Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Trailers for 'Underworld 3' and 'Valentine 3D'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/24/trailers-for-underworld-3-and-valentine-3d/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/24/trailers-for-underworld-3-and-valentine-3d/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/24/trailers-for-underworld-3-and-valentine-3d/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Naturally, today's release of Saw V (read our review) brings with it numerous trailers for early '09 horror offerings. Earlier this week, we received the first trailer for that Friday the 13th remake (which you can see here), and now we have two others.

First up is My Bloody Valentine 3D, the crotch-targeting poster for which Scott made mention of earlier today. Lionsgate is going to have trouble actually marketing this in 3-D, as family-friendly fare continues to dominate that format; thus, we have this somewhat hokey green-band number courtesy of IGN. (For what it's worth, several little birdies who had the good fortune to see some footage recently -- in all its R-rated, three-dimensional glory -- were seriously impressed. Nothing sells quite the same as airborne eyeballs...)

Finally, there's Underworld: Rise of the Lycans: third in the franchise to date, but first in our hearts terms of story continuity. Since Rhona Mitra came to so very much resemble Kate Beckinsale in last spring's Doomsday, it only makes sense that she formally take up the mantle in the war between werewolves and vampires. Be sure to check out this recently released trailer if you also want to see what it looks like when Michael Sheen isn't feuding with the werewolf-like Nixon.

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]]>friday the 13thFridayThe13thmichael sheenMichaelSheenmy bloody valentinemy bloody valentine 3-dMyBloodyValentineMyBloodyValentine3-drhona mitraRhonaMitraunderworldunderworld rise of the lycansunderworldriseofthelycansWilliam GossFri, 24 Oct 2008 12:03:00 EST'The Hobbit' is One Movie in Two Parts?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/08/the-hobbit-is-one-movie-in-two-parts/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/08/the-hobbit-is-one-movie-in-two-parts/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/08/the-hobbit-is-one-movie-in-two-parts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Middle Earth fanatics have long debated what the heck this whole "second Hobbit movie" would entail. Arguably, there's enough material for a prequel, with Gandalf leading battles into Mirkwood to fight Sauron, who was slowly rebuilding his dark kingdom. But recent news has suggested it is more of a Hobbit sequel, where Tolkien's material is scarcer.

Well, MTV News caught up with director Guillermo del Toro, who attempted to shed a little light on the topic. "The reality is that we stopped talking the first movie and second movie, and we just started taking about the movie - the two episodes, or two parts, as if they were a single piece of narrative. We don't even call it the bridge movie, we just call it 'The Movie.' And this is great. When we found what reverberated, and we found it in one of our virtual meetings -- we understood. It's a movie. We all agree that if we do our job right, it should all feel like a continuous journey. That's what we're striving for."

Is that any clearer? No, I didn't think so. But actually, del Toro dropped one hint, one riddle in the dark that might just solve everything -- he let slip where the first movie would end. "We are finding out. I think Smaug dies in the first movie. So draw your own conclusions."

And my conclusion would be that with Smaug's death concluding the first movie, the second would deal with the Battle of the Five Armies, where everyone from elves to the men of Esgaroth have an eye on claiming Smaug's gold. It's pretty epic and vicious, and could easily take up an entire movie. In fact, I'm not sure how they could get all of that into one Hobbit film. I think this is going to turn out to be a sensible move that does the book justice -- not the cash grab we all took it for.

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]]>featuredGuillermo Del ToroGuillermoDelToroj.r.r. tolkienJ.r.r.TolkienPeter JacksonPeterJacksonThe HobbitThe Hobbit sequelTheHobbitTheHobbitSequelElisabeth RappeWed, 08 Oct 2008 09:02:00 ESTReview: Appaloosahttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/02/review-appaloosa/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/02/review-appaloosa/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/02/review-appaloosa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



There's no question Appaloosa is a Western. It's set in 1882 in the New Mexico Territory, it has tin-star-wearing city marshals getting into gunfights with ornery cusses, it includes some scenes involving problems with Indians -- the whole nine yards. But underneath all that, it's really just a buddy movie, a rough-and-tumble, no-girls-allowed, steak-and-potatoes romp that happens to be set in the Old West. It's as much Don Quixote and Sancho Panza as it is Butch and Sundance.

The buddies are Virgil Cole (Ed Harris, who also directed) and his sidekick, Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen), an inseparable pair of freelance peacekeepers and expert gunmen. At the film's outset, they are hired by the dusty frontier town of the title to protect it from Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons), a devious rancher whose band of ne'er-do-wells occasionally murders local citizens, including the previous city marshal. With Cole as the new marshal and Hitch as his deputy, the two set about enforcing law and order.

