james mcteigue Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Fantastic Fest Review: Ninja Assassin
Filed under: Action », Thrillers », Warner Brothers », Fantastic Fest »
One can't ask too much of a film called Ninja Assassin -- that's a given -- but James McTeigue's proper directorial follow-up to V for Vendetta does its damnedest to take that insta-pulp title and weave around it a worn-out tale of forbidden love, family betrayal, and government conspiracy. Complete with some hard-to-see fight scenes and some harder-to-hear dialogue, all delivered with a poker-straight face and capped off with some super-splattery kills, it's like a graphic novel adaptation with comic book punctuation, a film so flagrant in its fakery that it almost forgets to have any fun.
Pop Star Rain Up for 'Enter the Dragon' Remake?
Filed under: Action », Casting », Warner Independent Pictures », RumorMonger », Remakes and Sequels »
Every once in a while you come across a piece of movie news that leaves you feeling a little conflicted. On one hand, the mind reels at the thought of somebody trying to replace Bruce Lee in a remake of the legendary martial arts flick, Enter the Dragon. But on the other hand, I'm not about to turn down the chance to stare at Korean pop star Rain for two hours -- I mean, have you seen the abs on this guy? So lustful thoughts aside, it's about time I got to the news, isn't it? Latino Review is reporting that their sources have confirmed that the singer/actor is the front-runner to star in an update of the 1973 classic.
The original film was the first kung fu flick to be produced by a major studio, and starred Lee as a Shaolin martial artist sent undercover to a hidden island in a fight to the death. The film is infamous for being Lee's last before his untimely death at the age of 33, but was also a passion project for Lee who wanted to celebrate Chinese culture and make a kick-ass action flick. I think we can all agree that he succeeded.
James McTeigue Wants to Quoth 'The Raven'
Filed under: Classics », Horror », Thrillers », Scripts »
Edgar Allan Poe died almost 160 years ago, but his life and death is still surrounded with enough mystery and spooky theories to make the old 'scaremaster' proud. A few years back, there had been talk of a Poe biography from Sylvester Stallone (with Robert Downey Jr. allegedly circling the role) but it looks like Sly's not the only one with Poe on the brain. /Film recently got the chance to speak with James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) about his latest, Ninja Assassin, and he told them that he has also started working on a Poe-inspired thriller, titled after the famous poem, The Raven. If you happened to have skipped high school English, The Raven was Poe's poem about a man haunted by his lost love (and, if you need a quick refresher, just watch The Simpson's classic Treehouse of Horror episode). But McTeigue isn't interested in trying to improve upon previous Poe films (like Roger Corman's classics) and instead, his film will be a fictional take on Poe's final days, and put the author smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation.
Hannah Shakespeare and Ben Livingston have already completed a script about Poe on the trail of a murderer who's using his literary works as a source of inspiration. It sounds pretty clever on paper, and McTeigue told /Film, "It's like the poem, The Raven, itself, crossed with Se7en. It should be pretty cool. The script is really good and everyone responds to it really well. I'm in the middle of casting."
Maybe if Stallone's project doesn't make it out of development hell alive, Downey could play Poe for McTeigue instead, what do you think?
'The Box' Moves Up from Thanksgiving to Halloween
Filed under: Action », Drama », Thrillers », Mystery & Suspense », Warner Brothers », RumorMonger »
Tempted though I may be to do so, I won't take credit for Warners' moving up the release of Richard Kelly's hopefully good The Box after I blathered on about it for too long and then some last month. According to BOM, the thriller is now scheduled to open on October 30th and just opposite Saw VI -- and between us, if it was between either the fifth Saw sequel or a title with both Richard Kelly and Richard Matheson's names on it, my moviegoing dollar would surely find its way to the latter.Going instead into the newly vacated 11/25 slot is the Wachowski-produced Ninja Assassin, helmed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta, the third act of The Invasion) and starring that guy Stephen Colbert hates so much. Not much has come of that film beyond a "we're making it!" press conference -- no trailer, no poster, no nuthin' -- but the film has been formally rated R for "strong bloody stylized violence throughout, and language," which suggests that the film is completed.
And when you have a completed film on your hands, you generally release it. (And then this'll be the part where the "More You Know" star will shoot overhead...)
Wachowski Bros. to Direct New Superman Trilogy!?
Filed under: RumorMonger », Fandom », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
.jpg){kind=logo}
This is a wild and wacky rumor right now, but according to a scooper over at AICN who watched a television interview with James McTeigue in Berlin, there might be some funky things happening to some of those much-hyped future franchises. The scooper, Ballack, reports back that McTeigue -- who mainly talked up his upcoming Ninja Assassin -- finished up with news that if Warner Bros. doesn't let the Wachowski Bros. go with Plastic Man as their next project (and they may not, according to McTeigue, because of a "major shake up of projects at WB"), then they could be the guys who reboot the Superman franchise.
Wha??? Supposedly (so says McTeigue), the Wachowskis have been approached about Superman and are "currently reviewing their options." McTeigue, who was supposed to aid the brothers in the second unit department on Plastic Man, says that if they do take on Superman, he'd most likely serve in the same capacity on that flick. Plastic Man, however, is a passion project for the Wachowski siblings, and so expect them to fight hard to make it a reality. McTeigue also noted that Bryan Singer is done with the Man of Steel, and that he's moved on to the Logan's Run remake.
So, while this wacky news makes its way around the internet -- whaddya think of the Wachowskis taking on the Superman franchise?
