A few years back, some test footage was leaked online, from Where The Wild Things Are. Now, a bit has changed, but the overall feel of the footage seemse to be in line with the recently released masterpiece that was the first trailer. Max's costume is different, the actor has changed, and the main Wild Thing looks a bit differnet, but it's still looks amazing. Hopefully, and allegedly, this is legit.
Go see something good!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
NEWS: Some Disney Updates...
So, ShoWest started this week, and while most major studios pulled anything really big out, there are still really interesting rumblings coming out of Mickey's camp.
First off, and most important, Disney has announced that both Toy Story and Toy Story two will be released on the same day, in 3-D, as a double bill. Starting on October 2nd, you will be able to see both Toy Story and it's sequel in glorious Disney 3-D, all for hopefully a low price. It was originally thought that the two would be seperated by about 4 months, but not only do we get the duo, but the trailer for Toy Story 3 will be released with the double feature.
Second, they have announced that Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland will be released in IMAX 3-D on March 5th of next year.
Third, and most interesting, attendees were shown a complete 3-D reworking of the opening music number from Beauty and The Beast, in preparation for the now announced 3-D rerelease of Beauty and The Beast. Here is what First Showing had to say in regards to this news...
I've got to say, even I was impressed, as it's hard to think of how anyone can turn a hand-drawn 2D animated movie into 3D, but they did it. And they pulled it off. It was absolutely wonderful watching that scene play out and seeing the lush 2D drawings come to life. I'm not normally a guy to say 3D really looks that good, but this time it did, and I will be happy to revisit Beauty and the Beast again in 3D next year.
I love BatB, and I too am more than willing to revisit it.
Come back later for more news and notes...
Go see something good!
First off, and most important, Disney has announced that both Toy Story and Toy Story two will be released on the same day, in 3-D, as a double bill. Starting on October 2nd, you will be able to see both Toy Story and it's sequel in glorious Disney 3-D, all for hopefully a low price. It was originally thought that the two would be seperated by about 4 months, but not only do we get the duo, but the trailer for Toy Story 3 will be released with the double feature.
Second, they have announced that Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland will be released in IMAX 3-D on March 5th of next year.
Third, and most interesting, attendees were shown a complete 3-D reworking of the opening music number from Beauty and The Beast, in preparation for the now announced 3-D rerelease of Beauty and The Beast. Here is what First Showing had to say in regards to this news...
I've got to say, even I was impressed, as it's hard to think of how anyone can turn a hand-drawn 2D animated movie into 3D, but they did it. And they pulled it off. It was absolutely wonderful watching that scene play out and seeing the lush 2D drawings come to life. I'm not normally a guy to say 3D really looks that good, but this time it did, and I will be happy to revisit Beauty and the Beast again in 3D next year.
I love BatB, and I too am more than willing to revisit it.
Come back later for more news and notes...
Go see something good!
POSTER: Drag Me To Hell...
Wow, this poster kicks ass a million different ways. ShockTillYouDrop has premiered the first poster for Sam Raimi's new horror film, Drag Me To Hell, and it looks really great, and features one hell of a tag line.
Here's the synopsis for Drag Me To Hell...
A loan officer (Alison Lohman) ordered to evict an old woman (Lorna Raver) from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse, who turns her life into a living hell. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.
Drag Me to Hell is co-written and directed by Sam Raimi, of everything from Evil Dead to Army of Darkness to Darkman to all three Spider-Man movies. The script was written by Sam and his brother Ivan Raimi, who has helped him before on the scripts for Darkman, Army of Darkness, and Spider-Man 3. Universal will be releasing Drag Me to Hell in theaters everywhere on May 29th this summer.
Not only did the trailer look really funny and pretty damn great, but the crew is exciting, and now we have this poster to get us hyped until May 29th when the film hits theatres.
Go see something good!
Here's the synopsis for Drag Me To Hell...
A loan officer (Alison Lohman) ordered to evict an old woman (Lorna Raver) from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse, who turns her life into a living hell. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.
Drag Me to Hell is co-written and directed by Sam Raimi, of everything from Evil Dead to Army of Darkness to Darkman to all three Spider-Man movies. The script was written by Sam and his brother Ivan Raimi, who has helped him before on the scripts for Darkman, Army of Darkness, and Spider-Man 3. Universal will be releasing Drag Me to Hell in theaters everywhere on May 29th this summer.
Not only did the trailer look really funny and pretty damn great, but the crew is exciting, and now we have this poster to get us hyped until May 29th when the film hits theatres.
Go see something good!
Monday, March 30, 2009
NEWS: Eastern Promises to Get a Sequel...
Yes, it's true, no director is afraid of making a sequel to one of his films. However, this, is not out of the realm of true awesomeness. Geek Tyrant reports that David Cronenberg is in the process of working out a sequel to his 2007 hit, Eastern Promises.
There be spoilers coming...proceed at your own risk. However, if you haven't seen Eastern Promises, than you shouldn't be reading this, as it is taking time away from you driving to your local video store and renting it.
If you remember at trhe end of the movie Viggo Mortensens characters turns a under cover British Agent. This is what will set up the next film, Cronenberg want’s to tell more stories about this character.
“We are moving forward with it. We all are excited about the idea of doing a sequel.”
Yes, they are all excited! All includes Viggo Mortensen, writer Steven Knight, producer Paul Webster and the studio, Focus.
“I have some very strong ideas about what I would like to see, but I would like to hear what they have to say as well.”
Cronenberg has not made a sequel to a film yet so this would be his first.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever been in a situation where I actually want to do a sequel to something…But in this case, I thought we had unfinished business with those characters. I didn’t feel that we had finished with Nikolai and we had done a lot of research that was more than we could stuff into that one movie.”
Now, this is the difference between a sequel that has potential, and one that doesn't. The difference between this film and say, Mulan 2, is that this looks like all the components are going to be back. Director, cast, crew, and hopefully quality will all be coming back for EP2. More news on this really interesting story as it comes!
Go see something good!
NEWS: Bruno Gets NC-17 Rating...
So, this news really comes as no surprise, at least to me. Sharon Waxman has reported that the destroyers of creativity, The MPAA, have decided to place the dreaded NC-17 rating on the first cut of Sacha Baron Cohen's next film, Bruno.
Universal’s ”Bruno,” the widely anticipated Sacha Baron Cohen docu-comedy opening in July, has been slapped with an NC-17 rating on its first submission to the Motion Picture Association of America because of numerous sexual scenes that the ratings board considers over the line, according to the studio releasing the film.
Among the objectionable scenes is one in which Bruno -- a gay Austrian fashionista played by Baron Cohen -- appears to have anal sex with a man on camera. In another, the actor goes on a hunting trip and sneaks naked into the tent of one of the fellow hunters, an unsuspecting non-actor.
A Universal spokesman confirmed the rating on Sunday, saying: "On its first submission the film did not receive an R but it is far too early to say that there is any struggle to get there as the process is only at its inception.”
Now, I'm not opposed to studios cutting films to get a specific rating, say from an R to a PG-13. However, the idea of a studio cutting a film from NC-17 to an R, kinda feels a bit weird, for a few reasons.
First off, the budget for Bruno is not large. 20-25$ million is what was reported early on in the start of production, and even if it ups a bit, it's not to much. Hell, Borat cost 18 million, and grossed 128$ million. For a small budget, from a big studio anyways, there would be little to no loss. The only difference between the rating is that if a film is an NC-17 rated film, then no one under 17 can be admitted, where as an R rated film can be seen by anyone, with a guardian (don't even get me started on parents who bring their kids to see R rated films like Last House On The Left). Also, it takes away the films overall creativity. If a film is cut due to time, then you can mess around with what to cut, but being cut for content seems to always leave a wierd film on the screen. Take Lust, Caution for example. That was the last film of note to be released with an NC-17 cut, and it faired well, not like gangbusters, but it wasn't a bomb either.
That said, there are monster problems with an NC-17 Rating. Most influential is the lack of any promotion by mass media. With an NC-17 film, you can't release tv spots, mainstream print ads, or really any trailers that will be seen by the mass public, ones that would need to know that this film is being released.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I see both aspects of this cut. What do YOU think?
Go see something good!
Universal’s ”Bruno,” the widely anticipated Sacha Baron Cohen docu-comedy opening in July, has been slapped with an NC-17 rating on its first submission to the Motion Picture Association of America because of numerous sexual scenes that the ratings board considers over the line, according to the studio releasing the film.
Among the objectionable scenes is one in which Bruno -- a gay Austrian fashionista played by Baron Cohen -- appears to have anal sex with a man on camera. In another, the actor goes on a hunting trip and sneaks naked into the tent of one of the fellow hunters, an unsuspecting non-actor.
A Universal spokesman confirmed the rating on Sunday, saying: "On its first submission the film did not receive an R but it is far too early to say that there is any struggle to get there as the process is only at its inception.”
Now, I'm not opposed to studios cutting films to get a specific rating, say from an R to a PG-13. However, the idea of a studio cutting a film from NC-17 to an R, kinda feels a bit weird, for a few reasons.
First off, the budget for Bruno is not large. 20-25$ million is what was reported early on in the start of production, and even if it ups a bit, it's not to much. Hell, Borat cost 18 million, and grossed 128$ million. For a small budget, from a big studio anyways, there would be little to no loss. The only difference between the rating is that if a film is an NC-17 rated film, then no one under 17 can be admitted, where as an R rated film can be seen by anyone, with a guardian (don't even get me started on parents who bring their kids to see R rated films like Last House On The Left). Also, it takes away the films overall creativity. If a film is cut due to time, then you can mess around with what to cut, but being cut for content seems to always leave a wierd film on the screen. Take Lust, Caution for example. That was the last film of note to be released with an NC-17 cut, and it faired well, not like gangbusters, but it wasn't a bomb either.
That said, there are monster problems with an NC-17 Rating. Most influential is the lack of any promotion by mass media. With an NC-17 film, you can't release tv spots, mainstream print ads, or really any trailers that will be seen by the mass public, ones that would need to know that this film is being released.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I see both aspects of this cut. What do YOU think?
Go see something good!
FORUM: What Price Are You Willing To Pay For 3-D...
This last weekend saw the release of a big time animated film, Monsters vs. Aliens. Not only did the cast bring in the 58.6 million bucks that it's opening weekend had, it had a little bump from the animations best friend, 3-D. However, your 12$ ticket for a 3-D film may be bumped up a little bit.
Back in December, a summit was held for people in the world of 3-D film-making and animation. While I didn't bother to report on this news the day it was reported in Variety, I think that this film, along with a discussion brought up by First Showing, I think it's interesting to note.
One of the keynote speakers at the summit was Jeffery Katzenberg of Dreamworks Animation. During his speech, he brought up just how much 3-D will cost you and me.
