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Wolverine 2009

2008-12-19T08:03:00.000-08:00

Hugh Jackman reprises his role as Logan, the mutant who eventually becomes Wolverine and sometimes member of the X-Men. "Origins" hints at a prequel of sorts, allowing us to look back at the origins of Wolverine and the shadowy Mutant X program.

Die-hards may raise an eyebrow at the timing of Gambit's (Taylor Kitsch) introduction to the Marvel film world. However, much like Wolverine, he has a cult-like following (albeit smaller), questionable origins, and the Marvel franchise was running out of options as to when to bring Gambit into the fold. If played true-to-form, look for Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) to steal the show and reappear in his own spin-off at some point in the future.

Cast:

Hugh Jackman ... Logan / Wolverine

Ryan Reynolds ... Wade Wilson / Deadpool

Liev Schreiber ... Victor Creed / Sabretooth

Dominic Monaghan ... Barnell Bohusk / Beak

Lynn Collins ... Silver Fox

Danny Huston ... William Stryker

Daniel Henney ... David North / Agent Zero

Taylor Kitsch ... Remy LeBeau / Gambit

Kevin Durand ... Frederick J. Dukes / The Blob

Scott Adkins ... Weapon XI

Tim Pocock ... Scott Summers

Myles Pollard ... Lumberjack

Will i Am ... John Wraith

Troye Sivan ... Young Logan

James D. Dever ... Platoon Leader

Matthew Dale ... Surgeon

Alice Parkinson ... Elizabeth Howlett

Directed by:
Gavin Hood

Genre:
Action + Fantasy + Sci-Fi + Thriller

X Files

2008-07-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

Twentieth Century Fox has announced a July 25, 2008 release for a new motion picture based on the phenomenally-popular, award-winning series THE X-FILES. Long-anticipated but only recently confirmed, the film reunites series stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson under the direction of series creator Chris Carter, who co-wrote the screenplay with Frank Spotnitz.

In grand "X-Files" manner, the as yet untitled film's storyline is being kept under wraps, known only to top studio brass and the film's principals. This much can be revealed: The supernatural thriller is a stand-alone story in the tradition of some of the show's most acclaimed and beloved episodes, and takes the always-complicated relationship between Fox Mulder (Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Anderson) in unexpected directions. Mulder continues his unshakable quest for the truth, and Scully, the passionate, ferociously intelligent physician, remains inextricably tied to Mulder's pursuits.

Also starring are Amanda Peet and Xzibit.

Created and executive produced by Chris Carter, "The X-Files," which premiered on FOX on September 10, 1993, chronicled the lives and adventures of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, two disparate FBI agents assigned to investigate unsolved cases within the Bureau - cases that often involved the paranormal, the supernatural, and the inexplicable.

"The X-Files" won numerous awards and honors, including a George Foster Peabody Award for Excellence in Broadcasting, three Golden Globes for Best Dramatic Series, a Golden Satellite Award for Best Drama Series, Science Fiction and Fantasy Saturn Awards for Outstanding Television Series, and a Parents' Choice Honor for Best Series. In 1997, Gillian Anderson won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

The show's nine-season run came to an end in 2002. In 1998, Twentieth Century Fox released the first feature film based on the series. The film - produced and written by Carter and co-written by Spotnitz - became a worldwide success, taking in $187 million in theatrical box office.

In grand "X-Files" manner, the film's storyline is being kept under wraps. This much can be revealed: It is a stand-alone story in the tradition of some of the show's most acclaimed and beloved episodes, and takes the complicated relationship between Fox Mulder and Dana Scully in unexpected directions. Mulder continues his unshakable quest for the truth, and Scully, the passionate, ferociously intelligent physician, remains inextricably tied to Mulder's pursuits.

The Mummy

2008-05-21T06:30:00.000-07:00

Mummy 3 entitled the mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is such a blockbuster film that everybody waits to see. The story shifts from Egypt to China where Brendan Fraser returns as explorer as Rick O’Connell to combat the resurrected Qin Emperor which is played by Jet Li. In the movie trailer, you can see how people conquer all to save their lives from the legendary evil (the mummy).

Rick O’Connell is joined by son Alex (Luke Ford), wife Evelyn (Maria Bello, taking over from Rachel Weisz) and her brother, Jonathan (John Hannah). The O’Connells desire is to stop a mummy from a 2,000 years-old curse who threatens to bury the world into his merciless, unending service. The movie trailers of the film mummy 3 consists of the adventures and exciting battle with the China’s ruthless Dragon Emperor and his 10,000 warriors. Doomed by a double crossing sorceress (Michelle Yeoh) to spend eternity in suspended animation.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is helmed by director Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious, xXx) and written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Spider-Man 2, television's Smallville). Reprising their roles as producers in the series are Bob Ducsay, Sean Daniel, Stephen Sommers and James Jacks.

There are lots of upcoming movie trailers who will attract your attention this year. But, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Movie trailer is one of the most awaited one.

Credited Cast:

Jet Li ... Emperor Han

Brendan Fraser ... Rick O'Connell

Maria Bello ... Evelyn Carnahan O'Connell

Luke Ford ... Alex O'Connell

Michelle Yeoh ... Zijuan

John Hannah ... Jonathan Carnahan

Russell Wong ... Ming Guo

Isabella Leong ... Lin

Anthony Wong Chau-Sang ... General Yang

Hancock

2008-04-26T04:05:00.000-07:00

Meet The Superhero That Everybody Loves To Hate.

A hard-living superhero that has fallen out of favor with the public enters into a questionable relationship with the wife of the public relations professional who's trying to repair his image.

The movie itself I found to be rancid, I know call me a plant all you’d like. The story itself is just bland and drags terribly. It’s about Hancock being a terrible superhero, drinking on the job, calling people names, causing property damage and the sort. There is a good 30 minutes of set up showing that Hancock is supposed to be an alcoholic dick and another 15ish of him shoving things up peoples asses in prison(no joke). Once were out of the “Hancock is a misunderstood dick-head” phase of the movie were into the “Hancock is childlike and can’t understand how to just be a nice guy” phase. Luckily that only lasts for about five minutes of the movie, during a bank robbery which Hancock is supposed to stop. He breaks it up no problem but seems to run into problems with saying the words “good job” over and over. The story changes a bit and reveals that Hancock is apparently a god, or at least that’s what people used to call them, now they’re superheroes, and talks a bit about his kind being built it pairs etc. I’m gonna go ahead and stop my description of the plot there because I’m closing in on spoiler territory and I don’t want to ruin it for anyone.

