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The Great Gatsby is transporting audiences back in time, and we sure have a thing for movies that do just that. The trend of morphing great literature into Hollywood films has come and gone through the last century, leaving behind a gold-flecked trail of some of the best movie adaptations of all time.
We're talking movies that you watched instead of reading the book in your ninth grade English class. We're talking novels from the 1950s and earlier. We're talking stories that started out a little dull, but got interesting as soon as they were converted into silver screen gold. Cast your vote for the top 10 classic-lit movie adaptations.
Rate the Top 10 Classic-Literature Movie Adaptations >>
Posted 05.10.13 by Shari -
"It's not a place you can get to by a boat or a train. It's far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain..."
With Disney's Oz: The Great and Powerful opening in theaters nationwide today, moviegoers will finally have the opportunity to return to the incredible fantasy world created by L. Frank Baum in his Land of Oz books. For those who have never ventured to Oz before, there are all manner of wonders in store, from talking dolls and toothy fairies, to flying monkeys and witches, both good and wicked. What's great about fantasy movies like Oz: The Great and Powerful is that they offer so much more than colorful characters and an entertaining story — they provide an entire new world to explore. If you could book a vacation to any fictional land depicted in fantasy movies, where would you go?
Rate the Top 10 Movie Fantasy Lands You Would Love to Visit >>
Posted 03.08.13 by BrentJS -
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." — John Lennon
Some of the most imaginative films in motion picture history are inspired by, based on, or even take place within, dreams. This is not really that surprising considering comparisons between the two have been made since the birth of cinema, with Hollywood often referred to as the "dream factory." Psychologists have long noted that the collection of sounds and images that comprise both movies and dreams are heavily steeped in symbolism and latent content and that both experiences arouse similar psychological mechanisms in the participants.
Even the most pedestrian of movies are akin to dreams in the way that they transport us away from our everyday lives and allow us to experience people, places, events, and even emotions that might otherwise be foreign to us. But, the similarities between the two are never more apparent than when dreams are represented on screen. Pour yourself a nightcap or nice cup of chamomile tea, put on your PJs and help us rate the best movies about dreams.
Rate the Top 10 Best Movies About Dreams >>
Posted 01.28.13 by BrentJS -
The proliferation of movie sequels, prequels, requels and reboots over the years has resulted in the declaration that original ideas in Hollywood are dead by more than a few cynical cinema chroniclers. Not that those cynics need any more ammunition for their argument considering that this weekend's top three movies are a sequel to a movie from 1982 (Tron: Legacy), an adaptation of a cartoon that first debuted in 1958 (Yogi Bear), and the third chapter in a movie franchise adaptation of a book series originally published in the '50s (The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader), but it now appears that yet another adaptation of the Wizard of Oz books by famed author L. Frank Baum is in the works.
what's this new Oz adaptation? >> Posted 12.20.10 by BrentJS -
A minor fan furor erupted on the internet following the recent news that A Christmas Carol (2009) director Robert Zemeckis was in "early talks" with Warner Bros. (WB) to helm the live-action remake of The Wizard of Oz, which would have reportedly been based directly on the screenplay for the classic 1939 movie. Apparently, those furious fans were in an uproar over nothing. According to EW, an insider source at WB confirmed that Zemeckis did meet with studio execs to "bat around the idea of an Oz remake," but a representative for the director said that Zemeckis is not interested in pursuing the project.
The reports that Robert Zemeckis is doing The Wizard of Oz are absolutely false.
Zemeckis is currently developing an animated remake of the 1968 classic Yellow Submarine for Disney, which will use the same motion-capture animation technology he used on The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol. The movie is aimed at a 2012 release.
MORE >> Posted 11.19.10 by BrentJS -
In a recent interview, Back to the Future director Robert Zemeckis admitted that he was approached to direct Warner Bros. planned reboot of Superman but admitted he "passed faster than a speeding bullet" because he didn't want to make the "seventeenth version" of the famous superhero. So if Superman holds no interest for Zemeckis, what would the famed director like to work on? How about Warners' live-action remake of The Wizard of Oz instead?
Forget the Superman and give me Dorothy >> Posted 11.17.10 by Ryan -
Isn't there something inherently great about watching people set aside their individual differences, tap their inner resources, and apply themselves to a greater goal?
Well, a large number of moviemakers must think so — they've taken the basic team-building idea and run with it in so many directions that not even a 'copter piloted by The A-Team's "Howling Mad" Murdock could track them all down. If we weren't busy building a tank out of a water cooler and some stuff we found in the stationery closet, we'd provide a comprehensive list. Instead, here are the 10 most-memorable team-ups.
See Top 10 "Rally Your Forces" Movies >> Posted 06.10.10 by reelz -
If there is one thing Hollywood likes, it's a comeback story, and no one seems more poised for that right now than writer-director Troy Duffy. Politics may have sunk his The Boondock Saints initially, but word of mouth and DVD sales proved co-star Billy Connolly right when he said, "The kids will find it! It's rock 'n' roll!"
Now the saints have been resurrected in a sequel, The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. In honor of this achievement, we look at six movies that surprisingly failed in theaters in Back from the Dead: Movie Classics that Began as Box-Office Bombs.
Posted 10.30.09 by reelz -
With "balloon boy" costumes "practically flying off the shelves" this Halloween — and April Fools' Day less than six months away (OK, it's a bit of a stretch) — we thought we'd offer some alternative balloon viewing.
Here are five balloon mishaps from movies that are guaranteed to elicit a variety of emotional reactions, with one notable exception: Disgust.
Posted 10.29.09 by reelz -
The Wizard of Oz has its 70th anniversary this year, and to celebrate, Netflix announced that it will stream the movie in high-definition for free. The movie is available starting at 9 AM ET Saturday, October 3, and continues for 24 hours.
In its press release, Netflix also says it has planned a free concert and screening on Tuesday, September 29 in New York's Central Park in order to promote the event.
The concert will feature contemporary interpretations of classic songs from the The Wizard of Oz by the Academy Award®-winning actress and Grammy Award®-winning singer Jennifer Hudson and two-time American Country Music Award® and two-time Dancing with the Stars winner Julianne Hough.... Following the concert, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Central Park's Rumsey Playfield, the movie will be shown on a giant inflatable screen.
Warner Home Video is also participating in the event, and executive vice-president Jeff Baker spoke on Warner's behalf:
We're proud to be participating over the past year in the 70 anniversary celebration of this cinematic treasure and to be working with Netflix on their terrific events. We've brought Oz into the digital age with a painstakingly re-mastered Blu-ray and with 24 hours of free streaming over the Internet via [Netflix]. Viewers of all ages will feel like they're seeing these endearing characters and hearing the unforgettable Oz songs for the first time.
For more details can check out the press release and see a promotional trailer for the event here.
Posted 09.10.09 by reelz