shawn ashmore Tagged Articles at Cinematical
'X-Men: First Class' Actually Happening
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Deals », Scripts », 20th Century Fox », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »
The Avengers won't be the only Marvel superteam on the big screen -- the X-Men are returning! According to Variety, 20th Century Fox is kicking X-Men: First Class into gear by hiring Josh Schwartz to pen the screenplay. Schwartz was also offered the director's chair, but he declined, leaving the job open for now. Schwartz's specialty is teen fare -- he's the man behind Gossip Girl, The OC, and Chuck. Happily, Lauren Shuler Donner will be producing, so it should stay on the right track, and not stray too far into silly teen fare.
The studio is keeping quiet on the finer points, but it's unlikely that it will revolve around the teenage versions of Cyclops & Co, as the series X-Men: First Class actually does. Instead, they'll be using the young X-wannabes introduced in the previous three films, like Iceman, Angel, Rogue, Kitty Pryde, Jubilee (if you can call her cameo an introduction), and Colossus. I'd love it if they kept it current to the comics by mixing some of the Astonishing students, like Blindfold and Armor in -- especially if Armor replaced Jubilee.
The studio is keeping quiet on the finer points, but it's unlikely that it will revolve around the teenage versions of Cyclops & Co, as the series X-Men: First Class actually does. Instead, they'll be using the young X-wannabes introduced in the previous three films, like Iceman, Angel, Rogue, Kitty Pryde, Jubilee (if you can call her cameo an introduction), and Colossus. I'd love it if they kept it current to the comics by mixing some of the Astonishing students, like Blindfold and Armor in -- especially if Armor replaced Jubilee.
Review: The Ruins
Filed under: Horror », New Releases », Theatrical Reviews », New in Theaters », Dreamworks »
The Ruins opened on Friday like most horror films, with a single, late Thursday night "promo" screening, to which the press was gamely invited in full knowledge that it would be too late for review, even for any reasonable web deadline. What's different about The Ruins is that it's not a remake or even a copy of any horror film of recent years. We're talking first-class material, adapted from a novel by Scott B. Smith, who wrote both the mesmerizing 1993 book A Simple Plan as well as Sam Raimi's masterful 1998 film of the same name. It's a terrific airplane novel, surprising and gripping, and Dreamworks could have made an outstanding film of it. But they threw it away, perhaps deliberately, hoping for some of that fast opening weekend green, and little caring about making something worthwhile or lasting (like A Simple Plan).
'X-Men 4?' Probably Not.
Filed under: RumorMonger », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »
Shawn Ashmore gave an exclusive interview to ShockTillYouDrop.com, who inevitably asked him if he would ever reprise his role of Iceman in a fourth X-Men installment.If there is to be a fourth, Ashmore hasn't heard anything about it. "Honestly, I don't know. I would love to do another film, but I think they're doing these spin-offs and origin stories, so I can't see in the near future there being an X-Men 4, but I have no idea to tell you the truth, it's really hard to say. I'm holding my breath, waiting for it to happen, but I'm not sure if it will or not."
The third installment gave him the chance to finally engage in a mutant battle, and he's dying to do more after so much build up. "I was waiting to do some of that stuff since the first movie. It was five years, six years in the making to really shoot ice and be in a battle and all that stuff."
Indies on DVD: 'Indie Sex,' 'Jimmy and Judy,' 'Solstice'
Filed under: Documentary », Horror », Independent », Thrillers », New on DVD », Home Entertainment », Remakes and Sequels », Cinematical Indie »
The Christmas Day indie releases were sparse, but the schedule for New Year's Day looks positively barren. Still, I have a couple of recommendationsIndie Sex is a four-part series that was created for the Independent Film Channel, which is where I first caught it. The interview subjects include a good range of well-known indie directors (John Waters, Atom Egoyan, Catherine Breillat) and actors (Rosanna Arquette, Peter Sarsgaard, Ally Sheedy). Filmmakers Lisa Ades and Lesli Klainberg examine each of their topics ("Censored," "Taboos," "Teens," "Extremes") with respect and cover all the bases. It's both a good primer and a reminder of the industry immaturity that still tends to rule the day. The two-disk DVD includes all four episodes.
