Posts Tagged ‘2010’

DiCaprio To Play Hoover In Eastwood’s Biopic

June 18th, 2010 by lawwebbhh651109j87hN5gxp2l | Comments Off | Filed in Movie

DiCaprio to star in Clint Eastwood's Hoover biopic

Following his stint this summer as a morally-questionable professional in Christopher Nolan’s new film Inception, Leonardo DiCaprio will take on the role of another (albeit real-life) controversial workaholic – namely, J. Edgar Hoover in director Clint Eastwood’s biopic, which is tentatively titled Hoover.

Eastwood will reteam with his Changeling producer Brian Grazer for Hoover, which will be based on a script written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk).

Warner Bros. will distribute the film, which Eastwood is set to begin working on following the completion of his supernatural drama Hereafter with his Invictus star Matt Damon.

Hoover’s reign as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) lasted for over 37 years and began in the mid-1930s, as seen last year in Michael Mann’s period crime caper, Public Enemies.  There’s no word at this point as to how much of Hoover’s life will be chronicled in Eastwood’s film, but I would expect it to focus on Hoover’s public behavior and how it differed significantly from his private life (where he was known for being a cross-dresser amongst other things…).

This will be DiCaprio’s third leading performance in a biographical pic with an Oscar-winning director at the helm. His first two biopic outings were playing the young con man Frank Abagnale in Steven Spielberg’s film Catch Me If You Can back in 2002, and the troubled but brilliant Howard Hughes in Martin Scorsese’s 2004 flick, The Aviator.

Leonardo DiCaprio has previously starred in biopics

Two of DiCaprio’s previous forays into the biopic genre

If the acclaimed actor does is indeed “going to spread his wings” in the role of Hoover (as an insider told Deadline) then he may be up for his fourth Oscar-nomination as well – assuming that he isn’t nominated for his Inception role, that is.

One of complaints I still hear about DiCaprio’s performance in The Aviator was that he simply looked too young to play the aging Hughes – or any other “mature” character – despite his being 30 at the time.  Six years later and DiCaprio’s appearances in two other Scorsese films – The Departed and Shutter Island – have proven him to be a rather intense actor, capable of holding the audience’s attention despite his (admittedly) youthful disposition.

What do you think?  Do you like the idea of DiCaprio and Eastwood working together?  Let us know in the comments section below.

Hoover is tentatively set to arrive in theaters sometime in 2012, though that could change in the future, given Eastwood’s tendency to work fast as a director.

Source: Deadline


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Debut Trailer for ‘Last Exorcism’

May 27th, 2010 by lawwebbhh651109j87hN5gxp2l | Comments Off | Filed in Movie

the last exorcism

Films about innocent country girls, possessed by demonic forces, aren’t exactly a rarity in Hollywood and judging by the new trailer for director Daniel Stamm’s upcoming horror The Last Exorcism, the devil-girl genre isn’t going anywhere.

Director Eli Roth (Hostel) is producing the film with Lionsgate handling distribution.

The trailer does a decent job of introducing us to the Last Exorcism plot  - though, the film follows a pretty traditional possession story format:

“When he arrives on the rural Louisiana farm of Louis Sweetzer, the Reverend Cotton Marcus expects to perform just another routine “exorcism” on a disturbed religious fanatic. An earnest fundamentalist, Sweetzer has contacted the charismatic preacher as a last resort, certain his teenage daughter Nell is possessed by a demon who must be exorcised before their terrifying ordeal ends in unimaginable tragedy. Buckling under the weight of his conscience after years of parting desperate believers with their money, Cotton and his crew plan to film a confessionary documentary of this, his last exorcism. But upon arriving at the already blood drenched family farm, it is soon clear that nothing could have prepared him for the true evil he encounters there. Now, too late to turn back, Reverend Marcus’ own beliefs are shaken to the core when he and his crew must find a way to save Nell – and themselves – before it is too late.”

