For the first time since 2011, digital music downloads were outsold by physical sales by the end of 2017, according to a recently published report from The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
While the difference is relatively little in terms of percentage (physical sales were 17%, while digital downloads were 15% of the market share), that is still surprising, given the consumer market’s increasing propensity towards purchasing digital content in all forms of entertainment.
Video games, for example, have shown a trend in recent years towards a decrease in physical purchases and an increase in digital purchases. Here are the market share percentages for physical and digital copies of video game purchases from 2009 to 2016 according to Statista: Continue reading →
After last year’s hugely successful supernatural horror film “It”, Stephen King adaptations are a hot commodity again once again. This time, its “The Tommyknockers” that’s getting a big screen adaptation, with James Wan getting involved according to Hollywood Reporter alongside Roy Lee and Larry Sanitsky.
The trio seem like a perfect match. James Wan is a driving force behind the Conjuring franchise, Roy Lee produced King’s blockbuster “It” film, and Sanitsky executive produced “The Tommyknockers” two part television mini-series which broadcast on ABC in 1993.
But with King’s name attached, the novel’s popularity can stand on it’s own. Tommyknockers is an international hardcover best-seller, outselling even some of King’s bibliography such as The Shining and Carrie. That said, the author was not very fond of the book, at one point calling it “awful” during an interview with Rolling Stone magazine decades after its release.
Published in 1987, The Tommyknockers follows the story of a small town in Maine, where a dangerous gas emits from a spaceship uncovered in the woods. The gas transforms the town’s residents except for one man who is immune to it’s effects.
James wan is currently directing Aquaman, the sixth installment in the DC Extended Universe, set for release later this year.
With “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” set for release on this year’s summer, the producers of the franchise is already lining up a director for the “Jurassic World 3.”
“Colin Trevorrow is going write and direct the third Jurassic World story,” according to Steven Spielberg in a statement released on Entertainment Weekly. Spielberg’s latest film “Ready Player One” is out this weekend.
Trevorrow of course rebooted the Jurassic Park franchise with the massively successful 2015 film “Jurassic World.” That film went on to become one of the highest grossing films of all time, grossing $1.67 billion worldwide. Trevorrow’s last film, The Book of Henry, was not as well received both critically and commercially.
J.A. Bayona took over the director took over the reins as director for “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” after leaving directing duties in World War Z sequel though
Colin Trevorrow wrote the script with Derek Connolly (Kong: Skull Island.)
“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” stars stars Jeff Goldblum, Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Toby Jones, James Cromwell and is scheduled for release on June 22.
As revealed by Editor in Chief C.B. Cebulski in an official video from Marvel, FANTASTIC FOUR will return this summer in an all-new monthly series, written by Dan Slott (Amazing Spider-Man, Silver Surfer) with art by Sara Pichelli (Spider-Man: Miles Morales).
“I started my adventures in the Marvel Universe with a freaked-out Reed Richards, the Watcher and the Silver Surfer,” Slott told The New York Times in an interview. “I’ve wanted this for so long.”
“We’ve been waiting for the right creators to come available for this book,” Cebulski revealed during Marvel’s official announcement. “Fantastic Four is not an easy team to draw – The Thing is the big orange rock guy, Reed can move in all kinds of directions, Johnny is on fire when he flames on, and Sue, when she is invisible or not, you still have to make her presence felt in each panel — and Sara can just do that like nobody else.” For more information about Fantastic Four, check out Marvel.com and be sure to stay tuned for more news throughout the week on This Week in Marvel, Women of Marvel and Earth’s Mightiest Show.
“Things are quite different here,” says Jack Black’s character in the new gothic fantasy horror film from director Eli Roth, “The House with a Clock in its Walls.”
The film tells the story of a 10-year-old orphan Lewis Barnavelt (Owen Vaccaro) who moves to live with his warlock uncle Jonathan (Jack Black). The trailer shows him being welcomed by his next-door neighbor Mrs. Zimmermann (Cate Blanchett) who turns out to be witch.
Based on the 1973 novel of the same name by John Bellairs and illustrated by Edward Gorey, the film was adapted by Eric Kripke (Supernatura, Revolution, Timeless).
Though included by many as part of the “splat pack,” a collection of filmmakers known for extreme violence and gore in their horror films, the film is in fact produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment which of course is responsible for plenty of family-oriented films. The source novel itself was intended by Bellairs for children.
Writer Kripke recently tweeted along with the trailer’s release: “When I was 10, I fell in love with this book. The only fan letter I ever wrote was to its author. It’s one of the main inspirations for #spn. Now we got to make it into a movie. Dreams do come true. If you like #spn, see where it all began.”
Also starring Kyle MacLachlan *Twin Peaks), Colleen Camp (Clue) and Renée Elise Goldsberry among others. “The House with a Clock in Its Walls” is set to premiere on Sept. 21.
Marvel Studios rolls out more promotional materials today for its upcoming tentpole “Avengers: Infinity War,” releasing a series of colorful new posters a few weeks before the film’s release.
The posters prominently features many of of the film’s characters, led by Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth).
Missing in these new posters however, is Avengers main character Hawkeye. The character is also absent on recently released TV spots and other promos, prompting many to conclude that the character maybe exiting the team in some way. Hawkeye came back from brief retirement in Captain America: Civil War.
Intended to be the sequel to 2012’s Marvel’s The Avengers and 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, the film will brings the superheroes together once again to stop Thanos (played by Josh Brolin) who arives on earth to collect the Infinity Stones.
Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, the Marvel superhero ensemble is scheduled for release on April 27, 2018, with a sequel set for next summer on May 3, 2019.