One of the town's new ordinances, under Cole's direction, is that you can't bring guns inside the city boundaries. He informs a couple of Bragg's men of this when they show up at the saloon one day.

"That's the law," Cole says.

"Your law," replies one of the men, scoffing.

"Same thing," Cole says. OH SNAP!

Continue reading Review: Appaloosa

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]]>appaloosaed harrisEdHarrisjeremy ironsJeremyIronsrenee zellwegerReneeZellwegerviggo mortensenViggoMortensenEric D. SniderThu, 02 Oct 2008 16:02:00 ESTDrew Barrymore Will Teach You 'How to Be Single'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/11/drew-barrymore-will-teach-you-how-to-be-single/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/11/drew-barrymore-will-teach-you-how-to-be-single/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/11/drew-barrymore-will-teach-you-how-to-be-single/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I feel like Drew Barrymore is trying to tell us girls something with her latest movie roles. This fall, she tells us He's Just Not That Into You, and now according to The Hollywood Reporter, she's telling us How to Be Single. She's been rather unlucky in romance, so maybe this is her form of therapy.

New Line bought the rights to Liz Tuccillo's summer bestseller for Barrymore and Nancy Juvonen's Flower Films to produce, with the entire Into You gang coming on board. Marc Silverstein and Abby Kohn will write the screenplay. There's no word on director, or whether Barrymore will star, but she generally does headline her Flower Films.

Both Into You and Single are the products of Liz Tuccillo's pen, former Sex and the City writer, and New Line hopes that a trifecta of might-as-well-be-spinoffs keep female moviegoers buying tickets.
And it will probably work because How to Be Single, not surprisingly, sounds like a variation on Sex. It's the story of five single New York women, one of whom decides to travel the world to see how international women manage to fly solo. Naturally, while listening to global stories of romances successful and disastrous, she finds herself enjoying a foreign love affair. Naturally, her friends back home get their turn to, and become embroiled in all kinds of romantic mishaps. They probably all end up with versions of Mr. Big.

I'm curious about what the message of the book is. Is it how to maintain your single state? How to be fulfilled in it? How to overcome it? I find singledom to be riveting! Staying up all night, spending your weekends reading graphic novels and historical novels, no one to notice if you've combed your hair. Yikes, maybe I do need this book. Help me, Drew Barrymore! You're my only hope.

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]]>Abby KohnAbbyKohndrew barrymoreDrewBarrymoreFlower FilmsFlowerFilmsHes Just Not That Into YouHesJustNotThatIntoYouHow to Be SingleHowToBeSingleLiz TuccilloLizTuccilloMarc SilversteinMarcSilversteinnancy juvonenNancyJuvonenNew LineNewLineSex in the CitySexInTheCityElisabeth RappeThu, 11 Sep 2008 16:02:00 EST'Christmases' vs. 'Holidays': The Winter Family Comedy War Loomshttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/10/christmases-vs-holidays-the-winter-family-comedy-war-looms/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/10/christmases-vs-holidays-the-winter-family-comedy-war-looms/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/10/christmases-vs-holidays-the-winter-family-comedy-war-looms/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Feel that chill in the air? That's because you left the kitchen window open -- go on, I'll wait -- but that secondary chill you're feeling would be the multiplex yuletide season turning in our direction, ready and waiting to melt the bleep out of your heart. Last year, it was This Christmas and The Perfect Holiday begging to be mistaken for one another (in title, not in quality).

This year we've got at least two winter-themed family-minded dramedies waiting in the wings. First out the gate is Nothing Like The Holidays (the trailer's now up at Apple), in which a Hispanic-American family gathers for what might be their last Christmas spent together. Sooooo ... it's basically This Christmas, with the casting emphasis on a different minority. However, for all that film's familiar beats, I found myself surprisingly won over, so here's to hoping that something similar might come of Holidays on November 21st.

In the other corner, we have Four Christmases, in which Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon find themselves shuffling off to visit each of their parents on X-Mas Day. If this (embed-less) TV spot on YouTube is any indication, Vaughn's creaky neurotic shtick and infant spewage will be par for the course, not to mention the last thing I might expect to come from the non-doco directorial debut of Seth Gordon (The King of Kong). As the Hollywood gods have decreed it, Christmases is set to open just before Thanksgiving on November 26th. Ah, the smell of leftovers...

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]]>alfred molinaAlfredMolinadebra messingDebraMessingfour christmasesFourChristmasesholidays2008john leguizamoJohnLeguizamomary steenburgenMarySteenburgenmelonie diazMelonieDiazNothing Like The HolidaysNothingLikeTheHolidaysreese witherspoonReeseWitherspoonrobert duvallRobertDuvallsissy spacekSissySpacekthe perfect holidayThePerfectHolidaythis christmasThisChristmasvince vaughnVinceVaughnWilliam GossWed, 10 Sep 2008 12:03:00 ESTNew Line Waits Until 'The Thirteenth Hour'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/09/new-line-waits-until-the-thirteenth-hour/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/09/new-line-waits-until-the-thirteenth-hour/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/09/new-line-waits-until-the-thirteenth-hour/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I am getting a terrible sense of deja vu -- I skimmed this Variety article very quickly, thinking as I read "Oh, I remember reading the reviews of this book, and I always meant to pick it up." But then I saw the word "preemptively" and realized it hadn't been published yet. So either there's a novel out there that's eerily similar, or I'm no longer existing in space or time, like a red-haired and clothed Dr. Manhattan. What if I came up with the story first and never wrote it down?

Anyway, according to the aforementioned article, producer Michael De Luca has snapped up the rights to Richard Doetsch's not-yet-published novel, The Thirteenth Hour. It hasn't even been taken to publishers yet, but De Luca's got it, and is taking it to his old New Line stomping grounds. It's described as a cross between The Bourne Identity and The Time Traveler's Wife, following a man who is accused of brutally murdering his wife. He's given a chance to save her by going back in time, but only in one hour increments, where he must put together clues leading to who killed her, and why. "It has a great cinematic structure that unfolds in reverse," says De Luca. So far, no director or starting date has been attached to the project.

Maybe my memory is ringing because of its faint resemblance to Memento or Deja Vu? It sounds like a combination of those two more than anything else. I'm always up for a time traveling story that isn't by Michael Crichton, though, and I'll be happy with a sci-fi version of The Fugitive. And just think of how many actors out there who are dying to do a Harrison Ford impression!

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]]>Michael De LucaMichaelDeLucaRichard DoetschRichardDoetschThe Thirteenth HourTheThirteenthHourElisabeth RappeTue, 09 Sep 2008 19:03:00 ESTTIFF Interview: Ed Harris, Director and Star of 'Appaloosa'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/06/tiff-interview-ed-harris-director-and-star-of-appaloosa/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/06/tiff-interview-ed-harris-director-and-star-of-appaloosa/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/06/tiff-interview-ed-harris-director-and-star-of-appaloosa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



As the director, co-screenwriter and star of Appaloosa, Ed Harris follows up his Oscar-nominated work as an actor-director in 2000's Pollock with an adaptation of Robert B. Parker's novel, revolving around two old friends and partners (Harris and Viggo Mortensen) in 1882 New Mexico trying to enforce the rule of law in a town threatened by a corrupt power-broker (Jeremy Irons). Harris spoke with Cinematical in Toronto about working on Appaloosa, adapting Parker's novel, co-starring opposite Mortensen and how hard it was to find financing for a traditional Western like Appaloosa: "Pretty hard. I mean, it was very interesting; people really responded to the script, and if the budget for it had been half of what it was, we probably could have got it made pretty easily. ... But we needed the budget to serve the production values; it called for that. I didn't want to make a little intimate art-house film. I wanted to make something that respected the space that it took place in ... it deserves it; it calls for it; so, it was pretty tough; it was a real battle."

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]]>AppaloosaEd HarrisEdHarrisJeremy IronsJeremyIronslance henriksenLanceHenriksenParkerrenee zellwegerReneeZellwegerRobert BRobertBTIFF2008Viggo MortensenViggoMortensenJames RocchiSat, 06 Sep 2008 16:42:00 ESTToronto Adds Premieres for 'Che', 'Porno', 'Bloom', 'Synecdoche', Othershttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/13/toronto-adds-premieres-for-che-porno-bloom-synecdoche/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/13/toronto-adds-premieres-for-che-porno-bloom-synecdoche/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/13/toronto-adds-premieres-for-che-porno-bloom-synecdoche/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

On the heels of some high-profile NYFF announcements, the Toronto International Film Festival has unveiled its fair share of titles scheduled to premiere there next month. According to Variety, the list includes:

  • The North American premieres of Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut, Synecdoche, New York (pictured), which has been picked up for distribution by Sony Pictures Classics since we last heard of (still) possible trims, and Steven Soderbergh's epic Che, which remains without a distributor -- James Rocchi reviewed both films at Cannes.
  • The world premieres of Rian Johnson's Brick follow-up, The Brothers Bloom, which looks to be a special sort of con movie, and Kevin Smith's Zack and Miri Make a Porno, which looks to be a special sort of, well, romantic comedy.
  • The North American premieres of Darren Aronofsky's sports drama The Wrestler and Gavin O'Connor's oft-delayed cop drama Pride and Glory .
  • The world premieres of Genova, Slumdog Millionaire and Me and Orson Welles, the latest from the ever-unpredictable likes of Michael Winterbottom, Danny Boyle and Richard Linklater, respectively.