DreamWorks Animation's Jeffrey Katzenberg, a consistent evangelist for 3-D, kicked off the event with a morning keynote and conversation with event organizer Bob Dowling. Katzenberg said no innovation in decades has had greater possibilities for enhancing movies.
The format "offers a premium experience and has the consumer paying a premium price," said Katzenberg, adding that he expects DreamWorks Animation to charge a $5 premium for 3-D on its releases, beginning with "Monsters vs. Aliens" in 2009.
So, what are you willing to pay for 3-D? I think that my opinion is based on two things. One, how the 3-D is used. If it's simply the gimmick style, where things are popping out at you and you get a feel that the filmmaker simply placed the film around the 3-D style, it's not something I want to see. If you have a more "window" style, where the frame gets a stark sense of depth and feel, allowing for a more immersing experience, then I will pay a little bit more for my ticket. It's like how people who have been talking about seeing Pixar's Up and that films use of the 3-D technology.
Second, the films have to be very good, or allow for a fun film going experience. Look at My Bloody Valentine. That is an awful film, horribly acted, terribly directed, but when you see that film in 3-D, while it may be a more gimmick filled film, if you are with a group of friends, you have one hell of a fun time. Then you have great films like Coraline, where not only is it a window style of film, but is a truly great piece of cinema, that I could support a bit of an increase in ticket prices.
So, that gets me to my question. How much are YOU willing to pay for 3-D? What are your thoughts on the format? Gimmick or a revolution? Annoying or something that will bring you back to the theatre?
Go see something good!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
TOP 10: Action Films from 2000 to Today...
So, this week sees the release of a new action film, Fast And Furious. While the subsequent sequels have sucked, I have a soft spot in my heart for the original Fast and the Furious film. It's brainless, but when I turn on the tv and am in my pj's on a rainy Sunday afternoon, and see that that is on, I may just stop for a couple of scenes and get lost in the nos fueled world that is FatF. Sure, it's not a great film, but these ten are. These are the ten best action films from the this part of the decade.
10. 28 Days Later
9. Iron Man
8. District 13
7. Kill Bill Vol. 1
6. Spiderman 2
5. Crank
4. Casino Royale
3. The Dark Knight
2. The Bourne Ultimatum
1. X-2 (Simply for that opening fight scene. Brilliant)
What is YOUR favorite action film from the last 8 1/4th years??
Go see something good!
10. 28 Days Later
9. Iron Man
8. District 13
7. Kill Bill Vol. 1
6. Spiderman 2
5. Crank
4. Casino Royale
3. The Dark Knight
2. The Bourne Ultimatum
1. X-2 (Simply for that opening fight scene. Brilliant)
What is YOUR favorite action film from the last 8 1/4th years??
Go see something good!
POSTER: Sherlock Holmes...
So, Showest stars on Monday in Las Vegas, and while not much news, if any, will come out of this normally large show, there is one piece of news that has hit the web before the show even started. Here is Latino Reviews low def. version of the teaser poster for Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr. and directed by Guy Ritchie...
Go see something good!
Go see something good!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
REVIEW: Last House On The Left...
I love horror films. There may not be a more interesting or entertaining genre of film. Sure, film noir is my favorite genre, but horror, there is just something about good, frightening horror films that I dig. However, modern horror sucks. From Saw to Hostel, we've exchanged horror for porn.
Porn, as defined by Websters: the depiction of acts in a sensational manner so as to arouse a quick intense emotional reaction
This, unfortunately, is where Last House On The Left falls.
After kidnapping and brutally assaulting two young women, a gang led by a prison escapee unknowingly finds refuge at a vacation home belonging the parents of one of the victims -- a mother and father who devise an increasingly gruesome series of revenge tactics. That's about as deep as this shallow, gorno film goes.
The biggest difference between solid, truly frightening horror, and what we have today, is the lack of purpose. In Last House, there are some of the most grotesque and truly disturbing depictions of violence, that it's truly one of the most intense and emotionally destroying films I've seen in a long time. However, it's handled really poorly. There is a moment, during a soon to be infamous scene, where the camera goes off of the action, by pulling back away from the heinous act. However, Dennis Iliadis, a rookie director, doesn't know when to cut, so he goes right back into the middle of the act.
Normally, I'm not one to say that something isn't worth seeing due to a disturbing scene or scenes, but this film is one that forces me to come out on that end. The end of this film, while it is fun and entertaining, lacks any emotional depth, that it's just there to get a rise out of the viewer. Sure, that's what horror does, but instead of messing with us psychologically like a film such as Funny Games does, this one just delves in the depths of films like the aforementioned Saw. The torture is there, but without any real purpose.
Yes, there are a couple of positives, mainly from the mother and father. Not only do they give some reality and depth to what could be simple, cardboard characters, but their decent into madness is really stunning. When the couple takes their first life, a simple shot of the fathers face as the deed is happening is really shocking. You see him go from simply protecting his daughter, to wanting this man to die, all simply from a look on the face. The mother is equally as good.
That, however, is where the positives stop. The film is cliche visually, the score, while subdued, is standard, and there is no reason for this film to exist. The original film from '72 was so heavily influential on today's films, particularly those from Alexandre Aja, like High Tension (a vastly superior film that treads similar ground), yet to have that as your base, makes this remake all the more disappointing. Go rent the original. Never see this film.
LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT - 1/10
Sorry for the short review, but really, I don't want to talk about it anymore. Just skip this film.
Go see something good...
Friday, March 27, 2009
PHOTO: First Look At "The Rum Diary"...
Looks like the weekends can bring us some news. In this nights 11th hour, Pop Sugar has graced us all with the first photo from the set of The Rum Diary, starring the subject of the photo, Johnny Depp. Enjoy!
Here's the synopsis for The Rum Diary!
Based on Hunter S. Thompson's novel of the same name, The Rum Diary follows Depp as Paul Kemp, a divorced alcoholic and struggling novelist who decides to kick around in San Juan until his ship comes in, working as a journalist for a newspaper that's on its last legs, drinking gallons of rum and experimenting with LSD. With his new friend Bob Sala by his side, Kemp becomes entangled in a corrupt hotel development scheme with a slick PR consultant named Sanderson. Amber Heard, Aaron Eckhart, Richard Jenkins, and Michael Rispoli also star in this. Stay tuned for more updates on The Rum Diary.
Come back later for more news and notes!
Go see something good!!
Here's the synopsis for The Rum Diary!
Based on Hunter S. Thompson's novel of the same name, The Rum Diary follows Depp as Paul Kemp, a divorced alcoholic and struggling novelist who decides to kick around in San Juan until his ship comes in, working as a journalist for a newspaper that's on its last legs, drinking gallons of rum and experimenting with LSD. With his new friend Bob Sala by his side, Kemp becomes entangled in a corrupt hotel development scheme with a slick PR consultant named Sanderson. Amber Heard, Aaron Eckhart, Richard Jenkins, and Michael Rispoli also star in this. Stay tuned for more updates on The Rum Diary.
Come back later for more news and notes!
Go see something good!!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
TRAILER: Taking Woodstock...
So, the trailer for Ang Lee's new film, Taking Woodstock, premeired last night during Important Things With Demitri Martin, and yout can check it out below!
Here's the synopsis...
Based on Elliot Tiber’s memior, Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life, the comedy tells the story of Mr. Tiber, who played an unexpected but pivotal role in making the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the famed happening it was.
I like the trailer, but it's just not insanely effective. I love the cast, Ang Lee is great, and I love his naturalistic style and feel, so, while looking great, I think I need to see a bit more. Or, I should probably watch the trailer with the sound on. (I'm in class, give me a break).
Go see something good!
Here's the synopsis...
Based on Elliot Tiber’s memior, Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life, the comedy tells the story of Mr. Tiber, who played an unexpected but pivotal role in making the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the famed happening it was.
I like the trailer, but it's just not insanely effective. I love the cast, Ang Lee is great, and I love his naturalistic style and feel, so, while looking great, I think I need to see a bit more. Or, I should probably watch the trailer with the sound on. (I'm in class, give me a break).
Go see something good!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
WTF?: Three Stooges Casting...
I don't really even know what to say after hearing this. I'll let /Film do it...
Casting is finally being announced for the Farrelly Brothers‘ The Three Stooges, and the only real surprise is that Jim Carrey is in talks to play Curly. Carrey is planning to gain 40 pounds for the role so that he can more closely match the physical look of Jerome “Curly” Howard. Sean Penn is set to play Larry, and Benicio Del Toro is currently in talks to play Moe, but both of those names have been reported on the site previously. Even Jim Carrey had been rumored to be involved at some previous point of time. The movie is not a biopic, but a comedy that follows the antics of the trio. I’ve heard the script is split into four chapters and is kinda episodic, with the trio breaking up and going their own separate ways.
So, here it is. Carrey, Penn, and Del Toro are set to take on the roles of Culrly, Larry, and Moe respectivley. Not a biopic, the film will simply follow the trio. I think this could kinda work, but while I think he's a great actor, I don't think Del Toro really fits. That's just me. The cast works, it's just a wierd mix.
What do YOU think?
Go see something good!
Casting is finally being announced for the Farrelly Brothers‘ The Three Stooges, and the only real surprise is that Jim Carrey is in talks to play Curly. Carrey is planning to gain 40 pounds for the role so that he can more closely match the physical look of Jerome “Curly” Howard. Sean Penn is set to play Larry, and Benicio Del Toro is currently in talks to play Moe, but both of those names have been reported on the site previously. Even Jim Carrey had been rumored to be involved at some previous point of time. The movie is not a biopic, but a comedy that follows the antics of the trio. I’ve heard the script is split into four chapters and is kinda episodic, with the trio breaking up and going their own separate ways.
So, here it is. Carrey, Penn, and Del Toro are set to take on the roles of Culrly, Larry, and Moe respectivley. Not a biopic, the film will simply follow the trio. I think this could kinda work, but while I think he's a great actor, I don't think Del Toro really fits. That's just me. The cast works, it's just a wierd mix.
What do YOU think?
Go see something good!
TRAILER: Game Italian Trailer...
So, along with Where The Wild Things Are, another new trailer has been released, albeit in Italian. It's the first trailer for Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the duo who brought us Crank and now Crank 2, and their new film, Game. It stars Gerard Butler and looks like one hell of a crazy action film. It is also technically interesting, as it is shot on the new Red Camera, a new digital style camera, that allows for a really interesting visual style. Check out the trailer below!
Here is the basic premise...
The story takes place “in the not too distant future.” Kabel (Gerard Butler), a death row inmate, has unwittingly become a pop culture hero. Every week, millions worldwide tune in online to watch him and hundreds of other convicts battle in Slayers, an ultra-violent multi-player online game invented by technological genius Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall). To the wealthy young gamer who controls his every move, Kable is just a sim (simulation) character. To the resistance group that opposes Castle’s games as high-tech slavery, he is a critical element in their battle to take down the inventor. Caught in the crosshairs of two opposing forces and under the command of a teenager’s remote device, Kable must use his extraordinary fighting skills to escape the game, bring down Castle and overthrow the system.
