:

• Did you enjoy reading it?
• Was it what you were expecting?
• What did you know about the book before reading it?
• What did you think of the epistolary-style?
• Did you enjoy the historical mash-up perspective?
  
• What did you take away from reading the book?
• Is there anything you would change about the book?
• Who would you recommend the book to?
• Did you feel about the characters & their challenges?
• What do think about how it combined genres?
• Did you enjoy the horror elements? The historical elements?
  

About the upcoming film adaptation:

• How do you feel about the casting of the film?
• What tone do you think they'll take?
  
• What do you hope to be the focus of the film?
• What do you think is essential to keep from the book in the film?
• What do you think they can trim away from the book to the film?
• What do you think the challenges of the adaptation may be?
• Do you have any hesitations on the adaptation?
• What are you most looking forward to about the film adaptation?

If this was a re-read:

• How did reading it this time compare with your previous time reading it?
• Did you notice anything different this time round?
• Did your interest and focus stay on the same characters and moments, or shift?

Film Adaptation
The film version will be directed by the amazing Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch / Nochnoi Dozor, Day Watch / Dnevnoy Dozor, Wanted). Casting includes stars Benjamin Walker as Abraham Lincoln, Dominic Cooper as Henry Sturgess, as well as Alan Tyduk, Rufus Sewell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead & Anthony Mackie. You can check out the trailer here and there are also tons of videos, tours, Q&A's and interviews with cast, crew and even author Seth Grahame-Smith.

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter will be released on June 22, 2012.