Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1' Teaser Trailer!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/06/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-1-teaser-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/06/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-1-teaser-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/06/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-1-teaser-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


A few days ago, a bootlegged and blurry copy of the first Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows teaser went live before being predictably yanked by Warner Bros. But it didn't take long for the studio to release an official copy, complete with an introduction from producer David Heyman and director David Yates. While the teaser attempts to explain what the Deathly Hallows actually are, Harry Potter fans will be too busy scanning the footage for recognizable scenes. If you know what you're watching, there's quite a bit to see! I would nerdishly list all the moments but no one wants to read that, and it's more fun to let something like this unfold for each and every fan. You might choke up a little. I did. It's the last one!

For those unfamiliar with the final book you may wish for a little more context, but you'll undoubtedly be glad to see all the dark and gory images on display. Deathly Hallows is really the Potter story where the danger, the horror, and the despair really take over the story. Think of the end of The Empire Strikes Back and Frodo's march through Mordor in The Return of the King, and you have an idea of what a grim, unrelenting story this two-parter will be.

The trailer is embedded below the jump. Part one of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows hits theaters on November 19, 2010.

Continue reading 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1' Teaser Trailer!

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]]>Daniel RadcliffeDanielRadcliffedavid heymanDavid YatesDavidHeymanDavidYatesemma watsonEmmaWatsonharry potter and the deathly hallowsHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part IHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part OneHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows teaserHarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallowsHarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallowsPartIHarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallowsPartOneHarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallowsTeaserrupert grintRupertGrintwarner brosWarnerBrosElisabeth RappeSun, 06 Dec 2009 15:02:00 EST'The Hobbit' May Be Pushed to 2012http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/03/the-hobbit-may-be-pushed-to-2012/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/03/the-hobbit-may-be-pushed-to-2012/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/03/the-hobbit-may-be-pushed-to-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

The journey back to Middle Earth is taking longer than anyone anticipated, even its filmmakers. Peter Jackson revealed in an interview with Movie Reporter * that they're hoping to complete the second draft of The Hobbit script by the beginning of next year. Once that's done, they can calculate budget and set a start date, but even the most enthusiastic estimates mean that filming would begin in middle to late 2010. That's not even factoring in the MGM money woes, and how that could affect budgeting, though signs point to Warner Bros picking up the entire tab.

Jackson was silent as to whether the original release dates would hold, but I think we're all familiar enough with the magic of movie making to know that we're unlikely to see The Hobbit in December 2011. Remember, that was the date given for the first half of the film. It's more likely you'll see Part 1 in December 2012, and Part 2 in December 2013.

If you contemplate those numbers with a sinking heart, you're not alone. For me, it's not that 2012 or 2013 are particularly far away (you know how the years speed by the older you get!), but that so much can happen to a film, its writers and directors, and its potential cast members. I'm certain The Hobbit will happen, but it can't hurt to send some geeky good vibes its way, and hope it gains some speed and cast announcements very soon.


[*I've linked to TheOneRing.net, which translated the German interview for the rest of the Internet, and allowed the story to be subsequently picked up in Variety.]

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]]>Guillermo del ToroGuillermoDelToroMGMpeter jacksonPeterJacksonThe HobbitThe Hobbit delayedTheHobbitTheHobbitDelayedWarner BrosWarnerBrosElisabeth RappeThu, 03 Dec 2009 11:32:00 ESTNew to Me: Twilight Zone: The Moviehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/new-to-me-twilight-zone-the-movie/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/new-to-me-twilight-zone-the-movie/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/new-to-me-twilight-zone-the-movie/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I'd seen enough episodes of "The Twilight Zone" as a kid to get the gist of it - bite-sized morality tales that always came with a twist and often gave me the willies. However, I hadn't caught up with 1983's Twilight Zone: The Movie until just last night.

Now, I was looking for pictures to go along with my reaction when it became apparent that our own Eric D. Snider had already written about the movie at length two years back. Never content with just keeping my thoughts to myself, I've decided to instead streamline them into a nice, no-nonsense list of bullet points past the jump...

