News

Actor Waymond Lee, known for his role in Workaholics, has passed away. He was 72 years old.

Per TMZ, Lee died on Wednesday, Dec. 18, with his passing confirmed by his sister, Norine Lee, and his wife, Diane. According to his loved ones, Lee's passing was attributed to complications from Als, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The actor was first diagnosed with a degenerative brain disease in October, though it wasn't until earlier this month when he was diagnosed with Als.

Lee's family also stated that the actor was able to return home for a little over a week after his updated diagnosis, but returned to the hospital when he had difficulties with breathing and swallowing. After spending a little under a week hospitalized, he died with his wife by his side. His family added that Lee will be remembered as a "soft-hearted" and "sentimental person" who always loved his work as an actor,...

After five long years, Jessica Alba makes her triumphant feature film return with Netflix’s Trigger Warning. This is her first role since the ill-advised Killers Anonymous and her first onscreen role since the Bad Boys television spin-off, L.A.’s Finest (which was under the Spectrum Original banner, believe it or not). Yes, a lot has happened during the time Alba entertained the masses.

Yet, why does her triumphant return have to be Trigger Warning instead of Honey 2? Besides being in development hell for four years, this film is straight ripped from the genre that gives stars comebacks nowadays. It used to be horror, and now, the revenge thriller has been all the rage as of late.

The question is, will Alba’s film be the good (Reacher), the bad (think any Liam Neeson film from the past decade or two), or the ugly (Peppermint)?

Jessica Alba in Trigger Warning...

Rhys Frake-Waterfield's "Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey" took advantage of A.A. Milne's beloved 1926 children's novel lapsing into the public domain, wresting control of the titular character from the claw-like clutches of the Disney corporation. Frake-Waterfield, to squeeze out any sense of treacly sentimentality that Winnie-the-Pooh possessed, elected to re-imagine the silly ol' bear as a vicious mute murderer picking off hapless 20-somethings in a remote manse in the English countryside. It seems that when Christopher Robin grew up, he left Pooh and his pals in the woods without the means to feed themselves. Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, and the others quickly resorted to cannibalism, went feral, and swore to kill any humans who crossed their path.

While one might appreciate the legal temerity Frake-Waterfield took, transforming kiddie corporate IP into publicly-owned bloody mayhem, "Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey" was a pretty forthrightly terrible film. The film only cost $100,000 to make and its cheapness is evident.

Rainn Wilson travels for a purpose — to find the happiest places on Earth. In the new Peacock docu-series “The Geography of Bliss,” the intrepid traveler traverses the globe in a humorous search for meaning. Based on Eric Weiner’s New York Times bestselling book, “The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World,” Wilson explores some of the happiest and unhappiest places on earth — from Iceland to Bulgaria to Ghana — in a profound and funny way that unpacks the science of happiness. All five episodes of the series will be available during Mental Health Awareness Month, beginning on May 18.

Watch the trailer for “The Geography of Bliss”:

Also arriving on the streaming service next month, Pete Davidson, Edie Falco, and Joe Pesci will star in “Bupkis,” a semi-autobiographical series about Davidson’s life. The show mixes reality and absurdity to capture the complexities...

Hulu have a whole host of new titles coming to the service this month, everything from zombie thrillers and screwball comedies to action romps and music documentaries. Suffice it to say, there’s a lot to look forward to on the streaming service over the next few weeks and below, you can find the entire rundown of what’s on the way. Ready to dive in?

Available June 1

Celebrity Family Feud: Season 6 Premiere (ABC)

Press Your Luck: Season 2 Premiere (ABC)

Match Game: Season 5 Premiere (ABC)

Children’s Hospital: Complete Series (Adult Swim)

Mike Tyson Mysteries: Complete Seasons 1-3 (Adult Swim)

10 Year Plan (2014)

4th Man Out (2015)

Above & Beyond (2014)

Almost Adults (2016)

Born to be Wild (2011)

Casino (1995)

Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)

Cliffhanger (1993)

Constantine (2005)

Dave (1993)

Digging for Fire (2015)

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)

Equilibrium (2002)

Fair Game (2010)

Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974)

Futureworld (1976)

Grown Ups (2010)

Happily N’Ever After (2007)

Happily N’Ever After 2...

Hulu is out with its list of everything coming and going on the streaming service in June.

Highlights include a new episode of the Hulu original anthology series “Into the Dark” called “Good Boy,” which follows Maggie (Judy Greer), who gets an emotional support dog for her anxiety — but little does she know, he kills anyone who adds stress to her life. Also, take a closer look at the hip-hop group Lin-Manuel Miranda was in before he did “Hamilton” in a new documentary called “We Are Freestyle Love Supreme.”

Leaving at the end of the month are classics like “Bend It Like Beckham,” “Blazing Saddles” and “Kill Bill” volumes one and two.

Below is the full list of everything coming and going throughout the month of June:

Also Read: Hulu Launches New Group Viewing Feature

June 1

Celebrity Family Feud: Season 6 Premiere (ABC)

Press Your Luck: Season 2 Premiere (ABC...

There are a lot of popular streaming platforms to choose from, but Hulu has always stood alongside Netflix as one of the two essentials for households looking for diversity in content. In the past, they’ve been known for focusing more heavily on newer television content, while Netflix has always offered a larger selection of sought-after films. But now, it looks like Hulu’s June lineup is only going to continue the service’s recent trend of providing high quality movies to bring itself in line with their competitor.

First up, you can get wholesome with Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, which tells the story of an investigative journalist who learns some hard life lessons from one of television’s most beloved personalities. You can then supplement that wholesomeness with My Girl and My Girl 2 for some wonderful 90s nostalgia.

Speaking of nostalgia, you won...

June 2020 is set to be a big month for the whole streaming Disney family. Not only will ESPN+ have the entirety of The Last Dance on its servers for late-adopting sports fans to catch up with, but Disney+ will be premiering its long-awaited Artemis Fowl film. Over on its biggest streaming service in Hulu, however, Disney is taking things a bit more slowly.

This month finds only three major original releases for Hulu. Animated medieval comedy Crossing Swords premieres on June 12, then Ya love story Love Victor and cooking show Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi both arrive on June 19. All in all, that’s not a bad haul for originals for the typically slow summer months.

June 1 sees a pretty impressive crop of movies coming to Hulu’s library as well. October Sky, The X-Files (1998), and Casino will all be ready to stream at the beginning of the month.

Netflix has confirmed that a whopping 66 new original series, movies and specials will be debuting on the streaming service in October. Leading off the lineup is the eagerly awaited “Breaking Bad” movie, which the streaming service is billing as a “television event.” Emmy winner Aaron Paul reprises his role as Jesse Pinkman, who is on the run as his past catches up with him. The first half of the sixth and final season of the cult favorite “Bojack Horseman” will also drop this month.

Two features with awards buzz are coming to Netflix just weeks after their debuts at the Toronto film festival: “The Laundromat,” Steven Soderbergh‘s wry satire about international financial fraud that showcases Oscar darling Meryl Streep; and “Dolemite Is My Name,” a vehicle for Eddie Murphy who portrays 1970s comedian Rudy Ray Moore.

In the lead-up to Halloween, Netflix is programming a slew of scary fare,...

Hulu is out with its list of new content coming in July, and highlights include the “Veronica Mars” revival and the series premiere of the new “Four Weddings and a Funeral.” We also have the list of everything that’s being removed from the streaming service at the end of July.

Season 1-3 of the original “Veronica Mars” series will be available starting July 1, so you can brush up on all the background knowledge you’ll need to fully enjoy Season 4 when it drops July 26, with Kristen Bell returning the starring role as the title character after almost 15 years. Here’s everything we know about the revival so far.

The new Mindy Kaling-produced “Four Weddings and a Funeral” series comes July 31, with “Game of Thrones” star Nathalie Emanuel in the lead role. Original star Andie MacDowell will return as a guest star.

Also Read: Summer TV Premiere Dates: Here's...

I'm sad to see this show go, but as the saying goes, "all good things must come to an end." There are two episodes left of The CW's The Vampire Diaries, and to give fans something to sink their teeth into one last time, the final season will be released on Blu-ray (with Digital HD) and DVD on June 13th.

Press Release (via TVShowsonDVD.com): Burbank, CA (February 22, 2017) - The Vampire Diaries sinks its teeth into its final season with more high-stakes romance, adventure and drama than ever before as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases The Vampire Diaries: The Eighth and Final Season on Blu-ray and DVD, on June 13, 2017. Fans can devour all 16 one-hour episodes from Season Eight, and feast on over one hour of gripping extras - including a brand-new featurette, the 2016 Comic-Con Panel, a retrospective special entitled, The Vampire Diaries: Forever Yours, and deleted scenes. The Vampire Diaries...

There’s some good news and some bad news when it comes to the October departures from Netflix. We’ll start with the bad news first. Back to the Future (1-3), The Warriors, and The Exorcist are all getting yanked on October 1. The good news is almost everything else is staying. Not to dismiss the cinematic accomplishments of Honey 2 or Congo, but the reality is these and their ilk probably won’t be missed by many. Check out the full list below. And when you’re done, click here to see what's coming. That’s what really matters anyway. October 1 10.0 Earthquake Back to the Future Back to the Future Part II Back to the Future Part III Beverly Hills Cop II Congo Deep Impact Erin Brockovich The Exorcist Heroes: Season 1­-4 Honey Honey 2 Insomnia Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius Mr. Deeds My Girl Nick of Time The Phantom...

Ving Rhames has joined the cast of the beat-the-clock indie Operator, directed by sibling duo Obin and Amariah Olson (Unknown Caller). Mischa Barton, Michael Pare, and Luke Goss also star in the action-thriller about a 911 operator and her estranged cop husband whose daughter is abducted, forcing them to dispatch the city’s police and fire units to remote locations at the kidnappers’ bidding. Timothy Woodward Jr. and Larry Olson are producers. Story is by the Brothers Olson, Dwain Worrell, and Anthony Feole, while script is credited to Feole, Worrell, and Amariah Olson. Rhames is also set to return to the Mission Impossible fold for M:i-5 alongside Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg and Jeremy Renner. He’s repped by Kramer Management.

Psychological thriller Threshold has set its cast with filming underway in L.A. Randy Wayne (To Save A Life, Honey 2), Trilby Glover (Righteous Kill), Leslie Stevens (A Chorus Line, The Young And The Restless...

Day 3 of Sdcc '14 marks the end of an era with "True Blood's" last panel. It's joined by fellow fangers "The Vampire Diaries," the witches of "Salem" and "Ahs: Coven," "Grimm," Sin City, "Constantine," Troma, and lots more.

Per usual, we have the horror highlights along with info on a few other panels that should be of general interest (plus a couple of things for the kids). Be sure to visit the official 2014 San Diego Comic-Con website for the full lineup.

Day 3: Saturday, July 26, 2014

10 Am - The Simpsons

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Simpsons-no gifts please-with creator Matt Groening, executive producer Al Jean, supervising director Mike Anderson, and director for life David Silverman. Topics include the new Treehouse of Horror, Simpsorama, a visit from Homer Simpson and much, much more.

Saturday July 26, 2014 10:00am - 10:45am - Ballroom 20

10 Am - Idw: Summer Blockbusters!

Idw...

San Diego Comic-Con has released the full schedule of events for Saturday, July 26, following the Thursday and Friday schedules that were released the past two days. You can clickHere to view the lineup in its entirety, which includes numerous comic book panels and events, but we have pulled out all of the movie, DVD and TV-related panels for your convenience.

San Diego Comic-Con has released the full schedule of events for Saturday, July 26, following the Thursday and Friday schedules that were released the past two days. You can clickHere to view the lineup in its entirety, which includes numerous comic book panels and events, but we have pulled out all of the movie, DVD and TV-related panels for your convenience.

Saturday, July 26

The Simpsons

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Simpsons-no gifts please-with creator Matt Groening, executive producer Al Jean, supervising director MikeAnderson, and director for life David Silverman.

The Saturday TV schedule at the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con is all about superheroes, witches, freaks and vampires. But mostly superheroes.  DC and Warner Bros. have cooked up a comicbook extravaganza, booking three straight hours in Hall H in order to show off the highly anticipated series "Gotham" (making its world premiere), "The Flash" and "Constantine," plus the hit returning series "Arrow." Meanwhile, fans will say goodbye to "True Blood," while "American Horror Story" will be making its Sdcc debut. Plus, "Family Guy" meets "The Simpsons," Syfy returns to the Con, and more.  "The Simpsons" The animated legend is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a panel focusing on the new Treehouse of Horror, Simpsorama, and much, much more. When: Saturday July 26, 2014 10:00am - 10:45am  Where: Ballroom 20 Who: Creator Matt Groening, executive producer Al Jean, supervising director MikeAnderson, and director David Silverman. "Once Upon a Time"  The cast and...

Get ready for more suspense, romance and thrills as the hit series The Vampire Diaries continues for a fifth season on DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack, as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group releases The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Fifth Season on September 9, 2014. Season Five is also available to purchase on Digital HD. Averaging nearly 4 million viewers in its fifth season, The Vampire Diaries remains The CW's #1 show among Adults and Women and will return for a sixth season on The CW this fall. Fans can sink their teeth into all 22 one-hour episodes from Season 5 (including the series' 100th episode!), plus over an hour of gripping extras - including three brand-new featurettes, deleted scenes and a gag reel. The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Fifth Season will be priced to own on DVD at $59.98 Srp and on Blu-ray Combo Pack at $69.97 Srp.

After a sizzling summer with Damon, Elena leaves...

Some early casting news for Season 5 of "The Vampire Diaries" has come our way in the form of a new potential suitor for Caroline along with a mysterious beauty who may cause trouble for Matt and Rebekkah.

Per TV Guide, Kendrick Sampson ("Greek") and Olga Fonda ("Himym," "Nikita") (both pictured below) have been tapped to recur on the upcoming season, which kicks off Thursday, October 10th.

Sampson will play Jesse, a fellow student whom Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Carolina (Candice Accola) meet at Whitmore College and who catches Caroline's eye. Meanwhile, Russian-born Fonda will play a mysterious European beauty who follows Rebekah (Claire Holt) and Matt (Zach Roerig) back to Mystic Falls. Both characters will first appear in the season premiere.

Look for lots more "Tvd" info soon coming out of next week's San Diego Comic-Con. Their panel takes place on July 20th:

4:30pm - The Vampire Diaries...

Comic Con hasn’t been strictly superheroes in a long, long time. We have scoured the schedule for this year’s event and have pulled out the dark, the bloody, the monstrous, and the ghostly panels that look to be right up FEARnet readers’s alley.

Paranormal Passion Panel

Authors discuss the inclusion of romantic elements in their action-packed novels. Protagonists must battle the forces of evil while trying to keep the world (and often their lovers) safe from destruction. Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy leads a discussion with Comic-Con special guest Christine Feehan (The Dark Series), Claudia Gray (Spellcaster), Aprilynne Pike (Earthbound), Lauren Kate (The Fallen Novels), Kendare Blake (Antigoddess), and Magnus Flyte (City of Dark Magic).

Thursday July 18, 2013 10:30am - 11:30am

Room 24Abc

Masters of the Web

Some of the most prominent and influential film pundits on the web discuss the film industry, writing for film online,...

The full Saturday, July 20th schedule for Comic-Con has been officially announced and includes panels for Bates Motel, Godzilla, True Blood, and much more. Continue reading for a list of Saturday’s horror events:

A&E Bates Motel: “The Bates Motel is open for business in San Diego! Executive producers Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Kerry Ehrin (Friday Night Lights) will release new footage from the highly acclaimed A&E drama series Bates Motel exclusively for Comic Con attendees. The executive producers will be joined by the cast, including Academy Award nominee Vera Farmiga (Norma Bates), Freddie Highmore (Norman Bates), Max Thieriot (Dylan), Olivia Cooke (Emma), and Nestor Carbonell (Sheriff Alex Romero) to discuss the show’s unique backstory and creation. Fans will get an opportunity to hear more about season 2, debuting in 2014 on A&E, and will have a chance to ask the cast and creators questions during a Q&A.

Comic-Con is releasing its daily schedules over this long holiday weekend and the schedule for Saturday, July 20 has just come out. The day features panels on TV favorites like How I Met Your Mother (at the Con for the first time!), True Blood, and The Vampire Diaries as well as upcoming shows like Dracula and The Originals, and much more. Many of the major film panels are Saturday, including a look at the upcoming Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the Marvel panel, which will feature the Thor and Captain America sequels, and WB and Legendary’s panel featuring Godzilla, and Gravity.

Saturday at Comic-Con is stacked with TV panels as CW hits including "The Vampire Diaries" and "Arrow" join fan favorites "Once Upon a Time," "Grimm," "Family Guy," "Bates Motel" and "Person of Interest," plus the Con debut of "How I Met Your Mother."

All that plus the CW's promising new series "The Tomorrow People" and "The Originals," more Fox animation, "Futurama," Syfy's "Warehouse 13" and "Being Human," NBC's "Revolution" and Cinemax's "Strike Back." Good luck trying to follow it all.

Check out the full Saturday schedule on the Comic-Con official site or peruse the TV panel highlights below:

"A&E Bates Motel" (10:00am - 11:00am, Room 6A): The Bates Motel is open for business in San Diego! Executive producers Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Kerry Ehrin (Friday Night Lights) will release new footage from the highly acclaimed A&E drama series Bates Motel exclusively for Comic Con attendees.

There's always one day during the Sdcc when you just shake your head, laugh, and say, "This schedule is ridiculous." Saturday, July 20th, is shaping up to be that day this year.

Horror fans will have a lot of choices to make as the "Bates Motel" panel battles the one-two punch of Godzilla and Seventh Son. Later in the day you'll be faced with choosing to learn more about "True Blood," Telltale's The Walking Dead video game, or "Being Human." Right now 20th Century Fox's presentation that runs at the same time remains "To Be Announced," but once details are revealed, we'll provide an update.

Other panels vying for your attention throughout the day are "The Originals," "Grimm," I, Frankenstein teamed with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (that combination should make for some interesting audience reactions), a look at gameplay from Dead Rising 3 on the Xbox One, more games, comics,...

The Vampire Diaries delivers another gripping season to home video on September 3, 2013, as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group releases The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Fourth Season on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD. Averaging nearly 4 million viewers in its fourth season, The Vampire Diaries remains The CW's #1 show among Adults and Women and will return for a fifth season on The CW this fall. Fans can feast on all 23 one-hour episodes from Season 4, plus over an hour of thrilling extras - including five brand-new featurettes, a fan gallery, deleted scenes and a gag reel. The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Fourth Season will be priced to own on DVD at $59.98 Srp and on Blu-ray Combo Pack at $69.97 Srp.

Season 4 starts off with everything in transition. Senior year is finally here, and Elena should be having the time of her life. Instead, she faces her worst nightmare, struggling with the painful transformation from human to vampire.

Matt Besser talks Freak Dance, on DVD this Tuesday, July 10th

There are dance movies. And then there's Freak Dance, the movie to end all dance movies, finally putting the genre back in its rightful place. Arriving on DVD this Tuesday, June 10th, Matt Besser and Neil Mahoney direct this whirlwind of flying feet and dance fights under the Upright Citizens Brigade banner, and it's a raucous musical comedy that will have you looking at Footloose and You Got Served in a whole new light.

Taking the clich&#233d construct held within such classics as Lambada and Step Up, the Ucb create their own indelible homage that is as timeless as Honey, and dare we say, funnier than Honey 2. It is sure to become a cult favorite amongst midnight movie freaks and Frank Sinatra fans alike.

