The Labyrinth

New Interview with GDT reveals alot

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 20:39:00 +0000

Guillermo is an amazing interview - when he gets the right questions, he can really give you some food for thought. Sometimes I find his words downright inspiring. I just love to hear what the man has to say. And sometimes, I get REALLY lucky and stumble on a great interview that isn't just his thougths on certain project, but really delves into his core beliefs as a filmmaker - and that to me is great reading.

So today I found a Q&A with GDT from Deadline.com from the Toronto Film Festival (Guillermo is there promoting JULIA'S EYES). It is a great, great read - check it out here.

For posterity's sake, here are some of the quotes that I particularly enjoyed, or found enlightening.

"When the economic crisis hit, we were in the middle of the largest box office year in the history of cinema. Everybody got conservative, and the contraction led to a dismal things. It won't get better unless you get bold. This timidity has done a lot of damage in the most fragile places. Imagine, there is almost no possibility for a foreign language film to be distributed in America right now. That doesn’t just make the industry poorer, it makes the landscape of cinema poorer, in America. The impossibility to get a good release on a really good European, Latin American, Asian movie is a tragedy."

"In Julia’s Eyes, Guillem put in the screenplay that for the next 20 minutes, while Julia has bandages on her eyes, the audience won’t see the faces of the characters. We will hide them.’ I told him, that’s nice to say, but you can’t. He said, you’ll see. I didn’t believe it, but then you see the movie, and it’s fantastically daring. It’s easy in retrospect to say, of course Guillermo would produce The Orphanage. But when you haven’t made the movie or seen any work by that filmmaker, it’s a true bet and you are putting your name on the line and saying to the director, either we both swim to land, or we sink together."

"When I was going to produce The Orphanage with Bayona, I had a lot of notes, and out of 20, Antonio took 2. My notes took the movie in such a different direction, which is what I thought it should be, that I told Juan Antonio, I’ll come on board, but I want to remake the movie after, as producer. I believe there is a second chance at the same tale, from a very different perspective." (Interesting - I had never guessed that GDT had an English remake in the mind from the beginning)

"When I see a short schedule, my question to the director is, are you really comfortable with this, or are you doing it to be a good boy? At the end, you only win the medal if the film is good, you don’t win a medal if the movie is on time."

(On ATMOM) "Part of my speech was, I’m putting all the chips I have accumulated in 20 years as a director, betting them on a single number. This is not just a movie and then move on to the next. It’s do or die time for me. Cameron does his movies like that every time and I find it surprising the way people judge success in retrospect, like, of course, I would have done that. Avatar was the largest gamble, again, so were Titanic and Terminator 2. I love that type of filmmaker, with those gigantic stainless steel balls, Alec Baldwin-style in Glengarry Glen Ross, fucking clanking together. You can’t explain success in retrospect. The moment you leap into the void, that moment is impossible to negate, after success. He leaped into the void. Peter Jackson leaped into the void with The Lord or the Rings. George Lucas did with Star Wars."

"This is the time to be bold. There is a saying in Spanish, ‘The raging river is a fisherman’s gain.’ Which means, when the river is raging, few people jump in, but they bring out a lot of fish. This is the time to be bold. If we are not, the self fulfilling prophecy is dying. I love that Chris Nolan did Inception. He did it because he can, but I assure you, this was not easy to push through. Whether bold movies succeed or fail, they don’t go unnoticed. Movies that are timid definitely are not succeeding in this time. The problem we have as a craft and artistry medium, we can only hope to be defined by our hearts."

Read the whole article yourself and post your reactions below!

GDT at SDCC: In Summary

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:24:00 +0000

Yeesh - I wish had more time to get some blogging in - but better late than never.

I just wanted to quickly summarize a lot of the GDT news that came out of SDCC for the "casual" observer.

1. DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK
It got an R rating for "pervasive scariness", which Guillermo took as a badge of honor. They were going for a PG-13 rating, but got the R just out of scariness alone - no gore, sex or cursing. Apparently the scares did the trick - it was one of the more popular panels at SDCC and the buzz on Twitter was that people jumped in their seats during the clips.

2. FRANKENSTEIN
Doug is still in the driver's seat to play the monster, and they are doing make-up tests very, very soon. GDT has said that Bernie Wrightson's drawings are the inspiration for the creature, and of course, he was brought in for the creature design. Also of note is that GDT said the film's colors will be very CLOSE to black & white - I'm very curious how that will look.