Jimmy and Judy features Edward Furlong and Rachael Bella as two kids on the run who film their own bloody -- and sometimes naked -- exploits. Jeffrey M. Anderson didn't think there was much new in the film, despite that gimmick; Eric D. Snider felt it might be worth watching out of curiosity "and for Furlong's compelling performance, and that's about it." Mmm, decisions, decisions ... The DVD includes an audio commentary with the filmmakers, deleted and extended scenes, and two trailers.
I'm both intrigued by and wary of Solstice, which went into production in 2006 but is just now getting released direct to DVD. Daniel Myrick (The Blair Witch Project) remade the Danish/Swedish thriller Midsommer with an attractive cast (Elisabeth Harnois, Shawn Ashmore, Tyler Hoechlin, Amanda Seyfried), plus the great R. Lee Ermey. But it's another PG-13 "horror" film, not to mention the long delay in getting released, so it's got huge question marks plastered all over it. Proceed with caution.
Jena Malone and Shawn Ashmore Join 'The Ruins'
Filed under: Thrillers », Casting »
Since February, I've been keeping you up-to-date on The Ruins, the latest adaptation by Scott B. Smith, the guy who wrote the novel and Oscar-nominated screenplay to A Simple Plan. Bugcrush man Carter Smith had signed on to direct, and last month, Black Donnelly star Jonathan Tucker was cast as Jeff. Now we've got the rest of the lovebird couples who stupidly think it's a good idea to follow a stranger into the jungle to find his missing brother. It's got all those thrilling aspects in place -- well meaning but stupid people, and a remote, nature location.With principal photography beginning at the end of the month in Queensland, we've got the rest of the vacationing couples. Unfortunately, there's no word on who plays who, so you can pair the actors up for now as you see fit, and then see if you're right. There's Laura Ramsey, from Lords of Dogtown and The Covenant. Next comes Jena Malone, the Kevin Kline-kissing, Saved! pregnant Christian girl. Finally, there's none other than Shawn Ashmore, Mr. Iceman himself. It's not a bad cast -- an interesting collection of supporting actors -- although I prefer Malone much more when she's in a good comedy than in a serious piece. Then again, this is a deadly jungle thriller, so I'd say they're all up to the task. Are they enough to make you want to take a trip to The Ruins?
X-Men 4 -- Whose Side are YOU on?
Filed under: Action », RumorMonger », Fandom », Scripts », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »
This whole "will there be a fourth X-Men movie" is turning into a game. Someone really should collect all the quotes coming from everyone involved and stack them up against each other just to see who contradicts who. It can be like Civil War ... "whose side are you on?" A handful of prominent X-actors, including Patrick Stewart, are fully convinced another sequel will happen. Recent talk by Marvel bigwigs would seem to give weight to their argument, although nothing resembling a real plan has been discussed. A larger handful of prominent X-actors are fully convinced the series is finished, and talk from director Brett Ratner seems to give weight to the argument. And now, another mutant actor shares his thoughts on sequel possibilities.So, Iceman, whose side are you on? Shawn Ashmore, the man who is Iceman, says "there are rumors about an X-Men 4 but as far as I've been told X3 was going to be the last big ensemble X-Men movie. I would love if they made another one, but I'm not sure that they will." He is under contract for another film, though, just in case. Ashmore also addressed the "new mutants" rumors, saying he's heard of the idea, but only from the internet. As far as he knows, nobody official or important has talked about it.
If this franchise dies down, and the Spider-Man franchise finishes up after a third film, what do you suppose is the future of Marvel movies? They are gearing up for a big Avengers flick, but can they continue to carry box office momentum until 2009 or 2010 without their big bread winners?
Jeremy Renner Wants To Be An Avenger
Directors We Love: Jim Jarmusch
Indie Roundup: 'Sweetgrass,' 'Clarkworld,' 'Broken Embraces'
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Watch: Famous 'Matrix' Scene Re-Created with LEGOs
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