This Tuesday Paramount Pictures announced that actor Tom Cruise will star in the next installment of the Mission: Impossible series. J.J. Abrams returns as well, this time as producer not director. Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec are penning the script that’s based on a story arc formulated by Cruise and Abrams. Mission: Impossible IV is due out in theatres Memorial Day weekend in 2011.
[Via The Canadian Press]
In Korea, 3D just doesn’t cut it. By adding an extra dimension to the epic Avatar 4D movieplexes “use more than 30 effects during the 3D film’s 162 minute run, including moving seats, smells of explosives, sprinkling water, laser lights and wind.” If you’ve experienced Shrek 4D at Disney then you probably have an idea of what Avatar in 4D would be like. In fact, Tom Oh of 20th Century Fox Korea refers to Avatar in 4D as a “ride” and calls the Korean 4D plex “the first in the world that fully offers five-sense experiences with a movie title.” Avatar in IMAX 3D was definitely enough of a trip for me. I feel like the addition of moving seats and shots of water to the face would just distract me (not further immerse me) from Pandora and its spectacular inhabitants. What say you?
[Via Variety]
This year’s Oscar nominations are in! Let’s have a look see…
Best Picture: Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air
A bunch of these films deserve the win. However, there can be only one, and my prediction lies with The Hurt Locker.
Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Lee Daniels, Precious
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
As much as I want Quentin Tarantino to take this category for Basterds, I have a feeling James Cameron will reign once again.
Best Actor
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
You know who deserves a big win here? Jeremy Renner. And he will get it.
Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Christoph Waltz. Period.
Look after the break for all nominations and more predictions. The 82nd Academy Awards, hosted by Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, airs March 7 at 8PM on ABC. Continue reading Oscar nods are announced; ‘Avatar’ and ‘The Hurt Locker’ 9 nods each
Our favorite robot Asimo stars in a Honda short-film documentary called “Living with Robots.” The docu “investigates humankind’s keen interest in robots and how robots can challenge the impossible by saving lives while also holding the promise to become more integrated and helpful in daily life.” In case you never heard of Honda’s ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), he’s “the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, and the company’s commitment to researching and developing bipedal mobility and how the research improves technologies across the company.” You can take a peek at the trailer for it above. If it pings your interest, the full length film was shown at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and will hopefully find its way to DVD and Blu Ray soon. Full PR after the break.
Isn’t that final sequence chilling, when Asimo looks at himself in the mirror? He very naturally tilts his head inquisitively, as if he were human. Help me realize our future: will robots take over the world (ie. iRobot) or will they develop to help maintain and better our lives?
[Via Engadget]
Continue reading Asimo stars in “Living with Robots” documentary
Few people in their lives strike gold twice. James Cameron is one of those people. After setting the box office record for highest grossing movie in 1997 with Titanic, Cameron did it again with Avatar this year. Although final figures will not be reported until Tuesday, rough estimates have been compiled. Having made $1,858,866,889, Avatar has officially trumped Titanic ($1,843,201,268) to become the highest grossing movie worldwide. Avatar still trails Titanic domestically with $554.9 million, behind Titanic‘s $600.7 million. And don’t forget about price inflation from ’97 to present day; Avatar still needs to sell about 50 million more tickets for it to match the domestic sales of Titanic. Internationally, though, it has bested Titanic $1.30 billion to $1.24 billion.
This can mean only one thing: 3D is here to stay.
[Via LA Times; image via LAmoviedriver]
Spike Jonze (Where the Wild Things Are) just announced his latest project titled I’m Here, a 30-minute short film about robots in love. It premiered January 20 at the Sundance Film Festival. Fast Company has the scoop on the plot: “Set in a gauzy version of L.A., it’s a love story about a boy and a girl–who also happen to be robots made from what looks like cast-off computer parts from 1994. That conceit allows Jonze to create a quirky, alternate world for their romance. In one scene, for example, the boy plugs in the girl for the night–which manages to become a scene of such delicate intimacy that it makes you squirm a little.”
What’s more intriguing is the way Jonze has mingled the short film with Absolut vodka. A number of cut scenes from the short are incorporated into an Absolut commercial. “This isn’t the first time people have created branded content,” says executive producer Mark Figliulio. “But it’s never really been accepted on its own merits. That’s the grey area we’re trying to explore.” Jonze has directed commercials in the past (The Gap, Adidas, and Miller Beer). “Spike respects the medium,” says second exec producer Matt Bijarchi. “He’s one of the few people that see commercials as an art, and his ad work is every bit as discerning as his features.”
So far the short film has been been accepted into the Sundance, Berlin, and Turkey film festivals. If its popularity continues to grow at the festivals and people show interest in the Absolut commercials the film may find a home in a box set and may even play on a yet to be announced cable channel.
[Via FastCompany]
Go behind-the-scenes and learn all about the magic of Pandora in this video titled “Creating the World of Pandora.” It touches upon the secrets behind the 3D motion capture technique and other design elements of the film. It also includes interviews with director James Cameron, producer Jon Landau, Cameron’s creative crew, and actors Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and Sigourney Weaver. If you enjoyed Avatar and if you are at all curious about James Cameron’s vision this is a must-watch video. It should hold you until the Blu-Ray release drenches us in tons of extras.
[Via SciFiWire]
That’s right. The infamous MacGyver spoof sketch from Saturday Night Live is coming to the silver screen. MacGruber stars SNL’s Will Forte, Kristin Wiig, Bill Hader, and Maya Randolph along with Val Kilmer, Ryan Phillippe, Powers Boothe, and Rhys Coiro. It’s written by Will Forte, John Soloman, and Jorma Taccone. Taccone, a member of Andy Samberg’s Lonely Island crew, also directs the film. MacGruber is due out in theatres April 23, 2010. Embedded above is the red band trailer; look after the break for the standard trailer which is slightly different.