21

2008-04-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

"21" is the fact-based story about six MIT students who were trained to become experts in card counting and subsequently took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings.

Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is an MIT student who – needing to pay school tuition – finds answers in counting cards. As a superior math and statistics student, he is recruited to join a group of mathematically-gifted students that heads to Las Vegas every weekend with fake identities and the know-how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favor. Unorthodox math professor Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey) leads the way. By counting cards and employing an intricate system of signals, the team can beat the casinos. Drawn by the money, the Vegas lifestyle, and his teammate, Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), Ben begins to push the limits. Though counting cards isn’t illegal, the stakes are high, and the challenge becomes not only keeping the numbers straight, but staying one step ahead of the casino’s menacing enforcer, Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne). The genius here is in a breezy tour of a system for beating blackjack, created by a (very) extracurricular MIT club. Through a combination of math, code words and the magic of oversimplification, 21 makes you feel like you, too, could beat the house.

Of course, nothing's ever that easy, nor is it as much fun as it looks. And that's the problem with 21, a film that's great with abstract theories but ignores the ugly truths about its characters—which is to say, there really aren't any, just contrived motivations papered over with amiable, attractive young actors. (Well, and Kevin Spacey and Laurence Fishburne, who are older, therefore dour and mean.)

The trouble starts right off the bat, when protagonist Ben gets a superfluous rationale for joining the blackjack team—he needs $300,000 for med school, and he needs it because apparently we wouldn't believe that he just wants it. In giving us someone to root for, 21 takes away someone that might hold our interest; it's this zero-sum storytelling that makes it impossible to take the proceedings seriously.

Fans of Bringing down the House, the best-seller that inspired this movie, might well walk out wondering what went wrong. How often is a nonfiction Hollywood adaptation less lurid and exciting than its source? Director Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Monster-in-Law) doubles down on the book's glitz but leaves out all of the grit, trading scenes of real panic and menace for corny backroom confrontations with zero scare factors. As an adaptation, it's a disappointment. As Hollywood fare, it's a bust.

Doomsday

2008-03-16T07:40:00.000-07:00

lethal virus spreads throughout a major country and kills hundreds of thousands. To contain the newly identified Reaper, the authorities brutally quarantine the country as it succumbs to fear and chaos. The literal walling-off works for three decades--until Reaper violently resurfaces in a major city. An elite group of specialists, including Eden Sinclair, is urgently dispatched into the still-quarantined country to retrieve a cure by any means necessary. Shut off from the rest of the world, the unit must battle through a landscape that has become a waking nightmare.

The first trailer to Neil Marshall’s Doomsday had a similar, sudden change in trajectory, but it wasn’t like Juno’s pffffft-to-tissues, it was zzzz-to-being attacked by a bat out of hell. Let me add to that: if the hell bat had a mohawk, a nice ass and a friggin’ chainsaw.

When a nasty virus rips through Scotland, the authorities in the U.K. get a little overzealous with the quarantine, building a big fat wall across the country and leaving millions behind to die. Decades later, the reemergence of the virus sends a special-forces team, led by the requisite flinty cop (Rhona Mitra), into the no-man's-land in search of a cure. They promptly discover more survivors than anyone expects; said survivors are predictably (a) angry and (b) hungry, and there the troubles begin.

This is a sprawling, messy, riotous, not-quite-finished picture. Marshall's last film, The Descent, was a lean, claustrophobic shocker without a wasted frame. Here he's thrown in the kitchen sink and a bit of plumbing to boot.

The unruly result could no doubt have been better.

Doomsday isn't quite funny enough to make up for its inherent nastiness, some of the dodgier effects would have been better off on the cutting room floor, and Marshall's often edging toward the wrong side of the line between homage and outright theft. But it's hard to watch it without having at least a little fun, and that's what Doomsday and all the movies it's aping are for.

My interest had hit a valley as soon as the trailer yelled what it was within the first two seconds with, “This is the end of the world!” But when that skull punch was followed by, “It was an epidemic unlike any other,” and expressed via a deadly virus spreading across a digital map of London in blood red, I could hear the words “Yeah, right!” echoing across the world. My Swatch watch hit “played out zombie time” and I decided to get in my Audi and drive to Hollywood on a fiery mission (from blog, ugh). I mean, they have a Victoria Beckham doppleganger fighting the undead? I like Bob Hoskins, but not that much. But then the skies opened or did they slam shut in time for a trashy punk rock concert?

The Spiderwick Chronicles

2008-02-20T09:41:00.000-08:00

You don't see us, now you do, but only if we want you to

From the beloved best-selling series of books comes "The Spiderwick Chronicles," a fantasy adventure for the child in all of us. Peculiar things start to happen the moment the Grace family (Jared, his twin brother Simon, sister Mallory and their mom) leave New York and move into the secluded old house owned by their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick. Unable to explain the strange disappearances and accidents that seem to be happening on a daily basis, the family blames Jared. When he, Simon and Mallory investigate what's really going on, they uncover the fantastic truth of the Spiderwick estate and the creatures that inhabit it.

The Grace kids—twin brothers Jared and Simon (Freddie Highmore in a dual role) and their sister, Mallory (Sarah Bolger)—move into the old family mansion when their dad leaves their mom (Mary-Louise Parker, who doesn't look as if she had a sandwich recently, let alone three kids). The crumbling house belonged to their great-great uncle, Arthur Spiderwick (David Straitharn), an eccentric who disappeared 80 years before.

But it turns out Uncle Arthur wasn't crazy after all! Jared finds his life's work—a book that catalogs an entire unseen world inhabiting this one with us. Faeries, goblins and pixies are all real, it turns out, and Arthur learned all their secrets.

Unfortunately, the book also contains the secret of how to rule the world (exactly how is never explained, but nobody pauses to ask). That means the evil ogre, Mulgarath (Nick Nolte), only slightly scarier than he was in his DUI mug shot—wants it. Which makes Jared and his siblings the only line of defense—and the target of all kinds of nasty things.

The Hottie and the Nottie

2008-02-08T07:56:00.000-08:00

It's not like Paris Hilton to rise above her material, but "The Hottie and the Nottie" sinks so low that all she has to do is stand upright. Cast (it must be said, against type) as chaste, self-effacing beauty Cristabel Abbott, Hilton convincingly breaks with her public persona, which is good news for her acting coach but not for the movie's prospects, since there is little evidence that Hilton's fans want to see her playing anything other than herself.

