Release: Now playing in select theaters (70mm release); December 30, 2015 (nationwide)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Written By: Quentin Tarantino
Rating: R
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demian Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, Channing Tatum
Synopsis:
In THE HATEFUL EIGHT, set six or eight or twelve years after the Civil War, a stagecoach hurtles through the wintry Wyoming landscape. The passengers, bounty hunter John Ruth (Kurt Russell) and his fugitive Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh), race towards the town of Red Rock where Ruth, known in these parts as "The Hangman," will bring Domergue to justice. Along the road, they encounter two strangers: Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson), a black former union soldier turned infamous bounty hunter, and Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins), a southern renegade who claims to be the town's new Sheriff. Losing their lead on the blizzard, Ruth, Domergue, Warren and Mannix seek refuge at Minnie's Haberdashery, a stagecoach stopover on a mountain pass. When they arrive at Minnie's, they are greeted not by the proprietor but by four unfamiliar faces. Bob (Demian Bichir), who's taking care of Minnie's while she's visiting her mother, is holed up with Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth), the hangman of Red Rock, cow-puncher Joe Gage (Michael Madsen), and Confederate General Sanford Smithers (Bruce Dern). As the storm overtakes the mountainside stopover, our eight travelers come to learn they may not make it to Red Rock after all...
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Unversal Pictures Entertainment March releases for Barbie: Spy Squad and Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef
March brings two new movies from popular kids franchises. March 1st finds a new Barbie adventure, with Barbie: Spy Squad. While March 22nd will bring a brand new Monster High movie with Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef. Check out all of the information for both titles below.
Release Date: 3/1/2016
BARBIE: SPY SQUAD
Synopsis: Barbie™ and her best friends Teresa™ and Renee™ transform from hard-working gymnasts to undercover secret agents in this exciting, action-packed adventure! When their amazing gymnastics skills catch the eye of a top-secret spy agency, the girls are soon following clues to a gem-stealing cat burglar who has escaped everyone on the case. With their high-tech gadgets, glam disguises and cute robo-pets, can they prove that smarts and teamwork can get the mission accomplished? It's girl power to the rescue!
English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French European DTS Digital Surround 5.1
Spanish DTS Digital Surround 5.1
Subtitles:
English SDH
French
Spanish
Edition:
-
Picture:
Widescreen / Anamorphic Widescreen
Version:
Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD
Color/B&W
COLOR
Rating:
Not Rated
CARA Rating:
-
Bonus Features:
• Digital Copy of Barbie: Spy Squad (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)
• Includes UltraViolet (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)
• "Strength in Numbers" Music Video
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
French European Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Subtitles:
English SDH
French
Spanish
Edition:
-
Picture:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Version:
-
Color/B&W
COLOR
Rating:
Not Rated
CARA Rating:
-
Bonus Features:
• "Strength in Numbers" Music Video
Release Date: 3/22/2016 MONSTER HIGH: GREAT SCARRIER REEF
Synopsis: Splash into a Whole New Monster High™ World! Join your favorite ghoulfriends in an all-new aquatic adventure! When the ghouls get pulled into the school pool, they're transported to the gore-geous underwater world of the Great Scarrier Reef. Lagoona realizes she's come home and, in a fintastic mission of the heart, decides to come to terms with her own freaky flaws. Of course she'll need some help from the most creeperiffic friends ever as she confronts a frenemy from her past, competes in a scaretastic dance extravaganza, and fights a terrible beast from the deep!
English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French European DTS Digital Surround 5.1
Spanish DTS Digital Surround 5.1
Subtitles:
English SDH
French
Spanish
Edition:
-
Picture:
Widescreen / Anamorphic Widescreen
Version:
Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD
Color/B&W
COLOR
Rating:
Not Rated
CARA Rating:
-
Bonus Features:
• Digital Copy of Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)
• Includes UltraViolet (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)
• Ever After High: Way Too Wonderland
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
French European Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Subtitles:
English SDH
French
Spanish
Edition:
-
Picture:
Widescreen / Anamorphic Widescreen
Version:
Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD
Color/B&W
COLOR
Rating:
Not Rated
CARA Rating:
-
Bonus Features:
• Ever After High: Way Too Wonderland
DVD Widescreen (63172387) : Disc 1 (Side A): Monster High: Great Scarrier Reef
Format:
DVD
UPC:
0-2519-23145-7-5
Unit Type:
Standard
Number of Media:
1
Street Date:
3/22/2016
PreOrder Date:
Run Time (HH:MM):
1 Hour 12 Minutes
Language:
English
Disc Type:
DVD-9 (Single Sided)
Packaging:
Snap Case with Slip Sleeve
Layers:
Single
Audio:
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
French European Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Subtitles:
English SDH
French
Spanish
Edition:
-
Picture:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Version:
-
Color/B&W
COLOR
Rating:
Not Rated
CARA Rating:
-
Bonus Features:
• Ever After High: Way Too Wonderland
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D23 Member Gift For 2016 Offers A Rare Glimpse Into DISNEY’S Rich Legacy
D23 MEMBER GIFT FOR 2016 OFFERS A RARE GLIMPSE INTO DISNEY’S RICH LEGACY
Members will receive a collection of 23 items reproduced “From the Office of Walt Disney.”