Continue reading New to Me: Twilight Zone: The Movie

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]]>george millerGeorgeMillerjoe danteJoeDantejohn landisjohn lithgowJohnLandisJohnLithgowkathleen quinlanKathleenQuinlannew to meNewToMescatman crothersScatmanCrotherssteven spielbergStevenSpielbergthe twilight zoneTheTwilightZonetwilight zonetwilight zone the movieTwilightZoneTwilightZoneTheMovievic morrowVicMorrowWilliam GossWed, 02 Dec 2009 19:32:00 EST'Green Lantern' Will Choose Adventure Over Originhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/green-lantern-will-choose-adventure-over-origin/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/green-lantern-will-choose-adventure-over-origin/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/green-lantern-will-choose-adventure-over-origin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Every day, I hope we'll get another big piece of The Green Lantern casting (and not just an open casting call) such as Sinestro or Carol Ferris, or even Abin Sur. This is a movie we're all really eager to see take shape. But for now, we'll have to be content with hints about the script, which Ryan Reynolds gave to the MTV Splash Page.

Reynolds revealed that Hal Jordan won't be the beneficiary of a very intense origin story: "It is [an origin story] to a certain degree, but it's not a labored origin story, where the movie [truly] begins in the third act. The movie starts when it starts. We find out Hal is the guy fairly early on, and the adventure begins." That probably comes as a surprise to anyone even remotely familiar with Lantern mythology, as the intergalactic world Hal comes to inhabit is pretty complex and detailed. It would be an easy thing to bog the movie down in that, though, and maybe giving it a more cursory approach is better. This is intended as a franchise after all, and they can always go deeper with subsequent films.

The man who will be Hal Jordan also stressed that the film won't be just about the green and black suit, but about the man who inhabits it. "I think you walk away from this first film, and the moments that you remember and the moments that mean so much to you, not unlike Iron Man, are the moments where the guy's not in the suit. That to me is the tough thing to get right."

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]]>hal jordanHalJordanmartin campbellMartinCampbellRyan ReynoldsRyanReynoldsThe Green LanternTheGreenLanternWarner BrosWarnerBrosElisabeth RappeWed, 02 Dec 2009 18:02:00 ESTThis Week's Comfort Movie: 'The Blind Side'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/01/this-weeks-comfort-movie-the-blind-side/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/01/this-weeks-comfort-movie-the-blind-side/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/01/this-weeks-comfort-movie-the-blind-side/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sandra Bullock in 'The Blind Side'The holiday season usually issues forth an avalanche of award-contending dramas, feel-good family films, and oddball counter programming. Last weekend was no exception, with the debuting Old Dogs, Ninja Assassin, and The Road jostling for attention with New Moon and The Blind Side. Of all those movies, the one that jumps out at me is The Blind Side, which actually increased its audience in its second week of release.

That's a pretty rare feat, especially for a wide release, and speaks to the broad appeal of the film. "Yes, Virginia, Sandra Bullock is the biggest female star in the world... again," in the words of David Poland at The Hot Blog, and there's no doubt that Bullock's celebrity, even more than her compelling, measured performance, is a big draw. Yet with big stars like Will Farrell and Jim Carrey failing to bring in the expected box office this year, Bullock is not the whole story. Nor is it only a matter of the movie being "generically acceptable [for families] to watch together over the holiday weekend," as our own Eugene Novikov suggested, although, to be fair, it's likely that 'the Sandie Bullock football movie' would be an easier sell to more families to watch together than 'the bare-chested boy vampire romance' or 'the violent ninja flick.'

No, I think it's clear that positive word of mouth has spread. What have people told their friends? Maybe that the first, widely-seen and frequently-mocked (by me) trailer was not representative of the movie as a whole, which comes by its emotions honestly.

Continue reading This Week's Comfort Movie: 'The Blind Side'

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]]>comfort moviesComfortMoviessandra bullockSandraBullockthe blind sideTheBlindSidePeter MartinTue, 01 Dec 2009 12:02:00 ESTWarner Bros Will Make Clint Eastwood Fans' Dayhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/clint-eastwood-warner-bros-dvd/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/clint-eastwood-warner-bros-dvd/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/clint-eastwood-warner-bros-dvd/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you're lucky enough to be graced with cash or gift cards this Christmas, and you have a big hole on your DVD shelf where Clint Eastwood ought to be, Warner Bros will be happy to help you out. On February 16 they're releasing a massive, 19-disc collection Clint Eastwood: 35 Films, 35 Years at Warner Bros that celebrates the actor / director / producer. Included will be a booklet and a feature length documentary by Richard Schickel. The retail price will be a hefty $179.98.

