RIP Peter Graves

The actor Peter Graves, best known for his roles in Airplane and as Jim Phelps in the Mission Impossible TV series, has died aged 83.  Here's the Airplane trailer, including some of his finest moments

Predators Poster

In our third poster of the day, here#s the teaser for this summer's Predator sequel.  Good to see they are keeping close to the original design of the creature(s), which Robert Rodriguez has also confirmed will be mainly practical as opposed to CGI creations.

Four Lions Poster

Following the earlier release of the trailer, here's the poster for Four Lions

Four Lions Trailer released

A trailer has finally been released for Chris Morris's forthcoming 'Jihad Comedy' Four Lions, which tells the tale of a group on inept suicide bombers.

Co-written by Peep Show creators Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, the picture opens in the UK on 6 May but does not yet have a US distributor

Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Here's the teaser poster for Edgar Wright's forthcoming comic book adaptation Scott Pilgrim vs the World.

Anticipation is fever high for the comedy-action film, stoked by some recent test screenings that met with a universally positive response.

Source : Slashfilm

Planet of the Apes Prequel

20th Century Fox have hired director Rupert Wyatt (the escapist) to direct it's planned Planet of the Apes prequel 'Caesar'.

The story, by Relic and Hand That Rocked The Cradle screenwriters, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, centres on scientists creating a hyper-intelligent race of chimps, including the titular Caeser.  Whist the film has a contemporary setting and won't feature talking apes, or indeed end with them taking over the world, the film is intended to explain the events which set in motion the history leading up to the first movie.

The film is a prequel to the 1968 original rather than the best forgotten Tim Burton Remake, although it will have to ignore the sequels, which did of course explain the origin of the apes and by the last film brought the story fairly neatly full circle.

Predators Sneak Peek

Following on from a special event at the SXSW film festival, Fox have placed a sneek peek of behind the scenes footage from the new Predator sequel on the films official website .  They have also announced the release of a full trailer on 18 March.

Robert Rodriguez is producing the film, which is intended as a sequel to the first Predator and will ignore the  previous sequels / spin-offs.  Laurence Fishburme stars and the amusingly titled Nimrod Antal directs.  The film is due for release July 9th.

Wall Street 2 delayed till September?

Those looking forward to the return of Michael Douglas's Gorden Gecko in the Oliver Stone directed Wall Street sequel may have to wait a little longer. Originally due for release next month, The Hollywood Reporter  now states that the film has been bumped to a late September release. Whilst no reasons have been given, there is speculation that the change in date may be to allow the producers to mount a stronger awards campaign. There is also the risk that the film would get lost in the many big budget action films and sequels which begin hitting in April / May time.

Also starring Shia Lebouf and Carey Mulligan, the sequel tells the story of Gordon Gecko's release from prison and subsequent return to the financial markets, together with his relationship with his daughter and soon to be son-in-law.

Robin Hood - New trailer released

Following earlier advertising which made the film look like a retread of Gladiator, the final trailer for the forthcoming new version of Robin Hood gives a little bit more of the story, and also seems closer to the traditional tale.

Ridley Scott directs and Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett star in the film, which is released on May 14.

Free film - The Toxic Avenger

Love it or hate it, Tromas 1984 comedy-horror The Toxic Avenger is certainly unforgettable.  The film put Troma on the map and spawned a number of sequels and even a kids' cartoon series.

The original film is now available for free viewing on Slashcontrol.  Unfortunately viewing is restricted to those in the US.

Thor synopsis

Marvel Studios and Paramount pictures have released an extended synopsis of their next major comic book adaptation Thor.  The Kenneth Branagh directed film is due for release in May 2011. 

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the epic adventure, “Thor,” which spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is 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 here when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

It remains to be seen whether audiences will take to the film in the same way they have recent superhero movies.  Thor is certainly not as recognisable a character as say Spiderman, and the Norse mythology material is a little more out there.  For those of you with a long memory, the plot also has vague echoes of the risible eighties adaptation of Masters of the Universe. 

James Cameron talks Screenwriting and Avatar

Last months the Writers Guild of America had a special screening of Avatar, following which writer/director James Cameron took to the stage for a seventy minute question and answer. The WGA have now put the talk online here, and it's definitely worth a listen.  Regardless of how you film about Avatar's plot and dioalogue, Cameron has some interesting comments about his creative process and the mechanics of preparing a blockbuster screenplay

Tron Legacy

Here, finally, is the long awaited trailer for this winter's Tron sequel, Tron Legacy.

Whilst not giving too much of the plot away the trailer gives us a look at the updated CGI used for the film, which looks to do a good job of updating the effects for a modern audience whilst keeping the feel of the original

Grisbys Go Broke - One final John Hughes movie?

