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Watch This: Wall Street Fighter IV
Filed under: Action, Fandom, Games and Game Movies, Trailers and Clips
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With a new Street Fighter movie arriving in theaters this Friday, we thought now would be a good time to get in touch with the film's gaming roots -- ideally, of course, through a spoof video. CB Fresh have created this pretty hilarious video called Wall Street Fighter IV, which takes the familiar Street Fighter video game format, turns it live action, and introduces characters like The Fed, M. Lynch, Fannie Mae, Tech Support, The Intern and more as they battle one another to the death. (My favorite battle was the one between Tech Support and The Intern -- as one disappears for awhile, then finishes their opponent with a coffee breath kill move. Nice. Who do you want on your side when the economy is going down? Check out the video below.
Oh, and in case you're interested we've placed the real Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li trailer after the jump.
WarGames Follow-Ups: If at First You Don't Succeed, Try Again?
Filed under: Deals, RumorMonger, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels, Games and Game Movies, War
I thought we'd already been through this... The initial rumors and first word of a WarGames sequel, the silence followed by the inevitable continuation of the project, and the ill-reviewed and mostly ignored result. But this is Hollywood, and at least they doggedly stick to their try and try again mentality, and this time, there's a good chance that this won't be an ignorable project.While Production Weekly is subscriber-only, they have a Twitter feed that shares little morsels of news, like the following report: "Leonardo DiCaprio looking to reboot the 80's thriller "War Games" at MGM." Yes, move over Matt Lanter, Leo wants to to do his own take on WarGames. But this won't be a sequel, this will be one of those dreaded reboots. First Ralph Maccio gets replaced with Jaden Smith, now Matthew Broderick will be replaced with ... I shudder to think.
I'm not sure how WarGames re-dos fit into a professional life busy with acting gigs like Beat the Reaper and production gigs like Akira, but maybe this is only the first breaths of a project that will fall into development hell. Oh, how I hope. But how about you? Are you super-excited to see WarGames rebooted?
Lara Croft Vs He-Man: Reboot Rumble
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Warner Brothers, Fandom, Newsstand, Remakes and Sequels, Games and Game Movies
This week, we have two properties being rebooted/remade/whatever by Warner Bros: He-Man and Tomb Raider.
As an avid Tomb Raider fan, I'm naturally quite intrigued by the prospect. (And kind of creeped out -- I mean, I did do a whole Geek Beat expressing this very wish. What are the odds it would come true?) While I recognize that not everyone shares my enthusiasm for the character, I was really surprised at the level of disdain and hostility that followed the news across the Internet. You would have sworn it was the second coming of Ultraviolet. I firmly believe Lara can work onscreen (particularly if they're not writing it around what stunts Angelina Jolie would like to do), and would love if she could be the action heroine so many of ladies crave.
Meanwhile, you've got He-Man. At the time of writing this (wee hours of the morning, people), the Internet is rather silent on John Stevenson's addition as director (as per Latino Review and Variety), so I can't accurately judge the level of enthusiasm. But given the response to LR's script review and ongoing attention to the project, I'm guessing that the response will be a Transformers-like wave of nostalgic enthusiasm. I'm not slamming it because, hey, I rocked a She-Ra costume as a wee lass.
But, what gives? Why is He-Man something to be wound up over, and Lara Croft a girl to sneer at? Neither hail from Shakespearean material, after all, and both appeal to our most shallow entertainment instincts. (Guns! Swords! Adventure!) Why the marked preference? Was Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life really worse than Masters of the Universe?
I'm pitting them both against each other as a fun Friday exercise. Which character reboot excites you more? Which one will make the better film? And for heaven's sake, why?
