Category: Movie news

Movie adaptation: ‘My Cousin Rachel’ by Daphne du Maurier

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The movie adaptation of ‘My Cousin Rachel’ by Daphne du Maurier is now in theaters.

Daphne du Maurier was an English author and playwright whose works are described as nonconventional and moody with overtones of the paranormal despite being classified as a romantic novelist. Her works include the novels “Rebecca,” “My Cousin Rachel” and “Jamaica Inn” and the short stories “The Birds” and “Don’t Look Now/Not After Midnight.” The newest movie adaptation of “My Cousin Rachel” is now in limited release and stars Rachel Weisz, Sam Claflin, Iain Glen and Holliday Grainger. It tells the story of a young man in Cornwall who meets the wife of his older cousin and suspects her of having been responsible for his death.

According to Amazon, “My Cousin Rachel” is set in 19th century England where Philip Ashley was orphaned at a young age and is raised by his older cousin Ambrose. Ambrose is single and loves Philip as his own and considers him his heir. Their perfect world is turned upside down when Ambrose goes on a trip to Florence where he falls in love, gets married and just as suddenly dies. The new widow, Rachel, turns up in England shortly after that. She is beautiful, sophisticated and mysterious and even though she may have had something to do with Ambrose’s death, Philip is drawn to her.

Movie adaptation: Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey

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The movie adaptation of the children’s book series Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey opens in theaters on Friday June 2, 2017.  Photo: Barnes & Noble

David Murray “Dav” Pilkey Jr is an American author and illustrator of children’s literature. He is best known for the children’s book series Captain Underpants and Dumb Bunnies. His first book “World War Won” won a national competition for student authors and was published in 1987. He is considered one of the most popular contemporary authors for elementary school aged students and a subtle moralist because even underneath some of the most outrageous stories, the good guy always wins and his philosophy emphasizes friendship, tolerance and generosity. Dav Pilkey created the Captain Underpants character while still in elementary school. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is the animated movie based on the children’s novel series of the same name and opens in theaters on Friday June 2, 2017. It stars the voices of Ed Helms, Kevin Hart, Thomas Middleditch, Nick Kroll, Jordan Peele and Kristen Schaal.

According to Wikipedia, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is set in Ohio where George Beard and Harold Hutchins are fourth-grade friends and the school’s biggest pranksters. Their pranking days are over when they mess with the toilet invention of Melvin the school nerd and Principal Krupp decides to separate them and end their friendship. To get back at him they decide to hypnotize him using a 3D Hypno Ring they got from a cereal box and make him believe he is Captain Underpants. When a new teacher, Professor P, becomes determined to get rid of laughter in the school, he schemes with Melvin to turn all the students to zombies. George and Harold set out to stop him by feeding Captain Underpants, who has no real powers, mutated food from the cafeteria that give him superpowers and allows him to defeat Professor P.

The Graduate back in theaters this month

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To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the movie adaptation of ‘The Graduate’ by Charles Webb returns to theaters on April 23 and 26. Photo: Rialto Pictures, used with permission.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1967 comedy-drama The Graduate directed by Mike Nichols and starring Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft and Katharine Ross. It is the movie adaptation of the novel of the same name by Charles Webb who wrote it shortly after graduating from college. Dustin Hoffman stars as 21 year-old Benjamin Braddock, an aimless recent college graduate who is seduced by an older woman, Mrs. Robinson, then falls in love with her daughter. Through TCM/Fathom Events, on April 23 and 26 the nationwide theatrical premiere of the new 4K digital restoration will be out in theaters. This restoration had its World Premiere earlier this month at the TCL Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood during this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival. It will play in over 700 theaters nationwide as part of TCM and Fathom Events’ monthly “TCM Big Screen Classics” series. The Graduate was the biggest box office surprise of the decade and was nominated for seven Oscars and the Top 40 Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack paved the way for a new youthful trend in soundtrack music. (Rialto Pictures, 2017)

Charles Webb is an American novelist best known for his debut novel ‘The Graduate.’ After Benjamin Braddock graduates from a small Eastern college he moves back home with his parents and suddenly everyone wants to know what his future plans are. Disappointed by his prospects for a career, he has an affair with Mrs. Robinson, the seductive wife of his father’s business partner. When her daughter Elaine comes to visit her parents, Benjamin falls for her and has an epiphany about the direction of his life. Unfortunately, Mrs. Robinson is also a protective mother and so a battle of wits takes place with love and idealism overtaking the forces of corruption and conformity.