3. PINOCCHIO
GDT's Gus Grimley stop motion PINOCCHIO project is under development and actively being worked on.

4. DOUBLE DARE YOU
The DOUBLE DARE YOU production label that GDT formed with Disney to create scary animated films fell through, apparently because of THE HOBBIT delays.

5. THE HAUNTED MANSION
The biggest news is GDT's involvement with Disney on THE HAUNTED MANSION, a film based on Disney's famous theme park ride. Guillermo will write the script with Matthew Robbins and produce, but not likely to direct. His goal is to make a fun, scary family experience in 3D, much like the ride itself.

Finally - what will Guillermo's next directing project be? We know for sure it is a HORROR film, and it is a "known" commodity.

FRANKENSTEIN still seems like a long shot. The project has to be ready to go by May, and I don't think there is a script yet. Still, GDT has been hesitant to comment on this project...moreso than usual.

DR. STRANGE has been rumored on the internet, but I don't think that would fall in the HORROR category. Sorry, don't think that is happening.

Could we finally see AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS? Maybe - that would be a major coupe, but something tells me that the studios aren't ready to commit to that one.

GDT says this is a project that he started years ago, and it has finally come full circle. Could it be the MEPHISTO'S BRIDGE project (based on the novel SPANKY)?

Don't know for sure - I think this new directing project will be well recognized, whatever it is. Can't wait to find out.

Doug Jones on the Latest GDT Rumors

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:54:00 +0000

I love Doug Jones - he is such a happy, friendly soul - but he's also pretty darn smart too. I caught this interview with him on Fear.net and he says all the right (and accurate) things. See for yourself!

Now...a lot of you might be wondering if Doug will still show up in THE HOBBIT. Well, not sure. If I was a betting man, I would say No - but the good news might be that GDT might tie up Doug in some soon to be named project(s). We just don't know.

I do know this - Doug is a smart cookie - and he's not holding anything back when he says he doesn't know what he will be doing next for Guillermo. I just hope we'll see him in something soon. He is a great talent, and the success couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

GDT at SDCC: Friday Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 01:17:00 +0000

Where was I when Guillermo was making his future known to the world at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con?

I was sitting in an air conditioned car slurping a MooLatte at Dairy Queen with my kids.

What can I say? I'm a family guy. But I was following tweets of GDT's panel for DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK while slurping my delicious coffee treet. We learned a lot of interesting stuff today.

Yesterday we learned that GDT will be writing and producing a HAUNTED MANSION movie for Disney. Today we got even more interesting news. Fortunately for us, CinemaBlend was there to blog the whole thing live. Here is what we learned form CB's report:

1. The DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK teaser trailer was scaring the bejeezus out of Hall H. Sounds like GDT and director Troy Nixey has some classic scares for audiences. Guillermo has said the teaser should hit the internet soon.

2. Del Toro has plans to make a premium cable horror series.

3. He has an idea for a vampires vs Mexican wrestlers movie. Also thinking about a Mexican folklore animation project.

4. Development has begun on his Pinochio stop motion film. Read more about that here.

5. He says he will announce a horror project that he will be involved with that will start in May. This tidbit grabs my attention: I would imagine that his next directing project will start in May...sounds like his next film will be of the horror variety. ATMOM? FRANKENSTEIN? That seems to be the buzz on the internet right now...stay tuned!

Gentle Gian's PAN'S LABYRINTH Busts

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:50:00 +0000

It has been several years in the making, but Gentle Giant is close to releasing their PAN'S LABYRINTH busts. You can check them out this year at SDCC - but if you can't wait (or won't be there) here are some pictures and details:

Faun Mini Bust
Price: $70.00
Limited Edition of 500
Designed in 1:6 scale
https://www.gentlegiantltd.com/catalog/product/detail/615

Pale Man Mini Bust
Price: $70.00
Limited Edition of 500
Designed in 1:6 scale
https://www.gentlegiantltd.com/catalog/product/detail/614

Guillermo Del Toro and Doug Jones will be signing at the Gentle Giant boot at SDCC 2010. Check schedule for times!

What Next?

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:09:00 +0000

Remember when we were asking that same question after HELLBOY 2? All kinds of speculation on what project would be next. The assumption would be some long-gestating project that GDT had in a file drawer somewhere.

