Latest news with #actionmovie
New York Times
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Priyanka Chopra Jonas Is OK Sitting With Idris Elba and John Cena
Priyanka Chopra Jonas gets a kick out of action — the stylistic long shots, the slow-motion explosions, the stunts. And if there are a couple of hilarious sparring partners in the mix, all the better. In her new film 'Heads of State,' which begins streaming on Prime Video on July 2, Chopra Jonas plays Noel Bisset, an MI6 operative on a mission to rescue the prime minister of Britain (Idris Elba) and the president of the United States (John Cena) from a global menace. After starring in shows like 'Citadel' and 'Quantico,' 'I trust myself when it comes to action, and I get to do some really fun things,' she said. 'I love learning from the stunt department. Their experience and expertise is very exciting to me.' But the most insane scene to shoot in 'Heads of State' involved Elba, Cena and a tight squeeze into a vehicle known as the Beast. 'It's just the three of us and a couple of bad guys, and it's raining bullets and bombs at us, and we're driving through the streets,' she said. 'It was the smallest space for the two biggest guys I've ever worked with. We used to chat about everything because you couldn't leave the vehicle in between shots often.' In a call from her home in Manhattan, Chopra Jonas sent Malti Marie, her 3-year-old daughter with her husband, the singer and actor Nick Jonas, out on a play date before revealing why self-care days, Magna-Tiles and signature scents top her list of essentials. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Gizmodo
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘The Old Guard 2' Cast on Making a Sequel That Bleeds, Thinks, and Fights Harder
On July 2, Netflix and Skydance will finally unleash The Old Guard 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 2020 action hit starring Charlize Theron as an immortal warrior protecting humanity. Ahead of the release, io9 caught up with returning stars KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Marwan Kenzari, as well as franchise newcomer Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians, Snake Eyes), to talk about stepping back into the brutal, secretive world of the Image Comics universe and what it took to bring its next chapter to life. Isaiah Colbert, io9: Nile's evolution from a wide-eyed recruit to a seasoned immortal takes center stage in this movie. What aspects of her growth—whether through the grit of her action sequences or the deepening bonds with her team—were the most rewarding for you to bring to life? KiKi Layne: For sure Nile's growth physically. The stunts I got to do, the choreography, having a weapon, that was really fun to push my physicality to new levels for the second film. That was definitely the highlight for me for Nile's journey this time around. io9: Joe and Nicky's bond continues to anchor the heart of this story. How did you and Luca Marinelli navigate the evolution of their dynamic, balancing their centuries-old intimacy with a renewed sense of purpose as they face the film's escalating threats together? Marwan Kenzari: To be honest with you, we are developing our friendship off-set. We're talking constantly. If [Marinelli] is in his trailer, I'll visit him. We'll sit and spend an hour or two together talking about so many different things and aspects of life that we, ultimately, automatically brought that [with us] when the camera's rolling. That's just a gift that we have. We don't have to pretend that we love each other. I genuinely love this man. That makes it a lot easier to do the job. io9: Since the first film, Copley has transformed from a reluctant ally to a mortal fighting shoulder to shoulder with immortals as an integral member of the crew. How did stepping into that more physically demanding role—while still carrying the weight of his humanity—challenge or deepen your performance this time around? Chiwetel Ejiofor: I enjoyed it. In the first one, I was a little bummed that I was standing on the edge of all the action. They got to get involved [and] have all the fun. I was really excited when I was reading the script, and it was like, 'Oh, Copley gets into this now?' That's great. He needs a tap on the shoulder sometimes—people tell him he's not immortal, too. I love the idea of him—not just in the technical sense—helping the team organize and deal with the operations using his skillset. The actual getting onto the field and really getting stuck in is a really great addition to Copley's character. io9: Tuah marks your entry into an ensemble stacked with action heavyweights. Coming off your lead role in Snake Eyes, you're no stranger to intense choreography, but how did you find your rhythm within this team? And were there any moments on set that reminded you just how physically demanding The Old Guard's world can be in comparison to G.I. Joe's? Henry Golding: I was a big fan of the first film. I think that opening sequence down in the kill room was phenomenal. It was action that we hadn't really seen. The design of it was so visceral. I knew we were going to bring back some of the choreography. Sadly, I didn't get as much as I'd love to, but what I did get was so much fun to be a part of. The great thing about The Old Guard is the balance. The real story is the human aspect of living as an immortal. The action is the consequence of the world around them. Finding that balance is crucial. It was absolutely fun to get stuck in. io9: This film has had a longer road to release than expected, with delays and reshoots delaying its timeline. In the face of those production challenges, what helped you all rally as a cast and crew to keep the energy and focus alive, and your connections to your characters? Ejiofor: Films take the time they take. As an actor and a cast, you're always excited to get involved. We're familiar with these characters now in a way where it's not easy, but it's okay to jump back in. We're always able