‘Jurassic Park 4’ Confirmed for 2014!

Jurassic Park’s 3D re-release this spring won’t be the last time we’ll get to see Steven Spielberg’s genetically-engineered dinosaurs on the big screen. Variety reports that Spielberg will produce a fourth Jurassic Park film, which will be penned by Rise of the Planet of the Apes scribes Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.

The sequel’s tentative release date is June 13, 2014, which means that Universal Pictures will be hard-pressed to resurrect the presumably extinct franchise in a very short period of time. No director is attached at the moment, but let’s all cross our fingers that Spielberg returns to the director’s chair. After all, it’s not like he’s going to be tied up with a sequel to Lincoln or anything.

For the full story, click here.

George Lucas Is Engaged!

Now that Disney has taken the reins of his Lucasfilm empire, Star Wars creator George Lucas has seemingly finally found time to focus on his personal life. The 68-year-old filmmaker is now engaged to 43-year-old investment firm president Mellody Hobson, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Lucas’ previous wife was film editor Marcia Lucas, with whom he was married from 1969 to 1983. George and Marcia have three children together: Amanda, Katie and Jett.

I can’t wait to see the “Special Edition” footage of the wedding ceremony. For the full story, click here. 

Does ‘Django Unchained’ Live Up to the Hype?

Happy New Year, Wortmaniacs! I hope that 2013 brings you joy, success and everything in between. But before we dive into the next calendar year with unbridled hope that will inevitably transform into debilitating disappointment by next December, I’d like to talk about one of the best films of 2012: Quentin Tarantino’s Spaghetti Western homage, Django Unchained.

I went into the controversial director’s racially-charged pre-Civil War revenge film with some trepidation — namely because I wasn’t convinced Tarantino would be able to craft a worthy follow-up to his Nazi-eviscerating World War II epic, Inglourious Basterds. Those concerns were assuaged mere moments into my viewing of Django Unchained, which follows a freed slave named Django (Jamie Foxx) who joins forces with a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) to free his wife from the clutches of a slimy plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio). Sharp writing, excellent performances and an eclectic soundtrack featuring everything from traditional western themes to Rick Ross to James Brown combine to make Django Unchained the best moviegoing experience this winter that doesn’t involve wizards or Anne Hathaway.

Is Django Unchained violent? Hilariously so. However, complaining about over-the-top blood and gore in a Tarantino movie is akin to critiquing beer for making the opposite sex more attractive. If you’re into Tarantino’s previous films, there’s no reason you won’t enjoy Django Unchained. Go see it.