Go see something good!
Here is the basic premise...
The story takes place “in the not too distant future.” Kabel (Gerard Butler), a death row inmate, has unwittingly become a pop culture hero. Every week, millions worldwide tune in online to watch him and hundreds of other convicts battle in Slayers, an ultra-violent multi-player online game invented by technological genius Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall). To the wealthy young gamer who controls his every move, Kable is just a sim (simulation) character. To the resistance group that opposes Castle’s games as high-tech slavery, he is a critical element in their battle to take down the inventor. Caught in the crosshairs of two opposing forces and under the command of a teenager’s remote device, Kable must use his extraordinary fighting skills to escape the game, bring down Castle and overthrow the system.
Go see something good!
TRAILER: Where The Wild Things Are...
Ummm, I really can't think of any words to describe just how good this film looks. Gorgeous, stunning, beautiful, magical, brilliant are not really strong enough terms. Check it out below!
That, faithful readers, is why this was my most anticipated film of '09. Check it out when it hits theatres in October...
Go see something good!
That, faithful readers, is why this was my most anticipated film of '09. Check it out when it hits theatres in October...
Go see something good!
NEWS: Stuff I Missed...
So, I've missed some things, and that's why this post is here. Here are your headlines for Wednesday, March 25th...
- Tom Hanks has been cast as Major Matt Mason in the upcoming adaptation of the Mattel action figure, with Speed scribe, Graham Yost, set to pen the script...
- Freida Pinto, the stunningly beautiful young co-star of last years overrated hit, Slumdog Millionaire, has been cast in Julian Schnabel's upcoming film, Miral...
- Disney is bringing Hayao Miyazaki's new film, Ponyo On The Cliff, to the states on August 14th...
- There have been two high profile drop outs this week...Amanda Seyfried has left the all female cast, or at least lead cast, of Zack Snyder's next film, Sucker Punch. Also, Zac Efron has left the remake of Footloose...
- A director has been hired for Eli Roth's upcoming exorcism, documentary style film, Cotton. Daniel Stamm will be taking the helm of the Roth produced film about an evangelical minister who turns against religion and decides to participate in a documentary in which he practices his last exorcism...
- Dennis Quaid has been cast as Bill Clinton in Frost/Nixon playwright, Peter Morgan's directorial debut, The Special Relationship, for HBO...
- There is allegedly a test screening of Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox later this week, so once someone posts their thoughts, I will let you know...
- After the recent flaming that Magnet has recieved over the butchering of subtitles for Let The Right One In, they will be rereleasing the film! However, no exchanges will be made. Here is their statement...
“We’ve been made aware that there are several fans that don’t like the version of the subtitles on the DVD/BR. We had an alternate translation that we went with. Obviously a lot of fans thought we should have stuck with the original theatrical version. We are listening to the fans feedback, and going forward we will be manufacturing the discs with the subtitles from the theatrical version.”
That's it! Come back later for more news and notes!
Go see something good!
- Tom Hanks has been cast as Major Matt Mason in the upcoming adaptation of the Mattel action figure, with Speed scribe, Graham Yost, set to pen the script...
- Freida Pinto, the stunningly beautiful young co-star of last years overrated hit, Slumdog Millionaire, has been cast in Julian Schnabel's upcoming film, Miral...
- Disney is bringing Hayao Miyazaki's new film, Ponyo On The Cliff, to the states on August 14th...
- There have been two high profile drop outs this week...Amanda Seyfried has left the all female cast, or at least lead cast, of Zack Snyder's next film, Sucker Punch. Also, Zac Efron has left the remake of Footloose...
- A director has been hired for Eli Roth's upcoming exorcism, documentary style film, Cotton. Daniel Stamm will be taking the helm of the Roth produced film about an evangelical minister who turns against religion and decides to participate in a documentary in which he practices his last exorcism...
- Dennis Quaid has been cast as Bill Clinton in Frost/Nixon playwright, Peter Morgan's directorial debut, The Special Relationship, for HBO...
- There is allegedly a test screening of Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox later this week, so once someone posts their thoughts, I will let you know...
- After the recent flaming that Magnet has recieved over the butchering of subtitles for Let The Right One In, they will be rereleasing the film! However, no exchanges will be made. Here is their statement...
“We’ve been made aware that there are several fans that don’t like the version of the subtitles on the DVD/BR. We had an alternate translation that we went with. Obviously a lot of fans thought we should have stuck with the original theatrical version. We are listening to the fans feedback, and going forward we will be manufacturing the discs with the subtitles from the theatrical version.”
That's it! Come back later for more news and notes!
Go see something good!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
REVIEW: Tales Of The Black Freighter...
So, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the best film I have seen so far this year, is Watchmen. It's a brilliant existential masterpiece, and just gets better on multiple screenings. However, the theatrical cut is not what Snyder originally wanted. There is one certain piece of the graphic novel that was originally in the film, but when the cut was rounding out at a robust 3 hours and 10 minutes, it was cut out. That piece of the novel is the comic-within-a-comic, Tales of The Black Freighter.
Voiced by 300 star Gerard Butler, Tales of The Black Freighter is a fictional comic book that runs as a side bar in the graphic novel of Watchmen. The issue that is read is called "Marooned". "Marooned" tells the story of a young mariner's journey to warn his home town of the coming of the Black Freighter after he survives the destruction of his own ship. He uses the bodies of his dead shipmates as a make-shift raft. When he finally returns home, believing it to be already under the occupation of the Black Freighter's crew, he kills an innocent couple and then attacks his own wife in their darkened home, mistaking her for a pirate. After realizing what he has done, he returns to the sea shore, where he finds that the Black Freighter has not come to claim the town; it has come to claim him. He swims out to sea and climbs aboard the ship.
Now, this film clocks in at a brisk 28 minutes, and comes packaged with another story from Watchmen, the autobiography written by Night Owl I, Hollis Mason, called Under The Hood. The most interesting thing about this short is the way that it runs as a parrallel to Watchmen, particularly the tale of Adrian Veidt, Ozymandias. The mariner in Tales is forced by outside circumstances to not only lose inhibitations throughout the tale, but also must use the bodies of dead humans to try and reach his goal. It delves into what happens as a person decends into madness, and although it's only 28 minutes, and not much character development is made, it's still an interesting watch. It's about a man who, in order to bring peace to his world, he slowly becomes more and more a monster.
Another thing that really surprised me was the sheer intesity of the short. It's very bloody, just like the comic in Watchmen, and much more intese than I remember the comic being. Within Watchmen, the comic, while interesting, sort of slows down the story, at least on a first read. As you read it more and more times, you are able to truly see how heavy the story is, and yet here, you get the heaviness not only in the story, but visually as well.
That all said, there really is no need to purchase this thing. It's 17$, and outside of Tales, Hood is pretty boring, but good, and yeah you get a preview of the new Green Lantern animated film, but even that is kinda bad. It's a great short, but instead of shelling out money now, wait for the Ultimate Watchmen release, and even if it's 30 dollars, it's better than shelling out 20 bucks twice. Rent it.
TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER - 8/10
Go see something good!
REVIEW: Let The Right One In...
I often times feel a deep hatred for the city known as Grand Rapids and the surrounding area. The main reason behind this is the fact that we don't have a truly great independent theatre. Yes, there is an arthouse theatre downtown, but it only has one, maybe two films showing. However, when we get films like Let The Right One In, which was here late in 2008, and now on DVD, it makes me feel a whole lot better.
Let The Right One In is a story about Oskar, a bullied 12-year old, who dreams of revenge. He falls in love with Eli, a peculiar girl. She can't stand the sun or food and to come into a room she needs to be invited. Eli gives Oskar the strength to hit back but when he realizes that Eli needs to drink other people's blood to live he's faced with a choice. How much can love forgive? Let The Right One In is a story both violent and highly romantic, set in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg in 1982.
First off, there are two stark comparisons that can be made to this film. First off, the one that I don't know about. The biggest comparison to this film happens to be one of the biggest films from last year, Twilight. Vampires, love, longing, all big features of the Twilight phenominon, are big plot points here. Another comparison, one I can talk to, is the biggest film from last year, Slumdog Millionaire, and oh how this film is superior to both of those.
The biggest thing about LtRoi is the cast. Starring two very young actors, Kare Hedebrant as Oskar and Lina Leandersson as Eli, are so stunningly great here. Tomas Alfredson is able to get so much out of the two leads that you can't but help and fall in love and truly care for these two characters. Their relationship is so relateable, even with the vampire aspect, that the whole vampire thing doesn't really even seem to play into it. It's about a first crush, love that is unattainable. The film is truly about how much love is able to forgive, and not about vampires.
That is something, and I know this is a strained comparison, that Slumdog was unable to do for me. For me, Millionaire came off as a truly Hollywood romance, set within a world where a set of questions on a game show are given to a kid in chronological order of his life (because Americans are to dumb to get a disjointed narative). Or in Twilight, the two can't be together because the vampire would eat the human, yet they still are together. Here however, their love has true consiquences, and it feels so true, coming from the great performances, and real, that it makes this film so much more rewarding.
The film is also absolutley stunning to look at. It's set during the winter in '80's Sweden, and the way that the snow gives off a feel of natural light, and the coldness within the frame had me shivering under my Watchmen blanket. The score is subtle, and the film is so grounded within realtiy, that it almost seems like how the current Batman is done. Sure, there are supernatural elements within the film and story, but they are set in a true world, that it gives off a weird and really interesting vibe, that makes getting into the story so much more rewarding.
Oh, and it's not all a love story. There are a ton of badass scenes within this film. If you want to see vampires spontaneously combust instead of turning into diamonds when they are subjected to light, then check this one out. It's not only that the films are badass just for being badass, the film completely earns each of these scenes, that while some are wasted, this may be the most economical films since Red Eye. Very few scenes are for nothing in this film, and it makes for a great experience.
Finally, covering all aspects, this film has a lot of humor as well. Sure, it's very dark, but if you watch this film with the dubbing on instead of subtitles (US release has different, butchered, subtitles), you will get a lot more out of it. Oh, and this ending is so strong that it just left me loving this film.
Yeah, this is a short review, but it's so you have more time to see this amazing film.
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN: 9/10
Come back later for more news and notes!
Go see something good!
Monday, March 23, 2009
NEWS: Coens Remaking True Grit...
There are some projects that are just doomed from the start. All Will Ferrel films, all parody films, films directed by Uwe Bol. However, there are some projects that are so perfect, that they make you believe in fate. This, faithful readers, is one of those. Variety is reporting that The Coen Brothers are set to remake the John Wayne vehicle, True Grit, based on the Charles Portis novel...
