Public Enemies - What Did You Think?
Lionsgate has premiered the official U.S. trailer for Gamer on XBox Live (is this the first movie to ever premiere a trailer on a video game console? Possibly) The trailer has found its way online. Gamer (previously titled Game) is the new film from Crank madmen, Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor.
The story takes us to the sci-fi future world where prisoners do battle in a real life video game. A test screening was held in October, and you can read our Early Buzz report for the full scoop. It looks like a fun crazy-concept sci-fi film from the 1980’s. Watch the trailer embedded after the jump, remember to hit the HQ button to see high quality video, and leave your thoughts in the comments below.
[Dave's note: I believe the song used in the trailer is Marilyn Manson's cover of "Sweet Dreams," a song originally made popular by Eurythmics. Not the first song I would think of to use, but I think it's employed to great effect!]
Once upon a time this film was simply called Game, which sounded too much like The Game. Then in it became Citizen Game, too close perhaps to Citizen Kane (ahem) but now it has been retitled again and, hopefully, for the last time.
Neveldine/Taylor’s next action adventure smash ‘em up is now going to be called Gamer. Unless, of course, somebody decides that title sounds too much like Gamers or Gamerz, those twin terrors of post-Clerks RPG nerd dramedy.
See the new poster after the jump.
Columbia Pictures has released the trailer for the Robert Luketic (21, Legally Blonde) directed romantic comedy The Ugly Truth. Katherine Heigl plays Abby Richter, a romantically challenged morning show producer whose search for Mr. Perfect has left her hopelessly single. She’s in for a rude awakening when her bosses team her with Mike Chadway (Gerard Butler), a hardcore TV personality who promises to spill the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick.
Basically, we have your paint by numbers romantic comedy, complete with the cute-yet-somewhat-bitchy female lead who is able to change the asshole-yet-”extremely hot” male lead into a somewhat like-able caring guy by the time the credits roll. And normally I’d just write this film off, but the screenwriters involved wrote 10 Things I Hate About You, which was one of my favorite high school romantic comedies of all time.
At ShoWest, Sony screened a scene from the film in which through a series of convoluted yet somewhat believable events, Heigl’s character ends up wearing remote controlled vibrating panties to a business meeting. The remote falls out of Heigl’s purse, and finds its way into the hands of a child at one of the other tables, who begins to play with it. The result is an orgasmic comedic restaurant scene which makes the infamous scene from When Harry Met Sally look like a Disney movie. Listen, I’m not saying the film is going to be hilarious, but the scene they showed was pretty damn funny. The trailer on the other hand, not so much. You can watch the trailer below, and tell me what you think in the comments.
First Look: DreamWorks Animation’s How To Train Your Dragon
Posted on Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 by Peter Sciretta
Animatoons has the first official promotional image for DreamWorks Animation’s How To Train Your Dragon. The image also gives us our first real plot synopsis:
“Meet Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, heir of the Viking chiefdom, but a boy with one very big problem: a hero he is not. “How to Train Your Dragon’ is the riotous story of Hiccup’s quest to hunt down the fiercest dragon, bring it into submission, and—hopefully—pass his initiation. Instead, he ends up with the smallest, most ornery dragon—it’s even toothless! Thus begins the hijinx of the world’s most lovable, unlikely hero and a most reluctant “beast.” Packed with energetic drawings and plenty of action, this boisterous tale is just right for fantasy fans or anyone with a spirit of adventure. Based on the book by Cressida Cowell.”
Directed by Chris Sanders, and featuring the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, the film is scheduled to hit theaters on March 26th 2010.
Neveldine/Taylor’s Game: Italian Movie Trailer
Posted on Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 by Peter Sciretta
An Italian movie trailer for Game has shown up online. The new movie from Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor - the madmen that brought us Crank takes us to the sci-fi future world where prisoners do battle in a real life video game. The trailer looks pretty insane, gritty action mixed with sci-fi futuristic tech overlays. And the sci-fi concept is the kind of impossible crazy that could lend it self to a kick ass action flick. And you have to love the use of Marilyn Manson’s cover of the 1983 Eurythmics hit “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)”. Aparently the trailer originated from JoBlo, but I cant seem to find it on their site. Watch the trailer after the jump and let me know what you think in the comments below.
Warner Premiere has released a movie trailer for the animated direct-to-DVD adaptation of the comic book within the story of Watchmen - Tales of the Black Freighter. You can watch it embedded after the jump or in High Definition on MTV.com. Looks pretty good for a home video production.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber Announces Phantom of the Opera Sequel
Posted on Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
Andrew Lloyd Webber has announced that a Phantom of the Opera sequel is coming at the end of 2009. Phantom: Love Never Dies will be set a decade or so after the original installment, and The Phantom (yes, he’s still alive) has relocated to, then very popular, Coney Island of Brooklyn, New York. The production will have a historic simultaneous opening in three cities — on Broadway in New York, London’s West End, and Shanghai.
Webber isn’t revealing any names as far as who has been cast as the Phantom or Christime (who will also be in the sequel) but does say that the roles have been pretty much cast at this point. The Times of London says that Hugh Jackman and Gerard Butler are possible candidates. Butler played the Phantom in the 2004 film adaptation. Jack O’Brien (The Full Monty, Hairspray) will direct the production, with sets designed by five time Tony Award winner Bob Crowley (Carousel, The History Boys, Mary Poppins). If the production is as big of a hit as I expect it to be, I’m sure a big screen Hollywood adaptation won’t be far behind.