Warners didn't release a complete list of those 35 films, but it spans the tender years of Where Eagles Dare all the way to 2008's Gran Torino. I imagine there will be some crossover with what you already own, like the entire Dirty Harry collection and The Outlaw Josey Wales. But most of his output from the late 1970s onward was done at Warner Bros, so all those films you've forgotten he ever made -- The Gauntlet, Bronco Billy, Honkytonk Man, Tightrope, Firefox, Heartbreak Ridge, A Perfect World, Pink Cadillac -- and can't find on DVD will make this a must have for the fan who needs everything.

Or almost everything. If you're looking for his directorial debut Play Misty For Me, or forgotten gems like Thunderbolt and Lightfoot or The Beguiled, you'll have to wait until Universal or MGM decides to put out a boxed set of their own. On that day, you better reinforce your bookshelf with steel frames to support the other 30 odd films he's done, even without Francis in the Navy.

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]]>clint eastwoodClint Eastwood 35 Films 35 Years Warner BrosClint Eastwood DVD collectionClintEastwoodClintEastwood35Films35YearsWarnerBrosClintEastwoodDvdCollectionfeaturedElisabeth RappeMon, 30 Nov 2009 09:48:00 ESTInterview: 'Ninja Assassin' Director James McTeigue (Part 2)http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/28/interview-ninja-assassin-director-james-mcteigue-part-2/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/28/interview-ninja-assassin-director-james-mcteigue-part-2/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/28/interview-ninja-assassin-director-james-mcteigue-part-2/#commentsFiled under: ,


Read part one of our interview over here.

By his own admission, James McTeigue seems to be fast-becoming Hollywood's go-to guy for revenge stories. After beginning his career as an assistant director for the Wachowski brothers, he made his directorial debut with the graphic novel adaptation V for Vendetta, and is now set to release Ninja Assassin, about a martial arts master squaring off against his master and his former clan. Ironically, McTeigue is himself a generous, thoughtful and positively mellow guy, which makes his aptitude for bloody showdowns even more surprising.

Cinematical recently sat down with McTeigue at the Los Angeles press day for Ninja Assassin, where he talked about tackling his latest revenge tome. In addition to discussing the physical and philosophical origins of ninjas (and the movies that love them), he talked about protecting the cultural and ethnic integrity of his characters and story, and ruminated on the challenges of keeping a constant balance between brain-busting ideas and balletic bloodletting.

Cinematical: When you came on board this film, what was your cultural mandate for the film especially since you were featuring an Asian actor in the main role?

Continue reading Interview: 'Ninja Assassin' Director James McTeigue (Part 2)

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]]>james mcteigueJamesMcteigueninja assassinNinjaAssassinspeed racerSpeedRacerthe wachowski brothersTheWachowskiBrothersTodd GilchristSat, 28 Nov 2009 19:02:00 ESTInterview: James McTeigue, 'Ninja Assassin' (Part 1)http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/james-mcteigue-ninja-assassin-interview/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/james-mcteigue-ninja-assassin-interview/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/james-mcteigue-ninja-assassin-interview/#commentsFiled under: , ,

James McTeigue

Director James McTeigue has been working on films since the late 1980s, back in his native Australia. He was second assistant director on Dark City and first assistant director on Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. He started working with Andy and Larry Wachowski as an assistant director on The Matrix, and they've been collaborating on projects together ever since. The Wachowskis wrote the first feature film helmed by McTeigue, V for Vendetta, and he provided second-unit direction on their most recent film, Speed Racer.

Ninja Assassin, which opened this week, is the latest movie McTeigue has directed, with the Wachowskis on board as producers. You can read William Goss's review for more details about the action/fantasy film. Cinematical sat down with the director in late September during Fantastic Fest, just after the movie played the festival. He was very pleased with the fest screening and happy to talk about the film.

