Could this low-budget film, made in 2007 and finally being released now be this decade’s Blair Witch Project? Ooh yeah. Read all about it here, and watch the trailer below. The film’s writer/director Oren Peli has a new film, called Area 51 being released next year. Unsurprisingly Area 51 is up 566% in popularity this week at imdb.
The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus Trailer
Opening this weeks is the latest sumptious film from director Terry Gilliam (Brazil, 12 Monkeys). It’s also Heath Ledger’s last. Looks grand.
Toy Story 3 Trailer
Below is the official trailer for Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3. It opens on June 18 next year. The original innovative film opened 14 years ago. Yes, it’s OK to feel old.
Solomon Kane And Vampire Assistant
Below are two trailers. Solomon Kane is based on the character cerated by Conan’s creator, novelist Robert E. Howard. It stars Rome’s James Purefoy as the titular puritan hero who goes about killing evil in whatever form he finds it. Apparently it opens sometime soon.
Directed by Paul Weitz (American Pie, About A Boy) The Vampire’s Assistant is based on the popular novels by Darren Shan. It opens on October 23.
Robert Venditti Is Everywhere
Not surprisingly, Robert Venditti is a popular guy these days. The film based on the writer’s first work, Surrogates is out now starring Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames. The Surrogates is a great book from Top Shelf, and the prequel, Flesh and Bone was also released recently. The Surroagtes’ future tale tells of a world where everyone lives vicariously through robotic avatars, and daily face to face interactions with actual people are rare. Yes, it explores some deep themes but in a mature, cop tale way. Venditti’s tale itself is an interesting one. You can read all about his rise from non-comics reader to mailroom worker to Hollywood visitor in these interviews with Broken Frontier, CBR and Newsarama. At the latter you can also read the first full issue of the series by Venditti and artist Brett Weldele for free.
Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut Out November 3
I really enjoyed Watchmen. I saw it once at the cinema, twice on DVD, and also liked the Motion Comic and Tales of the Black Freighter. Now the whole mammoth experience is coming together in the ultimate edition. All the details below.
The limited quantity multi-disc set includes a whole new movie: Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut, which weaves Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter into Zack Snyder’s Director’s Cut.
Be the first to own the must-have collectible for Watchmen fans when Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on November 3 from Warner Home Video. From director Zack Snyder, this new and complete version of the action-packed blockbuster weaves Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter, the animated story-within-a-story into the Director’s Cut of the film, creating a true ultimate version of the critically acclaimed story.
Available in a limited quantity of 70,000, Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut also features new commentary by Dave Gibbons and Zack Snyder along with almost 3 hours of extras, including Hollis Mason’s animated tell-all, Under the Hood. Also included is Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic. Overseen by “Watchmen” illustrator Dave Gibbons and produced by Snyder, Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic contains all 12 chapters of “Watchmen,” the most celebrated graphic novel of all time, adding motion, voice and sound to the book’s strikingly drawn panels, spanning everything from the mysterious demise of the Comedian to the crisscrossed destinies of loosely allied superheroes to their fateful impact on the world.
From Director, Zack Snyder (300, Dawn of the Dead) Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut stars Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children, Semi-Pro), Malin Akerman (27 Dresses, The Heartbreak Kid), Billy Crudup (Mission Impossible III, Almost Famous), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (TV’s Grey’s Anatomy, Supernatural), Patrick Wilson (Lakeview Terrace, Little Children), and Carla Gugino (Race to Witch Mountain, Night at the Museum).
SYNOPSIS
Someone’s killing our super heroes. The year is 1985 and super heroes have banded together to respond to the murder of one of their own. They soon uncover a sinister plot that puts all of humanity in grave danger. The super heroes fight to stop the impending doom only to find themselves a target for annihilation. But, if our super heroes are gone, who will save us?
Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut will be available on Blu-ray (4 discs) for $59.99, and DVD (5 discs) for $43.87.
BLU-RAY and DVD ELEMENTS
· Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut film
· Audio Commentary with Zack Snyder and Dave Gibbons
· The Phenomenon: The Comic that Changed Comics (RT: 28:50) – Learn how the subversive, thematically complex, award winning comic that changed literature, inspired analytical debate, and won countless fans, was created.
