411 Movies Zone News Report 10.14.02
Posted by Lionel Bohbot on 10.14.2002
Welcome to the first edition of the 411 Movies Zone News Report. Lionel here with your dose of hot off the rack news. In today's issue: Hannibal 4 news straight from the mouth of Anthony Hopkins, Dirty Dancing 2 has found its male lead, Freddy vs. Jason filming location, Resident Evil DVD release and more.
NEWS, GOSSIP, SPECULATION & OPINIONS
Hannibal 4:
As you may or may not know, The Star newspaper (rag is more like it) had reported that Anthony Hopkins was writing a fourth installment in the Lecter saga. This news surprised a lot of people since Hopkins had made it clear that Red Dragon would be his last Lecter movie. Well, new details coming out indicate that Hopkins has indeed been writing a Hannibal 4 script. Don't believe me? Here it is, straight from the horse's mouth:
"I did write a screenplay of my own, just as an exercise, that would follow Hannibal, I showed it to Dino and to my agent and the studio. It's about Hannibal actually out there, after Hannibal. The final denouement. Clarice is having a nervous breakdown and living in San Francisco. Then the nightmares start. She sees him on street corners, and he vanishes in the crowd. Then one night she wakes up in her bedroom and she's handcuffed to her bed, and he's in the corner smoking a cigar, and he says, 'Hello, Clarice...".
- Sir Anthony Hopkins
You know, I think we've had enough Hannibals to last a lifetime. Silence was great. Hannibal was pathetic. Then again, what do you expect when the author (Thomas Harris) pulls the story out of his ass? Red Dragon was a nice return to the franchise's "Silence" roots. It was also Harris' best book.
Dirty Dancing 2:
Variety is reporting that Diego Luna (Y Tu Mama Tambien) has been cast as the male lead in Miramax's new project. Yeah, that's an earth shattering announcement. The movie follows a teenage girl who moves to Cuba with her family and falls in love with a Cuban dancer. This, of course, goes against her family's wishes. The tentative release date is Nov. 21 2003. Oh I'll sure be waiting in line for this crap. By the way, who moves TO Cuba? It's a nice place for tourists but who goes to Cuba to work there?
Bruce Willis blackmailed into doing Die Hard 4:
What? I did say News, GOSSIP, etc.
Ashish had the Die Hard 4 scoop up in the news section but I have more details.
Willis has a movie coming out with Revolution studios. It was to be called "Tears of the Sun" but come on, how pathetic is that? Studio producers wised up and decided to change the name to "Man of War". However, the rights to "Man of War" are owned by 20th Century Fox. Instead of just saying "No, you can't use that title and if you do, we'll sue your asses off", Fox got creative and basically agreed to let Revolution call Willis' movie "Man of War" IF it got "Die Hard 4: Die Harder With More of a Vengeance…or Something". Well Yippie Ki Yay Motherf*cker!
Why am I thinking of Aldo Montoya right now? Seriously though, that's a pretty smart move by Fox. Man of War will probably bomb (Hart's War anyone?) and they get a proven box office draw in exchange.
Kill Bill:
DarkHorizons.com is reporting that Samuel L. Jackson will have a cameo in Tarantino's new movie. Jackson will play the role of the "dead organ player". The Kill Bill cast also includes Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction), Sonny Chiba (Japanese movies) and Michael Madsen. I didn't know the white guy at the end of the Lakers' bench was an actor. Michael Madsen is actually the voice of Toni Cipriani in Grand Theft Auto III. He's also a made for TV movie veteran. Oh and he was Mr. Blonde in some little film called "Reservoir Dogs".
Jurassic Park 4:
Yeah, as if we needed another one. But wait, Steven Spielberg is directing this movie so it can't possibly be as wretched as Jaws 4. Sam Neil will also be back for this one [credit: everyone]. Expect more people to be added to the cast and then be eaten by cgi dinosaurs. Oooh, are they gonna introduce a new dinosaur again?
Matrix Reloaded Spoilers:
Pretty light spoilers if you ask me but scroll down to Quick Hits if you don't want to read this.
Maverick Records have revealed some plot details concerning the Keanu Reeves blockbuster:
"Neo, Morpheus, Trinity and the rest of the crew continue to battle the machines that have enslaved the human race in the Matrix. Now, more humans are waking up out of the Matrix and attempting to live in the real world. As their numbers grow, the battle moves to Zion, the last real-world city and center of human resistance."
Like Whoa, Dude!
Quick Hits:
The Resident Evil 2-disc DVD is coming out on December 17th.
Moviehole.net is indicating that Inspector Gadget 2 will be released on March 13th, 2003. Raise your hand if you actually saw Inspector Gadget 1?
Variety reports that Nathalie Portman and Penelope Cruz are set to star in Head in the Clouds, a pre-WWII romance movie. Two bad actresses for the price of one. At least they're easy on the eyes.
Variety also reports that MGM has signed a deal with the producers of Barbershop for a sequel.
Freddy vs. Jason: Dark Horizons reports that Filming has begun at Buntzen Lake, right outside Vancouver. Buntzen Lake will become Crystal Lake in the movie. Buntzen Lake is also where "Lake Placid" was filmed.
PLUGS ALL AROUND
Well hell, check out the entire 411 Movies Zone. It's all new and it's all good.
We've got a truckload of movie reviews for you. All the new flicks are reviewed plus DVD Special Editions and video reviews. My VCR's been lonely ever since I bought my DVD player.... not to mention the two DVD drives on my PC and Laptop. Well, VCR should be thankful that I haven't thought of buying a TIVO yet.
Speaking of being everywhere, Scott Keith has a rant of Def Leppard: Hysteria
up in the DVD Review section. You'll also find great special edition DVD reviews of Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown and Reservoir Dogs.
Oh we've got columns too! Miss Galatea checks in with Hot Off The Rack video reviews. I don't think she liked We Were Soldiers. That's the movie Paramount was trying to pimp for a 2003 Oscar run. Smell the buzz!
BEFORE YOU GO
I'll be doing this little news update on Tuesdays and Fridays. That should give you guys enough content in each update.
Here's a rundown of this weekend's Box Office numbers:
1. Red Dragon - $17.61 million ($63.2 million)
2. Sweet Home Alabama - $14.1 million ($85 million)
3. Brown Sugar - $11.05 million ($11.05 million)
4. The Transporter - $9.15 million ($9.15 million)
5. My Big Fat Greek Wedding - $7.87 million ($158.4 million)
6. The Tuxedo - $7 million ($37 million)
7. White Oleander - $5.66 million ($5.66 million)
8. Tuck Everlasting - $5.5 million ($5.5 million)
9. Knockaround Guys - $5.04 million ($5.04 million)
10. Barbershop - $4 million ($65.4 million)
I think it was Brett Rattner (Red Dragon director) who said that even though his movie didn't take in as much opening week money as Hannibal, it would stay strong because of good reviews and word of mouth. If anyone's staying strong it's Reese Witherspoon's Sweet Home Alabama. $7 million for The Tuxedo is unfortunately why Jennifer Love Hewitt still has a career.
Speaking of The Tuxedo, Jackie Chan was pretty upset when the Hollywood press started calling The Rock the next big action hero. Arnold, Sly, Dwayne… Jackie wanted that third spot. People don't care if Jackie Chan breaks his leg 23 times during filming or actually does his own stunts. He just doesn't have the coolness factor. He also looks older than Sly and Arnold combined. Take Chris Tucker out of Rush Hour and put in D.L. Hughley. Think it would do as much money? Hell no! Now, leave Chris Tucker in. Take out Jackie Chan and put in The Rock. There's your answer, Jackie.