Cinematical will bring you early reviews on as many of these as we can, so stay tuned. TIFF runs from September 4th through the 13th.

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]]>brickbrothers bloomBrothersBloomcharlie kaufmanCharlieKaufmanche guevaraCheGuevaracolin farrellColinFarrelldanny boyleDannyBoyledarren aronofskyDarrenAronofskyedward nortonEdwardNortongenovakevin smithKevinSmithme and orson wellesMeAndOrsonWellesmichael winterbottomMichaelWinterbottommickey rourkeMickeyRourkenew yorkpride and gloryPrideAndGloryrian johnsonRianJohnsonrichard linklaterRichardLinklaterslumdogmillionairesteven soderberghStevenSoderberghsynecdochethe brothers bloomthe wrestlerTheBrothersBloomTheWrestlertoronto international film festivalTorontoInternationalFilmFestivalzack and miri make a pornoZackAndMiriMakeAPornoWilliam GossWed, 13 Aug 2008 15:32:00 EST'The Lucky Ones': Rachel McAdams Found Under Iraqhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/10/the-lucky-ones-rachel-mcadams-found-under-iraq/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/10/the-lucky-ones-rachel-mcadams-found-under-iraq/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/10/the-lucky-ones-rachel-mcadams-found-under-iraq/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

After making a fair impression in 2004 with Mean Girls and The Notebook, and then pulling a hat trick the following year with Wedding Crashers, Red Eye, and The Family Stone, it seemed to me that Canadian cutie Rachel McAdams was primed to take off in the years to come... and yet, here we are in 2008, with her one release since having been in the not-bad period drama Married Life (which grossed a not-great $1.5 million this past spring).

However, it looks her profile is about to rise yet again, between the star-studded drama State of Play next year and two other releases this fall: the long-awaited adaptation of The Time Traveler's Wife and, before that, the Iraq War drama The Lucky Ones, in which she, Tim Robbins, and Michael Peña all play returning vets who bond on an impromptu road trip to Vegas.

Judging from the trailer, it really seems to be a change of pace for director/co-writer Neil Burger, as he follows up the modest success of The Illusionist. Do I honestly believe that some bar skank would pull such open mockery if she wasn't scripted to? Not at all, but do I believe that McAdams' character would react as she does? Absolutely.

Regardless, it's just nice to see a genuine talent working her way back into the limelight. Who knows, maybe audiences can convince her to stay there.

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]]>neil burgerNeilBurgerrachel mcadamsRachelMcadamsstate of playStateOfPlaythe lucky onesthe time travelers wifeTheLuckyOnesTheTimeTravelersWifeWilliam GossSun, 10 Aug 2008 14:02:00 ESTWestward Ho with the 'Appaloosa' Trailerhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/05/westward-ho-with-the-appaloosa-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/05/westward-ho-with-the-appaloosa-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/05/westward-ho-with-the-appaloosa-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I don't necessarily have a soft spot for westerns -- although 3:10 to Yuma, Seraphim Falls, and The Proposition certainly didn't hurt that cause -- but because we as moviegoers aren't exactly inundated with them, it always feels like they tend to have more effort and care put into them than most other genre fare.

Judging from the MSN exclusive trailer for the upcoming Appaloosa, this looks to follow suit as Ed Harris (who also directed and co-wrote the film) and Viggo Mortensen (for whom Harris played an adversary in A History of Violence) deal with lawlessness in a small town out west, while the widowed Renée Zellweger surely tempts them both.

Toss in a supporting cast that includes Jeremy Irons and Lance Henriksen (that reminds me, The Quick and the Dead merits mention as well), and the benefit of my doubt at least has been earned. Appaloosa is scheduled to play Toronto in September, followed by an October 3rd release.

