This needs to be released like right NOW. Guillermo del Toro has a busy slate in 2013 and in addition to releasing Toronto-filmed Horror Mama, on which he serves as Executive Producer later this month, this July his $300-million Sci-Fi Epic Pacific Rim is set to cause a tidal wave at the Box Office.  As you are aware, I filmed a week’s worth of scenes on the Film last year – even if just in the background – and I’m so super-stoked.

Pacific Rim centers around an impending Alien Attack where Robots are deployed to fight for our lives.  Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Charlie Day, Rinko Kikuchi, Robert Kazinsky, Ron Perlman and Clifton Collins Jr. all star.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

Stay tuned as I have a few Pacific Rim-related Giveaways soon to come!

Warner Bros. releases Pacific Rim on July 12, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)

So basically, Toronto has Ramen Fever.  Yet another Competitor has entered the landscape of Japanese Noodle Shops in the City and based on the recommendation of a friend Laura, who actually has a Ramen Blog named It’s Raining Mian, myself and a few of my BFFs decided to give Santouka a try. Luckily enough, the Shop actually was open on New Year’s Day and this was the perfect way to cap-off a festive and chilly Holiday.

Santouka, which actually translates to “Mountain-Top Fire”, is the first Ontario (British Columbia got it first) addition to the internationally-popular Chain of Restaurants which trace back to 1988 when Founder Hitoshi Hatanaka opened his first ever shop in Hokkaido. Hatanaka was inspired greatly by the Rocky of Japanese Food Dramas,  Tampopo, which stars a familiar face to North Americans, Ken Watanabe.

I myself tried their spicy Limited Edition Kara Miso Ramen, showcasing first and foremost their lusciously tender two-day braised Pork Jowls.  Unlike some of the other Shops which dress their Noodles with Meat, the delicious Jowls were served on a separate plate, giving you the option to dip the slices into the immensely flavourful Broth.  In my honest opinion, there isn’t a more tasty bowl of Ramen in the City. Fear not if the concept of Spicy Miso Broth or Jowls scare you, standard Ramen with Fish Cakes and leaner Pork Cuts are available in three other varieties of Broths: Shoyu (Soy Sauce), Shio (Sea Salt) and Miso (Bean Paste-based).

Despite a 30-minute wait and what unjustly seemed like a mad rush to get out of our table, the Hot Spot is somewhere I likely would return to even if it lacks the ambiance of the likes of Momofuku Noodle Bar and Kinton Ramen.  $17 for a bowl of Ramen I admit is a bit on the pricy side, but the quality is there to back it all up.

Santouka is located at 81 Dundas Street East at Church Street.  Visit their Official Website for more.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Although they kicked-off with a bang on Christmas Day, neither  Les Misérables  nor Django Unchained could unseat The Hobbit from the throne on this final weekend of 2012 and believe me, the latter came close. The first installment of the Peter Jackson Trilogy earns $31.5 million this weekend in North America from 4,100 theatres and worldwide it already has grossed over $600 million for Warner Bros.

Quentin Tarantino‘s latest Opus, Django Unchained, debuts in second with $31 million for The Weinstein Co. and Alliance Films, already being touted potentially as the Auteur Filmmaker’s highest-grossing Film ever. With final numbers still come in, it is quite possible we might see a reverse in the order of finish tomorrow with this over-performing Oscar Contender on-top. Since Christmas Day, the Action/Thriller/Western/Drama was earned a stellar $64 million. Critics in addition to audiences are loving the Flick, earning a stellar 89% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.

Tom Hooper‘s Les Misérables started strong on Christmas Day earning $18 million, tailing-off a little since, but the $61 million Musical from Universal Pictures still performs exceedingly well in third with $27.4 million. With overall positive reviews at 72% on the Tomatometer, audiences worldwide are responding and in only a few days, it has grossed $68 million domestically.

Parental Guidance might not have gotten great reviews (17% on Rotten Tomatoes), but the Holiday–Comedy opens with $14.4million this weekend for 20th Century Fox in fourth, landing just a head of Jack Reacher starring Tom Cruise, in fifth with $14 million in its second week.

