Adaptations

Rooney Mara Officially Cast As Lisbeth Salander For Millenium Trilogy

Submitted by phletch on Mon, 2010-08-16 14:16
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After ridiculous amounts of rumors and speculation, Rooney Mara has been cast in the lead role of Lisbeth Salander opposite Daniel Craig in David Fincher's adaptation of Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. The best selling novel is the first of the three part Millenium Trilogy by the late author followed by The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest. Mara won the role over a who's who of younger actresses presumably thanks to her appearance in Fincher's upcoming The Social Network. She also played the role of Nancy in the incredibly meh A Nightmare On Elm Street remake.

The deals for both Craig and Mara are said to include options for the other two films, although it is still unclear whether Fincher will return to the director's chair for those. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is currently set for a December 21, 2011 release.   [via deadline]

Thor Footage Proves Natalie Portman Likes Dudes With Big Hammers

Submitted by phletch on Thu, 2010-07-29 16:11
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Grunt ..... chisel ..... drink vitamin water ..... be buff. Wipe sweat from brow. Repeat.

Oh, don't mind me, I was just doing a bunch of working out and stuff, you know, getting all ripped since apparently that's what Natalie Portman is in to. I've even encased a big mallet type thingy in cement and have since been trying to pull it out. That's what she said.

Anyhoo the video below is a bunch of footage that was shown to the fanboy masses at this year's Comic-Con. It plays a bit like the world's longest trailer but there's too much boring stuff to really consider it that. Either way Thor is "pretty cut for a crazy, homeless person". That might not even be the best line here so make sure you have your goggles set to zinger mode.

You want the synopsis? You can't handle the synopsis!

Marvel Studios expands its film universe with a new type of superhero: THOR. This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe; from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Kenneth Branagh directs this fantasy epic which stars Australian actor Chris Hemsworth as the ancient Norse god, Tom Hiddleston as his evil brother Loki, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, a young woman who befriends Thor on Earth, and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Thor's father and king of Asgard. Expect to see agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., previously seen in ''Iron Man,'' to make an appearance, further forshadowing the coming of The Avengers!

The advertisement for another movie/film will be released on May 6, 2011 so you can expect a boatload of promo material in the future. Preferably with less Iron Man references although I have my doubts. What are your impressions of Thor and The Case Of The Beautiful Hair?

See video

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows

Submitted by phletch on Mon, 2010-06-28 16:53
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Release Date: 
Nov 19 2010
Director: 
David Yates
Cast: 
Danielle Radcliffe
Cast: 
Emma Watson
Cast: 
Rupert Grint
Cast: 
Ralph Fiennes
Synopsis: 
Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort's immortality and destruction -- the Horcruxes. On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever. But there are Dark Forces in their midst that threaten to tear them apart. Meanwhile, the wizarding world has become a dangerous place for all enemies of the Dark Lord. The long-feared war has begun and Voldemort's Death Eaters seize control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing and arresting anyone who might oppose them. But the one prize they still seek is the one most valuable to Voldemort: Harry Potter. The Chosen One has become the hunted one as the Death Eaters search for Harry with orders to bring him to Voldemort...alive. Harry's only hope is to find the Horcruxes before Voldemort finds him. But as he searches for clues, he uncovers an old and almost forgotten tale -- the legend of the Deathly Hallows. And if the legend turns out to be true, it could give Voldemort the ultimate power he seeks. Little does Harry know that his future has already been decided by his past when, on that fateful day, he became "the Boy Who Lived." No longer just a boy, Harry Potter is drawing ever closer to the task for which he has been preparing since the day he first stepped into Hogwarts: the ultimate battle with Voldemort.

Believe it or not this one is in 3D! And by one I of course mean two. Who would have seen that coming? Anyhoo looks pretty dark, maybe the darkest 3D movie yet, which I guess in a way could be exciting but might just make me sleepy. The second part of the film will be released on July 15, 2011 and while the Harry Potter movies are usually pretty fun, I certainly won't be shedding a tear when this whole thing comes to an end. That's what she said.

