Johnny Knoxville and Parker Posey are attached to star in John Waters’ Christmas children’s film “Fruitcake.”
The plot is officially under wraps but is said to center on the title character, a boy named after his favorite dessert. He runs away from home during the holidays after he and his parents are caught shoplifting meat, then he meets up with a runaway girl who is raised by two gay men and then the pair start searching for her birth mother.
This Is That Prods. and Killer Films are producing “Fruitcake,” which once was set up at New Line. ThinkFilm is said to be in talks to come aboard.
John Waters is my favorite director and if anyone can pull off a warm hearted and quirky family film, he can. After all, his major hit “Hairspray” is ratd PG and it is a true family classic with all of Waters signature gross out moments and campy style to boot! I cannot wait to see “Fruitcake” in theaters this holiday season!
Sir Ian McKellen is to return to the Shire after accepting the role of Gandalf in the next instalment of JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth fantasy. The 68-year-old star played the part in the hugely successful Lord of the Rings trilogy directed by Peter Jackson and yesterday told Empire magazine that he would return as the all-powerful wizard in a two-film adaptation due to be filmed in New Zealand. “Yes, it’s true,” said McKellen. “Obviously, it’s not a part that you turn down; I loved playing Gandalf.”
Movie geeks, film fans and fantasy freaks are rejoicing across the world as we speak!
“The X-Files: I Want to Believe” is the second movie based on the the popular cult TV series, after the original 1998 film hit adaptation, “The X-Files: Fight the Future”.
The sequel is being directed by the television show’s creator Chris Carter and is also written by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz. “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” is due to be released July 25th, 2008.
The movie will not deal with aliens or the intricate mythology about interaction between humans and extraterrestrials that the show built up over the years, creator Carter said to CNN. Instead, it casts Mulder and Scully into a stand-alone, earth-bound story aimed at both serious “X-Files” fans and newcomers.
A BIT OF TRIVIA:
The title is a familiar phrase for fans of the series that starred David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI agents chasing after aliens and supernatural happenings. “I Want to Believe” was the slogan on a poster Duchovny’s UFO-obsessed agent Fox Mulder had hanging in the cluttered basement office where he and Anderson’s Dana Scully worked.
Variety is reporting that Dimension Films, the Weinstein Co.’s genre division led by brother Bob, has commissioned the original screenwriters of 1986’s cheesy yet cute “Short Circuit” to work on a remake project about the loveable military robot who gets turned into a peace-lover after getting hit by lightning.
I was a kid when this film came out so I actually have a soft spot in my heart for the main character Johnny #5, Alley Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg. I will even admit to seeing the awful sequel, cleverly titled “Short Circuit 2″, in the theater.
If Pixar’s “Wall-E” is as big of a hit as I think it will be this summer then a robot craze is sure to follow. With the huge flux of remakes being made in Hollywood a “Batteries Not Included” re-do must be right around the corner.
It was announced today that Elizabeth Banks is in final negotiations to portray Laura Bush in “W,” Oliver Stone’s biopic on the life and presidency of George W. Bush. Josh Brolin already is on board to play Bush in the biopic, which begins shooting in late April in Shreveport, La.
Stone wrote the screenplay for “W” with his “Wall Street” co-writer Stanley Weiser. Moritz Borman, who worked with Stone on “World Trade Center” and “Alexander” is producing the movie with Stone. I loathed “Trade Center” and the ugly train wreck “Alexander”. But I love “JFK” and I kind of liked “Natural Born Killers”.
GEORGE W. BUSH
In January, Oliver Stone spoke about the project to Daily Variety:
“It’s a behind-the-scenes approach, similar to ‘Nixon,’ to give a sense of what it’s like to be in his skin,” he told the trade publication. “But if ‘Nixon’ was a symphony, this is more like a chamber piece and not as dark in tone.”
This film could be a mess or a scathing portrait of the worst President in this nation’s history. One can only imagine how Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld will be portrayed. I guess we’ll have to wait and see, no release date has been announced for “W” yet.
As a child “Horton Hears A Who” was my favorite Dr. Seuss book. Up until now though I have despised both of the big screen adaptations of his other works like “The Grinch” and “The Cat In The Hat” (starring Jim Carrey and Mike Meyers respectively). I was beyond delighted when I was finished watching this brilliant, loyal adaptation of Seuss’ beloved story of an elephant and a “speck”. This movie has all the magic and warmth that the other Seuss movies lacked in abundance.
