A few months ago we wrote an article on why we thought 20th Century Fox’s Epic Movie was a huge wasted opportunity. We wondered why a spoof comedy had not yet been made for all the huge action blockbusters. We asked, why Epic Movie instead decided to crack jokes at Willy Wonka and Borat. We didn’t understand the logic, and still don’t. And now, Screen Gems has given the greenlight to the movie of our dreams (okay, movie of our dreams is a bit much… movie of our brief thoughts would be more accurate).
Sony’s second tier genre studio will make Armageddagain: The Day Before Tomorrow, the first feature film by Robert Moniot. You probably don’t know Moniot, but you may have seen his 2001 short film Pearl Harbor II: Pearlmageddon. And if you haven’t, we have it for you below. Obviously Robert has been working on this big budget blockbuster spoof comedy idea for a while now.
Moniot also wrote The Dancing Cow, a short film which made the Hollywood rounds a few years back. You can watch that film at this link. It is highly recommended.
I’m not saying that this film will be good, but with Robert behind the project, it has a chance (at least a better chance than if it were written by the Scary Movie guys). Armageddagain: The Day Before Tomorrow will begin shooting in August 2007, and is being primed for a 2008 release.
May 9th, 2007 at 9:15 am
I’ve been following Armageddagain for several years now, and am glad to see it getting more traction. Last I heard of it was some time ago when Bruce Willis said that he’s in to play the president.
It’s a funny idea overall, but having Bruce involved in making fun of his own movie is icing on the cake
May 9th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Yeah, except it has been done before. Does anyone remember a little film called TEAM AMERICA: World Police? Did you know Trey Parker and Matt Stone originally wanted to film Armageddon with puppets but wasn’t allowed the rights? Their entire aim was to spoof that genre of film, the major budget, action-packed summer blockbuster! Explosions, terrorism, sex, characters jetting around the world…they achieved their goal.
To say this is an original idea and long-waited for is to cheapen the brilliance of Parker and Stone’s work. What, just because they used puppets it shouldn’t be recognized as a film that already tread the ground this film is trying to tread?
I do agree with your disappointment of Epic Movie. What a piece of shit! They had epic films like Harry Potter and Pirates… in there, but no real meat (were we surprised?)
May 9th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Just watched the movie: completely unoriginal and uninspired!
May 9th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
just to clarify: Team America was originally invisioned as a puppet version of The Day After Tomorrow well before that movie was even made. They were originally hoping to be able to have their puppet version in theaters concurrently with the
real Day After Tomorrow film, which is obviously not within the bounds of the law.
Anyway, Armageddagain has been floating around for quite some time, but I can’t say for sure whether it predated Team America.
ALso, one of the great things about Armageddagain that the article fails to mentiion is that it was originally pitched by Toby Emmerich, son of Armageddon director Roland Emmerich.
I like the idea of poking fun at dad.
In any case, I don’t think the article really puts down Team America at all. That’s a great film, but not quite the same thing.
May 9th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Actually Jer,
Parker and Stone have said in NUMEROUS interviews and even on the DVD that they wanted to make a puppet remake of Armageddon. Down to the very last shot. Please get your facts straight. I am a huge fan of Parker and Stone and think they are a couple of the most creative comic voices of our time.
Bigger, Longer, Uncut is genius the way it pokes fun at Broadway in a very classy, funny, brilliant way. Team America did that for Armageddon.
Watch the interviews with Parker and Stone on the DVD and see them mention Armageddon by name. That’s why there’s so many allusions to Ben Affleck in Team America. He was in Pearl harbor and Armageddon and the boys (Parker and Stone) really think he’s an ass. Ben Affleck was NOT in The Day After Tomorrow.
I am just stating facts and feel that all the hype over a movie that has been done before is a little ridiculous.
May 9th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Oh, I’m a huge Parker/Stone nerd too, and I’ve heard them say the same thing you just posted. However, I ALSO heard Trey talking about it well before they even began work on TA, and he specifically referenced “this script that’s been floating around the studios called The Day After Tomorrow. It’s going to make millions of dollars, and is funny as hell as-is, but we thought it would be better with puppets.”
I specifically remember it being The Day After Tomorrow, because a year or so later when the trailer for that turd came out I was like “ohhhh, that’swhat Trey was talking about… it IS going to make millions of dollars.”
Anyway, I don’t want to have a “nerd off” because I too love Team America and everything else Trey has done. But I assure you: before they even began work on Team America they were talking about wanting to make a puppet version of The Day After Tomorrow.
May 10th, 2007 at 9:54 am
LA SHORTS FEST
CALL FOR ENTRIES
Final Deadline MAY 26, 2007
Submit Online: http://www.lashortsfest.com
(323) 461-4400
11th Annual LA Shorts Fest is the largest short film festival in the world, screening 700 films of every category. We are accredited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. In past years, 25 participants have earned Academy Award nominations, this years Oscar winner for best animated short film “The Danish Poet†made it’s Los Angeles premiere at LA Shorts Fest in 2006 continuing our streak of the last 8 Oscar winning short films having screened at LA Shorts Fest the previous year. Last year’s award winners received prizes totaling over $100,000. The festival annually attracts more than 10,000 moviegoers, filmmakers and entertainment executives looking for the hottest new talent We have honored some of Hollywood’s legends of the past: Charles Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, and Robert Wise; along with actors Martin Landau, James Woods, Gary Oldman and directors Tim Burton, Bryan Singer, Jan de Bont and Paul Haggis. http://www.lashortsfest.com 323.461.4400