The Green Hornet

Submitted by phletch on Tue, 2010-06-22 07:34
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See video
Release Date: 
Jan 14 2011
Director: 
Michel Gondry
Cast: 
Seth Rogen
Cast: 
Jay Chou
Cast: 
Cameron Diaz
Synopsis: 
Britt Reid is the son of LA's most prominent and respected media magnate and perfectly happy to maintain a directionless existence on the party scene -- until his father mysteriously dies, leaving Britt his vast media empire. Striking an unlikely friendship with one of his father's more industrious and inventive employees, Kato, they see their chance to do something meaningful for the first time in their lives: fight crime. But in order to do this, they decide to become criminals themselves -- protecting the law by breaking it, Britt becomes the vigilante The Green Hornet as he and Kato hit the streets. Using all his ingenuity and skill, Kato builds the ultimate in advanced retro weaponry, The Black Beauty, an indestructible car equal parts firepower and horsepower. Rolling in a mobile fortress on wheels and striking the bad guys with Kato's clever gadgets, The Green Hornet and Kato quickly start making a name for themselves, and with the help of Britt's new secretary, Lenore Case, they begin hunting down the man who controls LA's gritty underworld: Benjamin Chudnofsky. But Chudnofsky has plans of his own: to swat down The Green Hornet once and for all.

Here is the trailer for the Michel Gondry directed The Green Lantern as promised and for me it just looks incredibly generic. Rogen seems fine in the role, Chou actually seems good, and still the whole thing just reeks of generic super hero crime fighter rich guy. Perhaps the fact that I'm unfamiliar with the source material is in play here, but I highly doubt the whole rich guy with gadgets and double life thing is too hard to catch up on. Hopefully some red band trailer will show a more interesting tone and less radio friendly rock.

Haiku Reviews: Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time

Submitted by Fluffhead on Wed, 2010-06-02 12:23
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I've seen this one before

Guy gets framed then flees, returns

Cue obvious twist

 

Super powers fine

But why no super monsters

Try to keep it real?

 

Gyllenhaal not great

The sands of time go real slow

And nowhere really

 

No need for sequel

Story is boring and old

Too soon to reboot?

The Killer Inside Me

Submitted by phletch on Tue, 2010-05-25 10:32
in
See video
Release Date: 
Jun 18 2010
Director: 
Michael Winterbottom
Cast: 
Casey Affleck
Cast: 
Jessica Alba
Cast: 
Kate Hudson
Cast: 
Simon Baker
Synopsis: 
From director Michael Winterbottom comes THE KILLER INSIDE ME which has electrified audiences at the Sundance, Berlin and Tribeca Film Festivals. Based on the classic novel by legendary pulp writer Jim Thompson, THE KILLER INSIDE ME tells the story of handsome, unassuming small town sheriff’s deputy Lou Ford (Casey Affleck). A quiet charmer of his idyllic West Texas town, Ford has a simple life and a pretty girl (Kate Hudson) to come home to. But when the job brings him face to face with a gorgeous prostitute (Jessica Alba) on the edge of town, Ford's fragile world cracks – unbridling his own dark urges. In THE KILLER INSIDE ME'S blacker–than–noir universe, nothing is ever what it seems. From the acclaimed director of A MIGHTY HEART and 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE, THE KILLER INSIDE ME is a thrill–ride that Stanley Kubrick called "the most chilling and believable first–person story of a criminally warped mind I have ever encountered."

Sociopaths and Jessica Alba as a prostitute? I'm still trying to figure out if this whole thing is just one of my dreams or an actual real movie. Either way I'm pretty sure I should get some royalties or something. I've heard nothing but good things about the film, although some nerds are saying it is a bit too violent. The same nerds that love the Saw movies no doubt.

Cameron Crowe To Buy A Zoo, Give It A Killer Soundtrack

Submitted by phletch on Tue, 2010-05-18 11:17
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It's been a while since people were on the Cameron Crowe train. After directing an incredibly impressive four string run of Say Anything, Singles, Jerry Maguire, and Almost Famous things started to sour with Vanilla Sky and finally the near universally hated Elizabethtown. Well it looks like we will finally be getting a new Cameron Crowe mixtape, err I mean movie next year as he has just signed on to direct We Bought A Zoo, based on Benjamin Mee's memoir of the same name.

Crowe is notoriously picky about his projects and had been circling "Zoo" since the winter. Once he dedicated himself to the project, he began rewriting the script, originally written by Aline Brosh McKenna, to reflect his sensibilities The studio liked the direction enough to commit to the movie over the weekend and has dated it for December 23, 2011.

