This weekend when audiences attended screenings of Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger tides they were treated to the teaser trailer for "The Muppets." The all new entry into the legendary Muppets film series is an update with a considerable amount of talent behind it. Judd Apatow's buddy Jason Segel co-wrote the script, and is starring along side Amy Adams. James Bobin co-creator and director of HBO's Flight Of The Conchords. Speaking of which, Flight Of The Conchords(Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement) have written a lot of music for the film.
Typically, when a trailer as anticipated as this one is attached to a film it generally hits the internet the day of release or before. However, The Muppets trailer can only be found in theaters, at least for the weekend. The biggest reason for this? It actually plays better in the theater. I can't exactly say why without giving away a key component of the trailer but suffice to say, I have been following this film since it was a whisper, and the trailer totally surprised me. A really fun trailer, a great appetizer before Pirates. Keep it tune here, we will have The Muppets trailer as soon as it is released. -Admiral Duke
Each night this week, Paramount has been revealing a new clip from 'Super 8' on FOX during prime time. The clips still showcase footage that had been peeked at in the trailers but the more we see of the film the more it feels like Spielberg's ET: The Extra-terrestrial or Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. As if to sell that point, the new Japanese poster has been released that just screams SPIELBERG! Cannot wait for it on June 10th
Since ABC's LOST finished it's historic run, many shows have been trying to capture the vacant mantle of "Weird, Must Watch. TV." Fast Forward, Defying Gravity, The Event and many more have tried but none have come close. Finally, the folks at NBC may have produced a very strong contender. Awake is an alternate reality drama that follows Detective Michael Britten(The gifted Jason Issacs) after he survives a tragic car accident. When he awakes he is crushed to find that his wife has died, yet feels fortunate to have had his son survive. The next morning he awakes to find that somehow his situation has reversed and his wife survived and his son actually died. Once he realizes the specifics of the situation, Britten struggles to live this bizarre double life. He employs the services of two different psychiatrists to help him figure it all out. The trailer starts out with a definite dramatic tone, yet as complications arise, his two realities begin to overlap and the possibilities of were the story could go become very compelling. Was the accident a catalyst for Britten's break down, or a bridge to another reality? The cinematic feel of the trailer and Jason Issacs amazing talent totally sell AWAKE. It looks like it could be a monster success.
Anytime i hear the words "Motion Capture" I immediately begin to roll my eyes and think of al the almost good Mo-Cap films that Robert Zemeckis has wasted a lot of his reputation on. Beowolf, and Mars Needs Moms immediately spring to mind. However, with The Adventures Of Tintin, Zemeckis' friend Steven Spielberg is taking the technology to the next level. Produced by Peter Jackson and featuring an all star cast, The Adventure's of Tintin is beginning to look like it has the stuff to rival a visual titan like James Cameron's Avatar. Tintin will be in theaters on December 23, 2011.
Official Synopsis Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures Present An Amblin Entertainment Production A Wingnut Films Production A Kennedy/Marshall Production A Steven Spielberg Film
“The Adventures of Tintin” Executive Producers Nick Rodwell Stephane Sperry Ken Kamins Producers Steven Spielberg Peter Jackson Kathleen Kennedy Screenplay by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish Based on The Adventures of Tintin by Hergé Directed by Steven Spielberg
Cast: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook.
Synopsis: Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures Present a 3D Motion Capture Film “The Adventures of Tintin” directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Steven Moffat and Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish. Starring Jamie Bell (“Billy Elliot,” “Defiance”) as Tintin, the intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure, and Daniel Craig (“Quantum of Solace,” “Defiance”) as the nefarious Red Rackham.
Based on the series of books The Adventures of Tintin by Hergé, the film is produced by Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Kathleen Kennedy. -Admiral Duke
Let the retro geek fest begin. The epic collaboration between two cinematic icons from different generations looks to be absolutely amazing. Just moments ago MovieFone posted the first clip from the film,. Luckily, we have it here for you! Super 8 hits theaters on June 10th.
This second clip was released later in the day. Yes, most of the clip has already been glanced at in the trailer, but it doesn't make the clip any less cool.
Official Synopsis In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth – something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.
Directed by J.J. Abrams from his original script, the Amblin Entertainment and Bad Robot Production film is produced by Steven Spielberg, Abrams and Bryan Burk.
The film stars Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Ron Eldard, Noah Emmerich, Gabriel Basson, Joel Courtney, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills and Amanda Michalka.
Genre: Comedy MPAA rating: R Director: Paul Feig Actors: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Jon Hamm Picked as her best friend's maid of honor, lovelorn and broke Annie looks to bluff her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals with an oddball group of bridesmaids.