The nottie to Hilton's hottie is her lifelong best friend, June Phigg (Christine Lakin), a snarling deterrent to would-be suitors, or, as one puts it, the "hideous dragon" at the castle gates. With her cracked teeth, festering toenails and matted body hair, June is indeed a hideous creation, although not as stomach-turning as the movie that contains her. Director Tom Putnam and writer Heidi Ferrer have concocted a feminine monstrosity so inhuman she might be an evolutionary throwback.

Hottie's real knuckle-draggers, though, are the men whose jaws drop at the mere sight of Cristabel's spandex-clad frame. Nate Cooper (Joel David Moore) has been nursing a crush on her since the first grade. Twenty years later, without job, friends or a clue, he decides that tracking down his long-lost love is the answer to all his problems. Of course, one man's hopeless romantic is another woman's stalker, but a few restraining-order jokes handily put that to rest.

Deciding that the only way to loosen June's grip is to find her a man of her own, Nate tries to bribe, cajole and even hypnotize potential suitors, who inevitably run screaming at the sight of her. But with the help of a few spa treatments and a friendly dentist, June begins to transform herself, which is when "Hottie" goes from insufferable to downright intolerable. While it pays lip service to inner beauty, the movie winds up as a feature-length advertisement for cosmetic surgery. Sure, an ugly duckling can become a swan -- but it's gonna cost you.

Mercifully, Christine Lakin emerges from the muck unstained. But by the time she's peeled off her bald cap, she seems far too good for any of the drooling mouth-breathers around her. Beauty may be skin deep, but ugliness goes to the bone.

By: Sam Adams

Meet The Spartans

2008-01-29T08:23:00.000-08:00

'Spartans' win box-office battle

Twentieth Century Fox's "Meet the Spartans," a spoof of "300" and other swords-and-sandals epics, topped the weekend box office in the U.S. and Canada with estimated sales of $18.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The New Regency Pictures production, made on a budget of $18 million, opened at the upper end of expectations and edged out Lions Gate Films and Weinstein Co.'s "Rambo" for No. 1. It looks like another modestly budgeted hit from the team behind "Date Movie" and "Epic Movie," similar comedies.

Young fans made the difference. An estimated 75% of the crowds at the PG-13-rated "Meet the Spartans" were younger than 25.

"The kids want to laugh, and they like these parodies because they know the movies being spoofed so well," said Bert Livingston, Fox's senior vice president of distribution.

"Meet the Spartans" -- written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, who also helped write the first "Scary Movie" -- poked fun not only at last year's Spartan battle saga "300" but also at "Spider-Man," "You Got Served" and pop-culture phenomena such as paparazzi.

Fox's romantic comedy "27 Dresses," starring Katherine Heigl, held up firmly in its second weekend to place third with an estimated $13.6 million, down 41% from its debut. Last weekend's box-office champ, Paramount Pictures' monster movie "Cloverfield," plunged 68% from its record-setting holiday weekend to finish fourth with $12.7 million.

The Friedberg-Seltzer comedies have been remarkably consistent performers.

"Date Movie" and "Epic Movie" both opened at about $19 million and ended up grossing $80 million to $90 million worldwide.

This "movie" was not screened in advance for critics, which as you know by now, means it's probably awful, unfunny and should have been dumped straight-to-DVD.

So, we aren't going to send a critic to some desolate mall megaplex to see what the "filmmakers" behind Epic Movie and Date Movie plan to inflict on us now. Even at a pitiful 84 minutes long, it's simply not worth the effort.

We're just going to give this "parody" of 300—and a bunch of other movies that don't have anything to do with each other—an F and save everyone a load of trouble. Have you seen it? Post a review. Really. Go ahead. We're not going to.

By: Josh Friedman

Cloverfield

2008-01-18T11:09:00.000-08:00

Godzilla Thrills on a Bambi Budget

Cloverfield's cost-conscious formula proves that by dispensing with overpriced stars, Hollywood can make a popular thriller that doesn't break the bank

by Ron Grover

It sure looked like one of Hollywood's big-budget, blockbuster send-offs. Inside the gates of Paramount, a 12-foot tall faux Statue of Liberty loomed—its head lopped off much as it is in the studio's latest horror movie, Cloverfield. A commercial for the movie, due in theaters Jan. 18, aired on the top-rated American Idol season premiere.

But that's where the big-budget similarities end: Cloverfield, as fierce a New York-stomping monster movie as you will ever see, may also be Exhibit A in how a Hollywood that loves its $100 million action films can learn to mend its overspending ways.

Who Needs Star Power?

Cloverfield, according to Hollywood buzz, was made for just north of $30 million. Given Hollywood accounting, which is famous for loading on costs where you least expect to find them, the film more likely set Paramount back $40, maybe even $50 million. But that's still peanuts compared to, say, the Will Smith film I Am Legend, which easily dinged Warner Bros.' coffers by $150 million to create its own version of New York destruction. I'm not sure that Cloverfield will ever sell more than $220 million in tickets, as Legend has, but I'm willing to bet that when it comes time to determine profitability, the Paramount flick may just give Will Smith and his rabid zombies a run for their money.

So how do you produce a film that stars a six-story, tail-slashing monster for less than $50 million, while throwing in crumbling bridges, collapsing skyscrapers, and even some fierce man-eating insects the size of large dogs? Well, you start with the fact that there isn't a brand-name actor in the young, good-looking crew. By contrast, Will Smith got $20 million and a big piece of the profits for I Am Legend.

When producer J.J. Abrams, the mastermind behind the TV show Lost, decided to make a low-budget monster flick, he went with a bunch of unknowns who no doubt were happy to get a steady paycheck. The star? Michael Stahl-David got his first professional acting gig two years back in a small role on Broadway in The Diary of Anne Frank and he had another small role in the quickly canceled NBC series The Black Donnellys.

An American Godzilla

Cloverfield is clearly an homage to the cheesy look of the Godzilla films. Abrams says he decided to make the film while on a publicity trip to Japan with his son to promote Mission Impossible III, which Abrams directed. Abrams figured what America needed was its own Godzilla, he says. Moreover, he decided to make the movie from the vantage point of the folks being squished. The result is a film made to resemble the herky-jerky style of a camcorder. Forget the monumental, sweeping shots. The up-close and personal style makes the special effects doubly jarring. When the monster's tail snaps through the air, it whips right past your eye. When the monster's tail smashes the Brooklyn Bridge, it rumbles through your stomach. And when the Statute of Liberty's head comes hurtling down a Lower Manhattan street, you all but jump out of its way.

Abrams and director Matt Reeves, his longtime buddy and collaborator, used high-end special effects houses to create the reptilian monster. But to save money, you mostly get quick glimpses of the monster—a head here, a tail there—and a ton of horrified folks stumbling through New York streets as things rumble around them. (O.K., so Reeves says there is "something scary about things you don't see.")

Borrowing from The Blair Witch Project

Where Cloverfield's real hit-in-the-making genius shines is in its marketing campaign, which was brilliantly designed to build suspense by giving audiences just a hint of what it was about. There was one big Cloverfield sighting—a theatrical trailer that ran right before screenings of Paramount's Spielberg-produced blockbuster, Transformers. But the trailer was more teaser than commercial and didn't even show the film's title. Pretty soon, the studio was leaking snippets of their flick to online sites, much as Artisan Entertainment did in 1999 with a low-budget horror film called The Blair Witch Project. That film, which pioneered a new, camcorder verité style, was made for $350,000 or so and went on to gross $140 million.

Abrams describes Cloverfield as "a Cameron Crowe movie meets Godzilla meets The Blair Witch Project." I'm not going to tell you that Cloverfield will have anywhere near the profitability of The Blair Witch Project. Few films have. And with its share of stomach-wrenching bloodiness, Cloverfield may not be a date movie. But it does show what Hollywood can do when it puts its mind to watching its pennies instead of signing stars. And other studios can do it as well when they put their minds to it. Last year, Warner Bros. (TWX) turned a nifty profit with its computer-generated action flick 300, which it made for $65 million and sent off to a $211 million U.S. box office. Again: no stars, just plenty of computer-generated backdrops.

It all depends on how you measure success. I'm figuring Paramount may not have a $200 million box office on their hands. (If they thought it would be bigger, they wouldn't have released it in January.) But Abrams and friends have created a film that is a raucous, head-rattling thrill ride of a flick. And they did it for less than what Will Smith will report to the IRS for his role in I Am Legend.

Hellboy II

2008-01-16T12:04:00.000-08:00

Reportedly turning down I Am Legend, Halo, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince leads us to believe Guillermo del Toro has got some pretty strong and fanciful plans for Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Need to be convinced further? Check out the Golden Army trailer, an exclusive glimpse on the elves, big guns, and superhero-on-superhero relationships coming to theaters this July.

Click for the trailer!

Whatever a studio doesn't kill can only make it stronger, right? Once Sony put the Hellboy movie rights on the auction block, Universal snapped them up with the quickness and del Toro looks to be happy with his new workspace. Ron Perlman reprises his role as Hellboy, along with Selma Blair as girlfriend/partner in heroism, Liz Sherman. Together, they make up part of a paranormal investigative bureau, this time combating a renegade elf vying for Earth domination. The trailer confirms creator Mike Mignola's claim that Hellboy II eschews the 2004 original's pulp overtones for a more fantastical story. The horde of critters and baroque artifact designs give some scenes a sleek Pan's Labyrinth-esque bent.

Click here for the trailer! Hellboy II: The Golden Army rises into theaters July 11, 2008.

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Justice League

2008-01-10T12:46:00.000-08:00

Justice League Assembles, But Beyond Smallville?
Posted By: Jerrica / Source
Filed Under : Comics , Television ,

The next episode of "Smallville" seems primed to bring the Justice League to TV, and this is something fans like myself have not only been predicting but eagerly awaiting. A preview played following last week’s "Smallville" episode, "Subterranean," for the next new hour, kicking off a two-episode extravaganza for the New Year with "Hydro" set to air on The CW on Thursday, January 11th and "Justice" set for the following Thursday, the 18th. The teaser was just the kind of stuff that gets a fan’s pulse racing and taps into the fan dream with one of those things you always wanted to see on the show but never thought you would.

In the return of epic proportions, "Hydro" features Lois delving deep into the question of Green Arrow’s identity. Then, it all leads into the next week with "Justice" where Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) seemingly has assembled an army of mutants, and who better to take them on than the JLA. That’s right, all the members of the team that have appeared in full to date in one episode; The Flash, Aquaman, Green Arrow, and even Cyborg gets to join in to fight the good fight. Martian Manhunter will not be back for these two episodes. And now a quick warning that the following is a spoiler; Kryptonsite.com reports that Martian Manhunter will be back for the episode after "Justice" entitled "Labyrinth."

In "Justice," Kyle Gallner, Alan Ritchson, Justin Hartley, and Lee Thompson Young will all be reprising the roles as a few of DC’s most elite superheroes. The combined preview for the first two episodes of 2007 finishes with Bart Allen, Oliver Queen, Clark Kent, Arthur Curry, and Victor Jones marching together, ready for battle. It’s a real rush to see. Just when you thought the show couldn’t top some of its best moments, "Smallville" may outdo itself yet. But, this supercharged imagery brings the inevitable question to mind; are they considering a series? Because for many who have been disappointed by things like the failed "Justice League of America" TV pilot of 1997 and the sunken pilot of "Aquaman" last year, this is just too exciting to contain within the realm of "Smallville."

The Hobbit

2008-01-04T10:04:00.000-08:00

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson; Harry Sloan, Chairman and CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of New Line Cinema have jointly announced that they have entered into the following series of agreements:

- MGM and New Line will co-finance and co-distribute two films, The Hobbit and a sequel to The Hobbit. New Line will distribute in North America and MGM will distribute internationally.

- Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh will serve as Executive Producers of two films based on The Hobbit. New Line will manage the production of the films, which will be shot simultaneously.

- Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation relating to the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) Trilogy.

Said Peter Jackson, "I'm very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line. The Lord of the Rings is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey."

"Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life and we full heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making The Hobbit," said Sloan, MGM's Chairman and CEO. "Now that we are all in agreement on The Hobbit, we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film."

Bob Shaye, New Line Co-Chairman and Co-CEO comments, "We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences, and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with The Hobbit movies. We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with The Lord of the Rings Trilogy."

The two Hobbit films -- The Hobbit and its sequel -- are scheduled to be shot simultaneously, with pre-production beginning as soon as possible. Principal photography is tentatively set for a 2009 start, with the intention of The Hobbit release slated for 2010 and its sequel the following year, in 2011.

The Oscar-winning, critically-acclaimed LOTR Trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box-office. In 2003, The Lord Of The Rings: The Return of The King swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the eleven categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture -- the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The Trilogy's production was also unprecedented at the time.

