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2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997
1-20 of 677 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
3D for Robin Hood, Jackass, and Star Wars?
16 hours ago | newsinfilm.com | See recent newsinfilm news »
Expensive three-dimensional technology seems to be paying off for James Cameron’s Avatar, which topped a competitive Christmas weekend and is wowing audiences worldwide. This naturally has Hollywood types looking through dollar sign pupils at their upcoming releases and stroking their beards at how to replicate that success.
Though Avatar was shot in 3D from the beginning, an increasing number of executives are seeing the benefit of spending the extra $8 million for at least a post-production conversion to three dimensions. It’s not just in the premium pricing either. In a time when theaters are under siege from piracy and the possibility of on-demand, as well as a struggling DVD market, there’s value in luring audiences back to stadium seating and sticky floors.
TheWrap.com’s Sharon Waxman wrote a great article about the 3D mania sweeping the town, naming a few titles that may be getting the new experience. »
- Jeff Leins
Views: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Deconstructed
22 hours ago | doorQ.com | See recent doorQ.com news »
Why link to yet another analysis of Lucas' epic failure? Because, in my opinion, this is the definitive critique. It's also effing hilarious. After watching the first of the 7 segments, you may well want to view the others. It's worth it, both for the spot-on analysis and the many laugh-out-loud moments.
This is a review that pulls no punches, but has the presence of mind to explain - using specific examples - why those punches are being thrown in the first place, and the whole thing works as a good primer for storytelling and movie-making, as well.
In keeping with the horrific aspect of DoorQ, there's even a wacky subplot about the narrator's penchant for keeping kidnap victims in his basement.
Among my favorite quotes:
"If you're someone who's under the age of, like, 20, who says his least favorite film in the series is The Empire Strikes Back because it was, »
Epic Fail: The Most Disappointing Movies Of The Decade
26 December 2009 12:09 PM, PST | cinemablend.com | See recent Cinema Blend news »
Everyone had that experience as a child when you heard Mom or Dad were getting ice cream at the store and they came home with Rum Raisin or Wintergreen Ice Milk. The disappointment we felt then was not unlike the disappointment we felt over the last ten years after watching anything M. Night Shyamalan did post-Signs. We thought we were getting a big honking scoop of Chocolate Chip and instead we got Rum Raisin. The movies weren.t always bad, they just didn.t live up to the expectations we attached to them. We mourn them as missed opportunities, or curse them for taking our money and giving us less than we wanted or deserved in return. Remember the bad times. These were the most disappointing movies of the past decade. Indiana Jones and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) This is sort of a cheat, because George Lucas' involvement was, »
Japanese “Tekken” Poster and Plot Summary
26 December 2009 1:57 AM, PST | Filmofilia | See recent Filmofilia news »
A new Japanese poster for Dwight H. Little’s movie “Tekken,” based on the long running and highly successful Namco video game franchise of the same name, has been revealed.
Tekken Plot: Set in 2039, the greatest fighters from around the world come to compete in the last and greatest sporting event of all time, the Fist Tournament. After World Wars destroy much of civilization as we know it, the remaining territories are no longer run by governments, but by corporations the mightiest of which is Tekken. In order to keep the masses down, Tekken sponsors the Iron Fist Tournament in which fighters compete to the death for ultimate glory and receive a lifetime of stardom and wealth.
We are introduced to this violent world through the eyes of Jin Kazama, a street fighter that enters the tournament in order to avenge the death of his mother that he blames upon »
- Allan Ford
Rumor: Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood, Terminator 2 and Star Wars Going 3D?
23 December 2009 3:00 PM, PST | Slash Film | See recent Slash Film news »
We've heard rumors before that George Lucas is working up a 3D version of the original Star Wars films, and those rumors are back again. This time, though, they've brought some friends - new rumors of Terminator 2 getting dimensionalised, and a claim that Ridley Scott is "breathing down the neck of executives at Universal to get them to approve making a 3D version of his new $200 million epic, Robin Hood". Studio Canal owns the rights to Terminator 2 and it's reportedly their plan to have a re-release in 3D. Is that good idea? Well, maybe. It all depends on two factors, I believe: how hungry the exhibitors are for 3D material, and how quickly home 3D systems are adopted. If there's a 3D T2 but nowhere to screen it, because everybody is still 'flat' at home and the 3D screens are filled with new pictures, then it won't matter »
- Brendon Connelly
Western Wednesdays: ‘Vera Cruz’
23 December 2009 2:15 PM, PST | The Flickcast | See recent The Flickcast news »
Vera Cruz is a film that’s often name-dropped in the discussion of Great and Influential Westerns. Starring genre heavy-weight Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster, every synopsis you’re likely to come across promises a film with adventure, a Mexican countess, and bromance. Don’t believe them.