Continue reading Interview: James McTeigue, 'Ninja Assassin' (Part 1)

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]]>Andy WachowskiAndyWachowskiCinematicalfilmJames McTeigueJamesMcteigueLarry WachowskiLarryWachowskimovieninja assassinNinjaAssassinthe ravenTheRavenV for VendettaVForVendettaJette KernionFri, 27 Nov 2009 19:15:00 ESTMaking The (Up) Grade: North By Northwesthttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/26/making-the-up-grade-north-by-northwest/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/26/making-the-up-grade-north-by-northwest/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/26/making-the-up-grade-north-by-northwest/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Initially I planned to make North by Northwest a title revisited in my "Shelf Life" column, but I decided against it when I realized that most folks just love that movie to death, including myself, so seeing whether it's still good would be purely redundant. But the new Blu-ray released by Warner Brothers also didn't seem like it warranted a question of whether or not it was superior to its predecessors thanks to a wealth of bonus content - that is, until I discovered that in fact some of it was on previous versions, no doubt leaving longtime fans with a quandary whether or not to shell out a few more shekels to see one of their favorite Alfred Hitchcock films in high-definition.

As such, North by Northwest is the overdue subject of this week's "Making The (Up) Grade," and I spare no effort examining the past, present and future of this film's home video incarnations.

What's Already Available:

Continue reading Making The (Up) Grade: North By Northwest

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]]>alfred hitchcockAlfredHitchcockcary grantCaryGrantmaking the up gradeMakingTheUpGradenorth by northwestNorthByNorthwestvertigoTodd GilchristThu, 26 Nov 2009 12:02:00 ESTGaze Upon 'The Losers' and 'Jonah Hex'!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/26/gaze-upon-the-losers-and-jonah-hex/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/26/gaze-upon-the-losers-and-jonah-hex/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/26/gaze-upon-the-losers-and-jonah-hex/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


At last, some comic book news that isn't centered around Batman or Spider-Man! Omelete got their hands on some official images from two of Warner Bros' upcoming comic flicks, Jonah Hex and The Losers.

We've seen paparazzi glimpses from the Hex set of Megan Fox and Josh Brolin, but there's nothing like a well-lit and spooky shot, especially when your actor looks good enough to have walked off the page. If you're a fan of the haunted gunslinger and are unconvinced, you might be comforted by the sight of his Confederate gray and mangled lip. I can't say how excited I am for this film. Jonah Hex is a character who has more in common with High Plains Drifter than the capes and superpower crowd, and I think that will surprise and delight a lot of "newbies" who still equate DC Comics with Batman.

Next up, we have our first official look at The Losers! Aren't they a handsome bunch? This is based not on the DC war squad from the 1970s, but on the Vertigo spinoff by Andy Diggle. The Losers are a Special Forces team abandoned and left to die by their mysterious commander, Max. They regroup, vow revenge, and let the bullets fly. I have hopes that this one will be a solid action flick, the kind we all long for from the 1980s. The cast is certainly a lovely one: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, Columbus Short, Idris Elba, and Oscar Jaenada are our fine Losers, and Jason Patric will be the villainous Max. You can see the whole line-up of them here, along a very sexy shot of Saldana. Even I can appreciate a lovely lady when she's packing guns. Now, if they'll just release a photo of Morgan to match ...

The photos are below in our gallery. Spend your Turkey Day geeking out.

Gallery: Jonah Hex and The Losers

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]]>Chris EvansChrisEvansColumbus ShortColumbusShortDC ComicsDcComicsIdris ElbaIdrisElbaJason PatricJasonPatricJeffery Dean MorganJefferyDeanMorganJonah HexJonahHexJosh BrolinJoshBrolinoscar jaenadaOscarJaenadaThe LosersTheLosersWarner BrosWarnerBrosZoe SaldanaZoeSaldanaElisabeth RappeThu, 26 Nov 2009 10:32:00 ESTReview: The Blind Sidehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/review-the-blind-side/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/review-the-blind-side/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/review-the-blind-side/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Blind Side

The trailers for The Blind Side triggered my "oh geez, another sports-related Triumph of the Human Spirit" cynicism, and I might not have seen the film at all if I hadn't been assigned to review it. That would have been my loss, and I experienced the lovely surprise of having a movie turn out far more enjoyable than I expected. The Blind Side has no twists or gimmicks other than being a very good example of a sports-related family film, with quality performances and writing.

The movie's title is a football reference, which the voiceover of Leigh Anne Touhy (Sandra Bullock) explains at the beginning. Michael Oher (Quenton Aaron) is sweating out a tough but unspecified situation in an office, when we flash back a few years and meet him as Big Mike. An African-American staff member at a mostly white Christian private school is trying to get his athletic son into the school, and the school's coach also spots some athletic potential in Big Mike, granting him a scholarship. Big Mike has terrible trouble keeping up in school, and when his friend's family stops helping him out, he is virtually homeless -- sleeping in the school gym, eating popcorn left there after events, wearing the same thin clothes daily.