Plot Summary:

The sequel to ''Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' follows the continuing quest of Frodo Baggins and the Fellowship that has joined together to destroy the One Ring and stand against the leader of the dark lord Sauron. The fellowship has divided and now find themselves taking different paths to defeating Sauron and his allies. Their destinies now lie at two towers: Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupted wizard Saruman waits, and Sauron�s fortress at Barad-dur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor.

27 Dresses

2008-01-02T09:59:00.000-08:00

A single woman is tired of always being the bridesmaid at her friends' weddings. This time, she sets off to find her own Mr. Right.

I want to say flat out I LOVED LOVED LOVED this movie. I went to see this movie at a sneak preview and was really excited because I've always liked James Marsden and I think Katherine Heigl is fun. So I was expecting to be entertained like I am with most chick flick. I did not expect a well written script with moments that made me laugh, almost cry, and actually feel something for these characters.
I can't wait to buy it on DVD. It was NOT what I thought it'd be. I was in the mood for a cheesy romantic comedy and what I got was a hysterically funny non-Judd Apatow written and directed comedy. Couples older and younger and even single people (coughs at self) were laughing so hard we were crying. It is a perfect Valentine's date movie but I'm glad they had a sneak preview of it.
James Marsden does a fantastic job in his first real male lead. I expect his Hollywood status to go up because of this movie.

James Marsden is definitely hot and made a great Cyclops but in this movie he's definitely the leading man you want to see constantly. I enjoyed the movie a lot and (under breath) even Katherine's performance. I'd say acting wise Katherine is definitely the next Julia Roberts.
His comedic timing is perfect. Katherine Heigl shows that Knocked Up wasn't a fluke and that she can be the star of the comedy. Judy Grier is quick and witty as always. The only downside to this movie is Malin Akerman who seems to make the same face and say her lines the same every time she talks, however her character was supposed to be annoying so it could be forgiven. This was so much more than your average chick flick. I suggest it to anyone who even has remote interest. If you were planning on renting it, go see it instead. You won't want to wait. It's hilarious, it's touching, and it's GREAT!

There Will Be Blood

2007-12-28T11:44:00.000-08:00

There Will Be Blood was written for the screen and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. This is without a doubt his best movie to date and right on my top movies of all time list. PT Anderson delivers perhaps his best work with "There Will Be Blood". Unlike "Magnolia", the film's daunting runtime is not very daunting whilst watching it. All acting in the film was solid, even the work of the child actors. Daniel Day-Lewis in particular delivered a truly phenomenal performance, capturing the power of greed, fear, insanity, and comedy simultaneously, at many points throughout the film. At no point does the time period distract from the power of the film. Sometimes period pieces cannot be appreciated because they delve too deep into historical details -- turning the experience into more of a documentary than a narrative set in the past. This is not the case for "There Will Be Blood", as human interactions are the focus of the film. Johnny Greenwood's chilling score is very strong, benefiting from the elegant minimalism that he show's in the band Radiohead.
Daniel Plainview(Daniel Day-Lewis) is a silver miner who strikes it rich after discovering oil underground. He gets a tip-off that there is an impoverished town out West has tons of oil underground. When Daniel goes there with his son(Dillon Freasier), he meets a young Christian preacher(Paul Dano) and his family who own the land where Daniel wants to drill. Soon Daniel stops at nothing to get what he wants, and is struck by insanity, envy, greed and vengeance in the process. Will this picture go on to win Best Picture? It absolutely has every right to, however I feel that this movie is a bit ahead of current trends in modern cinema, and will sadly go unnoticed for that particular Oscar. I'm certain that this film will garner many accolades in the independent and film festival scenes. All in all, this is truly a perfectly crafted film. The movie contains flawless cinematography and art direction. It is a beautiful movie to look at. It has very poignant dialogue and even though it is a 160 minute long movie, it certainly didn't feel like one. I didn't want the film to end. Paul Thomas Anderson did a great job here and definitely should get an Oscar Nomination for his work. Nevertheless, the movie belongs to Daniel Day-Lewis. He is in every scene of this movie and he simply doesn't act, but becomes Plainview. He gives without a doubt one of the greatest performances in cinematic history. It's not even a question as to whether he should get the Oscar this year. The Academy doesn't base it on talent though so we'll have to see.

Paul Thomas Anderson (dir.)
Daniel Day-Lewis
Paul Dano
Ciaran Hinds
Kevin J. O’Connor
Dillon Freasier

Atonement

2007-12-26T08:52:00.000-08:00

I thought that "Atonement" was terrific. It is a really great movie. Obviously it is early days yet, and there are a lot of contenders still to appear, but "Atonement" might just be the winner-in-waiting of the Best Film Oscar in 2008. Put your money on it now. The superb Ian McEwan book translated into cold beautiful images by the startling Joe Wright and scriptwriter Christopher Hampton. The result is a series of powerful rushes and abrupt stops. A pacing that, perhaps, is a bit too self conscious for its own good doesn't help us to connect the emotional dots. I had the feeling I had lost something in the love story of the protagonists - something that didn't happen to me reading the book. By the time the "injustice" takes place I was taken by the pain of the injustice but not by Knightley and McAvoy's liaison. Their love story is left to its own devices. The beauty of the images is overwhelming and the assuredness of Joe Wright at his second feature after the, much better, "Pride and Prejudice" keeps you going. The score tends to be monotonous and irritating but in spite of all that I intend to see "Atonement" again and I would recommend it with just the above mentioned reservations.
"Atonement" is pure poetry on film. From the hazy, dreamy, hopeful days of 1935, a destructive act of spite, the horrors of Dunkirk (with one of the most fantastic long takes I have seen in a cinema for a very long), to the aftermath and a devastating "happy" ending, it is a magnificent and moving film, beautifully directed by Joe Wright.

I went to see the movie last night and were totally blown away by the whole experience. So brilliantly directed and acted. The movie time just flew by and we were drawn in and captivated by each dramatic moment. Never having read the book or been an expert on WW2, I had a truly open mind on what to expect and I'm not one of those who count every rivet or go looking for technical inaccuracies however small. This was truly a masterpiece of cinematography. We were treated to wonderful performances, lavish sets, shocking and thought-provoking moments and haunting themes. I had the privilege of being an extra in the Redcar, Dunkirk scene and once seen in its full glory and effect on the big screen I was simply in awe and glad to have been a part of it. Walking along Redcar beach from now on will never quite be the same again. I am quite sure that the movie will win a number of awards within the next 12 months, but that is not what really matters. Movies are there to entertain, tell a story and affect you emotionally and by God this did it in spades! If you have not seen it yet, you must!