BURBANK, Calif. – December 29, 2015 – D23: The Official Disney Fan Club didn’t have to look far for inspiration for its 2016 Gold Member gift, “From the Office of Walt Disney.” To celebrate the restoration of Walt Disney’s office suite on the Studios’ Burbank lot, the Walt Disney Archives worked with D23 to meticulously reproduce 23 unique pieces from Walt’s career that trace his path from America’s heartland to the world stage.
Included in the assortment are items from Walt’s early years in business such as his 1923 Laugh-O-gram Films Inc. business card and the famous 1928 “Everything OK” telegram, which Walt cryptically wired his brother Roy when he lost the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Also in the collection are the 1955 Disneyland invitational press preview pass and Walt’s notes on pages from the “EPCOT Film” script from 1966. Pieces representing animation, live action, television, and theme parks—as well as Walt’s own personal life—make up this one-of-a-kind set.
The gift comes in a “book” designed specifically to hold all the items and will be sent to all D23 Gold and Gold Family Members who join or renew from January 1 through December 31, 2016. Guests can see images from the gift—and learn more about the 23 rare items—at D23.com/OfficeOfWaltDisney. As previously announced, D23 Gold Members will have the opportunity to tour Walt Disney’s restored office during tours and select special events throughout 2016.
Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($74.99), Gold Family Membership ($99.99), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.comand at DisneyStore.com/D23. D23 Members save when renewing their membership and may renew up to 90 days prior to their membership expiration.
About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.
To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.
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Shadowhunters S01E02 Synopsis: The Descent Into Hell is Easy (1/19)
THE RACE IS ON TO FIND THE MORTAL CUP AND CLARY’S MOTHER IN AN ALL-NEW EPISODE OF “SHADOWHUNTERS” AIRING TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 (9:00 – 10:00 P.M. EST) ON FREEFORM
Burbank, CA (December 29, 2015) – Clary’s memories may be the key to finding her mother and The Mortal Cup in “The Descent Into Hell is Easy,” an all-new episode of “Shadowhunters,” airing TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 (9:00 – 10:00 p.m. EST) on Freeform, the new name for ABC Family.
ABC Family is becoming Freeform on January 12, 2016.
With the knowledge that Valentine is alive and on the hunt for The Mortal Cup, the Institute is on high alert. Not wasting any time, Jace jumps into action and figures Clary’s memories are the key to finding Jocelyn and The Mortal Cup. Unfortunately, Clary’s memories were wiped leaving her without any recollection of this other life that could help her and the team. With only one other option remaining, Jace, Isabelle and a very reluctant Alec take Clary to the City of Bones to face the powerful Silent Brothers.
Meanwhile, Luke continues his search for Clary, and Simon tries to come to terms with his best friend’s new life.
“Shadowhunters” is produced by Constantin Film and executive-produced by Ed Decter and McG. The series stars Katherine McNamara as Clary Fray, Dominic Sherwood as Jace Wayland, Alberto Rosende as Simon, Emeraude Toubia as Isabelle Lightwood, Matthew Daddario as Alec Lightwood, Isaiah Mustafa as Luke Garroway, and Harry Shum Jr. as Magnus Bane.
Part of the Disney|ABC Television Group, ABC Family is distributed in 94 million homes. ABC Family entertains and connects to audiences with bold, relatable programming that celebrates the epic adventure of becoming an adult, from first kiss to first kid. ABC Family’s programming is a combination of network-defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals. “WATCH ABC Family” is an authenticated service which allows viewers with participating TV subscription services access to 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as continued on-demand access to such popular series at home and on-the-go via a wide array of devices. ABC Family is also the destination for annual holiday events with "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas."
Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford Star in the Newsroom Drama that Nearly Changed the Course of a U.S. Presidential Election
TRUTH
Also Starring Topher Grace, Elisabeth Moss, Bruce Greenwood & Dennis Quaid
Arrives on Digital Jan. 26 and Blu-ray™ & DVD Feb. 2
CULVER CITY, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2015) – Experience an incredible true story that rocked the world of television journalism when TRUTH premieres on Digital Jan. 26 and Blu-ray™ and DVD Feb. 2 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.Directed and written by James Vanderbilt (writer Zodiac, The Amazing Spider-Man 2), TRUTH is based on award-winning TV producer Mary Mapes’ memoir, Truth and Duty: The Press, the President, and the Privilege of Power, which chronicles the story of Dan Rather (Robert Redford) and Mary Mapes’ (Cate Blanchett) investigation into a sitting President’s military service. But when doubts arise, sources change their stories and accusations fly, their story becomes one of network news’ biggest scandals.
The TRUTH bonus features further illuminate the events and issues that sent shockwaves through the journalistic community. Exclusive to the Blu-ray are deleted scenes and a featurette, “The Reason for Being,” with Dan Rather, Mary Mapes, Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett discussing the real events upon which the story was based and the important questions the film raises about journalism, political influence and the meaning of truth. Included on both the Blu-ray and DVD is a special featurette, “The Team,” where the A-list cast and filmmakers discuss the journey of bringing the film to the screen; a Q&A with Cate Blanchett, Elisabeth Moss and James Vanderbilt; and a Commentary with James Vanderbilt and producers Brad Fischer and William Sherak.
SYNOPSIS Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett star in TRUTH, based on a riveting true story of one of network news’ biggest scandals. As a renowned producer and close associate of Dan Rather (Redford), Mary Mapes (Blanchett) believes she’s broken the biggest story of the 2004 election: revelations of a sitting U.S. President’s military service. But then allegations come pouring in, sources change their stories, document authenticity is questioned, and the casualties begin to mount. This dramatic thriller goes behind the scenes to expose the intricacies of journalistic integrity and what it takes to reveal the TRUTH.
Blu-ray & DVD Bonus Features:
·Featurette: The Team
·Q&A with Cate Blanchett, Elisabeth Moss and James Vanderbilt
·Commentary with Director James Vanderbilt, Producers Brad Fischer and William Sherak
Blu-ray & Digital Exclusives*:
·Deleted Scenes
·Featurette: The Reason For Being
*Digital Exclusives only available with iTunes Extras and Vudu Extras+
TRUTH has a runtime of approximately 121 minutes and is rated R for language and a brief nude photo.
“Academy Award®” is the registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.
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Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season One is coming to DVD March 8th!
If you couldn't get enough of the plucky mole woman from the Netflix original series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, well you're in luck. It's making its way to DVD on March 8th! Which should give you just enough time to relive, or catch up on the series before the second season premieres in the Spring.
Release Date: 3/8/2016
UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT: SEASON ONE
Synopsis: From the executive producers of 30 Rock (Tina Fey and Robert Carlock) comes the "wise, wicked comedy" (Jeff Jensen, EW), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Rescued after fifteen years in an underground doomsday cult, Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) decides to rebuild her life in New York City armed with only a fifth-grade education and a firm belief that truly anything is possible. She quickly finds a roommate, Titus Andromedon (Primetime Emmy® nominee Tituss Burgess), a job working for a spoiled Manhattan mom, Jacqueline Voorhees (Primetime Emmy® nominee Jane Krakowski), and a new beginning. Watch season one of the Primetime Emmy®-nominated series on these shiny discs that Kimmy is only now just learning about! That's all thirteen episodes, back-to-back and uninterrupted, of the show critics rave is "packed liked 30 Rock with surreal zingers" (Emily Nussbaum, The New Yorker).
DVD Widescreen TV Set(61175453) : Disc 1 (Side A): Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season One
Format:
DVD
UPC:
0-2519-23326-2-3
Unit Type:
TV Set
Number of Media:
1
Street Date:
3/8/2016
PreOrder Date:
Run Time (HH:MM):
2 Hours 21 Minutes
Language:
English
Disc Type:
DVD-9 (Single Sided)
Packaging:
Snap Case with Slip Sleeve
Layers:
Single
Audio:
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Subtitles:
English SDH
Edition:
-
Picture:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Version:
-
Color/B&W
COLOR
Rating:
Not Rated
CARA Rating:
-
Bonus Features:
DVD Widescreen TV Set(61175453) : Disc 2 (Side A): Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season One
Format:
DVD
UPC:
0-2519-23326-2-3
Unit Type:
TV Set
Number of Media:
1
Street Date:
3/8/2016
PreOrder Date:
Run Time (HH:MM):
3 Hours 3 Minutes
Language:
English
Disc Type:
DVD-9 (Single Sided)
Packaging:
Snap Case with Slip Sleeve
Layers:
Single
Audio:
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Subtitles:
English SDH
Edition:
-
Picture:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Version:
-
Color/B&W
COLOR
Rating:
Not Rated
CARA Rating:
-
Bonus Features:
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Grandma arrives on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD on 2/9
“Lily Tomlin has never been better.”
– Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE
“One of the year’s best movies! Lily Tomlin gives the performance of her career. Extremely well-acted and full of delightful surprises.”
– Lou Lumenick, NEW YORK POST
Golden Globe® NomineeLily Tomlin Stars in
GRANDMA
With An All-Star Ensemble Cast Including Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer, Laverne Cox and Sam Elliott
Arrives on Blu-ray™, DVD & Digital February 9
Special Features include a Making-of Featurette and a Q&A and Commentary with the Cast and Director!
CULVER CITY, Calif. (Dec. 14, 2015) – GRANDMA, the refreshingly unapologetic and candid film navigating the intricacies of relationships between three generations of women, arrives on Blu-ray™, DVD & Digital February 9 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. This critically acclaimed Sony Pictures Classics film, written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Paul Weitz (About a Boy), brings Lily Tomlin (“Grace and Frankie”), back to the big screen as a leading lady in this humorous portrayal of feisty grandma Elle Reid. Tomlin’s portrayal in the film earned her a Golden Globe® nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy. Rounding out the talented ensemble cast are Julia Garner (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), Marcia Gay Harden (“Code Black”), Judy Greer (“Married”), Laverne Cox (“Orange is the New Black”) and the timeless Sam Elliott (“Justified”).
GRANDMA has been a film festival favorite, premiering at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival as the closing night film, with additional screenings at the 2015 Tribeca and Los Angeles Film Festivals. Lily Tomlin received a Gotham Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in the film as well as a Critic’s Choice Award nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy. TheNew York Times’ A.O. Scott hailed the film saying, “There is much to praise about this sweet, smart comedy of intergenerational conflict and solidarity.... but honestly, the wonder that is Grandma can be summed up in two words: Lily Tomlin.” Alonso Duralde of TheWrap called the film “both smart and sweet, mature and bawdy…it is without a doubt one of the year’s best.”
The Blu-ray, DVD & Digital releases of GRANDMA will include “A Family Portrait: The Making of Grandma,” and a Q&A with Lily Tomlin, Sam Elliott, and director Paul Weitz.
Synopsis:
Elle Reid (Lily Tomlin) has just gotten through breaking up with her girlfriend when her granddaughter Sage (Julia Garner) unexpectedly shows up needing $600 before sundown. Temporarily broke, Grandma Elle and Sage spend the day trying to get their hands on the cash, as their unannounced visits to old friends and flames end up rattling skeletons and digging up secrets. Refreshingly unapologetic and candid, GRANDMA navigates the intricacies of relationships between three generations of women.
Blu-ray & DVD Special Features include:
·A Family Portrait: The Making of Grandma
·Q&A with Lily Tomlin, Sam Elliott, and director Paul Weitz
·Commentary with Lily Tomlin, Sam Elliott, Julia Garner and Paul Weitz
The film has a runtime of 79 minutes & is rated R for language and some drug use
“Academy Award®” is the registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
“Golden Globes®”, “Hollywood Foreign Press Association®” and “Golden Globe®” statuette design mark are the registered trademarks and service marks and the Golden Globe®statuette the copyrighted property, of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go tohttp://www.sonypictures.com.
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Supergirl S1E8 - "Hostile Takeover" Review
Episode 8 of Supergirl is called, “Hostile Takeover”. I’m
still reeling after the events of last week’s episode and I’m curious to see
where the show is heading going into the Winter Finale. This episode picks up exactly
where last week’s ended, with Astra confronting Kara. Kara manages to escape,
however. We still have no idea what Astra is really up to.
Catgo has been hacked. But more importantly, Cat has been
exposed and embarrassed publicly. Cat tasks Kara, James, and Winn with sifting
through her emails to find embarrassing information before someone else does. There’s
also some tension between Winn and James, which I don’t really understand. In this
instance, I do feel like it takes away from the show a little bit.
Astra and her lieutenant are having a conversation about
their plans. There’s some hesitation on Astra’s part. Kara is her niece, after all. She tells her lieutenant (who is also her
husband) that her will is strong and she will see their plan out, even if it
kills her.
Kara and Alex are sparring. In between their sparring,
Alex tells Kara that she might have to kill Astra and that she has to be ready
for it. When Alex probes her, Kara walks off and we’re greeted with a flashback
between adolescent Kara and Astra back on Krypton. We get a glimpse of Astra
that we haven’t seen thus far; she’s caring. We know that she doesn’t want to
see another planet die like Krypton and we know now that she had done something
back on her home planet to try and prevent that very fate from coming to pass. Still,
she has to leave. The two sisters meet face to face.