As an avid Tomb Raider fan, I'm naturally quite intrigued by the prospect. (And kind of creeped out -- I mean, I did do a whole Geek Beat expressing this very wish. What are the odds it would come true?) While I recognize that not everyone shares my enthusiasm for the character, I was really surprised at the level of disdain and hostility that followed the news across the Internet. You would have sworn it was the second coming of Ultraviolet. I firmly believe Lara can work onscreen (particularly if they're not writing it around what stunts Angelina Jolie would like to do), and would love if she could be the action heroine so many of ladies crave.
Meanwhile, you've got He-Man. At the time of writing this (wee hours of the morning, people), the Internet is rather silent on John Stevenson's addition as director (as per Latino Review and Variety), so I can't accurately judge the level of enthusiasm. But given the response to LR's script review and ongoing attention to the project, I'm guessing that the response will be a Transformers-like wave of nostalgic enthusiasm. I'm not slamming it because, hey, I rocked a She-Ra costume as a wee lass.
But, what gives? Why is He-Man something to be wound up over, and Lara Croft a girl to sneer at? Neither hail from Shakespearean material, after all, and both appeal to our most shallow entertainment instincts. (Guns! Swords! Adventure!) Why the marked preference? Was Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life really worse than Masters of the Universe?
I'm pitting them both against each other as a fun Friday exercise. Which character reboot excites you more? Which one will make the better film? And for heaven's sake, why?
No, Megan Fox Isn't Lara Croft
Filed under: Action, Paramount, RumorMonger, Fandom, Remakes and Sequels, Games and Game Movies
Boys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the latest Megan Fox rumor has been shot down by the actress herself. Latino Review first brought the rumor (which apparently originated in Spain) that Megan Fox was in line to revive the Tomb Raider franchise. It seems only natural, since Fox is slowly becoming Angelina 2.0.
However, the rumor machine was wrong again, just like when Fox was reportedly set to become Wonder Woman. io9 contacted her spokesperson, who denied Fox was involved with Tomb Raider in any way, shape, or form.
I breathe a sigh of relief at this, as Lara Croft is a character rather near and dear to my heart. I've cherished a secret hope they would revive the films (and even wrote about it, which I'm kind of embarrassed about in retrospect). Fox may be hot, but she's no Lara. And if io9 is actually going to champion her for the part, then I'll start my own grassroots campaign and champion Rhona Mitra. Not only was she the original Lara Croft model (here's some photos, you're welcome), but she's racking up a respectable B-movie action career. The best part? She's actually British, so no wonky accents.
Anyway, I sincerely doubt there will ever be another Tomb Raider film (and I don't even know if there ever should be)
but Fox's fan base is such that we must report all rumors and rumblings. Meanwhile, here's her gallery. You're welcome.
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Len Wiseman Planning 'Gears of War' Trilogy?
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, New Line, Fandom, Scripts, Games and Game Movies
Considering most of us have given up on the idea that you can make a great film from a video game, you have to hand it to someone who is still willing to try. Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) recently spoke with Bloody Disgusting about his upcoming feature based on the best selling game, Gears of War, and the big news is that he has already planned three installments of the 3rd person shooter. Wiseman tells Disgusting, "The hope is that were wanting [sic] to do a three movies and really cover the bases on everything. Basically a harder edged Lord of the Rings."Gears of War centered on the elite military group known as the Delta Squad, and when the planet Sera is attacked by the vicious Locust Horde, it's down to the Delta to save the day. Wiseman seems to be less interested in the creatures in the story, and is going to focus instead on the bad-ass squad. When asked about the script, Wiseman told Disgusting, "It's going to be much more [on the] science fiction side of it than the creature side of it. I've always been much more of a sci-fi action fan than a horror fan,"
Wiseman will be sticking with green screen to bring the 'Hoarde' to life, saying, "the more and more I get involved with these movies and the bigger they are the more you rely on CG effects to help you out. And you can do it properly; I've been a big fan of practical work and still am, it's finding a way to incorporate them together." Unfortunately, I don't think relying on CG is the problem with most video game flicks. It might however have something to do with substandard storytelling, bad acting, and crappy dialogue; but that just might be me.