This is 40 gave Moviegoers a more lighthearted option this Christmas and gets rewarded with $12.5 million this weekend, already surpassing its production cost of $35 million in two weeks of release.

Meanwhile, Disney‘s Lincoln still is going strong in its eighth week with $7.5 million from 1,966 theatres at seventh spot. Rise of the Guardians in its fifth week rounds-out the Top Ten with $5 million from Paramount Pictures.

Happy Holidays!  2012 has been an incredibly hectic and star-filled year with tons of great Celebs, Music and Movies gracing out City.  Your support, readership and love has not gone unappreciated and I hope to keep raising the bar for you.

The Site is closed for the Holidays, but before you know it I’ll be back in the New Year.  Until then, surely there’s lots to catch-up on here and if you need some honest, Fan-friendly input on what to see at the Movies this Holiday, check-out some Reviews right here.

Wishing you and your loved ones a festive Holiday and an explosive 2013!

With love,

Mr. Will & billy

For a second week in-a-row, Warner Bros.’ The Hobbit maintains its dominance at the Box Office, bringing-in $36.7 million from 4,100 theatres. In its two week run so far domestically it has earned $145.2 million and despite a significant drop this weekend, it still is far and clear ahead of the competition.

Tom Cruise shows that he definitely still has what it takes to draw a crowd, with Paramount Pictures’ Novel Series Adaptation Jack Reacher earning a respectable $15.6 million in its debut from 3,352 theatres.  Critics had generally positive things to say about the Film,  tallying-in at 69% at Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.

Judd Apatow‘s Knocked-Up sorta Sequel This is 40 opens in 2,912 theatres this weekend in third with $12 million for Universal Pictures. Reviews unfortunately have been mixed for the Comedy starring Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, garnering only 49% on the Tomatometer.

Rise of the Guardians still is going strong in fourth with $5.9 million for Paramount Pictures, landing ahead of Disney‘s Lincoln with $5.6 million in fifth.

Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand on paper seemed like an amazing idea, but Mother-Son Comedy The Guilt Trip which perhaps would’ve better been saved for a Mother’s Day release than the already crowded Holiday slate.   It earns $5.4 million in its opening also for Paramount Pictures, good enough for sixth.

Experiencing a slip this weekend is former Champ Skyfall with $4.7 million in eighth, while The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 rounds out the Top Ten in its sixth week with $2.6 million.  Meanwhile, Oscar Frontrunner Zero Dark Thirty, which is set for a January wide release, opens limited in five theatres, grossing an impressive $410k from.  Keep a tab on this one as big things are expected from Director Kathryn Bigelow.

2012 was a memorable year for Music, with several standouts in Music and Film.  I was busier than ever chasing  Stars in the City, with several Celebrities having good reason to visit Toronto this year, including one of the most star-studded TIFFs in recent memory.  Let’s take a walk down Memory Lane in honour what I feel were the most memorable Films, Pop Songs and personal Celebrity Encounters!

Top Ten Movies of 2012

1. Argo
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
3. Django Unchained
4. Ted
5. Silver Linings Playbook
6. The Hunger Games
7. End of Watch
8. The Sessions
9. Les Misérables
10. Rock of Ages

Top Ten Singles of 2012

1. Brokenhearted – Karmin
2. What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger) – Kelly Clarkson
3. Madness – Muse
4. Midnight City – M83
5. We are Young – fun. ft. Janelle Monáe
6. Dance Again – Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull
7. Skyfall – Adele
8. Wide Awake – Katy Perry
9. Starships – Nicki Minaj
10. Gangnam Style – PSY