New Info on Wachowskis' 'Ninja Assassins'
Filed under: Action », Drama », Casting », Deals », Fandom », Newsstand »
I guess it's official: Speed Racer was not the summer smash hit the Wachowskis were hoping for. For their sake, I hope they have better luck with the martial arts flick Ninja Assassin. Details on the film had been kept under wraps, but Movieweb has now posted an official press release from Warner Bros. with an outline and official character info for the film. Ninja Assassin will center on, "Raizo (Rain), one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them...and vanishes. Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge." WB also confirmed that Naomie Harris (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End) will play a Europol researcher named Mika Coretti, Ben Miles (V for Vendetta) plays her partner, martial arts performer Sho Kosugi stars as the leader of the assassins and Rick Yune will portray Raizo's rival, Takeshi.
'V' Director Signs on for 'X-Files'-Like 'Revelation'
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Thrillers », Deals »
I'm about to take off for a week-long vacation, but I'll leave you with this: James McTeigue, whose V for Vendetta was wonderful, angry and brave, has signed on to direct a sci-fi thriller that sounds a bit like a second X-Files sequel -- which may be why I think it sounds so cool. Revelations, from a script by John Salvati (the forthcoming Andrew Niccol/Al Pacino Dali biopic), will involve a female journalist who investigates a series of bizarre murders and discovers that the dead were all being treated by the head of an organization that studies alien abductions.V for Vendetta, as well as McTeigue's follow-up Ninja Assassin, due next year, were produced by the Wachowski Brothers. In fact, V was known more as a Wachowski Brothers film than a McTeigue film -- sort of the way Judd Apatow stole all the credit for Superbad from Greg Mottola. It doesn't sound like the Wachowskis will have a hand in this one, which might let the talented McTeigue spread his wings a bit. V showed fantastic promise; smart filmmakers who strive to make great genre films are hard to come by.
What we need is another good alien invasion TV show. Shame that no one wanted to watch the last one...
Rick Yune Joins The Wachowskis' 'Ninja Assassin'
Filed under: Action », Casting », Warner Brothers »
Can it be? Is Hollywood finally making a big-budget film about martial arts and casting honest to goodness Asian actors? Well wonders never cease because the Wachowskis seem to be making all the right casting decisions for their top secret action flick, Ninja Assassin. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Rick Yune (Die Another Day) has joined the martial arts thriller, and he'll star alongside Naomi Harris and Korean pop star Rain).The news first broke on the martial arts flick when a casting notice appeared for the film that had some similarities to the much-beloved anime, Ninja Scroll. So far, all we know about Ninja Assassin is that it will revolve around an orphanage that operates as a 'ninja factory'. When one of their star pupils (Rain) decides to leave the old world behind, he is put into conflict with the other ninjas who have stayed a little closer to their 'roots'.
Considering how most of the details were being kept under wraps, it was a bit of a surprise to see Yune giving up info on his character. He told THR, "Not to give too much away, (but) my character stays within what he was brought up with, and they go up against each other, I'm not a heavy. The characters are ninjas, they are assassins, and there's this mix of morality the Wachowskis are exploring." Ninja Assassin re-unites the brothers with V for Vendetta director James McTeigue in a Joel Silver production and filming has just begun. McTeigue is expected to be on location in Berlin until at least June, and Ninja Assassin is scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2010.
Collin Chou is a 'Ninja Assassin'
Filed under: Action », Casting », Warner Brothers »
It's funny because I always thought that Collin Chou's (The Forbidden Kingdom) role as Seraph in The Matrix sequels was a teeny bit of a waste. I mean, he really didn't get to do all that much. But it looks like the Wachowski's are correcting that mistake and finally giving Chou a starring role. Sci Fi Wire recently spoke with Chou and confirmed that he will star in the Wachowski's new action flick, Ninja Assassin. So far the only other casting announcement for the film was the addition of the Korean pop star, Rain. James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) is expected to direct with the Wachowski's on board as producers.Chou didn't have much information about the story or his role -- as most of the details about the film are being kept under lock and key. But he did tell Wire, "...this is a part that is built around me, they have wanted to have me in a larger part, and I was waiting and waiting for a long time for it to happen. I am one of four of the main characters in this movie. It is a great honor to be on board."
There had been some rumblings that Assassins was, in actuality, a live action remake of the classic anime Ninja Scroll. Judging from Chou's comments about the title of the film, "I don't know if that's [Ninja Assassin] the final name yet," there is a still a slim possibility that the rumors could be true. Assassin is expected to begin production this April or May, so hopefully by then we will have some clues as to what the movie will be about. At this point I would settle for an official title. Ninja Assassin is expected to arrive in theaters in 2009.
Is The Wachowskis' 'Ninja Assassin' Really 'Ninja Scroll' in Disguise?
Filed under: Action », Animation », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Casting », Warner Brothers », RumorMonger », Scripts »
So there's a little mystery starting to brew on the net surrounding the Wachowskis' action flick, Ninja Assassin. Over at kungfurodeo.com, there are reports that a new casting call for the flick is proof that the brothers are actually making a live-action version of the classic anime, Ninja Scroll. For those fans of Scroll out there, maybe you can tell me if the characters on the casting sheet over at Freebase Media look a little familiar. The story of Ninja Scroll is set in feudal Japan. A ninja-for-hire is forced into fighting an old nemesis that has set his sights on toppling the Japanese government. Complicating matters is a group of super-demons under the bad guys control. So far, not much is known about the plot of Ninja Assassin, but all we do know is that Korean pop star Rain has scored a part in the James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) directed flick.
_thumbnail.jpg)
'New Moon' Smashes 'Dark Knight's' Opening Day Record!
Black Friday Movie Deals: Best Buy
Sex and Nudity Don't Draw You to the Movies?
What Makes a Real Vampire?
Robert Downey Jr. Wants to Retire?
_thumbnail.jpg)
