Regular updates from our film guru...
FANTASTIC FOUR NEWS
A NEW SUPERMAN RETURNS!
CHRISTOPHER REEVE passes away
John Woo to Make Live-Action HE-MAN
RTE's website has reported that the action figure and cartoon hero HE-MAN is returning to the big screen in a new movie.
MAN ON FIRE - A Punter's Review
TRAVOLTA to Write Autobiography
Finally DOOM the movie!
02 November 2004
Exclusive news just out via JoBlo of the new FANTASTIC FOUR film.
Thet've been lucky enough to get a walk around the new set and a few revealing interviews.
Have a look yourself by clicking here. There was far too much information to fit onto this page.
Information includes the latest images of the fab four and Doc Doom. They are played by Michael Chiklis (Ben Grimm/The Thing), Jessica Alba (Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman), Chris Evans (not the ginger-ninja we brits know) (Johnny Storm/The Human Torch), Ioan Gruffudd (Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic) and Julian McMahon (Victor Von Doom/Dr. Doom).
JoBlo did have a small trailer, but they had to take it off due to the fact it wasn't finished footage. Keep them peeled for any footage out there. The Human Torch footage alone will be ground breaking.
21 October 2004
Some news since the passing of Chris Reeve… and straight from Bryan Singer's mouth to a room full of attendees at the screening of X2: X MEN UNITED at the Arclight Cinemas in Hollywood.
Brandon Routh is confirmed. Finally a web rumour that's true.
Routh is more known in the US for being in the day-time soap ONE LIFE TO LIVE.
Brian Singer also made a special appearance and answered some questions regarding the movie.
"As of today, yes. He's Superman. He has the perfect physicality for the role and will be great."
He then went on to tell about how he actually pitched his idea to Richard Donner, director of the original SUPERMAN movie, to get his approval first. Donner apparently loved it and then Singer went to Warner Brothers with his idea.
It appears that Singer will stay very true to Donner's vision of the Superman mythos, saying that the three most important aspects of the character are young Clark, the Clark facade, and Superman himself.
Also confirmed were the use of John Williams music in the movie. He said very boldly, "Yes. Definitely yes." The audience went nuts.
Bryan Singer was also inandated with questions at a screening of THE USUAL SUSPECTS at USC, a couple of days beforehand. He was very nervous about answering questions about the casting of Superman; however at one point he slipped up, and spoke of how he just finished an awesome test with someone which was shot in 60mm film for Superman.
He said, "if I had cast Superman, I spoke to the actor, and he is very happy about the decision...". He slipped up and revealed that Superman had been cast.
Secondly, he talked about the suit and what it is going to look like. He said it will be very traditional, but that it will take advantage of the things that were learned on SPIDER-MAN. He said that spandex tends to remove definition from someone's build, and that they are going to have to shade the costume to add the effect that the actor is more toned than he really is.
He also talked about how he's crafted a story which could be compared to Tim Burton's BATMAN. He said that he is going to have the first two films serve as a sort of vague history, and that this next film will pick up after Superman has been gone for 6 years. He said that the story is going to approach Superman as sort of being a returning Messiah. Singer also had an interesting comment that people in the movie sort of wish that Superman had never existed, because once he disappeared, the world fell into chaos.
Singer also divulged some info about some sequences and some of the wire riggs that have been constructed. He said that they have created a rigg which has the capability to "fly" the actor at speeds of up to 40 mph a distance as far as 3 american football fields. He said that almost all of the major sequences have already been pre-visualized.
He said that he really wanted to have Christopher Reeve to make a cameo, and that because they are shooting in Australia (this was his idea before Reeve passed away), he was going to try to do something similar to what was done for that SuperBowl commercial a few years ago; using CGI he was going to try to have Reeve make a cameo while walking.
11 October 2004
CHRISTOPHER REEVE, the actor we knew and loved as Superman has passed away aged 52.
Reeve had been suffering from an infection as a result of a pressure wound and died on Sunday, his publicist Wesley Combs reported. He suffered a cardiac arrest at his New York home and slipped into a coma, Mr Combs added.
As the first man I saw to play SUPERMAN in the flesh, he became burned onto my brain as Superman. Everybody else was a poor second.
After accidentally paralysed in a horse riding accident in Virginia, USA in 1995, he carried on the fight to have a normal life, to walk again and act. With the support of his ex-wife, Gae Exton, wife Dana Morosini and all his children he carried on to make huge steps in recovery. With that hard work he started to regain sensation in some parts of his body and even carried on his acting career.
Appearing in a 1998 production of Rear Window, a modern version of the Alfred Hitchcock thriller about a man in a wheelchair who becomes convinced that a neighbour has been murdered. The role won him a Screen Actors Guild award.