The next scenes focus on Catgo, the company, and the
board. We’ve never seen the board and up until this point (if you didn’t know a
thing about business), you’d think Cat ran the company by herself. But here,
she is speaking with board members who urge her to distance herself from the
company, save for one member, Dirk Armstrong. Somehow, I suspect he’s behind
all of this: he seems too eager to be on Cat’s side. And of course I’m right. Kara
uses her super-hearing to overhear Dirk admitting to leaking things to the
press. So Team Supergirl goes to Lucy for legal advice and she actually offers
up some good stuff.
While all that is happening, Astra appears in National
City in public, wanting to speak to Kara. Kara has no interest in speaking. The
two duke it out all over National City. The two cause destruction all over. Kara
can’t bring herself to finish Astra, however. She takes her to the DEO. Team
Supergirl, courtesy of Winn, figures out how to bring Armstrong down. It’s up
to James to plant the bug in Armstrong’s computer, which he’s able to do with
his effortless charm.
Astra is awake but will only talk to Kara; she’s handling
so much on both fronts today. She wants to tell Kara the truth. We find out
that Alura used Kara to send Astra to jail. Astra pleads her case, wanting to
save Earth from the same fate, but Kara is too angry to listen. She runs to the
conscious of her mother, wanting answers, but because it’s only a program, the
HoloAlura can only tell her so much. Regardless, we get some powerful scenes
from Kara here.
Back at Catgo, we discover one of Cat’s secrets. She has
a 24 year old son, Adam Foster, who she’s been giving money to over the years. She
didn’t raise him as she was busy building Catgo. In order to spare him any
unwanted public drama, Cat decides that she’ll graceful stepdown from her
company. I love all the Cat scenes. While she’s getting ready to meet the
press, Lucy, James, and Winn stop her. They finally have proof of what
Armstrong was up to. Cat meets with him and lays it all out and he’s taken
away.
Okay, I’m about to take back what I said about James and
Winn. Man are they doing the James character right! He acknowledges that Winn
has feelings for Kara and tells him that he should tell her. I was really worried
that this was going to be some weird triangle thing.
At the DEO, Alex and Henshaw (still gonna call him that
for “reasons”) are discussing the last fight between Astra and Kara. They discover
that Astra wanted to get caught. Turns out, whatever plan she has in motion is
already being enacted. Her soldiers go to Lord Technologies.
Now to the moment of the hour, the moment I wasn’t
expecting and didn’t know I wanted. Cat, being the journalist extraordinaire
that she is, deduces in front of Kara that she’s Supergirl. While Kara tries, in
vain, to deny it, Cat knows. I really didn’t think they would reveal Kara’s
secret to Cat, but part of me is glad that they did.
There’s a fight going on at Lord Technologies, with Astra’s
crew doing heavy damage. The episode ends with Supergirl and Nom, Astra’s
husband, fighting.
All in all, this was another strong episode that focused
on characterization. We learned more about Astra’s motivations, as well as some
deep seated feelings within Kara. We also learned a lot about Cat, the things
she cares most about. And most importantly, now she knows that Kara is
Supergirl. It’ll be interesting to see what she does with that information, if
she does anything at all.
Supergirl airs Mondays at 8pm Eastern Standard Time on
CBS.
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Melodifestivalen 2016's Competing Acts Are Here!
The long-awaited press conference took place in Stockholm to announce the competing acts for Melodifestivalen 2016. Among them we find back-to-back returners, semi-recent returners, old school veterans of the contest, and some exciting debutants.
Semi-final 1 will take place at Scandinavium in Gothenburg on February 6.
The competing acts in their running order are:
Mimi Werner - "Ain't No Good" (Composed by Mimi Werner, Göran Werner, Marcus Svedin, Jason Saenz)
A newcomer to the contest and largely unknown in the Swed-pop scene, Mimi appears to have an affinity for country music. Here's hoping she can bring a bit more of a Shania energy but this song doesn't inspire much confidence for that.
Samir & Viktor - "Bada nakna" [Translation: "Swim naked"] ~ (Composed by Fredrik Kempe, David Kreuger, Anderz Wrethov)
Though Samir & Viktor only came in 8th in the Melodifestivalen 2015 finals, "Groupie" went on to become the second most successful entry behind "Heroes," the Melodifestivalen (and eventual Eurovision) winner. They followed this up with "Saxofuckingfon", a single we reviewed along with a music video for it (that we also reviewed), and saw the song become an even bigger hit with over 10 million streams on Spotify. Carrying on an extensive tour throughout Sweden and stopping in a few other adjacent countries, it was little surprise that these two would return to Melodifestivalen. Will they bring a contest winning song? Doubtful. But if there's one thing we'd bet on, it's that it will be one hell of a party.
