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ISSUE65 AUG '15

Issue 65 AUGUST 2015

Games Editor Paul Jones Creative Director Karl Lock DVD Consultant Jason Hewitt

EDITOR’S LETTER A mericans like to supersize things, and that includes their annual convention for all things geek: Comic-Con International. Satisfying the enormous appetites of sci-fi fans, anime lovers, filmgoers, TV addicts, pop vinyl, and action figure and comic book collectors, Comic-Con takes over the Californian city of San Diego for four days each year, bringing with it a carnival atmosphere. STACK had the opportunity to cross it off our bucket list this year – from a meeting with current Doctor Who Peter Capaldi and Who / Sherlock showrunner Steven Moffat, to breathing the same air as Jennifer Lawrence at the Mockingjay - Part 2 press conference, as well as attending a panel in the Convention Centre’s legendary Hall H featuring Quentin Tarantino and his new film The Hateful Eight , and marvelling at the creativity of the legion of cosplayers. Comic-Con delivered more than we expected, and o ur coverage begins on page 10, followed by all our regular features and reviews. Happy shopping...

Games Consultant Sachi Fernando Production Manager Craig Patterson Social Media Manager Sally Carlier-Hull Contributors Graham Reid, Judy Ewens, GarethThompson, Ian Marriott, Scott Hocking, Jonathan Alley, Zoë Radas, Gill Pringle Alesha Kolbe, Doug Wallen, Ryan Huff, Simon Lukic, Michael Dwyer, Chris Murray, Doug Wallen, Denise Hylands, Bec Rowlands Correspondence 31B Bertram Street Warkworth Auckland 0910

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All information believed correct at time of printing. All images used for promotional purposes only. Copyright of respective owners is acknowledged. © 2015 Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the written permission of the publisher. For further details, read fine print.

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The large print giveth, the small print taketh away. RIPRufus (Jack) 2002–2014

CATCH UP ON ALL THE ACTION

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WALKER LOOKS FOR THE DANCE X FACTOR

NZ’s first major hip hop movie Born To Dance hits cinemas next month.

WHAT DROVE MAX MAD? In the opening scene of Mad Max: Fury Road , we’re introduced to our hero Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) as he helps himself to a mutant lizard for a bit of a late arvo snack. That’s about the only breather you get as the fuel-injected action kicks in, for a post- apocalyptic wild ride like no other. But amidst the unparalleled spectacle, there are some unanswered questions – like who is the kid in the flashbacks that are haunting Max? For fans clamouring for some backstory on Max and fellow protagonist Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), filmmaker and creator George Miller has worked on a series of prequel comics expanding on their history and the dangerous world they inhabit. Mad Max: Fury Road - Furiosa #1 is available now from Vertigo/DC Comics, while Mad Max: Fury Road - Mad Max #2 will be out this month, revealing the origin of the visions and flashbacks plaguing Max throughout the course of Fury Road . From the comic previews, we can confirm that it’s a young girl called Glory, whom Max encountered while trying to reclaim his stolen V8 interceptor. For those new to the legend of Mad Max, our beleaguered hero also lost a son of his own in similarly dramatic circumstances, in the original 1979 film. It’s no wonder the loss of another young child became too much for Mr. Rockatansky to bear. Get ready to buckle up once again for another crazy ride on September 2, when Mad Max: Fury Road speeds onto Blu-Ray and DVD.

D ue out on

Tammy Davis, better known as Munter from Outrageous Fortune, and is choreographed by world champion and hip hop royalty Parris Goebel. BornTo Dance ’s cinema release will be preceded by a P-Money-curated soundtrack album, the first single of which was released last month. Start Again is the film’s title track and is performed by Walker and Australian artist Samantha Jade, and was written by

September 25, Born To Dance tells the

story of an ambitious young Auckland hip hop dancer (local champ Tia-Taharoa Maipi), who dreams of turning professional. When his solider father issues an ultimatum – find a purpose in life by the end of the summer or enlist – he signs up for a prestigious international dance group, turning his back on his South Auckland crew. Singer and The X Factor judge Stan Walker plays his best friend while American dancer and actress Kherington Payne is the female lead. The film is directed by

the singer and Vince Harder.

The soundtrack

album has been scheduled for release on September 18.

GANGSTERS IN BLU

HBO’s seminal crime drama The Wire will make its Blu-Ray debut next month, alongside a new box set of another of the US network’s acclaimed gangster series Boardwalk Empire . Hailed as one of the finest TV shows ever made, The Wire ran for five seasons from 2002 to 2008, and followed the story of a Baltimore police unit charged with crushing the local drug gangs. However, the show was much more than that, with each season zeroing in on the wider decline of American society, including local government

corruption, the failing public education system, de-industrialisation

and the media. The 20-disc box set features all 60 episodes of the series in a remastered 16×9 full-screen HD format, plus an array of bonus materials including four behind-the- scenes documentaries, three prequels that explore life before The Wire and an all new cast and crew Q&A. Created by David Simon ( Treme ), The Wire made stars of British actors Idris Elba, Aiden Gillen and Dominic West, and also launched the careers of the likes of Wendell Pierce, Clarke Peters and Michael Kenneth Williams. The latter was one of a number of the show’s stars who went on to the period gangster saga Boardwalk Empire , which also ran for five seasons between 2010 and 2014.

