AMC Adds Some Round The Clock Showings Of Avengers: Endgame

AMC Adds Some Round The Clock Showings Of Avengers: Endgame

As many of you dear readers would know, the blitz to get tickets for Avengers: Endgame was so great it stopped the box office world for a beat. Ticket apps crashed, which eventually lead to some fans being unable to get tickets as early as others. The initial wave of tickets were eventually sold out, which lead to a healthy resellers’ market of overinflated pricing.

It looked like if you wanted to see this movie this weekend, much as the Russo Brothers intended, you were out of luck. But now, it seems like hope is on the horizon, as AMC Theatres is adding even more showings of Avengers: Endgame to its calendar for opening weekend, with some locations staying open round the clock for the entire weekend.

Before you get too excited though, you’re going to want to check your local showtimes really carefully. We say this, because that “round the clock” business isn’t applicable at all AMC locations. As a matter of fact, it looks like most of the round the clock operations will be during the Thursday/Friday timeframe, with 29 AMC theaters being open through those two specific days.

Meanwhile, 18 locations will be open between Thursday and Saturday or Friday through Sunday, again with around the clock service for Avengers: Endgame fans. Finally, 17 AMC Theaters locations will be open from Thursday through Sunday, in full 24 hour shifts.

What’s even more interesting about this influx of tickets to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s grand finale to its Infinity Saga is the fact that this is only applicable to the AMC Theatres chain. Now this could mean that other chains, both major and independent, would be forced to compete in a similar manner, leading to other businesses adding showtimes to their locations much like AMC did in this recent report from THR. This massive push to keep movie fans happy promises to make this massive record-breaking weekend for Avengers: Endgame even more of an event, especially in the face of updated estimates for this weekend that have put the film within possible striking distance of a $300 million opening in the domestic marketplace alone.

So if you’re thinking of seeing Avengers: Endgame this weekend, and AMC isn’t an option due to locations and ticket availability, don’t lose hope just yet. Keep your eyes peeled for further updates, and again, be sure to check your local listings extra carefully. Good luck out there, True Believers, and may you see the Endgame in due time.

Avengers: Endgame starts its conquest of the box office market on Thursday night, and if you’re lucky, you might just get a ticket to see the movie that’ll be on everyone’s lips throughout the summer. But if you don’t find yourself with tickets, and want to see something anyway, head over to the 2019 release schedule to see some of the films already in theaters, ready for you to give them a shot.

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Mark Hamill Had The Best Response To Fake Star Wars Toy

Mark Hamill Had The Best Response To Fake Star Wars Toy

You gotta hand it to Mark Hamill when it comes to bad Star Wars puns. He keeps his dad joke A-game in peak condition -- see the Star Wars: Episode IX "trailer" he posted. But he didn't like that the joke was on Luke Skywalker with a Lego Star Wars toy featuring his missing hand.

Here's what Mark Hamill dubbed the #WorstToyEVER:

Of course he couldn't resist adding another hand pun with #LegoOfMyHand.

Plenty of people told Mark Hamill it wasn't a real toy -- apparently all you had to do was look up the Lego number -- but at least one fan disagreed that it was the worst toy. That fan was treated to a classic Star Wars reply from Luke himself:

See? Luke did listen to Obi-Wan on occasion.

A few fans replied with other fake Star Wars toys out there, and some of them are just so wonderfully wrong you have to wish Lucasfilm really did sell them:

I love this look at George Lucas and all of his money:

Star Wars fans would buy all of that, even just as gag gifts.

Mark Hamill does have a great sense of humor and heart about all things Star Wars. Without Carrie Fisher, and without Harrison Ford's Han Solo after Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Hamill is pretty much carrying the entire old school load himself. He still has Anthony Daniels as C-3PO in Star Wars: Episode IX and he'll get an assist from Billy Dee Williams as Lando in the 2019 movie too. But we're all sad that Luke, Leia, and Han won't really get to be together on screen again.