Check out the debut trailer for The Last Exorcism:

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THE LAST EXORCISM TRAILER

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The plot may be familiar, i.e. priest visits small-town family with demonic daughter troubles, but the presentation definitely doesn’t disappoint with a lot of disturbing imagery that, at least from the trailer, doesn’t seem to go over-the-top. Judging by what we can see here, the film appears to follow closely to the tone of the movie that inspired the genre – William Friedkin’s The Exorcist.

the last exorcism trailer

That said, at this point, the documentary “style” of the film could make or break The Last Exorcism. The format definitely has advantages – preying on the audience’s nerves with chaotic and jostled camera work. But the frantic style could also detract from the creepy tone that made earlier exorcism endeavors so engaging.

Not to mention the fact, and I realize we’re all suspending disbelief here, but when portions of a horror film are presented documentary style – it’s especially hard to understand, outside of the needs of the actual film, why anyone would keep rolling. Even during last summer’s hit Paranormal Activity, there were numerous awkward explanations for why Micah kept picking up the camera.

What do you think of another exorcism film? Do you think the documentary camera style will be a good or bad addition?

The Last Exorcism opens August 27, 2010.

Source: Yahoo Movies

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First Details Emerge For ‘Rollercoaster Tycoon’ Movie

May 26th, 2010 by lawwebbhh651109j87hN5gxp2l | Comments Off | Filed in Movie

Rollercoaster Tycoon movie

A couple of weeks ago it was announced that a movie based on the video game Rollercoaster Tycoon is being made. At the time we didn’t know anything of the plot or what form it would take, other than it will be some sort of live-action/CGI hybrid.

However, now we have the first details about what sort of movie Rollercoaster Tycoon will likely be. The details come from the guys over at Cinema Blend, who hada chance to talk to Harald Zwart (The Karate Kid remake), the exec producer and possible director.

You’re not alone in wondering what sort of plot there could be for a movie based on a video game where you build your own theme parks and elaborate rollercoasters. Well, what Zwart describes sounds like it’s in the same vein as a certain blockbuster franchise about inanimate objects springing to life. Have a read at what Zwart said:

“Well we had a pitch, a story– it’s basically a theme park comes to life… We had a story woven into the theme park of the Rollercoaster Tycoon, and that’s what we sold to Sony, and that’s what we’re hoping to make into a movie… Just the idea of taking a ride like in Disneyland and the rides suddenly come to life, [or] you’re able to step off and stay behind when everybody else had gone.”

Harald Zwart Rollercoaster Tycoon movie

The obvious early comparison is that it sounds like Night at the Museum – “Night at the Theme Park,” if you will (™ Screen Rant 2010 :-P ). I actually had major reservations about a Rollercoaster Tycoon movie, but I must admit that ain’t a half bad direction to go in (I’m surprised it never came to mind when the project was first announced). The first Night at the Museum (not so much the second) was a lot of fun and I’d be up for a similar situation set within the kid’s paradise known as a theme park.

What do you think of the direction they’re going with the Rollercoaster Tycoon movie? Can you think of a better basic plot?

Source: Cinema Blend

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New Clips From The Karate Kid

May 26th, 2010 by lawwebbhh651109j87hN5gxp2l | Comments Off | Filed in Movie

The Karate Kid with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith

Sony Pictures will release its remake of the 1980s classic The Karate Kid in just over two weeks and we have three new clips from the film for those yearning to see Jaden “Son of Will” Smith and Jackie “I can still kick butt” Chan in action as this generation’s Ralph Macchio/Pat Morita.

In a plot very similar to the original, the remake of The Karate Kid focuses on a young teenager named Dre (Smith) who is tormented by bullies and trained in the martial arts after he and his mother (Oscar-nominee Taraji P. Henson) move to a new country.  Fortunately Mr. Han (Chan), the local janitorial worker  at the pair’s apartment complex, is secretly a master of martial arts and agrees to educate the troubled young Dre in the ways of self-defense and life in general.