The Wire and Boardwalk Empire box sets are both due out on August 19.

The Wire

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CARO TO JOIN THE HOLLYWOOD ELITE Kiwi filmmaker invited into Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Scooby-Doo! And KISS

CARTOON LAND READY TO ROCK They rock and roll all night – and solve mysteries every day! Yes, KISS are teaming up with Scooby and the gang for a brand new feature length mystery due out this month. In Scooby-Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery , the Mystery Inc. crew travel to KISS World amusement park for a special Halloween concert headlined by the legendary rock group. As well as a number of KISS songs – including an original performed just for the film – there are guest voice performances from Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Penny Marshall and Jennifer Carpenter. Scooby- Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery is out on DVD and Blu-Ray. Meanwhile, another iconic rock band is following in the footsteps of KISS by being immortalized in a new Archie comic book.

The director of Whale Rider is one of 322 artists and executives who have been invited to join the prestigious movie organisation, which is open to those who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. As well as Caro, two other Kiwis have been invited to join the academy this year: sound editor Jason Canovas and Weta Digital animation supervisor Dan Barrett, both of whom have been nominated for Oscars. AMPAS does not disclose its full membership but it consists of around 6,000 actors, directors, writers, producers and other

title role, and her most recent film McFarland, USA , premieres on DVD and Blu-Ray this month. The film is based on the true underdog story of a teacher in a small Californian town who transforms a team of mainly Hispanic athletes into cross country champions. Kevin Costner plays the coach and Caro relished the chance to work with the Hollywood icon. “We had a very close relationship even before we got to set,” she says. “He’s such a gift to this movie, such a great actor but an equally fantastic collaborator and a really generous man. “I think he really brought not just strength to the role but also his tenderness and vulnerability and his care with the boys. He really mentored them.” For the full interview with Caro, check out the digital edition of this month’s STACK .

industry professionals, who all get to vote on the Oscars each year. Caro is currently working on a biopic about the legendary opera singer Maria Callas, which is set to star Noomi Rapace in the

McFarland, USA is due out on August 19.

McFarland, USA

The release of Archie Meets Ramones will coincide with the 75th anniversary of Archie Comics and the 40th of The Ramones.

Niki Caro

BOWLER ON A ROLL WITH DEFIANCE

Kiwi actors are certainly making a name for themselves in the TV sci-fi and fantasy stakes in the US; As well as Rose McIver in iZombie , both Cliff Curtis and Marton Csokas have now landed leading roles in two upcoming fantasy series: the spinoff Fear The Walking Dead and the futuristic martial arts show Into The Badlands , respectively. Another expat quietly establishing himself Stateside is Grant Bowler, whose sci-fi show Defiance makes its DVD debut this month. Set in 2046 on an Earth which is now home to a host of alien races, the former Outrageous Fortune star plays the enigmatic hero, a former soldier turned wanderer who arrives in the titular town and helps defend it against aggressive invaders, hostile creatures and criminals. Now in its third season in the US, Defiance also features familiar faces such as Julie Benz ( Dexter ), Jaime Murray ( Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena ) and T ony Curran ( The Pillars Of Earth ).

R’n’B trailblazerTheWeeknd returns on August 28 with his eagerly-anticipated third album Beauty Behind The Madness , which is set to cap off a stunning year for the artist.The latest single from the new album Can’t Feel My Face debuted at No. 2 in the New Zealand charts, as well as achieving similar results in the US and Australia.TheWeeknd has also enjoyed chart success with a track from the Fifty Shades Of Grey movie, titled Earned It .

Defiance: Season One is due out on August 5.

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STACK SOCIAL Listening to you lot chatting and interacting with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram is all kinds of awesome!

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THREE INSURGENT PRIZE PACKS UP FOR GRABS Jumping straight back in from where Divergent left off is

Head here for more shenanigans...

Insurgent , the adaptation of the much-loved Young Adult book franchise. The DVD and Blu-ray arrive in stores on August 12 and we have three prize packs up for grabs. Thanks to Universal Pictures New Zealand

STACK 's Fave Movie Quote: “You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me?” Travis Bickle - Taxi Driver (1976) #JokeOfTheDay I just wrote a song about a sandwich... actually it's more of a wrap.

