From ComingSoon.net:
"Mr. and Mrs. Fox live an idyllic home life with their son Ash and visiting young nephew Kristopherson. But after 12 years, the bucolic existance proves too much for Mr. Fox's wild animal instincts. Soon he slips back into his old ways as a sneaky chicken thief and in doing so, endangers not only his beloved family, but the whole animal community. Trapped underground and with not enough food to go around, the animals band together to fight the evil Farmers -- Boggis, Bunce and Bean -- who are determined to captures the audacious, fantastic Mr. Fox at any cost."
The film is based on the book by Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and James and the Giant Peach) and features the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Willem Dafoe. It is the animation debut for director Wes Anderson (The Darjeeling Limited, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou)
UPDATE:
New trailer!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
HELM... MATT HELM
From ComingSoon.net:
"Variety is reporting that Steven Spielberg is seriously considering directing a movie about fictional secret agent Matt Helm, created by author Donald Hamilton. The film was developed for serveral years at DreamWorks before the studio left it behind at Paramount Pictures, which own the rights.
Spielberg's representatives told the trade that he is attached to produce, but it's unclear if he's going to direct. Spielberg is reportedly excited about he project again after the rewrite that Paul Attanasio delivered last week.
As Spielberg and Stacey Snider near the closing of their financing through Reliance and their new deal with Disney, they would like nothing more than to have those partners be a part of Spielberg's next picture. But Paramount isn't obligated to make that deal, and it's unclear whether the studio will step up to Spielberg's traditionally rich terms.
Matt Helm is based on a series of 27 novels about a government agent whose mission is to take down enemy agents. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are producing."
Could this be the sign of Steven Spielberg's version of James Bond that he's been wanting to do for years? In fact, in 1980, while George Lucas and he were sitting on a beach in Hawaii (trying to get away from the releases of their films) while waiting for the grosses to come in. Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind ended up with $303.79 million. Lucas's Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope ended up with $775,398,007. However, Lucas entered into a wager with long-time friend Steven Spielberg during the production of Close Encounters. Lucas was sure Close Encounters would outperform the yet-to-be-released Star Wars at the box office and bet 2.5% of the proceeds of each film against each other. Lucas lost the bet and to this day Spielberg is still receiving proceeds from the first of the Star Wars movies. After they both learned the early grosses, they changed the subject to their next projects. Spielberg confessed he was gonna try one more time to ask Albert Broccoli for permission to direct a James Bond film (he had constantly refused because no American has ever directed an official James Bond film). Lucas said that he had a character who was better than James Bond. The character was: Indiana Jones.
But, Spielberg - finish The Adventures of Tintin trilogy! We all want to see a movie directed by you and Peter Jackson!!
UPDATE: It seems as though Spielberg will not direct the film. For more info go to http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/07/30/spielberg-will-produce-not-direct-matt-helm/
"Variety is reporting that Steven Spielberg is seriously considering directing a movie about fictional secret agent Matt Helm, created by author Donald Hamilton. The film was developed for serveral years at DreamWorks before the studio left it behind at Paramount Pictures, which own the rights.
Spielberg's representatives told the trade that he is attached to produce, but it's unclear if he's going to direct. Spielberg is reportedly excited about he project again after the rewrite that Paul Attanasio delivered last week.
As Spielberg and Stacey Snider near the closing of their financing through Reliance and their new deal with Disney, they would like nothing more than to have those partners be a part of Spielberg's next picture. But Paramount isn't obligated to make that deal, and it's unclear whether the studio will step up to Spielberg's traditionally rich terms.
Matt Helm is based on a series of 27 novels about a government agent whose mission is to take down enemy agents. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are producing."
Could this be the sign of Steven Spielberg's version of James Bond that he's been wanting to do for years? In fact, in 1980, while George Lucas and he were sitting on a beach in Hawaii (trying to get away from the releases of their films) while waiting for the grosses to come in. Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind ended up with $303.79 million. Lucas's Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope ended up with $775,398,007. However, Lucas entered into a wager with long-time friend Steven Spielberg during the production of Close Encounters. Lucas was sure Close Encounters would outperform the yet-to-be-released Star Wars at the box office and bet 2.5% of the proceeds of each film against each other. Lucas lost the bet and to this day Spielberg is still receiving proceeds from the first of the Star Wars movies. After they both learned the early grosses, they changed the subject to their next projects. Spielberg confessed he was gonna try one more time to ask Albert Broccoli for permission to direct a James Bond film (he had constantly refused because no American has ever directed an official James Bond film). Lucas said that he had a character who was better than James Bond. The character was: Indiana Jones.
But, Spielberg - finish The Adventures of Tintin trilogy! We all want to see a movie directed by you and Peter Jackson!!
UPDATE: It seems as though Spielberg will not direct the film. For more info go to http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/07/30/spielberg-will-produce-not-direct-matt-helm/
Bryce Dallas Howard to replace star in ECLIPSE
Just for you Twilight fans out there... "Still kinda harpin' on that, huh? Well, you know this movie here pretty much has no role open, ya know. Come on, hop in, recast wherever. I know ya do that."
"Summit Entertainment announced today that actress Bryce Dallas Howard, most recently seen in McG's Terminator Salvation, will be replacing Rachelle Lefevre in the role of Victoria for The Twilght Saga: Eclipse, the third film in the series directed by David Slade (30 Days of Night). The reason given for the casting change was Lefevre's scheduling conflicts for another film to which she was committed."
OH... but Ms. Lefevre's not giving up without a... statement reliquishing all copyrights and obligations towards the role.
That's right! Take that, Hollywood! NOT SO FAST, says Summit. They would not like to portrayed as the mustache-twirling villians that a woman playing a vampire would like you to believe. They TOO published a statement:
From ComingSoon.net: 
"Summit Entertainment announced today that actress Bryce Dallas Howard, most recently seen in McG's Terminator Salvation, will be replacing Rachelle Lefevre in the role of Victoria for The Twilght Saga: Eclipse, the third film in the series directed by David Slade (30 Days of Night). The reason given for the casting change was Lefevre's scheduling conflicts for another film to which she was committed."
OH... but Ms. Lefevre's not giving up without a... statement reliquishing all copyrights and obligations towards the role."Lefevre issued the following statement to 'Access Hollywood' saying she was as stunned as the fans are:
'I was stunned by Summit's decision to recast the role of Victoria for Eclipse. I was fully committed to the Twilight saga, and to the portrayal of Victoria. I turned down several other film opportunities and, in accordance with my contractual rights, accepted only roles that would involve very short shooting schedules. My commitment to Barney's Version is only ten days. Summit picked up my option for Eclipse. Although the production schedule for Eclipse is over three months long, Summit says they had a conflict during those ten days and would not accomodate me. Given the length of filming for filming for Eclipse, never did I fathom I would lose the role over a 10 day overlap. I was happy with my contract with Summit and was fully prepared to continue to honor it. Summit chose simply to recast the part. I am greatly saddened that I will not get to complete my portrayal of Victoria for the Twilight audience. This is a story, a theatrical journey and a character that I truly love and about which I am very passionate. I will be forever grateful to the fan support and loyalty I've received since being cast for this role, and I am hurt deeply by Summit's surprising decision to move on without me. I wish the cast and crew of Eclipse only the very best.'"
That's right! Take that, Hollywood! NOT SO FAST, says Summit. They would not like to portrayed as the mustache-twirling villians that a woman playing a vampire would like you to believe. They TOO published a statement:"We at Summit Entertainment are disappointed by Rachelle Lefevre's recent comments which attempt to make her career choices the fault of the Studio. Her decision to discuss her version of the scheduling challenges publicly has forced the Studio to set the record straight and correct the facts. Ms. Lefevre's representative's were advised as early as April that The Twilight Saga: Eclipse was expected to start shooting in early August. If Ms. Lefevre was, as she describes 'passionate', about being part of The Twilight Saga, we feel that she and her representatives would have included us in her decision to work on another film that would conflict with the shooting schedule of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. It was not until July 20th that Summit was first informed of Ms. Lefevre's commitment to Barney's Version, a commitment we have since been advised she accepted in early June. Summit had acted in good faith that she would be available to fulfill her obligations both in terms of rehearsals and shooting availability for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. We feel her choice to withhold her scheduling conflict information from us can be viewed as a lack of cooperative spirit which affected the entire production. Futhermore, Ms. Lefevre took a role in the other film that places her in Europe during the required rehearsal time, and at least ten days of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse's principal photography. This period is essential for both rehearsal time with the cast, and for filming at key locations that are only available during the initial part of production. Contrary to Ms. Lefevre's statement, it is simply untrue that the Studio dismissed her over a ten day overlap. It is not about a ten day overlap, but instead about the fact that The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is an ensemble production that has to accomodate the schedules of numerous actors while respecting the established creative vision of the filmmaker and most importantly the story. The fact remains that Ms. Lefevre's commitment to the other project - which she chose to withhold from Summit until the last possible moment - makes her unfortunately unavailable to perform the role of Victoria in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse."
Which begs the question -
Who's the Real Dudley Do-Right here?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
THE LORAX gets a cut at the big screen
From ComingSoon.net:
"Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment are turning the the Dr. Seuss book 'The Lorax' into a 3D CG animated feature.
Dr. Seuss' The Lorax will be co-directed by Chris Renaud and Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio, with Paul and Daurio writing the script.
'The Lorax' is narrated by a greedy entrepreneur who, despite warnings from the tree-loving Lorax, strips a forest of its stock of Truffula trees to manufacture clothing. The results are catastrophic as all the animals leave and nothing's left.
The picture is targeted for a March 2, 2012 release, which falls on the birthday of Theodor Geisel, who died in 1991."
And here I was hoping for Horton Hatches the Egg starring the voices of Jim Carrey and Seth Rogen. Oh, well. This one of the more political books that Seuss wrote and one of the darkest. Not that it doesn't end without hope.
Here's a clip from the 1972 TV special:
For more information on the book visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lorax
"Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment are turning the the Dr. Seuss book 'The Lorax' into a 3D CG animated feature.Dr. Seuss' The Lorax will be co-directed by Chris Renaud and Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio, with Paul and Daurio writing the script.