This time around, the setting has shifted from California to China, Dre is a 12-year old from Detroit,  and he studies the art of Kung Fu rather than Karate.  Due to this last change, the title of the film was almost changed to The Kung Fu Kid,  before the marketability of The Karate Kid name brand seemingly won out in the end.

However, for those of you still seething about the fact that the title to this remake seems inaccurate, it actually does have relevance to the story (hint: the Kung Fu-trained bullies think Dre is a punk because all he knows is Karate).

Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith atop the Great Wall of China

How else will the remake differ from the original?  Based off this early footage, Mr. Han will be more of a grumpy stoic than Mr. Miyagi (Morita) was in the original Karate Kid; Dre is more of an inexperienced kid whereas Daniel (Macchio) was your average hot-headed teenager; and the training montages will be set to hip-hop music instead of synthesized ’80s tunes like “You’re the Best” in the original film’s “tournament fights” sequence.

But enough from me.  Have a look at the clips below:

Does this new Karate Kid look like it could stand on its own?  Well, Smith is kind of annoying in these clips but that seems natural enough for a 12-year-old.  The homage to the “catching a fly with chopsticks” scene in the original Karate Kid seems kind of uninspired, as does the martial arts training montage.  Honestly, I find this new footage to be more boring and by-the-numbers than anything else.

The Chinese landscape is a visually impressive backdrop for the action in the Karate Kid remake and these new clips do have some lovely bits of aerial footage of national landmarks like the Great Wall.  That alone could make this a film worth checking out on the big screen.

But what do you think?  Do you find Smith charming so far?  Does Chan seem like a wise old stoic – or just kind of bored?  Sound off in the comments section below.

The Karate Kid arrives in theaters in the U.S. on June 11, 2010.

Source: Collider

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Post-Apocalyptic Indie Action Thriller White Wall

May 26th, 2010 by lawwebbhh651109j87hN5gxp2l | Comments Off | Filed in Movie

James Boss and Michael Teh in White Wall

Indie films are an acquired taste and post-apocalyptic indie films are even more so.  The two latest films in that genre, The Road and Book of Eli, both were merely “eh” on the enjoyability scale (although Screen Rant Reviewer Kofi really enjoyed The Road). Maybe it was the use of big name actors or the fact that a couple of major Hollywood studios were involved with the projects, but for whatever reason big-budget apocalyptic films never seem to do well *cough Water World cough*.

White Wall does not have big names in front or behind the camera, so could that mean it won’t suffer from a weak script or poor character development? Well if the trailer below is any indication, then the answer is “maybe”.

Here’s a breakdown of the story:

In the near future, the VXII, the deadliest virus ever created, spread like wildfire and decimated the majority of the world’s population. The non-infected survivors, including Shawn and his brother Jude, live behind a wall designed to protect them from the deadly virus. Raised as orphans by the militia, Shawn, Jude and others are forced to fight in backwoods death matches. The brothers were able to hone their fighting skills and escape but soon become estranged. Shawn dreams of curing the virus while Jude took a darker path, one that could spell disaster for everyone.

Enjoy the trailer:

White Wall was written by first timer Vivian Kyinn and has James Boss playing dual roles as the lead character Shawn Kors, as well as directing the film. It also stars Gary Kohn, Michael Teh, Aurelie Kyinn, John Klemantaski and Hugh Mason. Avantmark Pictures and Shoreline Entertainment teamed up to produce White Wall.

White Wall could turn out to be a great post-apocalyptic film because it looks to be framed well and the fight choreography seems to be on point as well. The one thing big Hollywood studios can do that indie films just can’t replicate without a budget is large sets. Book of Eli, The Road, Mad Max, The Postman, Water World all looked vast and expansive because they could afford to film in vast and expansive locations.