Then THE HOBBIT came out of left field.

Well, we are in that situation yet again - what next?

Lots of rumors floating around, so let me tell you what I know.

There are three projects Guillermo is considering doing. What they are, I don't know. But I have some guesses.

First of all, Guillermo, in his words, is not going to do a "rebound" movie. Whatever he does, it will be a project meaningful to him.

Second, he wants to get going in May, so that means the script is ready, or almost ready, to film. That takes out HELLBOY 3, which does not have a script ready.

So what are the potential projects on his plate that we know about? I'll go through them and weigh in on their likelihood:

AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS
Won't happen because GDT still has not lined up the studio support. This is a difficult film to sell to a studio - $70 to $80 million budget, no happy ending, no love story, tent-pole horror. It is just a tough sell. With the lackluster success of SPLICE, it makes it even a harder sell, in my opinion.

FRANKENSTEIN
This could happen. I don't know where the script is at, but I know this is a project that GDT is passionate about and they've already starting testing makeup on Doug Jones (G's monster of choice).

SATURN AND THE END OF DAYS
One of GDT's pet Spanish language projects, like PAN'S LABYRINTH. The script isn't ready yet, so count this out.

DROOD, JEKYLL & HYDE, SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5
I'm not hearing much buzz on these, so I'm not sure there is a script ready here.

LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS
This is Guillermo's fantasy western based on the Count of Monte Cristo. He shelved this script around 2002 because there were multiple Monte Cristo movies. But GDT loves this script and I would consider this a dark horse favorite. GDT mentioned in an interview that his next project will likely be something that they started development on 15 years ago. DARKNESS is right in that timeframe.

MEPHISTO'S BRIDGE
A script GDT wrote based on a book by Christopher Fowler entitled SPANKY, about a man who makes a deal with a demon. This is another dark horse pick, because this is a project that he worked on some time ago.

So, again, here is my top 3 ranked "most likely" picks for "What Next?"

1. An Unknown Project - my gut is that we will hear an announcement at this year's SDCC on something that is a complete surprise. Just like THE HOBBIT.

2. FRANKENSTEIN - this is my second favorite because this is a project G loves and it is a marketable project by studios.

3. LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS - it meets the qualifications for a lot of hints Guillermo has been throwing around. Would love to see this project happen.

Stay tuned folks...

Believe this - Guillermo is leaving THE HOBBIT

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Calling it "the hardest decision" he has ever had to make - GDT is leaving THE HOBBIT production after two years in pre-production. He will continue polishing the scripts over the next couple of months, but after that he is moving on.

The reason is clear - MGM's continued financial crisis was pushing the start date farther and farther back, and Guillermo's commitment to other long term projects was making it difficult to stick around. A three year commitment was turning into six.

One can only imagine the frustration of waiting and waiting and waiting for a green light to come, with no end in sight. According to the LA Times, everything was ready to go. Guillermo said in a press conference for SPLICE that "we have designed all the creatures, the sets, the wardrobe, animatics and planned action sequences, and we are very, very prepared for when it is finally triggered. We don't know anything until the MGM situation is resolved."

Apparently, GDT will help with the scripts for the next several months, and it is on to the next project...which Guillermo says is "TBD soon!".

One might expect the backlash from Tolkien fans to be one of betrayal - but I don't get that sense at all. Loyal fans over at TORN are sad, but understanding of the situation Guillermo was in - he had given so much to them by joining in on their message boards and keeping an active dialogue going - that he was embraced. Any anger or resentment has been directed primarily at MGM and show business in general.

This is as an amicable break-up I've seen for such a high profile picture. The fans are in Guillermo's corner, Jackson has praised him and been thankful for his contribution, and GDT had given so much - moving his family to New Zealand for multiple years, working two years on pre-production,etc.

GDT fans have echoed the same sentiment as the Tolkien fans out there - sadness and they feel for Guillermo, but at the same time they have a reason to be optimistic. GDT fans have had mixed feelings about THE HOBBIT - excited to see Guillermo part of such an ambitious project, but quietly lamenting the fact that it would take up so many years of his time.

For a website like DelToroFilms.com, news and rumors and can start cranking again as we wait to see what will happen next. Will it be a Universal project (FRANKENSTEIN, DROOD, SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5)? Will it be DISNEY? Could it be one of Guillermo's small independent projects (SATURN AND THE END OF DAYS)? Be patient, friends.