Did you know, Robert De Niro was one of the last people to see John Belushi alive? He had visited the legendary actor/comedian at 3am on Happy Birthday Robert De Niro (August 17, 1943)

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March 5, 1982, but left when he found his friend high on a mixture of heroin and cocaine. Belushi accidentally overdosed and was found later that day in his hotel in LA. Robin Williams had also visited Belushi that night. #STACKBirthday

in

W

Q1 This 1995 film was once described as Mad Max 2 on water. Title please. Q2 Early in his film career, which actor received his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the older brother of a bank robber? Q3 In which 1985 film does an elderly lady desert her unhappy city life and set out to visit her childhood home for the last time? Q4 Which actor's film character has an affair with his morose landlady, Mrs

Hammond? Q5 Name the recent thriller that was the first production to get permission to film inside the famous catacombs of Paris. Q6 Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Biel, Woody Harrelson, Carl Weathers and Tom Cruise. What's the link? Q7 When this whodunit movie was first released during the 1960s it had a 60-second pause before the climax, to allow the audience to guess who the

killer was. Name the film. Q8 Which actress played a policewoman who falls in love with a store-robber whilst taking his mugshot? Q9 Which post-apocalyptic movie is set in a world where dragons have awoken from hibernation and burnt everything to ash? Q10 Which fashion designer made his directorial debut with a film released in 2009?

QUIZ

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(1980) A10. Spellbound

(1994) A9. The Blues Brothers

A8. Because he gave Marsellus's wife,

(1945)

Pulp Fiction

Mia, a foot massage in

A7. Paul Muni - his last film was aptly titled

A6. David Mamet, House of Games

A5. Christopher Walken

A4. Tommy Lee Jones in

(1959)

The Last Angry Man

US Marshals

A3. The Unforgiven, starring Burt Lancaster

A2. Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief

Quiz Answers July 2015 (Issue 64) - AUGUST 2015 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.co.nz A1. The Great Gatsby (1926; 1949; 1974 & 2013)

08

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COMIC-CON san diego 2015

movie preview screenings), or simply watch the passing parade of cosplayers. Plus, you never know who you'll run into for a selfie – "Hello Joss Whedon, love your work!" There’s also a lot of promotion for upcoming films and TV series going on – Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! was hard to miss, with a horde of persistent sign-waving shark girls weaving through the crowd and urging everyone that it’s their patriotic duty to “embrace the Nado”, and squads of soldiers in combat gear marching through the streets to raise awareness of new series Colony . Better still was the cheeky promotion of new Omen - inspired series Damien, in the vicinity of a group of unimpressed, placard-wielding evangelists. Moreover, nearby hotels offered a multitude of

Comic-Con is huge! With 135,000 badges sold and injecting approx. $150 million into the San Diego economy, the 4-day event is a massive celebration of pop and geek culture. It’s also one big street party. While the focus is the San Diego Convention Centre, there’s plenty going on in the surrounding area and the city’s historic Gaslamp Quarter. So if you don’t have a badge, you can still enjoy the party atmosphere, check out video game events, rides, enjoy a meal and tipple in the many customised cafés and bars, get lots of free stuff (like magazines, buttons and tickets to STACK ’s back from Comic-Con 2015, and it was every bit as awesome as we expected.There was also a lot we didn’t expect, so if you’re thinking of heading over to San Diego in 2016, here are some useful tips to help you navigate your way through the world’s biggest celebration of pop culture geekdom, and get the most out of four days of fun, summer sunshine and cosplayers. By Scott Hocking 5 COMIC-CON things you need to know about

events including the Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive, The Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival (CCI-IFF), an X-Box Lounge and the Her Universe Fashion Show, offering the latest in “Geek Couture”. Even the San Diego Central Library got in on the act with a series of educational programs on comic book art and geek culture. Sadly, the annual Zombie Walk was cancelled this year due to an accident in 2014 in which a woman was struck down by a car and seriously injured; the deaf driver reportedly panicked when confronted by the oncoming horde of walking dead.

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COMIC-CON san diego 2015

Exclusive merchandise. You could spend a fortune at the merchandise booths located in the Convention Centre’s labyrinthine exhibit hall, but there are forces at work that will curtail your purchasing – which is both a good and bad thing. Many come for the Comic- Con Exclusives, those action figures and sets that are only available at the Con and in strictly limited numbers. Which means if you want that exclusive new Stormtrooper figure from The Force Awakens , or a 12th Doctor Sonic Screwdriver, it’s not as easy as walking up to the Star Wars or Doctor Who booth, slapping down some greenbacks and walking out with one. If you want any of the Comic-Con exclusive merchandise, be prepared to line-up with everyone

