In order to lend Plus Trailers some much needed credibility, every Friday I am going to be writing a little about the week’s film news. I will only be reporting on things that interest me – fans of Twilight will have to go elsewhere. In fact, if you want comprehensive or unbiased news coverage you’re probably looking in the wrong place. But if you can stand my poor grammar, prejudicial "journalism" and nerdish rants about whatever it is that Hollywood is screwing up this week then by all means read on. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Four new and very generic Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince character posters were unveiled this week. The other three posters (which you can find here) are similar to the one above: one character in the foreground and another in the background, with appropriately determined looks on their faces. Much like the earlier posters, these four suffer due to the fact that Radcliffe and co. simply aren’t badass. I’m not intimidated by Rupert Grint straddling a broom, so it’s hard to believe that the darkest wizard of all time will be. The HP fanatics have declared the posters the best things since sliced Gillyweed, but being only a moderate fan I am unimpressed.Speaking of Harry Potter fans creaming in their pants, a bunch of new photos from the set of Deathly Hallows have been released online. For those who don’t know, the final book in the series is being made into not one but two films, so presumably these photos are from part 1. You can view the photos here.
Some new footage from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has been released online and it’s pretty damn awesome, despite the awful, awful dialogue. The footage can be found here, although it may not be there for long.Arnold Schwarzenegger’s digital cameo in Terminator Salvation has apparently been confirmed! Unfortunately, the films PG-13 rating has also been confirmed, which means that the violence will probably be toned down compared to the R rated original three films (and you can forget about that topless shot of actress Moon Bloodgood.) Looks like McG’s talk about not bending to the studio’s will really was just talk. The PG-13 will probably translate into an M rating here in Australia.
The first photo from Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood has been released, and shows Russell Crowe as the hero of Sherwood Forest. I don’t know if Crowe is the best man for the job…in fact I think he looks kind of silly. Still, the movie could be very cool, and the man behind Gladiator (Scott, not Crowe) certainly seems like the right one to update the classic tale.The Hobbit is now going to be made into two movies, one to be released in December 2011, and the second a year later (but these dates could easily change). Peter Jackson will be executive producing the films, with directorial duties going to Guillermo Del Toro (Pans Labyrinth, Hellboy).
Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, Sin City) is apparently going to reboot the Predator franchise with a movie called Predators (not the most original title I know). For those of you not familiar with my views on this franchise, click here. Rodrigeuz will not be directing, but rather producing the film, which has been schedueled for a July 7th 2010 release. Rodriguez has also confirmed that he has written and will be directing Machete, based on his faux trailer attached to Grindhouse. The AWESOME trailer can be viewed here.
The Thai government has banned Kevin Smith’s latest film Zack and Miri make a Porno on the grounds that it may encourage imitators. Thailand is like a second home to me (I lived in Bangkok for over a year) and I am very disappointed by this decision. You’d think the government would be busy fighting the massive civil unrest, but apparently not.David O Russel, director of Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees is now set to direct The Fighter, a film about boxer Micky Ward. The film has been in development hell for several years now, and was originally meant to be directed by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler). Mark Wahlberg will star as Ward, and Christian Bale will play his half brother Dicky Eklund. Filming is set to begin in July.
Finally…and this is very exciting…a live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie is now planned for 2011! There was a trio of live action films from the early nineties that I know many people with a great sense of nostalgia. This latest film has been described as a Batman Begins type reboot, so hopefully this movie will take the turtles back to their dark, gritty roots. Cowabunga dudes!
DVD's
The Region 4 (Australian) release date for the seventh season of 24 has been announced as July 8th. Unfortunately, this week was pretty dismal for DVD's. The biggest release is undoubtedly Twilight, which is available in an extra-sparkly package shaped like Edward Cullen's penis. Also available is High School Musical 3, Traitor, Max Payne - Uncut, Babylon AD - Raw and Uncut (wow, Raw and Uncut? It must be good!) and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. The only bright spots are Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter and the Blu-ray release of Silence of the Lambs.