"Zoo" tells the true account of how Mee and his family used their life savings to buy a dilapidated zoo, replete with 200 exotic animals facing destruction, in the English countryside. Mee, along with his children, had to balance caring for his wife, who was dying of brain cancer, with dealing with escaped tigers, raising endangered animals, working with an eclectic skeleton crew and readying the zoo for a reopening.  [via thr]

There must be quite a bit of faith in the project with the prime holiday release date. The setting seems like a perfect backdrop for Crowe and the lead role seems like Oscar bait if this is indeed Crowe's triumphant return. Now we just have to spend time figuring out what songs the director will be taking with him to the zoo. I'd bet money Wouldn't It Be Nice gets some montage airplay when things are going smoothly at the zoo. The film is looking to start production in the fall so we should have some casting news sooner than later, we'll keep you updated.

OMG, The First Official Image Of Thor Is Like So Cute

Submitted by phletch on Fri, 2010-04-30 10:39
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Here is the first official look at Chris Hemsworth all dolled up pretty in his Thor costume.  This comes about a year and a week before the film is set to be release on May 6th 2011, but you know Thor and how he likes to be early. Hows about some synopsis.

The film follows the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It’s while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

Unfortunately we don't get the helmet or hammer, but all things considered I can live with this as Thor from an upcoming summer blockbuster. I still think they just should have hired the guy from Adventures In Babysitting though, he was way more believable.   [via slashfilm]

Jonah Hex

Submitted by phletch on Thu, 2010-04-29 11:23
in
See video
Release Date: 
Jun 18 2010
Director: 
Jimmy Hayward
Cast: 
Josh Brolin
Cast: 
Megan Fox
Cast: 
John Malkovich
Cast: 
Will Arnett
Cast: 
Michael Shannon
Synopsis: 
Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) is a scarred drifter and bounty hunter of last resort, a tough and stoic gunslinger who can track down anyone…and anything. Having survived death, Jonah’s violent history is steeped in myth and legend, and has left him with one foot in the natural world and one on the “other side.” His only human connection is with Leila (Megan Fox), whose life in a brothel has left her with scars of her own. But Jonah’s past is about to catch up with him when the U.S. military makes him an offer he can’t refuse: in exchange for his freedom from the warrants on his head, he must track down and stop the dangerous terrorist Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich). But Turnbull, who is gathering an army and preparing to unleash Hell, is also Jonah’s oldest enemy and will stop at nothing until Jonah is dead.

Double Malkovich duty today I guess. This movie has been the subject of numerous rumors of being a full fledged disaster, with many questioning if it would even make the June 18th release date, but apparently things are good to go. It seems like guns, zingers, and Megan Fox "acting" will rule the day, but personally I don't think it looks any worse than your typical summer blockbuster, although that is hardly a compliment. I am looking forward to the inevitable Back To The Future 3/Jonah Hex mashup though. 

Ben Stiller And Noah Baumbach May Reteam For Mr. Popper's Penguis

Submitted by phletch on Fri, 2010-04-02 06:46
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It looks like theres a steady bromance brewing between director Noah Baumbach and Ben Stiller.  The pair currently have Greenberg in theatres, with rumors of Baumbach working on a rewrite for the Stiller starring Tower Heist for Brett Ratner.  Now comes news that the pair are in negotiations with Fox to work on an adaptation of the children's book Mr Popper's Penguins.  Here is the basic story.

"Mr. Popper" is the tale of a house painter whose dreams of Arctic exploration prompt him to write letters to real explorers. One of them sends him a penguin, which he keeps in an icebox. Soon, Mr. Popper receives a female penguin from a zoo and before he knows it, he has a litter of 12 beaked birds.

When the penguins start to eat him out of house and home, Mr. Popper forms Popper's Performing Penguins, a stage act that goes on tour and causes mayhem at every stop.   [via variety]

At firs the idea of Baumbach directing a kids movie seems a little crazy, but he was the co-writer for Wes Andersons The Fantastic Mr Fox, and that worked out pretty well.  Stiller of course can do anything, it's not always great but he really does have some range.  For some reason I've never even heard of this book even though it's supposedly super famous.  Having said that it sounds like the perfect backdrop for a film.  And penguins, did I mention penguins?  We'll keep you updated.

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