White Wall and other indie films of this genre, on the other hand, suffer slightly from smaller budgets, but they usually make up for it with better stories. Hopefully this film will be one of the good post-apocalyptic indie films, but time will ultimately tell.

What do you think about White Wall, the story and its action scenes so far?

White Wall was available for purchase on DVD and Blu-ray May 25th, 2010.

Follow us on Twitter @Walwus and @ScreenRant

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Hillcoat To Direct ‘The Revenant’ With Bale To Star?

May 26th, 2010 by lawwebbhh651109j87hN5gxp2l | Comments Off | Filed in Movie

The Revenant movie based on Michael Punke's novel

Director John Hillcoat’s critically-acclaimed adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer-Prize winning novel The Road was all but ignored during last year’s awards season (you can read Screen Rant’s own positive review HERE).  Fans of Hillcoat’s post-apocalyptic flick will be glad to hear that the director may now be set to direct another intense drama, an adaptation of The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge.

According to screenwriter Mark L. Smith (Vacancy), Hillcoat is attached to direct his script for The Revenant, which is based off Michael Punke’s novel of the same name.  In addition, Smith has informed Bloody Disgusting that Christian Bale (heard of him? ;-) ) is currently in negotiations to star in the film as Hugh Glass, an 1820s frontiersman who hunts down the men that left him for dead after he was attacked and mauled by a bear.

The protagonist at the focus of The Revenant’s narrative – a physically battered man obsessed with surviving the harsh wilderness around him – bears more than a passing resemblance to Viggo Mortensen’s Man in Hillcoat’s version of The Road.  Hillcoat has also directed the tale of a vengeance quest set against the wild frontier before, in his 2005 Australia-set flick The Proposition. Revenant sounds like an excellent fit for the director’s dark, intense approach to storytelling.

Guy Pierce in The Proposition

Guy Pierce in ‘The Proposition.’

According to CHUD, director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) was at one point set to direct a film adaptation of The Revenant with Samuel L. Jackson playing the role of Hugh Glass.  Hillcoat’s sensibilities as a filmmaker seem a better fit for the revenge story than Chan-wook’s – though the latter’s gritty, violent tendencies as a director would’ve been interesting to see in a western setting. Here’s hoping the project actually comes to fruition this time around.

How likely is it that Hillcoat will get to make The Revenant with Bale onboard?  Well, Bale’s schedule is not too crowded at the moment and – with the obvious exception of Batman 3 – he isn’t set to appear in any big-budget films that would take priority over this project anytime soon.  If he does sign on for Hillcoat’s thriller, it would be Bale’s second venture into the western genre after his previous turn in the 3:10 to Yuma remake from director James Mangold (Knight and Day) back in 2007.

3:10 to Yuma remake from 2007

Christian Bale in ’3:10 to Yuma.’

So what do you think?  Does The Revenant sound more interesting with Hillcoat directing and Bale possibly starring?  Sound off in the comments section below.

We’ll keep you updated on new information concerning The Revenant as it comes in.

Source: CHUD, BD (via The Playlist)

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Two New Animated Trailers: ‘Megamind’ and ‘Rio’

May 22nd, 2010 by lawwebbhh651109j87hN5gxp2l | Comments Off | Filed in Movie

Megamind Rio trailers

The animated world is mighty busy today with new trailers for Megamind and Rio to share. We’ve seen the Megamind teaser trailer, but Rio is a relatively new project. Both look funny and intriguing with slight twists on their respective genres.

The Megamind trailer presents more story than the simple teaser released a couple of  months ago. In it, Will Ferrell leads a big-name cast that includes Brad Pitt, Tina Fey and Jonah Hill. The plot for Megamind is a nice twist on the superhero genre, turning the focus on a super villain and his struggles.