Portis’ novel is about a 14-year-old girl who, along with an aging U.S. marshal and another lawman, tracks her father’s killer in hostile Indian territory.
But while the original film was a showcase for Wayne, the Coens’ version will tell the tale from the girl’s p.o.v.
Pic will be their first period Oater.
Project reteams the brothers with Scott Rudin, their partner on the Oscar-winning “No Country for Old Men.” The Coens wrote the screenplay.
The film is in development for Paramount Pictures, probably Paramount Vantage, and this features one hell of a pitch. All you need to do to sell this film is say this; Coen Brothers directed period Western.
The Coen's just finished a new film, "A Serious Man", for Focus Features, and more news on that as it comes out...
Go see something good!
PHOTOS: Where The Wild Things Are...
So, Warner Brothers has released a group of new photos from Spike Jonez's upcoming film, Where The Wild Things Are, via USA Today. Also, a few interesting notes came out of the article...
The film expands on “Max’s home life that shed light on why he felt the need to run off to a magical place.”
The only words in the teaser trailer (attached to Monsters vs. Aliens) is one single line spoken by the Wild Thing called Carol (seen above), voiced by James Galdofini, welcoming Max to the new world: “I didn’t want to wake you up. But I really want to show you something.”
Though the Wild Things are nameless in the book, Jonze decided who was who based on their personalities.
Other cast members include: Catherine O’Hara, who voices the Wild Thing with the rhino horn named Judith, Forest Whitaker, who voices the Wild Thing with the big nose, Lauren Ambrose who voices the Wild Thing named KW (shown after the jump in the face to face shot), Chris Cooper who voices Douglas the chicken and Paul Dano who voices Alexander the goat.
More photos can be seen AT THIS LINK...
Come back later for more news and notes...
Go see something good!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
TRAILER: Goemon...
All I can say about this trailer is wow...simply wow...
This is the full length trailer for the second film from visionary director Kazuaki Kiriya, who only has Casshern under his belt. This film looks kind of like a more polished and sharp Speed Racer mixed with one hell of a badass action film. The film hits theatres in Japan in May, and rumor has it that WB has interest in bringing it stateside, so heres to hoping we see this film outside of our local rental shops...
Go see something good!
This is the full length trailer for the second film from visionary director Kazuaki Kiriya, who only has Casshern under his belt. This film looks kind of like a more polished and sharp Speed Racer mixed with one hell of a badass action film. The film hits theatres in Japan in May, and rumor has it that WB has interest in bringing it stateside, so heres to hoping we see this film outside of our local rental shops...
Go see something good!
NEWS: Singer's Next Project Is...?
There has been little news to report this weekend, but there is one story that I think has gone under reported...
EW reports...
After the success of Taken and Gran Torino, Hollywood has been on a vigilante kick. And right now, Bryan Singer (along with studio execs all over town) has been seriously considering getting his revenge on with The Prisoners, a much-sought-after thriller script to which Mark Wahlberg is attached to star as a Boston dad who takes the law into his own hands when his young daughter is kidnapped. The screenplay, which has been compared to The Silence of the Lambs and Seven, has been buzzed about as a calling card for its unknown writer, Aaron Guzikowski, and as a rare project targeted at adult audiences but with real commercial potential. When asked whether The Prisoners will be his next movie, Singer told EW: "I don't know yet. But I'm definitely intrigued. It's a great script. And I'd love to work with Mark."
Besides the horribly cliche frame of Silence of the Lambs and Se7en, the big news may not have to do with what he is doing, but what he ISN'T instead.
About 3 months ago, the working title for the Superman Returns sequel was released via the Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures website. Superman Unleashed was called a sequel, and it was assumed that Singer would come back. However, along with Joel Silver's Logan's Run and Technolody vs. Horse, two films he's also allegedly attatched to, it looks like Singer may not end up getting to it.
So here's the deal. Who SHOULD take the helm of the Superman franchise? Should it be rebooted or just have a sequel? What do you think of the franchise/Superman Returns?
Go see something good!
EW reports...
After the success of Taken and Gran Torino, Hollywood has been on a vigilante kick. And right now, Bryan Singer (along with studio execs all over town) has been seriously considering getting his revenge on with The Prisoners, a much-sought-after thriller script to which Mark Wahlberg is attached to star as a Boston dad who takes the law into his own hands when his young daughter is kidnapped. The screenplay, which has been compared to The Silence of the Lambs and Seven, has been buzzed about as a calling card for its unknown writer, Aaron Guzikowski, and as a rare project targeted at adult audiences but with real commercial potential. When asked whether The Prisoners will be his next movie, Singer told EW: "I don't know yet. But I'm definitely intrigued. It's a great script. And I'd love to work with Mark."
Besides the horribly cliche frame of Silence of the Lambs and Se7en, the big news may not have to do with what he is doing, but what he ISN'T instead.
About 3 months ago, the working title for the Superman Returns sequel was released via the Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures website. Superman Unleashed was called a sequel, and it was assumed that Singer would come back. However, along with Joel Silver's Logan's Run and Technolody vs. Horse, two films he's also allegedly attatched to, it looks like Singer may not end up getting to it.
So here's the deal. Who SHOULD take the helm of the Superman franchise? Should it be rebooted or just have a sequel? What do you think of the franchise/Superman Returns?
Go see something good!
REVIEW: Duplicity
Sometimes, movies go overlooked. Two years ago, there was a little film, starring big star George Clooney, called Michael Clayton. It was a stunning little thriller, with great performances, and truly masterful writing and direction. Now, the filmmaker behind this solid little film, is also the man at the helm of Duplicity, and that man is Tony Gilroy. Previously writing for the Bourne films, Gilroy has now made a name for himself as a director, and this is his second theatrical release. Will it be a second notch on his belt? Or throw away cinema like the rest of what is currently out?
Duplicity is a story about two corporate spies (Owen and Roberts) who team up to manipulate a corporate race to corner the market on a medical innovation that will reap huge profits and enable them to lead an extravagant lifestyle together. CIA officer Claire Stenwick (Roberts) and MI6 agent Ray Koval (Owen) have gotten out of the world of government intelligence to cash in on the highly profitable cold war raging between two rival corporations all to secure the formula for a product that will bring a fortune to the company that patents it first.
Now, to start of talking about Duplicity, you have to take on the two monster stars that are at the head of the film. It stars Julia Roberts and Clive Owen, in their first pairing since the brilliant film, Closer, and the work they did there is continued here, just not shoot-yourself-in-the-face depressing. They are both great here, especially Owen, who is the right mixture of flawed and charming, and is his screw you to the people that chose Daniel Craig as Mr. Bond. Roberts is great, and the interchanges between Owen and her are really great.
The supporting cast is also really top notch here. Koval and Stenwick are under the control of two CEOs, Howard Tully and Dick Garsik, played by Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti, and played quite well. Giamati plays a paranoid CEO and I couldn't see anyone play it better. Wilkinson may even be better as the machismo, confident, super businessman, and is almost what his character in Clayton was, pre freak-out.
Recently, there was a New York Times profile on Tony Gilroy. Starting as a writer, most famously for the Bourne films (he will NOT be a part of the 4th, currently in production), Gilroy made his directorial debut with Michael Clayton, and with that films 7 Oscar nods, was thrust straight into the limelight. While Duplicity is a starkly different film, his dialogue, which is so rich and full of language, fits perfectly in this world. The direction is a little bland, but still really fun to watch, and the cinematography by Robert Elswitt is great.
The final thing, the score to this film, done by Dark Knight co-scorer James Newton Howard, is perfect for this film. It's very jazz heavy, extremely percussive, and where some of the plot points sort of slow this awkwardly paced film down, the score comes in and sweeps it back out of the molasses.
The most comparable film to Duplicity is a film from a few years back, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Both feature big stars, romance, and spies, yet where that film delves in the realm of fun, yet cliche action, this strives for a little bit more. It's a strong spy film, yet there is not a single gun drawn. It features a believable romance, and strong performances, as did Smith, yet it has something that film didn't. A brain. The plot is thick, a little to much, but thick, and instead of sticking to lame action set pieces, it takes the fun elements of Smith, and gives it back its brain.
That said, the film is flawed.
The biggest problem with this film is at it's core. The length of this film is really awkward. Clocking in at just over 2 hours, the time itself isn't the problem, it's the films pace. The plot goes between the present day and when the two spies first met, and the shifts from each time period were not really well done. The score kept everything moving, but I found myself checking my phone near the end of the film. It may be a minor quibble to some, but for a film that doesn't have any real action to it, the pace is at the forefront, and nearing the end of the film, it just felt a little haphazard.
That all said, the film is insanely fun, and in a weekend that has a Nic Cage flick and another comedy, please, do yourself a favor, check out Duplicity.
DUPLICITY - 8/10
Go see something good!
Friday, March 20, 2009
NEWS: Stuff I Missed...
So, I've missed some things, and that's why this post is here. Here are your headlines for Friday, March 20th...
- Pixar's Up will be opening the 62nd Cannes Film Festival...
- Time is reporting that James Cameron, director of Titanic and Terminator along with many others, will have his next film, Avatar, which is beeing filmed right now, budgeted at OVER 300 MILLION DOLLARS...Recession what?
- Time is also saying that the film will change your life, so it may all be worth it...
- Peter Segal, director of Get Smart, will be taking over for Jay Roach in the directors chair of the upcoming film, Little Fockers...
- First Showing has the premiere of the new trailer from Summits The House On Sorority Row remake, Sorority Row, and it looks like garbage...
- Check out this new, badass poster for Terminator Salvation...
- First Showing has a new TV Spot for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and it is kind of awesome...
- Variety is reporting that Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman have been cast in a feature film adaptation of Leanne Shapton’s novel Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry for Paramount Pictures.
And thats it! Come back later this weekend for reviews of Duplicity and Knowing, and then early next week, I'll have a review of Last House On The Left...
Go see something good!
- Pixar's Up will be opening the 62nd Cannes Film Festival...
- Time is reporting that James Cameron, director of Titanic and Terminator along with many others, will have his next film, Avatar, which is beeing filmed right now, budgeted at OVER 300 MILLION DOLLARS...Recession what?
- Time is also saying that the film will change your life, so it may all be worth it...
- Peter Segal, director of Get Smart, will be taking over for Jay Roach in the directors chair of the upcoming film, Little Fockers...
- First Showing has the premiere of the new trailer from Summits The House On Sorority Row remake, Sorority Row, and it looks like garbage...
- Check out this new, badass poster for Terminator Salvation...
- First Showing has a new TV Spot for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and it is kind of awesome...
- Variety is reporting that Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman have been cast in a feature film adaptation of Leanne Shapton’s novel Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry for Paramount Pictures.
And thats it! Come back later this weekend for reviews of Duplicity and Knowing, and then early next week, I'll have a review of Last House On The Left...
Go see something good!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
REPOST: Why American Horror Sucks...