Continue reading Review: The Blind Side

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]]>CinematicalfilmJohn lee hancockJohnLeeHancockkathy batesKathyBatesmoviequenton aaronQuentonAaronsandra bullockSandraBullockthe blind sideTheBlindSidetim mcgrawTimMcgrawJette KernionFri, 20 Nov 2009 09:03:00 ESTMGM Studios Officially For Salehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/mgm-studios-officially-for-sale/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/mgm-studios-officially-for-sale/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/mgm-studios-officially-for-sale/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

MGM Studios' financial troubles will soon be coming to a sad end. Back in September, it was reported that MGM was in such poor shape that they might be forced to auction off their assets, including James Bond and The Hobbit. That day has come to pass. Variety reports that MGM Studios is officially on the auction block.

MGM has been given a month of breathing space from their interest payments, time they plan on using to begin "a process to explore various strategic alternatives including operating as a standalone entity, forming strategic partnerships and evaluating a potential sale of the company."

But all hopes of survival may rest on what they sell off from their glorious history, including a library of 4,000 titles, the logo, the United Artists company, James Bond, and half ownership in The Hobbit. Time Warner, News Corp, and Lionsgate are said to be interested in all of the above.

As their library scatters to the four winds, it'll be really interesting to see what remakes and reboots it spawns. Remember, Robocop was on the MGM remake slate, and surely some hungry studio will snap that up. The Cannon Films and ITV Global Entertainment collections are just ripe for harvesting. Perhaps you'll finally see a Lifeforce movie, or a remake of Capricorn One, or an aspiring Tarantino type will buy up all those American International Picture rights and revive motorcycle gang movies. Sure, we all want to know who will wind up with James Bond, but it'll be far more fascinating if someone tries to remake Psych-Out. *


*It's possible this is considered one of AIP's "early" films, though it's unclear where that cut off date is.

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]]>Capricorn OneCapricornOnefeaturedJames BondJamesBondLifeforceMGMMGM assetsMGM financial woesMGM for saleMgmAssetsMgmFinancialWoesMgmForSalePsych-OutRobocopThe HobbitTheHobbitElisabeth RappeMon, 16 Nov 2009 09:45:00 EST'Clash of the Titans' Trailer Now Online!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/10/clash-of-the-titans-trailer-now-online/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/10/clash-of-the-titans-trailer-now-online/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/10/clash-of-the-titans-trailer-now-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


In a scant twelve years, Louis Leterrier has gone from being a production assistant on Alien: Resurrection to directing what has just, with a single trailer, become one of my most anticipated films of 2010: Warner Brothers' remake of Clash of the Titans. Sure, he has progressively proven himself a champion of the fantastic, evolving from The Transporter series to last year's The Incredible Hulk, but as much as I've been impressed by his eye for spectacle thus far, I wasn't ready for how fun his take on Titans looks. It's just our first look, but I couldn't stop smiling by the end of this teaser.

And yet, I don't know why I should be so surprised. The original is, after all, a landmark fantasy film packed with Ray Harryhausen's indelible stop-motion imagery. Add on Leterrier commanding a great cast ranging from Liam Neeson to Ralph Fiennes to Sam Worthington, and a script whose bones were written by Raiders of the Lost Ark screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan before WB brought in the duo of Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi to flesh things out. Perhaps the shock of seeing this trailer came from just how indelible Harryhausen's Titans actually were. I knew it would undergo an extreme visual overhaul, but in the back of my mind I was still expecting stop-motion giants, not Troy by way of God of War.

There's nothing stop-motion about this new re-envisioning of the wars between Gods and men. Purists will not be on board with the amount of digital wizardry, but any fan of seeing mythological worlds brought to life should be in love with the energy Leterrier has infused in his Clash of the Titans. You can see for yourself after the jump, then click over to Moviefone to grab it in a variety of HD flavors. Additionally, we've got some fantastic screenshots in the gallery below.

Gallery: Clash of the Titans

Continue reading 'Clash of the Titans' Trailer Now Online!