'The Lorax' is narrated by a greedy entrepreneur who, despite warnings from the tree-loving Lorax, strips a forest of its stock of Truffula trees to manufacture clothing. The results are catastrophic as all the animals leave and nothing's left.
The picture is targeted for a March 2, 2012 release, which falls on the birthday of Theodor Geisel, who died in 1991."
And here I was hoping for Horton Hatches the Egg starring the voices of Jim Carrey and Seth Rogen. Oh, well. This one of the more political books that Seuss wrote and one of the darkest. Not that it doesn't end without hope.
Here's a clip from the 1972 TV special:
For more information on the book visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lorax
From an inFAMOUS game to a famous movie
From ComingSoon.net:
"Sony Pictures has picked up a pitch from screenwriter Sheldon Turner to adapt the Sucker Punch Productions video game 'inFAMOUS' into a feature film.
The Hollywood Reporter says the studio is working out a deal for rights to the game, which was published by sister Sony Computer Entertainment. Avi Arad and Ari Arad will produce.
Released in May, 'inFAMOUS' centers on bike messenger Cole MacGrath, who survives an explosion that destroys entire blocks of Empire City only to find he has new electricity-derived super powers.
The action game, designed for Sony's PlayStation 3 console, allows the player to use his powers for good or evil, as MacGrath's karma affects how the devastated city's people and infrastructure deal with him.
'What excited me most about the game was it was the first of which I've come across that had a big idea and a character arc,' Turner said. 'It is, I believe, the future of gaming. The game, while big and fun, is at its core a love ballad to the underachiever, which is what our hero, Cole MacGrath, is.'"
I haven't played this game (I don't have a PS3, I have a Wii) but I do love superhero movies. Although this reminds me of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. IN MANY WAYS.
Here's the game's trailer:
For more information about the game visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infamous_(video_game)
"Sony Pictures has picked up a pitch from screenwriter Sheldon Turner to adapt the Sucker Punch Productions video game 'inFAMOUS' into a feature film.
The Hollywood Reporter says the studio is working out a deal for rights to the game, which was published by sister Sony Computer Entertainment. Avi Arad and Ari Arad will produce.
Released in May, 'inFAMOUS' centers on bike messenger Cole MacGrath, who survives an explosion that destroys entire blocks of Empire City only to find he has new electricity-derived super powers.
The action game, designed for Sony's PlayStation 3 console, allows the player to use his powers for good or evil, as MacGrath's karma affects how the devastated city's people and infrastructure deal with him.'What excited me most about the game was it was the first of which I've come across that had a big idea and a character arc,' Turner said. 'It is, I believe, the future of gaming. The game, while big and fun, is at its core a love ballad to the underachiever, which is what our hero, Cole MacGrath, is.'"
I haven't played this game (I don't have a PS3, I have a Wii) but I do love superhero movies. Although this reminds me of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. IN MANY WAYS.
Here's the game's trailer:
For more information about the game visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infamous_(video_game)
Monday, July 27, 2009
KING KONG returns?
From ComingSoon.net:
"Variety reports that Spirit Pictures is looking to breathe new life into King Kong and a project initially developed by effects legend Ray Harryhausen.
Producers at the company have picked up the rights to the book 'Kong: King of Skull Island', a prequel to the well-known tale of the big ape.
Written by Joe DeVito and Brad Strickland, the book focuses on the backstory of Skull Island and how the giant gorilla became king there. It introduces other giant gorillas and dinosaurs only hinted at in the previous films.
The plan is to produce the film using motion-capture technology such as Robert Zemeckis used to make The Polar Express, Beowulf and the upcoming Disney's A Christmas Carol.
Spirit is also developing War Eagles a project original King Kong co-director Merian C. Cooper and Harryhausen had developed together and were nearly set to produce before the outbreak of WWII. The period actioner is set in 1939 and revolves around an ace fighter-pilot who tests a new jet and winds up crash-landing in the artic, where he encounters a lost civilization that's been thriving there for centuries.
Andy Briggs is working on the scripts for both films."
Really? Without the help of Peter Jackson? I would say pass but I'm just too interested.
Here's a trailer to the 2005 Peter Jackson King Kong film:
"Variety reports that Spirit Pictures is looking to breathe new life into King Kong and a project initially developed by effects legend Ray Harryhausen.
Producers at the company have picked up the rights to the book 'Kong: King of Skull Island', a prequel to the well-known tale of the big ape.
Written by Joe DeVito and Brad Strickland, the book focuses on the backstory of Skull Island and how the giant gorilla became king there. It introduces other giant gorillas and dinosaurs only hinted at in the previous films.
The plan is to produce the film using motion-capture technology such as Robert Zemeckis used to make The Polar Express, Beowulf and the upcoming Disney's A Christmas Carol.
Spirit is also developing War Eagles a project original King Kong co-director Merian C. Cooper and Harryhausen had developed together and were nearly set to produce before the outbreak of WWII. The period actioner is set in 1939 and revolves around an ace fighter-pilot who tests a new jet and winds up crash-landing in the artic, where he encounters a lost civilization that's been thriving there for centuries.
Andy Briggs is working on the scripts for both films."
Really? Without the help of Peter Jackson? I would say pass but I'm just too interested.
Here's a trailer to the 2005 Peter Jackson King Kong film:
Friday, July 24, 2009
TRON LEGACY VFX Concept Test is here in all its splendor!
From ComingSoon.net:
"We've had to wait a year, but you can now officially see online what fans saw at the San Diego Comic-Con in 2008... The Tron Legacy Grid VFX Concept Test.
Opening in November or December of 2010, the Joseph Kosinski-directed film stars Garrett Hedlund, Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Olivia Wilde and Beau Garrett.
Tron Legacy is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that's unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Bridges) looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous."
If this doesn't get you excited about this movie, nothing will.
"We've had to wait a year, but you can now officially see online what fans saw at the San Diego Comic-Con in 2008... The Tron Legacy Grid VFX Concept Test.
Opening in November or December of 2010, the Joseph Kosinski-directed film stars Garrett Hedlund, Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Olivia Wilde and Beau Garrett.
Tron Legacy is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that's unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Bridges) looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous."
If this doesn't get you excited about this movie, nothing will.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Comic-Con: Disney 3D Hits Hall H
JUST IN FROM COMIC-CON
From ComingSoon.net:
"ComingSoon.net has gotten into the 6,500 seat Hall H at Comic-Con, and we're waiting for Walt Disney's 3D presentation to begin which will feature new footage from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Disney's A Christmas Carol, directed by Robert Zemeckis, and the action sequel TRON. The panel moderaed by Patton Oswalt should be starting shortly and we'll try our best to liveblog it, although the Wi-Fi in Hall H this year is horrendous!
*Panel just started... place is packed... already lost my 3D glasses... but found them again. Been hearing about how people having arrived and stood in Hall H as early as yesterday afternoon. Some of our colleagues go in line at 7AM and only got in around 11AM.
*Patton Oswalt just came out to host the event wearing 3D glasses. Incidentally, this is indeed to very first 3D presentation in Hall H ever, which may be why it's so packed. Oswalt is definitely winning the crowd over with his jokes.
*They just showed the character pictures from Alice in Wonderland including Matt ('Little Britain') Lucas' Tweedledum and Tweedledee, which looks like a shorter dumpier version of Lucas. Oswalt has asked him about why he picked Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and they showed concept art for the Cheshire Cat, voiced by Stephen Fry.
*They showed the first teaser trailer which starts out with an image of Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and the voice-over, 'There is a place like no other on Earth.' His Mad Hatter walks across the table set up for the Tea Party and towers over Alice saying, 'You're terribly late, you know. Naughty.' The footage accompanied MGMT's 'Let's Pretend' (great choice!) includes a bit of Alice falling down the Rabbit Hole and then we see her walking through a forest, following the White Rabbit, in turn followed by Tweedledum and Tweedledee and the Jabberwocky. A later scene shows the Jabberwocky swooping down and grabbing the twins. After that we see a shot of Alice and Anne Hathaway's White Queen on a terrace looking over the kingdom and a brief look at Helena Bonham Carter's Red Queen. We see a few shots of the Cheshire Cat, including one where he's roaring like a lion. The audience goes wild whenever Johnny Depp appears on the screen as the Hatter, throwing his top hat at the camera and laughing maniacally. Towards the end of the footage, we see Alice drinking the potion that causes her to shrink with her voiceover saying, 'That's impossible' and the Mad Hatter responding, 'Only if you believe it is.' Oswalt immediately showed the teaser again to great applause... and a third time!
*Burton says that the movie is based on all of Lewis Carroll's works including the 'Jabberwocky' poem, not just the best known original 'Alice' novel.
*After the brief Q n A, Oswalt asked if he had anything else and he said he brought an 'imaginary friend' and Johnny Depp walked out to HUGE screams from the ladies in the audience. Apparently, Johnny isn't able to enjoy the 3D experience, according to Burton.
*Next is the Tron Legacy panel and apparently, that is the OFFICIAL title for the new film. Director Joseph Kosinski is on hand, as is producer Sean Bailey and Steve Lisberger. From the cast is Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde and of course, the veteran from the first film, Jeff Bridges.
*They just showed concept art from the world of Tron City including a view down from the top of Mile High Tower and a look at the arena for the city's gladiatorial games including an update of Disc War, which features 16 combatants fighting at once and then the courts combining as someone is eliminated to create one giant court for the final battle. They also showed shots of the new Recognizer, the Solar Sailor, the two passenger Light Runner, and the 5th Generation light cycle.
*They just finished filming last week but Joe had cut together a key scene in which Hedlund's Sam Flynn arrives at the old Flynn's arcade which has been abandoned for 20 years. The place has clearly been vacant for a long time and all the arcade games are covered in plastic but he flicks on the power and the jukebox kicks into the opening of Journey's 'Separate Ways' which was in the original Tron as all of the games comes to life. He sees a blue light emanating from the back wall so he walks back towards it and takes the plastic off the game and it's the original Tron arcade game. He takes out a quarter to play but it drops to the floor and he sees a crack on the floor and realizes that it goes behind the console. He pushes the game aside and there's a secret door with blue light glowing from the cracks and he opens it up and walks in.