So even though Wiseman has the odds stacked against him, is there anyone out there who thinks that he has what it takes to pull off not one, but three films? Sound off below...
Max Payne: Unrated Director's Cut DVD Hits Shelves January 20th
Filed under: Action, Thrillers, New Releases, Noir, Mystery & Suspense, New on DVD, 20th Century Fox, Home Entertainment, Games and Game Movies
Max Payne came and went without making much of an impact on the box office or public consciousness -- I think I saw more commercials for the original game than I saw for its big screen adaptation. Game movies don't inspire much enthusiasm or excitement anymore, and no wonder, as not one has broke out of the lackluster mold. Ten minutes or so into Max Payne, and you'll think "This would be so much more fun to play than watch" just as you probably did with Tomb Raider, Hitman, Doom, etc. At least Max Payne is more visually arresting than most attempts -- the mixture of Balrogs and Sin City almost make you forgive the dreary plot. Almost. (For a more in depth review, you can read Eric Snider's take.)
Max Payne hits DVD shelves this Tuesday in three different versions: Single-Disc, Special Edition, and Blu-Ray.
All three versions are in widescreen( 2.35:1 aspect ratio) and boast the theatrical and unrated cuts, as well as an audio commentary with John Moore, production designer Daniel Dorrance and visual effects supervisor Everett Burrell. Only the Special Edition and Blu-Ray have digital copies and additional bonus features: an animated graphic novel called Michelle Payne, and a behind-the-scenes featurette Picture. (Weirdly, Picture is divided into parts -- and you only get Part 2 if you buy Blu Ray.)
So, what about that unrated cut? If you were hoping that it fix the uneven story or lack of violence, you will be sorely disappointed. The unrated cut is only three minutes longer, and I can't say I noticed that it added any extra carnage beyond a few four letter bombs.
Max Payne hits DVD shelves this Tuesday in three different versions: Single-Disc, Special Edition, and Blu-Ray.
All three versions are in widescreen( 2.35:1 aspect ratio) and boast the theatrical and unrated cuts, as well as an audio commentary with John Moore, production designer Daniel Dorrance and visual effects supervisor Everett Burrell. Only the Special Edition and Blu-Ray have digital copies and additional bonus features: an animated graphic novel called Michelle Payne, and a behind-the-scenes featurette Picture. (Weirdly, Picture is divided into parts -- and you only get Part 2 if you buy Blu Ray.)
So, what about that unrated cut? If you were hoping that it fix the uneven story or lack of violence, you will be sorely disappointed. The unrated cut is only three minutes longer, and I can't say I noticed that it added any extra carnage beyond a few four letter bombs.
Chris Evans and Ellen Wong Join 'Scott Pilgrim'
Filed under: Comedy, Independent, Romance, Casting, Universal, Fandom, Newsstand, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Games and Game Movies
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World continues to pick up casting speed -- and the characters seem to just come in pairs. According to Empire, newcomer Ellen Wong has signed to play Knives Chau. Chau is a 17 year old Chinese-Canadian schoolgirl who dated our title hero, but was dumped for the beautiful and perfect Ramona Flowers. She continues to hang out with our hero and carries a flame for him. (Edgar Wright's MySpace has a flirty photo of Wong for those curious to see how she matches up with Knives.)And that's not all! According to Ain't It Cool News, Chris Evans has signed to play Lucas Lee, skateboarder, movie star, and evil ex of Ramona Flowers. He's just one of seven boyfriends Pilgrim must defeat in order to win Ramona -- and is there anyone better for that part than Johnny Storm? Sunshine proved he wasn't just a pretty boy, and what better way to earn some major geek cred by sending that up in Scott Pilgrim?
So far, Wright hasn't hit a poor note when it comes to the casting -- Michael Cera has been the only unpopular choice to date, and I think fans are coming around after Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. (It could just be the ebb and flow of fandom, though.) Isn't it nice to live in an era where even the offbeat (i.e. not Marvel or DC) properties are getting such TLC?