Reeve was a virtual unknown before he shot to superstardom in the 1978 blockbuster Superman. Thanks to meticulous preparation (he gain 30 pounds of muscle) and close physical resemblance to the comic-strip hero, producers gave him the part.
The film and its three sequels turned Reeve into a worldwide star and grossed $300m. He said he based his portrayal of Clark Kent in the "Superman" films on a younger Cary Grant. He was the tallest out of the five actors who have played Superman (the others being Kirk Alyn, George Reeves, Dean Cain and Tom Welling).
Actress Susannah York, who played Superman's mother, told BBC Radio Five Live Reeve had "enormous goodness of soul and courage".
"I felt terribly proud to play his mother. When I was doing the film I thought 'Wow, this guy is terrific'. He was a very real contender for a Superman hero figure, because of his courage and generosity of spirit. He was fun.
I think he was great... what he set out to do since his accident... I admired him incredibly."
Film director Michael Winner called Reeve the "archetypal movie star".
"I think he grew to personify a heroic struggle against disability," said Winner.
"We all kind of believed that we would one day see him walk again and instead we see him die really very young."
He added: "He was a kind of action actor and to see an action actor who played Superman paralysed and hardly able to speak was terrible, but we all had hope for him and it is tragic that those hopes have been dashed."
He then became a tireless campaigner for stem cell research, forcing it on to the political agenda.
Professor Colin Blakemore, chief executive of the Medical Research Council, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme said it took commitment like Reeve's to carry research forward.
"It takes extraordinary individuals like Reeve to recognise that investment and effort is worthwhile in the long run to work for others.
"He always said that he was working for himself and was convinced that there would be a cure, but I think probably deep in his mind he knew his efforts would be far more likely to pay off for others than for him."
We all know him as the guy who played Superman, but his acting was very expansive with 39 film credits to his name.
He turned down the lead role in many blockbusters including AMERICAN GIGOLO, THE BOUNTY, BODY HEAT and the RUNNING MAN. He turned down these roles to take on more challenging ones.
He was also offered, but declined, the role of Mason Verger in HANNIBAL. The role was eventually given to Gary Oldman.
If you haven't seen it watch SOMEWHERE IN TIME, and tell me that isn’t one of the best damn character performances you’ve seen. Reeve is heartbreaking in the film as you watch him gradually disintegrate. And the character work he did in DEATHTRAP, with Sir Michael Caine, was also outstanding; as was the tiny part he played in REMAINS OF THE DAY.
But there’s no shaking that it is as SUPERMAN that he’ll be immortalized. The scene in Lois’ apartment – after he’s just taken her on an lofty date as Superman and she’s changing – and he takes off those glasses, and without an cut – he becomes Kal-El. His body posture, the look in his eyes, the voice… it’s as if a completely different person is suddenly before us.
"Nobody has ever owned Batman, like Reeve did Superman." said Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool. Very true.
I'm sure he'll be missed by many.
05 October 2004
Variety reports that FACE/OFF helmer John Woo will direct and produce the live-action film.
Dolph Lundgren previously starred in a very poor 1987 HE-MAN spin-off called MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE that also marked one of the early movie appearances of FRIENDS star Courteney Cox.
Woo is also set to direct wrestling legend Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in an adaptation of the classic video game SPY HUNTER.
01 October 2004
Had another chance to see a preview via Vue cinemas with my mate Thelma at my local cinema.
MAN ON FIRE is the new outing for Denzel Washington. Although a remake it’s a damn fine piece of film work. I only say this because of the blindingly good acting, the beautiful cinematography, excellent script and outstanding direction. No really that’s all. Okay maybe because this is the most visual violent film I’ve seen Denzel in. Because in his other film he plays a quieter man, even in FALLEN, we don’t expect that kind of coldness from him.
It was first made in 1987 starring Scott Glen, this time set in contemporary Mexico City, rather than the US. Denzel Washington plays John Creasy, an ex-Special Forces operative who is at loose ends with his life. Having trouble coping with his memories and oblivious to any kind of meaningful future, he drifts south of the border to Mexico, where he encounters his old pal Rayburn (Christopher Walken), who hooks him up with a job as a bodyguard.
Creasy's charge is simple: protect Upita ‘Pita’ (Dakota Fanning), the young daughter of a Mexican businessman, Samuel (Marc Anthony), and his American wife, Lisa (Radha Mitchell). Kidnappings are frequent happenings in Mexico, and Pita is a ripe target. Initially, Creasy resists Pita's attempts to make friends, but her charm eventually wins him over, and he takes on a father-figure role.
Then, one fateful day, the kidnapping attempt occurs. Creasy takes several bullets and is unable to save Pita. And, while he languishes in a hospital, the transfer of ransom money is botched. When Creasy emerges from the hospital, he has only one goal in mind: kill anyone who was involved in the kidnapping.
