And now, in the tradition of Ishtar, Waterworld, Pluto Nash and so many other over-inflated, big budget Hollywood turkeys comes…John Carter. John Carter completely lives up/down to its advance thumbs-down buzz: noisy, uninvolving, unlikeable characters, every cliché in the book strung together like pearls on a necklace – and poorly performed. Full disclosure: I only was able to sit through the first half hour of this thing before bailing, so maybe it got better after I left – but I doubt it. Read more…
I always have difficulty writing about the passing of artists and visionaries who inspired so many over the years. It’s as if nothing I could write or say could even begin to express the loss the industry faces each time it happens. Nevertheless, it’s only appropriate that we honor them for their contributions. This time it’s Ralph McQuarrie, the conceptual artist whose work dictated the visual direction for films and series such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Battlestar Galactica, and even Raiders of the Lost Ark, but is best known for his work on Star Wars. Read more…
Looking for bizarre promotional products for the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man film? Here’s one of the oddest: Spider-Man nail polish. Sure, given the market that the new movie is aimed at, this isn’t too surprising, but I can’t help but feel that fan girls won’t really flock to this. The most terrifying thing here is the names, though. “Just Spotted the Lizard??” Is that a euphemism or something? “Call Me Gwen-ever?” Really? Read more…
I love behind-the-scenes and production videos. It’s especially great when someone like Peter Jackson gives you details into the work behind the upcoming Hobbit film. It’s really impressive how nicely made these video blogs are, too. This is the sixth one so far, and it details Andy Serkis’ work as the second unit director, dwarves fooling around, almost getting swept away in a flash flood, beautiful New Zealand landscapes, and oranges. Lots and lots of oranges. Click through for the full 12-minute video. Read more…
Who doesn’t want some awesome hi-def Indiana Jones action? Finally, after much waiting, we’ve gotten an official announcement of Indiana Jones arriving on Blu-Ray this fall. Sadly, there aren’t really any other details aside from the announcement itself and an Amazon listing for the package that features the pricetag of $75. I’d pay more if Crystal Skull was left out. I kid, I kid. Check out the 720p trailer after the jump. Read more…
Today, Paramount and Marvel are set to release their latest trailer for The Avengers. It’s available via Apple.com, so we won’t be able to stream it for you, but if you’re so inclined, click here to visit Apple’s trailer page. The film is still set for early May, so we only have a few more months to wait and from what we’ve seen so far, I really hope it’ll be worth the wait. What little has been revealed seems promising enough, but even with all the press floating around the set, there’s always that chance the film could fail to deliver — especially when dealing with such a star-studded cast. There’s a lot of egos involved, and it’ll be interesting to see if they function dynamically. Whedon certainly had his work cut out for him, so let’s hope it pays off. The Avengers will hit theaters May 4th.
The comedy epic Monty Python and the Holy Grail is finally making Blu-ray debut. The film’s been “digitally remastered for high-definition,” so I imagine that means they did more than just upscale the previous DVD release. The Blu-ray release will also include several exclusive features, such as “Second Screen Experience” compatibility, along with extended scenes, outtakes, lost animations and more. Finally, the disc features UltraViolet compatibility, granting its owner a digital license for the product. The owner can then instantly stream, or download a digital copy of the film. Monty Python and the Holy Grail will be available March 6th and retails for $19.99, but you can pre-order it via Amazon for just $12.99. Read more…
Brave is Pixar’s next big film and certainly one of my most anticipated films of the year. I’m sure many of you are excited as well, and luckily Disney and Pixar are here to supply you with your next look at the film. It’s a great little scene introducing the main character, Merida, and her skills at archery. The setting is great as well – my only gripe with this clip is the juvenile humor. Come on Pixar, you can do better than that and we both know it. Check the clip after the jump! Read more…
I always thought it’d be cool to own one of those hover boards from Back to the Future II & III, but I don’t think anyone has actually tried to manufacture one, that is, until now. Revealed at yesterday’s New York Toy Fair, MattyCollector.com plans to manufacture a 1:1 scale replica of Marty’s hover board as it was seen in the films. While they claim the board doesn’t actually hover, it apparently glides over most surfaces. Additionally, the cost of manufacturing the boards would be so much that they will need to reach a certain amount of pre-orders before going ahead with production. If the minimum, which has yet to be disclosed along with the price, is not met by the deadline of March 20th, all pre-orders will be refunded in full. Again, while the price has yet to be disclosed, pre-orders will start on March 1st and run through the 20th. Oh and keep in mind, it won’t work on water.
The highest-grossing film in China is arriving on American shores finally, and Well Go USA has brought us a new trailer via AICN to help promote it. Let The Bullets Fly broke box-office records in China in 2010 and starred Chow Yun-Fat, Jiang Wen, and Ge You as the main characters. It’s a bit goofy, features dark humor, and is very, very violent. When it shows up March 2nd it’ll be showing in select theaters and will be available On Demand as well. Click through for the trailer! Read more…
I’ll take any opportunity to write about Blade Runner, and the last week has been filled with speculation and rumors. It all began with Twitch posting an article claiming they learned that Harrison Ford was in talks to join the sequel. Two days later, the head honchos at Alcon (the company financing the sequel) said this wasn’t true at all. Now, AICN posted an Entertainment Weekly article in which Ridley Scott himself speaks out on the film. What did he have to say? Read more…
I think its safe to call The Princess Bride a timeless classic. I’ve always been fond of it, and I don’t believe I’ve ever met anyone who felt otherwise. That said, I never thought I’d ever see any merchandise based off the film, or book for that matter, and certainly not a collectible figure. Fortunately, that didn’t stop Factory Entertainment from delivering. Introducing their 1/5th scale Dread Pirate Roberts. This 15″ statue features the Man in Black as he appears during his infamous duel atop the “Cliffs of Insanity.” It actually has a companion piece featuring Inigo Montoya which you can view below. The two statues are designed to attach to each other, allowing you to capture the scene properly.
