February 16, 2013

Watch and Read—Spotlight on Media Tie-ins: Those Wimpy Days of Summer

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Greg Heffley, the socially beleaguered but much-beloved star of Jeff Kinney’s reader-favorite book series (Amulet), returns to the big screen in a third live-action motion picture from 20th Century Fox. Perfectly timed to stave off those summer time doldrums, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (PG) premieres in theaters on August 3.

Gearing Up for Batman: Graphic Novel Grabbers for Movie Fans

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Christian Bale once again dons the legendary cape and cowl for the lead role in The Dark Knight Rises (PG-13), scheduled for release by Warner Bros. Pictures on July 20 in traditional and IMAX theaters. Following on the heels of Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008), the movie marks the much-anticipated conclusion to director Christopher Nolan’s renowned film trilogy, which features a darkly realistic and emotionally nuanced incarnation of the iconic DC Comics character originally created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger in 1939. When Gotham is terrorized by a new menace, a formidable villain named Bane (Tom Hardy), Batman must return to protect the city he loves.

Watch & Read: Spotlight on Media Tie-ins: LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu

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Featuring four young ninja warriors engaged in a classic good-versus-evil battle, this popular LEGO franchise includes building sets and toys, an animated TV show, a video game, accessories and apparel, and more.

Watch and Read Spotlight on Media Tie-ins: Batman Returns

Comic book cover of I am Bane

Fans of the Caped Crusader are breathlessly awaiting the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises (PG-13), scheduled for release by Warner Bros. Pictures on July 20, in traditional and IMAX formats. A sequel to the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight(2008), the movie is the final installment in director Christopher Nolan’s masterfully envisioned film trilogy based on the iconic DC Comics character.

Watch and Read: Chilling Out with the Ice Age Gang

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Manny the woolly mammoth (voiced by Ray Romano), Sid the sloth (John Leguizamo), and Diego the saber-toothed tiger (Denis Leary) return in the fourth installment of a series of computer-animated comedies from Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox. Ice Age: Continental Drift(PG) premieres in theaters on July 13, in 3D, 2D, and IMAX 3D formats. Scrat (Chris Wedge), that ever-determined but hapless prehistoric squirrel, is still in hot pursuit of the tantalizing acorn that continues to remain beyond his reach, but this time his seemingly small actions have cataclysmic results, causing continents to crack apart and shift.

The Webslinger Returns

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Is your spider-sense tingling? The Amazing Spider-Man (PG-13) blasts back onto the big screen on July 3, in a new 3D adventure from Marvel Entertainment and Columbia Pictures. This latest release isn’t a continuation of Sam Raimi’s blockbuster trilogy starring Tobey Maguire, but a reboot of the film franchise that presents a new installment in the Spider-Man cinematic opus. Andrew Garfield assumes the red-and-blue, be-webbed mantel in the new motion picture, which is directed by Marc Webb with a screenplay based on Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s classic Marvel comic book.

Watch and Read: Re-Imagining Snow White

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Snow White and the Huntsman (PG-13), starring The Twilight Saga’s Kristen Stewart, was released earlier this month by Universal Pictures. Not for the faint of heart, this visually stunning re-invention of the traditional Brothers Grimm fairy tale emphasizes the story’s darker themes, glories in good-versus-evil conflicts and epic-scale battles, and portrays a Snow White who is transformed from a naïve victim to a stouthearted sword-wielding hero.

Watch and Read | Spider-Man: Amazing Again

A fan favorite for 50 years, this friendly neighborhood crime-fighting phenom swings back into action—and into theaters—on July 3. The Amazing Spider-Man(PG-13), a new 3D adventure from Marvel Entertainment and Columbia Pictures, provides a fresh big-screen take on the character by spotlighting his early days. High-school student Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is an outcast who grapples with issues of insecurity and identity, as well as his all-consuming crush on the beautiful and bright Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone).

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Some True Tales for the Curious | Watch and Read

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Combining history with horror, this creature-slashing thriller casts the 16th president of the United States as supreme vanquisher of the undead. Produced by Tim Burton and directed by Timur Bekmambetov, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (not yet rated) premieres in theaters on June 22, 2012, in traditional and 3D formats. The film is based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s bestselling mashup novel of the same title (Grand Central Publishing, 2010), and the author also penned the screenplay. Benjamin Walker stars as Lincoln, a [...]

Watch and Read: Martha Speaks…and Kids Read

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Now in its fourth season, this animated TV series starring the chatty canine first introduced in Susan Meddaugh’s beloved Martha Speaks (Houghton, 1992) continues to entertain children and enhance their vocabularies. Like the original picture book and its follow ups, the show, which airs on PBS Kids and is produced by WGBH Boston and Studio B Productions, features a family pet with an extraordinary ability.

Watch and Read: Once Upon a Time in Scotland: Brave

Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar kick off the summer movie season with a computer-animated feature film that blends adventure, elements of folklore and fantasy, and a whole lot of heart. Brave (PG) premieres in theaters on June 22, in traditional and 3D formats. Set in a mythical time in the untamed Scottish Highlands, the story centers around Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald), daughter of the boisterous King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and stately Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson).

Video Game Epic: Mass Effect

Envisioned as a trilogy from the get-go, the final installment in BioWare’s award-winning sci-fi saga was released earlier this year. Mass Effect 3, published by Electronic Arts for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC platforms, garnered rave reviews and has raked in sales in the millions.