Panels and autographs. With the hottest new movies and television series being previewed at Comic-Con, attending one of the panels becomes a priority on any attendee's list. All the big ones are held in Hall H, which holds 6,500 people, but like getting your hands on the exclusive merchandise, you have to be prepared to queue – the more popular Hall H panels this year included Doctor Who (amazing how popular this is in the States), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 , Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight , and The Walking Dead . However, don’t think you can rock up an hour prior to the start time and secure a seat. Be prepared to camp out overnight if you’re after a spot in Hall H the next day, and if you get one, be prepared to stay in there all day. The hall and the smaller rooms aren’t cleared between panels, so if you get a seat, stay there. The downside to this is you may have to endure panels you don’t give a rat’s about in order to

else who wants it, and even then there’s no guarantee you’ll get it. Those in line partake in a random lottery system – aka Line Drawings – for a chance to buy, and the drawing procedure usually takes place at an ungodly hour of the morning (6–7am). You draw a ticket and if it’s a lucky one, you get to join the queue to purchase. But even then, you’re competing against opportunistic eBay entrepreneurs who buy as many as they can to make as much profit as they can online. Organisers have wised up to this, however, and the availability of exclusive merchandise is usually capped at a limit of 1–6 per person for the more popular items. Planning, determination and lots of patience are required to ensure that coveted exclusive is all yours. Buying non-exclusive merchandise can be a challenge, too – our attempts to gain access to the overflowing Funko booth and Doctor Who Store proved unsuccessful on two occasions due to capped lines. Try and get any shopping done during the Preview Night on the Wednesday before the Con kicks off proper.

see the ones that you do – past examples include Game of Thrones fans having to sit through a Twilight panel to get to the Westeros one. But once you're inside H, there's a definite buzz to be had from knowing you're among the first in the world to see that new trailer or exclusive footage. If you don’t get into a Hall H panel you can catch up on what you missed in The Playback Room at the Omni San Diego Hotel, albeit sans the exclusive footage and trailers that were screened. Autographs and signings are usually held after the panels and are controlled by a line drawing system (see point 2), plus there is usually a charge for the signature of your favourite hero/villain.

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COMIC-CON san diego 2015

Interactive attractions. Ever wanted to be menaced by The Walking

Dead or take on a Deadite with a chainsaw, Evil Dead style? Well, you can in the Exhibit Hall, with many booths offering interactive fan experiences you won’t soon forget. There’s usually a cool souvenir giveaway for participants, too. A lot of these fun (and free) events can also be found at offsite locations, including testing your parkour skills on an Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate obstacle course; visiting Snoopy’s house from The Peanuts Movie ; testing your internal fortitude on the Scream Queens ride (which drops you from a great height); and evading VR vampires from The Strain , chilling out

in an inflatable Fargo snow globe, or checking into American Horror Story: Hotel at the FX Fearless Arena on the waterfront.

Comic-Con is also about comics. With all the hype and excitement surrounding the premiere of new trailers and footage from the latest superhero and Star Wars films, and panels featuring your favourite movie and TV stars, it’s easy to forget that (as the name implies) Comic-Con is also about the illustrated pages from which many of these pop culture and screen icons spring. When you do a lap of the Exhibit Hall – which will probably take a couple of days to see everything properly – make sure you stop in at the Artists’ Alley, where you’ll find some simply amazing artwork and the talented folk who created it, who are more than happy to chat about their work and technique. Then there is the area where you can buy the latest graphic novels and those elusive and rare back issues to plug the gaps in your comic collection, be it Marvel, DC or Dark Horse. Although make sure you have a fat wallet or credit card with a big limit, especially if you’re after a vintage rarity – an early issue of Marvel’s Journey Into Mystery , featuring the Mighty Thor, can set you back 500 big ones. And that's cheap compared with others on offer!

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The Power House

Sick of blaming lag for your losses? Fret no more – the NETGEAR Nighthawk D7000WiFi Modem Router has you covered.

R enowned for delivering high end fixed to the fuselage of a Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bomber. The NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900 VDSL/ADSL WiFi Modem Router (D7000) is the latest in this uniquely designed line, combining both modem and router in one neat package. Built with gaming, streaming and mobile devices in mind, the Nighthawk D7000 WiFi Modem Router has a 1GHz dual core processor and, from what we've come to expect from the Nighthawk series, delivers extreme speed; ultimately, you will enjoy less lag and buffering. The D7000 features advanced QoS (quality of service) to prioritise gaming and streaming traffic so other devices or activities on the network won’t slow you down. This means you can enjoy uninterrupted streaming on YouTube or Twitch with limited buffering. And with high-powered amplifiers and antennas, and beamforming+, you’ll eliminate any WiFi dead spots and have strong and reliable WiFi no matter where you connect in the home. performance, NETGEAR's Nighthawk range wouldn't look out of place