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]]>ed harrisEdHarrisjeremy ironsJeremyIronslance henriksenLanceHenriksenrenee zellwegerReneeZellwegerviggo mortensenViggoMortensenWilliam GossTue, 05 Aug 2008 17:33:00 ESTFrom 'Cape Fear' to 'Elm Street': Reboot Writer Hiredhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/23/from-cape-fear-to-elm-street-reboot-writer-hired/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/23/from-cape-fear-to-elm-street-reboot-writer-hired/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/23/from-cape-fear-to-elm-street-reboot-writer-hired/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Frankly, the news that a screenwriter had been hired to pen the latest installment in a horror franchise would not normally merit much attention.(Other than from the writer's agent and immediate family.) But when we're talking Wesley Strick and A Nightmare on Elm Street, my curiosity soared.

New Line Cinema has hired Strick to create their new version of Nightmare, according to The Hollywood Reporter. One of his first credits was as co-writer of Arachnophobia, Frank Marshall's clever creature feature, followed by Martin Scorsese's heavy-handed remake of Cape Fear, and later Mike Nichols' post-modern Wolf. His other credits include Final Analysis, The Saint, The Glass House and Doom.

While it's always tricky to assign credit or blame based solely on screen credits, I think it's safe to say that Strick has a distinct track record: complex psychological tension, sarcastic humor, and mucho macho boom boom (to coin a phrase for his uber-male characters). I'm not saying that all of these elements succeed in every movie he's had a hand in writing, but I am hopeful that Strick can come up with a fresh twist on Freddy Krueger.

The new Nightmare will retain the high school setting and "delve deeper in the psychology of nightmares and Krueger himself. The plan is to have a dark tone." If the plan is also to forget about a PG-13 rating, so much the better. New Line aims to release the film in time for the 25th anniversary of the original -- which would be November 2009.

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]]>a nightmare on elm streetANightmareOnElmStreetfreddy kruegerFreddyKruegerwesley strickWesleyStrickPeter MartinWed, 23 Jul 2008 13:03:00 ESTDiscuss: Should 'Hellboy II' Serve as Del Toro's Audition Tape?http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/16/discuss-should-hellboy-ii-serve-as-del-toros-audition-tape/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/16/discuss-should-hellboy-ii-serve-as-del-toros-audition-tape/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/16/discuss-should-hellboy-ii-serve-as-del-toros-audition-tape/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

"While waiting in line for the screening of Hellboy II: The Golden Army, I overhead someone say that Guillermo del Toro's latest is being seen as his audition tape for The Hobbit," observed Jonathan Pacheco in his review for The House Next Door. Of course, Del Toro already had the directing gigs for the two Hobbit films before Hellboy II hit theaters, but that won't stop audiences from evaluating the current parade of fairies, demons and evil elves with Del Toro's Middle-Earth-to-be in mind.
Needless to say, it's a narrow perspective.

It would make more sense to expect that these upcoming features will negotiate between the gothic horror of Pan's Labryinth and the blockbuster approach of Hellboy II. In the latter work, it's clear that Del Toro has more interest in placing these loony supernatural beings in relatively conventional action sequences, allowing the specificity of the characters to create a sense of ingenuity. Pan's Labryinth, on the other hand, offers a single package of storytelling: The art direction, special effects and even the violence directly relate to the drama. The best case scenario for the Hobbit films would be a happy medium: Glorious visuals that reflect Tolkien's deeply involving mythology.

Continue reading Discuss: Should 'Hellboy II' Serve as Del Toro's Audition Tape?

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]]>featuredguillermo del toroguillermo del toro hobbitGuillermoDelToroGuillermoDelToroHobbithellboyhellboy 2hellboy ii the golde...Hellboy2HellboyIiTheGolde...hellboyiithegoldenarmyhobbithouse next doorHouseNextDoorjim hensonJimHensonJonathan PachecoJonathanPachecopans labyrinthPansLabyrinthpeter jacksonPeterJacksonthe house next doorTheHouseNextDoorEric KohnWed, 16 Jul 2008 12:32:00 ESTReview: Journey to the Center of the Earthhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/11/review-journey-to-the-center-of-the-earth/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/11/review-journey-to-the-center-of-the-earth/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/11/review-journey-to-the-center-of-the-earth/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


If you thought the latest Indiana Jones adventure was implausible, wait till you see Journey to the Center of the Earth! It makes Kingdom of the Crystal Skull look like a documentary. It's fun, though, and a perfectly good way for a family to spend a Saturday afternoon, particularly if that family has a lot of 8-to-12-year-old boys. I have friends with kids in that demographic, and watching the movie I thought, "Those guys will LOVE this."

