Frickin' Eh Movie News 11.19.08: Solace Edition
Posted by Matthew Motiuk on 11.19.2008
Two brand new trailers for you, a new spin on Pinocchio, the lead for Battle: Los Angeles, and more!
My roommate, me, and two friends went to the midnight showing of Quantum of Solace this past week. We were fairly disappointed. My boss and coworkers were even more disappointed, and my boss was furious all night after he saw it on Saturday afternoon. Needless to say, it does not seem to be winning the great applause of Casino Royale, even from those who liked the new direction. There are also those who loved it, I'm sure. If you want to check out my review, you can find it here. If you'd rather read some news, here you go:
The Mid-Week Box Office Time Machine
Alright folks, you know what time it is. Last week saw Quantum of Solace open with $67.5 million. It's a huge opening, but it was coupled with both being the only movie opening that weekend and the expectations of a second Casino Royale, so I expect it to drop off rather quickly as word spreads about the movie. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa fell down a spot with $35 million. Role Models also dropped a spot to number three, combing in $11 million. High School Musical 3: Senior Year came in with $5.7 million, and Changeling followed that. In fact, as you look at the chart, everything simply slid down a spot from last week; Zack and Miri Make a Porno and Soul Men followed. The Secret Life of Bees climbed a spot to sit at number 8 and Saw V dropped two spots to number 9. Beverly Hills Chihuahua rounded out the top ten.
Two releases this weekend for you. Bolt, the animated comedy with John Travolta and Miley Cyrus lending voices, looks like a typical kids movie and will probably do reasonably well. The other movie is Twilight, and it looks like the teenage vampire movie is already getting a bit of a buzz. Whether it will be any good or not, that's for you to decide. And that's it for this weekend. If you're older than sixteen then there's nothing much to see, and don't waste your time and money on Quantum of Solace; save up for something better in the near future.
Eckhart Joining the Battle in Los Angeles
Aaron Eckhart (Harvey Two-Face in The Dark Knight) is attached to star in Battle: Los Angeles, a sci-fi action film that Jonathan Liebesman is directing for Columbia Pictures, says The Hollywood Reporter.
The story, written by Chris Bertolini, revolves around a Marine platoon's encounter in the battle on the streets of Los Angeles against an alien invasion.
Eckhart will play the platoon leader in the film, which has yet to set a start date. Neal Moritz and his Original Film are producing.
Good, Eckhart needs more big roles. So far he's mostly had somewhat niche roles, but with his outstanding performance in The Dark Knight, hopefully he'll start popping up more often. With his involvement in the movie, I'm more excited about this movie. He definitely has the stuff to carry this movie.
Happy Feet 2 Coming Out of Sydney
The Age is reporting that Warner Bros. Pictures will make Happy Feet 2 at a new digital production facility in Sydney, Australia.
NSW Minister of State Development Ian Macdonald revealed on Sunday that the George Miller-directed sequel will employ an average of 438 people over three years. They will include some 230 computer-generated imaging artists.
Miller praised the government's assistance package and the "Dr D" facility, which he said had already attracted a number of big budget international film projects in the planning or pre-production stage.
"This incentive by the NSW government is a significant step. It allows us to make 'Happy Feet 2' in Sydney and it will be the first of many productions from our new digital studio, Dr D," he said in a statement.
"It helps us in our attempts to attract substantial foreign investment which will create hundreds of high-end, highly skilled jobs as well as nurture the careers of many people coming out of our educational institutions who would otherwise have no place to grow their talents."
Despite my disdain at hearing the world will be getting a sequel to Happy Feet that will undoubtedly make way too much money, I'm glad to see Sydney getting some of the action, and especially to see somewhere other than the states getting some attention for once. Considering Miller is Australian, it's fitting that his movie is going to Australia, too.
The New Star Trek Trailer
Paramount Pictures has revealed the new trailer for director J.J. Abrams' Star Trek, opening in theaters on May 8. Written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, the film stars John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Winona Ryder, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Eric Bana, Leonard Nimoy, Marlene Forte and Jimmy Bennett.
As always, I am the one to err on the side of caution; I'm not entirely sure that this is the right direction for the new Star Trek and I was a bit cautious about Abrams directing, but this trailer puts aside some of my doubts. It appears to be a lot of action but mixed with the right balance of storytelling and drama. The action, of course, is what has me drawn in the most, but it's looking good all around. Seeing some of the familiars in their younger forms is neat, too, but we'll need to see a bit more before any real judgement can be weighed. Check it out and see what you think.