**THIS IS A REPOST OF SOMETHING I POSTED BACK IN DECEMBER, AND WITH SOME NEW HIT HORROR FILMS, I THOUGHT THIS COULD BE A FUN POST TO GET SOME DISCUSSION GOING**
Foreign films are not a bad thing. Over the past couple of weeks, a few remakes were announced, or semi-announced, based off of Asian horror/thriller/monster flicks. First, we have the Korean Monster film, The Host, which is set to be remade, along with a remake of the brilliant Asian thriller, Oldboy, which is rumored to be helmed by Steven Speilberg, and star Will Smith. While the latter is not going to be a straight remake, it started me thinking, what are a few things that we as American filmgoers are afraid of. The two things I came out with, were gay cowboys, and subtitles. Now, hopefully the public will realize that Brokeback Mountain was a great film, but that's not what I'm here to talk about, I am here to tell you all that subtitles are not a scary thing.
In the United States, we are graced with brilliant films such as Hostel 2 and Saw 55340934. Now, sarcasm aside, there is no doubt that these films hit the right spot for people, looking for a good scare. However, they don't fit that bill, when you take a good look at them. David Cronenberg, the God of disturbing gore, once said that "what makes a true horror film terryfiying, is the strong sense of sympathy for the main character". It's a basic premise. You have a main character, thrust into some sort of problem, and you feel a strong sense of sympathy for the said character. Yet, neither of these films do this.
The true deathblow to American horror, may be seen in the third film in the Saw series. The first two films in that Halloween staple had the aforementioned sense of sympathy. The two men shackled at the ankles, simply looking to escape, or the father who really just wants to see his child one more time, to tell him just how much he loves him. Not only that, but the films were somewhat fresh. No one, and I mean no one saw the twist of the first film coming, and the second one, arguably, upped the twist level to an M. Night high. The style was fresh, the idea was smart and interesting, and the visual flares, particularly in the first film, were well made.
Yet, the series continued, and fell into the hands of Darren Bousman. Now you have a film series, looking for actresses in a VH1 game show, and holding back American horror cinema. Another recent piece of news that started me thinking about this, was the announcement that it looks as though Rob Zombie is going to ride his flame blood laden metal horse to save the day that is the sequel to his Halloween remake. The reason American horror films are lacking, is the epitome of that film.
Take the original Halloween for example. At one point, this brilliant horror staple was the most profitable independent film release, ever, and for good reason. It has great, if insanely basic story, along with a classic villain, and did one thing modern horror films don't even dream of attempting. The film is scary, without shedding one drop, if any, of blood. Yet you have the modern Halloween, and with that comes the abusive parents, the horrible home life, and the therapy, all accounting for probably one of the most uncalled for back stories in film. Along with the cliche back-story, came the Michael Winterbottom meets a mud fight visuals, the grainy film stock, and the Saw 2.0 version gore, all making up a not very compelling, not frightening, just cliche deathblow to modern horror. Zombie has done his great thriller in The Devil's Rejects, and I still believe he's a solid director, I just think he really skipped a beat with this pile of drek.
All of that said, not ALL modern horror films are bad, you just have to look over in lands of subtitles, a thing that is almost as frightening as the thought of Michael Bay producing a remake of the Birds (oh, wait), to us over here in the U.S. Take the aforementioned "The Host" for example. Anti-American in it's sentiments, but then again, what foreign film ISN'T anti-American, and completely compelling in it's story, this film was championed by critics, but never seen by citizens. Honestly, if you've seen it, I am sending you a mind hug right now. It's not cliche, it's not boring visually, and most of all, it's genuinely compelling to watch.
Late in '07, there was a film released, presented to us by the genius Guillermo del Toro, called The Orphanage, or El Orfanato. It's a creepy ghost story, and may be the most frightening film I have seen in probably three years. However, it doesn't rely on an arm getting cut off, a girl getting abused, or even a twist, it just rely on brilliant film making. There is one scene in particular, and those of you who have seen it, get creeped out along with me, in which the main character is playing a child's game, in which she counts, and every time she finishes her counting, a child or group of children appear behind her. The way the camera just moves the children in and out of frame makes this the creepiest scene I've seen in a while. Through out the film, the true frights come from long shots down hallways, swift camera moves, or the beautiful and haunting score calmly playing in the background. That said, I could count the amount of people who have seen this on my left hand.
Not all directors want to subject you to subtitles. Some film makers feel as though it may be profitable to take their own films, and remake them, in English, for us all to watch. Or not. This year, the third best film I've seen happens to follow this suit, and is Funny Games. It comes to us from Michael Haneke, who previously helmed the equally as frightening Cache, and doesn't shy away from anything. It's similar in plot to another film from this year, The Strangers (more on that in a second), and is almost like, and I know this is a dead comparison, but if Gus Van Sandt directed a remake of A Clockwork Orange. It's a dark film, with grey, monochromatic color scheme, grainy visuals, and lyrically disturbing filmmaking, that doesn't shy away from the confrontational style that Haneke has seemed to fashion. You get Michael Pitt looking straight into the camera, asking us why we truly like these torture porn films, and taking these gorno conventions, and with a press of a button, taking all the visceral reaction we just had, watching one of the bad guys get it, all away. It's a home invasion story, with poetic direction, and a lack of box office gross, and I ended up seeing it with a couple who walked out half way through, complaining false advertising (no joke).
All is not lost for American horror though, especially with a young director, Bryan Bertino, who helmed the '08 release, The Strangers. This solid little indie release is a breath of fresh air, or at least a last second gasp in the flood of drek. It takes a solid story, two lovers are going to a cabin after a friends wedding, and turns it into a new style American horror film. It takes a lot of style from '60's-'70's style horror films, the most obvious being The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and also some of the more modern stylings. It takes the in your face, docudrama style of TCM, along with the grainy and gritty visuals of Saw, and also gets a couple of great performances from it's two stars, Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman. Another reason this film steps out of the shadow of the rest of American horror, is in the skill of not only the direction, but sound design and particularly score. There is a score here, but it's so minimalist and when it is not only used, but when it drops out, it only adds to the terror. There's just something about a grainy record player playing a scratchy jazz song that creeps me out. So here's looking at you Bertino. May you make America proud!
Now, I hope I have opened your eyes to a few foreign horror flicks that you all should check out. If not, and if you would like me to maybe do a complete list of say, 15 horror films I say check out, just leave a comment or two in the comments section. This is a pretty jumbled post, but I really just wanted to express my thoughts, and sure it's after Halloween, but it's never a wrong time to be scared. It's also some talking points for this weekend.
Thanks for checking this out! Leave any thoughts on the note or horror films in general, and I will get up a list of 15 horror films I think are must see's sometime in the near future. Do you think American horror gets a bad rap? Or is it simply that the popular films are a horrible example of American horror? Could it be that we have just lost the true meaning of fright? What are your thoughts?
Come back later for more news and notes!
Go see something good!
Foreign films are not a bad thing. Over the past couple of weeks, a few remakes were announced, or semi-announced, based off of Asian horror/thriller/monster flicks. First, we have the Korean Monster film, The Host, which is set to be remade, along with a remake of the brilliant Asian thriller, Oldboy, which is rumored to be helmed by Steven Speilberg, and star Will Smith. While the latter is not going to be a straight remake, it started me thinking, what are a few things that we as American filmgoers are afraid of. The two things I came out with, were gay cowboys, and subtitles. Now, hopefully the public will realize that Brokeback Mountain was a great film, but that's not what I'm here to talk about, I am here to tell you all that subtitles are not a scary thing.
In the United States, we are graced with brilliant films such as Hostel 2 and Saw 55340934. Now, sarcasm aside, there is no doubt that these films hit the right spot for people, looking for a good scare. However, they don't fit that bill, when you take a good look at them. David Cronenberg, the God of disturbing gore, once said that "what makes a true horror film terryfiying, is the strong sense of sympathy for the main character". It's a basic premise. You have a main character, thrust into some sort of problem, and you feel a strong sense of sympathy for the said character. Yet, neither of these films do this.
The true deathblow to American horror, may be seen in the third film in the Saw series. The first two films in that Halloween staple had the aforementioned sense of sympathy. The two men shackled at the ankles, simply looking to escape, or the father who really just wants to see his child one more time, to tell him just how much he loves him. Not only that, but the films were somewhat fresh. No one, and I mean no one saw the twist of the first film coming, and the second one, arguably, upped the twist level to an M. Night high. The style was fresh, the idea was smart and interesting, and the visual flares, particularly in the first film, were well made.
Yet, the series continued, and fell into the hands of Darren Bousman. Now you have a film series, looking for actresses in a VH1 game show, and holding back American horror cinema. Another recent piece of news that started me thinking about this, was the announcement that it looks as though Rob Zombie is going to ride his flame blood laden metal horse to save the day that is the sequel to his Halloween remake. The reason American horror films are lacking, is the epitome of that film.
Take the original Halloween for example. At one point, this brilliant horror staple was the most profitable independent film release, ever, and for good reason. It has great, if insanely basic story, along with a classic villain, and did one thing modern horror films don't even dream of attempting. The film is scary, without shedding one drop, if any, of blood. Yet you have the modern Halloween, and with that comes the abusive parents, the horrible home life, and the therapy, all accounting for probably one of the most uncalled for back stories in film. Along with the cliche back-story, came the Michael Winterbottom meets a mud fight visuals, the grainy film stock, and the Saw 2.0 version gore, all making up a not very compelling, not frightening, just cliche deathblow to modern horror. Zombie has done his great thriller in The Devil's Rejects, and I still believe he's a solid director, I just think he really skipped a beat with this pile of drek.
All of that said, not ALL modern horror films are bad, you just have to look over in lands of subtitles, a thing that is almost as frightening as the thought of Michael Bay producing a remake of the Birds (oh, wait), to us over here in the U.S. Take the aforementioned "The Host" for example. Anti-American in it's sentiments, but then again, what foreign film ISN'T anti-American, and completely compelling in it's story, this film was championed by critics, but never seen by citizens. Honestly, if you've seen it, I am sending you a mind hug right now. It's not cliche, it's not boring visually, and most of all, it's genuinely compelling to watch.
Late in '07, there was a film released, presented to us by the genius Guillermo del Toro, called The Orphanage, or El Orfanato. It's a creepy ghost story, and may be the most frightening film I have seen in probably three years. However, it doesn't rely on an arm getting cut off, a girl getting abused, or even a twist, it just rely on brilliant film making. There is one scene in particular, and those of you who have seen it, get creeped out along with me, in which the main character is playing a child's game, in which she counts, and every time she finishes her counting, a child or group of children appear behind her. The way the camera just moves the children in and out of frame makes this the creepiest scene I've seen in a while. Through out the film, the true frights come from long shots down hallways, swift camera moves, or the beautiful and haunting score calmly playing in the background. That said, I could count the amount of people who have seen this on my left hand.