We have an exclusive clip from this upcoming release, followed by an interview with Matt Besser.

It Was exactly 30 years ago yesterday (June 25) that John Carpenter's The Thing arrived on Us screens.

As it happens, that turned out to be a good date for sci-fi classics. Ridley Scott's Blade Runner also had its Us release on that same day in 1982.

Neither film did that well at the time, with some scathing reviews and disappointing ticket sales. The Thing opened at No8 in the box office charts and Blade Runner at No2, as both were eclipsed by the continued popularity of Spielberg's more uplifting, family-friendly alien adventure E.T the Extra-Terrestrial which had launched two weeks earlier.

But each has gained status over the years and in 2011, Matthijs van Heijningen Jr directed a prequel to The Thing that is now out on DVD and Blu-ray.

Exactly three decades after Carpenter's original, guest writer Adam Dolan takes a look at this latest revisit to the franchise to...

DVD or Blu-ray? Redbox or Netflix? Streaming? Whatever your poison, we've got the highlights and lowlights on the week's new releases -- as well a double-shot of exclusive Clint Eastwood clips from the new release "J. Edgar" and the 20th anniversary Blu-ray of "Unforgiven." Moviefone's Pick of the Week "Puss in Boots"(Friday, February 24) What's It About? Antonio Banderas' fan-favorite feline from the "Shrek' series gets his own movie. With Humpty Dumpty and the mysterious Kitty Softpaws at his side, the swashbuckling cat attempts to steal golden goose eggs from a giant's castle, and creates a whole new set of fractured fairy tale adventures. See It Because: Even if the "Shrek" series has worn thin, "Puss" has enough lively charm to feel like something new; the voice cast plays their parts with a lot of loose, madcap energy and the animation is wonderfully imaginative. Also Available On Redbox...

Anatomy of a Murder (Criterion Collection) I looked back through my Netflix queue to see when I first watched Anatomy of a Murder and it turns out it was back in January 2009 and while I remembered enjoying it I didn't remember the film per se. So it was a treat to pop this new Criterion Blu-ray in the player and settle in to Otto Preminger's 1959 thriller with James Stewart in the lead and an impressive supporting cast and a feature filled with dialogue you can't get enough of.

As for the transfer, it's almost too good as a moment early on featuring the makeup on Lee Remick's bruised face is so obvious it's almost comical, but you're hardly paying attention as she does everything in her power to seduce Stewart into taking her husband's case.

Anatomy for a Murder may best be known in the movie blogosphere as...

This week: Leonardo DiCaprio plays the FBI's most enigmatic leader in "J. Edgar," Ben Stiller teams up with Eddie Murphy for "Tower Heist," a "Shrek" favorite spins off on his own in the animated "Puss in Boots," and Elizabeth Olsen escapes from a dangerous cult in "Martha Marcy May Marlene."

'J. Edgar'

Box Office: $37 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 44% Rotten

Storyline: This biographical drama directed by Clint Eastwood stars Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar Hoover, the head of the FBI for nearly 50 years. Hoover was admired as much as he was reviled, but behind closed doors he held secrets that would have destroyed him if they ever came to public light. Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench and Josh Lucas costar in this movie about the price of wanting the world to admire you.

Extras! DiCaprio and Eastwood join forces for the intimate portrait "J. Edgar: The Most Powerful Man in the World,...

Having spent the last year sat in screening rooms and cinemas watching over 200 of 2011′s cinematic offerings, it stands to reason that I’m going to have to sit through a fair share of duds. As I had seen the vast majority of the key Oscar plays before November, I spent the latter part of the year dedicating myself to seeking out the worst, most lowest common denominator fare ripe for a skewering, and with these twenty dreadful pictures, we have what are, in my opinion, the 20 biggest train wrecks of 2011. Note that Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star is still awaiting worldwide DVD release and didn’t get distribution in the U.K., so that’s one that I was forced to avoid, but I’m assured that it’s irredeemably horrible nevertheless. Anyway, on with the list…

20. Shark Night 3D

(David R. Ellis / Tomatometer: 16%)

Director David R. Ellis...

Well it’s the start of another week, so you know what that means – yet more DVD and Blu-ray releases hit the high street, ready and waiting to swallow up all your hard-earned cash! Not as many Halloween-themed releases this week but no matter, here’s the rundown of what’s available to buy from today, October 24th 2011.

Pick Of The Week

Mother’s Day (DVD/Blu-ray)

After a bank robbery goes seriously wrong, three sadistic, bloodthirsty, criminal brothers find themselves on the run. Their childhood home seems like the safest place to hide out. But a few things have changed, their mother has been evicted and the house is now occupied by a young couple and their birthday guests. Taken hostage, the new owners and friends are forced to endure a night of blood-drenched hell. Because mother’s coming home to roost and her maternal instincts involve extreme torture and a taste for terror.