I have never really rated Keira Knightley or understood her popularity. Except for her role in "Pride & Prejudice" (for which she was perfectly cast) I have tended to refer to her as Girl-Who-Would-Be-Winslet, as I thought that she had not played a single role that Kate Winslet could not have done better. Maybe I won't say that anymore. "Atonement" is easily the best thing Keira Knightley has done.

Keira Knightley has had a lot of the press over here, but we should not forget to mention the pitch perfect performances from James McAvoy and Romola Garai. They share as much screen time as La Knightley and are as impressive.

Wonderful film.

Cecilia (Keira Knightley) and Robbie (James McAvoy) are so young and beautiful and in love that you'll want to gag. Fortunately—for the drama, at least—their romance is blown apart by World War II and a bombshell dropped by Cecilia's younger sister. Love is a battlefield, but this gorgeous tragedy proves victorious.

National Treasure

2007-12-21T11:06:00.000-08:00

I will keep it short and simple. Just watched it and it is worth it. Not much of details as you would expect out of a great movie, not much of substance in the movie itself however the acting and the pace of the movie is so beautiful you wont think of the flaws in the intricate plans they carry out in the movie. Shortly, the movie is great to me! Great acting, good plot, great actions, with some suspense parts, and wonderful locations and sets! Honestly I don't really know how to write this comment but I will say "Go watch it and judge it yourself". It is a great movie and even better than the first one! Go watch it and I will be glad if you like it like I do! Cannot wait to see it again! BEWARE! Contains some kisses, some mild actions violence and one people got shot at the head.

The subtle comedy is really nice and they have kept the first movie in consideration and have not brought many new characters. It is not a movie that you would think a lot about after you come out of the hall, however you will not think anything else either while the movie is going on. I will give it 7 for the sheer value of entertainment and nothing else and of course the one liners that keep popping up which actually make you laugh.

Bring everyone to go watch it and have fun at the movie! And don't expect too much! If you like the first one, you will surely like this one too!

I like it! And yes, the movie did get me confused in the beginning but as the movie proceeds, I felt better and better until the end!

The ending/climax at the end was the best part besides the big car chase sequence in the movie. Just love it! But it seems a bit too fast at the time they find the treasure but that's okay, still.

It is really suitable for the whole family and I hope it will do very well in the box office. This movie deserves it!

I also hope the sequel will be made!

As for the spoilers, I will not give away too much because I don't want to spoil you so badly. But none of the three main characters die in the end, but one person die but I will not state who! Go watch it and have fun!

The movie runs at 1 hour 58 minutes (approx.), I watched it in Malaysia, time at 12:45pm at Golden Screen Cinemas, Mid Valley. The movie opens here today on December 20, 2007.

The Kite Runner

2007-12-18T10:32:00.000-08:00

It was AMAZING. The Kite Runner was beautiful, poignant and very moving. I particularly loved the two child actors in the film as well as the actor portraying the father. It really made me want to go back and read the book again. The release of the movie has been delayed because of concerns about the welfare of the child actors involved.

Regarding the movie, I feel it was masterfully done. It had as much impact on me, I think, as Stanley Kubrik's A Clockwork Orange, even though it is much less graphic - MUCH less. There is no comparison between the horrendous, shocking violence and rape shown in A Clockwork Orange and the small amount of violence actually shown in Kite Runner; only the subject matter and the implications for the human psyche are comparable. (I have written more details about the violence and child rape and how it was handled on my MySpace blog.) My overall impression was that this film was fantastic; one of the best-made films I have seen. The depiction of the Afghani boys flying their kites captured some of the beauty and grace of an art form unknown to most of the world. The subject matter is intensely serious, and the movie carries the emotions of the audience into that subject matter without many jarring "Hollywood touches" which have ruined other movies. Although the overturned cart of pomegranates was an obvious bit of symbolism (to me). The music was a wonderful part of the fabric of the movie. If there is a soundtrack coming out for the film, I will buy it to accompany my second reading of the book. It is also a visually stunning film. The cinematography was gorgeous and really added to experience.

I must mention the excellence of the sound track. The recitation by the boy of poetry by Rumi as two main characters are fleeing the country during the Russian invasion - under terrifying circumstances - truly showed the power of those poems. I urge anyone watching to disregard the subtitles in that scene to the extent that you can, and just listen to the beauty of the language. I don't even know what language Amir is quoting, whether his normal Dari Persian dialect is the same as Rumi's original Persian dialect. Also, please note the sound heard every time a kite line is cut. I found it a profound, distinctive sound, though the librarians who were with me did not notice it at all. I can't help but wonder if kites actually make a sound like that when they are "cut", or if it gives a sense of the vibration/sound experienced by the kite flyer during competition.

Juno

2007-12-13T10:37:00.000-08:00

Last night, I finally got to see Juno, which I had been looking forward to for many months, as I am a big fan of Michael Cera. Now I realize just how much of an amazing actress Ellen Page is! I still need to see Hard Candy, even though I know the character will be so different, but she really blew me away. Her lines alone carried enough of the dry, sardonic flavor of the film to temper the perfect amount of winsome sweetness, which is present mostly in the last third of the movie. The character of Juno's father is also a standout, and a totally realistic portrayal of how a loving father would react to the situation. The final couple of scenes are incredibly affective, as well, and had more than just me shedding a few tears. I can't wait to see it again!

"Juno" is funny (nearly every single line of dialogue is written to elicit laughter), directed with at just as sure a hand as "Thank You For Smoking".. possibly surer.. and acted gamely by the whole cast -- especially Olvia Thirlby and J.K. Simmons as the title character's galpal and understanding dad. The script, by Diablo Cody, is rich with one-liners; anyone who's read Candy Girl (which is unbelievably intelligent and funny; her description of Shania Twain, especially, had me rolling) will kind of know what to expect.

This is without a doubt Ellen Page's show. She's in almost every scene, and I couldn't spot an instance when she made a bad decision or timed a delivery anything but dead-on. During a funky, kick azz opening title sequence, Juno is on her way to the pharmacy. "I just drank my weight in Sunny D, and gotta go, pronto!" It's time for another pregnancy test, because the last result looked more like a division symbol than a plus sign. New stick: same plus.

The father's a guy Juno had sex with once upon a time, who also happens to be her best friend, Paulie Bleeker (a non-affected, quite bland Michael Cera). She decides to give it up for adoption, being 16 and all, which Paulie supports -- as do Juno's father and step-mom -- and the rest of the film is about her selection of adoptive parents.