The animation in “Horton” was done by the same creative folks who gave us the “Ice Age” films. The fresh and true to heart adapted screenplay doesn’t dumb down the fun stuff for adults due to it’s “G” rating and it also doesn’t go for the obvious site gag or fart joke to make the kids laugh. There is a harmonious blend of action, laughs and tender moments in this film to entertain every member of the family.
I also loved the new details added in the story like Mayor Who’s goth son who wears only grey and black fur and doesn’t speak. His addition to the story is an inspired update to a classic tale. Jim Carrey doesn’t go too over the top with his vocal work as Horto. You can tell he has restrained his “Ace Ventura” type adlibs to make Horton more gentle. Steve Carrell also does a sweet and hilarious job as The Mayor of Who-ville without indulging in wacky vocal theatrics too much either. Kudos also have to be given to Carol Burnett as the mean “Kangaroo.”
I was very impressed by the faithful adaptation and the bright cheerful look of this film as well as the positive lesson. The underlined message of tolerance booms across loud and clear and is a great lesson for kids to learn. The action and humor in this cartoon made the time in the theater go by and left me longer for a bit more. As a cartoon lover I am very glad that someone got Dr. Seuss right and that they made it such an honest and sincere film for every one of all ages to enjoy.
WATCH THE “HORTON HEARS A WHO” MOVIE TRAILER BELOW:
DreamWorks is busy working on building a buzz for its next animated offering, “Monsters vs. Aliens.” The studio unveiled a still from the 3-D feature animated feature at this year’s SXSW Festival and announced the names of the stars lending their voices to its characters in a press release earlier this week. The “monstrously talented lineup” behind the Rob Letterman-directed feature, debuting March 27, 2009, includes:
Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line, Rendition) as Susan Murphy, a.k.a. Ginormica; Golden Globe winner Hugh Laurie (TV’s “House,” Stuart Little) as Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.; Will Arnett (TV’s “Arrested Development,” Blades of Glory) as The Missing Link; Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, Superbad) as B.O.B.; Rainn Wilson (Juno, TV’s “The Office”) as Gallaxhar; Emmy winner Stephen Colbert (TV’s “The Colbert Report,” Bewitched) as The President of the United States; Golden Globe winner Kiefer Sutherland (TV’s “24,” Phone Booth) as General W.R. Monger; and Paul Rudd (Knocked Up, Night at the Museum) as Susan’s boyfriend, Derek.
I am already in love with the premise of this cartoon based on the vocal talent above and the animated still from the movie below. I am a huge cartoon fan and I love the Renaissance of animation coming from computer animation studios run by Fox, Disney and Paramount. Looks like we will have to wait a little while for a trailer! I hope this little morsel peaks your curiosity like it did mine.
The studio’s announcement heralds the arrival of Ultimate 3-D, DreamWorks’ “proprietary production process of authoring its animated films in 3-D from start to finish.” All this technical wizardry will be employed in service of the following plot:
When California girl Susan Murphy is unexpectedly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall and is instantly labeled a “monster” named Ginormica. The military jumps into action, and she is captured and held in a secret government compound.
The world learns that the military has been quietly rounding up other monsters over the years. This ragtag group consists of the brilliant but insect-headed Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.; the macho half-ape, half-fish The Missing Link; the gelatinous and indestructible B.O.B.; and the 350-foot grub called Insectosaurus. Their confinement time is cut short however, when a mysterious alien robot lands on Earth and begins storming the country.
As a last resort, under the guidance of General W.R. Monger (on a desperate order from The President), the motley crew of Monsters is called into action to combat the aliens and save the world from imminent destruction.
“The Happening” is a paranoid thriller written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan about a family on the run from a natural crisis that presents a large-scale threat to humanity. The film stars Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel as an estranged couple as well as John Leguizamo in a supporting role. “The Happening” will be released on Friday June 13th, 2008 as requested by Shyamalan himself.
“The Happening” will mark Shyamalan’s first R-rated effort on the big screen. With a perfect cast and a bit more artistic freedom with an R-rating this film could end up being really spooky and suspenseful. There has been no word on whether or not this movie will have Shyamalan’s trademark “twist ending.”