· Real Super Heroes, Real Vigilantes (RT: 27:28) – Explores the fascination and psychology behind real-world vigilantes and where that behavior crosses over into actually donning the hood and behaving as superheroes.
· Mechanics: Technologies of a Fantastic World (RT: 16:46) – The creators of Watchmen had a great understanding of engineering and science, allowing for plausible mechanics in their characters tools and the world itself. This featurette will guide the viewer through the filmmakers process of turning these technologies into cinematic reality.
· Watchmen: Video Journals
· My Chemical Romance video Desolation Row (RT: 3:16)
· Under The Hood (RT: 36:00) – A retrospective look on the biography by Hollis Mason – the original Nite Owl – and the world of those who stood for hooded justice.
· Story Within A Story: The Books of Watchmen (RT: 26:00) – Weave through the nuanced layers of detail to see how a comic-within-a comic acts as parallel commentary to the acclaimed work of Literature, Watchmen.
· Digital Copy of the Theatrical Version
· Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comics
BASICS
PRODUCT SRP
4-Disc Blu-ray set $ 59.99
5-disc DVD set $ 43.87
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Clips
The next DC Universe animated film is Superman/Batman: Public Enemies and it arrives on September 29. Below are two clips; one involving Supes meeting President Lex Luthor and fighting Metallo and another involving the titular superheroes fighting Major Force and Captain Atom. I’m excited about this film and it looks good.
The International Anatomie Man
Time for a few quick movie reviews.
Man On Wire – I first heard about this engaging doco when it came out last year and then saw a few intriguing minutes at a Borders store. The documentary has a simple premise. It chronicles a Frenchman’s desire to walk between the Twin Towers in New York. Of course, a feat of that magnitude could never be achieved on any skyscraper these days. I suppose those extreme athletes who scale walls and jump off high-rises in parachutes would be close, but Phillipe Petit’s daring 1974 45 minute high wire act had a charmingly low-tech approach. With interviews with the man himself and his network of friends, it feels like another Ocean’s 11 installment. There’s no mention of the 9/11 attack as the film makers wanted the sense of magic to remain intact. The detailed research and impressive re-enactments really give the film a suspense and tension straight out of a Hitchcock film. With each new revelation you’ll be wondering just how Petit and his crew got away with it. You’ll be shaking your head at disbelief throughout the whole film, which I guess is what magic does.
The International – Starring Clive Owen (you can really see why he was a James Bond contender) and Aussie Naomi Watts this film is directed by Tom Twyker. The critics have been raving about it, but really it’s not an all out action thriller at all. The only time it comes remotely to such is the great set piece set in the Guggenheim Museum in New York. After far too many scenes (ie, pretty much all of them) involving people talking about the evil bank that funds international terrorism I lost interest. It’s smart and looks high-class and I applaud the unique approach that makes it more of a talky thriller than a gunfight-centred film, but it just needed a better balance. Twyker also directed the great German film Run Lola Run and the not so great Princess and The Warrior. Hiis next film is based on the time-spanning novel, Cloud Atlas.
Anatomie – This 2000 German film is a winner. With a plot like a Michael Crichton novel, it’s a classy thriller. It stars Run Lola Run’s Franka Potente as a young med student who goes to the renowned Heidleberg Medical School and soon discovers a secret society of students and teachers known as the Antihippocratic Society. To say much more would be to ruin it, but it’s no surprise that this was a hit in its country of origin. Supremely paced and never overly grisly, it’s edge of your seat stuff. Director Stefan Ruzowitzky also directed the sequel, which has Potente appear in a pointless cameo. It stars a different group of students, and school and a group who this time are experimenting with high-tech muscle replacements. It’s more action and less thriller than the original, but is still worth a look. You’ve probably figured out that Anatomie is German for anatomy by now. If you don’t mind subtitles, and you shouldn’t, check these two films out.
Legion Trailer
I saw this huge poster at Comic-Con and now I’ve just seen the trailer. Taking Paul Bettany as an action hero is asking a bit much, especially when you make him an angel and give him guns. The premise of the story is that God has given up on humanity and the archangel Michael, played by Bettany stands between us and the apocalypse. There’s also something about a small town waitress who just might be pregnant with the baby Jesus. Oh boy. There’s so many things wrong with that sentence, and it looks to take itself far too seriously. For my money, the low budget Aussie flick Gabriel explored similar themes with a greater visual style and meaning. Legion opens January 22.