J.J. Abrams is keeping a tight lock on Star Wars: Episode IX secrets, but that trailer is probably coming very soon. The film's title and trailer may even come our way as soon as this week through Star Wars Celebration 2019, which is being held April 11-15 in Chicago.

Star Wars: Episode IX opens in theaters December 20, 2019 as one of the many films worth keeping an eye on through our 2019 movie release date schedule.

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Pet Sematary’s Director Says The Cats Were A ‘Pack Of Divas’

Pet Sematary’s Director Says The Cats Were A ‘Pack Of Divas’

There's an old adage in Hollywood that you should never work with kids or animals. However, sometimes that's simply unavoidable. If you're making a movie called Pet Sematary, you're going to have an awfully hard time making it work without including a few pets. In the story, a cat called Church has a major role, and in the new remake of the Stephen King story, it turns out that, shockingly, the eight cats that were needed to fill the role were something of a pain to work with. Different cats were needed depending on exactly what director Dennis Widmyer needed the cat to do, and every time, the cat needed to go through its "process" before performing like it was some kind of diva. According to Widmyer...

But these cats, they were able to train them and every cat had a different specialty. There was the cat that could hiss, the cat that could jump, the cat that could stare… They were like this pack of divas on set. You know, the cat would get on set and have to get acclimated, so all the actors would have to shut up and just kind of let the cat sniff everything for like ten minutes. So, we just sat there, and watched the cat.

Cats are not exactly known for their ability to be trained, and if you've ever owned one, you probably know exactly what that's like. It turns out that it is possible to train a cat, though apparently you can't train them to do more than one thing. Pet Sematary had to find eight identical cats in order to get Church to do everything he needed to do in the movie.

However, just because these cats were trained, doesn't mean they weren't normal cats. Put a cat in a new environment and they're going to explore, sniff, and rub up against anything it can get near. This is especially true if it's a place where other cats have been. One can imagine the crew bringing in one cat for a scene, waiting for it to rub up against every piece of furniture, filming the shot, then switching cats because another ability is needed, and the entire process repeats itself.

Of course, while it can be incredibly frustrating to put up with "diva" behavior from people, for some reason most of us are perfectly ok with it coming from our pets. As Dennis Widmyer describes this behavior to EW, none of this was beyond what all of us who have cats deal with on a daily basis. Most of us get to just ignore them. When you need them to stop marking the sofa and get on their mark, I suppose that can be a lot more annoying.

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Why James Wan Probably Won’t Direct Another Conjuring Universe Movie, According To Peter Safran

Why James Wan Probably Won’t Direct Another Conjuring Universe Movie, According To Peter Safran

James Wan has an impressive history when it comes to launching and contributing to franchises, but he also notably doesn’t stick around in the director’s chair for very long with them. Going back to the start of his career, he’s brought us Saw, Insidious, and chapters of both Fast & Furious and the DC Extended Universe, but of all the direct follow-ups to those movies (a total of 11), he’s only directed two.

This is a trend that most recently continued with the developing Conjuring 3, with Michael Chaves (The Curse Of La Llorona) set to replace Wan after he directed the first two chapters in the series. This was seen as disappointing, if not unsurprising news, but now a bit of salt is being put in the wound, as producer Peter Safran has gone on the record saying that he believes the filmmaker’s time helming Conjuring Universe titles in general is probably at an end:

I don't think he will [direct another Conjuring movie]. That’s just me. My instinct is that he won’t. I think he really left everything out on the field with Conjuring 2. Just being by his side as he made that movie, I feel that he put everything that he'd learned up to that point into that film, from character development to scares to crafting sequences, just everything. I love the movie and I think that he felt like he did it, he really showed people exactly what he wanted to show them. The skills of a filmmaker telling a great story.