It is time to get excited again.

Don't Believe Anything You Hear Until MGM Is Sold

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:34:00 +0000

Speculation on the internet emerges from time to time on exactly when THE HOBBIT will start shooting. The last report was from Ian McKellan, who mentioned on his website that they would start shooting around June or July.

Don't believe it, kids - everything hinges on the sale of MGM, which owns part of the rights to THE HOBBIT. No assumptions can be made until then.

In case you didn't know, MGM is in debt. Big time. Like $3.7 billion. Yikes.

Anyway, THE HOBBIT can't get the official greenlight until MGM auctions off its properties. How close are they? Well, according to Variety, Lionsgate just dropped out of the bidding war, leaving only Warner Bros. and Access Industries. It's like watching an NCAA bracket...only slower. That said, think of it as being in the final round.

So what is a Del Toro fan to do? I suggest you sit back, relax, and start thinking about another DTF project coming your way - namely, THE FALL - the second book in THE STRAIN trilogy.

So, DTF fans, your assignment is this: Visit the THE STRAIN official website. If you haven't read the first book, buy it now. Join the THE STRAIN Facebook group.

THE FALL will be released September 21, 2010. Go ahead and Preorder it!

...And get ready to satisfy your GDT fix in 6 months.

Here and There

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:40:00 +0000

It has been a loooooong time since I posted on my blog. Some small news here and there, but nothing really significant. Thought I might entertain faithful readers on some "stream of consciousness" musings about the world of GDT...

There are some early rumblings among faithful DTF'ers about meeting up in Chicago around August 19-22 for the Wizard Con. This could be considered "Hellebration 2" after the magical "Hellebration 1" in Los Angeles for the HELLBOY 2 premiere. Not sure what will be planned yet, but you hardcore DTF'ers should circle those dates!

Got a few emails from Guillermo the last couple of months - he's always gracious enough to respond when I have some questions. First - some seasoned veterans of the DTF (and old HELLBOY boards) may remember that Guillermo encouraged fans to email him and get in a sort-of "lottery" for working on movie projects with him. Well, that tradition is still alive and well. If you still remember his email, drop him a line, although he says that the "rules" for winning are still "unclear", which tells me it might not actually be a "lottery" - he may be looking for *some* combination of talent/experience/initiative...

He also mentioned that MIRAMAX closing won't affect the release of DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK....yet.

Our "DTF Public Relations Manager", spydaweb, has talked with Javier Soto about the MIMIC Director's Cut DVD. The final cut *may* be complete (or very, very close), and Javier is working on the special features. Great to hear that progress is getting made on that front!

Other than that, not much to report. I need to get my head out of my ass and watch some movies. I'm in DVR hell right now, trying to catch up on all my shows that I got behind on from having a baby...LAST YEAR! The guilty pleasure of the month is NIP/TUCK. I love that show, probably because I enjoy a good dramatic train wreck.

No Maguire for THE HOBBIT

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:19:00 +0000

I'm amazed at how internet rumors get started. Remember that old game in school where you would line up and whisper in a classmate's ear, then they would whisper in their neighbor's ear and so on and so on until the kid at the end would have a totally different message?

That's basically what happens on the internet.

Joe Schmoe: "Hey, did you hear that Spider-man 4 is dead? I hope Maguire does THE HOBBIT!"

Jane Schmoe: "Maguire is doing THE HOBBIT? Can't wait to tell everyone on Facebook"

British Gossip Mag: "Sources say Toby Maguire will play Bilbo in THE HOBBIT"

Yikes. I bet Guillermo and PJ love addressing these rumors to info-starved fans (sarcasm alert).

Well - GDT and PJ have spoken - no Maguire for THE HOBBIT. Tell us something we didn't already know.

Even though I am webmaster here at DelToroFilms.com - I often don't have much inside information. It takes work to pursue leads and get quotes from sources to be accurate. either that, or you need a vast network of spies (like TORN).

Sadly, I have too many irons in the fire to be that dedicated - family man, own my own business, work full-time in computers, etc. So I rely on my main resource (Guillermo) and other internet sites for information. But it is easy to find the good news from the bad. Just check the sources on any story. If it doesn't have a valid source, and I can't get Guillermo to confirm, I usually won't print it here. Occassionally something slips through - but I would rather miss a story than post something inaccurate.