Regular online video game players will certainly notice the difference using the modem router. We extensively trialled the D7000 playing League of Legends and had minimal ping and no disconnections. Running out of room on your drives, or just want to have a reliable backup? The solution is simple: just attach an external hard drive to enable quick, easy, convenient and secure storage. The aforementioned breakneck speed is made possible by using the latest 802.11ac WiFi that can push between 600 and 1300 Mbps across the home network; that's mighty fast. Four Gigabit Ethernet ports allow for hard- wired devices, while the two 3.0 USB ports (NETGEAR are currently the only company to offer this) allow content to be shared wirelessly with lightning speed throughout the network once a hard drive or USB flash drive are connected. And for homes yet to receive the NBN or VDSL – a faster tech than standard ADSL but not yet as ubiquitous – users can rest assured that a further financial outlay is not necessary if the Nighthawk D7000 is purchased now; the versatile unit can connect to any current or future Internet service. NETGEAR's contemporary products are known for ease of use and set-up, and this

is certainly the case here; even the least technically-minded in the home can get it up and running with minimum fuss. The handy NETGEAR Genie App covers all bases with a personal dashboard to monitor, control and repair your home network anytime, anywhere. With so much content streamed in modern households to a myriad of different devices all connected to the Internet, there is nothing more infuriating than constant buffering. For online gaming, lag is enough to evoke fury in even the most placid of players. The NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900 VDSL/ADSL WiFi Modem Router (D7000) takes a huge stride to eradicate these problems. If you're due to upgrade the modem router in the home and are looking for a future-proof product that will deliver high performance in even the largest homes, the D7000 could well be the answer. Game on!

AUGUST 2015 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.co.nz

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INTERVIEW

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INTERVIEW

CINEMA

Man of Steel

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Henry Cavill laying around on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. set, with Guy Ritchie and Armie Hammer

What do you get when you cross Superman, Guy Ritchie and Ian Fleming? The movie reboot of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. of course. Henry Cavill reveals what we can expect from this daring, suave remake.

I f there’s one thing Henry Cavill and Guy Ritchie have in common, it’s their ability to take something classic and make it their own. For Ritchie it was his highly acclaimed Sherlock Holmes franchise, and for Cavill, it was donning the famous red and blue suit to become Superman in 2013’s Man of Steel . It’s fitting then (as fitting as a superhero in spandex) that they join forces for The Man from U.N.C.L.E. , a story based on the classic '60s spy series which starred Robert Vaughn and David McCallum. "Guy Ritchie is an amazing filmmaker and he has tried to do something different from what he's done before," says Cavill. "The atmosphere of the story is very unique and I enjoyed playing Napoleon Solo and being part of the chemistry that Guy wanted to create. I would make every movie with him if I had the chance.” Like the original series, co-created by Ian Fleming, the film revels in its carefree approach to the spy genre. Set during the Cold War era, there's plenty of retro glamour and irreverent banter between Cavill and Armie Hammer, who plays his reluctant KGB partner. "It's cool, sexy, fun, and doesn't take itself too seriously. There's lots of adrenaline and a Swinging Sixties feel to the film," he reveals. Which naturally recalls another of Fleming’s famous heroes, James Bond, who ironically Cavill was in the running to play, but missed out to Daniel Craig. However, he insists that Napoleon Solo is a “very different animal” to Bond. “He’s NOT for queen and country. He’s for

I confess that I won't be buying a Vespa at any point in the near future." Success has been hard won for Cavill. Hailing from the remote Island of Jersey and part of a large family with strong ties to the British military – his father served in the Navy, his brother Piers a former army officer, and his brother Nick a Major in the Marines – Cavill assumed that he too would march the same military path, until he discovered acting. Bullied as a child for being overweight, he credits his family for providing the support that has allowed him to flourish into the actor he has become. “I'm much tougher and strong-willed because of all that,” he explains. “I was lucky to have wonderfully supportive parents who were constantly encouraging me and helping me achieve my goals in life. I also have great brothers who always stood beside me, and I do the same for them.”

Napoleon Solo and Napoleon Solo,” he laughs. Shot on location in Rome, London, the Amalfi Coast and Naples, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. delivers everything you’d expect from a classic spy thriller, including beautiful and dangerous women played by Alicia Vikander and Australia’s Elizabeth Debicki as the villainous Victoria Vinciguerra. Whilst his character in the film Guy Ritchie is an amazing filmmaker... I would make every movie with him if I had the chance

Humble, gracious and handsome, Cavill is the quintessential British gentleman with his feet planted

firmly on the ground. Superhero and superspy-antics aside, the actor keeps his ego firmly in check.

may be a fearless cad, Cavill confesses that driving around Rome and the Spanish Steps wasn’t as easy as it looked. “I'm not that great a driver and especially not when Armie Hammer is riding in the back.

