Frickin' Eh Movie News 08.03.08: Civic Edition

Posted by Matthew Motiuk on 08.03.2008

A new Harry Potter trailer, a Marvin the Martin movie, a Venom movie, Underworld prequel, and more!



Long weekend! Yes, that's right, the best name for a holiday, Civic Holiday, is this weekend, and thankfully, that means I get Monday off (but still get paid for it . . . sweet!). Actually being able to do something on your days off is nice, when you're not incredibly sick. On Friday we went out to Cook County as always, and then to Hudson's down the street, and got to watch my friend get rejected. It was hilarious. But anyway, that's enough about our abusive drinking habits and holidays. On with the news!


Harry Potter Returns

Warner Bros. Pictures has provided ComingSoon.net with new teaser trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, hitting conventional theaters and IMAX on November 21.

As much as I don't like the Harry Potter series in any form, and constantly make fun of it, this trailer is very interesting to me. It's almost entirely made up of essentially one sequence from the movie; there are no current scenes showing any of the main actors. It's a very skillful trailer because it does leaving you wanting to see what happens. Check it out, you might enjoy it.


Guillermo del Toro Isn't Afraid of the Dark

Guillermo del Toro and Miramax will produce a remake of the horror-thriller telefilm "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," says The Hollywood Reporter.

Comic book artist-writer Troy Nixey will make his feature directorial debut with the adaptation of ABC's 1973 cult classic. Del Toro is adapting Nigel McKeand's teleplay with Matthew Robbins, his writing partner on the 1997 horror film Mimic for Miramax's former genre label Dimension.

"Dark" centers on a young girl, sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend, who discovers sinister creatures that live underneath the stairs.

Directed by John Newland, the original telefilm gained a cult following through syndication and home video release.

Guillermo del Toro has a way with movies like this, so it's very likely this will turn out to be pretty good. I've never heard of the original, but if they keep the same feel as the original but update it, they could very well have a good horror flick on their hands. This definitely has potential.


Marvin the Martian a Star

Variety says Warner Bros. is developing a Marvin the Martian feature at Alcon Entertainment, with principals Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove producing along with Steve Crystal.

The project will blend live action and CGI.

Marvin was created by Chuck Jones and made his first appearance in a Looney Tunes cartoon in 1948. The character was often intent on blowing up the Earth, only to be foiled by Bugs Bunny.

Crystal, a former Warner executive with a first-look deal at Alcon through his Charlie Co. banner, developed the pitch as a Christmas story, with Marvin coming to Earth to destroy Christmas but being prevented from doing so when he's trapped in a gift box. Alcon's out to writers and directors.

As much as I want to say this would be awesome, because I love Marvin the Martian and Looney Tunes, I have a feeling it won't be. Trying to make new Looney Tunes just never works, because they got it so perfect the first time, it's just never as good now. Especially if they try to focus on one character, I think. But you never know, they could always get this one right. Stranger things have happened.


Keys and White Sing for a Quantum of Solace

Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of the highly anticipated 22nd James Bond adventure Quantum of Solace, announced today that multi-Grammy Award-winning and platinum selling recording artists Jack White of the rock band The White Stripes, and Alicia Keys, have recorded the theme song for the film, which will be released worldwide this November.

Their song, written and produced by Jack White, and titled "Another Way to Die," will be the first duet in Bond soundtrack history. In addition to writing the song, Jack White is also featured as the drummer on this track.

The soundtrack to Quantum of Solace will be released by J Records on October 28, 2008.

The song was the only thing they got right in Casino Royale, so maybe this one will at least give us some good music, too. But what a weird combination. The White Stripes (or rather, half) combined with Alicia Keys? That's just plain random. I don't know. I'll wait until I hear it before I lay judgment on it. The movie's a write-off, but there's hope for the theme song.


A Venom Spinoff in the Works?

Sony is moving forward with Venom, a potential "Spider-Man" spinoff, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The trade says the studio is developing the project, based on the villain who appeared in Spider-Man 3 and is hoping the character could serve as an antidote to the aging "Spider-Man" franchise in the way that Fox has used Wolverine to add longevity to its "X-Men" franchise.

The studio had commissioned a draft of the script from Jacob Estes (Mean Creek), but the studio is considering going in a different direction from Estes' script and is seeking writers for a new draft.

Casting also is no simple matter. Topher Grace played the character in the film, but agents have been eyeing the role for their clients, as Sony is not yet convinced the actor can carry a tentpole picture.

The Hollywood Reporter adds that neither Sony nor Marvel would comment for the story.

Sony is also still developing a fourth "Spider-Man" film for 2011.

I still haven't watched Spider-Man 3 because I have no desire to waste two hours of my life in that way, but I like this idea better than Spider-Man 4, mainly because I didn't like the Spider-Man movies to start with. They think Topher Grace can't be the star of a movie? They cast Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man! I don't think they'll have a problem there. Let's hope if this does fly, it's more action and less emotion.


Prince of Persia Delayed a Year

Walt Disney Pictures has moved the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time out of its June 19, 2009 release date spot (which would have been a week before Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is opening) and has pushed it back almost a year to May 28, 2010, which is the week after Shrek Goes Fourth is scheduled and a week before Marvel Studios' Thor.

With Memorial Day being observed on May 31, 2010, the movie would have a four day opening, unless it debuts earlier in the week.

The Mike Newell-directed video game adaptation stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Alfred Molina and Ben Kingsley. Gyllenhaal will play Dastan, a young prince in sixth century Persia who must join forces with Tamina (Arterton), a feisty and exotic princess, to prevent a villainous nobleman from possessing the Sands of Time, a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.