Rumors can be fun, though. Which is why I encourage everyone to discuss as many rumors as you like on our message boards.

So lets start a new rumor - what would be a good one? How about "DelToroFilms webmaster earns role in HOBBIT, will play puking dwarf in cameo".

Yeah - I like that one.

PAN'S LABYRINTH one of the best of the decade

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:06:00 +0000

As 2009 comes to a close, I've noticed that PAN'S LABYRINTH has popped up on a few "Best Films of the Decade" lists.

In fact, Metacritic.com just named PAN'S LABYRINTH the overall top movie of the decade based on a score of theatrical reviews.

It also got a shout out in the NJ Star-Ledger. Metronews Canada called it "one of the decade's most amazing movies."

The best quote comes from Lucy Jones of the Telegraph, who said "I walked out of Pan's Labyrinth feeling like a piece of gum on a frozen pavement. Spat out by a serial killer." She ranks the scene with Ofelia in the Pale Man's lair as the #9 Scene of the Decade.

It is great to see that the film is sticking with people. This is evidence that it will remain as an all-time classic.

Avatar is Ground-Breaking

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:36:00 +0000

It takes a really special movie for me to get out of the house and make it to the theater. Having two children under 2 years old will do that to you. It is always hard finding a babysitter, and it is even harder for me to ditch the wife with the two young ones while I run off to see a movie (ESPECIALLY since she is a big movie-watcher herself).

But this weekend I got the "green-light" to go see AVATAR. And it was worth it.

I went with some friends to see it at the local IMAX in 3D. (The ONLY way to see this movie in my opinion). I got the tickets several days in advance because I knew it would be a sell-out. Got there 45 minutes early to make sure I wouldn't be straining my neck in the first row. There was already a line a mile long to get into the theater (I ended up sitting in the back row - still not as bad as the front). I think "blockbuster" is a given on this one.

The film is an amazing achievement technically. The alien world looks completely real, and is a feast of visuals and imagination. It isn't like the forest of Endor - the planet Pandora is completely alien - alien plants, alien trees. And every scene is peppered with alien life - insects, lizards and small animals are injected to add fascinating detail.

AVATAR is the future. Much like TOY STORY ushered in a new standard of animated film, I too believe AVATAR is going to change how fantasy movies are made. The key is in how life-like the aliens (the Na'vi) of Pandora appear. You may only see a movie like AVATAR once a year because it is too expensive, but I can see all special effect films expanding on its motion capture technology - particularly in how it was able to create faces with real expression. Gone are the "clay" and "stiff" emotions of characters in films like BEOWULF. AVATAR is putting actors in real digital "suits". I don't think we'll ever see a puppet again (sorry, Yoda).

The 3D didn't impress me as much as I thought it would. At times I found it a little distracting - so maybe 3D is better when you don't know it is there - when it is "immersive". I can tell you that the best moments of the 3D was when characters found themselves at tremendous heights looking out into empty space. The 3D coupled with the IMAX screen can make someone with a fear of heights a little nervous - it was a spectacular effect.

The greatness of AVATAR is purely within its technical achievement - much like STAR WARS. The story itself was good enough - kind of a space version of DANCES WITH WOLVES - and it kept me interested and entertained. The acting was good, too - and it was nice to see Sigourney Weaver playing a cranky scientist.

I would call this film a must-see "amusement park ride", and probably the closest I'll ever get to actually visiting an alien planet - which is probably exactly what James Cameron was going for.

On The HOBBIT "Delay"

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:45:00 +0000

Lots of talk on the 'net right now about "The Delay". I found a great blog post from our good friend Kristin Thompson that sums up the matter perfectly:

I cannot overemphasize that much of what the studio and filmmakers have said so far about dates is tentative. Until the two scripts are finished, the budget planned, and the greenlight given, no really firm dates can be devised. In the meantime, all announced dates are presumably targets, and they will change as the decision-makers gain more information.

So whether the principal photography begins in April or July or whenever, there is no real delay. It’s a delay only in relation to estimates, not a firm schedule. These procedures are normal in Hollywood. There is no need to imagine a crisis based on the Tolkien Trust lawsuit, MGM’s financial crisis, or some sort of creative disagreement between the scriptwriters and the studio.