*French techno band Daft Punk has composed 24 tracks for the movie so far."
WHY COULDN'T I HAVE BEEN THERE?!
From ComingSoon.net:
"ComingSoon.net has gotten into the 6,500 seat Hall H at Comic-Con, and we're waiting for Walt Disney's 3D presentation to begin which will feature new footage from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Disney's A Christmas Carol, directed by Robert Zemeckis, and the action sequel TRON. The panel moderaed by Patton Oswalt should be starting shortly and we'll try our best to liveblog it, although the Wi-Fi in Hall H this year is horrendous!
*Panel just started... place is packed... already lost my 3D glasses... but found them again. Been hearing about how people having arrived and stood in Hall H as early as yesterday afternoon. Some of our colleagues go in line at 7AM and only got in around 11AM.
*Patton Oswalt just came out to host the event wearing 3D glasses. Incidentally, this is indeed to very first 3D presentation in Hall H ever, which may be why it's so packed. Oswalt is definitely winning the crowd over with his jokes.
*First up is A Christmas Carol and director Robert Zemeckis is on hand to present the 3D footage. Oswalt is asking him why he's excited about 3D. They're sitting on high chairs just like on 'Inside the Actor's Studio' and this is a very different setup than in previous years with one large screen in the center of the Hall rather than three smaller screens.
*Jim Carrey plays 8 roles in the movie and they all have pictures of all of them on the screen. Wish I could keep up with Oswalt's jokes, but he's actually giving a fairly good interview with Zemeckis which we'll try to post highlights of later.
*Zemeckis showed an extended scene that includes the footage of Scrooge being visited by the ghost of his late partner Jacob Marley. It starts earlier with Scrooge visiting Marley lying in a coffin with coins on his eyes and signing the death certificate. It then shows Scrooge returning home and walking up the staircase which is glowing eerily in red. The rest of the clip was pretty much what we had seen with the long build-up to the entrance by Marley's Ghost as well as some of the footage that shows the various ghosts, much of which can be seen in the trailer. The 3D footage actually looked better than the same footage we saw in IMAX a few months ago, the smaller screen really bringing out the detail on Scrooge's wrinkled face since it isn't stretched out to fit the larger IMAX screen.
*They've gone to Q n A and Zemeckis is answering a lot of the obvious questions about why he cast Jim and why he decided to do it animated using motion capture. He said that he didn't feel that anytime while doing motion-capture that he thought they didn't have what they needed from Jim Carrey's performance to do what they need to do in animation. He was just asked whether he'd be doing any more live-action movies and right now he's into 'sending this artform out into the world' because he likes the 'control this artform gives the director'.
*Zemeckis was just asked if he'd ever make a sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit? but he said that he 'can't confirm or deny'. He said that the 2D animated characters from the original movie would remain in 2D if he did decide to revisit those characters in a new movie.
*Next up is Tim Burton making his first Comic-Con panel appearance ever and he got a huge round of applause... he obviously has a lot of fans in this crowd. He says that he hasn't been here since he was a college student in the 70s.
*They just showed the character pictures from Alice in Wonderland including Matt ('Little Britain') Lucas' Tweedledum and Tweedledee, which looks like a shorter dumpier version of Lucas. Oswalt has asked him about why he picked Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and they showed concept art for the Cheshire Cat, voiced by Stephen Fry.
*They showed the first teaser trailer which starts out with an image of Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and the voice-over, 'There is a place like no other on Earth.' His Mad Hatter walks across the table set up for the Tea Party and towers over Alice saying, 'You're terribly late, you know. Naughty.' The footage accompanied MGMT's 'Let's Pretend' (great choice!) includes a bit of Alice falling down the Rabbit Hole and then we see her walking through a forest, following the White Rabbit, in turn followed by Tweedledum and Tweedledee and the Jabberwocky. A later scene shows the Jabberwocky swooping down and grabbing the twins. After that we see a shot of Alice and Anne Hathaway's White Queen on a terrace looking over the kingdom and a brief look at Helena Bonham Carter's Red Queen. We see a few shots of the Cheshire Cat, including one where he's roaring like a lion. The audience goes wild whenever Johnny Depp appears on the screen as the Hatter, throwing his top hat at the camera and laughing maniacally. Towards the end of the footage, we see Alice drinking the potion that causes her to shrink with her voiceover saying, 'That's impossible' and the Mad Hatter responding, 'Only if you believe it is.' Oswalt immediately showed the teaser again to great applause... and a third time!
*Burton says that the movie is based on all of Lewis Carroll's works including the 'Jabberwocky' poem, not just the best known original 'Alice' novel.
*After the brief Q n A, Oswalt asked if he had anything else and he said he brought an 'imaginary friend' and Johnny Depp walked out to HUGE screams from the ladies in the audience. Apparently, Johnny isn't able to enjoy the 3D experience, according to Burton.
*Next is the Tron Legacy panel and apparently, that is the OFFICIAL title for the new film. Director Joseph Kosinski is on hand, as is producer Sean Bailey and Steve Lisberger. From the cast is Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde and of course, the veteran from the first film, Jeff Bridges.
*They just showed concept art from the world of Tron City including a view down from the top of Mile High Tower and a look at the arena for the city's gladiatorial games including an update of Disc War, which features 16 combatants fighting at once and then the courts combining as someone is eliminated to create one giant court for the final battle. They also showed shots of the new Recognizer, the Solar Sailor, the two passenger Light Runner, and the 5th Generation light cycle.
*They just finished filming last week but Joe had cut together a key scene in which Hedlund's Sam Flynn arrives at the old Flynn's arcade which has been abandoned for 20 years. The place has clearly been vacant for a long time and all the arcade games are covered in plastic but he flicks on the power and the jukebox kicks into the opening of Journey's 'Separate Ways' which was in the original Tron as all of the games comes to life. He sees a blue light emanating from the back wall so he walks back towards it and takes the plastic off the game and it's the original Tron arcade game. He takes out a quarter to play but it drops to the floor and he sees a crack on the floor and realizes that it goes behind the console. He pushes the game aside and there's a secret door with blue light glowing from the cracks and he opens it up and walks in.
*French techno band Daft Punk has composed 24 tracks for the movie so far."
WHY COULDN'T I HAVE BEEN THERE?!
Two celebrity cameos find themselves in the world of ASTRO BOY
JUST IN FROM COMIC-CON
From ComingSoon.net:
"Director David Bowers has just announced that both Samuel L. Jackson and Charlize Theron are set for roles in this fall's Astro Boy, joining an all-star celebrity cast that includes Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Donald Sutherland and Nathan Lane, among many others.
Though it is unclear exactly what characters either actor will be voicing, Bowers specifically mentioned that Jackson's role is a special cameo, which should come as no surprise as Jackson is a self-professed comic fan."
From ComingSoon.net:
"Director David Bowers has just announced that both Samuel L. Jackson and Charlize Theron are set for roles in this fall's Astro Boy, joining an all-star celebrity cast that includes Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Donald Sutherland and Nathan Lane, among many others.
Though it is unclear exactly what characters either actor will be voicing, Bowers specifically mentioned that Jackson's role is a special cameo, which should come as no surprise as Jackson is a self-professed comic fan."
ALICE IN WONDERLAND teaser trailer premieres
From ComingSoon.net:
"From Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton comes an epic 3D fantasy adventure Alice in Wonderland, a magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska as 19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks ona a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen's reign of terror. The all-star cast also includes Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonahm Carter and Crispin Glover."
Here's the first teaser trailer:
Does this not totally bend your mind?
UPDATE:
More mind-bending madness!!
"From Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton comes an epic 3D fantasy adventure Alice in Wonderland, a magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska as 19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks ona a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen's reign of terror. The all-star cast also includes Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonahm Carter and Crispin Glover."
Here's the first teaser trailer:
Does this not totally bend your mind?
UPDATE:
More mind-bending madness!!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Nicolas Cage wants to get stung by THE GREEN HORNET also!
From ComingSoon.net:
"Columbia Pictures is in early talks with Nicolas Cage to play the gangster villain in The Green Hornet.
Cameron Diaz is negotiating to play a reporter and love interest in the Michel Gondry-directed film that stars Seth Rogen as the masked crime fighter.
The picture is moving full steam ahead for a fall start date, even as the studio looks to replace Stephen Chow, who was going to play sidekick Kato. Rogen and Evan Goldberg wrote the script and Neal Moritz is producing through his Original Films.
The Green Hornet is targeting a July 9, 2010."
Okay. I love Nicolas Cage movies despite what other people say about his movies. Ghost Rider wasn't as cool of a movie as I thought it would be but it's a superhero/Western.
UPDATE:
From ComingSoon.net:
"Nicolas Cage won't be playing the villain in Columbia Pictures' The Green Hornet, which director Michel Gondry has started filming in Los Angeles.
Sources... say that the studio is on the hunt for a new actor to play the villain in the comic book adaptation. No scenes with Cage were shot for the movie.
Columbia is planning a December 17, 2010 release for the pic, which stars Seth Rogen, Cameron Diaz, Jay Chou, Edward James Olmos, David Harbour and Tom Wilkinson."
"Columbia Pictures is in early talks with Nicolas Cage to play the gangster villain in The Green Hornet.
Cameron Diaz is negotiating to play a reporter and love interest in the Michel Gondry-directed film that stars Seth Rogen as the masked crime fighter.
The picture is moving full steam ahead for a fall start date, even as the studio looks to replace Stephen Chow, who was going to play sidekick Kato. Rogen and Evan Goldberg wrote the script and Neal Moritz is producing through his Original Films.
The Green Hornet is targeting a July 9, 2010."
Okay. I love Nicolas Cage movies despite what other people say about his movies. Ghost Rider wasn't as cool of a movie as I thought it would be but it's a superhero/Western.
UPDATE:
From ComingSoon.net:
"Nicolas Cage won't be playing the villain in Columbia Pictures' The Green Hornet, which director Michel Gondry has started filming in Los Angeles.
Sources... say that the studio is on the hunt for a new actor to play the villain in the comic book adaptation. No scenes with Cage were shot for the movie.
