Peter Dinklage Confirmed for London Film and Comic Con 2013
The hit HBO series Game of Thrones has taken the UK by storm with its first two amazing seasons, now to celebrate the much anticipated third season returning to Sky One this year London Film and Comic Con will be host to some of the shows most beloved characters including PETER DINKLAGE, JASON MOMOA, KRISTIAN NAIRN and CLIVE RUSSELL who will taking part in signing autographs, professional photshoots and talks!
Peter Dinklage is best known for his role as Tyrion Lannister in the critically acclaimed TV series Game of Thrones. His performance saw him collect an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2011, as well as a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2012.
Dinklage will be joined by Jason Momoa, other wise known as Khal Drogo the leader of the Dothraki Nomads. Momoa, who is also known for his role as Ronan Dex in Stargate Atlantis was the last person to be cast for the Game of Thrones TV pilot, but Drogo left a lasting imprint on fans worldwide.
Kristian Nairn, known for his role as the loveable Hodor who is never seen far from Bran Stark’s side, and new cast member Clive Russell who will be playing Brynden Tully in series three will also be attending London Film and Comic Con this July.
All four of the Game of Thrones stars will be taking part in signing autographs, professional photo shoots and on stage talks over the weekend. Tickets are available from the Showmasters On-line Shop now! But be sure to check out the other stars attending too, including guests from Terminator, E.T, Star Trek, Star Wars and many more!
Event Details
London Film and Comic Con
Friday 5th – Sunday 7th July 2013
Earls Court 2, London
SW5 9TA
Website: www.londonfilmandcomiccon.com
Tickets: www.londonfilmandcomiccon.com/index.php/tickets
Email: info@showmastersonline.com
Tel: 01908 671138 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm)
Lincoln Review
The Plot:
Steven Spielberg’s long awaited biopic of iconic American President Abraham Lincoln focuses on the last few months of his life as he attempts to pass the 13th Amendment through the House of Representatives and abolish slavery forever. However this triumphant historical moment is set against the end of the brutally destructive American civil war and his own personal sacrifices.
The Good:
With a stellar cast including Academy Award nominees Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Fields and Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln was always destined to be something special. With Steven Spielberg at the helm and Tony Kushner drafting the screenplay, this dialogue heavy insight into one of the most riveting moments of American history is not to be missed.
Abraham Lincoln had a rare almost mythical quality which has endured throughout the ages as an emblem of the best of the American dream and the ideals it represents. But the real triumph of Spielberg’s latest masterpiece is that it humanises such a statuesque historical figure, making him finally a real living and breathing man. Spielberg expertly delivers a Lincoln who is simultaneously both the inspiring father of a nation and an ordinary family man.
This film simply couldn’t have been made without Daniel Day-Lewis. He remains the ultimate method actor, physically and emotionally transforming himself into Honest Abe. It’s a brilliant nuanced performance that is instantly recognisable and truthful; whilst skilfully avoiding any of the overall familiar stereotypes associated with more crude Lincoln caricatures. With a perfectly intoned voice, shuffling walk and passive nature; you cannot fault Day-Lewis’s characterization and awards a-plenty should be placed firmly in his hands.
Tommy Lee Jones is equally magnificent as radical pro-abolition supporter Thaddeus Stephens. His quick tongued, imposing authority guides us through the House of Representative scenes mesmerizingly when Day Lewis is not present. The surprising humour within the film falls mainly on Jones capable shoulders. His quick quips instantly make you chuckle with an effortless ease that gives the film a welcomed light relief. This Texan actor is back to his best in this film and like Day-Lewis picks his key moments to truly shine and provide award worthy performances throughout.
Rounding out the rest of the cast, there are no performances big or small that fall through the cracks. Every character is carefully considered and acted with dedication and conviction, most notably through David Strathairn, James Spader and Hal Holbrook.
The Bad:
Taking a step back from glossy visuals, Spielberg and Kushner have opted for a narrative heavy theatrical style which may prove slightly off-putting for some audiences. A demanding 150minute runtime is packed with in depth information about the intricacies of the American legislative process and a dizzying array of characters.
The film’s trailers may have tended to create a potentially misleading impression that Lincoln is a sweeping civil war epic full of rousing battles on a grand scale. However in truth the film is far more compact and intimate as a simple character drama. The film has sharp and quick moving dialogue that is engaging and clever, although admittedly a lot to take in on a single viewing. But really that’s just an excuse to watch Lincoln repeatedly.
The Ugly Truth:
Lincoln is exciting and heart-warming in spite of its slow pacing, representing a dazzling return to form for one of the greatest directors of all time. Daniel Day-Lewis delivers a simply astonishing performance to bring the spirit of one of the most recognizable and significant figures in world history back to life on the big screen. A stellar supporting cast and expert direction from Steven Spielberg make Lincoln must see magnificence.