Second, on the release dates of the finished films, the interviewer asks, “So you believe in December 2011 the first part is going to be in theaters. Peter replies, “At this stage, that is certainly the plan.”

Again, that’s tentative. Studios frequently change the release dates of films, especially if the release date was estimated very early on, before the scripting/greenlighting process was even begun. A delay would be disappointing, but it wouldn’t be indicative of some behind-the-scenes calamity.

Pay heed everyone - Kristin is a smart cookie.

GDT Active on TORN

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:49:00 +0000

TORN is "TheOneRing.net".

Guillermo has made a few posts recently on their message boards and I thought I would share them with you:

On writing The Hobbit with Fran Walsh, Phillipa Boyens:

They are so absolutely indispensable... We have a precious collaboration and they are amazingly talented and fluent and brilliant in their writing. Now, you would be surprised- some of the funniest and most tender moments come from PJ or me also- and the ladies can be quite ruthless with the character's fates!! our collaboration is not quite gender / trait specific. What is very beautiful is that we make it a point to be together in the writing process as much as humanly possible.

It also appears GDT is immensely enjoying himself:

there are times in our lives when a gift is offered to us. This experience has been that. PJ, Fran and PB are blessings in my life. The partnership is superb but meeting people with such great hearts to go along with imagination and courage is a rare thing in this world.

Guillermo was also enamored with some fan art, created by the user grammaboodawg.

WHERE can I get my hands ona copy of that art??? ITS GORGEOUS and FUNNY!! I am strangely flattered by the portrayal!!

They are in my image folder now!! (along with images of Goblins, Smaug, Spiders etc- you must know) I am happy-

The inspiration came from a Tom Scott cartoon he did for a NZ paper in December 2003

Finally, Guillermo elaborated a bit on his cameo appearance as a creature in THE HOBBIT

I had a hand on the design of the creature and I will personally sculpt the appliances that will be applied on my face and hands. I used to sculpt the creatures for NECROPIA (my FX company) and I miss it a bit. I will have a line or two and die quickly.

Blogging the SPLICE Clip

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:35:00 +0000

I don't know why, but this post title makes me giggle. Sounds like an edgy animated sci fi short film. Or should I say "SyFy short film."

So I watched the SPLICE clip. I was hoping for one of three things from it:

1. Biological horror
2. Ethical dilemma
3. Scary science

I should probably clarify what I mean by "biological horror." By that I mean like freaky, gooey, scary, organic horror. The perfect example of biological horror is ALIEN. Facehuggers, impregnating parasites, acidic blood, etc.

Well, I really didn't get any of those things from the clip. The beginning starts promising, with a scientist locked in a chamber when suddenly something in there starts to move. A slight sense of claustrophobia, as the camera shoots from inside the mask. My heartbeat raced just a tad.

But then I SAW the little booger. Unfortunately, he was kind of cute. Like a two-legged puppy dog. Nothing like the "facehugger" that Ripley and Newt battle. And what was kind of funny was that Adrien Brody was banging on the window shouting that it was dangerous.

That thing? That little cutey-pie? Maybe it was going to go all Monty-Python-white-rabbit on everybody.

Anyway, my point is that the clip was lacking the three things I was hoping to see from the clip. And probably part of the problem was that the clip was just out of context. Brody probably had a good reason to be freaking out, but out of context it didn't make a lot of sense.

I'm still looking forward to the film. I think it does have quite a bit of the three qualities I mentioned above. If some "spy" out there gets to see the film on Saturday at the Sitges Film Festival, drop me a line and give me a review!

Del Toro Disney Deal Deliberations

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:17:00 +0000

Yesterday, this blog entry had my initial thoughts on GDT's DOUBLE DARE YOU production label with Disney. My initial impression: not excited.

Today: VERY EXCITED.

I emailed Guillermo with my thoughts - which basically asked, "Is this going to be like GOOSEBUMPS?"

He replied on our message board today that it is definitely not GOOSEBUMPS - mainly for one reason: DDY is going to produce "theatrical, high end" animated films.

This is big news - a Disney animated theatrical Guillermo Del Toro film.

Disney has a historic record of creating iconic characters and classic stories. Their films span the generations. They last. They are special.

I couldn't wait to watch a movie with my 2 year old son for the first time. His attention span is short, so I wasn't sure when he would actually be able to sit still and watch a movie with his old man. One day, while the wife was out, I decided to give it a try.