Before his early death last year, John Hughes' output in the previous decade or so had been sporadic at best.  After 1991's misfire, Curly Sue, Hughes turned his back on directing and for the remainder of his career popped up as an executive producer or, occasionally, writer on films such as Maid in Manhattan and Mr Woodstock.

Apparently following his death, Hughes' family found a number of unproduced screenplays and treatments in his home, and it is one of these, Grisbys Go Broke, that Paramount Pictures is reportedly circling, at least according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Little is known about the script, other than it is a comedy centring on a rich family who are forced to move to the suburbs after suffering a financial catastrophe. 

Whilst this certainly seems like the sort of high concept idea that fuelled many of Hughe's eighties classics, there seems something slightly distasteful about cashing in on the writer-director's death, particularly with a screenplay that he presumable did not feel was strong enough to submit for production when he was alive.

Midnight Run 2

When a number of new Robert De Niro projects was announced recently, one that raised many peoples eyebrows was a sequel to eighties' comedy Midnight Run.  Whilst De Niro has, to say the least, a patchy record when it comes to comedy, Midnight Run was considered one of his successes.  The film featured De Niro as a bounty hunter tasked with bringing Charles Grodin's mob accountant safely from New York to LA.

Deadline Hollywood reports that plans for the sequel are now gathering pace, with screenwriter Tim Dowling (Role Models) hired to prepare the first draft of the script.  Whilst De Niro will return, the script is not expected to feature a role for Grodin.  Little is known about the plot, other than it will feature De Niro tasked with 'having to bring in a new fugitive

The Razzies

Every year, the day before Oscar night, a slightly less well-heeled event also takes place in Hollywood.   The Golden Raspberries, or Razzies, 'honour' what they consider to be the worst films of the year.  The big loser this year was Transformers 2, which went home with three awards.  Sandra Bullock, winner of worst actress for All About Steve, gamely turned up to accept her award in person.  Bullock of course went on to win the Oscar the following night for her much better received turn in The Blind Side.

The full list of this years winners, together with the special awards to celebrate the worst films of the decade, were as follows

Worst Picture of 2009:

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

Worst Actress of 2009:

Sandra Bullock

ALL ABOUT STEVE

Worst Actor(s) of 2009:

All Three Jonas Brothers

JONAS BROTHERS: THE 3-D CONCERT EXPERIENCE

Worst Screen Couple:

Sandra Bullock & Bradley Cooper

ALL ABOUT STEVE

Worst Supporting Actress:

Sienna Miller

G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA

Worst Supporting Actor:

Billy Ray Cyrus

HANNAH MONTANA: THE MOVIE

Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel

(Combined Category for 2009):

Land of The Lost

Worst Director:

Michael Bay

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN

Worst Screenplay:

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

WRITTEN BY EHREN KRUGER; ROBERTO ORCI &  ALEX KURTZMAN

Worst Picture of the Decade:

Battlefield Earth

Worst Actor of the Decade:

Eddie Murphy

Worst Actress of the decade

Paris Hilton

Iron Man 2 New Trailer

Here's the new trailer for Iron Man 2, which premièred on Jimmy Kimmell live after the Oscars. The new trailer gives some clues as to the plot of the movie, together with longer looks at the characters played by Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell.

The only possible concern are the number of plot strands and characters which appear to be jostling for screen time, but hopefully this will be more Dark Knight than Spiderman 3.

Savages

Deadline is reporting that Oliver Stone is intending to make an adaptation of Don Winslow's novel Savages his next project following the forthcoming release of Wall Street 2.

Stone has grabbed the rights to the book before it's July publication date and details are therefore sketchy.  The promotional blurb describes the plot as follows:-

“young, independent Laguna Beach-based marijuana kingpins are blackmailed into working for the Baja Cartel after one of their threesome is kidnapped.  The group now owes every cent they’ve made for the last five years, and while they agree to pay, they end up hatching “an alternate plan to get her back, get revenge, and then get lost.”

Police Academy

A few years ago Steve Guttenberg was touting a new Police Academy film, which would reunite most of the surviving cast.  Whilst most people put these comments down to desperate pitching from a man reduced to pantomines and infomercials, it looks like Guttenberg may have been at least partly correct.

New Line Cinema and Warner Brothers have announced that they are in fact working on a revival of the franchise.  Unfortunately for Guttenberg and co. it appears that the film will centre on a selection of new recruits and there will be no room for the original stars.

Whilst not surprising, it's a shame the studio could not find some place for the original cast, perhaps as teachers at a new academy, a move which surely would draw in some of the fans of the original series.  

George A Romero's Survival of the Dead

Here's a very brief red band trailer for George Romero's Survival of the Dead.  Romero seems to have a thing for characters with dodgy accents but at least this sequel moves away from the cinema verite style which hampered the previous entry in the series, Diary of The Dead.