Everything Must Go
Genre: Comedy/Drama MPAA rating: R Directed by Dan Rush Starring Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall, Michael Peña A relapsed alcoholic loses his family and his job so he does what he thinks is best: puts everything on his front lawn in attempt to start over again.
PRIEST
Genre: Adventure/Horror MPAA rating: PG-13 Directed By, Scott Stewart Starring, Cam Gigandet, Paul Bettany, Maggie Q in this adaptation of the graphic novel an exiled warrior priest, thrown out by the Church lives in obscurity. He is forced to break his vows when a group of savage vampires kidnap his niece.
When we first saw the teaser trailer for "Real Steel," we were very surprised that Dreamworks was able to get Hugh Jackman to sign on to a film adaptation of Rock Em, Sock Em Robots. Now we see that there is a lot more to this robot boxing movie. Sure the sappy 'Dad down on his luck,tries everything to connect with his estranged kid' storyline has been done... but that doesn't change the fact that this is a film about robots that fight and destroy eachother...yeah there is some sort of 'against all odds' story, but who cares?!? We want some ROBO-CARNAGE!!!
Lots of new details are emerging regarding the production of the Disney/MARVEL super movie The Avengers. But, lets start off where we began. Last time reported on the Avengers we were talking about the halt in production that occurred on April 29th. Unfortunately most news outlets picked up the story three days later. By then Production had resumed, and MARVEL released a statement that filming was underway and that everything was going fine. Of course, by the time MARVEL responded, that was probably true. We estimate that filming got back underway on May 2nd. Since then the buzz from the set has been ultra positive and upbeat. EVERY single person we have talked to about the production has indicated that all is well on the set. They're are all using the same catch phrases too. Like, "Production is on track" and "This is going to be the best movie of all time." We've heard the latter phrase repeated ad nauseam. This week, two new photo's of an outdoor Avengers film set hit the internet. We can confirm that this is down at the old Albuquerque Rail Yard in downtown, because we saw it. Still trying to get our own photographs of the set. As you can see from these images from SuperHeroHype.com the area is set up like a marketplace in a village in India. New reports indicate what comic book nerds have been begging for since The Avengers film was announced. In French magazine Fantastique, Captain America: The First Avenger Producer Stephen Broussard, revealed that in addition to Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and Hulk,"The Avengers" will also include superheroes Ant-Man and Wasp. In addition to this, The Daily Blam is indicating that S.H.E.I.L.D. agent Wendell Vaughn will appear in the film. In MARVEL comics cannon, Vaughn is an agent who eventually becomes the most powerful superhero in the MARVEL UNIVERSE, Quasar. Here is the other info from TheDailyBlam.com.
- The film is chock full of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents (most wearing the standard black suit while others wear specialized outfits) with the most prominent given names from Marvel Comics mythology including: Alexander Goodwin Pierce, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Wendell Vaughn, Jasper Sitwell, Clay Quartermain, Jack Truman, Abigail Brand, Larry Young & Jimmy Woo.
- Along with the famous headquarters airship known as the Helicarrier, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents will be piloting a more tactical aircraft; though it is unknown whether it will be The Avengers' Quinjet or the yellow/red S.H.I.E.L.D. "Flying Car"
- Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) will finally get his time to shine while leading a S.H.I.E.L.D. force during the film's penultimate battle scene
- S.H.I.E.L.D. agents will brandish plenty of "future tech" weaponry including a modified plasma sidearm and accompanying shoulder-fired rifle (more than likely to help with the PG-13 rating). Though it is unknown how much of a presence they will have, several cosmic artifacts will be reasoning behind the creation of these weapon systems.
With a major press push for Pirates Of The Caribbean 4, there have been recent reports that Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski may be zeroing in on their lead for The Lone Ranger. As well, many more details are spilling out about the the up coming Disney Pictures production. A recent story in the L.A. Times suggest's that actor Armie Hammer(Social Network) may be in talks and is more than likely to be the man who dons the signature black mask. For the full story click here.
One of the oddest stories to come out of the 2010 World Cup was easily that of Paul The Psychic Octopus. Housed at the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, Paul gained notoriety when his handlers began feed him in such a way that his choice of which dish to eat out of was equal to his choice for which team would win the upcoming World Cup match. Paul's predictions became so accurate that he became a global sensation. Every one from late night talk show hosts to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had something to say about Paul. What was remarkable about Paul's choices was that out of eight tries, he picked the winner all eight times. A statistical improbability for sure, but the film makers of "The Life & Times Of Paul The Psychic Octopus" wonder if perhaps there is a higher meaning to the strange and unlikely saga of Paul. Is there any meaning to this animals amazing streak or is it yet another example out of control pop culture mania?
Official Press Release:Award-winning, Denver-based Cinema Vertige joins forces with Merlin Entertainments Group--the world’s second-largest theme park operator in the world--and NZ-based Smiley World Media to produce the official documentary about pop culture phenom Paul the Psychic Octopus.
Helmed by acclaimed Director Alexandre O. Philippe, Producer/DoP Robert Muratore (creators of the smash hit THE PEOPLE vs. GEORGE LUCAS), and Executive Producer Ewa Bigio (whose distinguished line-up includes 3 Oscar-winning documentaries), THE LIFE AND TIMES OF PAUL THE PSYCHIC OCTOPUS tells the official and exclusive story of the world’s most beloved and scorned cephalopod, whose remarkable string of eight correct ‘predictions' during the 2010 Soccer World Cup made him an instant worldwide superstar.
Principal photography took place in the United States, Germany, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Austria, Italy and the United Kingdom. The film, slated for a late 2011 release, is also partially crowd-sourced, and has already received fan participations from around the world.
Interviewees include Spanish National Football Team World Champions Joan Capdevila and Carlos Marchena, Sea Life staff and visitors, Paul’s agent Chris Davis, bookmakers Paddy Power and William Hill, world-renowned statistician David Spiegelhalter, cephalopod experts, animal communicators, as well as numerous football players and football fans. The film will also feature exclusive footage of Paul, his stately funeral in Oberhausen, his cousin Paddy the Octopus, and his arch-rival Punxsutawney Phil.
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF PAUL THE PSYCHIC OCTOPUS is a biopic of tentacular proportions--one that explores celebrity mania at its most outrageous, the science of probabilities, and the possibility of higher powers.
We have already seen a lot of footage for the upcoming Warner Brothers release Green Lantern. We had a full first trailer and four minutes of footage from WonderCon. Now a third trailer has been released that uses the bulk of the WonderCon footage as it's base but expands on the films story and has some eye-popping additions that certainly pique the interest of hard core DC Comics fans. Great stuff, actually cannot wait to see this film. Green Lantern blasts in to North American theaters on June 17th.
Official Synopsis:In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan. Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle, and along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corps has ever had: humanity. With the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax...he will become the greatest Green Lantern of all. -Admiral Duke
On August 14th 2010, at Star Wars Celebration V, I was in the audience at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando Florida when George Lucas made the announcement that the Star Wars saga would soon be released on Blu-Ray. Lucas indicated that tons of never before seen extras including some legendary deleted scenes would be included. In fact, Lucas shared with the audience a piece of film that to Star Wars fans carries the same implications as The Dead Sea scrolls. The rumored Luke Skywalker lightsaber construction scene from ROTJ.
In recent weeks the Official Star Wars website had a countdown clock that was ticking down to 6am on May 4th 2011, get it "May The 4th Be With You?" Anyway, Star Wars fans were so excited to find out the new details that thousands of fans crashed the website! Now we have the full list of special features, which you can see here, and the first official trailer for the STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA ON BLU-RAY!
Since 2010's South By Southwest film festival, The People Vs. George Lucas has been touring across the globe. Making it's way through the film festival circuit, and countless international screenings. The film tells the story of devoted Star Wars fans, their passion and love for the franchise, and their love/hate relationship with the man who created it, and who in some peoples eyes has spent the last three decades destroying it. Obviously, I speak of George Lucas.
The question that director Alexander Phillipe is trying to answer is; Once an artist releases a piece of art to the public, when does his ownership end and become the property of the audience which has embraced it? And, how much right does that audience have to complain about the changes a creator makes to a beloved tome? Yet, one has to wonder if that is even the right question to ask, when Lucas' intention was to create something much more than a work of art.
George Lucas has stated numerous times, that when he set out to make the original Star Wars in 1977, he was trying to create a modern myth. He studied the writings of Joseph Campbell. An American mythologist who espoused the idea that mythologies and religions all across the world are based on the same elementary ideas, or archetypes. Lucas applied these archetypes to his Star Wars script and each subsequent sequel & prequel. What Lucas never realized, was that when you build a masterpiece with the building blocks of religion, you are likely to have a zealous reaction from audiences that may eventually result in something akin to religious fervor.
Over the past 34 years, Star Wars fans have been devoted, passionate, and opinionated. Which isn't at all surprising. In a day and age when organized religion is on the decline and established cultural traditions are increasingly forgotten, someone or something has to step in for generation of impressionable youth. For the kids of the late 70's and the 1980's, that something was Star Wars. That someone was the man they affectionately call The Creator. Yet, as often happens with the hallowed beliefs of our childhood, we can become disillusioned with what we see as contradictions or false doctrine within those beliefs as we become older and more mature.