“Work is important to me, of course, but when your life is drawing to an end, the only thing that you will look back on and think about is all the beautiful times you've spent with the people you love.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is in cinemas on August 13

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THE ROAD AHEAD After almost 15 years behind the wheel, Vin Diesel drives into a new frontier in Fast & Furious 7 .

it’s a drama piece or whether it lives in the world of action. The idea that we could even attempt to one-up the stunts

It’s been almost 15 years since the F&F team first took to the streets of LA. How do you wrap your head around this ride that you’ve been on for years? VIN DIESEL: The first thing I do is think how blessed I am to be a part of something that has reached the kind of success

and the action sequences is fun, and it’s a rich challenge. But increasing the emotional stakes is what will set this saga apart from any other movie. The emotional heartbeat of the movie is something that everyone we know can relate to – everyone we know is invested in. The idea that the films are finally in sequential order, the way that you intended them to be, how does that feel? Miraculous. The fact that the audience has allowed us to jump around in the chronology of Fast and has been willing to take that ride, and has stayed with us, is a feat in itself, because, you know, Fast & Furious 7 is the first time we are beyond Tokyo Drift . There’s something very exciting about that, because now we’re truly in a new frontier. One of the most important reasons for doing the movie was to now go onto that unknown road that is Fast & Furious 7 and beyond. All the events from the previous movies, and even some events that the audience has never seen before but they know are in the mythology of Fast & Furious , will all come together in this movie. Questions are answered and new thoughts are proposed. And you’ll see when you watch the movie, that themes that have been initiated After all the team has been through, is it all catching up with them now?

Vin Diesel with director James Wan

that none of us ever really anticipated. And so much has happened to me in my personal life; I’ve become a father and I’d like to think that I matured a little bit. I can’t stress enough how much of an impossible task this might have felt like 15 years ago. Each time out you’ve upped the ante: more cars, bigger, better action, but the heart and the emotion have certainly been pumped in Fast & Furious 7 . How important is that balance? My approach to filmmaking is always one of integrity, regardless of whether

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extremely successful with it. In my mind, he’s become the new face of horror and what’s exciting about him is that he wants to do more. He was very excited about coming into this and trying to do something that’s memorable in all the right ways. There is a sensibility to his shooting style that I think was imperative for this kind of re-set chapter. I call it re-set chapter because Chapter 7 incorporates so many things that happened before but, as you know, with the Han character [Sung Kang] finally sinking off to Tokyo Drift at the end of Chapter 6. In some ways, this is the new frontier. So for all of us involved, we’re finally at a place where we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. It is the unknown road ahead that is exciting, and I think that James Wan has taken scenes and shot them differently, with a certain kind of tension that he’s mastered in his horror world. Do you have an outline for future films? I think what Fast & Furious has done as a saga has proved that there is a new way to approach sequels and sagas. The way that they used to do it in the 1980s and 1990s was to make a movie and if it was really successful, they would use the brand and market it again and again and expect diminishing returns. The secret to counter that is to have a long view of what your story looks like over multiple pictures and, with Universal, I wouldn’t have been interested in just doing 7 if they didn’t have an idea or feel comfortable with what the new trilogy would look like, of how 7, 8 and 9 would roll out and how they would connect to one another. One of the things that I’m most proud about in the last three films is how much each film speaks to one another and how connected they are.

The way that Kurt Russell plays this role, he is the coolest guy in the room... The chemistry with Kurt was so gratifying, and he’s so much fun to work with. Right from the beginning, you could tell that this was something he was excited about, that there was a pride that he had about being a part of the

or themes that have been planted in previous movies, all come full circle here.

At the end of Fast & Furious 6 , we met your new foe in a very dramatic way. Dom has faced serious opponents before. How dangerous is Deckard Shaw? It was imperative to introduce the next villain in a way that automatically affected you emotionally. For you to feel like a villain is being introduced at the same time he is taking away someone that you’ve already grown comfortable with creates an emotional response to the villain that you can’t anticipate, and you can’t make up. And that’s at the forefront of our story here. You have to see the fourth chapter to really appreciate where we are when we step into the first new chapter of the unknown road. Jason is one of those actors who keep it cool and consistent. He’s a wonderful talent to watch, period. We needed a character that represented the location we’d just lived in for two hours, which is London. Jason Statham did that. We wanted to get a formidable character, but we wanted the character’s formidability to be different than Hobbs’s formidability that we employed in 5. And then last, but not least, I went on Facebook, and I asked the fans, “Who would you like to see me work with? Who would you like to see me incorporate, if I could?” And the top name was Jason Statham, more than the next three combined. Dom’s going to go after this guy.Through Hobbs, he comes in contact with someone, played by Kurt Russell, who makes him an offer he can’t refuse... That’s right. There is a device called God’s Eye, which as Dom says in the movie, is a glorified tracking device, but on steroids. Kurt Russell was one of those guys in the ‘70s and ‘80s that we all enjoyed going to see in movies, and we thought was a real badass at that time. The irony is Kurt Russell was chosen not necessarily to service Fast 7, but was chosen to service Fast 8. And the design was to have him introduced here, as we start going into a new shadowlike world of higher stakes, one that was designed to play out and pay off in the eighth film. Why do you think Jason Statham was right for the role of the villain?