Last year we heard about MGM’s plans to reboot the Robocop franchise. While I wasn’t adverse to the idea, I truly hoped they would just craft a new sequel. It might not have worked out so well for Singer’s Superman Returns, but the original Robocop was quite good for its time, claymation aside. That said, I can’t fault director José Padilha for wanting to place his own stamp on the iconic series. Now it seems he’s found just the man to make that happen. Read more…
Here’s a quick teaser for Lego’s Lord of the Rings product line. Why does Lego taunt me with such awesomeness? They knew I outgrew my building phase years ago, yet they’ve waited until now to land this epic license. While I’m sure I won’t have nearly as much fun as I would have if I were still eight years old, I’ll definitely consider picking one up when they hit stores, and judging by how great the characters look, I’m sure they won’t disappoint. I do wonder if this also means we’ll be seeing some Hobbit-themed sets this holiday season. Be sure to visit the official site for more info on the upcoming sets. Read more…
If you happen to be living in New Zealand, and want a chance to be an extra in Peter Jackson’s upcoming live-action adaptation of The Hobbit, then you’re in luck. The production recently placed an ad on Trademe.co.nz, looking for extras for a variety of roles. Large men, & women with “character faces,” and by that, I assume they mean “leathery,” or men & women under 5’4″ & 5′, respectively. I imagine they’ll be cast as hobbits. They’re also looking for people with slim builds between 5’5″ & 6’4″ to play elves. Finally, they’ll take any men with large biceps of any height. Again, it’s just work as an extra, but you have to admit that of all the films to be cast in, you could do worse. If its something you just have to do, keep in mind that you’ll have to be a resident of New Zealand, or obtain a valid work permit before they’ll even consider you for a part. For more info, check out the job listing here.
I’ve been fascinated by the digital vs. film argument that’s been going on for a bit now. 24 frames per second or 48? Texture and grain or crisp and clean? Have we been too accustomed to film to appreciate digital cinematography? I personally love the look of traditional film, but it’s a very nerdy subject to be sure, as many people hardly can tell the difference (or don’t care). Yet, I still am incredibly interested in the topic – and so are Chris Kenneally and Keanu Reeves who are creating a documentary about the different perspectives in the film industry relating to digital and film cinema. Click through for the trailer, featuring interviews with George Lucas, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Martin Scorsese and more. Read more…
The third Riddick film has had some hard times. Financial problems and, you know, not having a studio supporting you can definitely negatively affect things when you’re trying to make a movie. Vin Diesel is certainly persistent though, and working with writer and director David Twohy they’re struggling to get this film off the ground. We heard production would start up again, sometime back in November, but I still had my doubts. Now it looks like things really are happening, as Vin Diesel posted an image on Facebook of him in full costume. Read more…
Looking for a little action? A new trailer was released recently to promote a documentary from D & E Entertainment focusing on the life of Bruce Lee. It features many interviews with the man himself, as well as many people who knew him. It’s getting a limited release on February 9th and 15th only, in select theaters, so if you’re interested in catching it, I recommend checking the full listing of showings here. Click through for the trailer! Read more…
Since the late 70s Ryuichi Sakamoto has been a musical powerhouse of J-pop and numerous film soundtracks. He got his start playing the keyboards with the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) from 1978 until the group broke up in 1983. After that he went solo and also produced records for quite a few other artists in addition to working on movie scores. One of his first soundtracks was for the 1983 film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. Of course as an anime fanboy my favorite from the 80s was the soundtrack to the 1987 film Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise. Read more…
I’ve never been big on owning box sets while a franchise is still on-going, but in this instance, I might make an exception. It’s true that James Bond has always remained a controversial character, and while he’s often described as misogynistic, sexist, and even a tad juvenile, he remains one of the most iconic heroes to ever grace the silver screen. For the first time ever, all twenty two 007 films will be made available for Blu-ray, nine of which have never been released in high definition — that is, until now.
Like many of you, I had my reservations about Spielberg and Moffat’s The Adventures of Tintin. Based on Georges Remi’s classic comics, the film served as an attempt to revive the series with state-of-the-art 3D animation. After having the pleasure of seeing the film in theaters, those reservations were laid to rest. While the 3D animation may initially appeal to kids, the films plot, littered with a healthy dose of violence and alcoholism, befits a more mature audience — especially those of us who grew up with the comics. Back in November, Weta released a hardcover coffee table art book giving fans a glimpse at the creative process behind the film. Now they’re taking it a step further with its digital release.
This has to be the third or fourth spoof I’ve seen for The Dark Knight Rises trailer, and it’s probably the best one yet. Editor and director, Brad Hansen, decided to sync the audio from the trailer with clips from Disney’s The Lion King. It’s pretty amazing how it all fit together so well. It’s certainly more entertaining than the original trailer, but that’s not too hard to manage.
Here’s bit of sad news to start out the new year. Bob Anderson, Hollywood Sword Master and former Sith Lord passed away on Monday. The 89 year-old Olympian choreographed some of Hollywood’s most memorable fights, but is best known for his role as Darth Vader, having donned the mask for many of his iconic duels.
Although we’ve seen him in numerous internet shorts and TV guest spots, it’s been awhile since Will Farrel’s last feature film. Our hopes were pinned on a sequel for 2004’s Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy, but Paramount nixed the film back in May. Ironically, Farrell and company are using Anchorman to market their upcoming film, Casa de mi Padre. Read more…