The same has obviously happened with the "Holy Trilogy" and the generation that first grew up with the Force and the saga of Luke Skywalker. However, with religion one seems to think that they can never address they're doubts & frustrations with God or their given deity. With Star Wars, however, they can. In fact with a flesh & blood creator not only can they complain about these things, but because that creator is human we feel free, almost entitled to be belligerent about it.
Which brings us back to The People Vs. George Lucas. For the better part of two hours, Phillipe assembles an army of fans and experts to provide testimony in what almost amounts to a 'Holy' list of grievances. Certainly this isn't the first time that the disgruntled Star Wars fans have had a cinematic pulpit for their gripes. Indeed the films of Kevin Smith and the Star Wars homage Fanboys are ripe with dialog about these complaints. However there has never been a film for the fans themselves to tell George just how much he has hurt them, and how.
The People Vs. George Lucas doesn't pull a punch. Star Wars fans put their true feelings on the line about everything from From the 17 year gap between Return Of The Jedi and the Star Wars prequels, The lackluster quality of those prequels, to the revisionist history that Lucas has engaged in with numerous updates and changes to the original three films. However, even with the unchained passion and frustration of the die hard fans fully on display, there is no doubt that PVGL is a work that comes from a place of true and unmitigated love. Because if Star Wars fans didn't love the films, they would never be so passionately pissed off.
With all of it's passion, urgency, and yes fun The People Vs. George Lucas gives the devoted Star Wars fans a public platform to finally air their emotionally charged grievances. For all the world, and yes, even the 'creator' to see. Die hard fans will see a little bit of themselves in this lovingly organized and crafted love letter. Lucas is never made out to be a villain or a bad person, but enthusiastic and snarky fans find a way to profess their love with a heavy amount of bitching and complaining. Which turns out to be unbelievably entertaining.
As we already reported Quentin Tarantino's new film, Django Unchained, will be a spaghetti western of a sort that will resurrect one of the most famous characters of the genre. Django, a role originated by Franco Nero was ahead it's time. The film was ultra-violent, action packed. Widely regarded as a masterpiece of, if not the originator of the spaghetti western genre.
There are nearly twenty films that contain some version of the character. Nero's portrayal in the 1966 original is pretty much considered the definitive incarnation of the character. However, more than half a dozen actors have portrayed Django. One of the most memorable being Terrance Hill. The veteran star of the comedic Trinity films which he starred in with Bud Spencer. He may be most famous to American audiences for My Name Is Nobody which he starred in with Henry Fonda in 1973. While Hill and Nero have strikingly similar physical attributes, Hill's portrayal of the character is decidedly lacking. Most likely the primary reason he never again portrayed the character.
In 1987 Franco Nero returned to the character that he originated in this clearly over the top amalgam of the spaghetti western and the 80's action flick. Nero is seen looking very very buff and almost Stallone-esque. To top off the oddity that is this mish mash of action genre's is the appearance of Donald Pleasance, best known to most movie buffs as James Bond villain Blofeld From You Only Live Twice.
When Tarantino was doing press for Inglorious Basterds, he told Charlie Rose in an interview that he wanted to do a biopic about John Brown, the famed American abolishonist who actively promoted and engaged in armed insurrection as a means to end slavery. He was found guilty of murdering five pro-slavery southerners and inciting a slave insurrection in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He was hanged. Since that interview a lot of speculation has been made about whether or not that will be his next project. While Tarantino may genuinely want to make a film about John Brown, he may have found another way to tell the same kind of story.
For a long time now, rumors have been bouncing around that Quentin Tarantino's next film would be a spaghetti western. Or more specifically it would have that kind of vibe, yet bet set in the southern United States during slavery, probably shortly before the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. It now seems that part of the story is true.
On Friday a photo of the title page of Quentin Tarantino's next script surfaced on Twitter. Since that time, tons of new tid-bits have surfaced about the auteurs next film. What we know is this, Django Unchained refers to 1960's Spaghetti Western character Django. Who has been featured in about 15 films. In Tarantino's film the main character is a freed slave who encounters a German bounty hunter(supposedly Christopher Waltz) who trains him and eventually helps him to track down his slave wife and free her from her evil plantation owning slave master.
While some sources are saying that the freed slave will be named Django, that makes little sense considering the characters history. Django has always been a white gunslinger previously portrayed by spaghetti western actors like Franco Nero and Terrance Hill. In fact many rumors indicate that Nero may be reprising the role he originated nearly fifty years ago. Rumors aside, Christoph Waltz is the only actor officially confirmed. Pre-production is said to be moving quickly as filming is expected to begin in the late summer months. -Admiral Duke