The subject of James Wan’s future with the Conjuring Universe was one that surfaced when I joined a small group of journalists to visit the set of the in-production Annabelle Comes Home on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California late last year. After having toured the Warren home and interviewed some of the lead actresses, we had the chance to sit down with Peter Safran and get his thoughts and opinions about the Annabelle trilogy-capper, and it was at the end of the conversation that the Wan question came up.

Peter Safran and James Wan have a built a solid working relationship, having made six films together in the last six years, so when the former expresses a particular read about the latter, it’s probably based on strong intuition. Furthermore, he definitely has a great beat on what the future holds for The Conjuring Universe, as he has produced every title released as part of the franchise so far.

On beyond the fact that James Wan seems to have a certain “rarely look back” perspective, Peter Safran brings up some really great points about The Conjuring 2. That movie is a beautiful and seriously scary piece of work, and one could definitely see why Wan may not feel compelled to return to the universe as a director going forward, instead pursuing other creative endeavors (like, perhaps, the developing Aquaman 2… which hasn’t yet nailed Wan down to direct just yet).

Of course, many in this situation would point out that it’s typically never smart to ever say “never” in this industry, as circumstances change all the time in Hollywood, and tomorrow James Wan could be struck with an idea he feels he must personally execute. Peter Safran most definitely left this possibility on the board with his answer, making particular note of Wan’s close relationship with the horror genre over the last 15 years. Said the producer,

I would be surprised if he ended up doing another one, but you never know. Guys like James, for him scares, it's in their blood. They need an outlet for it at some point, so maybe he is getting it as a producer. There is something very compelling about sitting there just wanting to scare the shit out of people.

Even if he’s not directing, James Wan’s relationship with The Conjuring Universe is as strong as ever, as he has produced every sequel and spin-off that has been made thus far, including the upcoming Annabelle Comes Home. We’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds.

On the subject of the third Annabelle film, it will be arriving in a theater near you very soon, as it is set up to be a nice summer scare-fest with its June 28th release date. Written and directed by Gary Dauberman (who makes his directorial debut after scripting all of the Annabelles and The Nun), the story is set over the course of one night as Judy Warren (McKenna Grace) and her babysitter (Madison Iseman) are tormented by the movie’s titular doll. Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, and Katie Sarife co-star.

This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to stories from my Annabelle Comes Home set visit, so be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend over the next few days for more!

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Yes, Sonic Is An Alien In His New Movie

Yes, Sonic Is An Alien In His New Movie

This year a couple of classic fluffy ‘90s video game characters are hitting the big screen in their first live action iterations. Ahead of Detective Pikachu’s release next week, the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog darted its way onto the internet this morning and it looks like there are quite a few changes from the video game fans know, love … or love to hate anyway.

Besides the character’s glaring buff and blue human legs, it looks like Sonic will also be an alien in his first big-screen iteration. In the trailer, the speedster says “looks like I’m going to have to save your planet”. Followers of his games probably don’t remember the blue hedgehog being an extraterrestrial before, but looks like he will be in the upcoming movie!

Back in 2018 when the film was seeking approval to be filmed in the town of Ladysmith, British Colombia, the film’s location manager, Abraham Fraser confirmed this Sonic is not of this world when he briefly explained the film. In his words:

Sonic is a video game character, who is an alien. The story is kind of ala E.T.. In the sense of a small town coming together to help the sheriff save our alien from the bad guys, which are the government chasing them. It’s very heartwarming. And I think it’ll be a big hit.

A blue hedgehog being of this world does make a lot more sense in an animated video game world than in a live-action one, but the movie does look to be ignoring the roots of the Sega game, even if they aren’t widely known. According to the “Sonic Bible”, which contains the complete background of the character, here is the iconic video game character’s true origins:

Sonny Hedgehog was born on Earth in the early 21st century, in the town of Hardly, Nebraska, population 1,226. He and his mother and five sisters live underneath a scraggly hedge beside the local burger joint, and subsist on burger scraps, milkshakes and the occasional slug or bug that crawls their way.

