by admin | Jun 12, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
Steven Spielberg’s best movies that come to mind involve memorable creatures that brought wonder, curiosity and human connections. I’m of course talking about Jurassic Park and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which used innovative practical effects to bring aliens and dinosaurs to life. On their anniversary, I just found out that Spielberg’s two movies were both released eleven years apart on June 11th, and you better believe the internet celebrated.
There is so much to love about Jurassic Park and E.T. They’re both qualify as some of the best sci-fi movies of all time for showing human elements in what look to be terrifying creatures. Whether you pet a “veggie-saurus” or go flying with E.T., they are the true definition of cinematic masterpieces worthy of celebration. However, I was today years old when @Unbreakable75 pointed out an amazing coincidence between the two movies I can’t believe I didn’t realize before:
highest-grossing movie of all time, Jurassic Park broke that record 11 years later. It proves that audiences had faith that Steven Spielberg would deliver another winner with its realistically looking prehistoric animals.
@VideoKassette79 shared a fan-made poster of what a mashup of the two movies would look like:
Yes, the idea of E.T. in the world of dinosaurs would certainly have us “over the moon.” But it does give me some insight that the lost alien would be able to escape the dinosaurs’ toothy wrath with Elliot as long as they at least fly away from the T-Rexes. Velociraptors, however, would be another story.
With two of the Oscar-winning sci-fi classics having anniversaries, @tutbeemer suggested how to celebrate:
As so many great double features like Barbenheimer have done well with their same-day releases, why not? Although, what combo name would work for the two Spielberg flicks? E.T.-rassic Park? Jurassic Terrestrial?
Even though E.T. and Jurassic Park are two different movies by the same director, the lovable alien actually “phoned home” on the dino franchise. If you remember in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, there was an emotional scene inspired by E.T. with the fiery doom behind the brachiosaur looking like the lovable alien’s glowing heart. The movie sequel also had more awesome E.T. Easter eggs, like the toy of the doll making its way there, as well as the neighborhood where the sci-fi fantasy was filmed. These eye-popping Easter eggs are a great nod to the talented director and show that his movies all have a place in the same cinematic universe.
It’s hard to believe that these two Steven Spielberg movies both played on June 11th, eleven years apart from each other. It was on this magical date that the award-winning director redefined the magic of movies that still lives in all of our hearts decades later. Jurassic Park is available on your Peacock subscription, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial can be rented or purchased on digital services.
by admin | Jun 12, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
Mel Brooks is one of the great comedy geniuses of the 20th century. He has so many great films that it’s hard to pick a favorite, but Spaceballs has to be near the top of any list. His Star Wars spoof is so spot on that it even makes fun of franchises and sequels. Well, soon it will be one.
Spaceballs 2 Has The Perfect Announcement Teaser
Josh Gad had previously revealed that he had written a sequel to Spaceballs, but beyond the fact that it existed, what we know about Spaceballs 2, like what it will be about or when we might see it, was limited at best. That just changed as an official Spaceballs 2 announcement just dropped that confirmed the movie is coming and set for a 2027 release. Check out the hilarious announcement above.
Spaceballs included a Star Wars-style opening crawl that was as funny as anything else in the movie. This one is focused on poking fun at the absolutely massive number of sequels and reboots that have been released over the last four decades.
Deadline reports Bill Pullman, who starred in the first film as Lone Starr, will be back, as will Dark Helmet himself, Rick Moranis.
The Rick Moranis return is especially noteworthy, as the actor has been largely retired from acting for quite some time. He did not return for either of the recent Ghostbusters sequels, even though there were apparently attempts to get him back. So it’s worth calling out how his return for this sequel is a big deal.
As a huge Rick Moranis fan in general, and an equally big Dark Helmet fan specifically, this has me quite happy. Any attempt to make another Spaceballs would be handicapped from the outset if Moranis wasn’t involved. Nobody else is quite as capable of being as funny, even while being covered by a giant metal facemask.
It seems that Josh Gad and Rick Moranis were simply destined to work together at some point. Gad spent several years trying to get a legacy sequel to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids off the ground. There were reports at one time that Moranis would return for the sequel, and while those rumors were never confirmed, the whole project eventually fell apart anyway.
Mel Brooks will also be back in the new Spaceballs. Brooks played two parts in the original film: as the leader of the Spaceballs, President Skroob, and as the Yoda parody, Yogurt. Brooks is confirmed to be playing Yogurt again. No word on if he’ll also play Skroob, but considering Skroob ends the original movie with Dark Helmet on the Planet of the Apes, it’s at least possible.
by admin | Jun 11, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
It’s easy to throw around the word “genius” when talking about some of the greatest artists of all time. But when it came to The Beach Boys’ founding member Brian Wilson, that word was more than just a compliment – it was a fact. With a legacy in pop culture that spans decades, and inspired one of the best music movies of all time, the legendary musician behind songs like “God Only Knows,” as well as Pet Sounds, the bedrock album that spawned it, is remembered today in a bittersweet light; due to his passing at the age of 82.