Not all directors want to subject you to subtitles. Some film makers feel as though it may be profitable to take their own films, and remake them, in English, for us all to watch. Or not. This year, the third best film I've seen happens to follow this suit, and is Funny Games. It comes to us from Michael Haneke, who previously helmed the equally as frightening Cache, and doesn't shy away from anything. It's similar in plot to another film from this year, The Strangers (more on that in a second), and is almost like, and I know this is a dead comparison, but if Gus Van Sandt directed a remake of A Clockwork Orange. It's a dark film, with grey, monochromatic color scheme, grainy visuals, and lyrically disturbing filmmaking, that doesn't shy away from the confrontational style that Haneke has seemed to fashion. You get Michael Pitt looking straight into the camera, asking us why we truly like these torture porn films, and taking these gorno conventions, and with a press of a button, taking all the visceral reaction we just had, watching one of the bad guys get it, all away. It's a home invasion story, with poetic direction, and a lack of box office gross, and I ended up seeing it with a couple who walked out half way through, complaining false advertising (no joke).
All is not lost for American horror though, especially with a young director, Bryan Bertino, who helmed the '08 release, The Strangers. This solid little indie release is a breath of fresh air, or at least a last second gasp in the flood of drek. It takes a solid story, two lovers are going to a cabin after a friends wedding, and turns it into a new style American horror film. It takes a lot of style from '60's-'70's style horror films, the most obvious being The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and also some of the more modern stylings. It takes the in your face, docudrama style of TCM, along with the grainy and gritty visuals of Saw, and also gets a couple of great performances from it's two stars, Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman. Another reason this film steps out of the shadow of the rest of American horror, is in the skill of not only the direction, but sound design and particularly score. There is a score here, but it's so minimalist and when it is not only used, but when it drops out, it only adds to the terror. There's just something about a grainy record player playing a scratchy jazz song that creeps me out. So here's looking at you Bertino. May you make America proud!
Now, I hope I have opened your eyes to a few foreign horror flicks that you all should check out. If not, and if you would like me to maybe do a complete list of say, 15 horror films I say check out, just leave a comment or two in the comments section. This is a pretty jumbled post, but I really just wanted to express my thoughts, and sure it's after Halloween, but it's never a wrong time to be scared. It's also some talking points for this weekend.
Thanks for checking this out! Leave any thoughts on the note or horror films in general, and I will get up a list of 15 horror films I think are must see's sometime in the near future. Do you think American horror gets a bad rap? Or is it simply that the popular films are a horrible example of American horror? Could it be that we have just lost the true meaning of fright? What are your thoughts?
Come back later for more news and notes!
Go see something good!
NEWS/RUMOR: Captain Kirk to Go Green?
Alright, so this one has a bit of a story to it.
Earlier this week, WB and DC announced that Green Lantern would begin shooting in Australia in Mid September. However, it was not known who would be taking up the mantle of the main character, Hal Jordan. Well, IESB may have changed that...
IESB has gotten word out of the Warner Brother's halls that there is a short list of possibles for the casting of the green superhero Hal Jordan. Top of the list is Chris Pine who is currently set to star as Captain Kirk this summer in J.J. Abrams' new Star Trek film.
Then, the good people over at Latino Review followed-up that story with a confirmation, saying that "according to my sources THE OFFICIAL OFFER is out Chris Pine for the role."
Now this is still in the rumor stages, as nothing has been confirmed. Actually, Collider has reported that the rumor is simply that, a rumor...
I’m sorry to be the one to report that these stories are just NOT true.
At least according to my source, and mine is the same one that said Anton Yelchin wasn’t in the running either. Trust me, the person I’m speaking with would know.
While Latino Review and IESB have definitely broken a lot of casting stories, this is not going to be one of them.
So WTF? Well, I'm leaning towards Latino Review and IESB on this one. However, this is still in the rumor stages, and if it is true, Pine has neither declined nor accepted the offer.
More on this as it develops...
Go see something good!
NEWS: Benjamin Button To Get A Criterion Release...
Excuse me while I clean up the mess made from the geekgasm I just had. It looks like David Fincher has true clout in Hollywood, as his most recent film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, will be getting a Criterion Collection DVD Release...
BRAD PITT STARS IN DIRECTOR DAVID FINCHER’S SWEEPING EPIC NAMED BY OVER 150 CRITICS AS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
One of the Year’s Most Critically-Acclaimed Films Arrives May 5, 2009 On Two-Disc Special Edition DVD and Two-Disc Blu-ray Brimming with Over Three Hours of Fascinating Special Features
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – A thrilling adventure and captivating story of one man’s unusual and enchanted life, director David Fincher’s Academy Award®-winning film THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON debuts as a two-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray on May 5, 2009 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Called “a monumental achievement” that “must be experienced” (Rex Reed, New York Observer), the film stars Academy Award nominee Brad Pitt who “does his best work ever” (Lou Lumenick, New York Post) and Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett who “is simply dazzling” (Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal) in an exhilarating adventure that takes viewers on a breathtaking journey filled with romance and redemption. Nominated for 13 Academy Awards and winner for Best Visual Effects, Art Direction and Makeup, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON also stars Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson (Hustle & Flow), Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton) and Julia Ormond (Legends of the Fall)) in a grand tale of a not-so-ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds, the joys and romance of life and what lasts beyond time.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON two-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray boast over three hours of enthralling special features including interviews with stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with behind-the-scenes footage of their astonishing on-screen transformations, an in-depth documentary revealing the unusual journey of the film itself including the secrets of its award-winning visual effects and an exploration of the groundbreaking computer wizardry that brought the magical world of Benjamin Button to life.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON DVD & Blu-ray
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON two-disc and single-disc DVD are presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The two-disc Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio™, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. The two-disc Criterion Edition DVD and two-disc Criterion Blu-ray include the following special features:
o The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button—four-part documentary:
o Academy Award-nominated director David Fincher introduces the surprising beginnings of what would become an epic masterpiece including the casting of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, the decision to change the location of the story to New Orleans and more.
o Follow the production from day one including the challenges of aging Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, designing over five thousand costumes and creating the animatronic baby.
o Explore the incredible visual effects techniques created specifically for the film that allowed Brad Pitt to play the title character at virtually every age. Also includes a visit to the scoring stage with composer Alexandre Desplat.
o Walk the red carpet at the film’s premiere in New Orleans, with final thoughts from cast and crew.
o Audio Commentary by director David Fincher
There is also a single-disc DVD presentation that includes the feature film.
About Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. PHE is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment products on behalf of various parties including: Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Paramount Famous Productions, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS and PBS and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment.
That, my friends, is what I call amazing...
Go see something good!
BRAD PITT STARS IN DIRECTOR DAVID FINCHER’S SWEEPING EPIC NAMED BY OVER 150 CRITICS AS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
One of the Year’s Most Critically-Acclaimed Films Arrives May 5, 2009 On Two-Disc Special Edition DVD and Two-Disc Blu-ray Brimming with Over Three Hours of Fascinating Special Features
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – A thrilling adventure and captivating story of one man’s unusual and enchanted life, director David Fincher’s Academy Award®-winning film THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON debuts as a two-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray on May 5, 2009 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Called “a monumental achievement” that “must be experienced” (Rex Reed, New York Observer), the film stars Academy Award nominee Brad Pitt who “does his best work ever” (Lou Lumenick, New York Post) and Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett who “is simply dazzling” (Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal) in an exhilarating adventure that takes viewers on a breathtaking journey filled with romance and redemption. Nominated for 13 Academy Awards and winner for Best Visual Effects, Art Direction and Makeup, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON also stars Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson (Hustle & Flow), Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton) and Julia Ormond (Legends of the Fall)) in a grand tale of a not-so-ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds, the joys and romance of life and what lasts beyond time.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON two-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray boast over three hours of enthralling special features including interviews with stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with behind-the-scenes footage of their astonishing on-screen transformations, an in-depth documentary revealing the unusual journey of the film itself including the secrets of its award-winning visual effects and an exploration of the groundbreaking computer wizardry that brought the magical world of Benjamin Button to life.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON DVD & Blu-ray
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON two-disc and single-disc DVD are presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The two-disc Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio™, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. The two-disc Criterion Edition DVD and two-disc Criterion Blu-ray include the following special features:
o The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button—four-part documentary:
o Academy Award-nominated director David Fincher introduces the surprising beginnings of what would become an epic masterpiece including the casting of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, the decision to change the location of the story to New Orleans and more.
o Follow the production from day one including the challenges of aging Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, designing over five thousand costumes and creating the animatronic baby.
o Explore the incredible visual effects techniques created specifically for the film that allowed Brad Pitt to play the title character at virtually every age. Also includes a visit to the scoring stage with composer Alexandre Desplat.
o Walk the red carpet at the film’s premiere in New Orleans, with final thoughts from cast and crew.
o Audio Commentary by director David Fincher
There is also a single-disc DVD presentation that includes the feature film.
About Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. PHE is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment products on behalf of various parties including: Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Paramount Famous Productions, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS and PBS and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment.
That, my friends, is what I call amazing...
Go see something good!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
POSTER: Crank 2...
See, this is one of the benefits of having a twitter. Over at Lionsgate's Twitter, lionsgatemovies, the new outdoor poster for Crank 2 premeired, and it's beyond kick ass. Check it out below!
You can follow Lionsgate twitter over at the link posted above, and follow yours truly at isavedlatin89...
Go see something good!
You can follow Lionsgate twitter over at the link posted above, and follow yours truly at isavedlatin89...
Go see something good!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
TOP 5: Irish Films...
I wrote up a little diddy for my school newspaper, and have decided to post a link to it on my blog.
Check out my top 5 Irish films at this link...
Go see something good!
HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY...
POSTER: Where The Wild Things Are...
Thanks to Bryan Brinkman for the heads up to this amazing poster for Where The Wild Things Are...
Go see something good!
REVIEW: I Love You, Man...
In the world that we like to call Hollywood, there are some actors or actresses that you can call the go-to actor for a specific subject. Action has Jason Statham, RomComs have Renee Zellwegger, and bad mainstream comedies have Steve Carell. Well, for me, the go to actor for comedies is Paul Rudd. From early films like Wet Hot American Summer, to newer movies like Role Models, everything about the guy just really works for me. Add Jason Segel, and you have a sure fire hit, right? Maybe.
I Love You, Man follows Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd), a successful real estate agent who, upon getting engaged to the woman of his dreams, Zooey, (Rashida Jones), discovers that he has no male friend close enough to be his Best Man. Peter immediately sets out to fix the situation, embarking on a series of bizarre and awkward man-dates, before meeting Sydney Fife (Jason Segel), a charming, opinionated man with whom he instantly bonds. But the closer the two men get, the more Peters relationship with Zooey suffers, ultimately forcing him to choose between his fiancee and his new brah.