Robin Bengtsson - "Constellation Price" (Composed by Bobby Ljunggren, Henrik Wikström, Mark Hole, Martin Eriksson)
Robin was the third place finisher on Swedish Idol 2008 and despite working relatively consistently since then, has yet to make a truly significant impact in the Swed-pop scene particularly in comparison to other big-name Idol alumni. This is a bit of a shame, considering how brilliantly crafted his recent singles were ("Fired" and "I Don't Like To Wait"). But Melodifestivalen has made big names out of Idol contestants including Eurovision winners Loreen and Måns Zelmerlöw, so perhaps this could be just the platform for Robin to boost his status. He has already proved himself to be a capable artist; all that's needed is the exposure.
Ace Wilder - "Don't Worry" (Composed by Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Anton Hård af Segerstad, Ace Wilder)
SVT have brought out the big guns. Ace Wilder is the name that has fallen through the lips of many a Melfest fan from all over the world. After coming 2nd in the closest final result the contest has ever seen, a mere two points behind the winner Sanna Nielsen, Ace was still able to boast greater commercial success for her entry "Busy Doin' Nothin'" (hitting no. 1 in Sweden, and going triple platinum) than the winning "Undo" (hitting no. 2 in Sweden and going Gold). She also released a masterfully crafted EP, "The Wild Card", that infused a wide array of musical genres into her signature Swed-pop-banger artistic style. As Swedish voting patterns will demonstrate, Swedes don't often go for "edgy", so it was incredible that she was able to do as well as she did last time. But without the element of surprise, fans will be left waiting on baited breath to see if her efforts will be rewarded.
Anna Book - "Himmel för två" [Translation: "Heaven for two"] ~ (Composed by Sven-Inge Sjöberg, Lennart Wastesson, Larry Forsberg, Camilla Läckberg)
Now here is a veteran-return few saw coming. Anna made her Melodifestivalen debut at the mere age of 15 back in 1986. She placed fifth, and returned in 1987 only to not place at all. She returned again in 2007 and did qualify to the final, but ended up placing 9th with a mere one point. Some big name veterans can return and place quite well but many also crash out.
Pernilla Andersson - "Mitt guld" [Translation: "My gold"] ~ (Composed by Pernilla Andersson, Fredrik Rönnqvist)
Pernilla previously competed in Melodifestivalen 2011 and didn't make it past Andra Chansen. Given her style of music, and propensity for lower energy and lower impact, along with the competitive calibre of this heat, we are skeptical as to whether she'll fair much better this time around.
Albin and Mattias are continuing their musical collaboration by bringing their talents to Melodifestivalen. They've released a few singles that are a bit slower, more emotionally and lyrically driven, which may not translate as well to the non-Swedish-speaking international viewers, but may not be as much of an issue to get votes from the Swedish public. We don't actually know if their goal is to go to Eurovision anyway, but we've not heard them release English-language music together so if they were to be a surprise winner, it would be interesting to see how they would proceed. Of course their biggest hit was "Din Soldat"; although Mattias did not do the vocals for the song, he did co-write it and has been known to sing it when touring with Albin since Kristin Amparo has her own career keeping her busy. Being that they are the closers of the show, they would be wise to have something a bit more uptempo, or at least with some sort of dramatic punch. This one has our curiosity particularly piqued!
Semi-final 2 will take place at Malmö Arena in Malmö on February 13.
The competing acts in their running order are:
Victor och Natten - "100%" (Composed by Dag Lundberg, Melker, Jesper Lundh)
Victor och Natten may be new to Melodifestivalen, but with catchy, contemporary songs already out like "Normal" and "Svartsjuk", we'd love to see them be the surprise hit of this semi if they bring something even bigger and better that builds on their unique and fresh style.
Krista Siegfrids - "Faller" [Translation: "Falling"] ~ (Composed by Krista Siegfrids, Gabriel Alares, Magnus Wallin, Gustaf Svenungsson)
Christ Siegfrids is a Finnish pop singer best known for representing Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013. But that number was more memorable for the upset it caused amongst homophobic viewers due to it being a statement in favour of equality for the LGBT community (the number even had Krista kiss one of her female back-up dancers). The song itself didn't actually place well in the finals; some would even say that she "bombed." Krista has maintained a steady career in Finland but Swedes by in large don't remember her, which begs the question of why SVT cared so much about getting her to participate in Melodifestivalen. But at the very least, this name has generated interest amongst avid Eurovision fans.