DIRECTOR M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN
Shyamalan hasn’t had a solid hit since 2002’s “Signs”. 2004’s “The Village” was given a beating by critics and movie fans but was considered a mild box office success and “Lady in the Water” tanked on opening weekend. I personally loved the adult fairy tale “Lady in the Water” and felt it didn’t deserve the bad reviews it received.
I have deep appreciation for the production values and unique feel that only M. Night can bring to his films. I think “The Happening” will be a strong return for Shyamalan, even with an R-rating. Screw all of you Shyamalan haters out there, his movies are fantastic! It’s all about the discovery of the twists, and I know there’s going to be something huge in this.
News came out this week that Universal recently got Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass to agree to return for a fourth “Bourne” movie. With the “Bourne” movies proving to be huge hits, and their popularity only increasing with each new release, it only makes sense to make another film.
Even though the films were made to be a trilogy it turns out that the “Bourne” series did indeed continue in novel form after Ludlum’s 3 original books (the new “Bourne” books are written by Eric van Lustbader, not Ludlum, who died in 2001), starting in 2004, which coincidentally was the year “Supremacy” was such a hit. So, I guess, they can base the 4th and 5th movies on van Lustbader’s books.
However they spin it, this is good news for fans of the “Bourne” franchise. All three of the “Bourne” movies have been critically acclaimed and huge box office successes. If Greengrass is able to keep the series cohesive and true to the character then we will be treated to another thrilling and smart adult action film with brains, thank god!
Toy Story 3 is a computer-animated 3-D film being produced by Pixar Animation Studios, slated for release on June 18, 2010. It is a sequel to the hugely successful Pixar films “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2.” If this film is as inventive and huge as the first two “Toy Story” films then we can expect another marketing bonanza!
Lee Unkrich, who edited the previous films, and co-directed the second, took over from the original director, John Lasseter. However, Lasseter remains as producer. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen and a majority of the original character voices have been confirmed to return to the cast.
The “Toy Story 3″ plot (leaked by The Wall Street Journal) centers on Woody the cowboy and his toy-box friends who are dumped in a day-care center after their owner, Andy, leaves for college. I think this brilliant storyline is ripe with all kinds of Woody and Buzz antics. This movie has been in development hell for over 10 years. Thank god Disney and Pixar kissed and made up!
New Line Cinema has decided to partner with Michael Bay’s movie studio Platinum Dunes for a Robert Englund-free reboot of “A Nightmare on Elm Street”. Up until now Robert Englund has played the horror film icon Freddie Krueger in 9 “Nightmare” films including “Freddy vs. Jason” with “Friday the 13th” bad ass Jason Voorhees.
When Robert Englund recently sat down for an interview with Bloody-Disgusting.com he could have just offered an awkward “no comment,” or a few non-specific words of encouragement, but instead, he gave readers an actual quote — read on:
All I know is that Michael Bay made an announcement that he is producing the remake of the original. I don’t know if it has Wes Craven’s blessing, I presume it does…Because the nature of the story and the stylized surrealism, the dreamscape that unfolds, if any of these movies are need of a remake with the use of new technologies it would seem that ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ is one of them…I don’t think it would hurt it because it’s such a great story and strong classical myth…I just hope they have Wes’ blessing and that trust his story. But they could certainly have fun with the dream sequences and, of course, re-interpreting Freddy.
I wouldn’t mind playing a cameo; it would be interesting to see if I could play the dream psychiatrist, I have heard that there is an interesting script regarding a prequel to the original going around. But let’s face it — I’m not a kid anymore…I could probably don the makeup, but they would certainly need a stunt double for the action stuff. I’m only good for about one take; then I get kind of sore
I am glad to see that Mr. Englund has no bad feelings in regards to not being offered the role of Krueger.
Michael Bay also produced and raked in the big bucks with recent remakes of “The Hills Have Eyes” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” so this is sure to be a hit. Both of those films helped to reboot the horror film genre a few years ago. Unfortunately for every good remake like “The Hills Have Eyes” we get a crappy sequel like “The Hills Have Eyes 2″.