It was shot in digital 3D and is being exhibited that way in select theaters. By all means, if you see it, see it in 3D. The filmmakers indulge in some shameless gimmickry every now and then, making characters point things directly at the audience for no good reason, but for the most part the effects look fantastic. It's a smart way to bring the story to life, even if the story in question is all spectacle and very little brain.

Brendan Fraser, getting back into wholesome action-hero mode, plays Trevor Anderson, a scientist who specializes in tectonic physics. That was the life's work of his deceased brother, Max, whose 13-year-old son Sean (Josh Hutcherson) has now come to stay with Trevor for a few days. Trevor hasn't seen his nephew in years and barely knows the lad. Sean, sullen and heavily into his PSP (that's a portable video game system, old-timers), was only 2 or 3 when his dad disappeared.

Continue reading Review: Journey to the Center of the Earth

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]]>brendan fraserBrendanFraserfeaturedjourney to the center of the earthJourneyToTheCenterOfTheEarthEric D. SniderFri, 11 Jul 2008 12:03:00 ESTFrom Page to Screen: 'The Golden Compass'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/09/from-page-to-screen-the-golden-compass/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/09/from-page-to-screen-the-golden-compass/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/09/from-page-to-screen-the-golden-compass/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Fantasy may have the most rabid and obsessive fans, but it also has the staunchest detractors of any mainstream genre. We all know people who simply refuse to watch fantasy films or read fantasy books of their own volition. They may have sat through The Fellowship of the Ring grudgingly, but didn't bother with the rest of the series. They probably associate the genre with asocial nerds, fan conventions, and Dungeons & Dragons. They can only shrug at the exuberance of the devotees. Fantasy is "not their thing."

Why are fantasy movies (and the genre in general) so polarizing? I've long thought it has something to do with viewers' relative affinity for cinematic worlds. Some people go to the movies to see something that directly relates to their own lives, something that takes place in the universe they live in and know. Others - myself among them, if you haven't figured it out - flip for new, self-contained worlds that could exist independently of the movie; wonderful and strange places we feel like it's possible to actually inhabit. This might explain why those who like good fantasy also tend to enjoy good science-fiction.

Continue reading From Page to Screen: 'The Golden Compass'

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]]>chris weitzChrisWeitzfeaturedhis dark materialsHisDarkMaterialsnicole kidmanNicoleKidmanphilip pullmanPhilipPullmanthe golden compassTheGoldenCompassEugene NovikovWed, 09 Jul 2008 21:02:00 ESTSony Snags Animated Comedy 'Planet 51'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/09/sony-snags-animated-comedy-planet-51/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/09/sony-snags-animated-comedy-planet-51/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/09/sony-snags-animated-comedy-planet-51/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Imagine you're a green alien living happily among other green aliens on a tiny planet somewhere. Then one day an astronaut from Earth shows up and starts terrifying everyone. And he has the voice of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson! Except maybe contractual stipulations demand that he not be called "The Rock" anymore. Still! Scary!

That's the premise of Planet 51, a computer-animated comedy that has finally, after some shuffling, been acquired by Sony and scheduled for a Thanksgiving 2009 release. The voice cast includes Johnson, Gary Oldman, Justin Long, Seann William Scott, John Cleese, and Jessica Biel. The directors are a trio of video game programmers named Jorge Blanco, Javier Abad, and Marcos Martinez, and the script is by Joe Stillman, who co-wrote the first two Shrek films.

As we reported last November, Planet 51 was originally picked up by New Line and would have been that studio's first CG release. Then New Line was folded into Warner Bros., so the film became that studio's property, and they planned to release it next summer. But according to Variety, Planet 51's producers wanted it to come out this November instead -- and that didn't work for Warners because they're already releasing a Harry Potter film in that slot. So they let the film go, and now Sony has it. The producers will get their November release date, but it'll be 2009, not 2008. Presumably, everyone's happy now.

But should they be?

Continue reading Sony Snags Animated Comedy 'Planet 51'

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]]>dwayne johnsonDwayneJohnsonjessica bielJessicaBielplanet 51Planet51Eric D. SniderWed, 09 Jul 2008 16:32:00 ESTThe Exhibitionist: Journey to the Cinema for an Astonishing 3-D Experiencehttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/06/the-exhibitionist-journey-to-the-cinema-for-an-astonishing-3-d/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/06/the-exhibitionist-journey-to-the-cinema-for-an-astonishing-3-d/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/06/the-exhibitionist-journey-to-the-cinema-for-an-astonishing-3-d/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



I don't know the last time I felt like a kid at the movies, but while watching Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D this past week, I honestly reverted to my 8-year-old self. That isn't to say the movie is necessarily as good as the movies that astonished me as a kid -- because of the subject matter, I'd think about comparing it to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies, both of which came out when I was around that age, and neither to which this film holds up in terms of originality or storytelling craft. But as far as holding onto my sense of wonder, Journey is up there.