Pretty straightforward storytelling, but with an ear for quirky, hip dialogue. If the spoken words were any more "cool", or the actors speaking them did so with any less suave, my gag reflex might have taken over. The AFF audience I saw it with, last Sunday, couldn't get enough from the second Juno tells a dog to shut up, through lines comparing babies to iPods and Alison Janney going off on a physician.

There's good stuff, here. And even though it never really swept me off my feet, the film is consistently humorous and, in one scene near the end, somewhat heartbreaking.

Teeth Movie

2007-12-11T12:21:00.000-08:00

I loved this movie! It was easily one of the most enjoyable ones I saw at Sundance. I saw it at the Eccles and the crowd seemed to go wild for it. There are some painful moments, and I figure now men have an idea of how uncomfortable an annual exam can be for us women. It's graphic but absolutely funny. The guy next to me said it should be mandatory viewing for middle school kids to keep them from having sex. The Suggestion is somewhat funny but worthwhile listening as we both knock off our bonkers laughing.

I just got back from the Sundance Film Festival where I saw the premier of "Teeth" – a disturbing horror / black comedy written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein. This move was a spectacular mix of horror, comedy, and disturbing special effects which is a must see movie for all horror buffs.

My favorite aspect of Sundance, apart from the Britney or Paris sightings are the independent horror movies. Every year I am pleased with the offerings – Blair Witch was entertaining (though over hyped by the time it was released); Wai Keung Lau's "The Park," was a blast, Neil Marshall's "The Descent" was horror at its best, and now Lichtenstein's "Teeth" was a bloody trip, which, because the vast majority of theater owners are male, I am not sure will see the wide release it deserves.

The movie involves a high school girl named Dawn, played convincingly by Jess Weixler. Dawn possesses the condition called Vagina dentata. The condition exacts sweet, painful justice on the abusive men she encounters. Through the use of tense music, convincing acting, and prosthetic special effects real enough to make all of the men in the audience groan, the result is a horror comedy of top-notch caliber.

It was fun and gross and even had a theme about taking charge of your own body and the choices that you make.

It so rocked!

I recommend it to everyone with a good sense of humor and a strong stomach.

August Rush

2007-12-07T11:55:00.000-08:00

This was one absolutely brilliant movie. I just saw it at the special premiere to the Grammy Recording Academy members at the Warner Brother's studios in Burbank. It's an absolutely amazing story with a brilliant cast and a soundtrack that will blow you away. Apparently, both Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell,Jonathan Rhys Meyers learned most of the songs and played/sang them themselves, which is very impressive once you see the movie. John from five for fighting wrote a few songs on the soundtrack as well. Music is the common thread that keeps the entire movie together and completes it into the masterpiece of a movie that it is. Although at times, there may seem like there are gaps in the story line/character development, the point of this is that the music is what communicates those hidden details of the movie. Overall, this film is a masterpiece that should be cherished by music-lovers everywhere.

Some movie reviewers just don't get it. One calls August Rush, "…a piece of shameless hokum..."; another calls it "…the sort of movie that requires you not only to suspend disbelief, but to check your sanity at the ticket counter." That same reviewer said the movie Babel was a "towering dramatic achievement"; I thought it was lumbering and tedious with scenes arguably pedophilic. As one Yahoo user said about it, "Please let's not confuse art with ego…the sensationalism of seeing the naked girl or the masturbating boy was only necessary to compensate…THERE IS NO STORY HERE." How often do we see reviewers totally out of touch with the opinions of the movie-going public? Back to August Rush. This movie went right over many critics' heads. I believe these are the elements they least understood: August Rush is a story of hope that teaches hope, determination, perseverance, and to never give up on your dream. It gracefully defines the benefits of listening. It takes us to another realm where we can witness there is more to us than our mortal bodies, brains, and intellects. Aha! It teaches things of the spirit, things unseen, things beyond our human understanding, and it does so through a child who is full of joy when there seems to be no reason for him to have any! But, he is a prodigy with a talent kindling in him and he can do things for which there is no logical reason.

Numerous other marvelous instances of a "miraculous" vein have occurred in my own family's life's experiences. I submit to you, why do the Stephen Kings et all who present almost exclusively the darkside have the corner on the supernatural market? It's okay by today's standards to have the bejeebers scared out of us by the macabre, but to be encouraged by the extraordinary powers of our Creator? Why, that's just "shameless hokum." Do you know that each and every one of us has glorious potential within us if we'd just listen to the still small voice within? And that ain't "hokum," folks! My heart truly goes out to those people who are of such a cynical, worldly nature that they cannot set aside their cerebral traits long enough to fathom the positive spiritual potentials of God.

Golden Compass

2007-12-05T11:46:00.001-08:00

I am about two thirds of the way through the book when I decided to watch the limited engagement sneak preview of The Golden Compass in theaters. I feel that the film exceeded my expectations regardless of the structure change made by the film adaptation. I was expecting the worse but a good one showed.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into, as there seems to be a rather large glut of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings wannabes crowding theaters now and in the near future. This version of the Golden Compass beautifully brings the books to life and was very pleasing to watch with rather nice visuals.

The story was changed moderately, but not too much to take away from the mood of the book, and was in no way detrimental to the flow of the story. Otherwise, this movie was a roller-coaster ride from beginning to end! The effects exceeded my expectations and were just plain amazing. The flow of the daemons in the film was almost completely convincing, however there were times when the speech of the animals had that typical 'computer animated falseness' that you see in the CGI cartoons. Other than some minor CGI blemishes, the realism is some of the most convincing I have seen! The polar bear is completely lifelike and the animal morphing I felt was simply spectacular and a site to behold.

The acting is quite good, especially from the young lead, and the animation makes one wonder what they can't do with computers these days. The only true complaint I have about this movie is that it is difficult to understand and follow if one is not familiar with the books. Some scenes at the beginning seems disconnected, but after the halfway point the story comes together. The Golden Compass series is rather dark in its nature, and I'm glad that the movie didn't pull any punches with the supernatural combat (which is awesome, specifically when the witches and bears do battle). Some liberty is taken with the story as expected, and many church references are renamed, but the quality of the story never suffers. I recommend the movie and I look forward to seeing the rest of the trilogy completed.

The flow of the film is very fast, which is a negative and a positive. While it really leaves us guessing or feeling unfulfilled in some of the crucial story elements, it also sets the pace for an exhilarating fast-paced adventure story that keeps you on the edge! The broad range of characters prevents the film from truly developing the characters that we really WANT to know. Since the book is a 3 part series, hopefully these characters will develop further in the next two films.