Wow, that sounds like a great plot right? Yeah, it is, but for a short film. However, when extended to feature length, the film just seems to kind of fall flat.
Paul Rudd stars as Peter, a socially awkward real estate agent who is bro-less. He stumbles with his words, says the wrong thing at the wrong time, or just comes off a little weird. However, Rudd, while he's funny here, can't really hold this bit through the entire feature. The joke he plays for is funny the first 4000 times, but that 4001st time just comes off as really repetitive and not interesting.
His costar is Jason Segel who plays Sidney, an overconfident, highly opinionated guy who may have his own friend issues, yet is just as repetitive as his costar. His character is so over the top and immature that when he suddenly breaks down near the end, it felt really forced. Rudd and Segel's interchanges are very funny, yet as the film goes on, the jokes become the plot, and that just doesn't account for good comedy.
That may be the films biggest flaw. While comedies are simply there to make the viewer laugh, when there is no story behind the film, it doesn't always work, and feels really forced. The plot simply seemed to be an excuse to have Segel and Rudd hanging out with each other around California. There are no true or satisfying character arcs, and the ending is so completely standard that walking out I was thinking more about what I may see this weekend than what I enjoyed about the film.
The supporting cast of this film is where most of the laughs come from. Rasheeda Jones is so great here as Rudd's fiancee, and brings a sense of truth and reality to this rather simplistic tale. She's the right touch of charm, sweetness and beauty that is was a joy to watch her, especially in her and Rudd's interchanges. There is one scene in particular, where Rudd introduces her to Rush, where it's such a true moment, such a moment that could happen between a couple, that it was my favorite of the film.
This is the new film from John Hamburg, who made Along Came Polly, and the directino here is rather tepid and unstimulating. It's point and shot primarily, which fits for comedies, but just isn't my cup of tea. The cinematography here is pretty standard as well, but the soundtrack to this film may be the best thing. Oh, Andy Samberg and JK Simmons are also both really great.
However, all of this can be sort of taken with a grain of salt, because the merit of a good comedy is the laugh factor, and for the first half of the film, it had me laughing quite a bit. There were a few chuckles near the end, particularly in the scenes involving Jon Favreau and Jamie Kennedy, but not enough to cover for the sheer lack of plot or anything visually stimulating.
That said, the first half is strong enough to warrant a rental. Just nothing more. Go check out Fanboys instead, or rent, no buy, Wet Hot American Summer.
I Love You, Man - 5/10
It gets a 5 because it's half of a good film. Rent it.
Come back later for more news and notes...
Go see something good!
TRAILER: Away We Go...
So, it looks like Mr. Kate Winslet, Sam Mendes, did a little work after he shot Revolutionary Road. This is one of the most surprising trailers I've come across, as I don't know a single person who expected it to come out. This is the first trailer for his new film, Away We Go, and it looks great.
The film stars John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, and Maggie Gyllenhaal and is about a couple who are expecting their first child, who travel around the U.S. in order to find a perfect place to start their family.
What do you think about the trailer?
Come back soon for an early review for I Love You, Man!
Go see something good!
The film stars John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, and Maggie Gyllenhaal and is about a couple who are expecting their first child, who travel around the U.S. in order to find a perfect place to start their family.
What do you think about the trailer?
Come back soon for an early review for I Love You, Man!
Go see something good!
Monday, March 16, 2009
NEWS: When Will We Get A 'Wild Things' Trailer?
Attatched to Monsters vs. Aliens? A scooper for CHUD says so...
-Where The Wild Things Are trailer is debuting in 2 weeks in front of Monsters vs. Aliens
-Not a teaser, full 3-min trailer, scored to 'Wake Up' by Arcade Fire (it fits beautifully, and is either the 3rd or 4th time the band has agreed to license their music, won't be in the actual film obviously)
There's more, but it's a CHUD exclusive, so I don't want to take any more from it. PLEASE, there is a description of the trailer, so head over HERE to check it out.
It sounds amazing, I mean, it IS my most anticipated film of '09, and Arcade Fire scoring anything automatically makes it that much cooler...
Go see something good!!
-Where The Wild Things Are trailer is debuting in 2 weeks in front of Monsters vs. Aliens
-Not a teaser, full 3-min trailer, scored to 'Wake Up' by Arcade Fire (it fits beautifully, and is either the 3rd or 4th time the band has agreed to license their music, won't be in the actual film obviously)
There's more, but it's a CHUD exclusive, so I don't want to take any more from it. PLEASE, there is a description of the trailer, so head over HERE to check it out.
It sounds amazing, I mean, it IS my most anticipated film of '09, and Arcade Fire scoring anything automatically makes it that much cooler...
Go see something good!!
TRAILER: Thirst...
This is what happens when you put vampires in the hands of true film makers. This is the first trailer for Park Chan-Wook's newest film, Thirst, and it looks bloody awesome.
Thanks to CHUD!
Now, for those of you who have read this blog for a while, know that I'm beyond a fan of Wook's vengence triliogy, particularly Oldboy. Everything about his style and film making just really works for me. I'll post the American trailer when it gets released.
Go see something good!
Thanks to CHUD!
Now, for those of you who have read this blog for a while, know that I'm beyond a fan of Wook's vengence triliogy, particularly Oldboy. Everything about his style and film making just really works for me. I'll post the American trailer when it gets released.
Go see something good!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
UPDATE: Bayona NOT in for Twilight 3...
So, someone got to the gods and told him not to force yours truly into seeing Twilight 3. MovieWeb reports...
“The Eclipse directing job hasn’t been offered to Juan Antonio or anyone else,” Feig said. “We’ve met with three or four talented filmmakers and we’ll be meeting with three or four more other candidates before we make any decision. No one has been offered the job.
Bayona has met with Summit executives as well as Twilight author Stephenie Meyer (who has written all the books in the series). Apparently the director doesn’t even know if he wants to direct Eclipse. He fears that by directing the third film in the series it will be hard to add his creative stamp with the casting and character development already taken care of. “
Just to update you all.
Go see something!
“The Eclipse directing job hasn’t been offered to Juan Antonio or anyone else,” Feig said. “We’ve met with three or four talented filmmakers and we’ll be meeting with three or four more other candidates before we make any decision. No one has been offered the job.
Bayona has met with Summit executives as well as Twilight author Stephenie Meyer (who has written all the books in the series). Apparently the director doesn’t even know if he wants to direct Eclipse. He fears that by directing the third film in the series it will be hard to add his creative stamp with the casting and character development already taken care of. “
Just to update you all.
Go see something!
PHOTOS: First Look From The Human Factor...
So, a few weeks ago, I went onto one of my favorite sites, In Contention, and one film that got me thinking was The Human Factor. This is the newest film from director Clint Eastwood, and is a biopic based around the life of Nelson Mandella. Not only am I an Eastwood fan, but of all people to cast as Mandella, who do they choose? They get God himself, Morgan Freeman (perfect casting? YES).
Then earlier today, over at /Film, the first photos were shown. Check them out below!
Definitley keep this one on your radar!
Go see something good!
Then earlier today, over at /Film, the first photos were shown. Check them out below!
Definitley keep this one on your radar!
Go see something good!
Friday, March 13, 2009
WTF?: Assassination of a High School President Going Direct To DVD?
This can't happen, and we all have to do what we can in our little power to stop it. /Film reports...
At the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, Yari Film Group premiered Brett Simon’s Assassination of a High School President, a film noir mystery set inside the world of a John Hughes-style High School comedy. It quickly emerged as one of the underdogs on the schedule to become one of the most buzzed about films at the festival. Unfortunately, Yari Film Group was forced into involuntary bankruptcy, and the film has been sitting on the shelf ever since. This has presented a very serious problem for theatrical distribution, and because of the legalities of bankruptcy court, the timing of this economic downturn and a whole slew of other worst-case-scenarios, Assassination is on the verge of losing its opportunity to have the theatrical run it deserves.
There might still be hope. Studios are still deciding whether or not they want to take a financial risk by buying the theatrical rights, spending cash on P&A and distributing the movie theatrically. Sony has the home video distribution rights, and from a business standpoint, they think it makes more sense to send the film direct to dvd. But I, like many others, think that Assassination of a High School President deserves to be seen on the big screen. What can you do? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, become a fan of the film on Facebook, and spread the word. Distributors like Sony Pictures Classics, Samuel Goldwyn, Fox Searchlight, etc need to see that there’s an audience out there waiting for an opportunity to see this film.
Not only did /Film love the film, but so did many others...
Ken Evans called it “a film that I fell in love with within the first 15 minutes” and “I would have walked right back into the theater to see again if I could have.”
Mel Valentin called it “wholly satisfying, enthralling high school-noir every bit the equal of Brick.”
MTV said “the film is stuffed with so many rapid-fire laughs that you’ll need to watch it multiple times — especially so you can memorize all the super-quotable lines.”
Film School Rejects said it one of those films that makes you “want to run to the top of a mountain and shout its praises”, calling it “smart, sexy and rich with supporting characters that are at some points as interesting as those who get the spotlight.”
ComingSoon called it “a funnier and more biting look at high school than any we’ve seen in some time”.
UGO calls it “nothing short of brilliant, a hilarious noir-comedy mixture in which each character is more colorful than the last.”
FirstShowing says “The comedy never stops, the story is full of twists that keep you on the edge of your seat, and overall this is one of the best balances of mystery and comedy that I’ve seen in ages” and calls it “a great movie that deserves endless appreciation.”
Aint It Cool News says “it’s witty characters and style make it the kind of film you’d want to visit a few times over just to hang out with it a little more.”
Seriously, if a film like Slumdog Millionaire can get taken out of the DVD doldrums, a true independent film, with a ton of style and a true breathe of fresh air in the world of cinema, can have the same done for it. Check out it's Facebook page, and leave a comment there or at any of the above linked websites. Anything that has critics saying the films name and Brick in the same sentence, while having a straight face, is good in my book.
Go see something good!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
WTF MATE?: Fox To Go Full Retard...
Really Fox? Do these guys know ANYTHING about something other than pissing off trillions of fans? /Film reports...
File this in your the “Yet another way Fox has found to inspire geek hate” folder: According to a report by VideoBusiness (Via CNet), 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is going to start stripping rental DVDs SKUs of special features like commentaries and featurettes, in a horrendously misguided attempt to spur retail DVD sales. Retail copies available for purchase will retain all the special features. This policy will begin on March 31st, when DVD releases like Marley & Me, and Slumdog Millionaire will be subject to the features removal. Other Fox films such as The Day The Earth Stood Still, The Wrestler, and Notorious, will soon face the same fate.
I don't like to use salty language, but Fox..
Fuck you
Go see something good...
NEWS: ScarJo To Join Iron Man 2...