Molly Pettersson Hammar - "Hunger" (Composed by Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Anton Hård af Segerstad, Molly Pettersson Hammar)
Now here is a quest for vengeance we've been rallying behind since the most controversial upset of Melodifestivalen 2015! Molly Pettersson Hammar is back to wrong the rights of Swedish voting and assert her dominance as the next big thing in Swed-pop. With her enormously vibrant personality to further make her stand out, and armed with some of the absolute best composers with which she co-wrote her entry, this will undoubtedly be one to watch.
Patrik Isaksson, Tommy Nilsson & Uno Svenningsson - "Håll mitt hjärta hårt" [Translation: "Hold my heart hard"] ~ (Composed by Patrik Isaksson, Tommy Nilsson, Uno Svenningsson)
We're trying not to shudder at this concept of old-male-music-veterans brought together for Melodifestivalen but the last time this concept was present at the contest, we saw a terribly naff song/number advance direct to the finals while the underrated classic Janet Leon's "Heartstrings" was left in fifth place in the heat. For shame, Sweden, for shame.
Isa - "I Will Wait" (Composed by Anton Hård af Segerstad, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Nikki Flores)
Another returning act from 2015 that's armed herself with the biggest, baddest composers in Swed-pop is ISA. She's dyed her hair back to brown and is apparently trying to pursue an urban direction in music. Right. But with those composers penning her song, it warrants our attention.
Wiktoria - "Save Me" (Composed by Jens Siverstedt, Lauren Dyson, Jonas Wallin)
Wiktoria is a completely unknown newcomer. But we love a surprise if it's good!
David Lindgren - "We are Your Tomorrow" (Composed by Anderz Wrethov, Sharon Vaughn, Gustav Efraimsson)
David Lindgren exploded onto the scene in Melodifestivalen 2012 as an entirely unknown artist and won everyone over with his showmanship, charisma, and of course the singing and dancing to a quality pop track. Having been away from the contest since 2013, many are eager to see what his return will bring. The word is that it will be a bit different from his previous entries, but hopefully it will be just as gripping to watch.
Semi-final 3 will take place at Himmelstalundshallen in Norrköping on February 20.
The competing acts in their running order are:
Oscar Zia - "Human" (Composed by Oscar Zia, Victor Thell, Maria Smith)
Oscar Zia's first go in Melodifestivalen was an outrageously outdated attempt to stir up sentimentality for the 1990s/early 2000s pop complete with Nsync's decades-old VMA staging. But even more shocking than the fact that there were people who actually considered this to be quality pop was the fact that Oscar's follow-up single, "Ballare Con Me", was one of the best Swed-pop songs of the year, though it received little attention due to poor marketing, or lack thereof.
SaRaha - "Kizunguzungu" [Translation: "Dizziness"] ~ (Composed by Anderz Wrethov, Sara "SaRaha" Larsson, Arash Labaf)
This concept rubs us entirely the wrong way. Cultural appropriation is not a good look, nor is it a respectful way to make your career.
After Dark - "Kom ut som en stjärna" [Translation: "Come out like a star"] ~ (Composed by Sven-Inge Sjöberg, Lennart Wastesson, Larry Forsberg, Lina Eriksson, Kent Olsson, Calle Kindbom)
Melodifestivalen is about to get a whole lot more fabulous! After Dark is a drag artist that has competed in Melodifestivalen twice before and though they've never made it to the finals, the numbers always make the contest more fun!
Lisa Ajax - "My Heart Wants Me Dead" (Composed by Linnea Deb, Joy Deb, Anton Hård af Segerstad)
The winner of Idol 2014 has kicked off her career with a surprisingly strong debut single (considering how many Idol contestants take a few years to find their artistic niche... or have still yet to find it). But with that dream team of composers (#TheFamilySwe) behind her song, and with a song title strong enough to generate hype, if we were the betting sort, our money would be on Lisa Ajax to advance from semi 3.
Boris René - "Put Your Love on Me" (Composed by Boris René, Tobias Lundgren, Tim Larsson)
Here we see a newcomer we'd love to see rise up in the ranks and have a shining moment. Perhaps it's the fact that his voice is lovely, or the fact that he's debuting with a song he co-wrote, or that warmth that seems to radiate from him, or just all of the above. Go on, Boris!