From Robert Luketic, the director of 21, Monster-in-Law, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! and Legally Blonde, comes a new romantic comedy called The Ugly Truth. Katherine Heigl plays Abby Richter, a romantically challenged morning show producer whose search for Mr. Perfect has left her hopelessly single. She’s in for a rude awakening when her bosses team her with Mike Chadway (Gerard Butler), a hardcore TV personality who promises to spill the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick.
Basically, we have your paint by numbers romantic comedy, complete with the cute-yet-somewhat-bitchy female lead who is able to change the asshole-yet-”extremely hot” male lead into a somewhat like-able caring guy by the time the credits roll. It’s your basic female wish-fulfillment fantasy. But who knows, it could be different. The screenwriters involved wrote 10 Things I Hate About You, which was one of my favorite high school romantic comedies of all time. Watch the trailer below, and tell me what you think in the comments.
Watch the trailer in High Definition on Moviefone. The Ugly Truth hits theaters on April 3rd 2009.
Lakeshore Entertainment held a test screening of Game last week in Southern California. Game is the latest film from Neveldine/Taylor, the mad men behind Crank. It stars Gerard Butler, as a prisoner who is implanted with nano-technology which allows a video gamer to control him in a first-person shooter-like game called Slayers. A bunch of reviews have leaked out across the interwebs. Lets take a look at the early buzz:
Collider: “if you want action, Game has it. It had some of the most entertaining and unique actions scenes I’ve seen in a while, and that’s coming from an ex-gamer. In addition to adding in some digitalized pixilation, we could see an on-screen pop up display for Kable that looked like a cross between Tony Stark’s HUD in Iron Man and Call of Duty. I found this exhilarating to watch, because it seemed like Neveldine and Taylor finally broke the bounds of the typical action scenes I’ve seen coming out of Hollywood so often. They might even rival Michael Bay for explosions!” … “While the action scenes were great, Game really felt a bit too long, like some unnecessary scenes out in the real world could be cut and it could be tightened down into a true non-stop action flick like Crank.”
Red User: “The film all around got an excellent response from the crowd. Most of them when asked by a showing of hands rated it as excellent. I especially liked the realism and pacing. The soundtrack also was rockin’ and there was plenty of well choreographed fight and stunt scenes. I don’t want to give anything away, but the game play action sequences were just outstanding.” “I’ll just say that this movie is going to blow people away. The cinematic choices were brilliant and covered a broad spectrum of looks for scenes of all types, from brutal action packed battle and fight scenes to original environments within the game world to the elegant mansion of the evil rich mastermind. There were super saturated looks, harsh gritty looks, and all styles of shooting.”
Aint It Cool: “this movie was beyond boring and the action was completely unexciting.” … “it’s trying sooo hard to be exciting and fresh and appeal to “gamers” - its cuts from dark to computer screens to action to more computer screens to close-ups - its unexcusable.” … “GAME takes itself way too seriously. In fact the movie is filled with these super bizarre dark scenes with sweaty obese gamers, controlling real life hot women who strip, touch themselves and pee in public.”
LonelyReviewer: “Judging by the audience reaction, this film is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. That’s because it’s more like a cup of red bull and vodka. After an early onslaught of extreme violence and orgiastic debauchery, those looking for a typical action flick headed for the hills. Those who remained (95%), were treated to a mixture of grit and flash that dazzled its way into becoming an original and captivating genre pic.” … “The look of this film is consistently visually entertaining. ” … “This film isn’t perfect. The antagonist is somewhat absent when he should be raining down hard on our hero. Some viewers might also yearn for a greater emotional arc and less exposition.” … “Unlike other gaming films (such as Halo), “Game” doesn’t pander to the gaming audience. Instead, “Game” concentrates on being a top notch action film that happens to be about gaming. In doing so, the film winds up being the most accurate incarnation of gaming that the film world has seen.”
The poster for the Katherine Heigl/Gerard Butler romantic comedy The Ugly Truth is actually kinda funny. Also, am I the only one who wishes that the marketing department would create more minimalist clean and simple poster designs?
via: cinematical
Jamie Foxx Joins Frank Darabont’s Law Abiding Citizen
Posted on Thursday, October 9th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
Jamie Foxx is in final talks to join Frank Darabont’s Law Abiding Citizen, a psychological thriller about a criminal mastermind/victim of the legal system who controls a city from the confines of his prison cell. As a result of a plea bargain, one of his wife and daughter’s murderers will be set free, and he is now out to unleash revenge on the killers. Gerard Butler plays the successful assistant D.A. who stands in his way.
Darabont collaborated with Equilibrium scribe Kurt Wimmer on the script. Darabont has been nominated for for three Academy Awards for his Stephen King adaptations The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption. His 2007 adaptation of The mist was not as well received. I’m guessing that Citizen won’t require horribly rendered computer generated creature effects, although I could be wrong. The plot synopsis for the project has changed twice, and I’m not even sure if the current version I’ve printed above is accurate.
source: THR
Toronto Video Blog: Ghost Town and Rocknrolla
Posted on Thursday, September 4th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
It’s day seven of my 28 day movie adventure. The Toronto International Film Festival has begun. And anyone who doesn’t think Canada can be hot obviously hasn’t visited Toronto in September. I arrived at 2:00am due to an unforeseen delay in my flight, and was unable to catch the morning press screening of Guy Ritchie’s latest Rocknrolla. Luckily I was able to catch up with Liam Cullin of EmpireMovies.com after the screening of Ghost Town. We talk about the Ricky Gervais comedy and Liam gives his thoughts on Guy Ritchie’s latest (you can read his written review here). Hopefully this will be the first of many video blogs where we take a few minutes out with other critics at the festival and discuss what we’ve just seen.