Of course, it's necessary to point out that Journey would be nothing without the digital 3-D factor. It's actually the first live-action narrative feature to be shot and released in the new format (the non-fiction concert films, U2 3D and Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour were technically the first live-action 3-D features), and while it's far from perfect, it is a terrific pioneer. I shall continue favoring the look of animated 3-D films, especially those directed as well as Monster House, and I anticipate that James Cameron's Avatar will blow away all live-action 3-D films released prior to its arrival. For now, though, I'm telling you, with the utmost cinemaphilic urgency: you need to see this ASAP.

Continue reading The Exhibitionist: Journey to the Cinema for an Astonishing 3-D Experience

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]]>3-Davatarbeowulfbrendan fraserBrendanFrasercaptain eoCaptainEocinema industryCinemaIndustrydigital 3-Ddigital projectionDigital3-dDigitalProjectioneric brevigEricBrevigexhibitionisthannah montanahannah montanamiley cyrus best of both worlds concert tourHannahMontanaHannahMontanamileyCyrusBestOfBothWorldsConcertTourindiana jones and the temple of doomIndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoomjourney 3-djourney to the center of the earthjourney to the centery of the earth 3-dJourney3-dJourneyToTheCenterOfTheEarthJourneyToTheCenteryOfTheEarth3-djurassic parkJurassicParkmonster houseMonsterHousereal DRealDthe exhibiitionistthe gooniesthe robetheater industrytheater ownersTheaterIndustryTheaterOwnersTheExhibiitionistTheGooniesTheRobetotal recallTotalRecallu2 3dU23dChristopher CampbellSun, 06 Jul 2008 09:02:00 ESTReview: Kit Kittredge: An American Girlhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/review-kit-kittredge-an-american-girl/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/review-kit-kittredge-an-american-girl/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/02/review-kit-kittredge-an-american-girl/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you have a girl between the ages of 4 and 12 in your life, chances are pretty good you've heard of American Girl. The wildly successful franchise has spawned a whole series of high-end dolls, doll clothes, doll furniture and accessories, books, cookbooks ... and, of course, movies. American Girls are enormously popular with both girls and parents seeking a wholesome alternative to the freakishly-thin Barbie doll image or the hooker-in-training look of those wretched Bratz dolls. As an added bonus, they encourage girls to learn a little history, without even realizing it .

The whole thing with American Girl is that each of the dolls comes from a different time period: there's Kristen, an immigrant girl from Sweden; Felicity, an American Revolution girl whose father is a Patriot, while her best friend's father is a Loyalist; Samantha, being raised by her wealthy grandmother in the 1920s, when women's suffrage and class difference were big issues; Molly, a girl whose father, a doctor, is off serving in the Second World War; Addy, who escapes slavery with her mother to search for her father and brother, and so on. Each doll has her own set of books: there's the intro book, the birthday book, the book where so-and-so learns a lesson, the Christmas book, and even a line of mystery books.

Continue reading Review: Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

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]]>abigal breslinAbigalBreslinamerican girl boutique and bistroamerican girl dollsAmericanGirlBoutiqueAndBistroAmericanGirlDollschris odonnellfeaturedjada pinkett-smithjane krakowskijulia ormondkit kittredgekit kittredge an american girlKitKittredgeKitKittredgeAnAmericanGirlmax thierotMaxThierotstanley tucciwill smithwillow smithWillowSmithKim VoynarWed, 02 Jul 2008 13:02:00 EST'Hobbit' Hints at 'Hellboy' Huddle: Del Toro Speaks!http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/01/hobbit-hints-at-hellboy-huddle-del-toro-speaks/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/01/hobbit-hints-at-hellboy-huddle-del-toro-speaks/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/01/hobbit-hints-at-hellboy-huddle-del-toro-speaks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

At yesterday's press day for Hellboy II: The Golden Army, the eloquent, elegant Guillermo del Toro had plenty to say about crafting the sequel to 2004's Hellboy, which we'll have at Cinematical closer to the film's opening; he also dropped a few facts and thoughts about his upcoming job helmingThe Hobbit. On the 'facts' front, del Toro mentioned that The Hobbit (which may be two films, one adapting the original novel and the other bridging The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with new material) will have a very different look than some of his other films: "The Hobbit will be (presented) in 2.35-to-1. ..." Translating cinematographer to English, that means that The Hobbit will be presented in widescreen, all the better to capture the hills and dales of the Shire.

