A look at movies, especially films based on books (Yes that includes comics); Opinions, facts, movie charts, production news and, when possible a look at the movies VS their source material. I may also champion books I've read that really should be movies. I've also used it to display the unedited versions of my blogs for SyFy; (The sci-fi channel UK website.)Feel free to let me know about any stories that you think deserve the big screen treatment.
TheRealEverton
Come on, that’s better than sex right? O.K no, but it’s a
close second damn it! Message from the legendary del Toro...
“This was originally intended for only WonderCon, but after
listening to so many of you asking for more of the movie online, I think it's
time for me to show you more footage. Enjoy, my friends!
- Guillermo del Toro”
We cannot thank you enough Mr. Del Toro sir. The year
of sci-Fi heroics firmly back on track with Iron Man Three (after the gorgeous,
but disappointing Oblivion let us down) Pacific Rim may have been falling off
the radar a little bit. With Man of Steel, Star Trek Into Darkness & Thor
stealing the sci-fi / comic book headlines thanks to some pretty exciting
trailers and teases, we needed to be reminded why Giant robots versus giant
Monsters is a cool thing, especially if you are with the majority of people and didn't spend many a misspent hour watching Japanese cartoons.
Synopsis...
“When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started
rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume
humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special
type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are
controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural
bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the
relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no
choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes--a washed up former pilot (Charlie
Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)--who are teamed to drive a
legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as
mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse.”
Thanks to its grounding in Mythology and the superb casting
of Hemsworth & Hiddlestone, and the writing of Thor & The Avengers Loki
is almost as big a draw as the return of the hero himself. Will Loki be getting
any kind of penance for bring the 9 worlds to the attention of Thanos and,
effectively ending the peace Odin spent centuries bringing to our corner of the
Universe?
Synopsis...
“Marvels "Thor: The Dark World" continues the
big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth
and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself.
In the aftermath of Marvels "Thor" and "Marvels The Avengers,"
Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the
vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with
an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most
perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster
and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.”
If you haven't got cinema's master of Shakespeare (Kenneth Branagh) to direct your second Thor film, what's the next best thing? Well how about somebody who has 6 episodes of Game Of Thrones under their belt? Alan Taylor is that somebody and he benefits from the impressive casting of Branagh's Thor; as with the Asgardians and 3 main humans all
returning, we get an even better cast this time. Chris
Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba,
Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson,
Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo and Sir Anthony
Hopkins. Although Clark Gregg's Agent Coulson continues to be missed.
Two more big trailers arrived last night. Both films are
relatively unusual for “blockbuster” films in modern times, in that their
release dates are spread out over a couple of months, as opposed to “Day &
Date” global releases or just a matter of weeks apart. Release dates for each film are below their respective trailers.
R.I.P.D...
First up we have Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Bacon
and Mary-Louise Parker star in Graphic Novel adaptation R.I.P.D – Rest In Peace
Department. Directed by Robert Schwentke (Flight Plan), who successfully adapted
another comic book series, RED (Retired Extremely Dangerous), the basic concept
is that there is an undead police force. Nick Walker (Reynolds) joins forces
with the R.I.P.D to catch the people who have just murdered him.
Synopsis...
“Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds headline the 3D supernatural
action-adventure R.I.P.D. as two cops dispatched by the otherworldly Rest In
Peace Department to protect and serve the living from an increasingly
destructive array of souls who refuse to move peacefully to the other side.
Veteran sheriff Roy Pulsifer (Bridges) has spent his career
with the legendary police force known as R.I.P.D. tracking monstrous spirits
who are cleverly disguised as ordinary people. His mission? To arrest and bring
to justice a special brand of criminals trying to escape final judgment by
hiding among the unsuspecting on Earth.
Once the wise-cracking Roy is assigned former rising-star
detective Nick Walker (Reynolds) as his junior officer, the new partners have
to turn grudging respect into top-notch teamwork. When they uncover a plot that
could end life as we know it, two of R.I.P.D.’s finest must miraculously
restore the cosmic balance...or watch the tunnel to the afterlife begin sending
angry souls the very wrong way.”
I know this may sound very similar to that other comic book
adaptation Men In Black, but after more than a century of film making and millennia
of storytelling, pretty much everything sounds like something else.
R.I.P.D trailer...
Release dates...
Country
Date
Hungary
18-Jul-13
Italy
18-Jul-13
Portugal
18-Jul-13
Russia
18-Jul-13
Taiwan
18-Jul-13
Spain
19-Jul-13
Turkey
19-Jul-13
USA
19-Jul-13
Belgium
31-Jul-13
France
31-Jul-13
Germany
01-Aug-13
Hong Kong
01-Aug-13
Denmark
08-Aug-13
Netherlands
08-Aug-13
Norway
09-Aug-13
Sweden
14-Aug-13
Argentina
15-Aug-13
Australia
12-Sep-13
The Lone
Ranger
Given that Westerns tend to do far less business
internationally than they do in North America, The Lone Ranger is definitely a
risk. Even with the super trio of Johnny Depp, Gore Verbinski & Jerry
Bruckheimer (Who made 4 extremely successful Pirates of The Caribbean films),
and the recent/continuing success of Tarantino’s Django Unchained ($257,220,912+
international versus $162,706,837 in North America), this $215m (cut from $250m), super hero Western is
by means guaranteed to make a profit at the cinema box office, although it
should make enough to make a series of films viable; and that is usually the
first target these days.
From Mouse Hunt & The Ring, to The Mexican, Rango and
the first three Pirates films, I’m a big, big fan of Gore Verbinski’s
particular form of entertainment, soI have to say I’m looking forward to this
one. He said:-
"I have always been intrigued by characters who exist at
times of monumental change. They are somehow cast against the events that
engulf them and magnified. The Lone Ranger is a story of two outcasts bonded by
adversity at a time when the lines between right and wrong have become blurred.
With no well defined beacons to aid them, and no tribe to return to, they are a
glorious pair of misfits: A band apart."
Synopsis...
“From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski,
the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean franchise,
comes Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films' The Lone Ranger, a thrilling adventure
infused with action and humour, in which the famed masked hero is brought to
life through new eyes.
Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts
the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, a
legend of justice -- taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises
and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together
and fight against greed and corruption.
The Lone Ranger also stars Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner,
Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson and Helena Bonham Carter.”
There is a 25min Q&A with Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and Gore Verbinski at the bottom. The Lone
Ranger trailer 3...