Guillermo del Toro Taking on Pinocchio
Guillermo del Toro (upcoming The Hobbit) is developing Pinocchio as a stop-motion feature with the Jim Henson Co. as a darker version of the original fairy tale.
The project will be produced by JHC co-toppers Brian Henson and Lisa Henson along with senior VP Jason Lust. Del Toro will executive produce.
Del Toro's working on the screenplay with Gris Grimley, who illustrated a 2002 version of "Pinocchio." Grimley and Adam Parrish King will co-direct the film.
Well, I don't think I could I think of a more qualified director to tackle this project. A, he could definitely do a darker and more dramatic version of the story easily, and B, del Toro's magic with special effects and costumes is second to none, so not only will the story be more mature, but the picture as a whole will be more mature. I definitely think this will become a classic once he's done with it.
Want to Watch the New Watchmen Trailer?
Warner Bros. Pictures has provided us with the new trailer for director Zack Snyder's Watchmen, opening in conventional theaters and IMAX. Warner Bros. Pictures' big screen adaptation of the graphic novel stars Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman, Carla Gugino, Stephen McHattie and Matt Frewer.
A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the "Doomsday Clock" - which charts the USA's tension with the Soviet Union - is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion - a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers - Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity...but who is watching the watchmen?
Still looks very strange and confusing to me, but it definitely has style, and with Zack Snyder at the helm, this is going to be a huge one no doubt. Watching the trailers has me intrigued and confused, and that combination has me wanting to see it. So take a peek yourself and see if you like what it's shaping up to be.
Return of the Nutty Professor?
Universal and Imagine Entertainment are in the early stages of developing a new "Nutty Professor" movie, in what would be the third installment of the remake of the 1963 Jerry Lewis vehicle, says The Hollywood Reporter. An open call is out to writers for their take on a potential third entry.
Although it has been eight years since the last "Nutty" came out, executives are interested in a new version that would follow The Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps, starring Eddie Murphy.
Murphy is not attached to a new "Nutty"; his involvement would be contingent on the writer, director and other elements.
Oh, yes, because this is exactly what the world needs, another Nutty Professor movie. Is this even relevant anymore? Does anyone care? I doubt it. If Eddie Murphy doesn't agree to it then the movie might still go ahead with a different actor and turn out to be crap; if he does, it will most likely still be crap. It's a lose-lose situation, but I'm not surprised Hollywood thinks it's a money maker.
Warner Going for Control-Alt-Delete
Warner Bros. has picked up the high-concept spec script Control-Alt-Delete from writers Tim Kelleher and Danny Zuker, says The Hollywood Reporter.
The concept is described as Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure meets The Matrix.
Bob Shaye and Dylan Sellers are producing through their Unique Features.
Oh, no. Just no. Can you really combine those two movies and end up with anything that won't be an incredible mess? Plus, just by the title you can get a hint that it's not going to be much fun all around. It's going to be pretty cheesy, and I'm a little scared. Unless I've just got completely the wrong impression of this movie, which I suppose is possible, but I'm willing to bet not.
I've seen The Road Warrior and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome a couple of times as my dad likes them a lot, but I'd never seen the original. Finally I've had that chance, and I was a little surprised by what I got. And so today, I present for you:
This is an Australian movie, something that I don't think I've ever seen. This is evident almost immediately, from the frenetic action and constant shouting. If I was to imagine an Australian movie this is probably what I'd come up with. For most of the movie there is random shouting and fights, and it's hard to keep up with what's going on at any given time. As the movie progresses, though, the story becomes easier to follow and you can piece together what happened earlier, but never do you really feel like you know exactly what's going on.
The movie focuses mostly on cars, bikes, and speed, with some fights thrown in there. The most impressive, of course, is Max's car, the black Interceptor that becomes famous from The Road Warrior. He only gets the car near the end of the movie, but the rest of the movie has plenty of speed and action.