'Crank 2' Trailer Officially Hits the Net
Filed under: Action, Comedy, Thrillers, Lionsgate Films, Movie Marketing, Games and Game Movies, Trailers and Clips
Just the thing for Friday afternoon! The official Crank 2: High Voltage trailer has hit the net (in a far more "Safe for Work" form than the earlier one!) and ... well, it looks exactly like it should. Hilariously over the top, full of dubious science and medical treatments, and a rehash of the first Crank in all the right ways. You should be sold on it from that first glare from Jason Statham. (But then, that might be a girl thing.) When I heard they were doing Crank 2 and that it revolved around a robotic heart, I thought it was too stupid for words. But such is the power of Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor -- the ridiculous not only makes sense here, it's insanely cool.
In fact, you might want to watch only the first thirty seconds or so, just enough to whet your appetite and get the concept, as I fear this trailer ruins an awful lot of the stunts and heart-starting gags. If you're going to spend the money to see Crank 2, then you should see it as unspoiled as possible -- consider that you're warning, and make your own choice, but IGN let us embedded it for you. Watch, laugh your ass off, and be glad there's some April action to look forward to.
First 'Street Fighter' Trailer Now Online!
Filed under: Action, Fandom, Movie Marketing, Games and Game Movies, Trailers and Clips
The first trailer for Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li is now online, and although it's the Japanese version (which would explain the non-English voiceover), it still looks like a half-decent fighting flick. And, I mean, c'mon -- what else are you looking for out of a film like Street Fighter? Are there lots of badass fights in the streets? According to this trailer, yes. Good. Done. Satisfied.
Based on the popular video game (which you had to have played at some point in your life -- remember the one where you were feverishly tapping buttons, while your friends yelled "Dude, how did you do that roundhouse kick?" -- and you were all like, "I don't know, I'm just hitting the buttons as fast as I can!"), Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li follows, well, the legend of the female warrior Chun Li (Kristin Kreuk) as she sets out on a quest for justice ... or something like that. Look, just bring on the fights -- that's all we want.
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li hits theaters on February 27th. Check out the trailer below, and look for an English-language preview to arrive real soon.
'Tron 2.0' Gets First Two Hottie Castmembers
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, Disney, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels, Games and Game Movies
It is not often that movie geeks can be taken by surprise, but that's exactly what happened at Comic Con back in July when Disney screened test footage from the long-rumored sequel to the 80's sci-fi classic, Tron. Now a few months later fans can rejoice at news that the project is still chugging along -- in fact, The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Olivia Wilde (of TV's House) and Beau Garrett ( Wilde's co-star in the horror flick Turistas) have signed to star along side Jeff Bridges in the sequel to the cult classic.Newcomer Joseph Kosinski will direct from a script co-written with LOST writer Adam Horowitz. This is Kosinski's first feature after making a name directing commercials for Gears of War, Halo 3, and Apple, and has already been signed for the Logan's Run update over at WB (if that happens). According to the Reporter, TR2N, "is acting as a "next chapter." Plot details are being guarded closely, but Wilde will play a worker in the virtual world who tries to help fight Master Control Program, the villainous intelligence protocol that was the nemesis in the original film."
Although, if we're being honest with ourselves, was Tron really about the plot? I know that for me it was all about those cool light-up suits and the possibility that I might disappear into my Commodore 64 (What do you want? I was seven).
TR2N (a title that gets more irritating to type each and every time) is scheduled for release in 2011.
Jeremy Renner Wants To Be An Avenger
Directors We Love: Jim Jarmusch
Indie Roundup: 'Sweetgrass,' 'Clarkworld,' 'Broken Embraces'
Shelf Life: Fight Club_thumbnail.jpg)
Watch: Famous 'Matrix' Scene Re-Created with LEGOs