Cruz is set in the midst of the Mexican Revolution of 1866, a time when mercenaries and adventurers crossed the border in search of profitable employment. In fact, it’s the very same setting as Two Mules for Sister Sara, and if fanfiction had existed in the good old days, someone would have written a sexy crossover. Thank goodness it didn’t.
The film wastes no time in setting up Ben Trane (Cooper) and Joe Erin (Lancaster) as that most reliable of Western archetypes — the broken down Confederate, and the daring mercenary. Their characters are rigidly defined within the first ten minutes over the matter of horseflesh. »
- Elisabeth Rappe
Hollywood to Continue Sending 3D at You
23 December 2009 1:38 PM, PST | Collider.com | See recent Collider.com news »
With the expected success of James Cameron’s Avatar, a 3-Dimensional craze has begun to sweep Hollywood according to Waxword columnist Sharon Waxman over at The Wrap. Although filming completed some time ago and despite a trailer already online, director Ridley Scott is apparently seeking approval from Universal executives to create a 3D version to his $200 million Robin Hood reimagining. A deal is currently in the works with Studio Canal-the studio that owns the rights to Cameron’s legendary “Terminator 2″-to fast track a screen-popping version of the film.
Hit the jump for more directors looking to send audience’s eyes into a frenzy.
In a move that surprises pretty much no one, George Lucas is pondering the possibility of a 3D version to Star Wars. Meanwhile, the director’s good buddy Steven Spielberg reportedly called Avatar the best film he’s ever seen, so don’t be surprised »
- Kevin Mahadeo
The Best of the Decade: 2000-2009
23 December 2009 9:56 AM, PST | MovieWeb | See recent MovieWeb news »
A best of the decade list is an incredible thing to consider. The Aughts were ripe with imagination and originality. The past ten years also came jam packed with many new visionary directors that changed the cinematic landscape forever. Yet, at the same time, it was also a decade wrought with remakes, rip-offs, ten-year late sequels, and films based on preexisting toy properties, comic books, and amusement park rides. George Lucas offended almost everyone by dusting off his Star Wars mythos and adding copious amounts of CGI to it. And Batman, a caped figure in tights who last flourished in the trippy sixties, managed to crawl head and shoulders above the rest at the box office to be crowned king. Thus proving that the so-called "geek" or "fanboy" truly ruled the silver screen over the course of this tumultuous past decade. Today, we look at the ten films that ruled »
Blu-ray players could top the Christmas list, but the format has a long way to go
23 December 2009 8:50 AM, PST | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »
Sales of Sony's premium product have disappointed so far, accounting for just 12% of DVD player sales in Europe
It offers pictures with up to six times more detail than standard DVDs, and should be the ideal way to view films on the high-definition TVs now reckoned to be in nearly 50% of households. But although big-name releases – such as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Star Trek XI – are expected to boost sales of blu-ray players and discs this Christmas, the format has not been the hit that many expected.
Two years ago, Sony was brimming with confidence: in April 2007 it produced an internal presentation of sales projections which reckoned that by the end of 2009, 27m players would be in use, and 85m discs sold.
Blu-ray player sales have grown rapidly this year , but they still make up less than 12% of DVD player sales in western Europe, according to data »
- Charles Arthur
The force is with you, traders, but you are not Jedis yet
22 December 2009 2:43 PM, PST | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »
Darth Vader surprises Wall Street by ringing the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange
May the force be with you, Wall Street stockbrokers. Flanked by a "colour guard" of humourless stormtroopers, Darth Vader helped ring the opening bell this morning on the New York Stock Exchange.
Share prices have obliged the Sith Lord by advancing in a positive direction. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the day with a rise of 50 points to 10,464. There's nothing like a prod with a lightsaber to get investors into the buying mood.
Darth Vader's presence on Wall Street was a Christmas publicity stunt organised by George Lucas's production company, Lucasfilm, on the dubious premise of celebrating "30 years as the number one selling licensed toy property in the Us". The pint-sized android R2-D2 got to mingle with unimpressed looking floor traders afterwards.