Honey 2

Stars: Katerina Graham, Randy Wayne, Seychelle Gabriel, Christopher Martinez, Melissa Moinaro | Written by Blayne Weaver, Alyson Fouse | Directed by Billie Woodruff

How many dance movies are there going to be before its target audience yawns itself into a coma? Honey 2 is the sequel (of sorts, although it has very little to do with its predecessor) to 2003’s Jessica Alba Dance ‘em up Honey.

It stars Katerina Graham as Maria, a dancer recently released from juvie who’s assigned a job as a caretaker for the Honey Daniels training school and taken under the wing of Honey’s mother (Lonette McKee – the only tenuous link to the first movie). Despite trying to stay on the straight and narrow, she’s constantly tempted by her sleazy ex-boyfriend Luis, who was responsible for her incarceration in the first place. He wants her to rejoin his dance crew, current kings of the neighbourhood,...

To mark the release of Honey 2 on DVD and Blu-ray 24th October, Universal Pictures (UK) have given us three copies to give away on DVD. The film stars Katerina Graham, Seychelle Gabriel, Randy Wayne , Melissa Molinaro, Audrina Patridge, American Sweetheart Mario Lopez.and is directed by Bille Woodruff.

After a run in with the police, aspiring dancer Maria Ramirez is released from Juvenile detention and is forced to live with Connie, the mother of renowned dancer and choreographer Honey Daniels. As part of her probation Maria has to work at the Honey Daniels Street Dance School where she meets a group of talented dancers. Maria quickly catches the eye of a particular pretty-boy dancer, Brandon, although not all of his crew warm to her immediately.

On a night out in town Maria bumps into Brandon at a club as well as her no-good ex-boyfriend Luis, the overly confident leader of the 718 dance crew.

The end of The Hills was supposed to mean curtains for the cast of the MTV faux-reality show, but 12 months on Audrina Patridge’s star has never been higher.

The 26-year-old model and actress has – thanks to securing her own TV show, appearing on Dancing With The Stars, amassing 1.5 million followers on Twitter, and starring in numerous advertising campaigns – just got hotter and hotter.

“My last FHM shoot took place on the beach in December and it was so cold,” recalls the actress who moved to La at the age of 18 and found fame in The Hills soon after. “Do you know how tough it is to look sexy when you’re covered in goose pimples?”

“Usually when I pose it’s all about being full-on sexy, but in this shoot I was able to dance around, have fun and flirt with the camera and it meant the photos were really cool.

The end of The Hills was supposed to mean curtains for the cast of the MTV faux-reality show, but 12 months on Audrina Patridge’s star has never been higher.

The 26-year-old model and actress has – thanks to securing her own TV show, appearing on Dancing With The Stars, amassing 1.5 million followers on Twitter, and starring in numerous advertising campaigns – just got hotter and hotter.

“My last FHM shoot took place on the beach in December and it was so cold,” recalls the actress who moved to La at the age of 18 and found fame in The Hills soon after. “Do you know how tough it is to look sexy when you’re covered in goose pimples?”

“Usually when I pose it’s all about being full-on sexy, but in this shoot I was able to dance around, have fun and flirt with the camera and it meant the photos were really cool.

This is the Pure Movies review of Honey 2, directed by Bille Woodruff and starring Katerina Graham, Seychelle Gabriel, Mario López, Randy Wayne, Audrina Patridge, Melissa Molinaro, Brandon Molale, Lonette McKee and Laurieann Gibson. If only all disputes in life could be solved with a good old dance-off. The unrest in the Middle East would evaporate in the twist of a hip, the coalition government's slick routine would have an enthralled country bobbing their heads in thrilled agreement and Ryan Giggs would be shaking his Lycra-clad booty to the sickest beats the tabloids could throw at him. Of course, dance-offs raise a few too many problems for the less rhythmic among us - not least, how do you know for sure who wins?...

Kung Fu Panda 2 has debuted in first place at the UK box office. The DreamWorks 3D animation, featuring the voices of Jack Black and Angelina Jolie, pulls in more than £6 million to hold off competition from The Hangover Part II and last week's chart topper X-Men: First Class. Kung Fu Panda's strong opening means that the last four weeks have all seen movies open to more than £5 million following Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, The Hangover Part II and X-Men: First Class. Dance movie Honey 2 enters the chart at number five, while Formula 1 documentary Senna falls to number seven despite an increase in box (more)...

Tim Boland and Sam Retzer have written the score for the dance film sequel Honey 2. The film is directed by Bille Woodruff who also directed the first part. The movie’s cast includes Katerina Graham (The Vampire Diaries), Randy Wayne, Audrina Patridge, Melissa Molinaro and Lonette McKee who is reprising her role from the first part. The original Honey from 2003 starring Jessica Alba featured a score by Mervyn Warren. Boland and Retzer’s best known film scoring credit is the 2007 street dancing hit movie Stomp the Yard. Honey 2 also features numerous songs from artists including Estelle, La Roux and Far East Movement. The movie is coming out this weekend in the UK and will be opening theatrically in other European countries throughout the summer. A release on Blu-Ray and DVD is expected later this summer in the Us.