Red Carpet interviews below with Steven Spielberg, Sally Field and Daniel Day-Lewis at the Dublin charity premiere:
Zero Dark Thirty Review
The Plot:
Inspired by actual events a determined CIA agent leads the global hunt for terrorist mastermind Osama Bin laden. She must confront indecisive superiors, well trained terrorists and the harsh realities of brutal interrogations in her quest for justice. Her mission ultimately climaxes in one of the most infamous military assaults in human history.
The Good:
Director Kathryn Bigelow already won an Academy Award for tackling the sensitive subject of the Iraq war in the Hurt Locker, candidly exploring the troubled existence of an American bomb disposal soldier. In Zero Dark Thirty she tackles the main event of the war on terror, delivering a compelling re-enactment of the world’s most notorious manhunt.
Allegedly drawn from intimate sources with the CIA and the American military the script injects a pounding dramatic momentum into the protracted search. Despite audiences being fully aware of the ultimate fate of Osama Bin Laden, the film finally delivers the satisfaction of witnessing exactly how he met his demise. Literally taking audiences inside the final fateful raid on the Pakistan compound where he had eluded international authorities for so many years.
Despite misleading trailers the film shouldn’t be mistaken for simply a gun totting action adventure. Bigelow explores the work, sacrifices and compromises that ultimately facilitated a successful assassination. Thanks to a minimal, angry and intense performance from Oscar nominated star Jessica Chastain; the film avoids being mistaken for a protracted army recruitment ad. Brave directing choices and understated performances from the entire cast help the film easily refute any accusation of sensationalism or of glamourizing the evils of war.
As the film’s focal point, Jessica Chastain channels the same spirit of unflinching commitment in the face of military and moral complexity that epitomized Jeremy Renner’s stoic performance in The Hurt Locker. This allows director Kathryn Bigelow to continue probing politically and emotionally provocative subject matter with a reluctant knife.
The Bad:
Audiences are likely to bring their own political agendas into the cinema and Zero Dark Thirty simply cannot satisfy everyone. It is not a triumphant flag waving salute to American military power. But at the same time it falls short of being a damming condemnation of the atrocities committed by both sides in the ‘war on terror’.
Some will commend the film for avoiding political sermonizing in favour of arresting and emotional storytelling. But others will no doubt criticize the extent the film avoids explicitly addressing the wider issues behind the infamous events depicted. There’s a fine line between giving an audience room to make its own assessments and simply dodging responsibility. That balance is particularly important when a film claims to be an accurate depiction of real life events.
The film’s frequent graphic depiction of CIA agents torturing prisoners has attracted inevitable controversy, particularly because the film rarely if ever verbalizes an opinion on whether such actions are justifiable necessities of war or simply war crimes. Audiences searching for clear cut answers and ideological certainties may be a little dissatisfied with film’s lack of open commentary.
The Ugly Truth:
Though lacking some of the nail biting tension of Bigelow’s previous effort The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty has an added dimension of fascination due to its depiction of such notorious real life events. Guaranteed to inflame discussion across the globe the film is thought provoking and meticulously well crafted. Its lack of obvious political agenda is probably wise and what remains is a tense credible drama.
An Idiot Abroad Won’t Get New Series
On the red carpet at the European Premiere of his new romantic comedy film ‘I Give It A Year’, Stephen Merchant has sadly confirmed that there will not be another series of the hugely popular comedy travel series An Idiot Abroad. The third series which paired Karl Pilkington with actor Warwick Davis for three episodes of globetrotting adventures will unfortunately be the last.
Explaining the decision Stephen admitted that he believes Karl is “truly sick” of himself and Ricky Gervais after three series of friendly torture. Having sent Karl to some of the most bizarre and uncomfortable places on earth Stephen surmises that Karl is “damaged goods now”.
Karl had always been openly reluctant to do any more series but many fans has assumed that his recent statements that he wouldn’t be doing any more were simply his usual moaning and that eventually Ricky and Stephen would bully him into doing a 4th series.
But in news sure to delight Karl Pilkington’s devoted fanbase, Stephen did reassure us that Karl will certainly do something else now, although any new show is likely to be planned in secret and without the involvement of Ricky and Stephen. So fans shouldn’t worry there may be even more Karl on the way soon. We’ll next be seeing Karl acting in the new series of Derek which starts on channel 4 on Wednesday 30th January at 10pm.
Video Below of Stephen talking about Karl and bad wedding dancing in his new film:
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Gets Sequel
The Weinstein Company is pushing forward with plans for a sequel to Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, 12 years after Ang Lee’s original epic martial arts saga introduced the western world to the cinematic wonders of acrobatic wire work and swordplay.
Woo-ping Yeun the choreographer behind the original masterpiece is set to return, but Director Ang Lee fresh from his Oscar nominated success with Life Of Pi is unlikely to be involved. Hong Kong director Ronny Yu (Fearless) is instead tipped to take responsibility for turning a script by John Fusco (The Forbidden Kingdom, Young Guns) into a blockbuster reality.
The sequel is based on the final book in the original series by Wang Du Lu which followed the continuing adventures of martial arts master Shu Lein. Michelle Yeoh played the character in the original film but it unclear if she will be willing to reprise the role after so many years for ‘Silver Vase, Iron Knight’.