Toronto's Globe and Mail newspaper has asked for caption »
- Andrew Clark
Exclusive: The Roots Of The 'Family Guy: Something Something Something Dark Side' Poster In This Clip
22 December 2009 2:30 PM, PST | MTV Movies Blog | See recent MTV Movies Blog news »
You know that, starting today, you can finally see the second installment in Seth McFarlane's "Star Wars" spoofs, "Family Guy: Something Something Something Dark Side," right? It's a home video release (Blu-ray/DVD), and it's hilarious stuff. Another great send-up of George Lucas's classic sci-fi franchise.
In this exclusive clip from the home video release's bonus features, you can see the parody poster artists, as well as original "Empire Strikes Back" poster artist Roger Kastel(!!!), discussing how the "Family Guy"-infused image came together. Look for the Blu-ray/DVD in stores today!
»
- Adam Rosenberg
Japanese Poster for Tekken
21 December 2009 10:13 AM, PST | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »
As of late, there hasn't been any word yet on the distribution plans for the live action adaptation of the popular fighting video game Tekken in North America. Meanwhile in Japan, the marketing campaign has started to set in motion with the arrival of the teaser poster at the Japanese official site featuring Wushu martial artist Jon Foo (Tom-Yum-Goong) as Jin Kazama on the front. Kudos goes to costumes designer/make-up department for getting the likeness right.
Based on the long running and highly successful Namco video game franchise of the same name, Tekken is a high-octane, action packed thriller written for the screen by Alan McElroy (Spawn, The Marine) and to be directed by Dwight Little (Anacondas, Murder at 1600) with fight choreography tentatively by Dion Lam (Spider-Man 2, Doom, Red Cliff).
Set in 2039, the film promises non-stop high flying action as the greatest fighters from around the world »
The Decade’s Film: 2005-2009
21 December 2009 7:33 AM, PST | t5m.com | See recent t5m.com news »
It had been a successful decade for the comic book movie, with that trend continuing into the latter half of the decade. Just as looked like the public demand for irradiated heroes looked to be diminishing, with lacklustre showings from the likes of Spider-Man 3 and Fantastic Four, out came Iron Man. Coupled with a brilliant script and an excellent performance from Robert Downey Jr as the titular zillionaire industrialist/playboy/freedom fighter/all-round genius, the end result was something truly special. Downey’s career was also revitalised, earning him a role in Tropic Thunder (which would earn him an Oscar nomination). Louis Leterrier’s The Incredible Hulk took a similar approach, this time giving Edward Norton of Fight Club fame a shot at getting under the skin of the green goliath. They set a tough act to follow, but followed they were by one Christopher Nolan. With the Batman »
- Uprising
Lucasfilm Tests Out HD Capable Dslr Cameras for Red Tails, Possibly Star Wars TV Series
21 December 2009 12:54 AM, PST | Slash Film | See recent Slash Film news »
Somehow, I'm not surprised that Lucasfilms is the first major Hollywood production company (that we've heard of) to look into consumer-level Dslr digital cameras that can shoot HD video. For better or worse, George Lucas has always been a pioneer in digital filmmaking. Learning how to use these small DSLRs (at least, compared to large professional-grade HD cameras) could help them immensely with future projects. We know that Lucasfilm is interested in these cameras because they invited filmmaker and Dslr blogger Philip Bloom over to the Skywalker Ranch to demonstrate what, exactly, they're capable of. Bloom wrote up his experience on his blog, and also compiled a mesmerizing bit of HD footage filmed around the ranch. They also revealed to Bloom that they're interested in using the cameras for cockpit footage in their upcoming Tuskagee airmen feature, Red Tails --- and possibly even in the upcoming live-action Star Wars TV »
- Devindra Hardawar
Why Did I Hate Avatar?
20 December 2009 4:01 PM, PST | HeyUGuys.co.uk | See recent HeyUGuys news »
Yeah, I know. It’s pretty strong, and I can feel the ire of those reading even as I type this. (Please note, this isn’t our official review, you can find that here, as written by Gary). Believe me though, it was never supposed to be like this. I’ve known about Avatar for a long time. I’ve been aware of the great time and effort (and money) that have been spent on this project. And those of you that read my article Could Avatar be a Cutting-Edge White Elephant know that I was desperate to get tickets to see it at the Imax.