Increasing the emotional stakes is what will set this saga apart from any other movie

Fast saga, and there was something precious to him about creating a character that would have such a deep relationship with Dom Toretto. We spent many a night and weekend talking about character, talking about the direction, and refining and retuning. I love having somebody that’s willing to look for that little extra nuance, look for that little extra magic.

We’ve been to some pretty incredible places with you through this franchise, but Abu Dhabi is pretty special. Very special. The audience now

• Fast & Furious 7 is out on Aug 19

has grown to somewhat expect these new locations, and they enjoy travelling with the characters that they know so well. They still wanted to come home in 7, but as a characteristic of the saga over the years, fans have enjoyed travelling with the characters. When we travel and visit these other cultures and countries, it only strengthens that idea that we are all citizens of the world.

As a producer, presumably you had a hand in picking the director.Why JamesWan?

James Wan is somebody who has conquered a genre; he has proven you can take a horror genre and be

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Before CGI, there was Ray Harryhausen .

F or a generation raised on computer-generated digital effects in movies, stop-motion animation is an antiquated art form relegated to the dusty reels of a forgotten Hollywood. But once upon a time, fantasy relied upon one man to create magic on the big screen: Ray Harryhausen. Apprenticed to Willis O’Brien, the animator who first brought King Kong to life in 1933, Harryhausen’s career spanned over 60 years and 26 films. Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Peter Jackson and George Lucas are among the many Hollywood luminaries who cite the work of Harryhausen as a major influence on their respective careers. This month, Via Vision is releasing four of his classics in a 4-disc Blu-ray and DVD set, and with STACK home to several Harryhausen aficionados, we decided to pull our favourite cinematic moments from the four films in the collection.

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) Taro vs. Cyclops The Cyclops has always been a personal favourite Harryhausen creation, but he was no match for the sorcerer Sokurah’s Taro – a powerful fire-free dragon – unleashed by Sinbad to fight the one-eyed giant. After

Jason and the Argonauts (1963) The Skeleton Melee Arguably the greatest Harryhausen sequence ever committed to film pitches an army of animated

performs for Koura as she descends down a set of stone steps that remains the highlight. Indian dancer Surya Kumari was enlisted to perform the movements with a student strapped to her back to give Harryhausen the outline required to animate the sequence. Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977) The Minoton Undoubtedly the best creation in the film, the huge, bronze, humanoid and bull-like creature called Minoton is used to row the evil Zenobia’s ship in pursuit of Sinbad. When spies attempt to get close to the vessel,

skeletons against Jason and two cohorts. A desperate battle of survival ensues where blade and bone clash across ancient Greek ruins. Outnumbered, Jason’s wingmen pay the ultimate price, falling to the sword. Sensing an opportunity, Jason makes his way to cover at the edge of the cliff, driving skeletons with a shield before leaping into the sea. Hey, skeletons can’t swim. The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) Kali’s Dance Forget the frenetic sword fight Sinbad engages in with the six-armed Kali, a statue that comes to life after Prince Koura, played by Tom Baker, throws a potion over it. Although impressive, it’s the captivating dance that Kali

wrestling for 30 seconds, the Cyclops falls to the ground and the dragon snaps for the jugular; in a flash, it’s all over. With the dragon turning towards Sinbad and his crew, it is subsequently felled by a bolt fired from a giant crossbow.

their boat is rammed and a sole survivor cries out to be rescued. Summoned by Zenobia, Minoton steps forward, picks up a

spear and skewers the unfortunate man before lifting him above his head. He momentarily holds his trophy for Zenobia to admire before discarding the cadaver overboard.

The Fantastic Films of Ray Harryhausen is out on DVD & BD on Aug 27

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STRONG MEDICINE Clive Owen on why The Knick is not your typical medical drama.

M edical practitioners with drug habits are nothing new – Hugh Laurie’s Doctor Gregory House and Edie Falco’s Nurse Jackie are probably the most recent examples of screen hospital professionals who get hooked on their own tools of the trade. But Doctor John Thackery, as played by Clive Owen in Steven Soderbergh’s acclaimed new medical drama The Knick , takes bad behaviour to a whole new level. Set in downtown New York in 1900, the show centres on the Knickerbocker Hospital, whose staff