Brian Wilson’s family announced his passing on social media, with a photo of him sitting on a bench, smiling. That upbeat image was accompanied by the Twitter announcement, which read as follows:
2014 historical drama Love & Mercy.
Paul Dano playing versions of Brian Wilson, and with Paul Giamatti’s role as Dr. Eugene Landy, the film alternates between the making of the album Pet Sounds, and said period of treatment. In a statement issued by Cusack, through his representatives, he honored the man’s passing with this fond remembrance:
For some, Love & Mercy is considered one of the best rock-n-roll biopics, which is thanks to its coverage of not only Brian Wilson’s musical process but his life and times outside of his career.
It’s certainly been a tough week for music lovers, as the loss of Wilson comes not too long after the death of Sly Stone, of Sly and the Family Stone fame. This fact was lamented in our next tribute, from The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood:
Music aficionado and horror master Stephen King’s Threads account was also spotted as paying homage to this The Beach Boys icon. And in his offering, “The Life of Chuck” author said what we were all thinking:
With a musical style that gave rock-n-roll a sun-drenched Californian feeling, songs like “Surfin USA” and “California Girls” still feel like automatic plays in those warmer, beach friendly months. But musicians like The Velvet Underground’s John Cale are quick to remind us all that those radio hits are only the surface of what Brian Wilson had to offer:
Brian Wilson is no longer living on the mortal plain, but his work will persevere as long as there are stars above us. Which leads to what is perhaps the greatest tribute to the man’s musical legacy; a star studded performance of “God Only Knows” from 2015, celebrating the launch of BBC Music:
God Only Knows – BBC Music – YouTube
Watch On
We here at CinemaBlend offer our deepest condolences, love, and mercy to the friends and family of Brian Wilson. God only knows what we’d be without his music.
by admin | Jun 11, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
It’s summertime, and that often means there are plenty of family-friendly options at the theater. One of the fun flicks hitting the 2025 movie calendar is Elio, the newest animated film from Pixar. Early screenings have given some people a chance to see the movie before its release on June 20, and the first reactions are featuring some pretty strong opinions.
Pixar’s Elio will take moviegoers on a sci-fi space adventure. Our eye patch-sporting main character has an active imagination and is obsessed with aliens, but he gets more than he bargained for after being beamed up and is mistakenly thought to be Earth’s leader. Adventures ensue and, like all the best Pixar movies, this sounds like it has the potential to emotionally wreck audiences. According to Henry Raviolli, we’re in for an emotionally rich story about self-discovery. He writes on social media:
Justin Lawrence of Geekcentric also feels strongly about the coming-of-age tale, describing it as “weird” in the best way. Lawrence posts:
Joaquin Teodoro says this original story feels important, especially with so many sequels and remakes, writing:
According to Jonathan Sim, audience members young and old will fall in love with Elio, Glordon and all of the other characters in the upcoming Pixar flick. Sim says:
Voice actor Remy Edgerly is the voice Glordon, a toothy, wormlike alien who befriends Elio, and the above critic isn’t the only person singling out this character. Carla Renata posts:
Russ Milhelm of The Direct agrees that Glordon is a show-stealer but says audiences will enjoy the entire cast as Elio explores universal themes in this out-of-this-world adventure. Milhelm continues:
Michael J. Lee and others who caught an early screening of the movie are marveling at the animation as well as the emotional storytelling and, of course, some laughs along the way. This critic says:
Anthony Gagliardi of The Movie Podcast says audiences are in for a treat with this new film by Domee Shi, the writer/director of 2022’s Turning Red. In Gagliardi’s words:
It sounds like Elio hits all the beats we’ve come to expect from Pixar — great vocal performances, stunning animation and an emotional story that will connect with audience members of all ages. We’ll get even more details in the coming days as critics are allowed to expand on their first reactions ahead of Elio’s release to theaters on Friday, June 20.
by admin | Jun 9, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
Have you ever had a movie that you’ve heard so much about, but you wind up missing it in theaters and decide to just watch it at home? Of course you have! It happens to all of us. For me, the latest example is Pig.
Not too long ago, I finally got to watch Nickel Boys, and even more recently, I got to watch the Nicolas Cage movie. That said, while Nickel Boys was everything that I could have hoped for, Pig…well, I’m still not quite sure how I feel about this movie.
like most audience members who saw it, I loved it. But, it’s WHY I loved it that really makes me second-guess myself. So, sit with me for a while, little piggy, and I’ll explain it to you.
“Cagier” Nicolas Cage movies, but I love those, too! In fact, I’ve never watched a Nicolas Cage movie that I didn’t love.
Just think, the man has done romantic comedies, action movies, cartoons, and plenty of dramas. One of my FAVORITE genres for Nicolas Cage is horror, as he just does such a magnificent job at being creepy, or being in creepy situations. I’m talking about films like Longlegs, which my colleague, Alexandra Ramos, called one of the best movies of last year, and Mandy, which I thought was one of the best movies of 2018.