Meh, this doesn't really matter. It won't improve the movie in any way and it probably won't make much of a difference to how it performs. I am still leaning away from this movie, from the insistence that it's not a video-game movie (even though it steals the exact title from the game) to the casting of Jake Gyllenhaal as the prince, which is just plain ridiculous. Now we'll have to wait a bit longer to see if it somehow turns out to be worthwhile or not.


Firth Joins Dorian Gray

Colin Firth has signed on to star opposite Ben Barnes in Dorian Gray, the retelling of the Oscar Wilde classic being directed by Oliver Parker, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on "The Picture of Dorian Gray," the story centers on Gray (Barnes), a young man who becomes the subject of a painting. As the man descends into a hedonistic lifestyle, the portrait begins to age and morph, but he doesn't.

Firth will play Lord Henry Wotton, the aristocrat who corrupts Gray with his worldview. (He is sometimes called Harry in the novel.)

Ealing Studios is behind the adaptation, which is being produced by Barnaby Thompson. The movie began shooting this week.

I don't think I've ever read the original book, actually. Hmm. That's too bad. I know my sister had an Illustrated Classic version, but I never read it. The only knowledge I have of Dorian Gray is really just from The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and the character seems fascinating even from there. Both Barnes and Firth look like they will fit the roles perfectly. Barnes doesn't have much experience, but he should do well. Firth has a lot of background, and plenty in this time period and style, so I think it'll be a good fit.


Nighy Descends to the Underworld Again

ShockTillYouDrop.com talked exclusively to Bill Nighy at the San Diego Comic-Con about returning as Viktor in Screen Gems' Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, opening in theaters on January 23.

The prequel story traces the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. In the Dark Ages, a young Lycan named Lucian (Michael Sheen) emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), in his battle against the Death Dealer army and his struggle for Lycan freedom.

Check out the interview here!

I'll admit it, I really liked Underworld, and even the sequel. They were fun, silly movies that my dad and I used to watch over and over and make fun of every time, but they were actually pretty good movies, too. So this looks good, although it will be in a completely different vein than the first two. Plus, no Kate Beckinsale, which is too bad. The interview is a little lengthy, so unless you really, really like these movies, I wouldn't bother reading much of it. Skip to the end for some stuff on fights and blood and all that good stuff.


De Niro and Gibson Go to the Edge of Darkness

Robert De Niro is near a deal to join Mel Gibson in Edge of Darkness, the Martin Campbell-directed feature for Graham King's GK Films, reports Variety.

Gibson stars as Thomas Craven, a straitlaced homicide detective for the Boston Police Dept. and single father, whose 24-year old daughter is murdered on the steps of his home. The cop assumes he was the target, but his investigation leads in another direction and uncovers his daughter's secret life, a corporate cover-up and government collusion.

De Niro will play an operative sent to clean up the evidence.

Written by William Monahan, the drama is an adaptation of a 1985 BAFTA-winning six-hour BBC miniseries that Campbell also directed.

Shooting begins this month in Massachusetts.

Hmm, actually this sounds pretty good. Both actors are great, although Mel Gibson has gone a little insane over the last couple years. Hopefully it hasn't hurt his acting abilities, though. If Campbell directed the original source material of this, this should turn out to be awesome (unless we have a Miami Vice type situation, which would be unfortunate). I'm looking forward to seeing how this one shapes up.


Rapid-Fire: Resident Evil (2002, starring Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Eric Mabius)

Movies made from video games very often just don't work. They've got a very troubled existence out there, and only a couple are worth your time. However, there is one series that managed to prove that it was possible to make a decent video game adaptation. Here it is:

I haven't played all the Resident Evil games, only the fourth, but I do know the general back story, and the movie seems to use it as the basis, and then go in its own direction with that back story, which is probably the right thing to do. Anyway, in case you haven't figured it out, this is a zombie horror movie, with action sprinkled in there.

The movie is actually well done. The story is solid, and the way it's done – starting with absolutely nothing and building it from there with spastic flashbacks – works well for the movie. It's paced just about right so that you're not bored and you're always waiting for what's around the next corner. There's a good amount of action, too, to keep things flowing. The special effects aren't the best, especially if you watch the next two movies, but the zombies are good enough and the dogs are still nasty as hell. The big bad guy (this is a video game movie, after all, there has to be a final boss) is by far the silliest looking thing, but it's not horrible, either.

Milla Jovovich kicks some ass as always, and she does it well, as always. As for the actual acting, she actually fits the role of the slowly remembering person dragged into a situation very well. Rodriguez is a good choice for a commando, as she not only looks but acts damn rough. Mabius appears at all times to be nervous and about ready to bolt, but that's kind of what his character was supposed to be, I think. I was kind of hoping that Colin Salmon as the head of the commandos would have lasted longer, as I was hoping to see him in a bigger role than his James Bond ones. While the acting all around is nothing special, it's good for this movie.

This is a really good video game adaptation, and it's a pretty good zombie/horror/action movie, too. If you want to see some zombies killed by a chick in a red dress, then watch this right away. This a fun bridge between action and horror, and it's a good watch.


Closing Time . . .

A four day weekend . . . it's going to be nice. I want to go and see The Dark Knight this weekend, but convincing someone to come with me is going to be tough. Half of my friends are at Big Valley Jamboree, the big country event of the year, and the other half are just not in the city, or have already seen it. Hopefully, though, I can get out and see it. Alright, until next week . . .


[All news, images, and other stuff from www.comingsoon.net, www.imdb.com, and www.youtube.com.]