As a horror movie fan I am extremely excited for the news of a “Nightmare on Elm Street” remake. I just hope that the filmmakers do not make the same mistakes that Rob Zombie did with his 2007 “Halloween” remake. If time has told us anything it is that remakes usually do not work. I for one hope that “Elm Street” will kick this curse and really be a great slasher film like the original was.
Now that Peter Jackson has kissed and made up with the studios, New Line and MGM are in talks with Guillermo del Toro to direct two, simultaneously shot installments of “The Hobbit”!
Jackson was originally interested in adapting “The Hobbit”, but a very loud, very public squabble over profits between Jackson and New Line Studios for “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy put the kibosh on that project. The two parties reconciled their differences last December and Jackson, busy with “The Lovely Bones” and “Tintin”, joined “The Hobbit” as executive producer with creative control.
DIRECTOR GUILLERMO DEL TORO
And now del Toro is in talks to direct the back-to-back Hobbit movies, each budgeted at $150 million (substantially higher than any of “The Lord of the Rings” movies). Filming will begin in 2009, with release dates currently set for 2010 and 2011. Currently, del Toro is putting the final touches on “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”.
Fans of the critically hailed Fox comedy series “Arrested Development” will be pleased to hear that a film spinoff is in the works. E! Online has helped break the news, obtaining confirmation from Jason Bateman that the show’s producers, Mitch Hurwitz and Ron Howard, “have put the wheels in motion” for an “Arrested Development” feature film. Jason Bateman’s words are encouraging:
“I can confirm that a round of sniffing has started. Any talk is targeting a poststrike situation, of course. I think, as always, that it’s a question of whether the people with the money are willing to give our leader, Mitch Hurwitz, what he deserves for his participation. And I can speak for the cast when I say our fingers are crossed.”
E! also reports that Bateman’s fellow Development star, Jeffrey Tambor, was recently asked about his willingness to participate in a feature film adaptation and he was nothing but smiles when asked by E! online. According to the E! report, Hurwitz doesn’t have a script written for the movie, but does have “a good, solid understanding of what he’d like to do for the movie, and Universal is very much interested”.
I am a huge fan of Arrested Development” and look forward to owning the complete series on DVD very soon, the material holds up well. I think the Bluth clan are the most hilarious dysfunctional family ever filmed on telelvision. I cannot wait to see what they have in store for the big screen.
Heath Ledger, who was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the critically-acclaimed movie Brokeback Mountain, has died! The Australian born actor was just 28. This is not only surprising, but very sad, Heath was a remarkable actor.
He was found dead at 3:26 p.m. in his downtown Manhattan residence, an NYPD spokesperson says. He was apparently scheduled to have a massage in his apartment this afternoon. Sources say the death may be drug-related and that there were pills scattered around the room.
Ledger had recently separated from his wife, actress Michelle Williams. The couple have one daughter, Matilda. He is appearing in the next installment of the “Batman” movie opposite Christian Bale as the infamous “Joker” and was in the midst of filming “The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus.”
Other well-known films Ledger appeared in include, “10 Things I Hate About You”, “The Patriot,” “A Knight’s Tale,” and “Monster’s Ball.” Ledger would have turned 29 on April 4.
Cloverfield Release Date: January 18th 2008 Director: Matt Reeves Cast:Mike Vogel, Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller, and Michael Stahl-David The Buzz: If anything else, the top secret JJ Abrams produced monster movie had one of the best teaser trailers of all time. Will the movie be even half as good? We have no idea. The film follows a group of friends in New York City during one January night (January 18th) when some kind of monster attacks. The whole film is shot from the perspective of a consumer video camera that the college-age group bring along for the adventure.
Teeth Release Date: Spring 2008 Director: Mitchell Lichtenstein Cast: Jess Weixler, Adam Wagner The Buzz: Teeth is a black comedy horror film written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein. High school student Dawn works hard at suppressing her budding sexuality by being the local chastity group’s most active participant. Her task is made even more difficult by her bad boy stepbrother Ross McIntire’s increasingly provocative behavior at home. A stranger to her own body, innocent Dawn discovers she has a toothed vagina when she becomes the object of violence. As she struggles to comprehend her anatomical uniqueness, Dawn experiences both the pitfalls and the power of being a living example of the vagina dentata myth.
