gerard butler - Articles - Zimbio

Slideshow: Gerard Butler - Hot Or Not?

Mon, 7 Oct 2008 14:21:53 GMT

posted by Squints

Gerard Butler is one of our favorite Scottish actors. He played the disfigured musical genius in Phantom of the Opera and the Spartan King Leonidas in 300. He's definitely hot in our opinion,

Gerard Butler unsure of prequel/sequel project for Spartan war epic 300

Thu, 5 Sep 2008 12:13:06 GMT

posted by TheGeekFiles

ACTOR Gerard Butler says he is unsure how Warner Bros could proceed with a follow-up film to the Spartans-on-steroids war epic 300.

When the 2007 historical fantasy - made for a mere $65million by Zack Snyder - raked in $456million, the studio execs heard the 'ker-ching' of box office tills and, predictably, wanted to continue the success in some form.

Gerard Butler has just spoken to SuperheroHype about suggestions for a 300 sequel or prequel when he was at the Toronto press conference for the Guy Ritchie crime flick RocknRolla.

The 38-year-old Scottish hottie said: "I've heard some backroom chatter, but nothing more, so I don't know if it would be a sequel or a prequel. I don't want say anymore than that, because I really don't know. I haven't read anything.

"I can't see it myself - sequel for me absolutely not, but I just mean the idea generally, I'm really not sure which way they would go with that."

I'm really not sure either. Quite honestly, how can you do a sequel to a movie in which all the main cast died? And is there any interest in doing a prequel showing the earlier days of the Spartan empire leading up to that epic event. I doubt it.

Instead, what the studio should be doing is applying the film-making techniques of 300 to some other projects, whether historical epics or not. Some stunning sci-fi, fantasy, history or superhero flicks could be made using the same visual stylings and low-budget bluescreen technology.

And let's remember, 300 was far from a perfect movie. It may have been a visual feast - but it was an emotional famine in storytelling. The movie was adapted from Frank Miller's graphic novel of the same name and was a stylised retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, with Spartan king Leonidas (Butler) and an army of just 300 fighting to the death against the Persian 'god-king' Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro in an androgynous and over-adorned role rather like Lord of the Bling) and his army of a million warriors.

The movie attempted to add in some emotional content by beefing up the role of Queen Gorgo, played by Lena Headey (Sarah Connor on Fox's Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles). But, in the end, it often felt rather hollow - although undeniably visually stunning apart from a horribly out-of-place animatronic wolf at the beginning which didn't at all mesh with the digital landscapes.

The history wasn't accurate of course - this was very much a surreal version of events, with a giant rhinoceros, a goat-headed musician and other fantastical elements.

And it caused some upset too for its depictions of the Persian peoples. Persia became known as Iran from 1935 and the Iranian Academy of the Arts submitted a formal complaint against the movie to UNESCO, saying it was an attack on the historical identity of Iran. The Iranian mission to the U.N. objected to the film and Iranian embassies spoke out about the movie in France, Thailand, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

At the time, Warner Bros responded by saying: "[This] is a work of fiction inspired by the Frank Miller graphic novel and loosely based on a historical event. The studio developed this film purely as a fictional work with the sole purpose of entertaining audiences; it is not meant to disparage an ethnicity or culture or make any sort of political statement."[96]

So, all in all, taking into account the dead-end storyline and the various criticisms, a prequel or sequel doesn't sound a good idea. Let's see some other myths and historical tales brought to life with the same technology instead.

RocknRolla (2008)

Sat, 7 Sep 2008 20:19:23 GMT

posted by bombippy

RocknRolla (2008). Written and directed by Guy Ritchie.

I'm a fan of Guy Ritchie's British gangster films and RocknRolla is one entertaining movie. There are the usual double-crosses, multiple story lines, Tarantino-like dialogue and the impressive ensemble cast — Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Ludacris, Jeremy Piven.

The plot is confusing at times but voiceover narration ensures that you can follow along without getting too lost. It doesn't require repeated viewings like Ritchie's last film, Revolver (2005).

The soundtrack is scorching, the camera style is familiar and the setting is east London. There isn't anything new or groundbreaking about this film except maybe the sex scene with Thandie Newton and Gerard Butler. It lasts a few seconds and you'll find it quite amusing.

RocknRolla is centred around a real estate scam with a Russian billionaire and a British crime boss (Tom Wilkinson). There are several sub-plots involving an expensive painting that goes missing, a rock star that fakes his own death, and a police snitch. I don't want to give away too much so you'll have to see it for yourself when it gets released this fall.

Guy Ritchie introduced the afternoon screening that I saw at the Ryerson theatre but didn't stick around for a Q&A; afterward (the premiere was the night before). I found the movie to be a lot of fun and exactly what I expected. Sometimes you just want to be entertained instead of discovering the next Godard.

Films are rated from 1 to 4 stars.

TIFF'08 - RocknRolla
Official movie website

P.S. I Love you (2007)

Sat, 14 Sep 2008 21:53:00 GMT

posted by klawedkillerkitten

(Synopsis) Holly (Hilary Swank) has been married nine years to a wild Irishman, Gerry Kennedy (Gerard Butler), and her one true love. Unfortunately for Holly, Gerry is diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. Knowing he only has a short time to live; Gerry writes Holly a series of letters that will guide her through her grief. The first message arrives on Holly's 30th birthday. Gerry has sent her a birthday cake and a tape recording explaining the letters that she will be getting in the mail. Over the next year, Gerry wants Holly to follow the orders in his letters by going on new adventures and to celebrate life by finding herself. Holly's best friends, Denise (Lisa Kudrow) and Sharon (Gina Gershon), accompany her on her journey. Gerry always signs off each letter with "P.S. I Love You."

(My Comment) This is definitely a chick flick that will not only make you cry, but make you laugh, plus the women will fall in love with Gerard Butler. Gerard was excellent in his part and Hilary did a fine job as well. At first I didn't think Hilary could pull off the romantic comedy role, but in the end you get use to her doing it. Hilary actually makes you feel her pain and how devastated she was when her husband died. I guarantee you that you will tear up during several scenes. Overall it was an enjoyable chick flick that you can take a date.

Author: Douglas Young

Jennifer Aniston Hooks Up With Gerard Butler?

Wed, 11 Sep 2008 00:48:00 GMT

posted by perezrichie
Jennifer Aniston Hooks Up With Gerard Butler?

Jennifer Aniston's love life may have been a bit of a disaster movie of late, but at least she has a good Friend and a glass of red wine to rely on.

Best buds Jen, 39, and Courtney Cox, 44, wore matching grey outfits when they caught up at a clothes launch at Sunwest Studios in New York.

And Jen may not be moping around for long. Our spies tell us the serial dater has been seen out and about with Gerard Butler, left, the Scots actor currently on cinema screens in RocknRolla. Mmm, there's a nice bit of kilt.

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