Del Toro also spoke about the potentially tricky task of making his two Hobbit films in the wake of Peter Jackson's wildly successful trilogy, as well as what kind of material he might bring to a second movie -- and the tricky question of what Tolkien-created material Peter Jackson has the rights to (and can be used to create the two Hobbit films) and what material Jackson does not own the rights to (and can't use in a film). Del Toro's answers may have been short on detail, but they were long on vision. "What we're talking (about) is, obviously, utilizing the materials that are available to us, and the discipline has been to try and know, for my part, everything else -- not to know it and use it, but to know it and not step on those things.

Continue reading 'Hobbit' Hints at 'Hellboy' Huddle: Del Toro Speaks!

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]]>featuredguillermo del toroGuillermoDelToroHellboy II The Golden ArmyHellboyIiTheGoldenArmyJ. R. R. TolkeinJ.R.R.TolkeinThe HobbitThe Lord of the RingsTheHobbitTheLordOfTheRingsJames RocchiTue, 01 Jul 2008 09:02:00 ESTMore of Malick's 'New World' to Be Explored on DVDhttp://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/30/more-of-malicks-new-world-to-be-explored-on-dvd/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/30/more-of-malicks-new-world-to-be-explored-on-dvd/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/30/more-of-malicks-new-world-to-be-explored-on-dvd/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

For whatever reason in the fall of 2005, I had missed out on the initial local press screening of Terrence Malick's latest epic, The New World, and the reactions that followed were decidedly ... less than appreciative. Shortly thereafter, word had come our way that an alternate cut would be opening instead, and so it was this second screening that I did attend.

For the first half of the film, I was fairly fascinated by the tale of John Smith (Colin Farrell) and his conquest of both what is now America and what was then Pocahontas (Q'orianka Kilcher). However, somewhere around when Smith disappeared and John Rolfe (Christian Bale) all but replaced him, I found my interest waning at a considerable rate.

It's difficult to deny that there were those who still thought the film to be one for the ages, even in its 135-minute incarnation. Those who lucked into the earlier screenings or lived in New York or Los Angeles could briefly get a glimpse of the original 150-minute cut, before certain scenes had been abridged, excised, or even replaced. Now, come October 14th, fans will get the chance to devour a DVD release of 172 minutes in length.

Earlier that same year, I'd found myself fairly unimpressed with the theatrical cut of Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven, only to eat my words once the engrossing three-hour-plus director's cut hit DVD after a similar NY/LA bow. Maybe almost three years after the fact, I can bring myself to give Malick's masterpiece another go. Will you?

[via DVD Active]

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]]>christian baleChristianBalecolin farrellColinFarrellterrence malickTerrenceMalickthe new worldTheNewWorldWilliam GossMon, 30 Jun 2008 18:32:00 ESTLen Wiseman to Direct 'Gears of War'http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/17/len-wiseman-to-direct-gears-of-war/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/17/len-wiseman-to-direct-gears-of-war/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/17/len-wiseman-to-direct-gears-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gears of War is on a fast-track to the big screen, thanks to New Line. Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) has been given the directing job, and will be developing the story alongside Chris Morgan.

Based on the hugely popular video game, Gears of War tells of an elite Delta Squad who are charged with the task of saving the planet Sera from the vicious Locust Horde. Of course, the question on everyone's mind is whether or not this video game adaptation can succeed where so many have failed? Gears of War will probably be even more problematic than most, as the appeal stems from being plunked into the action, not because of the storyline. (Though, to be fair, it has no thinner a plot than Commando.)

Chris Bleszinski, one of the brains behind the video game, is optimistic as long as Hollywood takes it seriously. "Disney made a great movie out of a theme park ride, and somebody is sooner or later going to make a great one out of a video game. Having someone like Len really helps the odds. I think we're going to create something special here."

Sadly, Len Wiseman is only marginally more popular with fanboys and girls than Brett Ratner, so his name alone could sink this project when it comes to the geeks. However, he has a knack for over the top action, so perhaps this could be the ideal film for him. Sound off, Gears fans -- do you think this has potential, or is it destined to be another Doom?

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]]>Gears of WarGearsOfWarLen WisemanLenWisemanNew LineNewLineElisabeth RappeTue, 17 Jun 2008 09:02:00 EST