Chicago Sun-Times

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice reviews are in and people are not impressed? Early reviews for the Warner. Bros' Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice suck and critics have bashed Zach Snyder for trying to do too much in establishing a cinematic universe. The first in a planned series of DC Comics cinematic universe movies currently holds a 35% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Of the 120 reviews counted, 77 are "Rotten" and only 43 are "Fresh." Here are a few Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice reviews: "Blunt, humorless, and baffling, it collides the brutish directorial stamp of its director (he of 300 and Watchmen fame) with the most shameless instincts of our latter-day superhero franchise bubble." - Slate.com "It's a terrible shame that what we ended up with was a meandering mishmash of garbled storylines and action sequences." - Examiner.com "The best? Affleck in the Batsuit. The worst? Eisenberg's Lex Luthor and much of the first two hours of the film." "The best? Affleck in the Batsuit. The worst? Eisenberg's Lex Luthor and much of the first two hours of the film." - The Standard But some people loved the movie. "Batman v Superman is kind of dopey and plays out some laborious plot twists in the DC narrative at unnecessary length, but as I've already said it largely kept me entertained for two and a half hours, which is not nothing." - Salon.com "When it sings, Dawn of Justice is a wonder. When it drags, it still looks good and offers hints of a better scene just around the corner." - Chicago Sun-Times Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) share the screen in this Warner Bros./DC Entertainment co-production penned by David S. Goyer and Chris Terrio, and directed by Zack Snyder. Amy Adams and Diane Lane return as Lois Lane and Martha Kent, respectively. What do you think? Share with us your thoughts in the comments below!

Illinois increases their film tax credits in order to compete with Georgia. According to reports, Illinois has reorganized their film tax credits in order to compete with Georgia and lure bigger movies and TV shows to the state. The newly established Illinois' tax credit currently offers 30 percent on qualified expenditures in the state, including production, post-production and crew member salaries up to $100,000. Meanwhile, Georgia offers up to a 30 percent tax credit to film projects for productions that spend at least $500,000 in the state. This newly established film tax credit for Illinois comes as Gov. Bruce Rauner lifted their previously established tax deferral on November 10th in order to promote job growth in Illinois. There is also a 15% "uplift" for salaries of individuals who live in economically disadvantaged areas, according to the report. [caption id="attachment_85802" align="aligncenter" width="726"] ChicagoMed_16x9_KA 2_NewLogo.jpg[/caption] Previously, Illinois faced a major budget crisis which halted all productions tax credits in the state. In an attempt to balance the budget, Rauner announced he would defer application approvals on the tax credit, which was supposed to remain in effect for another six years, according to reports. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that production companies spent $2.8 billion in Illinois since the tax credit was introduced in 2008 however, tax payers are expected to lose $208 million due to the tax breaks. But, the film industry tax incentives is a risky business to partake in. For example, North Carolina and Louisiana invested in film tax incentives only to see their states succumb to the pressure of budget constraints. Eventually, this forced hundreds of crew workers and aspiring actors to travel to cities like Atlanta in order to find work in the film industry. Meanwhile, Hollywood, California saw increase in on-location TV production of nearly 12% after expanding their tax credits. [caption id="attachment_79947" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Konstantin Sutyagin / Shutterstock.com[/caption] This news comes as Australia announced their 40% film tax incentive program. It was originally reported that Marvel’s Thor sequel was going to film in Atlanta, Georgia. However, it was recently revealed last week that Marvel’s Thor film franchise sequel, Thor: Ragnarok will be filmed in the Gold Coast with no reports suggesting that Thor will be returning to the ATL. In addition, Australia government officials announced the new Alien reboot will also be filmed in Queensland, Australia. The biggest tax incentive is the “Producer Offset”. According to Screen Australia, the Producer Offset tax incentives provides a 40 percent tax rebate for feature films and a 20 percent tax incentives for any other production outside of feature films. That is approximately, 10% more than Georgia’s film tax credit which provides 30% to feature films, TV shows and other productions. Recent Film Tax Credit news: Why Georgia’s Film Industry is In Serious Trouble How Georgia Stole Two Movies from Florida’s Film Industry Why Georgia is Going to Take Over the Film Industry What do you think? Share with us your thoughts in the comments below!