Weezer’s lead singer Rivers Cuomo has recently made his debut as a solo artist with a new solo track , “Medicine for Melancholy”. The new release is his first official single outside of the band and contains lyrics written in the hopeless-romantic style that much of the Weezer discography is known for.
“No reason for me to struggle/Just be there when I wake up/You’re my medicine for melancholy/Let me take you in,” Cuomo sings, portraying a depressed character whose unhappiness is alleviated by a newfound romance. Musically, the song carries a more relaxed, ethereal vibe compared to what is typical for Weezer.
While this is his official debut, Cuomo’s solo discography include his home demos and segregated material: Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo , Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo , Not Alone – Rivers Cuomo and Friends: Live at Fingerprints, and Alone III: The Pinkerton Years.
After her acclaimed performance in “I, Tonya”, Margot Robbie is back as a David Lynch-inspired femme fatale in the latest “Terminal,” an upcoming drama thriller film from first-time feature director Vaughn Stein who also wrote the script.
The story follows two hit men on a mission to for a criminal mastermind. Along the way, they encounter Robbie’s character Annie who may be more involved in the mission than they know. Max Irons (The Riot Club) and Dexter Fletcher (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) co-stars as the two hit men. Simon Pegg , Mike Myers and British model and actress Jourdan Dunn are also in the film.
“There is a place like no other on Earth, a land full of wonder, mystery and danger. Some say to survive it you need to be as mad as a hatter, which luckily I am,” says Robbie’s Annie in the trailer.
Robbie is enjoying great success lately, with her last lead role earning her an Oscar nomination for playing the infamous figure skater Tonya Harding in “I, Tonya.” The film won her co-star Allison Janney the Best Supporting oscar win.
Produced by Highland Film Group, the film is set to be released by RLJE Films on May 11, 2018.
Here is the film’s official synopsis:
In the dark heart of a sprawling, anonymous city, TERMINAL follows the twisting tales of two assassins carrying out a sinister mission (Max Irons and Dexter Fletcher), a teacher battling a fatal illness (Simon Pegg), an enigmatic janitor (Mike Myers) and a curious waitress leading a dangerous double life (Margot Robbie). Murderous consequences unravel in the dead of night as their lives all intertwine at the hands of a mysterious criminal mastermind hell-bent on revenge.
2018 is truly off to a great start in musical terms. Although the Grammys hit quite a sour spot with their very confusing awards ceremony this season, the results of intersectional feminism and the #TimesUp movement have nonetheless paved a way for female artists to have a more direct platform perfect for their voice. The Grammys were a testament to that.
Janelle Monae is no exception, but is without a doubt one of the rare artists with a genuine spirit. Her story though, is what is most fascinating for her reappearance in music:
If you are like most, Janelle Monae was first introduced to us with her massive single “Tightrope”, which uses musical elements made famous by James Brown, Little Richard and Chuck Berry to form a dance R&B sound as quite an oddity in the early 2000s. The song, using a dance move as a metaphor for one’s own doctrine, has since then become a staple of Monae’s and is what introduced many to the world as a funk-tip toeing signature song for the musical magician.
This was our introduction to Janelle’s altar ego and the center of the stage, Cindi Mayweather, a rogue android in a dystopian future who has been declared as an outlaw.
But if you are a mega-fan of Janelle’s, you’ll know very well that the introduction to this songstress was more like during active Outkast days, when her song was added on Big Boi’s Got Purp? compilation album, and soon after made two appearances on Outkast’s Idlewild album, which was actually a soundtrack to their film of the same name. Not long after, she released her first official solo album, which is a very rare copy of her earlier works. Continue reading →
Writer and director David Robert Mitchell had a breakthrough in 2014 with the supernatural horror film “It Follows.” Now he is back helming Andrew Garfield in a modern noir comedy-drama film “Under the Silver Lake” set in Los Angeles.
Andrew Garfield, who earned a nomination for an Academy Award Best Actor for his portrayal of Desmond T. Doss in “Hacksaw Ridge” (2016) stars in the neo-noir story of Sam who is searching for the truth behind the disappearance of an attractive, mysterious girl he met, which unravels into a deeper, more sinister conspiracy than he ever imagined.
“Under the Silver Lake” co-stars Topher Grace, Jimmi Simpson, Callie Hernandez, Riki Lindhome, Summer Bishil, Zosia Mamet, Luke Baines, and Patrick Fischler. Composer Disasterpeace, who worked with Mitchell on “It Follows” is also doing the score for ‘Silver Lake’. The film is set to premiere this summer on June 22.
Here’s the film’s synopsis courtesy of A24 Films:
Sam (Andrew Garfield) is a disenchanted 33-year-old who discovers a mysterious woman, Sarah (Riley Keough), frolicking in his apartment’s swimming pool. When she vanishes, Sam embarks on a surreal quest across Los Angeles to decode the secret behind her disappearance, leading him into the murkiest depths of mystery, scandal, and conspiracy in the City of Angels.
From writer-director David Robert Mitchell comes a sprawling, playful and unexpected mystery-comedy detective thriller about the Dream Factory and its denizens—dog killers, aspiring actors, glitter-pop groups, nightlife personalities, It girls, memorabilia hoarders, masked seductresses, homeless gurus, reclusive songwriters, sex workers, wealthy socialites, topless neighbors, and the shadowy billionaires floating above (and underneath) it all. Mining a noir tradition extending from Kiss Me Deadly and The Long Goodbye to Chinatown and Mulholland Drive, Mitchell uses the topography of Los Angeles as a backdrop for a deeper exploration into the hidden meaning and secret codes buried within the things we love.
For the first time since 2011, digital music downloads were outsold by physical sales by the end of 2017, according to a recently published report from The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). 