I got him a sippy cup of milk, a few "cheesy poofs" for toddlers, popped in BAMBI, and sat him on my lap. From the very beginning he was mesmerized. It was like magic for him. He smiled, laughed and watched the whole thing from beginning to end. It was magic for me too, because I felt like I was sharing a part of my childhood with him.

Imagine my joy when it was over and he said, "Watch it again!"

BAMBI was made in 1942. Special.

I can tune out the cynical remarks about Disney and their pursuit of the "all-mighty dollar" because, to me that afternoon with my son is what Disney is all about.

I hope GDT's films can capture some of that same "Disney magic."

That would really be special.

Professor Guillermo

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:57:00 +0000

Did you know that Guillermo helped create the film school at the University of Guadalajara? Check out this excerpt from an interview with SLANT back in May of 2009.

GDT: But I went to school in Guadalajara, but it was a very small film school that we created. It became the film school of the university—but we created it. There was no film school in Guadalajara as a kid, so we said "let's make one" and eventually the university formalized it.

Slant: Were you teaching there for a while?

GDT: The first year I was learning, the second year I was teaching.

Slant: Did you like being a professor?

GDT: Yeah, I'd actually love to teach again. I really enjoy that process.

So there you go - you're little GDT fun fact for the day.

Guillermo Del Toro Book Club

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:48:00 +0000

GDT is a voracious reader. Technically, he says he has about "10,000 favorites", but with a little research, I've found a few books that he personally recommends:

The King in the Golden Mask, by Marcel Schwob
In a March 2002 interview with IGN.com, GDT mentioned this French writer's collection of short stories as his favorite book.
Source: IGN.com

Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens
GDT: "As a kid, you have this notion that you are out of place and out of time. I think the character of Pip relates very intensely to Dickens and to me, too. The character of Mrs. Havisham is as close as Dickens gets to those Christopher Lee gothic horror films."
Source: New York Post

Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
GDT: "If I had to choose one movie that I'd love to see survive a burning, I'd run into the woods with the can containing 'Frankenstein.' The book is incredibly important, too. When I read it as an adolescent, I identified with the Creature. As I became a lapsed Catholic, I identified with the Creature's plea, 'Why am I here, if I didn't choose to be born?'
Source: New York Post

Pet Sematary, by Stephen King
GDT: "I think Stephen King can play the boogey man better than anyone else. Seldom has any writer tapped into the primal fear of death, absolute darkness and lack of soul to the point that it provokes almost spiritual horror."
Source: New York Post

Ficciones, by Jorge Luis Borges
GDT: "Incredibly poetic fantasy, philosophical ruminations in the form of literature . . . In many of Borges' short stories, he asks, Can an imaginary world be as real as the actual one? This book has been a seminal one for me."
Source: New York Post

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCuller
Charlie Rose asked Guillermo in July of 2009 if he would ever film a love story. Guillermo replied, "I would love to do Carson McCuller’s The Heart is a Lonely Hunter…I loved the old movie with Alan Arkin and Sandra Locke, but I think the book is so much more full of possibilities."

Weighing in on the latest Hobbit rumors

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:41:00 +0000

This report came online today from Marketsaw
http://marketsaw.blogspot.com/2009/08/rumor-mill-dark-smaug-on-horizon-plus.html

1. THE HOBBIT(s) will be in stereoscopic 3D.
2. THE HOBBIT will be shot in THREE movies - two Del Toro movies covering the book itself and a third bridge movie.
3. Peter Jackson will direct the bridge movie.
4. Smaug and the characters in THE HOBBIT will be darker than in the book.

My thoughts:

1. Maybe. I think GDT is hesitant because he doesn't want the spectacle to outweigh the story, which is so often the problem with 3D films. I do believe Jackson is in favor of it however.

2. I'm not buying it. For quite some time now, Guillermo has said there will be two movies that encompass the The Hobbit storyline. I don't find any reason for that to change, especially this late in the game. There will be some "supplemental content" - details on Gandalf's journey to find the Necromancer - but it will be interwoven into the Hobbit storyline. In other words, no bridge film.

3. Judging from interviews with PJ during the DISTRICT 9 publicity, I think he is prepared to step away from the lens and let Guillermo do his thing - and again, no bridge film.

