Movie News - Articles - Zimbio

ROBOCOP remake more of a...sequel?

Fri, 26 Jul 2008 11:48:00 GMT

posted by original_sharp
Okay folks the news is in, Darren Aronofsky will be directing MGM´s ROBOCOP ´remake´which is slated for release in 2010.

The big question is - why have /FILM released the following statement:

"The movie will be set in Los Angeles 20 years after the suspension of the original RoboCop program in New Detroit."

If the above is correct, then this film is not a remake or a re-imagining, but another SEQUEL!

Oh did I forget to mention that David Self (The Wolf Man, Road to Perdition) will be writing the script?

While I have faith in these two men, I was kind of looking forward to a bigger budgeted remake of the original, but if it´s set 20 years after the original, then it´s set in the same timeline -

- I´m confused!

Source: /FILM

Batman, James Bond and Superman: The Need for Brand Reinvention

Thu, 25 Jul 2008 13:12:28 GMT

posted by eyecube

The graphic novel that shook up the Batman franchise in the 80s.

With the successful opening weekend of The Dark Knight, the Batman franchise has returned with both popular and critical acclaim. Perhaps the memories of the final Joel Schumacher-helmed, George Clooney-starring Batman & Robin can now be safely tucked away. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for The Batman to be sure. An iconic comic book that became a campy TV show, only to be resurrected in the mid-80s by Frank Miller and his seminal Dark Knight graphic novel. Yes, let’s remember that it was Frank Miller’s genius that set the stage for the Tim Burton/Michael Keaton/Jack Nicholson movie. But Batman soon found himself the object of scorn once again as the movies became charicatures.

Now Batman seems to have returned to its darker side, a more serious, more violent persona. This character/franchise arc reminds me of another iconic hero - James Bond.

Bond started out as a truly unique character that defined a genre, and an era. But as the Roger Moore-Bond faded into the sunset the franchise seemed done. It bounced back with Pierce Brosnan, only to once again lose its way as the gadget and stunts overwhelmed what had always been the real source of the Bond franchise’s strength - the villains (and sidekicks). Blofeld, Jaws, Odd Job, Pussy Galore, Goldfinger. All more memorable than Timothy Dalton’s Bond (or George Lazenby’s for that matter).

But once again Bond is back thanks to Daniel Craig and a return to a grittier, more violent Bond.

Which brings us to Superman. Every bit as iconic as Batman and Bond, if not more so. For many (most?) people in the world, if they were asked to name one superhero, it would be Superman. The Christopher Reeve-Superman reintroduced the character (much like the Keaton-Batman) but it too devolved into camp and parody (Richard Pryor?), again much like the Batman movies of the 80s/90s and the Bond films of the late-90s/early 00s.

But here’s where Batman and Bond made a critical choice. Those franchises were reimagined to be grittier, more real and more authentic feeling. Perhaps it is because these two characters are human and could therefore return ‘to their roots.’ The change was dramatic. When you see the Dark Knight or Casino Royale you realize you are seeing something clearly different from what you had seen before. With Superman Returns the change wasn’t great enough. It wasn’t that it was a bad movie, but you don’t hear anyone talking about the Superman movie franchise. What could they have done? Well, it wouldn’t work now because of Hancock, but what about making Will Smith Superman? Here’s a guy who is box office gold internationally and could have completely re-invented the character. That would have been a really bold move and totally broken away from all the baggage of the Superman character.

Another example: Star Wars. The three prequels made money, but in many ways hurt the creative integrity of the franchise. I’m very interested to see how the animated Clone Wars movie will be received. This is a dramatic change and clearly a departure from the previous theatrical efforts. Grant McCracken posted today about the X-Files movie (yet another example of a franchise with a challenge). He sees the history of the X-Files as a burden that has stultified the creativity and freshness of the franchise. I agree with him and would have like to have seen a dramatic change for the new movie.

Super Powered Summer: A Tribute to the Villains

Wed, 24 Jul 2008 20:00:00 GMT

posted by NJKidd5
Special Guest Post by A.A.C. Puryear
(Enjoy this post? Read other articles contributed by A.A.C.)

For as much as I love superheroes, I must say that most of them would be nothing without their evil, law-breaking counterparts. The plot of any superhero story is often centered around the acts and motives of his villain, leaving the writers of the tale the exciting challenge of creating much of the external conflict in a single dynamic character.

However, the earlier movies of this super-powered summer did not necessarily follow this format. In the case of Iron-Man and The Incredible Hulk, the heroes spent most of the story fighting against an army of no-name enemies, leading up to a climactic fight against another major character who had acquired abilities similar to the hero; Tony Stark took out terrorists and then had an iron-suit duel with his former business partner, and Bruce Banner tossed U.S military soldiers like rag dogs before taking down the one soldier who had become the Abomination. The story in Hancock was engineered in such a way that anyone one could call a villain played a fairly minor role; it was simply a slew bank robbers and escaped jailbirds.