The key to MAN ON FIRE’s success is easy: it doesn't rush it. The slow build-up allows ample opportunity for character development and relationship building, so, when the tragedy and retribution occur, there's a sense of urgency. Also, director Tony Scott maintains an elegiac tone. Instead of pumping up the level of testosterone, he keeps everything except his camerawork low-key, lending a mournful, not triumphant, air to the proceedings. The grim second half of MAN ON FIRE is about retribution and karma, not voyeuristic satisfaction. Unfortunately this was not noticed by the fat dick-head who kept laughing when Denzel tortured or killed anyone. Perhaps he was on day release?
The performances of Washington and Dakota Fanning are excellent. One moment was rather nice when she makes him smile and they argue/joke who smiled first. This, I found out later whilst watching Denzel on Parkinson, was all adlib. Perhaps this girl could be another Kirsten Dunst? What was also nice to see was Christopher Walken act rather than the usual monologue rant and to see Micket Rourke(playing the father's lawyer) doing more work again.
Tony Scott's style, which includes jump-cuts, whip-pans, and all sorts of other fancy camera tricks, grows more extreme. The reason for this visual posturing is to show the tension and claustrophobia of a man fighting for his life whilst hunting down the corrupt of Mexico City.
Not having seen the earlier 1987 film, or read A.J. Quinnell’s source novel, I can't compare this version with the other, but, standing on its own, this is a very solid bold movie. A better than average example of a revenge flick. By concentrating on emotion rather than the explosions, this comes across as a more effective revenge-film, and it doesn't have a Hollywood ‘nice’ ending. For what MAN ON FIRE delivers, it's definitely worth it even if it’s just for Scott's hyperkinetic visual techniques.
22 September 2004
US film star John Travolta is to write an autobiography revealing deatils of this friendships with the late Marlon Brando and Diana, Princess of Wales.
The PULP FICTION actor, who turned 50 in February, has signed a deal with New York-based publisher Hyperion to write his as-yet-untitled life story.
"I've hit a milestone this year in my life, turning 50, and if I waited any longer I'd have to write two books!" Travolta said in a statement. "I've had such a full life that I really want to share it."
Will Schwalbe, Hyperion's editor in chief, was quoted as saying on Zap2it.com;
"He is also a tremendously thoughtful person with remarkable stories to share - about himself and his career; about the creative process and his passions, this will be a book that will surprise and move and entertain readers on every page."
(*ooo, what a kiss-arse!)
Currently starring in the film LADDER 49, which opens nationwide on Oct. 1, Travolta began his career in 1975 with ABC's WELCOME BACK KOTTER and shot to fame on the big screen with SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER in 1977.
Let's hope its got plenty of juice. Or will it be a BLOW OUT.
(Did you see what i did there, did ya, did ya... oh never mind)
18 September 2004
For years since first-person shooters like DOOM (and its betters, like Quake) have shown us how to blow the bejesus out of mutants and demons from Hell. People on bulletin boards and pubs around the world have been saying this would be an excellent synopsis for a movie. When will this movie be made, by whom and who would be in it?
Well, with a new director, and actors being named, the DOOM movie finally takes shape. Universal studios will be taking on this much anticipated game-to-movie adaptation.
The man who will take us to the edge of the gates of Hell will be Karl Urban. Urban is doing on quite a lot lately, recently playing the assassin in the summer blockbuster THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, he is now being cast to star. Not bad for someone who started in the Kiwi soap opera SHORTLAND STREET as paramedic Jamie Forrest.
Urban will take on the part of John Grimm, leader of a special ops team around which the DOOM movie will revolve. When dealing with alien demons, he is forced to cross paths with the organization responsible for his parents' deaths.
Urban, of New Zealand descent, was also one of the leading roles alongside Vin Diesel in THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK, but probably got his biggest break starring in two of the LORD OF THE RINGS movies, as Eomer, the breakaway leader of the Riders Of Rohan.
Recently, Andrzej Bartkowiak, who was previously in charge of Jet Li's latest action movie CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE, was brought on the project as director. His other work has included cinematography for LETHAL WEAPON 4, SPEED and U.S. MARSHALLS.
The production design is being sorted by Stephen Scott who has worked on such projects as HELLBOY, DIE ANOTHER DAY and INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE. (So there’s no pissing about visually then.)
Production for DOOM should start at the end of October and the projected release date for the movie is set for August 5 2005, which coincides with the one year anniversary of DOOM 3.
If you haven’t yet seen the new version of DOOM, I sincerely recommend it. It still uses the first person view, but has the demons and soul sucking mutants leaping from dark corners and from recesses where you least suspect.
Remember to attach the elastic bands to your pants. You will jump and you will probably poo your pants.
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