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This year’s televised Golden Globes award show was terribly boring. That said, allow me to share my excitement over some of the night’s winners. (And take a second to glance at my predictions.)
In the television categories, Glee won Best TV Comedy…and that’s about all that interested me. Fellow freshman comedy Modern Family and others like 30 Rock, The Office, and Entourage missed out on the win. In my opinion Glee or Modern Family equally deserved to win this category. Notable losses include House to Mad Men (Best TV Drama); Hugh Laurie to Michael C. Hall (Best Actor in TV Drama); Matthew Morrison and Steve Carell to Alec Baldwin (Best Actor in TV Comedy); Lea Michelle and Tina Fey to Toni Collette (Best Actress in TV Comedy); Michael Emerson, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jeremy Piven to John Lithgow (Best Supporting Actor in TV Series); Jane Lynch to Chloe Sevigny (Best Supporting Actress in TV Series).
In the film categories, UP deservedly won Best Animated Film and Best Score (props to Michael Giacchino); The Hangover surprised everyone and won Best Musical/Comedy against Nine, Julie & Julia, It’s Complicated, and 500 Days of Summer; Christoph Waltz surprised no one and took Best Supporting Actor for his memorable role in Inglourious Basterds; and Robert Downey, Jr. unexpectedly won Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy for his role as Sherlock Holmes. His acceptance speech was by far the most entertaining. I was truly blown away by the success of Avatar (or as Arnold Schwarzenegger called it, “Avadart”); it won Best Drama and James Cameron took Best Director (beating out his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) and Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds). The time and money this epic took to create paid off both financially and critically. Job well done, Cameron. Notable losses include District 9 and Inglourious Basterds to Up in the Air (Best Screenplay).
Also, we cannot forget about the coveted Cecil B. Demille Award “for lifetime achievement in motion pictures.” This year it was bestowed upon director Martin Scorsese for his excellent work in films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Good Fellas, The Departed, and the forthcoming Shutter Island. For the full list of winners click here.
Lost and Modern Family will take it next year.
Director Robert Zemeckis (A Christmas Carol (2009), The Polar Express), in collaboration with Disney, is remaking The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine feature film. In 3D. The original 1968 movie was animated and trippy and featured a soldier named Old Fred, the Blue Meanies, and of course The Beatles and their brilliant soundtrack. Zemeckis will be using 3D performance-capture technology for the remake. And the (new) Fab Four are: Cary Elwes, Dean Lennox Kelly, Peter Serafinowicz and Adam Campbell are George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr, respectively. Look after the break to compare the actors to the real fab four.
Not so sure how all this is going to turn out. But I’ll give it to the casting crew: all four selections are British and Serafinowicz was raised in Liverpool. And I love Beatles music.
[Via EW-MusicMix; TheHollywoodReporter]
Continue reading Zemeckis finds his Fab Four for ‘Yellow Submarine’ 3D remake
Fans of the J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot, get psyched! The much anticipated sequel is set to hit theatres June 29, 2012. It will likely face-off against Wolverine 2 and Marvel’s The Avengers that summer.
[Via IGN]
People, I have sad news to share with you: Spider-Man 4 is not being made. Director of the first three movies Sam Raimi and Spider-Man himself Tobey Maguire will not be involved in future Spider-Man films. I am quite disappointed.
Ramai pulled out of the blockbuster franchise “because he felt he couldn’t make its summer release date and keep the film’s creative integrity,” according to Deadline. There were disagreements between him and the studio heads. He wanted to focus on one villain while the studio wanted to incorporate numerous villians. He insisted that John Malkovich play the villain (Vulture), and the studio wanted to nab Anne Hathaway for the part. The studio wanted to shoot the film in 3D (look at the financial success from Avatar, right?!), but the Spidey 4 team did not include anyone with background knowledge of shooting in 3D. With all these issues up in the air and the script getting delayed on more than one occasion, Sony Pictures decided to scrap a fourth installment and reboot the entire franchise with a new production team and actors.
Sony has released an official statement about the matter: “The new chapter in the Spider-Man franchise produced by Columbia, Marvel Studios and Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will have a new cast and filmmaking team. Spider-Man 4 was to have been released in 2011, but had not yet gone into production.” What direction will the new film take? “Peter Parker is going back to high school when the next Spider-Man hits theaters in the summer of 2012. Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced today they are moving forward with a film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.” Hm, this could work if executed properly.
Raimi shares his thoughts: “Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job.” As does Maguire: “I am so proud of what we accomplished with the Spider-Man franchise over the last decade. Beyond the films themselves I have formed some deep and lasting friendships. I am excited to see the next chapter unfold in this incredible story.”
When I first heard news that the Spider-Man franchise was going to be rebooted I felt severely disappointed. Though the third film was not so good, we are all so invested in the characters and the building relationships and themes in the three films. I believe the franchise is strong and there’s no need to restart the story. Tobey Maguire is Spider-Man. What’s happening here is like taking Sean Connery out of a James Bond film only three movies in. (I am not comparing Maguire to Connery in any way, shape, or form; it’s the idea that counts.) With word of new a direction–going back in time to witness Peter Parker’s high school days–I feel somewhat confident that such a new story could work, only if executed successfully. If the reboot is a flop (think what happened with The Hulk, but Ang Lee’s version coming second) my disappointment will turn into sheer anger. Hopefully the studio can find the right set of actors and come up with a smart story to reignite the Spidey film series.
[Via Deadline]