Columbia is planning a December 17, 2010 release for the pic, which stars Seth Rogen, Cameron Diaz, Jay Chou, Edward James Olmos, David Harbour and Tom Wilkinson."
Monday, July 20, 2009
Leonardo DiCaprio is in THE TWILIGHT ZONE
From ComingSoon.net:
"Warner Bros. and Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way are moving ahead on a Twilight Zone movie, hiring Rand Ravich to write a script based on the iconic TV series.
Ravich's feature credits include directing The Astronaut's Wife and exective producing Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. He also created NBC's detectiv series, 'Life'.
The original 'Twilight Zone' series ran for five seasons starting in 1959 on CBS, with Rod Serling creating the series and writing more than half of the 156 episodes. Steven Spielberg and John Landis produced and directed segments for the 1983 WB feature film Twilight Zone: The Movie."
Let me guess, Leo's gonna do the Rod Serling role in introducing the movie. Not that I'm against that, but you can see it coming.
Here's a version of the famous original intro voiced by Rod Serling himself (and would it really not have the creepy theme music?):
"Warner Bros. and Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way are moving ahead on a Twilight Zone movie, hiring Rand Ravich to write a script based on the iconic TV series.
Ravich's feature credits include directing The Astronaut's Wife and exective producing Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. He also created NBC's detectiv series, 'Life'.
The original 'Twilight Zone' series ran for five seasons starting in 1959 on CBS, with Rod Serling creating the series and writing more than half of the 156 episodes. Steven Spielberg and John Landis produced and directed segments for the 1983 WB feature film Twilight Zone: The Movie."
Let me guess, Leo's gonna do the Rod Serling role in introducing the movie. Not that I'm against that, but you can see it coming.
Here's a version of the famous original intro voiced by Rod Serling himself (and would it really not have the creepy theme music?):
Sony Pictures making Michael Jackson Rehearsal Film
From ComingSoon.net:
"Sony Pictures is close to a deal to make a feature film on Michael Jackson drawing on the 80 hours of rehearsal footage filmed for concerts Jackson was preparing to perform in London.
The studio is expected to pay more than $50 million for worldwide rights to AEG Entertainment, which owns the footage and showed it to studios last week.
The film will feature at least three videos, including an alternate version of Jackson's 'Thriller', which were shot to be interstitial programming during the London concerts. The footage was meant to play in 3D, but it's unclear as yet whether the feature fim will present it that way.
High School Musical director Kenny Ortega, who shot the rehearsal footage, is expected to direct the feature, and sources say he's already beginning to put together the footage so Sony can release the film before year's end.
Sony Pictures' sibling company Sony Music Entertainment owns music publishing rights to Jackson's songs."
The Michael Jackson rehearsal footage? Featuring a new 3D version of Thriller? Count me in!!
Although I think it's sort of ironic on account of what Jackson thought of Sony (via Wikipedia):
"...At the time, Jackson was waiting for the licenses to the masters of his albums to revert to him; this allowed him to promote his old material how he liked and prevented Sony from getting a cut of the profit. Jackson expected this to occur this to occur early in the new millennium; however, due to various clauses in the contract, this revert date is still many years away. Jackson began an investigation, and it emerged that the attorney who represented the singer in the deal was also representing Sony, creating a conflict of interest. Jackson was also concerned about another conflict of interest. For a number of years, Sony had been pushing to buy all of Jackson's shares in their music catalog venture. If Jackson's career or financial situation were to deteriorate, he would have to sell his catalog. Thus, Sony had something to gain from Jackson's career failing. Jackson was able to use these conflicts as leverage to exit his contract early. Just before the release of Invincible, Jackson informed the head of Sony Music Entertainment, Tommy Mottola, that he was leaving Sony. As a result, all singles releases, video shootings and promotions concerning the Invincible album were canceled. Jackson made allegations in July 2002 that Mottola was a 'devil' and a 'racist' who did not support his African-American artists, using them merely for his own personal gain.... Sony disputed claims that they had failed to promote Invincible with sufficient energy, maintaining that Jackson refused to tour in the US."
Weird, isn't it?
UPDATE: The film is set to be released October 30. If the 3D Thriller is included, it will be truly fitting.
"Sony Pictures is close to a deal to make a feature film on Michael Jackson drawing on the 80 hours of rehearsal footage filmed for concerts Jackson was preparing to perform in London.
The studio is expected to pay more than $50 million for worldwide rights to AEG Entertainment, which owns the footage and showed it to studios last week.
The film will feature at least three videos, including an alternate version of Jackson's 'Thriller', which were shot to be interstitial programming during the London concerts. The footage was meant to play in 3D, but it's unclear as yet whether the feature fim will present it that way.
High School Musical director Kenny Ortega, who shot the rehearsal footage, is expected to direct the feature, and sources say he's already beginning to put together the footage so Sony can release the film before year's end.
Sony Pictures' sibling company Sony Music Entertainment owns music publishing rights to Jackson's songs."
The Michael Jackson rehearsal footage? Featuring a new 3D version of Thriller? Count me in!!
Although I think it's sort of ironic on account of what Jackson thought of Sony (via Wikipedia):
"...At the time, Jackson was waiting for the licenses to the masters of his albums to revert to him; this allowed him to promote his old material how he liked and prevented Sony from getting a cut of the profit. Jackson expected this to occur this to occur early in the new millennium; however, due to various clauses in the contract, this revert date is still many years away. Jackson began an investigation, and it emerged that the attorney who represented the singer in the deal was also representing Sony, creating a conflict of interest. Jackson was also concerned about another conflict of interest. For a number of years, Sony had been pushing to buy all of Jackson's shares in their music catalog venture. If Jackson's career or financial situation were to deteriorate, he would have to sell his catalog. Thus, Sony had something to gain from Jackson's career failing. Jackson was able to use these conflicts as leverage to exit his contract early. Just before the release of Invincible, Jackson informed the head of Sony Music Entertainment, Tommy Mottola, that he was leaving Sony. As a result, all singles releases, video shootings and promotions concerning the Invincible album were canceled. Jackson made allegations in July 2002 that Mottola was a 'devil' and a 'racist' who did not support his African-American artists, using them merely for his own personal gain.... Sony disputed claims that they had failed to promote Invincible with sufficient energy, maintaining that Jackson refused to tour in the US."
Weird, isn't it?
UPDATE: The film is set to be released October 30. If the 3D Thriller is included, it will be truly fitting.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Walter Cronkite has passed...
From IMDB.com:
"Revered U.S. news anchor Walter Cronkite has died after a long illness. He was 92.
The legendary broadcaster passed away at his New York home on Friday with his family at his bedside.
Cronkite fronted the evening news for American TV network CBS from 1962 to 1981, reporting on major events such as the moon landing, the infamous Watergate scandal during Richard Nixon's White House administration, and the assassination of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
The CBS bulletin became the most watched news show in the country during Cronkite's tenure, prompting viewers to vote him 'the most trusted man in America' in a 1972 poll.
President Barack Obama has paid tribute to Cronkite, calling him 'a voice of certainty in an uncertain world'.
Obama says, 'He invited us to believe in him, and he never let us down. This country has lost an icon and a dear friend, and he will truly be missed.'
Cronkit is survived by his three children, Nancy, Kathy and Walter III, and several grandchildren."
I can only say: and that's the way it was.
"Revered U.S. news anchor Walter Cronkite has died after a long illness. He was 92.
The legendary broadcaster passed away at his New York home on Friday with his family at his bedside.
Cronkite fronted the evening news for American TV network CBS from 1962 to 1981, reporting on major events such as the moon landing, the infamous Watergate scandal during Richard Nixon's White House administration, and the assassination of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
The CBS bulletin became the most watched news show in the country during Cronkite's tenure, prompting viewers to vote him 'the most trusted man in America' in a 1972 poll.
President Barack Obama has paid tribute to Cronkite, calling him 'a voice of certainty in an uncertain world'.
Obama says, 'He invited us to believe in him, and he never let us down. This country has lost an icon and a dear friend, and he will truly be missed.'
Cronkit is survived by his three children, Nancy, Kathy and Walter III, and several grandchildren."
I can only say: and that's the way it was.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Where No DVD Has Gone Before...
From TrekMovie.com:
"This year audiences thrilled at the triumphant voyage of the Starship Enterprise and her young and vibrant crew in movie theaters across the planet - and on November 17, 2009, the world will go where no man has gone before when Star Trek debuts as a... two-disc DVD with digital copy and a single-disc DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment. Bursting with 'spectacular action' (Hollywood Reporter) and 'pure filmmaking exhilaration' (Rolling Stone) director J.J. Abrams' sensational reinvention of the Star Trek franchise was hailed by critics and embraced by long-time and new fans alike, earning over $375 million at the worldwide box office. Starring a hot young cast inclding Chris Pine (Carriers), Zachary Quinto ('Heroes'), Zoe Saldana (Avatar), Karl Urban (The Bourne Supremacy), John Cho (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), Anton Yelchin (Terminator Salvation) and Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead), the global smash hit also features seasoned actors such as Eric Bana (Munich), Bruce Greenwood (National Treasure: Book of Secrets), Winona Ryder (Girl, Interrupted) and the original Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy.
'I cannot wait for fans of Star Trek to check out the home entertainment release of the film. The behind-the-scenes features on the DVD... give a wonderful look at the crazy hard work and incredible fun that went into making this movie,' said J.J. Abrams. 'The cast and crew were truly extraordinary to work with - watching these special features, you'll see why. And for people who didn't catch Star Trek in the theater, I hope they do now, as Paramount has done with this release; the picture and sound quality are both excellent.'
The Star Trek DVD... will boast out-of-this-world features to take viewers even further into the new universe of the rousing space adventure. The two-disc DVD... include in-depth explorations of the reimagining of the franchise, the phenomenal cast, the spectacularly real action sequences, the powerful score and the captivating aliens, commentary by J.J. Abrams, the writers and producers, a gag reel and a digital copy of the film. Additionally, the discs feature compelling deleted scenes that reveal a side story involving Nero with a first-ever look at Abrams' version of the infamous warrior Klingons.