Kaboom (15)

(Gregg Araki, 2010, Us) Thomas Dekker, Haley Bennett, Juno Temple, Chris Zylka, Roxane Mesquida. 86 mins

This could be the best teen movie of the year, or at least the horniest, surely. Set on a sunny Californian college campus with a "beautiful people only" admissions policy, it's a poppy pick'n'mix of uninhibited bi-curious couplings (and triplings), hallucinogenic drug experiences and strange, supernatural events, but none of this is treated as in any way edgy or shocking. Instead, it's warm, witty and guilt-free, even as it gets increasingly, apocalyptically bonkers – prime cult material!

Kung Fu Panda 2 (PG)

(Jennifer Yuh, 2011, Us) Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman. 90 mins

Does the sequel do what you'd expect? Do pandas defecate in the bamboo forest? Actually they don't in this anthropomorphised action animation, but it's a fun and lively tribute to old-school martial arts movies with some darker shadings than its predecessor.

Mother's Day (18)

(Darren Lynn Bousman,...

By rights, Honey 2 should be unwatchable. A straight to DVD* sequel, to a barely known 2003 vehicle for Jessica Alba’s bottom, the film features only one original cast member, was made for next to nothing, and relies entirely on the conceit that an ability to dance is the most important character trait a human being can possess.

And yet, it’s not; which is more than a little remarkable, as the film is actually even less competent than my introduction suggests.

By almost every possible measure the film doesn’t work. Opening up with a dance off between two groups of young, female prisoners, we quickly skip through the release of Maria (Katherine Graham) into the custody Mrs Daniels, played by Lonette McKee, the only link back to the original movie. As Maria settles in to her new, post-juvie life, we get fleeting introductions to people from her past.

Honey 2 **

Stars: Katerina Graham, Randy Wayne, Seychelle Gabriel, Christopher “War Martinez, Melissa Moinaro | Written by Blayne Weaver, Alyson Fouse | Directed by Billie Woodruff

How many dance movies are there going to be before its target audience yawns itself into a coma? Honey 2 is the sequel (of sorts, although it has very little to do with its predecessor) to 2003’s Jessica Alba Dance ‘em up Honey.

It stars Katerina Graham as Maria, a dancer recently released from juvie who’s assigned a job as a caretaker for the Honey Daniels training school and taken under the wing of Honey’s mother (Lonette McKee – the only tenuous link to the first movie). Despite trying to stay on the straight and narrow, she’s constantly tempted by her sleazy ex-boyfriend Luis, who was responsible for her incarceration in the first place. He wants her to rejoin his dance crew, current kings of the neighbourhood,...

The follow up to Universal’s film dance sensation, Honey 2 follows the spirited 17-year-old, street dancer Maria Bennett. After a brush with the law, Maria has returned to her gritty Bronx roots to rebuild her life with nothing but a talent for street dance and a burning ambition to prove herself.

To celebrate the release of Honey 2 in cinemas June 10th here are our Top 10 teen dance flicks:

10. Stomp The Yard

Depicting the conflict between two rival fraternities at a predominantly black American University and a promising dancer struggling to escape his troubled past, Stomp the Yard featured the debut big screen performances of some notable music stars, including Ne-Yo and Chris Brown. A day in the life at Kings College, Oxford, it isn’t.

9. Street Dance 3D

One of the only British teen dance films, Street Dance 3D was a commercial and critical success. Featuring some of...

Earlier this month, I got to catch up with Melissa Molinaro who plays Carla in the UNiversal Studios movie, Honey 2 which is in UK cinemas today. We got talking about how she got involved in the dancing scene and what we can expect from this movie.

Honey 2 is directed by Bille Woodruff and stars Katerina Graham , Melissa Molinaro, Audriana Partridge and Randy Wayne.

Keeping on the straight and narrow means living with Honey’s mum Connie and holding down a job just to make ends meet. But a rare night out at a local dance club gives Maria an opportunity to let loose with a joy and energy she had almost forgotten. Maria’s raw talent and killer moves catch the eye of Brandon (Randy Wayne), a Rec Center volunteer, who invites her to help him transform a group of gifted but undisciplined dancers called the HDs. Maria...

Preview-boosted performance for superhero franchise rids top spot of Hangover, while documentary Senna races into top 10

The winner

For the third week in a row, a Hollywood blockbuster opens at the top of the chart with box office of £5m-plus. Ok, that's the good news about X-Men: First Class. The less good news is that its £5.44m debut was achieved only with the help of more than £2m in Wednesday/Thursday previews. And the opening number compares unfavourably with the previous weekend's debut of The Hangover Part II (£10.41m including previews), as well as the initial salvo for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (£11.63m including previews).

X-Men: First Class delivered the lowest opening for the franchise since X-Men appeared in 2000 with £4.75m, including previews of £620,000. (Discounting previews, the latest episode is in fact the weakest of all.) Both X-Men 2 in 2003 and The Last Stand three years later achieved...