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]]>Clash of the TitansClashOfTheTitansfeaturedLiam NeesonLiamNeesonLouis LeterrierLouisLeterrierRalph FiennesRalphFiennesSam WorthingtonSamWorthingtonWarner BrosWarnerBrosPeter HallTue, 10 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST'Sgt. Rock' Looks to the Future with Francis Lawrencehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/10/sgt-rock-looks-to-the-future-with-francis-lawrence/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/10/sgt-rock-looks-to-the-future-with-francis-lawrence/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/10/sgt-rock-looks-to-the-future-with-francis-lawrence/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Once upon a time, Sgt. Rock was in the hands of Guy Ritchie, and many an Easy Company fan was upset. But you'll undoubtedly wish that Ritchie and Joel Silver had made it to the finish line, because Sgt. Rock will not make it to the big screen in a form you'll recognize. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he has a new director in Francis Lawrence and a whole new space-time continuum. Joel Silver is still on board as producer, and he's bringing Akiva Goldsman on board to help. They've hired newcomer Chad St. John to pen the script.

As you may or may not know, Sgt. Rock is a WWII soldier. He's always fought in WWII. The poor guy has never even gotten to leave the European theater. (It was rumored in Swamp Thing that he was transferred to the Pacific, but never confirmed.) Any attempt at a movie adaptation has always gone forward with this central idea of keeping him in his element. But budget, politics, and popularity has always been an issue, and no one believes you can make The Dirty Dozen in this day and age unless you're Quentin Tarantino. So Warner Bros has decided to bypass the drama, and put Sgt. Rock in the future. CG is cheaper than Nazis, and a nondescript soldier of the future is less problematic than an American fighting a good fight. (While no war is a good war, I do think we can all agree that fighting Nazis was a good thing.)

Nothing else is known about this storyline, so I hate to jump to a knee-jerk conclusion as to who or what Sgt. Rock will face there, or whether he will be transported to the future from WWII. But I think this is an unfortunate thing to do to a character who resides in WWII for a very specific and honorable reason. The last thing he should become is a Universal Soldier or Terminator ripoff.

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]]>Akiva GoldsmanAkivaGoldsmanDC ComicsDcComicsfrancis lawrenceFrancisLawrenceguy ritchieGuyRitchiejoel silverJoelSilverSgt. RockSgt.RockElisabeth RappeTue, 10 Nov 2009 09:45:00 ESTReview: The Boxhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/review-the-box/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/review-the-box/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/review-the-box/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Richard Matheson's original short story, "Button, Button," was a nifty little morality tale about a couple faced with a peculiar opportunity -- if they push a button in a box, they'll get a sum of money but kill a stranger in doing so. That version of the story ended with the wife pushing the button and killing her husband, a man she didn't really know. As an episode of "The Twilight Zone" in 1986, the story ended with the couple paid off and assured that the device would then go to another couple to whom they qualify as strangers. Now, Richard Kelly's The Box takes that same basic premise and spins it into a mind-bender of the most baffling degree, starting out as another "Twilight Zone"-worthy variant but eventually reaching the outer limits of both patience and reason.

Continue reading Review: The Box

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]]>button buttonButtonButtoncameron diazCameronDiazfrank langellaFrankLangellajames marsdenJamesMarsdenrichard kellyrichard mathesonRichardKellyRichardMathesonthe boxthe twilight zoneTheBoxTheTwilightZoneWilliam GossFri, 06 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST'Yogi Bear' Will Cry Me A River With Its Casthttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/yogi-bear-will-cry-me-a-river-with-its-cast/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/yogi-bear-will-cry-me-a-river-with-its-cast/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/06/yogi-bear-will-cry-me-a-river-with-its-cast/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Yogi Bear and Boo Boo are bringing sexy back -- and that image should make you ripe for nightmares tonight. If you doubt me, look to Variety, who reports that Dan Aykroyd, Anna Faris, and Justin Timberlake are set to go to Jellystone in Yogi Bear, which Eric Brevig is directing for Warner Bros.

Aykroyd will be voicing Yogi, and he really is the most obvious choice to play the picnic basket thief. He's funny, he sounds gruff, and if it was live-action it would be a very terrifying thing to see. So thank goodness this is being done as a CG / live-action hybrid.