How will Sonic the Hedgehog be explaining Sonic’s home world? Is there a planet somewhere full of blue hedgehogs who where running shoes and speed around all day? I’d think an origin story about the hedge they lived under being contaminated with some chemical planet might have sufficed. Take a look at the trailer below:

Sonic the Hedgehog will star Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik and James Marsden as a cop named Tom. The movie will center on Sonic in the rural town of Green Hills as he tries to escape from the government who are trying to catch him. Sonic hits theaters on November 8.

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Rami Malek Says He Wouldn't Have Gotten Bohemian Rhapsody Role Without Mr. Robot

Rami Malek Says He Wouldn't Have Gotten Bohemian Rhapsody Role Without Mr. Robot

It is good to be Rami Malek right now. The actor was the lead in Bohemian Rhapsody, one of 2018’s most successful films, for which he won a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and an Oscar for his performance as Freddie Mercury. On top of that he’s dating his gorgeous co-star. Yet, he might never have gotten the role of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody if it weren’t for his breakout role in USA’s Mr. Robot. According to Rami Malek:

This seemed to propel me into a different space. I wouldn't have gotten the role of Freddie Murphy in Bohemian Rhapsody if it wasn't for this show. [I] probably wouldn't have had the type of success I'm seeing in my career right now, so I'm so fortunate to this show, especially for giving me this platform, giving me one of the greatest characters that I could ever play, anyone could ever play.

It’s impossible to know for sure what would have happened, but at least as far as Rami Malek is concerned, his current career success, epitomized by Bohemian Rhapsody, is attributable to his role as Elliot Alderson on Mr. Robot. As he told ET, Sam Esmail’s mind-bending show gave him visibility and a compelling character with whom he could show the world what he was capable of.

Prior to Mr. Robot, Rami Malek had plenty of credits to his name, but he himself wasn’t an established name by any stretch. His roles were mostly on TV shows and his biggest film credits were in the Night at the Museum movies, as well as taking roles in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2 and in smaller films like The Master and Short Term 12. Mr. Robot was Rami Malek’s first big starring role and it put him on the map in a way he wasn’t before.

Mr. Robot was a huge hit in its first season and was watercooler TV that had people talking. Rami Malek’s work on the show got people’s attention and it is possible that his presence in a buzzed about TV show put him on the right people’s radar. He believes that eventually snowballed into him landing the role of Freddie Mercury, a role that has changed his life. Sometimes all it takes is that breakthrough performance to get the ball rolling.

Rami Malek’s newfound success isn’t just limited to Bohemian Rhapsody and his award-winning performance as Freddie Mercury; the actor, now a name with a golden statue attached to it, is carrying that good fortune forward. Next year he joins a star-studded voice cast as Chee-Chee, opposite Robert Downey Jr.’s John Doolittle in The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle.

The actor also joins one of cinema’s most storied franchises as the villain in the as yet unnamed Bond 25. As Bohemian Rhapsody propels his career into the theatrical realm, Rami Malek will return one last time to the role of Elliot Alderson, to which he credits so much of his success, when Mr. Robot airs its fourth and final season later this year on USA. And of course, there's always the off-chance Bohemian Rhapsody could get a sequel.

We’ll keep you updated on what Rami Malek is working on next and in the meantime, check out our 2019 release schedule to gear up for all of this summer’s biggest movies.

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Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Has Blue And Green Milk But Which Is Better?

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Has Blue And Green Milk But Which Is Better?

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is a new land that is all about making you feel like you're standing on an alien world in the galaxy far, far away. You get to fly in Star Wars spaceships. You can craft Star Wars weapons and droids. You can shop in an alien marketplace. However, one thing that Disneyland is especially known for is innovative and interesting food and drinks, and Galaxy's Edge is no exception.

A number of culinary delicacies have been created for guests to try, but if you're a serious Star Wars fan, then none may be quite as important as the beverages you can find at the Batuu milk stand.