There was a rumor floating around for some two months now, that said that Marvel was looking at signing Scarlett Johansson to take up the role of Black Widow, previously given to Emily Blunt. However, due to scheduling conflicts, Blunt is now officially out, and Scarlett is officially in. Nikki Finke reports...
I've already posted my scoop that Mickey Rourke will play the Russian villain in Iron Man 2 in a Marvel Studios deal that started out lowball and went up a lot. Now I'm told that Emily Blunt won't be in the sequel and Black Widow will now be played by Scarlett Johannson. (Interesting because Scarlett actually screen-tested for the role and didn't get it.) But I hear that, unlike Mickey's money, the deal for her is "just the opposite, a terrible deal made by CAA," one of my insiders says. "It's as bad as any deal that I've heard. It's lowball money. And it ties her to countless movies, including that ensemble The Avengers, which is what makes this brutal for a lot of actors." As for Blunt, I'm told she fell out not by choice but only because Fox exercised an option that the studio had from The Devil Wears Prada to make her do the upcoming film starring Jack Black, Gullivers Travels.
This goes right along with Mickey Rourkes recent signing, and this is shaping up to be one hell of a cast, on the already solid group they got together. I do have a little problem with this though. Sure, Scarlett is one hell of a piece of eyecandy, maybe in the top three sexiest actresses on this planet. However, there is something a lot more dangerous to the character of Black Widow, and she doesn't really fit that. We will just have to wait and see...
Go see something good!
I've already posted my scoop that Mickey Rourke will play the Russian villain in Iron Man 2 in a Marvel Studios deal that started out lowball and went up a lot. Now I'm told that Emily Blunt won't be in the sequel and Black Widow will now be played by Scarlett Johannson. (Interesting because Scarlett actually screen-tested for the role and didn't get it.) But I hear that, unlike Mickey's money, the deal for her is "just the opposite, a terrible deal made by CAA," one of my insiders says. "It's as bad as any deal that I've heard. It's lowball money. And it ties her to countless movies, including that ensemble The Avengers, which is what makes this brutal for a lot of actors." As for Blunt, I'm told she fell out not by choice but only because Fox exercised an option that the studio had from The Devil Wears Prada to make her do the upcoming film starring Jack Black, Gullivers Travels.
This goes right along with Mickey Rourkes recent signing, and this is shaping up to be one hell of a cast, on the already solid group they got together. I do have a little problem with this though. Sure, Scarlett is one hell of a piece of eyecandy, maybe in the top three sexiest actresses on this planet. However, there is something a lot more dangerous to the character of Black Widow, and she doesn't really fit that. We will just have to wait and see...
Go see something good!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
POSTER: The Limits of Control...
Just because it oozes cool out of it's indie ass...
Thanks to FirstShowing (via Cinematical)
Go see something good!
TRAILER: Drag Me To Hell...
So, with Last House On The Left being released this weekend, it looks like horror is pretty big news this week. Not to be outdone by Bayona and Fresnadillo, Universal Studios has released the first trailer for Sam Raimi's new horror film, Drag Me To Hell, and it looks awesome...
Thanks to GeekTyarant for the heads up...
Here's the plot synopsis...
Director Sam Raimi returns to the horror genre with Drag Me to Hell, an original tale of a young woman’s desperate quest to break an evil curse.
Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) is an ambitious L.A. loan officer with a charming boyfriend, professor Clay Dalton (Justin Long). Life is good until the mysterious Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) arrives at the bank to beg for an extension on her home loan. Should Christine follow her instincts and give the old woman a break? Or should she deny the extension to impress her boss, Mr. Jacks (David Paymer), and get a leg-up on a promotion? Christine fatefully chooses the latter, shaming Mrs. Ganush and dispossessing her of her home.
In retaliation, the old woman places the powerful curse of the Lamia on Christine, transforming her life into a living hell. Haunted by an evil spirit and misunderstood by a skeptical boyfriend, she seeks the aid of seer Rham Jas (Dileep Rao) to save her soul from eternal damnation. To help the shattered Christine return her life to normal, the psychic sets her on a frantic course to reverse the spell. As evil forces close in, Christine must face the unthinkable: how far will she go to break free of the curse?
What do you guys think of the trailer?
Go see something good!
Thanks to GeekTyarant for the heads up...
Here's the plot synopsis...
Director Sam Raimi returns to the horror genre with Drag Me to Hell, an original tale of a young woman’s desperate quest to break an evil curse.
Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) is an ambitious L.A. loan officer with a charming boyfriend, professor Clay Dalton (Justin Long). Life is good until the mysterious Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) arrives at the bank to beg for an extension on her home loan. Should Christine follow her instincts and give the old woman a break? Or should she deny the extension to impress her boss, Mr. Jacks (David Paymer), and get a leg-up on a promotion? Christine fatefully chooses the latter, shaming Mrs. Ganush and dispossessing her of her home.
In retaliation, the old woman places the powerful curse of the Lamia on Christine, transforming her life into a living hell. Haunted by an evil spirit and misunderstood by a skeptical boyfriend, she seeks the aid of seer Rham Jas (Dileep Rao) to save her soul from eternal damnation. To help the shattered Christine return her life to normal, the psychic sets her on a frantic course to reverse the spell. As evil forces close in, Christine must face the unthinkable: how far will she go to break free of the curse?
What do you guys think of the trailer?
Go see something good!
NEWS: Fresnadillo to Remake X...
So, it looks like Spanish horror directors are on the top of everyones list to helm projects. First there was talks that Juan Antonio Bayona may take up the mantle for the third Twilight film, and now First Showing is reporting this diddy of a news story...
Spanish director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, best known as the guy who directed 28 Weeks Later, has been hired by MGM to develop a remake of Roger Corman's 1963 horror film X: The Man With the X-Ray Eyes. The original starred Ray Milland as a scientist who is close to achieving a breakthrough in x-ray vision technology when his funding is cut off. Desperate to show results, the doc applies the eye drops to himself eventually loses control over his growing powers. It's not exactly one of Corman's greats, but it is certainly one of his classics, and I'm actually very excited to see Fresnadillo rework for modern times.
This sounds like a great project for Fresnadillo. Anything that allows this guy to grow as a film maker is a good project in my book. While 28 Days Later is far better than Weeks, I was really impressed with Fresnadillo's style and direction, for it being his first feature film.
What do you think?
Go see something good!
Spanish director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, best known as the guy who directed 28 Weeks Later, has been hired by MGM to develop a remake of Roger Corman's 1963 horror film X: The Man With the X-Ray Eyes. The original starred Ray Milland as a scientist who is close to achieving a breakthrough in x-ray vision technology when his funding is cut off. Desperate to show results, the doc applies the eye drops to himself eventually loses control over his growing powers. It's not exactly one of Corman's greats, but it is certainly one of his classics, and I'm actually very excited to see Fresnadillo rework for modern times.
This sounds like a great project for Fresnadillo. Anything that allows this guy to grow as a film maker is a good project in my book. While 28 Days Later is far better than Weeks, I was really impressed with Fresnadillo's style and direction, for it being his first feature film.
What do you think?
Go see something good!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
NEWS: Twilight Series to Legitamize Itself?
Hold on to your glittery diamond-when-in-the-sun horses, the Twilight series may be in line for a little bit of credibility. /Film reports this breaking rumor...
Drew Barrymore might not be a lock to direct the third Twilight film. THR is reporting that Guillermo Del Toro protege Juan Antonio Bayona is now rumored to be one of the top finalists to direct The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse. But then again, reps are saying that they are still looking at a number of candidates. James Mangol had been previously rumored to be in talks, and earlier today Twilight fansites were claiming that New Moon director Paul Weitz might return for the third film after all.
While I think that on paper, for the franchise, it's a great idea, I'm in the mindset that this may not be the best mood. He was set to helm Hater, the adaptation of the David Moody novel, which sounded like one hell of a project, perfectly fitting his style. Also, I have a problem with Summit sort of avoiding all women directors. This material has it's fan base, that is 99.9% girls, mainly tweens. However, this would add a ton of much needed credability to the film.
So what do you think? Who should take the helm of this franchise? Paul Weitz? Drew Barrymore? A three year old parapalegic? (Think of the brilliance that would be! I bet it'd be better than the first film...)
OH! And if you haven't seen the Orphanage, then the three year old I was talking about, yeah, I'd rather be talking to him. It's a brilliant film, probably one of the best, if not the best modern horror film...
Go see something good!
Drew Barrymore might not be a lock to direct the third Twilight film. THR is reporting that Guillermo Del Toro protege Juan Antonio Bayona is now rumored to be one of the top finalists to direct The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse. But then again, reps are saying that they are still looking at a number of candidates. James Mangol had been previously rumored to be in talks, and earlier today Twilight fansites were claiming that New Moon director Paul Weitz might return for the third film after all.
While I think that on paper, for the franchise, it's a great idea, I'm in the mindset that this may not be the best mood. He was set to helm Hater, the adaptation of the David Moody novel, which sounded like one hell of a project, perfectly fitting his style. Also, I have a problem with Summit sort of avoiding all women directors. This material has it's fan base, that is 99.9% girls, mainly tweens. However, this would add a ton of much needed credability to the film.
So what do you think? Who should take the helm of this franchise? Paul Weitz? Drew Barrymore? A three year old parapalegic? (Think of the brilliance that would be! I bet it'd be better than the first film...)
OH! And if you haven't seen the Orphanage, then the three year old I was talking about, yeah, I'd rather be talking to him. It's a brilliant film, probably one of the best, if not the best modern horror film...
Go see something good!
NEWS: Whedon Has a Cast For Cabin...
Like many of the online world, I have a deep love for anything and everything Joss Whedon. Rather it be his television series like Buffy or his newest one, Dollhouse, or his other ventures like Serenity or Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, there really isn't much that this guy can't do. Hell, he's even doing a musical performance on the upcoming episode of This American Life that will be heading to a select 400 theatres.
Well, his next project, a horror film called Cabin In The Woods, which he has written and is being directed by Drew Goddard. Filming has already begun in Vancover, but more of the respective cas thas been announced. /Film reports...
United Artists Entertainment (UA) has announced that Kristen Connolly (Revolutionary Road, The Happening), Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek, "Home and Away"), Anna Hutchison ("Underbelly," "Go Girls"), Fran Kranz ("Dollhouse," The Village), and Jesse Williams (Brooklyn's Finest, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2) will join the previously announced cast members Richard Jenkins (The Visitor, Burn After Reading) and Bradley Whitford (Bottle Shock, "The West Wing") in The Cabin in the Woods.
I really like this cast, especially upstart Fran Kranz. He's a really solid young actor, and may be the best part of the solid but doomed series, created by Whedon, Dollhouse. Outside of the cast, literally nothing is known about the film, as the plot has been under lock and key. Early copies of the script have been reviewed, but reports are that the shooting script is nothing at all like the written one, so I will update this story as more comes up...
Go see something good!
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