DVD:
The Star Trek two-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Special features are as follows:
Disc 1:
* Commentary - by director J.J. Abrams, writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Bryan Burk
* A New Vision - J.J. Abrams' vision was not only to create a Star Trek that was bigger, more action-packed spectacle, but also to make the spectacle feel real. Every aspect of production - from unique locations to the use of classic Hollywood camera tricks - was guided by this overall objective
* Gag Reel - Bloopers featuring the entire principal cast
Disc 2:
* Digital Copy
* Deleted Scenes with optional commentary:
*Spock Birth
*Klingons Take Over Narada
*Young Kirk, Johnny and Uncle Frank
*Amanda and Sarek Argue After Spock Fights
*Prison Interrogation and Breakout
*Sarek Gets Amanda
*Dorm Room and Kobayashi Maru (original version)
*Kirk Apologizes to the Green Girl
*Sarek Sees Spock
* To Boldly Go - Taking on the world's most beloved science fiction franchise was no small mission. Director J.J. Abrams, writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, producer Damon Lindelof, and executive producer Bryan Burk talk about the many challenges they faced and their strategy for success
* Casting - The producers knew their greatest task was finding the right cast to reprise these epic roles. The cast, for their part, talk about their experience of trying to capture the essence of these mythic characters. The piece concludes with a moving tribute to Leonard Nimoy
* Aliens - Designers Neville Page and Joel Harlow talk about the hurdles they faced creating new alien species, recreating the Romulans and Vulcans, and designing the terrifying creatures on Delta Vega for the new Star Trek
* Score - As a fan of the original series, composer Michael Giacchino embraced the challenge of creating new music for Star Trek while preserving the spirit of Alexander Courage's celebrated theme
The Star Trek single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround with English, French and Spanish subtitles. The single-disc DVD includes the commentary, 'A New Vision' and the gag reel."
NOOO!! I have to wait till November?!! NOOO!!
"This year audiences thrilled at the triumphant voyage of the Starship Enterprise and her young and vibrant crew in movie theaters across the planet - and on November 17, 2009, the world will go where no man has gone before when Star Trek debuts as a... two-disc DVD with digital copy and a single-disc DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment. Bursting with 'spectacular action' (Hollywood Reporter) and 'pure filmmaking exhilaration' (Rolling Stone) director J.J. Abrams' sensational reinvention of the Star Trek franchise was hailed by critics and embraced by long-time and new fans alike, earning over $375 million at the worldwide box office. Starring a hot young cast inclding Chris Pine (Carriers), Zachary Quinto ('Heroes'), Zoe Saldana (Avatar), Karl Urban (The Bourne Supremacy), John Cho (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), Anton Yelchin (Terminator Salvation) and Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead), the global smash hit also features seasoned actors such as Eric Bana (Munich), Bruce Greenwood (National Treasure: Book of Secrets), Winona Ryder (Girl, Interrupted) and the original Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy.
'I cannot wait for fans of Star Trek to check out the home entertainment release of the film. The behind-the-scenes features on the DVD... give a wonderful look at the crazy hard work and incredible fun that went into making this movie,' said J.J. Abrams. 'The cast and crew were truly extraordinary to work with - watching these special features, you'll see why. And for people who didn't catch Star Trek in the theater, I hope they do now, as Paramount has done with this release; the picture and sound quality are both excellent.'
The Star Trek DVD... will boast out-of-this-world features to take viewers even further into the new universe of the rousing space adventure. The two-disc DVD... include in-depth explorations of the reimagining of the franchise, the phenomenal cast, the spectacularly real action sequences, the powerful score and the captivating aliens, commentary by J.J. Abrams, the writers and producers, a gag reel and a digital copy of the film. Additionally, the discs feature compelling deleted scenes that reveal a side story involving Nero with a first-ever look at Abrams' version of the infamous warrior Klingons.
DVD:
The Star Trek two-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Special features are as follows:
Disc 1:
* Commentary - by director J.J. Abrams, writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Bryan Burk
* A New Vision - J.J. Abrams' vision was not only to create a Star Trek that was bigger, more action-packed spectacle, but also to make the spectacle feel real. Every aspect of production - from unique locations to the use of classic Hollywood camera tricks - was guided by this overall objective
* Gag Reel - Bloopers featuring the entire principal cast
Disc 2:
* Digital Copy
* Deleted Scenes with optional commentary:
*Spock Birth
*Klingons Take Over Narada
*Young Kirk, Johnny and Uncle Frank
*Amanda and Sarek Argue After Spock Fights
*Prison Interrogation and Breakout
*Sarek Gets Amanda
*Dorm Room and Kobayashi Maru (original version)
*Kirk Apologizes to the Green Girl
*Sarek Sees Spock
* To Boldly Go - Taking on the world's most beloved science fiction franchise was no small mission. Director J.J. Abrams, writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, producer Damon Lindelof, and executive producer Bryan Burk talk about the many challenges they faced and their strategy for success
* Casting - The producers knew their greatest task was finding the right cast to reprise these epic roles. The cast, for their part, talk about their experience of trying to capture the essence of these mythic characters. The piece concludes with a moving tribute to Leonard Nimoy
* Aliens - Designers Neville Page and Joel Harlow talk about the hurdles they faced creating new alien species, recreating the Romulans and Vulcans, and designing the terrifying creatures on Delta Vega for the new Star Trek
* Score - As a fan of the original series, composer Michael Giacchino embraced the challenge of creating new music for Star Trek while preserving the spirit of Alexander Courage's celebrated theme
The Star Trek single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround with English, French and Spanish subtitles. The single-disc DVD includes the commentary, 'A New Vision' and the gag reel."
NOOO!! I have to wait till November?!! NOOO!!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Willem Dafoe stays green for JOHN CARTER
From ComingSoon.net:
"Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man) is set to star opposite Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins in Walt Disney Pictures' fantasy epic John Carter of Mars, to be directed by WALL•E and Finding Nemo helmer Andrew Stanton.
Variety says Dafoe will play the role of Tars Tarkas, a fierce green Martian warrior, who's unusual among his savage race for his ability to love. Tars develops an alliance with John Carter in the first film, which is based on 'A Princess of Mars'.
He fights battles alongside Carter through the entire series of Edgar Rice Burroughs books, so he will be hanging around for sequels.
Stanton wrote the script with Mark Andrews."
Isn't it interesting that Willem Dafoe is playing a green character and he's not a villian this time? (Green Goblin, anyone?). And that this is the second time that he is not playing a villain in an Andrew Stanton film (Gil in Finding Nemo, anyone?)
"Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man) is set to star opposite Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins in Walt Disney Pictures' fantasy epic John Carter of Mars, to be directed by WALL•E and Finding Nemo helmer Andrew Stanton.
Variety says Dafoe will play the role of Tars Tarkas, a fierce green Martian warrior, who's unusual among his savage race for his ability to love. Tars develops an alliance with John Carter in the first film, which is based on 'A Princess of Mars'.
He fights battles alongside Carter through the entire series of Edgar Rice Burroughs books, so he will be hanging around for sequels.
Stanton wrote the script with Mark Andrews."
Isn't it interesting that Willem Dafoe is playing a green character and he's not a villian this time? (Green Goblin, anyone?). And that this is the second time that he is not playing a villain in an Andrew Stanton film (Gil in Finding Nemo, anyone?)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Steve Carell is DESPICABLE ME
From ComingSoon.net:
"We're still a year out, but a 2 minute and 31 second trailer for Universal Pictures' animated Despicable Me has already been released featuring a full scene from the film. The film opens July 9, 2010 and is voiced by Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett, Russell Brand, Jermaine Clement, Jack McBrayer and Julie Andrews.
In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!) in Universal's new 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me.
Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stands in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad.
The world's greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes."
Steve Carell as a villain? Can I buy that? ABSOLUTELY!! Actually, if they ever made a movie based on the cartoon The Perils of Penelope Pitstop I would think that Steve Carell would make the perfect Sylvester Snidely/The Hooded Claw (based on his impression of Paul Lynde in Bewitched of course)
Here's a trailer to Despicable Me:
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Natalie Portman loves THOR
From ComingSoon.net:
"Marvel Studios announced today that Academy Award® nominated actress Natalie Portman has been cast to star as Jane Foster in the studio's highly anticipated movie Thor. In the early "Thor" comics, Jane Foster was a nurse who became Thor's first love. The character will be updated for the feature adaptation. Portman will star opposite Chris Hemsworth who will play Thor and Tom Hiddleston who will play the villain Loki. Kenneth Branagh will direct the film.
Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige will produce Thor. Principal photography for the film is set for early 2010. The film will be released in the US on May 20, 2011 and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Marvel Studios expands its film universe with a new type of superhero: Thor. This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe; from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among human as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.
In 2004, she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress as well as an Academy Award nomination in the same category for Closer. She earned critical acclaim for her role in Garden State and is most well known for her rol as Queen Padme Amidala in the Star Wars trilogy. Other film credits include The Other Boleyn Girl, V For Vendetta, Cold Mountain, Anywhere But Here, Heat, Beautiful Girls and The Professional."
All right! Why not Natalie Portman? She's already got cred for playing Amidala and starred (in my opinion, the smartest G-rated movie I've ever seen) in Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.
"Marvel Studios announced today that Academy Award® nominated actress Natalie Portman has been cast to star as Jane Foster in the studio's highly anticipated movie Thor. In the early "Thor" comics, Jane Foster was a nurse who became Thor's first love. The character will be updated for the feature adaptation. Portman will star opposite Chris Hemsworth who will play Thor and Tom Hiddleston who will play the villain Loki. Kenneth Branagh will direct the film.
Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige will produce Thor. Principal photography for the film is set for early 2010. The film will be released in the US on May 20, 2011 and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Marvel Studios expands its film universe with a new type of superhero: Thor. This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe; from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among human as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.
In 2004, she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress as well as an Academy Award nomination in the same category for Closer. She earned critical acclaim for her role in Garden State and is most well known for her rol as Queen Padme Amidala in the Star Wars trilogy. Other film credits include The Other Boleyn Girl, V For Vendetta, Cold Mountain, Anywhere But Here, Heat, Beautiful Girls and The Professional."
