Archive for November, 2009
The Book Of Eli Poster
Nov 25th
After The Taking Of Pelham 123 this film looks like a return to form for Denzel Washington – who 90% of the time is involved in a good movie. Gary Oldman is always great as a villain as well – True Romance, Leon, The Firm (TV Movie), Bram Strokers Dracula ect
The Book Of Eli is a post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man – Denzel Washington looking like a badass, fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. Book Of Eli is directed by the Hughes Brothers (Menace 2 society, Dead Presidents, From Hell) and also stars Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Malcolm McDowell and Ray Stevensen. Look out for it in cinemas 15th January 2010
John Woo Interview
Nov 25th
The good people over at Undergroundrepublik (my cousins site check it out!) recently interviewed John Woo (Hard Boiled, Face Off, Mission Impossible 2) while he was promoting Red Cliff in Canada – Red Cliff is definitely one of my top 10 films of 2009. Check out some of the results below, you can read the full interview here.
Why did you decide to make a film about this specific battle and how did the novel ‘the romance of the three kingdoms’ influence it?
John Woo: I grew up with the story and admired many of the heroes, I’ve wanted to make this movie for over 20 years. It’s one of the most famous battles in China’s history and the story is a very inspiring one. The battle shows how a smaller army can defeat a larger and more powerful enemy through the combination of teamwork, intelligence and courage, so I think it could be made into a very encouraging movie. I’ve been studying this part of history since I was a kid and I have learned so much from it. There are quite a few characters, like Zhou Yu, the one who is saving a little baby in the middle of battle, that soldier was so brave, so loyal and he was a great warrior, since I admired him so much, I decided to use it in the final scene of Hardboiled when Chow Yun Fat is admist all the gunfire and saving a baby(laughs). The Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a very old novel from China and it is fiction but it is a great story that I have known since I was a child and it is very well known in china, it is a beautiful piece that inspired me heavily.
What advice can you recommend to young film makers?
John Woo: Just to keep making films, never stop and you must be yourself, I am so excited to see new film makers and I love all the new styles that are coming out. The most important thing is to believe in yourself.
What’s your next big project?
John Woo: I am working on so many projects, one is called Flying Tiger, it’s going to be a big Hollywood movie. It’s about the friendship between the Chinese and American pilots in World War 2 and how they helped win and it’s going to have lots of action. We are still working on the script and want to film it next year in both China and America. I am also working on a remake of Melville’s “Le Samourai” then also I’m working to make The Killer as a producer. I think it’s going to be directed by a Korean director, John Lee, a very talented young director. It’ll be an American movie, all in English, and I also want to do a Marco Polo movie.
Ninja Assassin Red Band Trailer
Nov 25th
I am looking forward to this, negative reviews have slightly put me off but it still interests me, what red blooded male doesn’t like ninjas!!!! Check out the new Red Band Trailer below it’s got a lot of blood. This film is out today in the states but not until the 8th January 2010 in UK.
The Lovely Bones Poster & 2 New Clips
Nov 24th
Above is the new poster for Peter Jackson’s (Lord Of The Rings, Braindead, King Kong) highly anticipated film ‘The Lovely Bones’ which is based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same by Alice Sebold. Like a donut I missed the screening of the film due to the London Underground (thanks!!!!) I attended the press conference though, I’m gonna type that up in the next few days. The film is getting great feedback from those who have seen it and has been talked about a possible Oscar contender all year. Check out two new clips from the film below.
Based on the critically acclaimed best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, and directed by Oscar® winner Peter Jackson from a screenplay by Jackson & Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens, “The Lovely Bones” centers on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family – and her killer – from heaven. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal. Oscar® nominee Mark Wahlberg and Oscar® winners Rachel Weisz and Susan Sarandon star along with Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli and Oscar® nominee Saoirse Ronan.
Hugh Jackman set to star in Real Steel
Nov 24th
Variety have reported that DreamWorks Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider have greenlit Real Steel. This is the first film the studio has made since locking in $825 million. Real Steel will be directed by Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum) and star Hugh Jackman. It is based on a short story by Richard Matheson. Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider will be producing at DreamWorks, Real Steel is the first movie they’ve greenlit since splitting with Universal. Production will start on this project in June. The planned budget is $80 million.
Real Steel focuses on a fighter who has to reinvent himself when human boxers are replaced by robots. Jackman is going to play a struggling Robot Boxing promoter. He finds a discarded robot that always seems to come up on the winning end. Jackman’s character also realizes he has a 11-year-old son, and they grow closer as the robot fights its way toward the top.