to jump back into stuff, and I think everyone understands that making films is complex. Sometimes they take a little bit longer, and you've got to figure out how to do that, and that's great. io9: The combat in The Old Guard 2 aims to be more intense and personal. How did you all prepare for sequences this time around? Kenzari: As Chiwetel mentioned, it's a part of your muscle memory. The choreography that the stunt team comes up with, you go through them, and you get better at them—you increase speed. It's a fun part of the pre-production of a shooting day where, at the end of it, you just want to master the choreography as good as you can. That's the way we prepped part one, and that's the same way we worked on [part two]—it's just that the choreography is different and more than what we had in the first one. io9: If you could pit any iconic action movie stars against each other in an immortal vs. immortal fight like Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman, who would you like to see square off? Kenzari: Good question. Layne: Uma versus Charlize is pretty up there. Ejiofor: Atomic Blonde against Predator Arnie. That's what I'd like to see—hand to hand. Put the guns away. Kenzari: Predator Arnie is good. Golding: I like that. Kenzari: Skin on skin. Everyone: (laughs) Ejiofor: Damn. Golding: How do you beat that? Next question. Kenzari: Does Home Alone count as an actor? Everyone: (laughs) io9: It's been five years since fans first met the Guard. What do you each hope audiences take away from this chapter, not only to satisfy that long wait but to remind them why this story was worth holding onto? Kenzari: The whole mortality, immortality element is a huge highway in the arch of the storytelling in this one. I think that is the question, even with us in the last few days of interviews. It's the question that keeps coming back: What would you rather have [in] either one of these two? So much in the movie is about that fragile, sensitive aspect of people healing and not healing—dying and not being able to die—is something that the audience will think about after the movie finishes. Ejiofor: I think they're great characters, and I think that's what you'll remember and have missed—these really great characters and this incredible team. And there are things to think about. There are philosophical questions in there and deep emotional resonances with their history. There's a lot there. The Old Guard 2 premieres on Netflix July 2. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
New York Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
The Century's Best Movies
Ten years ago last May, I found myself so thunderstruck by a movie that I'm pretty sure my mouth hung open for nearly its entire two-hour running time. The film was George Miller's visceral vision 'Mad Max: Fury Road,' which I'd easily rank as the greatest action movie of the last quarter-century. Turns out, so does Hollywood. At 11th place, 'Mad Max: Fury Road' was the highest-ranking blockbuster on our exciting new list, The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century, compiled by polling more than 500 people in and around the film industry. Contributors included Oscar-winning directors like Pedro Almodóvar, Sofia Coppola, Guillermo del Toro and Barry Jenkins, and actors such as Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, Julianne Moore and Chiwetel Ejiofor. We even got a ballot from 98-year-old Mel Brooks. We have made many of those ballots available for your perusal — you can find them here. I loved learning that the 'Call Me By Your Name' director Luca Guadagnino has expectedly arty tastes but also included the mostly forgotten John Carpenter sci-fi film 'Ghosts of Mars' on his list. As for the top films, I had an early hunch that the biggest vote-getters would be David Lynch's 'Mulholland Drive' and Bong Joon Ho's best-picture winner 'Parasite,' though I confess I had them in the wrong order: In the end, 'Parasite' prevailed, while Lynch's film earned second place. The rest of the top 10 are: 3. 'There Will Be Blood' 4. 'In the Mood for Love' 5. 'Moonlight' 6. 'No Country For Old Men' 7. 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' 8. 'Get Out' 9. 'Spirited Away' 10. 'The Social Network' Though the advent of streaming services has affected the way movies are made and watched over the last quarter-century, only one film from a streamer made the list: Netflix's 'Roma,' at No. 46. I think that's a testament to just how profound the big-screen experience still feels. Our greatest cinematic memories, like the time my jaw dropped while watching 'Fury Road,' are forged in the dark with a packed audience along for the ride. A few other things stood out about the full list: Around a quarter of the films on the list are in a language other than English, reflecting both the global scope of our voters and the international nature of the contemporary cinema scene. Eleven of the films were directed by women. Fewer best-picture winners made the list than you might expect. Though three are in the top 10 — 'Parasite,' 'No Country For Old Men' and 'Moonlight' — only seven others are scattered throughout the rest of the list. The likes of 'Crash' and 'Green Book' may have charmed Oscar voters when they debuted, but have they stood the test of time? Check out the entire list here. Times readers can also submit your own ballots, which we will eventually compile into another list. I'm interested to see just how dramatically your choices may differ from the tastes of Hollywood insiders. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Geek Tyrant
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Wild New International Trailer for James Gunn's SUPERMAN Is Loaded With Cool New Footage — GeekTyrant
