I’m only kidding (maybe) but, given all these potential plot spoilers (well, to those who haven’t read the books yet) and ego-powered chest puffing going on from the principals and production team, you’d think the film was all done and already released. Of course, this is the era of “leaked” footage and sneaky on-set photographs, so at least these lengthy clips are not only official issue, but done quite well. Of course, they’ll probably be on the disc versions anyway at some point along with a ton of other features being shot and edited as you read this. I do wonder if these videos clock in as part of the film’s total budget, though…
It’s actually pretty amazing how well Ridley Scott is playing his hand here, but I still don’t think a lot of folks quite “get” it yet. In setting up Prometheus as NOT an actual “linked” prequel to Alien (it takes place so far back in time that you more than likely won’t see the famous xenomorph some still expect at all) but a trip back to the building of the bookends, there’s a kind of meta brilliance here that makes the TED Talk even more intriguing. It also made me wonder if there will be a third film by Scott just to finish off any loose ends at some point in the near future. All I’ll say is he’s giving Fox a HUGE gift and they’d better not screw it up like they did with the franchise after Alien Resurrection (which had its flaws, but was still a fun flick to watch). June 8 is the date, so mark your calendars, folks. I think this one will have many minds blown by the time the end credits roll…
Hmmm. Warner Brothers is REALLY pushing this mega-million buck sequel harder than Sisyphus rolling that big rock up some hellish hill. Here’s to hoping they succeed in their efforts. I’m gathering they’re trying to NOT be putting themselves or their film in the same boat as John Carter, which has been getting batted around like a catnip toy by a LOT of cranky fanboys who are judging it based on the Disney name and some odd music choices in the trailer alone. Oh, and too much CG, which seems to be something you can’t get away from even if you tried. Granted, the best indie sci-fi/horror flick from last year, Attack The Block, absolutely nailed it with some excellently scary CG aliens (go check it out if you haven’t yet – it’s quite an awesome little movie), but I guess it’s all about moderation over overkill at the end of the day.
Anyway, onward to more Wrath (but hopefully, not for ruin, ha ha…)
Want more? Well, prepare your eyeballs and release the Kra… oh, never mind. Three more commercials below the jump – collect ’em all!
Well, it’s darker, grittier and more action-packed than the recent remake (which was pretty dark, gritty and action-packed to begin with) and yup, folks who loved the first will be all over this one like cats at a sushi bar. Still, for all the awesomely bombastic CGI effects, I still miss that more human touch Ray Harryhausen had with his work on the original (plus his other work from the era). Well, minor complaining aside, it’s nice to see this franchise expanding with a followup flick… although as I noted last year, the third movie’s title is going to be a pain in the neck to come up with. I say go with “War of the Titans” and call it a night…
More gorgeous Studio Ghibli goodness? Sure, why not? Thanks to me not paying much attention to Disney’s output for a while (other than keeping a eyebrow raised over John Carter which I really HOPE is good), I completely missed this trailer for the Miyazaki-produced animated film opening tomorrow. It looks mighty impressive from the trailer and I’ll probably catch it once it appears on cable (hey, I’m cheap and don’t go to movies unless I get premiere tickets or it’s something like PROMETHEUS, which demands you see it or else). That said, I’ll always have a bigger attachment to the source material, the great 1952 book by Mary Norton. Go borrow a copy – I think you won’t be disappointed one bit. Just remember to return it at some point or someone will be tearing up floorboards looking for you…
OK, despite some interesting performances and casting, I despised Spider-Man 3, and despite the bank-breaking box office tallies, so did a lot of you out there (from what I’ve read). Apparently, so did a good chunk of the cast who worked on the trilogy, as they’ve been replaced with new blood for this 3D reboot. Well, all that cast tweaking (and a new director) seems to have paid off, as this spectacular-looking trailer someone actually woke me up about so I could post it (grrrr!) shows. Enjoy – I’m going the heck back to bed now, zzzzzzzz….
Yeah, it’s real (with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and official movie site pages up and running) and yes, I couldn’t stop laughing despite the dead serious action vibe in the trailer posted above. Yikes. Is Hollywood REALLY that short on ideas that they’re going BACK to making movies based on board games? Can I get a Clue, anyone? OK, Clue was kind of amusing in a way, but still… yeesh. If this film makes money, well then dear reader, Milton Bradley/Hasbro has a ton of dusty old games on the top shelf of the hall closer to pick through for “new” film projects. Personally, I’d love to see Operation or Hungry Hungry Hippos turned into modern horror flicks a laSAW or some other icky torture porn, if we’re going to go all the way with the baffling ideas taken to illogical extremes.