Jumper Release Date: February 15th 2008 Director: Doug Liman (Go, The Bourne Identity) Cast: Hayden Christensen, Samuel L Jackson, Diane Lane, Jamie Bell, Rachel Bilson The Buzz: A feature film adaptation of the Steven Gould series of novels about a genetic anomaly that allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between “Jumpers� and those who have sworn to kill them. The film has been delayed, which is usually a bad sign, but the extensive mythology behind the story has held my interest.
Be Kind Rewind Release Date: January 23rd 2008 Writer/Director: Michel Gondy (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Science of Sleep) Cast: Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Melonie Diaz, Mia Farrow The Buzz: Michel Gondry’s twisted comic tale of the magic of filmmaking. Jack Black plays Jerry, a junkyard worker who inadvertently causes his brain to become magnetized, leading to the unintentional destruction of all the movies in his friend’s (Mos Def) video rental store. In order to keep the store’s one loyal customer, an elderly lady with a tenuous grasp on reality, the pair re-create a long line of films, putting themselves and their townspeople into it. They become the biggest stars in their neighborhood. Rewind was originally scheduled for release in December 2007, but was pushed back to January. It is likely that the film was pushed back so that it can premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
Horton Hears a Who! Release Date: March 14th 2008 Directors: Jimmy Hayward, Steve Martino Voice Cast: Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Dane Cook, Jaime Pressly, Isla Fisher, Will Arnett, Selena Gomez, Amy Poehler, Dan Fogler The Buzz: Could this be the first great Dr. Suess inspired film since Chuck Jones’ The Grinch who Stole Christmas? Jim Carrey voices Horton the Elephant, who one day hears a cry from help coming from a speck of dust. Even though he can’t see anyone on the speck, he decides to help it. As it turns out, the speck of dust is home to the Whos, who live in their city of Whoville. Horton agrees to help protect the Whos and their home, but this gives him nothing but torment from his neighbors, who refuse to believe that anything could survive on the speck. Still, Horton stands by the motto that, “After all, a person is a person, no matter how small.� The computer generated animation looks top notch (almost Pixar quality even).
Harold & Kumar 2 Release Date: April 4th Directors: Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) Cast: John Cho, Kal Penn, Rob Corddry, Neil Patrick Harris, Eddie Kaye Thomas The Buzz: This stoner sequel follows the cross-country adventures of the pot-smoking duo as they try to outrun authorities who suspect them of being terrorists when they try to sneak a bong on board their flight to Amsterdam.
Speed Racer Release Date: May 9th 2008 Director: The Wachowski Brothers Cast: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, John Goodman, Scott Porter The Buzz: Based on the classic 1960’s Japanese animated series, The Wachowski Brothers (Matrix) direct the story of a young race car driver as he attempts to obtain glory, with the help of his family and the Mach 5, the advanced car created by his father. Emile Hirsch stars as Speed, Christina Ricci as Trixie, and Mathew Fox as Racer X. Even if you weren’t a fan of the tv series, all indications so far point to this being unlike anything ever seen before on the big screen. Here is a bit of trivia: Director Alfonso Cuarón was once attached to direct with Johnny Depp starring.
Iron Man Release Date: May 2nd 2008 Director: Jon Favreau (Elf, Made) Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrance Howard The Buzz: Jon Favreau’s big screen adaptation of the popular Marvel comic book character. Robert Downey Jr. plays Weapons designer Tony Stark, who is injured by shrapnel in his heart while in Afghanistan to introduce his new missile design. His captors order him to assemble a missile for them, giving him access to a workshop. He puts his creativity to use by assembling a bulletproof set of power armor, complete with pacemaker and flamethrowers, and uses it to free himself. Back at home, he becomes Iron Man, developing a flying suit with the red and gold scheme and advanced weapon capabilities.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Release Date: May 16th 2008 Director: Andrew Adamson (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) Cast: Liam Neeson (voice), Ben Barnes, Warwick Davis, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell The Buzz: Okay, so the first film lacked action, but Disney has promised to up the ante with Prince Caspian. This could be the film to jump-start the Summer.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Release Date: May 22nd 2008 Director: Steven Spielberg (Raiders, Jaws, Every great movie from your childhood) The Buzz: Steven Spielberg directs the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones series. Harrison Ford is back, and so is Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood. New to the production is Cate Blanchett as the bad girl, John Hurt as ??? and Shia LaBeouf as Indy’s greaser sidekick. Not much can be said about the storyline, as it is being kept tightly under wraps. George Lucas has said that Crystal Skull is more in tone with Raiders than any other film in the series.