MODOK’s Best Of
Marvel have some of the stupidest super villains ever, and they know it, and sometimes embrace it. In the latest episode of the new Marvel Super Heroes “live action” web series, baddie MODOK reveals his entertaining past. His name is an acronym for Mobile Organism Designed Only For Killing and is a huge head in a floating chair. What’s not to love? Here’s the official skinny and some pics that would make nifty screen savers.
Marvel.com Premieres “Marvel Super Heroes: What The–?!” Episode 5
It’s a very special episode of Marvel Super Heroes: What The–?! as we look back at the man, the myth, the giant head: M.O.D.O.K. From his timeless black and white debut to his hilarious game show appearances and star turn as a 70s action hero, we remember M.O.D.O.K.’s most memorable moments! Check it out here.
What, you’ve never heard of any of this stuff? Well then you better watch this one!
Captain America, Deadpool, the Punisher and many more guest star in this brand new Marvel.com video presentation of “Marvel Super Heroes: What The–?!” Plus, hear the vocal talents of X MEN NOIR artist extraordinaire Dennis Calero—as the Leader!
Watch “M.O.D.O.K.’s M.O.M.E.N.T.S.” now.
Superman, Batman And Speedy
If you’ve seen the excellent Green Lantern: First Flight animated film, you’ve already seen this, but now the Superman/Batman: Public Enemies site has been updated with this First Look at the team-up movie. Based on the first few issues of the Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness series, with Lex Luthor as President and more guest stars than a season’s worth of Justice League Unlimited, this is going to be one awesome movie. Check out the almost 8 minute sneak peek below, with interviews from the cast and lots of perty pics from the comics and the film, which is released on September 29.
And still on DC-related news, the upcoming season 9 of Smallville not only has Zod, Metallo and a Geoff Johns-penned JSA episode, it also will introduce Green Arrow’s sidekick Speedy. Not the Roy Harper version who grows up to become Red Arrow, but rather the Kevin Smith and Phil Hester created HIV-positive female teen, Mia Dearden. Green Arrow in Smallville is already quite young, but I guess you’re never young enough to have a younger apprentice.
Avatar Trailer
The trailer for Avatar, James Cameron’s new film permiered on Apple.com last week and was viewed a record-breaking 4 million hits on its first day. I missed the panel at Comic-Con last month, but I did see the action figures and to scale loader contraption from the film, which looked very similar to the one from Aliens, also written and directed by Cameron. Avatar, not to be confused with the live action Last Airbender film, is released on December 18. The sci-fi film stars Aussie Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana (Uhura in the latest Star Trek) and Sigourney Weaver. Filmed in 3-D and using brand new technology developed just for the film, it looks like a spectacle. The trailer reminds me of the teaser from The Phantom Menace a decade ago – lots of pretty shots with no meaning, no clues as to the story and no real dialogue. I’ll definitely be watching this one on the big screen.
G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra Review
Thanks to the success of Transformers on the big screen, the other Hasbro property has been adapted, and Gen Xers everywhere will roll their eyes. I can’t really say much about this film and honestly, it’s not worth an in-depth analysis. I wanted a film to switch my brain off and that’s exactly what I got. Directed by Stephen Sommers (The Mummy films) and starring a variety of actors who most will know by face if not name it’s got the unoriginal choppy editing and unoriginal music score of today’s blockbusters. Dennis Quaid and Brendan Fraser show up, but don’t do much at all. It’s predictable and for those like me who remember the variety of characters from the comics and cartoons, you’ll instead be let down with a bunch of people in the same black leather costumes, because apparently that’s what every well-loved property needs to be hip according to film studios.
The special effects are good apart from a few dodgy CGI vehicles and the two Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow clashes work well. Ray Park as Snake Eyes, the beloved mute ninja, does just what he did as Darth Maul – swing double edged blades and flip.
The dialogue is corny, and throwing in “kung-fu grip,” “Yo Joe!” and “real American hero,” does not help. Oh, and the film had more unintentional laughs than I’ve ever experienced in a film. I can see why they didn’t screen this first for the critics.
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