Feh, I guess anyone under 25 was all psyched that this slick new action flick is shooting into theaters this May. As for yours truly and probably anyone else of a certain vintage that remembers the game and those goofy commercials (“You sunk my battleship!” )… we’ll pass on spending money for a ticket, but we WILL be sure to get a little drunk one night and catch this when it hits cable sometime early next year (if not sooner)…
I’m a little late on commenting about this deal, but I don’t waste a lot of time trolling the Internet for this sort of thing and when I come across it, I usually hope it’s a really bad joke. Unfortunately, it’s not. Paul Verhoeven’s near-perfect blend of sci-fi, action and satire is soon to join the ranks of many other classics that got the remake treatment. Now, I could be completely wrong here, but I’m old and have a very long memory, so I doubt it. Given the pile of changes made since the idea of the remake gained traction over the past two years and the recent rumor about Russell Crowe being attached as the lead, the project seems to me it’s going to be a very expensive failure even if it goes in a completely new direction (and makes a pile of money in the process). On the other hand, after watching the original yesterday just to see what what was wrong that a remake HAD to be green-lit, here’s what I found… Continue reading →
That’s a compliment by the way. No matter if they’re good, bad or somewhere in between, Besson’s films are always interesting to watch thanks to some excellent action scenes and fun casting choices. The plot to this upcoming sci-fi action film 9Which Besson wrote and produced) reminds me of a cross between John Carpenter’s Escape from New York, Besson’s own District B13 and Sega’s arcade hit, Dynamite Deka. That said, I don’t expect any sort of licensed video game tie-in at all. Granted, if this flick was made a decade or so ago, I’d bet we’d be seeing a game version pop up on the Dreamcast or PS2, Xbox and GameCube as a story-based beat ’em up/action game with the usual collection elements added for good measure. As the film is set for an April 20, 2012 release, don’t expect anything playable to pop up unless it’s some social or mobile/tablet game cobbled together quickly as a cash-in.
Still one of the most intense films I’ve seen, Henri-Georges Clouzot’s 1953 masterpiece will have you glued to the screen and peeling the fabric off whatever you’re sitting on as the movie puts its characters through sheer hell. Set somewhere in South America, the plot has four desperate men take on the challenge of driving two trucks packed with nitroglycerine through some hellish territory in order to help put out a massive oil well fire.
The film touches on a few political points in its (deservedly) negative portrayal of the American oil company that hires the drivers, some not so safe workplace practices and general employee exploitation. However, none of the major characters in the film are what you’d call “good” in terms of morality and motivation. They’re in it for the money and a way back to a better life they left that pushed them to this wretched corner of the globe. The film builds up so much tension that each perilous section of the long drive is practically the most terrifying as the danger increases thanks to all sorts of environmental and human created trouble. It’s practically guaranteed that you’ll forget to breathe at least three times during the more insane sections of the journey where the slightest mistake could send these men to their doom long before they reach their goal.
What works from start to finish are the oppressive atmosphere and fantastic performances by all the principals. Yves Montand and Charles Vanel absolutely steal the show as two of the drivers chosen to transport the volatile cargo to its destination. The deliberate pacing at the beginning is simply Clouzot slowly winding you up to a tight coiled spring that’s going to snap once things get rolling. There’s not a dull moment to be had here, although I’ll admit that Clouzot’s only error was the casting of his too-gorgeous wife, Vera as the local gal that falls for Montand’s character. Granted, she’s the best-looking person in the film, but she’s not portrayed all that well if you’re looking for a likable female character in a flick full of brutes. William Friedkin’s excellent (but not quite as spectacular) 1977 remake, Sorcerer, takes care of this with some more realistic casting for her part, but Clouzot’s cinematographer, Armand Thirard does some truly incredible work that’s still impressive in terms of lending a natural (and very deadly) feel to the environments.
There are some white-knuckle, nail-biting moments (if you can grip an armrest and bite your nails simultaneously, that is) that include a trip across a rotting wooden bridge, the truckers dealing with a huge boulder in their path and the sudden loss of part of their cargo and the aftermath. Oh yeah, that ending? It’s a total corker that may catch you off guard. OK, I’ll stop here as I don’t want to spoil anything more and heck, you need to go watch this as soon as you can. Don’t forget to grab a friend who hasn’t seen this and prepare for a wild ride you’ll want to recommend to as many people as possible. Back next week with another recommendation – watch this space (well, after you go watch the film)…
"DESTROY ALL FANBOYS!" 