All right! Why not Natalie Portman? She's already got cred for playing Amidala and starred (in my opinion, the smartest G-rated movie I've ever seen) in Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.
Monday, July 13, 2009
HONG KONG PHOOEY gets fan-riffic new movie
From ComingSoon.net:
"Alcon Entertainment is moving forward with its live-action/animated version of Hong Kong Phooey with Alex Zamm on board to direct from David Goodman's script.
Alcon toppers Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove are producing along with Brett Ratner and Jay Stern.
The project is an adaptation of the 1970s Hanna-Barbera animated TV series, about a police station janitor who becomes a dog with mystical powers, including the ability to do kung fu."
It may be hard for you to believe but I am actually a huge fan of Hong Kong Phooey and his alter-ego, Penry. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. I am all for a movie based on this classic cartoon. Just don't let Jackie Chan be the voice of Phooey/Penry. Here's the original intro:
Did you hear the voice of Autobot Jazz? Well, you did! That was Scatman Crothers playing the voice of the #1 super-guy. They should get somebody with as much comic timing and soulful voice as his was.
"Alcon Entertainment is moving forward with its live-action/animated version of Hong Kong Phooey with Alex Zamm on board to direct from David Goodman's script.
Alcon toppers Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove are producing along with Brett Ratner and Jay Stern.
The project is an adaptation of the 1970s Hanna-Barbera animated TV series, about a police station janitor who becomes a dog with mystical powers, including the ability to do kung fu."
It may be hard for you to believe but I am actually a huge fan of Hong Kong Phooey and his alter-ego, Penry. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. I am all for a movie based on this classic cartoon. Just don't let Jackie Chan be the voice of Phooey/Penry. Here's the original intro:
Did you hear the voice of Autobot Jazz? Well, you did! That was Scatman Crothers playing the voice of the #1 super-guy. They should get somebody with as much comic timing and soulful voice as his was.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Three down for GREEN LANTERN
From ComingSoon.net:
"The Hollywood Reporter says that Bradley Cooper, Ryan Reynolds and Justin Timberlake are the three frontrunners for Warner Bros. Pictures' Green Lantern.
Along with director Martin Campbell and producers Donald De Line and Greg Berlanti, Warner Bros. has spent the past five months searching for the actor to play Hal Jordan, the hot-shot Air Force pilot who is chosen by a dying alien to be his successor in an intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern.
The trade adds that De Line, Campbell and the studio each had a different favorite among the three finalists, making it difficult to come to a consensus.
The studio is targeting a June 17, 2011 release."
My choice:
definitely not Justin Timberlake (even if he is a Memphian), he has no business whatsoever being a superhero.
Ryan Reynolds - the obvious choice (to me, he is one of the epitomes of wit, charm and humor, otherwise known as cool) but there's one little problem: Deadpool (how's he's gonna balance two superheroes from two rival comics companies?)
Bradley Cooper - seriously, I don't know enough about this guy. How's he getting all these movie offers when I haven't heard of him? He makes The Hangover and KABOOM! He's getting movie deals up to his head!
UPDATE:
As Stephen Colbert would say, "I PREDICTED IT! I PREDICTED IT! I PREDICTED IT!"
Summer 2011, Ryan Reynolds is the Green Lantern of Sector 2814.
Can you hear it?
"In brightest day, in blackest night
No evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil's might
Beware my power - Green Lantern's light!"
"The Hollywood Reporter says that Bradley Cooper, Ryan Reynolds and Justin Timberlake are the three frontrunners for Warner Bros. Pictures' Green Lantern.
Along with director Martin Campbell and producers Donald De Line and Greg Berlanti, Warner Bros. has spent the past five months searching for the actor to play Hal Jordan, the hot-shot Air Force pilot who is chosen by a dying alien to be his successor in an intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern.
The trade adds that De Line, Campbell and the studio each had a different favorite among the three finalists, making it difficult to come to a consensus.
The studio is targeting a June 17, 2011 release."
My choice:
definitely not Justin Timberlake (even if he is a Memphian), he has no business whatsoever being a superhero.
Ryan Reynolds - the obvious choice (to me, he is one of the epitomes of wit, charm and humor, otherwise known as cool) but there's one little problem: Deadpool (how's he's gonna balance two superheroes from two rival comics companies?)
Bradley Cooper - seriously, I don't know enough about this guy. How's he getting all these movie offers when I haven't heard of him? He makes The Hangover and KABOOM! He's getting movie deals up to his head!
UPDATE:
As Stephen Colbert would say, "I PREDICTED IT! I PREDICTED IT! I PREDICTED IT!"
Summer 2011, Ryan Reynolds is the Green Lantern of Sector 2814.
Can you hear it?
"In brightest day, in blackest night
No evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil's might
Beware my power - Green Lantern's light!"
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Jim Carrey steps into another role... Grandfather
From IMDB.com:
"Jim Carrey is set to be a first-time grandfather - his only daughter Jane is expecting a baby.
The 21-year-old singer-songwriter is preparing to welcome her first child with fiance Alex Santana.
Carrey tells RadarOnline.com, 'I am very excited. Jane is going to be a great mom.'
Jane is Carrey's daughter with first wife Melissa Womer, who he divorced in 1995."
Here is a picture of Carrey when he heard the news:
"I'm so glad to be a granddad."
"Jim Carrey is set to be a first-time grandfather - his only daughter Jane is expecting a baby.
The 21-year-old singer-songwriter is preparing to welcome her first child with fiance Alex Santana.
Carrey tells RadarOnline.com, 'I am very excited. Jane is going to be a great mom.'
Jane is Carrey's daughter with first wife Melissa Womer, who he divorced in 1995."
Here is a picture of Carrey when he heard the news:
"I'm so glad to be a granddad."
TRON 2.0 gets a new plot synopsis!
From Slashfilm:
"Walt Disney Studios has finally revealed a short plot synopsis for Joseph Kosinski's sequel to Tron, a film almost 30 years in the making.
TRON (title not final) (In Disney Digital 3D)
TRON is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that's unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-saavy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladitorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous."
Plot sounds great, can't wait for the new movie! Hopefully, we'll see some new stuff coming out of Comic-Con.
By the way, Comic-Con (especially the Disney side) is getting some star power - Robert Zemeckis (director of A Christmas Carol), Tim Burton (director of Alice in Wonderland), Hayao Miyazaki (director of Ponyo) and John Lasseter (director of Toy Story and Toy Story 2).
"Walt Disney Studios has finally revealed a short plot synopsis for Joseph Kosinski's sequel to Tron, a film almost 30 years in the making.
TRON (title not final) (In Disney Digital 3D)
TRON is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that's unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-saavy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladitorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous."
Plot sounds great, can't wait for the new movie! Hopefully, we'll see some new stuff coming out of Comic-Con.
By the way, Comic-Con (especially the Disney side) is getting some star power - Robert Zemeckis (director of A Christmas Carol), Tim Burton (director of Alice in Wonderland), Hayao Miyazaki (director of Ponyo) and John Lasseter (director of Toy Story and Toy Story 2).
Will Smith Goes SAILing
From ComingSoon.net:
"I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence and star Will Smith are reteaming for a fantastical drama titled The City That Sailed at 20th Century Fox.
The director is developing the project, which is being produced by Smith's Overbrook production company, with an eye to direct.
Written by Andrew Niccol, the story follows a New York City street magician whose daughter, because of family circumstances, lives in England. In exploring a lighthouse one day, the girl discovers a room with magic candles and wishes to be reunited with her father, causing the island of Manhattan to break away and drift across the Pond.
No deals are made for either Lawrence or Smith. Lawrence is simultaneously developing Water for Elephants at Fox 2000 as well as The World Without Us, also at Fox."
Okay, let me question the magic for a moment (something I don't like doing but just let think it out) - if those candles are so magical, why can't they just teleport him from NYC to England? Because it would be a really short and unimaginative film. Moving on...
Let's just hope they don't forget their I Am Legend prequel. I do like the plot, I can see this all happening - every news station in the world would be going crazy with "global disaster" business.
"I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence and star Will Smith are reteaming for a fantastical drama titled The City That Sailed at 20th Century Fox.
The director is developing the project, which is being produced by Smith's Overbrook production company, with an eye to direct.
Written by Andrew Niccol, the story follows a New York City street magician whose daughter, because of family circumstances, lives in England. In exploring a lighthouse one day, the girl discovers a room with magic candles and wishes to be reunited with her father, causing the island of Manhattan to break away and drift across the Pond.
No deals are made for either Lawrence or Smith. Lawrence is simultaneously developing Water for Elephants at Fox 2000 as well as The World Without Us, also at Fox."
Okay, let me question the magic for a moment (something I don't like doing but just let think it out) - if those candles are so magical, why can't they just teleport him from NYC to England? Because it would be a really short and unimaginative film. Moving on...
Let's just hope they don't forget their I Am Legend prequel. I do like the plot, I can see this all happening - every news station in the world would be going crazy with "global disaster" business.
Cameron Diaz wants to get stung by THE GREEN HORNET
From ComingSoon.net:
"'Entertainment Weekly' is reporting that Cameron Diaz is considering an offer to play the female lead in The Green Hornet, opposite Seth Rogen.
The magazine says a deal hasn't been sealed yet, but that she is in early talks for the role.
Michel Gondry is set to direct the film based on a script by Rogen and his writing partner Evan Goldberg. Columbia Pictures is planning a July 9, 2010 release."
Good to see Cameron Diaz is making a return to comedy especially since she delved into extreme drama (My Sister's Keeper) and extreme horror (The Box). By the way, Rogen and Goldberg wrote the hit Superbad. Could this spell success for them again?
"'Entertainment Weekly' is reporting that Cameron Diaz is considering an offer to play the female lead in The Green Hornet, opposite Seth Rogen.
The magazine says a deal hasn't been sealed yet, but that she is in early talks for the role.
Michel Gondry is set to direct the film based on a script by Rogen and his writing partner Evan Goldberg. Columbia Pictures is planning a July 9, 2010 release."
Good to see Cameron Diaz is making a return to comedy especially since she delved into extreme drama (My Sister's Keeper) and extreme horror (The Box). By the way, Rogen and Goldberg wrote the hit Superbad. Could this spell success for them again?