Here's a new international trailer for Superman that is packed full wild new action-packed footage of David Corenswet's fighting to save humanity, and nothing, especially Lex Luthor, won't be able to stop him! Superman is determind to come out on top. We see more footage of Supes battling a massive Kaiju, fighting The Engineer, and flying through Metropolis. The trailer also offers additional footage of Superman and Krypto inside the Fortress of Solitude, and telling Lex that his plan won't work. Superman is 'set in a world very different from ours and far removed from the DCEU. Heroes have been around for ages, and we'll see how it affected this world's history and has shaped the DCU." The cast of Superman also includes Nicholas Hoult as Lex, and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois, Skyler Gisondo as Clark's best pal, Jimmy Olsen; Wendell Pierce as The Daily Planet's Perry White; Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl; Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders, aka Hawkgirl; and Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner. It also stars Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord; Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt, aka Mister Terrific; Maria Gabriela de Faria as Angela Spica, aka The Engineer; Sara Sampan as Eve Teschmacher; Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason, aka Metamorphosis; Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.; Neva Howell as Martha Kent; and Pruitt Taylor Vince as Jonathan Kent. The movie was directed by James Gunn and is scheduled for a theatrical release on July 11, 2025.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Movie Review: 'M3GAN 2.0' goes big, maybe too big, to 'Mission: Impossible'-level existential crisis
If you want to know how big an upgrade the 'M3GAN' sequel has on the original, look no further than the very first scene. 'M3GAN' was mostly set in a Seattle house, but 'M3GAN 2.0' starts at the Turkish-Iranian border — with a murderous rampage in a secret military installation and the presence of Saudi intelligence, with U.S. Defense Department officials covertly watching. Two hours later, it's not clear if this is really an upgrade. Most of the same team that gave us the refreshing horror-comedy original two years ago have not only gone super-big, but also changed the franchise's genre, turning 'M3GAN 2.0' into an action movie with two AI robots, two villains, FBI units, wingsuits, neural implants, a 'Mission: Impossible'-style vault heist, exosuits, a 250-mph street chase in a supercar, a power grid disaster, a countdown clock, the United Nations and the fate of the planet at stake. If the evil doll M3gan in the first movie was responsible for the deaths of four humans and one dog, this time the screen is littered with the corpses of shootings, decapitations, severed limbs and laser slayings. There are double-crosses, impalings, blood splatter, cattle prods, tactical military soldiers, self-destruct sequences and insane close-combat martial arts. You can be forgiven for expecting a Tom Cruise appearance. What you won't get is much of the vibe of the original, which fused horror, cultural commentary and humor. This time, that's muted in favor of an overly ambitious, horribly convoluted plot that sometimes feels like the moviemakers just threw money at the sequel and tried to ape other franchises by going massive. The first had a bedroom feel; the new one starts, like we said, on an international border. The original's $12 million budget has been tripled. 'M3GAN 2.0' owes a lot to 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day,' in which the robot killer in the first movie becomes the robot hero of the second. M3gan, it will come as no surprise, wasn't killed at the end of the original. She's just been laying low, waiting for her time to seize the day — and dance. Now she is reborn to fight another, better AI robot, played with sinister lethality by Ivanna Sakhno. 'M3GAN' arrived in 2023 just as AI technology like ChatGPT was beginning to go mainstream. Director and screenwriter Gerard Johnstone turns Allison Williams — who plays M3gan's creator, Gemma — into a high-profile author and advocate for government oversight of artificial intelligence as the sequel opens. One of the more intriguing questions the movie explores is if parents are gradually outsourcing their responsibilities to technology. Her niece Cady — the fabulous Violet McGraw — is now a budding computer programmer and rebellious. She has learned aikido and has a strong affinity for Steven Seagal, a running gag. Her protection is still the single focus of M3gan, who has apparently been in cloud networks between movies. Facing a global existential threat, Gemma is convinced to build a body for M3gan to go toe-to-toe with the military-grade AI killing machine known as Amelia. 'Everyone deserves a second chance,' Cady tells her aunt. But whose side is M3gan really on? And what does Amelia really want? Some of the movie's best parts are when M3gan and Amelia face off. 'You're not family to them,' the new AI model says to the old. 'You're just the help.' There's some cool robotic dancing — a highlight of the original — and a return of M3gan's camel-colored silk sateen dress that became popular at Halloween. Johnstone has smartly kept the offbeat humor of the original, this time with clever nods to 'Knight Rider' and a surreal use of the Kate Bush song 'This Woman's Work.' Jemaine Clement from 'Flight of the Conchords' has fun as an arrogant tech billionaire, while Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps return as Gemma's tech teammates, this time crawling through ducts or getting choked almost to death. We wouldn't be here if someone had taken the advice of Ronny Chieng's character in the original movie: 'I want you to take this cyborg puppet show and put it in a dark closet where it belongs.' Not after grossing $180 million worldwide. 'M3GAN 2.0' was inevitable, but it didn't have to be so inevitably too much. 'M3GAN 2.0,' a Universal Pictures release in theaters Friday, is rated PG-13 for 'strong violent content, bloody images, some strong language, sexual material and brief drug references.' Running time: 120 minutes. Two stars out of four.
