dubai Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Bollywood Theme Park Coming to Dubai
Filed under: Foreign Language », Fandom », Cinematical Indie »
They had me at "Marvel Comics amusement park." They even had me at "Brad Pitt-designed hotel and resort." But the good people of Dubai just won't stop trying to woo me with movie-related developments. Now they're saying: "Bollywood theme park." I got so excited that I almost prematurely bought my plane ticket. Then I realized that the thing isn't exactly constructed yet. Also, I thought about how unfamiliar I actually am with Bollywood films (I took a class, but was only taught so much) and realized it isn't that attractive to someone like me. But for the millions and millions of Bombay-produced cinema fans, this is going to be huge.Of course, as pointed out in this Empire article, the idea is not for a general Bollywood-themed park. It's specifically related to the films of Yash Raj Entertainment. So, unfortunately, no Mother India-based "Canal of Modernization" flume ride. Or Lagaan-inspired cricket stadium. No Hum Aapke Hain Koun-based women-in-drag show, either. Still, Yash Raj has put out some of the most popular Indian films of this decade, including Bunty Aur Babli and Dhoom. The latter (and its sequel) should be able to lend itself to a cool motorcycle-type ride.
Brad Pitt, Architect
Filed under: Brad Pitt »
As if he didn't have enough to do, what with all the films he's signed on to and with all the goodwill he's involved in with partner Angelina Jolie and, most importantly, with twins on the way, Brad Pitt will be co-designing a hotel and resort to be built in Dubai. According to Bloomberg, the actor will be a consultant with L.A. architecture firm Graft LLC, which is designing the 800-room hotel-resort for developer Zabeel Properties. Pitt said in a statement: "Acting is my career; architecture is my passion." He also noted that the hotel will feature environmentally friendly architecture, and will also "embrace [his] career in entertainment," whatever that means. Pitt has already been associated with Graft, which is working with the actor on plans to rebuild a Katrina-devastated neighborhood in New Orleans with 150 environmentally friendly homes.I was never aware of Pitt's interest in architecture (apparently he's a huge admirer of the work of Charles Rennie MacKintosh and Frank Lloyd Wright and is even friends with Frank Gehry), but if Marvel Studios is still interested in the actor for the role of The Mighty Thor, they might want to alter their plans and focus the superhero film on temporary- Thor-replacement-turned-independent-superhero Thunderstrike, whose alter ego is an architect named Eric Masterson. And Marvel might want to also remind Pitt that Dubai is also the future location of a Marvel theme park, too. Surely there could be some sort of tie-in with the planned hotel-resort.
[via Curbed]
Dubai to Host New Theme Park Based Entirely Around Marvel Characters
Filed under: New Releases », Fandom », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
Move over Orlando, Dubai is looking to become the world's next major theme park hub. United Arab Emirate-based Al Ahli Group and Marvel Entertainment, Inc. have announced a joint partnership that will bring a new mind-blowing theme park to Dubai; one that can (and most likely will) utilize Marvel's entire library of superheroes, including Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, The X-Men, The Fantastic Four, The Silver Surfer and Iron Man. According to a press release, the project will open in 2011 and is sure to become a must-see for you thrill fanatics and Marvel fanboys.
A number of Marvel characters (including Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk) are already featured at Orlando's Islands of Adventure -- however, to my knowledge, there are currently no parks that specifically cater to the Marvel universe. Mohamed Khammas, CEO of Al Ahli Group, notes that with this new partnership they aim to create "the ultimate entertainment destination for families and children of the region and the world, a destination where they can live their childhood fantasies and create new memories for the entire family to cherish and remember." The creative team (working off a direct investment of $1 billion) will be based in Hollywood, Orlando and Dubai during the development process, with the ultimate goal being to create "a new standard for theme parks around the world." The only problem? You have to go all the way to Dubai. Drats.
The whole thing sounds pretty interesting, and I wonder whether they will incorporate scenes from the films into each ride (a la Disney with their Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Orlando). Is this a place you'd be interested in visiting? What sort of rides would you like to see show up?
[via Hollywood Wiretap]
Is Stephen Gaghan insane?
Filed under: Drama », Thrillers », Politics »
Syriana's globe-trotting shoot had the crew
hopping from "locales ranging from Baltimore and Washington to Geneva and Casablanca, [and] working in five
languages over 74 days." When it came time to shoot scenes set in the unspecified Arab nation at the center of the
script, the production travelled to Dubai, a journey that required the approval of the country's royal family, which was
granted, then taken away, and then reinstated by intelligence officials within the United Arab Emirates. Whilst chasing
a specific shot involving "all these guys who looked like Berber smugglers; they had machine guns and pistols
and they were on these huge camels" (it was eventually cut from the film), writer/director Stephen Gaghan
accidentally led his crew into the region of Oman, where they were, um, unwelcome. They encountered a band of Omani
soldiers, who scoffed at the production's paperwork and ordered them to turn around and go back to Dubai.Gaghan has been endlessly flogging his oil conspiracy thriller since mid-November, and since, in most cases, this seems to involve giving interviews that are as sprawling, convoluted and tediously lengthy as the film itself, it seems odd that he's just getting around to telling everyone about the alleged "international incident" he sparked whilst shooting the picture. Even odder, check out this bon mot he tossed off, which reporter Borys Kit used to close the piece: "It was exciting to bring a big Western movie there in these times." A pretty gooey softball for a self-styled international rabblerouser, ce n'est pas?
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