To celebrate the release of Honey 2 in cinemas June 10, we’re giving 3 readers the chance to win some cool Honey 2 merchandise.

The legacy of legendary dancer and choreographer Honey Daniels lives on in spirited 17-year-old Maria Bennett. After a brush with the law, Maria has returned to her gritty Bronx roots to rebuild her life with nothing but a talent for street dance and a burning ambition to prove herself.

Maria’s raw talent and killer moves catch the eye of Brandon – a Rec Centre volunteer, who invites her to help him transform a group of gifted but undisciplined dancers called the HDs. Maria’s skills also attract the attention of her old boyfriend Luis, the charismatic leader of the award-winning 718 dance crew, who hopes to lure her back into the street world she is trying to escape.

Honey 2 is the coming-of-age feel-good dance romance which is...

X-Men: First Class (12A)

(Matthew Vaughn, 2011, Us) James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Kevin Bacon, Rose Byrne, January Jones. 132 mins

Considering the odds were stacked against this – preceding as it does four X-Men movies (including Hugh Jackman's Wolverine), entering a superhero-stuffed summer schedule, juggling scores of characters, and telling a story fans know already – this does a remarkably good job. The cold war setting offers a new take on closeted mutanthood, and a parallel version of the Cuban missile crisis, not to mention Bond-like stylings, and McAvoy and Fassbender add dramatic ballast to some overbearing special effects.

Senna (12A)

(Asif Kapadia, 2010, UK) 106 mins

A Formula One doc that doesn't follow the formula, this assembles a compelling, even moving, biography of the superstar Brazilian driver using only archive material and audio interviews; no talking heads or modern-day footage. The racetrack excitement is contagious.

Last Night (12A)

(Massy Tadjedin, 2010, Us/Fra) Sam Worthington,...

Universal Pictures have sent over this brand new poster (click it to enlarge) and clip from their new movie, Honey 2 which is released June 10th.

Honey 2 is directed by Bille Woodruff and stars Katerina Graham, Melissa Molinaro, Audriana Partridge and Randy Wayne. You know you want it.

Keeping on the straight and narrow means living with Honey’s mum Connie and holding down a job just to make ends meet. But a rare night out at a local dance club gives Maria an opportunity to let loose with a joy and energy she had almost forgotten. Maria’s raw talent and killer moves catch the eye of Brandon (Randy Wayne), a Rec Center volunteer, who invites her to help him transform a group of gifted but undisciplined dancers called the HDs. Maria’s skills also attract the attention of her old boyfriend Luis (Christopher Martinez), the charismatic leader of the award-winning 718 dance crew,...

Here’s your first look at the UK one-sheet poster for Honey 2, the follow up to Universal’s film dance sensation in which the legacy of legendary dancer and choreographer Honey Daniels lives on in spirited 17-year-old Maria Bennett, played by Katerina Graham (The Vampire Diaries).

Honey 2 also stars Saychelle Gabriel (The Last Airbender), Randy Wayne (True Blood), Aurdina Patridge (The Hills), Melissa Molinaro (The Pussycat Dolls Presents: The Search for the Next Doll) and Mario Lopez (Nip/Tuck, Saved By The Bell) – plus a special appearance of ‘Happiness’ singer Alexis Jordan.

Honey 2 is released in cinemas June 10th 2011. For more information check out the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Honey2uk...

Here’s the first clip from the dance spectacular Honey 2, the follow up to Universal’s film dance sensation in which the legacy of legendary dancer and choreographer Honey Daniels lives on in spirited 17-year-old Maria Bennett, played by Katerina Graham (The Vampire Diaries), the film also stars Saychelle Gabriel (The Last Airbender), Randy Wayne (True Blood), Aurdina Patridge (The Hills), Melissa Molinaro (The Pussycat Dolls Presents: The Search for the Next Doll) and Mario Lopez (Nip/Tuck, Saved By The Bell) – plus a special appearance of ‘Happiness’ singer Alexis Jordan.

After a brush with the law, Maria has returned to her gritty Bronx roots to rebuild her life with nothing but a talent for street dance and a burning ambition to prove herself. Keeping on the straight and narrow means living with Honey’s mum Connie and holding down a job just to make ends meet. But a...

Katerina Graham self-promoted her latest movie "Honey 2" by uploading a clip featuring an impressive dance number. The "The Vampire Diaries" star is the lead character in the dance movie which, despite its title, doesn't follow up the first movie starring Jessica Alba.

Recently released from juvenile detention, talented dancer Maria Ramirez (Graham) finds an outlet for her passion with a new dance crew. A rare night out at a local dance club gives Maria an opportunity to let loose with a joy and energy she had almost forgotten. Maria's raw talent and killer moves catch the eye of Brandon, a Rec Center volunteer, who invites her to help him transform a group of gifted but undisciplined dancers called the HDs.

Maria's skills also attract the attention of her old boyfriend Luis, the charismatic leader of the award-winning 718 dance crew, who hopes to lure her back into the street world she is trying to escape.