So, when I heard the plot of Pig being a movie about Cage rescuing a kidnapped hog, I naturally thought, “Oh, this must be a movie where Nic hacks people into pieces to get his pig back!” In my mind, I made Pig out to be this brutal, bloodsoaked horror movie where Cage is covered in other people’s viscera, and doing a lot of screaming (Possibly in tighty whiteys, a la Mandy).
But no, not at all. In fact, Pig is an introspective drama about a loner truffle-hunter who is not only searching for his pig, but also himself. And, can I just tell you that this threw me off completely? About 30 minutes in, I came to the realization that “Oh, this isn’t a horror movie at all. It’s a drama!”
So, it was because of my one silly self, but I thought this would be a completely different movie, but, do you know what? I’m all the better for it. Because the story is so damn good, which I’ll get into next.
he’s taken on crummy roles in the past. But, whenever I hear people say that “Nicolas Cage sucks,” I always have to remind them that he won a freaking Oscar for acting.
Some people already know this, but a lot of people don’t. That is until, of course, I show them his acceptance speech for Leaving Las Vegas, to which they’re like, “Then why is he in such bad movies?” to which I usually retort, “But he’s good in them!”
“Good” acting is purely subjective, of course (which might be why Robert Pattinson is quite possibly my all-time favorite actor), but when Cage is actually in a “good” movie, he will always knock it out of the park, which is what he does here. He simply knocks it out of the park.
Robin “Rob” Feld is a complex character who blossoms throughout the story. At first, he’s stoic, and he remains that way throughout the story. However, even though he doesn’t talk much, you see the depths of his character unfold throughout the film.
For example, when he’s willing to participate in getting beaten up just to acquire some information as to the whereabouts of his pig, that speaks volumes. When he cooks a meal for his “enemy,” it also speaks volumes. It’s all these subtle actions and more that make Robin one of Cage’s most complex characters ever.
12 great old movies that don’t get talked about enough, and one of the movies on that list was L’avenntura.
I only bring this movie up (I’m actually about to spoil TWO movies now) because at the end of L’avenntura, which starts out about a woman who’s gone missing, the woman is never found.
Upon rewatching it, you realize that the film, which translates to “The Adventure” in Italian, isn’t really about the missing woman. It’s about the feeling of isolation and disillusionment. In that way, you learn to appreciate the movie more for what it truly is, rather than being upset at the lack of a payoff.
The same could be said of Pig, since in the end, Robin never recovers the missing animal. In fact, the pig dies, and Robin returns to where he started and is left all alone, save for his memories of his dead wife.
As you could imagine, this truly got me, as I definitely wasn’t expecting such a morose or “unsatisfying” ending. I think that’s what makes the film so special, as it left me thinking about the entire journey all the way through, which I’ll talk about next.
I Am Hesitant To Recommend Pig To Anybody, Since I Think Going Into It Blind (Or With Other Expectations) Is Crucial
I’m really hesitant about whether I should recommend it or not, because I’m worried that if I do, I might give too much away about the journey.
If I tell somebody that it’s a drama, they might go into it expecting it to be dramatic, but that kind of thinking is what threw me off when I found out for myself that it wasn’t a horror movie, like I thought. That made me appreciate it more. If I tell them not to get their hopes up for the ending, then they’ll be thinking about what could happen rather than focusing on how the events play out on their own, which I also loved about it.
I think this is a movie that is best to go into completely blind, which is why I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody, even though it’s great. I want them to have a similar experience as I had in being completely enraptured by the story and performances.
So, Pig is good, and I don’t have to wonder anymore about why so many loved it. I better understand its appeal now that I’ve actually watched and written about it!
by admin | Jun 9, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
The following contains minor spoilers for Ballerina.
I am an unapologetic fan of all things John Wick. I’ve seen all the movies. I’ve been to the Las Vegas Continental. I love the Keanu Reeves-led franchise, and so the fact that we’re not only going to get more John Wick sequels, but prequels and multiple spinoffs, makes me a happy guy. As such, I was very much looking forward to seeing the first of those spinoffs, the Ana de Armas-led Ballerina.
Overall, I think Ballerina was a solid effort. The action sequences, while not quite up to the same standard as the John Wick films, were still well done, with a few really standout moments. Ana de Armas held her own throughout the film, as so many of us hoped she would. But while Ballerina was a solid action movie, I felt it was lacking as a John Wick film, and not because it didn’t have enough Keanu Reeves.
the rules are what make the World of John Wick special.
Caine, starring Donnie Yen, on the way, as well as an animated John Wick prequel. I hope the new films take a lesson from Ballerina and not follow in these footsteps. Don’t ignore the rules; instead, find creative ways to use them that will make your action and your story more interesting.
The rules of the John Wick universe are far from clear, and they’re more than a little bizarre. The gold coin-based economy makes basically no sense, but I don’t care. The rules are what make John Wick movies different from other action movies, and as we see more sequels and spinoffs, and whatever else in the John Wick universe, I hope we see more movies that find interesting ways to use the rules, and not simply ignore them.