I sentence you to... make a Superman movie by 2011
From ComingSoon.net:
"Warner Bros. and DC Comics have won a favorable ruling in the suit filed by the heirs of 'Superman' co-creator Jerome Siegel. Here are some excerpts from the ruling:
'In a decision announced Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Stephen G. Larson found that the license fees the studio paid to corporate sibling DC Comics didn't represent 'sweetheart' deals as they weren't below fair market value. That means the heirs will be able to seek profits only from DC Comics -- which earned $13.6 million from Warner Bros. for the 2006 release of Superman Returns -- rather than from Warner Bros. as well.
The judge, who concluded a 10-day bench trial, also noted that Warner Bros. chairman Alan Horn had testified that he hopes to make another 'Superman' movie but added that the property wasn't under development at the studio, that no script had been written and that the earliest another 'Superman' pic could be released would be in 2012.
[Siegels' lawyer] Toberoff also asserted in a written statement that the Siegel heirs and the heirs of co-creator Joe Shuster will own the entire Superman copyright in 2013.
'The court pointedly ruled that if Warner Bros. does not start production on another Superman film by 2011, the Siegels will be able to sue to recover their damages,' Toberoff added."
Oh, and didn't somebody (Brandon Routh) just say he was hanging up the tights? And also, isn't there another somebody (Bryan Singer) who's more interested in directing X-Men Origins: Magneto than another Superman? Make some calls, gentlemen! Or the Wachowskis will be sent in.
I'm all for the creators getting back their rights because they deserve them.
"Warner Bros. and DC Comics have won a favorable ruling in the suit filed by the heirs of 'Superman' co-creator Jerome Siegel. Here are some excerpts from the ruling:
'In a decision announced Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Stephen G. Larson found that the license fees the studio paid to corporate sibling DC Comics didn't represent 'sweetheart' deals as they weren't below fair market value. That means the heirs will be able to seek profits only from DC Comics -- which earned $13.6 million from Warner Bros. for the 2006 release of Superman Returns -- rather than from Warner Bros. as well.
The judge, who concluded a 10-day bench trial, also noted that Warner Bros. chairman Alan Horn had testified that he hopes to make another 'Superman' movie but added that the property wasn't under development at the studio, that no script had been written and that the earliest another 'Superman' pic could be released would be in 2012.
[Siegels' lawyer] Toberoff also asserted in a written statement that the Siegel heirs and the heirs of co-creator Joe Shuster will own the entire Superman copyright in 2013.
'The court pointedly ruled that if Warner Bros. does not start production on another Superman film by 2011, the Siegels will be able to sue to recover their damages,' Toberoff added."
Oh, and didn't somebody (Brandon Routh) just say he was hanging up the tights? And also, isn't there another somebody (Bryan Singer) who's more interested in directing X-Men Origins: Magneto than another Superman? Make some calls, gentlemen! Or the Wachowskis will be sent in.
I'm all for the creators getting back their rights because they deserve them.
Brendan Fraser and cast wreaks FURRY VENGEANCE
From ComingSoon.net:
"Brooke Shields, Dick Van Dyke, Ken Joeng, and Samantha Bee have come aboard the live-action family comedy Furry Vengeance at Summit and Participant Media.
Brendan Fraser is playing the lead in Roger Kumble's film, which centers on a real estate developer who gets more than he bargained for from a band of raccoons when he pushes hard into more pristine territory.
Shields will play Tami Sanders, the wife of Fraser's character."
Now, before you go crying, "Details!" let me remind you, this has Brendan Fraser and Dick Van Dyke (thank you for making more movies, sir) in the same movie. It's a sure bet to be a family movie whereas I see The Details being a bit more like National Lampoon's Vacation and the way Clark Griswold was with Ellen Griswold. Just that, "I know what I'm doing, honey!" kind of thing.
"Brooke Shields, Dick Van Dyke, Ken Joeng, and Samantha Bee have come aboard the live-action family comedy Furry Vengeance at Summit and Participant Media.
Brendan Fraser is playing the lead in Roger Kumble's film, which centers on a real estate developer who gets more than he bargained for from a band of raccoons when he pushes hard into more pristine territory.
Shields will play Tami Sanders, the wife of Fraser's character."
Now, before you go crying, "Details!" let me remind you, this has Brendan Fraser and Dick Van Dyke (thank you for making more movies, sir) in the same movie. It's a sure bet to be a family movie whereas I see The Details being a bit more like National Lampoon's Vacation and the way Clark Griswold was with Ellen Griswold. Just that, "I know what I'm doing, honey!" kind of thing.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
MACGRUBER fixes itself a director and cast
From ComingSoon.net:
"Jorma Taccone will direct MacGruber, based on the 'Saturday Night Live' sketch parody of the TV show 'MacGyver'. Filming will begin next month in New Mexico.
The sketch stars Will Forte and Kristen Wiig (who replaced Maya Rudolph). Richard Dean Anderson (who played the title role in the 'MacGyver' series) has also appeared on 'MacGruber'. The shorts are written by Forte, John Solomon, and Taccone.
Ryan Phillipe is in negotiations to star in the feature, with Val Kilmer in negotiations to also join the Paramount and Relativity Media production.
In the film, the legendary, much decorated MacGruber is pulled out of retirement as a monk in Ecuador by a colonel, who needs him once more to fight on behalf of his country. This time the mission involves going up against the evil Cunth, who has a nuclear warhead; the mission is personal because Cunth killed MacGruber's bride.
The movie version would see Phillipe playing Piper, an Army officer forced to pair up with a reluctant MacGruber. Kilmer would be Cunth.
Taccone is responsible for creating the character and directed most of the spots with the exception of the Jonah Hill and Shia LaBeouf episodes, which were both directed by John Solomon.
The sketch revolves around MacGruber always becoming consumed with some sort of personal issue, to the detriment of himself and his assistants."
Nice action-comedy going on. I can definitely see this happening.
By the way, Jorma Taccone is well-known to film audiences this summer for playing the role of Cha-Ka in Land of the Lost.
"Jorma Taccone will direct MacGruber, based on the 'Saturday Night Live' sketch parody of the TV show 'MacGyver'. Filming will begin next month in New Mexico.
The sketch stars Will Forte and Kristen Wiig (who replaced Maya Rudolph). Richard Dean Anderson (who played the title role in the 'MacGyver' series) has also appeared on 'MacGruber'. The shorts are written by Forte, John Solomon, and Taccone.
Ryan Phillipe is in negotiations to star in the feature, with Val Kilmer in negotiations to also join the Paramount and Relativity Media production.
In the film, the legendary, much decorated MacGruber is pulled out of retirement as a monk in Ecuador by a colonel, who needs him once more to fight on behalf of his country. This time the mission involves going up against the evil Cunth, who has a nuclear warhead; the mission is personal because Cunth killed MacGruber's bride.
The movie version would see Phillipe playing Piper, an Army officer forced to pair up with a reluctant MacGruber. Kilmer would be Cunth.
Taccone is responsible for creating the character and directed most of the spots with the exception of the Jonah Hill and Shia LaBeouf episodes, which were both directed by John Solomon.
The sketch revolves around MacGruber always becoming consumed with some sort of personal issue, to the detriment of himself and his assistants."
Nice action-comedy going on. I can definitely see this happening.
By the way, Jorma Taccone is well-known to film audiences this summer for playing the role of Cha-Ka in Land of the Lost.
Tobey Maguire learns THE DETAILS
From ComingSoon.net:
"Tobey Maguire is set to star in The Details, an indie black comedy written and directed by Jacob Estes. Shooting begins August in Seattle.
Maguire joins Elizabeth Banks (who plays Betty Brant in the Spider-Man pics) in the film about a struggling married couple who, already struggling with issues like infidelity and whether they should stay married, see their lives further complicated by ravenous raccoons burrowing under the sod in their back yard. A disagreement over how to dispatch the pests creates a chain reaction of mishaps.
Ray Liotta, Dennis Haysbert and Anna Friel round out the cast and Laura Linney is attached to play an eccentric neighbor.
Maguire steps into a role that James McAvoy held until a scheduling conflict knocked him out of the picture. Maguire decided to do the film before making Spider-Man 4 with director Sam Raimi in 2010."
Glad to see Maguire doing a comedy after the Spider-Man movies (which are slightly funny, don't get me wrong) and his other historical dramas. If you haven't seen Pleasantville (featuring one of Don Knotts' final cinematic performances) it is funny as well. But don't ever mention Cats & Dogs...
Also glad to see Maguire pairing up with Elizabeth Banks. I believe she is an actress that deserves watching. It mentions them being together in the Spider-Man movies but also they co-starred in Seabiscuit.
"Tobey Maguire is set to star in The Details, an indie black comedy written and directed by Jacob Estes. Shooting begins August in Seattle.
Maguire joins Elizabeth Banks (who plays Betty Brant in the Spider-Man pics) in the film about a struggling married couple who, already struggling with issues like infidelity and whether they should stay married, see their lives further complicated by ravenous raccoons burrowing under the sod in their back yard. A disagreement over how to dispatch the pests creates a chain reaction of mishaps.
Ray Liotta, Dennis Haysbert and Anna Friel round out the cast and Laura Linney is attached to play an eccentric neighbor.
Maguire steps into a role that James McAvoy held until a scheduling conflict knocked him out of the picture. Maguire decided to do the film before making Spider-Man 4 with director Sam Raimi in 2010."
Glad to see Maguire doing a comedy after the Spider-Man movies (which are slightly funny, don't get me wrong) and his other historical dramas. If you haven't seen Pleasantville (featuring one of Don Knotts' final cinematic performances) it is funny as well. But don't ever mention Cats & Dogs...
Also glad to see Maguire pairing up with Elizabeth Banks. I believe she is an actress that deserves watching. It mentions them being together in the Spider-Man movies but also they co-starred in Seabiscuit.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
BAYWATCH slow-mo runs to the big screen... as a comedy?
From ComingSoon.net:
"Paramount Pictures has set Jeremy Garelick to rewrite and direct Baywatch, a big screen comedy based on the syndiacated series about lifeguards who patrol a beach in California.