Vin Diesel's The Last Witch Hunter is getting bashed by critics with many people saying it should be the last time Vin Diesel plays that character ever again. As of Friday morning, The Last Witch Hunter had only a score of 18 percent approval rating from a total of 45 different critics on Rotten Tomatoes. So it begs the question - what makes The Last Witch Hunter so bad? Well, according to critics, bad acting, bad graphics, bad script, and a bad plot. The Los Angeles Times calls it "One of those artlessly restless, exposition-dialogue fantasy-action slogs ..." While the Globe and Mail critic, Manori Ravindran explains that "Seemingly at every juncture, the finality so necessary to up the stakes of this story is quickly snatched away in order to tease a sequel or two, leaving you wondering what the point of this supernatural exercise was in the first place." Boston Globe's Tom Russo bashed producers for casting Vin Diesel, saying : "Even with Diesel's oblivious self-miscasting - he's a producer on the film - "Witch Hunter" feels like genre material that might have found a way to work." Chicago Sun-Times critic Richard Roeper called the movie obnoxious. “It’s just deadly and dreadful, loud and obnoxious, convoluted and irritating, horrible and dumb. Vin Diesel lumbers and mumbles his way through a performance so bad it makes his work on the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise look like vintage Tom Hanks by comparison.” Toronto Sun critic Bruce Kirkland calls out Vin Diesel's lack of acting skills in The Last Witch Hunter.  “‘The Last Witch Hunter’ is a horror-comedy. As horror, it is laughable. As comedy, it is horrible — except for a couple of silly Vin Diesel moments as he plays the title character. Designed as a possible movie franchise for Dungeons & Dragons freaks, but likely destined for the box office trash bin, ‘The Last Witch Hunter’ takes place in contemporary times with a prologue set in the mid-1300s … There is not a single scary moment in the movie, despite the overwrought efforts of the effects team deployed by genre director Breck Eisner. Meanwhile, the chunky and clunky Diesel cannot effectively deliver most of the funny lines, either. So ‘The Last Witch Hunter’ fails to find the right tone. It is not even bad enough to be good camp comedy.” With so many bad reviews expect The Last Witch Hunter to appear in the bottom rankings in the Box Office this weekend. Related Box Office news: BOX OFFICE: ‘Pan’ Bombs in the Box Office Box Office: Kristen Stewart and Jessie Eisenberg Flop Is Fox Worried ‘Fantastic Four’ is Going to Bomb in the Box Office? Tom Cruise Hasn’t Had a Box Office Flop in 30 Years Are you going to go see The Last Witch Hunter? Share with us your thoughts in the comments below!  

NBC's Voyage to Enthrall Viewers with Grosse Pointe Garden Society People worldwide, hold your breath and brace yourselves for an exceptional thrill as NBC takes a stimulating step closer to the much-awaited primetime season. Embracing innovation and creativity, the network plans to introduce a groundbreaking series called "The Grosse Pointe Garden Society." Straight out of the bustling production kitchens of Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, viewers brace themselves for another binge-worthy narrative. Helming this series is an icon of creative writing – Davita Scarlett; synonymous with creativity and ingenuity. She has joined hands with Erin Cardillo and Richard Keith crowned for their work on "In the Dark" and "Life Sentence," bringing an enchanted touch of their storytelling magic. At the epicenter of this new offering from NBC, is a captivating story that resonates through the downtrodden journey of a young woman from the edges of society to its core. Defined by her predicaments and desires, she redefines herself in the world of unquestioned privilege and intricate social networks in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. The drama merges divergent worlds in a striking narrative that will have viewers on the edge of their seats. With the writers' successful track record and NBC's unwavering commitment to producing high-quality content, the "Grosse Pointe Garden Society" promises to add a fresh perspective to ongoing primetime programming. It's no surprise that a great expectation has riled up ever since its announcement. The brains behind the concept, Davita Scarlett received her first break as a production assistant on the Wife Swap show and continued her journey through series like Queen Sugar and Council of Dads, showcasing her diversified talent. Partnering with the dynamic duo of Erin Cardillo and Richard Keith, who have earned stripes with their skills on shows like Significant Mother and Fuller House, we can expect nothing less than a masterpiece. The series is served on a silver platter by reputed production giants – Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, leaving no stone unturned in effort and creativity. Both production houses are well-acclaimed for their notable contributions to the television industry and their relentless pursuit to deliver compelling and intriguing stories. With the production expertise of Joanna Klein's The Bridge and the writing prowess of Scarlett, Cardillo, and Keith, the Grosse Pointe Garden Society is poised to be a significant addition to NBC's ensemble. The show promises not just to be another series on the block but a spotlight of empowerment, highlighting the journey of a woman determined to define her destiny. The Grosse Pointe Garden Society is much more than a typical primetime series, focusing on real-life issues to make the audience reflect upon their societal values and privileges. The drama presents an intriguing narrative, involving a stark contrast of societal disparity and portrays Grosse Pointe's intricate society network. In the vast sea of entertainment, the series plans to maintain NBC's unwavering commitment to produce high-quality content. The storyline's unique representation emphasizes diversity, making the audience appreciate the different perspectives it offers. There's already a buzz around town about this forthcoming show, and rightly so. It's not every day that a grand collaboration like this infrastructure on the television platform. NBC's decision to launch this fresh narrative reflects the network's dedication to introducing highly engaging, sophisticated, and pulsating storyline that keeps viewers glued to their seats. The announcement of the Grosse Pointe Garden Society has undoubtedly carved a mark for itself. Yet, the true anticipation lies in the experience that the series unveils. As we step into a new era of television, where narratives are becoming more profound, and production is increasingly innovative, this forthcoming series is sure to leave an indelible impression on every viewer. Buckle up for a delightful ride as this series prepares to release a stellar performance soon. With compelling characters, a gripping storyline, and a unique insight into a diverse world, the Grosse Pointe Garden Society is all set to redefine primetime television's landscape. We wait with bated breaths to see what's in store for us from the pens of Scarlett, Cardillo, Keith, and the entire team behind this intriguing television project, under NBC's commendable aegis.