Timberlake will be voicing Boo Boo. Yep. The man who wants to love your mother, put his d*ck in a box, and who will cry you a river will lend his vocal talents to playing Yogi's diminutive sidekick. In this update of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, expect Boo Boo to be a lot more of a smart aleck. (I was going to say "sassy," but I think that would be a far different Boo Boo.)

Though Faris has done voice work before, it sounds as though she might be one of the live action elements to this unholy hybrid. Variety says she's set to play a documentary filmmaker. Presumably she discovers the tourist robbing bears, and makes a film of them. Or she has to help them preserve Jellystone against evil developers. Either way, she'll have to talk to big rubbery CG bears, and it might be kind of weird. What would be even weirder is if one or both bears fell in love with her, so let's hope she falls into the arms of whoever plays Ranger Smith. Shooting is expected to start in New Zealand next month.

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]]>anna farisAnnaFarisdan aykroydDanAykroyderic brevigEricBrevigfeaturedhanna barberaHannaBarberaJellystoneJustin TimberlakeJustinTimberlakeyogi bearYogiBearElisabeth RappeFri, 06 Nov 2009 09:03:00 ESTMaking The (Up) Grade: Heathttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/05/making-the-up-grade-heat/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/05/making-the-up-grade-heat/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/05/making-the-up-grade-heat/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Every few years, it seems necessary in the course of critiquing home video releases to clarify and designate the difference between all of those terms that distributors and producers come up with to describe films that arrive in stores in a version other than their theatrical iteration. For example, "unrated" no longer simply means that a film is too bawdy or offensive to garner a proper MPAA rating; rather, in many cases it means that the studio re-inserted footage, and didn't bother to screen it for the ratings board at all. "Director's cuts," meanwhile, sometimes really reflect the original vision of a filmmaker for his movie, and sometimes just qualify as an alternate version that was supervised or approved by the director. And most importantly, none of these changes are an automatic indication that the film will be superior to the one that you saw in theaters, even if there's a little more gore or nudity or (God forbid) character development.

Ironically, the new Blu-ray for Heat carries no such designation - to anyone buying it, this is the same film they saw in theaters and on standard-definition DVD. However, at the top of the list of the disc's special features, the topline attraction is "new content changes supervised by director Michael Mann." Even for someone who's seen more than his share of extended, alternate, unrated and director's cuts, this was particularly intriguing, which is why Heat is the subject of this week's "Making The (Up) Grade."

Continue reading Making The (Up) Grade: Heat

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]]>al pacinoAlPacinoheatheat blu-rayHeatBlu-raymichael mannMichaelMannrobert de niroRobertDeNiroval kilmerValKilmerwarner home videoWarnerHomeVideoTodd GilchristThu, 05 Nov 2009 21:02:00 ESTMorgan Freeman Wants To Be a 'Dirty Old Man'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/morgan-freeman-wants-to-be-a-dirty-old-man/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/morgan-freeman-wants-to-be-a-dirty-old-man/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/02/morgan-freeman-wants-to-be-a-dirty-old-man/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

While Morgan Freeman has dabbled in comedy in his long and illustrious career, I don't think he's ever really gotten a chance to really cut loose. He certainly hasn't gotten to play in the raunchy end of the pool, but it sounds as though he's taking the leap in Dirty Old Men. The Hollywood Reporter says that he's attached to star as an aging playboy in the tentatively titled project, and we'll either be laughing or horribly traumatized by his efforts.

Men was penned by Josh Cagan and Greg Coolidge, and is said to be similar in tone to The Wedding Crashers and The 40 Year Old Virgin. It centers on two aging playboys who have been each other's wingmen for over 40 years. One of them meets the love of his life, leaving the other (played by Freeman) to chase skirts on his own. Well, that just won't do. The lonely playboy does everything he can to break up the new couple. I will bet money there's at least one I-hid-the-Viagra scenario. No, I don't like to think about it.

Peter Segal is in talks to direct, and the hunt is on for the playboy-husband-to-be. Warner Bros is hoping Jack Nicholson will take the part and reteam with his Bucket List buddy. But if he turns it down, may I humbly suggest they look to Freeman's real life wingman, Clint Eastwood? If Viagra jokes must be made, let them be the two that make them.