“When super villain Megamind (Ferrell) defeats his archrival Metro Man (Pitt), the world should be his oyster. But instead Megamind falls into total despair. It turns out that life without a rival is life without a point for him. So, he creates a new superhero rival, Titan (Hill). Unfortunately, the new hero wants to be a super villain, too. Caught in the middle, star reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Fey) asks the tough questions: Who can we turn to? Who has what it takes to stand up to this menace? Who will defend the innocent? Megamind! That’s who.”

Obviously, it’s  a re-telling of the classic Superman story, but for laughs. It’s an interesting idea: What if another baby was launched towards Earth at the same time, creating a life-long rivalry? Hopefully Megamind will capture the humorous side of two “aliens” fighting on Earth better than Transformers 2 ;-) .

While we’ve known about Megamind for a few months now, Rio is a brand new movie. The teaser trailer should have fans of animations excited for the film. You get a good sense for the movie and its characters with just a teaser, but here is the synopsis:

“The comedy-adventure centers on Blu, a rare macaw who thinks he is the last of his kind. When Blu discovers there’s another — and that she’s a she — he leaves the comforts of his cage in small town Minnesota and heads to Rio. But it’s far from love at first sight between the domesticated and flight-challenged Blu and the fiercely independent, high-flying female, Jewel. Unexpectedly thrown together, they embark on an adventure of a lifetime, where they learn about friendship, love, courage, and being open to life’s many wonders.”

In such a short teaser, you get all the cliches of Rio de Janeiro from crowded beaches to, well, you know.

Voice talents on Rio include Anne Hathaway, Neil Patrick Harris, Rodrigo Santoro, George Lopez and Jake T. Austin. It is directed by Carlos Saldanha and released by Twentieth Century Fox. An interesting note about Saldanha is that he was the animation supervisor on Fight Club as well as director of the Ice Age trilogy.

Animation has come a long way and the studios are feeding off each other to create stunning visuals and fascinating stories. As interesting as Rio looks, I’ll be anticipating Megamind more thanks to a superhero plot and all-star cast.

Megamind is set for a November 5th, 2010 release in 2D, 3D and IMAX.

Rio will fly into theaters in 2D and 3D on April 8th, 2011.

Which animated film are you looking forward to more? Discuss the trailers in the comments section below.

Source: /Film and Yahoo! Movies

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Scream 4 Casting Updates

May 22nd, 2010 by lawwebbhh651109j87hN5gxp2l | Comments Off | Filed in Movie

Scream 4 Cast May Include Ashley Greene and Hayden Panettiere

The cast for Scream 4 is beginning to take shape as the production nears its July start date. Dimension Films is in the final phase of landing actress Lake Bell, and the latest names added to their wish list include Hayden Panettiere, Ashley Green (Twilight Saga) and Rory Culkin.

Have no fear, the original cast is still very much intact. Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette will all reprise their roles from the Scream trilogy, and Wes Craven returns as director.

The idea of casting Scream 4 with just over a month to go before filming is a slightly concerning. But Deadline reports the script is on major lockdown and the production has only released character descriptions.

Lake Bell, who can be heard in Shrek Forever After as the Patrol Witch, is the first among franchise newbies to begin negotiations. She will play a police officer who knew Sidney (Campbell) in high school.

Lake Bell Scream 4Ironically reminiscent of Neve Campbell in Wild Things

The other names involved are young, but character descriptions provide some insight into the unknown story. Ashley Greene is in talks to play Sidney’s cousin; Hayden Panettiere would play Greene’s best friend; and Rory Culkin may end up as Greene’s love interest. From the sound of it, the original cast may literally hand over the reigns in the film.

It looks like the film will present a new generation of victims. In that case, Greene’s character would be the main target for the Ghostface Killer as the old cast warns the newbies of impending doom. That’s just a guess, but it sounds close enough.

Rory Culkin Scream 4

Rory Culkin has taken a media backseat to the other actors, but is my favorite of the list. The 20-year-old actor was superb in Mean Creek and continues to prove his acting chops. Yet, there is something holding him back from mainstream entertainment. This could be an opportunity for Culkin to grow a fan base.