The film marks Garelick's directing debut. The writer, who most recently did an uncredited rewrite of The Hangover with Todd Phillips, has written Murray at Large for Phillips to produce and possibly direct at Warner Bros., and also scripted The Insane Laws at Columbia.
DreamWorks has bought the remake rights in 2005 and got a script by Jay Scherick and David Ronn that was heavy on action. Though he never saw the original TV show, Garelick saw an opportunity to turn it into broad comedy.
'It felt like the template to do a movie that was similar to Stripes and Police Academy, the comedies I loved growing up,' Garelick said.
The script now focuses on two unlikely lifeguard candidates trying to catch on alongside the buff bodies that will be as abundant in the film as they were in the were in the TV series."
Okay, somebody put out a call to David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson to at least cameo.
I've read that Jessica Simpson has been contracted to play C.J. Parker (Anderson's role) in any version of a Baywatch film.
"Paramount Pictures has set Jeremy Garelick to rewrite and direct Baywatch, a big screen comedy based on the syndiacated series about lifeguards who patrol a beach in California.
The film marks Garelick's directing debut. The writer, who most recently did an uncredited rewrite of The Hangover with Todd Phillips, has written Murray at Large for Phillips to produce and possibly direct at Warner Bros., and also scripted The Insane Laws at Columbia.
DreamWorks has bought the remake rights in 2005 and got a script by Jay Scherick and David Ronn that was heavy on action. Though he never saw the original TV show, Garelick saw an opportunity to turn it into broad comedy.
'It felt like the template to do a movie that was similar to Stripes and Police Academy, the comedies I loved growing up,' Garelick said.
The script now focuses on two unlikely lifeguard candidates trying to catch on alongside the buff bodies that will be as abundant in the film as they were in the were in the TV series."
Okay, somebody put out a call to David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson to at least cameo.
I've read that Jessica Simpson has been contracted to play C.J. Parker (Anderson's role) in any version of a Baywatch film.
Monday, July 6, 2009
T.J. HOOKER jumps into the movies
From ComingSoon.net:
"T.J. Hooker is headed to the big screen as an action comedy with David Foster, Ryan Heppe and series creator Rick Husty producing.
Chuck Russell (The Scorpion King, The Mask) is in talks to direct. The writing team of Brent Maddock and S.S. Wilson will script the story, which focuses on the relationship between the title character and his father.
The TV series, produced by Aaron Spelling, debuted in 1982 on ABC and ran for five seasons, the last on CBS. William Shatner starred as a no-nonsense patrol sargeant, with Adrian Zmed, Heather Locklear, Richard Herd and James Darren co-stars."
Okay. I have a few opinions - all positive - for this. Chris Pine should star as T.J. and William Shatner should star as the father. And the action comedy should be more like Paul Blart: Mall Cop (which was a funny movie).
"T.J. Hooker is headed to the big screen as an action comedy with David Foster, Ryan Heppe and series creator Rick Husty producing.
Chuck Russell (The Scorpion King, The Mask) is in talks to direct. The writing team of Brent Maddock and S.S. Wilson will script the story, which focuses on the relationship between the title character and his father.
The TV series, produced by Aaron Spelling, debuted in 1982 on ABC and ran for five seasons, the last on CBS. William Shatner starred as a no-nonsense patrol sargeant, with Adrian Zmed, Heather Locklear, Richard Herd and James Darren co-stars."
Okay. I have a few opinions - all positive - for this. Chris Pine should star as T.J. and William Shatner should star as the father. And the action comedy should be more like Paul Blart: Mall Cop (which was a funny movie).
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Stan Lee swings a cameo in VENOM spinoff
From SuperheroHype.com:
"At this point, it's a foregone conclusion that Marvel's former president and chairman Stan Lee will have a cameo in every single movie based on a Marvel Comics character whether or not he had any direct association with that character during his lengthy career. But how many of the upcoming movies can claim that he's already been written into the script?
Zombieland creators Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese... admitted to us that Lee will appear in the Venom movie and that they've even already written his part!
'Oh, yeah. Stan Lee is in it,' Reese told us. 'I feel like that's the one thing we can say. He does appear in our script, and we're very specific about where he is and why. May he live forever. Let's hope he's in many movies to come.'"
Good to see ol' Stan is still the Man! Better hurry up on these movies, guys! And no, Topher Grace will not appear as Venom as he did in Spider-Man 3. I don't see how this movie will be possible without mentioning Spider-Man. But it will be worth it to see Stan Lee.
"At this point, it's a foregone conclusion that Marvel's former president and chairman Stan Lee will have a cameo in every single movie based on a Marvel Comics character whether or not he had any direct association with that character during his lengthy career. But how many of the upcoming movies can claim that he's already been written into the script?
Zombieland creators Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese... admitted to us that Lee will appear in the Venom movie and that they've even already written his part!
'Oh, yeah. Stan Lee is in it,' Reese told us. 'I feel like that's the one thing we can say. He does appear in our script, and we're very specific about where he is and why. May he live forever. Let's hope he's in many movies to come.'"
Good to see ol' Stan is still the Man! Better hurry up on these movies, guys! And no, Topher Grace will not appear as Venom as he did in Spider-Man 3. I don't see how this movie will be possible without mentioning Spider-Man. But it will be worth it to see Stan Lee.
Friday, July 3, 2009
VIEW-MASTER: The Movie?
From ComingSoon.net:
"'Fringe' co-producer/writer Brad Caleb Kane will be writing a movie based on the View-Master toy, which first came on the market in 1939. He announced... that after he's done penning the sci-fi action-adventure Uprising for director Wolfgang Petersen and Columbia Pictures, he will take on the project for DreamWorks Pictures. Kane says Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci ('Fringe,' Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Star Trek) are behind the film and that it will be "like the old 80's Amblin movies: Goonies, Young Sherlock... In that vein."
Okay, this has me stumped. How on Earth do you make a movie about a toy that has no mythology to it (ala Transformers and G.I. Joe)? Let's hope that Kurtzman and Orci can work their magic on this toy.
"'Fringe' co-producer/writer Brad Caleb Kane will be writing a movie based on the View-Master toy, which first came on the market in 1939. He announced... that after he's done penning the sci-fi action-adventure Uprising for director Wolfgang Petersen and Columbia Pictures, he will take on the project for DreamWorks Pictures. Kane says Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci ('Fringe,' Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Star Trek) are behind the film and that it will be "like the old 80's Amblin movies: Goonies, Young Sherlock... In that vein."
Okay, this has me stumped. How on Earth do you make a movie about a toy that has no mythology to it (ala Transformers and G.I. Joe)? Let's hope that Kurtzman and Orci can work their magic on this toy.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
ASTEROIDS: The Movie?
From ComingSoon.net:
"Universal has won a four-studio bidding war to pick up the film rights to the classic Atari video game 'Asteroids'.... Matthew Lopez will write the script for the feature adaptation, which will be produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura. In 'Asteroids,' initially released as an arcade game in 1979, a player controlled a triangular space ship in an asteroid field.... Universal is also developing movies based on Hasbro board game properties such as 'Battleship,' 'Candyland,' 'Ouija,' 'Monopoly' and 'Clue.'"
If anybody's interested here's a link to an unofficial way to play the game - "http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=56844"
"Universal has won a four-studio bidding war to pick up the film rights to the classic Atari video game 'Asteroids'.... Matthew Lopez will write the script for the feature adaptation, which will be produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura. In 'Asteroids,' initially released as an arcade game in 1979, a player controlled a triangular space ship in an asteroid field.... Universal is also developing movies based on Hasbro board game properties such as 'Battleship,' 'Candyland,' 'Ouija,' 'Monopoly' and 'Clue.'"
If anybody's interested here's a link to an unofficial way to play the game - "http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=56844"
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Michael Jackson has passed...
From ComingSoon.net:
"Legendary pop star Michael Jackson died at the age of 50 on Thursday. Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. PDT (9:26 p.m. EDT) after arriving at a Los Angeles hospital in full cardiac arrest. The cause of death was not known and an autopsy would likely take place on Friday. Jackson was taken ill at home and his personal physician tried to resuscitate him but could not. He was taken by paramedics to the hospital, where doctors worked for more than an hour to try to revive him before pronouncing him dead. Jackson had 13 number one hits during his solo career, won 13 Grammy Awards, and his lifetime record sales tally was believed to be about 750 million. He is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II. Jackson was getting ready to start a series of concerts in London that would have lasted from July 8th until March 6th, 2010. Jackson's music appeared on many movie soundtracks. He played Scarecrow in the 1978 movie The Wiz, appeared as Captain EO in the Disney resort attraction, had a small role in Men in Black II and starred in the extended videos for 'Thriller,' 'Bad' and 'Moonwalker.'"
The Day the Thriller Died, am I right?
Farrah Fawcett has passed...
I realize that it has been a while since I've updated but I have to keep track on all the news - even ones from a week ago.
From ComingSoon.net:
"Farrah Fawcett, the blonde-maned actress whose best-selling poster and 'Charlie's Angels' stardom made her one of the most famous faces in the world, has died. She was 62. Fawcett, who checked into a Los Angeles, California, hospital in early April, had been battling anal cancer on and off for three years. Ryan O'Neal, Fawcett's romantic partner since the mid-1980s, recently told People magazine that the sex symbol was declining. Her official website made the following statement: 'I am sorry to say our Farrah has passed to a better place and left the pain and confines of her bed behind. She is free to be the woman we all knew and loved. So Few have touched so many. You all keep Fighting the Fight.'"
From ComingSoon.net:
"Farrah Fawcett, the blonde-maned actress whose best-selling poster and 'Charlie's Angels' stardom made her one of the most famous faces in the world, has died. She was 62. Fawcett, who checked into a Los Angeles, California, hospital in early April, had been battling anal cancer on and off for three years. Ryan O'Neal, Fawcett's romantic partner since the mid-1980s, recently told People magazine that the sex symbol was declining. Her official website made the following statement: 'I am sorry to say our Farrah has passed to a better place and left the pain and confines of her bed behind. She is free to be the woman we all knew and loved. So Few have touched so many. You all keep Fighting the Fight.'"
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