Top Celebrity Encounters of 2012

Steven Tyler, Paula Abdul, Sheena Easton, Alanis Morissette, Nelly Furtado, Carly Rae Jepsen, PSY, The Wanted, One Direction, Ed Sheeran, fun., Karmin, Emeli Sandé, Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Quentin Tarantino, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Robin Williams, Jon Voight, Malcolm McDowell, Viggo Mortensen, Matt Dillon, Andrew McCarthy, Rob Lowe, Linda Hamilton, Ben Affleck, Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Joe Manganiello, Aaron Johnson, Ben Whishaw, Dane DeHaan, Joel Kinnaman, Daniel Radcliffe, Josh Hutcherson, Zac Efron, Logan Lerman, Jeremy Irvine, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Michael Shannon, Patrick Wilson, John Krasinski, Adam Sandler, Tracy Morgan, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Mann & Judd Apatow, Allison Williams, Meg Hilty, Lisa D’Amato, Cobie Smulders, Zoe Kazan & Paul Dano, Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, Mélanie Laurent, Marisa Tomei, Eva Mendes, Lily Collins, Alice Englert, Elle Fanning, Kristin Scott Thomas, Christina Hendricks, Kim Kardashian, Seann William Scott, Stephen Amell, Ricki Lake, Connie Chung, Jacky Cheung, George Takei, Mike Smith, Rosie Napravnik, Frankie Dettori, Andy Roddick & Brooklyn Decker and Jeremy Lin.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Holy Press! Not only am I honoured to have been written about by The National Post‘s Shinan Govani about my camera-breaking experience with Quentin Tarantino at the Django Unchained Premiere in Toronto, but now this!  My second time being in the Papers this week!  Thanks to Jane for sending the above Snap over from the recent HBO Canada Party for Girls, featuring the stunning Allison Williams.  How awesome. Look at me!  LOL

Catch-up below:

(Photo credit: The National Post/The Globe & Mail)

While we’re in the spirit of Les Misérables, I am thrilled to hear finally a full HQ Version of Anne Hathaway performing I Dreamed a Dream.  The Track is available on Les Misérables – Highlights from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, which originally was scheduled to be released on Boxing Day, but now is in-stores today.

Listen to Hathaway‘s raw, powerful and emotive performance in full right here on Tumblr.  You won’t believe your ears that the is the same young Woman who starred in The Princess Diaries and Ella Enchanted not too long ago.

Order the Soundtrack right here.

(Photo credit: Universal Pictures | Audio content: Universal Music)

Alliance Films and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win a Double Pass to see Zero Dark Thirty, a frontrunner for Best Picture at the upcoming Academy Awards. The Screening takes place Thursday, January 10, 2013 in Toronto.

For a decade, an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working in secret across the Globe, devoted themselves to a single goal: to find and eliminate Osama bin Laden. Zero Dark Thirty reunites the Oscar®-winning Team of director-producer Kathryn Bigelow and writer-producer Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker) for the story of History’s greatest manhunt for the world’s most dangerous Man. The Drama stars Jessica Chastain, Chris Pratt, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton and Taylor Kinney,

Watch the Trailer below:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before January 6, 2013. You must also be following on Twitter here.

Alliance Films releases Zero Dark Thirty on Friday, January 11, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Alliance Films)

Alliance Films and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win a Double Pass to see Gus Van Sant‘s (MILK, Good Will Hunting) latest Film, Promised Land. The Screening takes place on Thursday, January 3, 2013 in Toronto. Personally I’ve seen the Film and was really pleasantly surprised!

Promised Land is the new contemporary drama directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk). Matt Damon plays Steve Butler, an ace corporate Salesman who is sent along with his Partner, Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand), to close a key rural town in his company’s expansion plans. With the town having been hit hard by the economic decline of recent years, the two outsiders see the local Citizens as likely to accept their company’s offer, for drilling rights to their properties, as much-needed relief. What seems like an easy job for the duo becomes complicated by the objection of a respected Schoolteacher (Hal Holbrook) with support from a grassroots campaign led by another Man (John Krasinski), as well as the interest of a local Woman (Rosemarie DeWitt). Promised Land explores America at the crossroads where big business and the strength of small-town community converge.

Watch the Trailer below:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before New Year’s Day! You should also be following on Twitter.

Alliance Films releases Promised Land on Friday, January 4, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Alliance Films)