Scream 4 is trying to complete casting with little time to spare. It may prove difficult for young actors to commit an entire script to memory in such short time, but hopefully they are up to the task. The original trilogy has always been entertaining, but also loaded with solid performances. If they want to continue the franchise properly, they can’t lose focus of the elements necessary to create a complete film.

Scream 4 will unleash on audiences April 15th, 2011.

Source: Deadline

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New ‘Inception’ Extended TV Spot

May 22nd, 2010 by lawwebbhh651109j87hN5gxp2l | Comments Off | Filed in Movie

Inception 60-second TV spot

If you’re not already sold on Inception, the upcoming mind-bending thriller from writer/director Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight), then you’re probably never going to be (that and you’re crazy! :P ).

However, if you are looking forward to Inception but want more than the terrific third trailer and the recent trio of TV spots to further your excitement, then look no further as we have a brand new minute-long TV spot for the movie.

Like the last set of TV spots, there’s nothing really new to see but it still does a good job of selling the movie in the best way possible.

Take a look at the new UK Inception TV spot below which debuted over on the film’s YouTube channel:

I really hope Warner Bros. has gone as far as it’s going to with giving away the plot of Inception. The trailers and TV spots have done a great job of giving us a feel for what the movie is about without giving away TOO much info. I pray the studio doesn’t feel the need to release any spoiler-ish ads just to make sure the general movie audience understands what they’re getting themselves into.

With a movie like this, mystery is absolutely key.

In case you missed it or just want reminding, here’s the official synopsis for Inception that was unveiled a couple of weeks ago:

Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan directs an international cast in an original sci-fi actioner that travels around the globe and into the intimate and infinite world of dreams. Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb’s rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved.

Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible—inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming. This summer, your mind is the scene of the crime.

The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine, Ken Watanabe, Tom Hardy and Tom Berenger. It’s both written and directed by Christopher Nolan.

Inception cast

Thoughts on the latest Inception TV spot?

If you haven’t already, check out our own Mike Eisenberg’s brilliant trailer mash-up of Inception and Toy Story 3.

Inception opens in theaters on July 16th, 2010.

Source: YouTube via Coming Soon

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Fringe: Season 2 Finale Review & Discussion

May 21st, 2010 by lawwebbhh651109j87hN5gxp2l | Comments Off | Filed in Movie

Hopefully, tonight’s episode of Fringe will answer many questions fans have had since the series started.

Over the last two years, we’ve been introduced to numerous long-running mysteries. From the watchers knowing events to come, shape-changers that use modified walkmans with carpenter nails to obtain their forms, to the halved pieces of apple and signature womb babies that greet us before each commercial break – it’s safe to say that Fringe has held its cards close to the chest.

Walter Bishop traveling to the alternate universe in order to find his son, Peter, as well as the return of Leonard Nimoy as the illusive William Bell (in his final acting performance), leave no doubt that the showdown of the century is bound to happen.

With the help of Olivia, Astrid, and hopefully Gene (the cow), it’s time to take the battle to the other side in order to see what Walternate is up to – and most importantly, make sure that these two worlds stay where they belong.

Order your root beer float, purchase your blue cotton candy, and whip up some coffee yogurt, it’s the season finale of Fringe!

Review

Unfortunately, the second season finale of Fringe has yet to air and Fox decided not to provide it in advance to the press.

So, I shall be watching tonight. Don’t worry, the review will be up shortly after the second part airs. Until then, check out some of our previous articles on the series.

Get Up To Speed With ‘Fringe 101′
Complete Guide To 2010 TV Season/Series Finales
Once More, With Feeling: ‘Fringe’ Gets Musical?
Fringe: Nimoy Returns For Bell/Bishop Face-Off
J.J. Abrams Talks Fringe End Date

Make sure to check back as Screen Rant reviews the second season finale of Fringe.

Follow me on Twitter @anthonyocasio

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