SMAILO - "Weight of the World" (Composed by Arvid Ångström, Dennis Babic, Oscar Berglund Juhola, Anton Göransson, Robin Danielsson)
Yes, these are the winners of the P4 Radio contest. Yes, the winner typically bombs out in the semi they're placed in. However, we want to give this one its fair chance. For one, last year's winning song, Kalle Johansson's "Den där dan" was truly excellent and even his Melodifestivalen entry, "För din skull" was decent. What's also worth noting was that SMAILO was not a typical winning act. The winning act in the traditional sense was the one voted through by the public like years prior. However, Christer Björkman (who was present that day as part of the jury - and yes, we would know because we were at the show to witness it firsthand) bypassed this decision with the jury to select this group instead to go to Melodifestivalen. This makes us wonder if he is trying to legitimise the Radio contest by picking an act that had a better chance of being moulded into something good. We're not about to go assuming that their entry will be ground-breaking, but we'd love to see it be something respectable. Why have just one great contest to follow if you can also get the contest for the contest up and running on a higher calibre too?
Swingfly feat. Helena Gutarra - "Weight of the World" (Composed by Jocke Åhlund, Andreas Kleerup)
Swingfly is best known for his 2011 Melodifestivalen entry, "Me and My Drum" which was by in a low-budget, straight-to-DDR track. But he's capable of bigger and better things so if he can come back with a higher quality track then his journey to the finals will be made that much easier.
Semi-final 4 will take place at Gavlerinken in Gävle on February 27.
The competing acts in their running order are:
Martin Stenmarck - "Du tar mig tillbaks" [Translation: "You take me back"] ~ (Composed by David Stenmarck)
Martin Stenmarck controversially won Melodifestivalen back in 2005 over Nanne Grönvall's "Håll om mig" despite the latter having significantly more votes in the public. He didn't fair very well at Eurovision either. But when he returned in 2014 with "När änglarna gar hem", he very much redeemed himself in regards to quality, though perhaps not with results, as he only made it as far as Andra Chansen. But perhaps he will be able to better those results in 2016.
Panetoz - "Håll om mig hårt" [Translation: "Hold me tight"] ~ (Composed by Jimmy Jansson, Karl-Ola Kjellholm, Jakke Erixson, Pa Modou Badjie, Njol Badjie, Nebeyu Baheru)
Melodifestivalen has consistently needed to diversify itself in regards to the acts that compete and in other forms of contemporary, commercially marketable music. Panetoz can not only bring a multicultural element to the contest, but they also offer lively and energetic performances. Though they still have yet to outdo their biggest hit, "Dansa Pausa", it would be interesting to see if they can improve upon their 9th place finish in Melodifestivalen 2014.
Frans - "If I Were Sorry" (Composed by Oscar Fogelström, Michael Saxell, Fredrik Andersson, Frans Jeppsson Wall)
Frans' claim to fame came nearly a decade ago via a viral music video about a song professing adoration for the famed Swedish footballer, Zlatan Ibrahimović. His music career since then hasn't had as much traction but Melodifestivalen could be his big break as a legitimate artist, depending on the quality of his entry.
Linda Bengtzing - "Killer Girl" (Composed by Mattias Kallenberger, Andreas Berlin, Linda Bengtzing, Dag Öhrlund)
Linda Bengtzing has competed in Melodifestivalen a grand total of five times in the last decade, and has made it to the finals each time... except for her most recent time. Could the tides be shifting for good on this Melodifestivalen veteran? Or is she set for a big comeback?
Dolly Style - "Rollercoaster" (Composed by Thomas G:son, Peter Boström, Alexandra Salomonsson)
This will be the fourth year in a row that SVT has allowed a blatant case of a stereotyped fetishisation of Japanese culture in yellowface to be paraded around the stage. We do not condone this, so we offer up an alternative video for you to watch and recommend that you consider the dehumanising effect yellowface in media has:
Eclipse - "Runaways" (Composed by Erik Mårtensson)
We have no idea why Swedish producers insist on putting rock and/or metal music into Melodifestivalen, particularly when very little of the rock that gets let in is any good. If they were going to let a band in, they should've buttered up the metal group Amaranthe to join instead, as their glossy brand of metal would've made for a much better fit with Melodifestivalen.
Molly Sandén - "Youniverse" (Composed by Molly Sandén, Danny Saucedo, John Alexis)
Molly Sandén has seen more career success since her last run in Melodifestivalen in 2012. Ironically, her strongest song released has been her least commercially successful of her latest wave of music. She will have high expectations to live up to but we'll see how she fairs come February.
Finally, Andra Chansen will take place at Halmstad Arena in Halmstad on March 5. The final will take place at Friends Arena in Stockholm on March 12.
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