I wanted to love it, I really did. And whilst I have a reputation for being cynical about movies, I want to like them all. If I didn’t, why would I spend so much of my time writing about them? It’s important »
- Barry Steele
Michael Jackson’s ‘Captain Eo’ to reopen at Disneyland Feb. 2010
20 December 2009 12:30 PM, PST | The Scorecard Review | See recent Scorecard Review news »
Michael Jackson is back. Ok, stay with me here: In February 2010, the “Honey I Shrunk The Audience” attraction at Disneyland in southern California is out. Taking back its place is a 17-minute “3-D musical motion picture space adventure” starring the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson, who performs two songs: “We Are Here to Change The World” and “Another Part of Me.” The movie was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and produced by George Lucas.
The 3-D experience is called Captain Eo, and it originally played at Epcot and Disneyland starting in 1986 until closing around 1998. Captain Eo cost about a million dollars to make per minute, and was at the time the most expensive motion picture ever.
The short film was about Captain Eo (Jackson) and his crew traveling towards a bitter queen who lived in a cold dark world. (who was played by Anjelica Huston). In the original presentation, lasers, »
- Nick Allen
Captain Eo Returns to Disneyland in 2010!
19 December 2009 12:01 PM, PST | MovieWeb | See recent MovieWeb news »
Disney Parks Official Blog has confirmed that Captain Eo will return to Disneyland in Anaheim for a limited engagement this February. The very popular attraction, which was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by George Lucas, ran from 1986 until 1997. The movie tells the story of Captain Eo and the ragtag crew of his spaceship on a mission to deliver a gift to a wicked alien queen, the Supreme Leader, on her home world of rotting, twisted metal and steaming vents. Captain Eo's alien crew consists of his small flying sidekick Fuzzbucket, the double-headed navigator and pilot Idee and Odee, robotic security officer Major Domo, a small robot Minor Domo (who fits like a module into Major Domo), and the clumsy elephant-like shipmate Hooter who always manages to blunder the crew's missions. How long the film will run has not yet been confirmed, but it may stick around for »
A 70-minute Takedown Of The Phantom Menace
19 December 2009 8:35 AM, PST | Filmmaker Magazine - Blog | See recent Filmmaker Magazine news »
A while back I blogged in response to all the lamenters of the decline in the number of film critics, writing that critics will have to find new forms of reviewing aimed at new online audiences. One critic who has just done that is, um... a serial killer named Mike from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. And he has done so not by crafting some kind of 30-second quick hit that you scan amidst flashing banner ads but with a hilarious, detailed, fan meta-critical 70-minute takedown of a film that most of you have probably already forgotten: George Lucas's Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace. Writes Peter Sciretta over at Slash Film: And this isn’t your usual fanboy rant, this is an epic, well-edited well-constructed piece of geek film criticism. In »
- Scott Macaulay
Disney Revives Michael Jackson's Captain Eo
18 December 2009 7:53 PM, PST | E! Online | See recent E! Online news »
Disney's hoping that it's been sitting on a goldmine. Seeing as how This Is It exceeded expectations at the global box office and Michael Jackson is back to artistic-hero status after his image spent years in decline, the Mouse House is bringing the 3-D film Captain Eo, starring Jackson as a thriller of an intergalactic commander, back into its theme park fold for a limited engagement in February. The cutting-edge song-and-dance spectacle, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, produced by George Lucas and costarring Angelica Huston as the Witch Queen, premiered at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., in 1986 and became a key attraction in Tomorrowlands around the world. Alas, Disneyland grounded Captain Eo in »
Disney Revives Michael Jackson's Captain Eo
18 December 2009 7:53 PM, PST | E! Online - UK | See recent E! Online - UK news »
Disney's hoping that it's been sitting on a goldmine. Seeing as how This Is It exceeded expectations at the global box office and Michael Jackson is back to artistic-hero status after his image spent years in decline, the Mouse House is bringing the 3-D film Captain Eo, starring Jackson as a thriller of an intergalactic commander, back into its theme park fold for a limited engagement in February. The cutting-edge song-and-dance spectacle, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, produced by George Lucas and costarring Angelica Huston as the Witch Queen, premiered at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., in 1986 and became a key attraction in Tomorrowlands around the world. Alas, Disneyland grounded Captain Eo in »
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997
1-20 of 677 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
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