However, the last two superhero movies of the summer proved to have excellent villains, ones with evil schemes and a cunning ability to, as the Green Goblin so elegantly put it, attack the heart. In Hellboy II: The Golden Army, we meet Prince Nuada, a non-aging exile in the fantastical underworld who comes to take revenge on humanity for breaking an ancient truce with his people. In the first half of the movie, I enjoyed watching his storyline play out much more than I did the heroes, as Nuada, after training for years on end, fought his way through magical being and human alike in order to track down the three pieces to his father’s crown which would give him control of the unstoppable Golden Army. He later makes our heroes question their actions, telling Hellboy that humanity will never accept him and convincing Hellboy’s sidekick Abe Sapien to hand over the last piece of the crown to save the woman he loves. So why not just kill the evil badass? Unfortunately, he shares a powerful connection to his twin sister Princess Nuala, with whom Abe has fallen in love. Any pain one feels, so does the other, meaning if the Prince is killed, so is the Princess. Here’s a story ripe with conflict from the very villain alone.

Yet, Prince Nuada does not hold a candle to the ever infamous Joker played by the late Heath Ledger, who gave the best performance of his life in this film. As I sat in the crowded movie theater on The Dark Knight’s opening day, I thought I was going to have nightmares about how creepy, psychotic, and just plain evil the Joker was. Throughout the course of the movie he terrorizes Gotham City by turning its citizens on each other, starting with a bank robbery in which he orders his accomplices to kill one another. He challenges Batman to reveal his true identity to the city and threatens that until he does so, people will die. Through a series of sadistic mind games, the Joker spreads chaos throughout the city, including an incident where he wires two ferries with explosives and tells the people on each that the only to save themselves is to blow up the other boat. He turns one of Gotham’s beloved heroes into a terrible villain almost as disturbing as the Joker himself, and he sets a trap in which he dresses his hostages as his accomplices in hope that the police will kill them not knowing who they really are.

But the worst part about the Joker and all his evil schemes is his motive: he’s just doing it for fun. He’s not in it for the money, he’s not seeking any sort of revenge, he’s not power-hungry to rule the world, he’s just bored and looking for a way to entertain himself.

Needless to say, I am happy to see the summer of superhero movies close out on such a powerful note with such incredible villains. These diabolical masterminds give us a reason to cheer on the heroes we love and them the good guys great every time they vanquish the forces of evil. It is unfortunate that now we won’t see any new on the big screen for now, but I’m just relieved to know I can satisfy my super-powered hero/villain fix in the near future when NBC’s Heroes returns with a new season chock full of never-before-seen bad guys.

Hellboy actor among cast of new holy heroine movie Magdalena

Wed, 24 Jul 2008 21:18:06 GMT

posted by TheGeekFiles

HELLBOY 2 actor Luke Goss and US actress Jenna Dewan are to star in a big-screen adaptation of female comicbook warrior Magdalena.

Goss, a former member of boy band Bros, has been cast as Kristof, while Dewan is to play Patience - the latest in a long line of women to become the holy heroine. The movie is set for release in 2010.

Dewan is a former dancer who is dating actor/model Channing Tatum (who appears in upcoming action-figure inspired adventure film G.I. Joe). The 27-year-old actress appeared in gothic TV series Dark Shadows; played the lead in 2005 high-school horror flick Tamara; and also appeared in movies Step Up and The Grudge 2.

Magdalena, created by comicbook company Top Cow Productions, has featured in a mini-series and as a guest character in several comics such as Darkness, Witchblade, Tomb Raider, The Angelus and Vampirella, as well as in a crossover issue with Marvel's Daredevil.

Hollywood Reporter said Gale Anne Hurd's Valhalla Motion Pictures, Platinum Studios and Top Cow Productions were behind the project.

In the story, convent-raised Patience discovers that she's a part of the Madgalena - a lineage of female warriors descended from Mary Magdalene who fight supernatural evil for the Church. A secret council of cardinals called The Inquisition guards the lineage and supervises the Magdalena's activities.

Kristof is an agent for The Inquisition who is sent to help Patience embrace her destiny. Patience learns to wield a weapon called the Spear of Destiny and battles to save a friend from being sacrificed by a pagan order who want to bring a terrible evil into the world.

Goss, 39, plays the otherworldly Prince Nuada in supernatural comicbook flick Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, recently released in the USA and out in the UK on August 22. Luke confirmed the role in the Magdalena movie, telling fans : "I am very excited about this project."

Comic-Con 2008 Thursday’s Line-Up!

Wed, 24 Jul 2008 14:35:33 GMT

posted by fusedfilm

So a lot is happening today…but I wanted to point out the more film oriented aspects on today’schedule from Comic-Con. Punisher, Lost Boys and RocknRolla all have their spots tonight with other films such as the Day the Earth Stood Still and GI JOE . Read below for more info on what is gonna be covered and who is involved. As we mentioned earlier this week we are not covering this live so we will have to wait and hear whats being released and such and you bet that we will have it up as soon as we can and with all our commentry laden thoughts. Stay Fused!