The Sex & The City Movie Release Date: September 19th 2008 Director: Michael Patrick King Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrell, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon The Buzz: The plot of the film revolves around the lives of the four main characters, four years after the time frame of the finale of the HBO series.
Get Smart Release Date: June 20th 2008 Director: Peter Segal Cast: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, The Rock, Alan Arkin, Terence Stamp, Masi Oka The Buzz: Steve Carell stars as Maxwell Smart in the big screen adaptation of the classic Mel Brooks comic spy television series. Anne Hathaway plays Agent 99, Dwayne Johnson plays Agent 23, and Alan Arkin is the Chief. I think this could be the next Austin Powers if done right.
Wall-E Release Date: June 27th 2008 Director: Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) The Buzz: Andrew Stanton developed WALL-E before Toy Story was made: the original idea was, “What if mankind evacuated Earth and forgot to turn off the last remaining robot?� After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL•E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home).
The Dark Knight Release Date: July 18th 2008 Director: Christopher Nolan Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart The Buzz: Christopher Nolan’s follow-up to the highly acclaimed Batman Begins. Batman (Bale) raises the stakes in his war on crime with the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Eckhart). Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker (Ledger).
Mamma Mia! Release Date: July 18th 2008 Director: Phyllida Lloyd Cast: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Amanda Seyfried The Buzz: Mamma Mia! employs the hit songs of famed pop group ABBA to tell the story of Sophie Sheridan a young girl who hopes to discover the identity of her father. On the eve of her wedding she brings three men from her mother past back to the Greek island they visited over two decades ago.
The Pineapple Express Release Date: August 8th 2008 Director: David Gordon Green (George Washington, All the Real Girls, Snow Angels) Cast: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Bill Hader, James Remar, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez The Buzz: Yes, another Judd Apatow produced comedy. Superbad co-writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg return with an action comedy about a stoner (Rogen) and his dealer (Franco) who are forced to go on the run from the police after the pothead witnesses a cop commit a murder.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Release Date: November 21st 2008 Director: David Yates (Order of the Phoenix) Cast: Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Jim Broadbent, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton The Buzz: As Harry Potter begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously “This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince� and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort’s dark past.
Star Trek Release Date: December 25th 2008 Director: JJ Abrams The Buzz: JJ Abrams restarts the Trek series at the beginning. Not much is known about the film other than it will feature a young Kirk and Spock in the early days of the Enterprise. Casting of young and comedic actors has worried long time fans, but producers have stated since the beginning that they are trying to attract a new audience to the series. Zachary Quinto as Spock, Eric Bana as the villain Nero, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, John Cho as Sulu and possibly Chris Pine as Kirk.
The Happening Release Date: June 13th 2008 Writer/Director: M. Night Shyamalan Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo
The Buzz: Say what you will about M. Night Shyamalan, but many of his detractors have admitted that The Happening is his best script since The Sixth Sense. A paranoid thriller about a family on the run from a natural crisis that presents a large-scale threat to humanity. The Happening will be released purposely on Friday the 13th.
The Incredible Hulk Release Date: June 13th 2008 Director: Louis Leterrier and Writer: Edward Norton
Cast: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson The Buzz: Edward Norton stars as Bruce Banner, in a non-sequel sequel to Ang Lee’s The Hulk. The Incredible Hulk is on the run, and the action is more intense in Edward Norton’s screenplay (that’s right, Norton also wrote the screenplay).
The X-Files 2 Release Date: Fall 2008 Director: Chirs Carter Cast: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson The Buzz: Due to the highly secretive nature of the project, very little is known about the movie’s plot. It is known that, unlike the first film, the plot will not focus on the series’ ongoing “mythology” and will instead be a standalone thriller/horror story, similar to many of the “monster-of-the-week” episodes that were frequently seen in the TV series.
