For years, I avoided seeing David Lean‘s Lawrence of Arabia for one simple reason: I didn’t want to watch it on VHS. A film of this scope and majesty was simply too big for that format (figuratively and literally – it took up two tapes) so I decided to wait for the optimal experience. Then it happened. 70mm screening at the Ziegfeld in New York City. So I went and marveled at what’s unquestionably not only one of the best films of all time, but most beautiful as well. Lean’s work is an absolute revelation on the big screen.
2012 is the fiftieth anniversary of Lawrence of Arabia and not only did it get a mini 3D version in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, it’ll be re-released in 4K digital projection on October 4th before a new Blu-ray release this holiday season. After the jump, check out the trailer for the re-release. Read More »
.
Please Recommend /Film on Facebook
OK, so while the idea of the guys behind Crank making a Ghost Rider film seemed like a good idea on paper, it didn’t quite work out that way. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance has a few good sequences, sure, but most of it is fairly dire.
But there is a bit more entertainment to be had from the production. A set of deleted scenes and behind the scenes clips gives us a bit more footage of Nicolas Cage as he plays a man in the throes of demonic possession. The best part is that some of this material has unfinished effects, so we get to see the kooky light rig and makeup that Cage wore on set as he played Ghost Rider. Read More »
Posted on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012 by Angie Han
Despite being based on true events that were extensively covered in the media, Kathryn Bigelow‘s Zero Dark Thirty has been shrouded in nearly as much secrecy as an actual military operation. But that’s all part of the film’s intrigue. Columbia’s having fun playing up that angle, even covering the first teaser poster with thick black censor marks.
What that means, however, is that we still have only the barest idea of exactly what angle Bigelow plans to take on the hunt for terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. We don’t know just what the impressively star-studded cast will actually be doing for two hours. We got only the briefest glimpses of Jennifer Ehle and Kyle Chandler looking worried in the first trailer. A new batch of photos show Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, and Nash Edgerton, with the latter two dressed in military garb. Check out the photos after the jump.
Read More »
Posted on Monday, August 6th, 2012 by Angie Han
In yet another year brimming with sequels, prequels, remakes, reimaginings, and reboots, it’s all too easy to complain about Hollywood’s lack of creativity. It’s also inaccurate. The Dark Knight Rises may be a threequel based on a comic book, but it’s also an exhilarating, thoughtful realization of one auteur’s vision. 21 Jump Street may very well have started out as a bottom line-obsessed exec’s idea of an quick cash grab, but Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Jonah Hill, Michael Bacall, and Channing Tatum turned it into one of the year’s brightest comedies. Artists have always stood on the shoulders of other visionaries from eras past, and the great ones have always known how to make those old templates their own.
But then there are projects like Len Wiseman‘s Total Recall remake, which deserves all the eye-rolling its very premise inspires and more. It could be the top contender for the title of “summer’s most inessential movie.” Not worst movie, mind you — I wasn’t confused or annoyed or bored to tears. With its handsome leads, slick action, and a relatively coherent storyline, it’s not likely draw any ire. And that’s what’s so goddamn soul-sucking about it.
Read More »
When you’re sitting with the director of a major Hollywood blockbuster, it’s never awkward if your interpreation of the film is different than theirs. Oh wait. Yes, it is. It makes for an entertaining interview, though, and that’s what you’re about to see as I sat down with Len Wiseman, the director of the Total Recall remake that opens today.
Wiseman, who also directed Live Free or Die Hard, and multiple Underworld movies starring his wife, Kate Beckinsale, believes his version of Total Recall is more ambiguous than Paul Verhoeven’s 1990 version. I disagree. So we discussed that, along with how this film distinguishes itself from that version, the huge action set pieces, why he didn’t want it in 3D, his thoughts on Independence Day 2 (he worked in the art department on the first film) and more. And it’s all on video. Check it out below. Read More »
Briefly: Here’s good news about Ghostbusters 3, at last: we can all stop thinking about it, because Dan Ayrkoyd has said that Bill Murray definitely won’t be a part of the sequel. The actor told Metro “No, I can tell you [Murray] won’t be involved,” when asked about the return of the original Peter Venkman. Otherwise, everything else is as it was with respect to the ghost-bustin’ sequel.
Ayroyd says “we’ve got a brilliant new writer on it and we’ll be passing the torch on to a new generation. We’re working on it to make it just right to satisfy our fans. I’m confident we’ll be in production in the next year… We’ve tried a few concepts which weren’t right but now we’ve got a good structure and will make it happen.”
Murray was the holdout for a long time in the film’s last couple years of development, when producers and Aykroyd were working with a now-scrapped script by Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg (The Office, Year One). Even without that script, however, Murray is the one who seems to be remaining sensible about the chances of the film turning out well. Good luck to the rest of the believers.
Columbia and Sony are going to make another Spider-Man movie; of that there can be no mistake. But who will direct the film, and will it continue either the story that was intended to be told in Marc Webb‘s The Amazing Spider-Man, or the story that was told in the final release?
Webb’s return is looking likely, which wasn’t always the case, but there’s one thing to iron out first. Read More »
By the power of Grayskull, Sony has been trying to revive the Masters of the Universe franchise for several years. Screenwriters were hired in 2010 to take a pass at the popular story of He-Man and now talks have revved up again as Jon Chu, the director of G.I. Joe Retaliation, is in talks to direct. Read more after the jump. Read More »
Cool Posts From Around the Web:
