Film News: Avatar Sequels Confirmed

Possibly the least shocking news in the history of Hollywood: James Cameron has confirmed that nigh-on 3 billion dollar grossing Avatar will be getting not one, but two sequels that will be a trilogy surrounding the Na’avi and Pandora. This was on the cards since Avatar’s record breaking opening weekend but at long last it’s official and the trilogy will continue in 2014 and finish in 2015.

 

Film News: The Dark Knight Rises with Nolan

Announcements about Chris Nolan’s follow up to the monumentally succesful The Dark Knight are like buses it seems. We’ve waited 2 years for any kind of announcement and now we get 2 in so many weeks. Firstly, as previously reported, Tom Hardy was announced as a major new character, with all bets on him being the villain (as to who that villain is, more on that later). Now Nolan has released what title the 3rd film in his Batman canon will have…Rumours were abound; Knightfall (unlikely since in The Dark Knight, Batman has already fallen from grace) and Gotham (my personal favourite, Batman needs to convince Gotham of his innocence) to the, quite frankly, outrageous Caped Crusader (yeah right!). Nolan has settled upon The Dark Knight Rises for what will (more than likely) be his last Batman film.

 

Film News: Batman 3

Having been talked about and hyped up on the Web since The Dark Knight’s opening weekend, the as yet untitled Batman 3 has been attracting serious rumours about villain, plot line et all. Chris Nolan has been announced as returning to the highly successful franchise and a release date has been set as July 20th 2012. Expect Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine (Nolan’s self confessed good luck charm) to return in their respective roles but the news that has been hitting the wires this week is Inception star Tom Hardy has been cast.

 

Toy Story 3

Toy Story has been with me since childhood, the first 2 films setting the bar immeasurably high for future animation films and comedies aimed at children in general. Although we’ve seen a few films match the series for immediate crossover appeal between children and adults, they’ve fallen by the wayside with more recent outings (Shrek and Ice Age). Imagine my fear then when they announce the oft-rumoured Toy Story 3 as an addition to the series, what would they do to my beloved Woody, Buzz and Jessie?

If you were like me then have no fear! What has emerged from the genius of Pixar is not only a charming comedy, a fitting end to the toys who have been with us so many years but also a lament on what it is like for all of us to grow up and leave our childhood behind. A sobering thought and one that hangs heavy over the end of the film. Doubtless this is a melancholy film, a meditation on loss and love but jokes are abound as always, and even if you don’t get the side-splitting laughter that you expect, the end is sure to move you in ways you never thought possible.

Don’t get me wrong, this is still a children’s film at heart but that doesn’t limit it to 3-13 year olds, it’s aimed at the child that is still inside of all of us and reassures us that it is okay to let go of the past, just don’t ever forget it. Pixar, flawless with all of their output, never talk down to there audience and that is perhaps the reason for it’s massive appeal to new and old fans of the brand with each film building on the success of the last.

An unlikely triumph Toy Story 3 is heartwarming end to the series that I really can’t recommend enough, even if you haven’t seen the previous 2 installments or any animated film this will delight and charm anyone who is willing to watch.