This is also the second film today which will be seeing a video on demand release (this time on April 30th) before hitting selected cinemas at the end of May.    It's certainly an interesting marketing strategy, but it remains to be seen whether anyone other than Romero's die hard supporters will trek to the cinema to see something readily available at home.

The Smurfs

As mentioned previously, following the success of Alvin and The Chipmunks, studios are looking for other classic children's properties to adapt.  Next in the live action / CGI cross over genre is 'The Smurfs' which, whilst originally a 1950's comic book is best known for the 1980's animated TV show.

Doogie Howser MD himself, Neil Patrick Harris, will be taking the live action lead, with Jordan Kerner producing.

Warlords

Almost two years after it's release in it's native China, Jet Li action epic Warlords is finally be getting a US release this month.

In a somewhat odd strategy the film will be available 'on-demand' via cable, Xbox Live and Playstation Network from today, before a limited cinema release on 2 April

Cinematical has an exclusive clip from the movie, embedded below, together with this synopsis:-

Set in the midst of war and political upheaval during the Taiping Rebellion of the 1860s, WARLORDS stars Jet Li as General Pang, who barely survives a brutal massacre of his fellow soldiers by playing dead, and joins a band of bandits led by Er Hu (Andy Lau) and Wu Yang (Takeshi Kaneshiro). After fighting back attackers from an helpless village, the three men take an oath to become "blood brothers," pledging loyalty to one another until death, but things quickly turn sour and the three men become embroiled in a web of political deceit, and a love triangle between Pang, Er Hu and a beautiful courtesan (Wu Jing-Lei).

Wolverine 2

Slashfilm reports that a script for a sequel to the X-Men spin off Wolverine has been handed in to Fox, who are looking at shooting the film in January 2011.

The script has been written by Christopher McQuarrie, of Usual Suspects fame, which raises hopes it may be a step above the previous entry in the series, or at the very least it may have a plot that makes some kind of sense.

The script is apparently based loosely on Frank Miller's early 1980's comic book (pictured) which first popularised the character, and will apparently feature a romance with a Japanese character.

No director is on board yet, and the director of the previous film, Gavin Hood , has indicated he will not be returning.

Toy Story 3

Here's the final poster for Toy Story 3, highlighting a number of the new characters which will make an appearance in the film, as well as some old favourites.

Death Race 2

Sean Bean is the latest actor to join straight to DVD sequel Death Race 2, according to the Hollywood Reporter.


Produced by the director of the 2008 remake of the original classic, Paul Thomas Anderson, the prequel will centre on racing driver Frankenstein's time as a convice in a corrupt prison system.


Bean will join a cast which already features genre stalwarts Luke Goss (in the lead role), Danny Trejo and Ving Rhames.


The film is the latest in a number of direct to DVD sequels to cinema releases produced by Universal Studios, which have included sequels to Smoking Aces and American Pie and a prequel to Carlito's Way.

Abraham Lincoln : Vampire Hunter

Abraham Lincoln : Vampire Hunter is the latest in a series of surprisingly popular 'literary mash ups' from Seth Grahame-Smith, the author of 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.'

The novel is heading to the big screen with Grahame-Smith penning the screenplay.   Tim Burton and Timur Berkmambetov, who previously collaborated on the animated '9' are attached as producers but further details are scarce at the moment.

In the meantime here's a short 'trailer' for the book itself, which is certainly a neat way of promoting it, and not something I've seen before


Source: Slashfilm

Alice in Wonderland

In celebration with the release of Tim Burton's forthcoming Alice in Wonderland, which is apparently the 20th screen adaptation of the tale, the BFI have released a restored version of the very first adaptation which amazed cinema goers as long ago as 1908.


In a surprising echo of the new film, this version even features the director's wife in the role of the Red Queen

Only eight of the original twelve minutes survive, but what is there has been extensively restored, including the reinstatement of some early colour effects.

Indiana Jones 5

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat, Harrison Ford has revealed that director Steven Spielberg and producer George Lucas have 'the germ of an idea' for a fifth Indiana Jones film.
Notwithstanding this, you may need to wait a while for the film to hit the screen.   
"The process works like this," Ford explained. "We come to some basic agreement and then George goes away for a long time and works on it."
"Then Steven and I get it in some form, some embryonic form."
"Then if we like it we start working with George on it and at some point down the line it's ready and we do it."
Given that Ford is now 67 years old it looks like we will be seeing an Indiana Jones well into his seventies by the time the next film comes around.

Tron Legacy

Slashfilm has a new image from the Tron film, which takes us back inside Flynn's arcade.  Looking considerably more decrepit than in the original film, the character in the middle is Sam Flynn, the son of the Jeff Bridge's Kevin Flynn.  Flynn Jr. goes looking for his father and soon finds himself dragged into a updated 3d version of the original's virtual world.