As well as the drug taking, unlike modern hospital dramas, The Knick also features some harrowing, blood-drenched scenes of surgical procedures, many of which are carried out in front of an audience. According to Owen, operations at the time were almost performed like theatre, so there was a touch of the showman about doctors of the era. “It is a time that is hugely exciting,” Owen continues. “They made massive leaps forward in a very short amount of time. The boundaries were constantly being pushed and Thackeray is at the forefront of

all that.” Owen admits he hadn’t been looking to take on a television role before getting a call from Soderbergh, who as well as serving as executive producer, directed every episode of the first season of The Knick . However after reading the script he had no hesitation about signing on and will also be back for the second season, which will air later this year. He is also full of praise for the modern approach Soderbergh brought to the period drama. “The world Steven has created is such an original take and is all based on fact,” he says. “It doesn’t have the polish and restraint of a normal period thing. It’s very, very edgy. Very often when you do period

are pushing the boundaries of medicine in a time of astonishingly high mortality rates and zero antibiotics. Like House, Thackery is a brilliant but arrogant surgeon, whose maverick ways alienate his colleagues. But whereas Laurie’s character had an addiction to painkillers, Thackeray is a full- blown cocaine junkie who likes to wind down in opium dens. For Owen, the contradictions of the character were one the main attractions of the role. “He is at the forefront of medicine and he is making big new discoveries but at the same time he is a serious drug addict,” the British star explains. “The guy is literally on a rollercoaster the entire time; I inject throughout the day and then I often go off to the opium den to chill out in the evenings. The fun in playing someone like this is sorting out where he is in his drug-filled day. Is

Thackery is a brilliant but arrogant surgeon, whose maverick ways alienate his colleagues

he high? Does he need a fix? How intense is the addiction at this point? It’s exciting to plot through the ups and downs – there is never a straight scene with him, because he is not straight ever!” Thackery’s drug of choice is liquid cocaine, which was actually legal at the time and, for a doctor, easy to get hold of. However, as the first season of the show progresses, he eventually realises that his addiction is beginning to spiral out of control and tries to kick the habit.

things, they will say ‘This is how they wore their hats.’ But I am a drug addict, so I don’t necessarily conform to those rules.”

The Knick: The Complete First Season is out on August 19

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Australian-born actor Keiynan Lonsdale shines in the second film in The Divergent Series , Insurgent. STACK 's Alesha Kolbe caught up with him. FREEDOM FIGHTER

Insurgent is out on Aug 12

A s Insurgent arrives on DVD and Blu-ray this month, The Divergent Series cast are hard at work on the final installment in the franchise: Allegiant . "I've finished my part, actually", says Keiynan Lonsdale. "But Atlanta was really warm, and everything was really full on. It was a lot of fun". As far as everyone else being finished with filming is concerned, he's unsure. "I have no idea – I've just come back to LA. What I needed to film for me is done. I have no idea what they're doing anymore", he laughs. "I'm finished. I chat to some of the people and I'm like, 'How's it going?' and they're like, 'Yeah, good'. It's kinda cool, you just go in and do your job. Last year I felt like I was there for the majority of it, with breaks in between. You just never know". Although his character Uriah Pedrad, a member of the Dauntless fighting faction and also a Divergent, appeared in the first novel of Veronica Roth's Divergent Series , fans were disappointed to find him missing from the first film, Divergent . "Apparently they just wanted to introduce Uriah in the right way, you know," explains Lonsdale. "They didn't just want to kind of chuck him into the first one – they wanted to do it properly. Which is good for me, because then I got to audition for the second one." Whilst shooting Insurgent , Lonsdale found himself in the company of fellow Aussies Jai Courtney and Naomi Watts. "It's always cool... I guess you get to watch these people and you hear about Australian actors going overseas and making it and such. They always seem to be of such a high calibre and it was the same for

Naomi and Jai. For me, I felt very lucky to be another Aussie working with them. It was pretty cool". Given what happens to Uriah in the books (don't worry – no spoilers here), how much did Lonsdale know about his character in advance? "I read the books, just because I hadn't actually

but then when I found out that the character progresses, that he's still involved with the others, that made me pretty excited. I just felt like I'd scored a pretty big goal for myself in being able to do a few movies." Lonsdale is remaining tight-lipped, however, about what we can expect from the two-part finale Allegiant , due in cinemas in 2016 and '17. "I guess it's just like anything. Much bigger and better than the last two," he offers. "There're some cool surprises... when I was reading the script I was thinking of the fans and I was like, 'the fans are really gonna like this'. "And I think in terms of special effects, the Divergent films have always had a really cool way of doing that, and I think that will happen again. I think fans can really look forward to that. And characters develop a heap as well, so that will be good to see".

I saw [ Divergent ] a day before I found out about the audition, so I felt I should probably read the books

heard of Divergent ", he chuckles. "I saw the film a day before I found out about the audition. So I felt I should probably read the books, and I found out there was a lot of attention on Uriah, so I wanted to understand why that was. I loved the books.

"I found out what happens... but for me, when I found out I got the role, I was just happy. I felt lucky that I got to be a part of something so huge. I thought it would just be one film, I thought it would just be Insurgent ,

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