Trailer Trash Release Date: August 22nd 2008 Director: Eli Roth The Buzz: An R-Rated feature film full of connected faux horror movie trailers. Eli Roth says he wants to make a film like “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,� which he considers “to be the greatest achievement in the history of cinema.� I, like many, really enjoyed the fake movie trailers which were attached to Grindhouse. And I’ve always been a fan of the short form film (ie short film) because if you don’t like it, just wait a few minutes and it will be over and another one will begin. Plus as Roth notes, you can make a trailer full of tentpole moments without all the exposition and connected story in between.
James Bond 22 Release Date: November 7th 2008 Director: Marc Forster (Stranger Than Fiction, Finding Neverland, The Kite Runner) Cast: Daniel Craig, Goran Visnjic, Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini, Jesper Christensen The Buzz: It’s Bond, what more can you say? Daniel Craig returns as agent 007. Not much is known about this film as of yet. All we do know is that this movie is going to be the first ever direct sequel to another official James Bond film (Casino Royale)
Where the Wild Things Are Release Date: October 3rd 2008 Director: Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) Cast: Forest Whitaker, Michelle Williams, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini, Catherine O’Hare The Buzz: Every kid has read the classic illustrated Maurice Sendak book, about Max, a mischievous little boy, creates his own world - a forest in habited by fabulous wild creatures who crown Max as their ruler. Music Video turned filmmaker Spike Jonze has always created some visual and conceptual masterpieces. This is also Spike’s first feature film not written by Charlie Kaufman.
The Changeling Release Date: November 7th 2008 Director: Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River) Cast: Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Riki Lindhome, Amy Ryan The Buzz: Jolie plays a woman whose son is abducted but retrieved; she suspects, however, that the returned child is not hers. The woman must then confront corruption in the LAPD. The story is based on true events in 1920s Los Angeles. The film is being produced by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.
The Day the Earth Stood Still Release Date: December 12th 2008 Director: Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Hellraiser: Inferno) Cast: Keanu Reeves (Matrix) The Buzz: A remake of the classic 1951 sci-fi action film by Robert Wise, which is considered one of the best Science Fiction films of all time (#7 on Arthur C Clarke’s List) and was debated for it’s religious symbolism and many interpretations. Bernard Herrmann score is also notable, partly because of its use of two theremins. The film is currently ranked #187 of all time on IMDb, with a 8.1 rating. Reeves will play Klaatu, an alien who arrives on Earth accompanied by a large humanoid robot named Gort, with a warning to world leaders that their continued aggression will lead to annihilation by species watching from afar.
And the following films are in production or being rushed into production before the strike, and couple possibly be released in Fall 2008, although there are no guarantees.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno Release Date: Fall 2008 (estimated) Writer/Director: Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy) Cast: Jason Mewes The Buzz: Two friends, both in their late 20s and feeling various strains of adulthood, decide to launch an amateur porn studio — a knockout story for their upcoming high school reunion. I’m a huge fan of Kevin Smith’s work, and this sounds like a step back towards Chasing Amy, which is probably Smith’s best film to date.
Brüno: Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Males Visibly Uncomfortable in the Presence of a Gay Foreigner in a Mesh T-Shirt Release Date: 2008?? Director: Dan Mazer (Borat) Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen The Buzz: The follow-up to Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, follows Cohen’s third Da Ali G Show character Brüno, a gay Austrian TV reporter who interviews unsuspecting guests about topics such as fashion, entertainment, celebrities and homosexuality, with an emphasis on the latter as each interview progresses.
The Box Release Date: Fall 2008 (estimated) Writer/Director: Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko, Southland Tales) Cast: Sean William Scott, Cameron Diaz The Buzz: I, like many others, LOVED Kelly’s feature film debut Donnie Darko. I have yet to see his follow-up, Southland Tales, which has garnered far less acclaim. Based on the story “Button, Button� written by Richard Matheson (I Am Legend), the film surrounds a troubled married couple who find a small wooden box on their doorstep, which brings with it unforeseen fortune. Their good luck, however, comes at a price.
Australia Release Date: Fall 2008 (estimated) Writer/Director: Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!) Cast: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, Bryan Brown The Buzz: Luhrmann’s film is set in northern Australia prior to World War II and centers on an English aristocrat (Kidman) who inherits a ranch the size of Maryland. When English cattle barons plot to take her land, she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle driver (Jackman) to drive 2,000 head of cattle across hundreds of miles of the country’s most unforgiving land, only to still face the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by the Japanese forces that had attacked Pearl Harbor only months earlier.
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