The acting is strange. Max, played by Mel Gibson, is a quiet character who doesn't actually do a whole lot throughout the movie. It is fun, though, to see Gibson in one of his first movies. Joanne Samuel plays his wife Jessie, and once again, the part is small but she does a good job with it. Steve Bisley plays the Goose, Max's partner if you can call it anything, and he's actually one of the best actors in the movie. The bad guys are played by Tim Burns, who plays Johnny the Boy, and while the character is actually fairly pathetic, he's the perfect choice for it. Hugh Keays-Byrne plays the Toecutter, and if there's been a better name I've never heard it. He looks and acts insane and it's perfect for the movie.
There's not a lot to say about the movie, actually. It's frenetic and crazy and exactly what you'd expect from Australian cinema. It's not particularly good in any way, and it appears dated nowadays, but it's still a good watch, especially if you want to see the origins of Mad Max. I can see why The Road Warrior is better known without Mad Max in the title, because the two movies are completely different. That said, give it a watch and see what you think.
Closing Time . . .
Finals in two weeks. Oh, it's going to be hell. I really, really need to start studying. I also have a spattering of assignments due between now and then, and they also really need to get done. I'm sure it'll work out eventually, though, if I can muster the motivation. First I have to get better, because currently I'm feeling a little under the weather. Here's hoping I'm a little more lively soon. Until next week . . .
1) Star Trek is not about action, it is about character
2) Confused about Watchmen, didn't like Quantum of Solice...in the immortal words of Stan Lee, 'nuff said.
3) if you saw Road Warrior first, then that was the first Australian movie you saw. Thunderdome was also mostly Australian, but watered down by american studios...regardless, the first two in the series were comletely Aussie.
Posted By: Darth Mortis (Registered) on November 19, 2008 at 12:40 AM
Gotta agree with ya on Quantum. While I didn't hate it, I was SORELY disappointed with it and found myself less than looking forward to further Bonds. Its a damn shame too cause the trailers made it seem good, but lately, that's been happening with a LOT of movies.
Posted By: Butters4Prez (Guest) on November 19, 2008 at 12:58 AM
Your relentless negativity sometimes makes me wonder if you'd like Hollywood to just stop making movies altogether.
And about the word "spreading" about Quantum of Solace, what word are you talking about? It still is receiving generally positive reviews, so the word of mouth is likely going to be "It's good, not as good as Casino Royale, but good nonetheless." That won't keep anyone who wanted to see it from seeing it.
Posted By: SeanAltly (Registered) on November 19, 2008 at 03:27 AM
Mortis:
Star Trek EPISODES are about character. The movies themselves have typically almost always been large-scale action-driven story telling with some kind of moral undertone. The only movie that wasn't smattered with explosions and fights-to-the-death was the original, and that movie blew.
Posted By: Joe (Guest) on November 19, 2008 at 11:06 AM
maybe you can't tell whats going on during mad max but regular people can
Posted By: adrian (Guest) on November 19, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Matt, my Canadian kin, don't listen to the negativity. Although, if I may offer some constructive criticism: Sometimes your opinion kind of presents itself as fact.
Otherwise ... you're good, dude.
Anyhoo ...
The best Star Trek movies were the ones that were the perfect balance between character and action. For me, II: WoK & First Contact in particular spring to mind.
IMHO, when they went too story heavy in ST: TMP, V: TFF or Insurrection or too action oriented in III: TSFS or Nemesis it didn't work properly; something was just ... off.
But then, I'm high as a kite ... so what do I know?
Posted By: =EF= (Guest) on November 19, 2008 at 06:12 PM
"The only movie that wasn't smattered with explosions and fights-to-the-death was the original, and that movie blew"
star treks 2, 3, 4 and 6 were all character driven once you got past the surface action...and that is all that the action was, surface.
1 wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything more terrible than...say...Insurrection of the TNG movies.
hell, let's go there too...
First Contact, once you got past the obvious Borg storyline, was a simple story about the redemption of Cochrane and Picard's overcoming his drive for revenge. (pure and classic character study)
the only pure attempt at a sci-fi action adventure in the old movie franchise was Nemesis, and it proved why Star Trek needs to be about characters.
in fact, for the last 42 years, the one thing that every writer, actor and producer has said about Star Trek is that it isn't about the action, it is about the characters.
(btw, I am a canadian too...calgarian as a matter of fact, but a typical calgarian. i moved here from halifax almost 10 years ago.)
Posted By: Darth Mortis (Registered) on November 20, 2008 at 01:15 AM