I must say that there were several parts in this film that surprised me, considering this is marketed as a family film. This is a dark film. This could frighten some small kids. I feel this film definitely belongs in the pg-13 rating, and might even be a bit much for a 13 year old for the more sheltering type parents. Not only can it be conceived as very violent, there are some very adult themes that could be considered questionable.

Overall, this is a film I would like to see again, and I am DYING to see the next film in the series. I walked out of this film excited, satisfied and wanting more. Might want to leave the young ones at home, but you won't regretting fighting for front row seats on a Friday Night.

Alvin and the Chipmunks

2007-12-03T12:54:00.000-08:00

With little known plot, the story of when The Chipmunks get adopted by human Dave Seville (Jason Lee) and how they formed a musical group.

Alvin and the Chipmunks is an upcoming live-action/computer-animated film, based on the popular musical group the Chipmunks (and, in several ways, the animated series Alvin and the Chipmunks). It is being directed by Tim Hill and being produced by New Regency Productions and 20th Century Fox. It is currently scheduled for theatrical release on December 14, 2007. It is rated PG for some mild rude humor which is barely evident in the old cartoons.
No matter how often we berate you for your bad musical taste, whenever we post some piece of crap soundtrack (this one, this one) and a few others, you people of the internet (or you google users anyhow) seem to flock to them which makes us just want to throw up our hands in the air and quit (kidding, we love all you) living.

Anyhow, there's this 'Alvin & The Chipmunks' animated movie nightmare and (was part of our These Holiday Season Films Make Us Want To Wretch preview) and it's got those Christmas time songs in it that you'll remember from when you were a kid, and if voices of helium induced males turned into chipmunks ain't having a high marketting value, then you're wrong. Just be thankful we didn't post the updated modern rock version. That's cringeworthy like you don't even wanna know. So far no good when I saw the previews and the trailers. Eating poop is supposed to be funny??? Whatever, this is a shameless google bid, let's face it.

As much as I hated the bizarre hip-hop version of the Chipmunks from the poster, this hardcore lesbian version is a far, far more terrifying alternative.

Look at the chipmunks poster everywhere to see how their 'Disco Chipmunks' version somehow ended up a confusing amalgam of Saturday Night Fever, pregnancy, and pubic hair.

I am Legend

2007-11-29T11:14:00.000-08:00

Robert Neville is a brilliant scientist, but even he could not contain the terrible virus that was unstoppable, incurable, fast spreading...and manmade. Somehow immune to the virus, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City...and maybe the rest of the world. But he is not alone. He is surrounded by "the Infected" victims of the plague who have mutated into carnivorous beings who can only live through in the dark and who will devour or infect anyone or anything in their path. Sounds like a very enticing plot isn't it?

“I am Legend” stars Will Smith as the last man on Earth — well, except for the vampires or mutated humans that is — and is directed by Francis Lawrence. It opens December 14th, 2007.

I Am Legend is an upcoming 2007 post-apocalyptic science fiction horror film starring Will Smith. The film is based on Richard Matheson's 1954 novel of the same name. Somehow immune to it all, Robert Neville (Will Smith), a brilliant scientist, is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City and maybe the world. For three years, Neville has faithfully sent out daily radio messages, desperate to find any other survivors who might be out there. But he is not alone. The Infected, mutant victims of the plague, are watching him.

Something is wrong with the ending of Will Smith’s upcoming “I am Legend”, the latest movie adaptation of Richard Matheson’s novel of the same name. Or at least, something is “wrong” according to the studio that produced the movie, because they have just finished reshoots on the film. Of course, no one knows if the reshoots had anything to do with the ending at all. It’s widely known, and I think you can figure it out from the trailers, that the 2007 version of “I am Legend” is barely faithful to Matheson’s book, so one would expect the ending would also be different. The book’s ending was very, shall we say, non-audience friendly, and what kind of a Big Budget Will Smith movie would this be if the ending was non-audience friendly?

I have confirmed that there were reshoots on the movie as late as last week. What’s not confirmed is what has been reshot. My source tells me that the ending was redone, as the studio wasn’t happy with the finale that director Francis Lawrence had. Since I know that Lawrence’s ending was already unfaithful to Richard Matheson’s original story, I can only imagine that the new ending is more action packed and even more upbeat than before.

Okay, here’s where I’m going to depart a bit, and tell you that I kinda don’t want the original ending ala Matheson’s book. I’m sorry, but this is a Big Budget, Special Effects-driven Event film, and I just don’t want to sit through all the eye candy only to have a downbeat as hell ending.

So sue me, but I hope they change the ending to something more upbeat so I can enjoy the film even more.

I'm Not There

2007-11-27T08:16:00.000-08:00

The Film "I'm Not there" is by far the most important, exhilarating, profound, and exciting film of the year, if not the decade for me in my own opinion. A biopic that captures the essence of an equally important, exhilarating and profound man by showing the different personas throughout his life through seven different fictionalized characters. Todd Haynes has crafted the quintessential biopic, a vision of a musician, a storyteller, and a prophet, applauded and ousted throughout his lifetime by the public and the media.

If there was ever any question of Haynes being a true film director, he has solidified his title as director and also as one of the most talented American filmmakers today. "I'm no there" isn't the type of film that will appeal to the mass audience thats the sad part. It's an artistic vision, and will find the most interest with the indie crowd and Bob Dylan fans and a few fanatics here and there.

None of the fictional characters have the name Bob Dylan; "Bob Dylan" isn't mentioned once in the film but you will know it's talking about him. The film is basically seven different short films intertwined, each one representing a different phase of Dylan's life.

Richard Gere plays Billy the Kid, showing an older Bob Dylan, the Dylan of today and he did very well. This segment is set against the backdrop of the American West. The papers report that Pat Garrett shot and killed Billy the Kid. However he's still alive. The myth, and the press and public's perception, is wrong. This is used as a metaphor for Dylan's entire life.

In the Cate Blanchett sequence, we continually see the theme of how the public has certain perceptions of Dylan. A reporter continually shows up questioning these perceptions, and drilling Dylan on whether he still cares, if his changing music is still addressing the issues "it used to." This is a sad notion of Dylan's life.

The title has a lot to say about the man. After awhile, anyone in the public eye is no longer there; they're only the perception of what people have of them.

This is a true masterpiece, and a big credit goes to Co-writer/Director Todd Haynes, and his longtime producer Christine Vachon, who continually produces noteworthy films.