4. Not really buying that either. GDT has always appreciated the "whimsy" of the book, and has vowed to keep that intact.

JULIA'S EYES and other things

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:43:00 +0000

I was very happy to see Guillermo will be producing another Spanish language thriller, JULIA'S EYES. He struck gold with THE ORPHANAGE, which was a wonderful and sad ghost story, so let's hope that it happens again. Bringing ORPHANAGE star Belen Rueda back again is a great omen.

I'm excited that I will be picking up my brand spanking new laptop today. For a computer geek such as myself, this is a big event! I finally will be stepping away from my desktop and going fully mobile about the house! This should allow me to send the occassional tweet while I watch the kids. It has been really tough lately to find the time to even do that.

Some of you may be wondering what happened this weekend with the Wizard World Convention in Chicago. I was very excited to attend and meet up with some fellow DTF'ers and get to see Doug Jones and Luke Goss. Sadly, my cousin passed away last week unexpectedly and I had to cancel my trip to attend the funeral. So what was supposed to be a highlight of my year turned into a lowlight. My cousin was only 22 years old and died in his sleep. As I write this, we still don't know why. Very, very sad - I was heart broken for his parents and sisters.

I think it part of the grieving process to meditate on death and what it means to die. I thought about it quite a bit this week. I recommend to readers here to revisit some of Guillermo's thoughts on death - they are quite interesting.

Hobbiton Construction

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:58:00 +0000

TORN posted some great pictures of the work being done on Hobbiton. I asked GDT for some details and this is what he said:

Mata Mata is the place where HOBBITON is being constructed. I've been there and laid out a few new Hobbit holes but 99% we are just REPRODUCING what was there for the Trilogy. Its monitored every week from my office and then, as the work progresses Ill start travelling there.

Don't Be Afraid of DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:18:00 +0000

It has been awfully quiet on the internet, on the DTF message boards especially, about Miramax's DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK. The film is set to be release in 2011 and stars Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce.

Oh yeah, and it is scripted by Guillermo Del Toro and Matthew Robbins (the writing team last collaborated on MIMIC (1997) - also a Miramax film).

This will be the first true GDT horror film since MIMIC that involves monsters in dark places. So why the lack of buzz?

Is it because it is just getting started? The actors are in Melbourne shooting as we speak...

Is it because GDT isn't directing? (the task belongs to unknown talent Troy Nixey)

Is it because tabloid maven Katie Holmes is a turn-off for some?

I'm not sure of the answer, but I do know this is something to get excited about.

If anyone has seen the original 1973 TV movie, let us know what we can expect!

Gentle Giant to produce PAN'S LABYRINTH Figures

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:12:00 +0000

You may recall that back in August 2007, we reported that NECA would be producing some PAN'S LABYRINTH figures. Since then, Gentle Giant has picked up the license and I am happy to say that we will finally be seeing a PALE MAN statuette in the fall of 2009. Check out this preview trailer below!

Also, here is a prototype for a Faun statuette that was on display at the 2008 San Diego Comic Con. Could we see this in 2009 as well?

Where do vampires come from?

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:23:00 +0000

Where do vampires come from?

I always thought a stork left them under a cabbage leaf or something. A very dark, evil cabbage leaf.

Ok, I don't really believe that - a dark, evil cabbage leaf is actually where Barney the Dinosaur comes from. (Ever see DEATH TO SMOOCHY? That movie was highly underrated. Check it out.)

Anyway, I saw another great quote from Guillermo today care of Duane Dudek of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - check it out:

Q. Where does the vampire myth stem from us culturally?
A. Back when we were tribally nomadic, I believe we were cannibalistic. And as we became social and sedentary, our collective memory was, how do we deal with the fact that we drank the blood of our enemies or ate their hearts? And so we tried to deal with a mythological creature to explain this.

You can read the full interview here.

Nice Quote from Guillermo

noreply@blogger.com (Parker) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:49:00 +0000

Saw this quote in an excellent GDT interview from THE INDEPENDENT, so I thought I would share:

"When mankind needed to eat and sleep as cavemen, we spent time making fire or finding water. We dealt with material things. But as soon as we wanted to figure out ourselves, we came up with angels and demons. We invented them to figure out ourselves. So I believe monsters are the key to understanding the universe. And I always try to write, and make movies where I play with that idea."