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]]>clint eastwoodClintEastwoodDirty old menDirtyOldMenGreg CoolidgeGregCoolidgejack nicholsonJackNicholsonjosh caganJoshCaganMorgan FreemanMorganFreemanPeter SegalPeterSegalwarner brosWarnerBrosElisabeth RappeMon, 02 Nov 2009 12:48:00 ESTMoon Bloodgood's Topless 'Terminator: Salvation' Scene: Worth the 'R' Rating?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/moon-bloodgoods-topless-terminator-salvation-scene-worth-th/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/moon-bloodgoods-topless-terminator-salvation-scene-worth-th/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/moon-bloodgoods-topless-terminator-salvation-scene-worth-th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Moon Bloodgood in 'Terminator: Salvation'What's happened to all the great movie nudity lately? Billy Crudup started the year off with a bang, so to speak, with his big blue penis in Watchmen, and Marcus Nispel's Friday the 13th reboot featured sweaty sex and generous amounts of naked female flesh, but the summer and fall seasons have been curiosly bereft of talked-about sex scenes or body parts. Jessica Biel's bravely-bared breasts and backside in Powder Blue went direct to video, Hayden Panetierre nonchalantly limited her exposure to 'side boobage' in I Love You, Beth Cooper, and Megan Fox decided to keep her nipples to herself in the proudly feminist relationship drama ('cause it sure wasn't horror) Jennifer's Body.

In my youth, movies educated me about the wonderful diversity of naked bodies. Today, television and the Internet have stolen much of the thunder once claimed exclusively by the theatrical experience. (Case in point: Susan Sarandon's daughter, Eva Amurri, just made a big splash by going topless in Californication.) No wonder Terminator: Salvation director McG teased the audience at WonderCon earlier this year, bringing actress Moon Bloodgood up on stage and asking: "Who wants to see Moon's boobs in the picture?" She later said: "I'm a woman, I have boobs, it's a beautiful shot." As anyone who saw the movie in a theater knows, though, her toplessness was cut, reportedly as part of Warner Bros.' effort to secure a PG-13 rating.

The unrated director's cut is due out on DVD and Blu-ray on December 1, and the deleted scene has, apparently, hit the Internet (watch it after the jump). The verdict?

Continue reading Moon Bloodgood's Topless 'Terminator: Salvation' Scene: Worth the 'R' Rating?

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]]>mcgmoon bloodgoodmoon bloodgood toplessMoonBloodgoodMoonBloodgoodToplessmovie nudityMovieNudityterminator salvationTerminatorSalvationPeter MartinFri, 30 Oct 2009 12:02:00 ESTCharlize Theron and Tom Hardy Confirmed for 'Mad Max'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/charlize-theron-and-tom-hardy-confirmed-for-mad-max/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/charlize-theron-and-tom-hardy-confirmed-for-mad-max/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/charlize-theron-and-tom-hardy-confirmed-for-mad-max/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

After weeks of breathless speculation as to who would be riding George Miller's bleak highways of Mad Max: Fury Road, there's been a conformation. Variety reports that Charlize Theron has boarded the film, but that it'll be Tom Hardy (Bronson) who takes over the coveted lead. The script is being kept under tight wraps, so we still don't know if Mad Max: Fury Road will be a reboot or a sequel. Speculation has been rampant for more than twenty years, and as is the case with so many revived franchises, we'll probably end up being terribly wrong. Hopefully for the better.

So, we only know that Hardy is playing "the male lead. Will it be the Mad Max, made so iconic by Mel Gibson? Or will Max have taken on some kind of mythological, Robin Hood like status in the barren wasteland, and someone simply takes on the title? It could go either way (but hopefully not the way of Kevin Costner's The Postman), and I'm excited that Hardy has the part. He's been one of those actors lurking under The Really Big Time, and this could be the film that pushes him into stardom.

Theron's role might be the biggest and coolest surprise. She's a big enough name that I can't believe she'll be shoved into a corner as The Wife of Mad Max. Will she be a post-apocalyptic warrior too? I hope so. With so few remnants of humanity left, you need all the badasses you can get. It would be nice to see that reflected beyond Tina Turner.

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]]>charlize theronCharlizeTheronGeorge MillerGeorgeMillerMad Maxmad max 4mad max: fury roadMadMaxMadMax4MadMax:FuryRoadMel GibsonMelGibsontom hardyTomHardyElisabeth RappeFri, 30 Oct 2009 09:03:00 EST