From the moment Luke Skywalker sat down to breakfast in A New Hope, fans have wondered exactly what that blue concoction he was drinking actually was. The food and beverage team at Disney Parks have come up with their best approximation of that, as well as the green liquid Luke Skywalker pulled right from the source in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

The two drinks don't have special names. They're known simply as "blue milk" and "green milk" and are both available in a single place inside Galaxy's Edge, a location known simply as the milk stand. Both types of milk go for $7.99, so they're not cheap drinks, to be sure, but that's honestly pretty standard for a non-alcoholic specialty beverage at Disneyland.

What Exactly Is Blue Milk And Green Milk?

So, first and foremost, the most important thing to know is that neither of these drinks is technically milk. Both are beverages with a rice and coconut base rather than coming from any form of actual dairy. This is done largely to simply allow more people to enjoy the drinks. Both of them are vegan, so everybody from vegetarians to the simply lactose intolerant can still have a glass.

The drinks also are not quite the same consistency as milk. Both are closer to a milkshake than milk, or, since both have strong fruit flavors, maybe calling them a smoothie is more accurate. Either way, pouring blue milk on your morning breakfast cereal wouldn't simply change the color of your breakfast, but everything about the meal.

Blue Milk

Starting with the iconic blue milk made famous in Star Wars: A New Hope, this icy cold beverage is going to hit all your buttons, especially if you're a fan of tropical fruits. It's got flavors of pineapple and dragonfruit, but also watermelon. If you're looking for something cold and refreshing to drink on a hot day in Southern CA and there will be a lot of those this summer, or on Batuu, the blue milk is probably going to be much more your speed.

My guess is that the blue milk will be the favorite among most guests as it's something of a safer choice. The other option is a bit more adventurous.

Green Milk

Green milk is also very much a fruit smoothie, though the fruits here are quite different. The green option is very heavy in the citrus flavors -- think oranges and grapefruits above all. There's a bit of tropical fruit here as well as I think there's passion fruit also included.

This could have made the green milk the more popular choice overall, but green milk has a bit of a twist. In addition to these citrus flavors, there's also a strong element that I can only describe as floral tasting. It comes in at the back of the sip and is very strong. Because of this, it's the flavor that is still lingering after you swallow, making the green milk the more unique taste of the two.

This will be the determining factor in which of the two you like better. These floral notes are either going to appeal to you or they're going to turn you off in a big way.

So Which Is Better?

Going in I sort of assumed this would be an easy enough question to answer, but as it turns out, not so much.

Personally, I have to say I actually enjoyed the green milk more. I found the floral notes of the beverage to be quite interesting and unexpected and I love any food or drink that combines flavors I like in unique and interesting ways.

Having said that, it seems, based on those who have given both milks a try at Galaxy's Edge, that I'm very much in the minority. Odds are you will prefer the blue milk over the green. I can totally see that many might not go for the floral component of the green milk. It's not the first flavor you think of when you think "ice cold fruit smoothie."

The best comparison that I can come up with comes from the world of beer. What's often referred to as a "west coast IPA" is a beer that is usually heavy in hops and thus is more bitter. It certainly has a strong flavor to it, but it's one that doesn't appeal to everybody.

Green milk isn't bitter, but it has a strong flavor in the same way. You're either going to like the taste or you're going to hand the glass to your friend and see if they want to finish it.

Blue milk is more like your session IPA. Its flavors are smoother and more balanced. It's easier to drink. It's designed specifically to appeal to a wider variety of palettes.

If you're going to be checking out Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and you want to try something at the milk stand, my recommendation is go with the blue milk first. If you're there with a group of friends, consider getting one green milk among the group so that everybody can at least give it a try. There's a decent chance somebody will like it enough that it won't go to waste, and if everybody loves it, you can always get more.

You can still check out Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge now by booking a stay at a Disneyland Resort hotel, everybody booked in the room will get access to a four hour visit to Batuu. Starting June 24, no reservations will be required.

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