11:30-12:30 Hasbro: GI Joe — As Hasbro ramps up for the summer 2009 blockbuster movie release of GI Joe , Aaron Archer (Hasbro Design), Michael Ritchie (Hasbro Marketing), and Michelino Paolino (Hasbro Design) discuss this year’s product line, entertainment, and other initiatives. Panelists will include special guests that you won’t want to miss, plus Q&A! Room 7AB

11:30-1:00 20th Century Fox: The Day The Earth Stood Still and Max Payne —

Stars Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly, plus director Scott Derrickson and producer Erwin Stoff, present an exclusive look at The Day The Earth Stood Still , Fox’s contemporary reinvention of its 1951 classic. Keanu is Klaatu, an alien whose arrival on our planet triggers a global upheaval. As governments and scientists race to unravel the mystery behind the visitor’s appearance, a woman (Jennifer) and her young stepson get caught up in his mission—and come to understand the ramifications of his being a self-described "friend to the Earth." Klaatu Barada Nikto.

The legendary interactive video game Max Payne comes to the big screen, telling the story of a maverick cop determined to track down those responsible for the brutal murder of his family and partner. Hell-bent on revenge, his obsessive investigation takes him on a nightmare journey into a dark underworld. As the mystery deepens, Max is forced to battle enemies beyond the natural world and face an unthinkable betrayal. " Max Payne" himself—Mark Wahlberg —will be on hand with Mila Kunis, Ludacris, and director John Moore to discuss turning the game’s noirish, hard-hitting, and complex world and characters into a movie event.

3:00-4:00 Disney: Race to Witch Mountain — What secrets does Witch Mountain hold? Stars Dwayne Johnson and Carla Gugino and director Andy Fickman talk about the mysterious, paranormal activity around Witch Mountain. Dwayne, Carla, and Andy will present the first look at the movie and answer audience questions as they talk about the thrilling action-adventure that is set to hit theatres in March 2009! Hall H

4:15-5:15 Lionsgate/Marvel: Hulk vs. Wolverine — Alberta, Canada: Over the past week, the Incredible Hulk has been tearing a line across the Canadian wilderness, leaving a swathe of destruction in his wake. He has to be stopped, and there’s only one man up to the job. He’s the best at what he does, but what he does isn’t very nice. He’s Wolverine, an elite agent of Canada’s top secret Department H, and he’s been put on Hulk’s trail with a single objective: stop the green goliath…at all costs. Hulk and Wolverine are about to enter the fiercest battle of their lives. And they have no idea that there are a few unpleasant surprises waiting for them on the other side. Meet Craig Kyle (supervising producer/co-writer), Frank Paur (producer/supervising director), Christopher Yost (co-writer), and others involved in this Marvel Animation milestone and watch the complete Hulk vs. Wolverine months before its January 2009 Blu-ray and DVD release! Hall H

5:30-6:30 Dark Castle: RocknRolla — Launched in 1999, Dark Castle Entertainment was founded to create a unique brand of horror movies inspired by the works of legendary filmmaker William Castle. Recently, Dark Castle entered into an arrangement with CIT Group Inc. to broaden the company into a full genre label encompassing feature films, Home Video and comic books. Under the supervision of producer Joel Silver, Dark Castle’s upcoming roster includes the action film RocknRolla , directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Gerard Butler, scheduled for an October 2008 release; Ninja Assassin , directed by James McTeigue and starring Korean music sensation Rain; and Whiteout , directed by Dominic Sena and starring Kate Beckinsale. Its Home Video titles will include The Hills Run Red , starring Sophie Monk, William Sadler and Tad Hilgenbrink, and comic book projects will include Ferryman , by Marc Andreyko and Jonathan Wayshak. Appearing in person: Gerard Butler and Guy Ritchie (Rocknrolla ), Rain (Ninja Assassin ), and producer Joel Silver . Hall H

8:00-8:30 Lionsgate and Marvel: Punisher: War Zone! — Producer Gale Anne Hurd (The Incredible Hulk ) and stars Ray Stevenson (Rome ) and Julie Benz (Rambo, Dexter ) take you into the world of the Punisher for an exclusive first look. You won’t be prepared! Room 6B

10:00-12:00 Warner Premiere and Warner Home Video: World Premiere of Lost Boys The Tribe — Prepare to sink your teeth into the long-awaited and highly anticipated next chapter of the cult phenomenon started by the 1987 cult classic, and be the first to see Lost Boys The Tribe before its July 29 DVD release at this special world premiere. More than 20 years in the making, Lost Boys The Tribe is an homage to the original 1987 cult hit and stars Corey Feldman as vampire hunter Edgar Frog, along with Tad Hilgenbrinck, Angus Sutherland, and Autumn Reeser, with appearances by Jamison Newlander and Corey Haim. Meet the cast and filmmakers as director P J Pesce and original Lost Boys star Corey Feldman are joined by Tad Hilgenbrinck , Angus Sutherland , and Autumn Reeser to answer questions and talk about the making of this new horror classic. Ballroom 20

ShareThis