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Dan Owen reviews

DAN'S   MOVIE   DIGEST

I s s u e   # 2 5

1 0   J a n u a r y   2 0 0 3

'Sky News' reports that Kelly Brook ("Smallville") is being tipped to star alongside Tom Cruise "Mission Impossible 3", to be directed by David Fincher ("Fight Club").

A film insider told 'The Sun' that: "Paramount, who make 'Sex And The City' and release the 'Mission Impossible' films, love her and want her for the film." Bosses think she will be great as Cruise's love interest in 'MI:3'. She's sexy and she can act. Scripts are just being finalized now."

If true, this really would cap a meteoric rise for Kelly Brook since she was unceremoniously sacked from Channel 4's "Big Breakfast" in the late-90s. Since then she has starred in TV's "Smallville" and lives with actor Jason Statham ("Snatch") in Los Angeles.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

Screenwriter Michael Chabon has updated 'Countingdown.com' with some new details about "Spider-Man 2". He said: "I turned in my draft of the script to 'Sony'. I thought it more or less rocked. Alas, not everyone involved with the project, apparently, agreed with my own unbiased assessment."

"As far as I know it has now been handed, along with the two prior drafts [Gough-Millar and Koepp] to a well-known and well-regarded script doctor, Alvin Sargent, who is married to the film's producer, Laura Ziskin. What he does with it all is a mystery that I'm as anxious as you to see revealed."

BATMAN V

An inside spy has read a version a proposed fifth Batman movie entitled "Batman: The Frightening", dated 23 December 2002. The script has been written by Rafael Yglesias ("From Hell") and Terry Hayes ("The Road Warrior").

The story kicks off with Bruce Wayne escaping from an asylum and the lead villain is The Scarecrow. The finale takes place on The Scarecrow's blimp. There is no Robin or Batgirl, but butler Alfred has a more prominent role. The reviewer also stated that the screenplay is perhaps slightly darker than Tim Burton's movies and is almost resembles a detective story.

ALEXANDER

'The Guardian' revealed the romantic angle of the upcoming "Alexander", saying that "in Baz Luhrmann/Leo DiCaprio's version [the romance] will run along the following lines - 'After taking three male lovers, and diverting himself with the odd eunuch, he will be shown putting politics before pleasure to do his duty with the single-breasted queen of the Amazons'.

Meanwhile, 'The Sydney Morning Herald' reports that Nicole Kidman has confirmed through her publicist that she will indeed play Alexander's mother Olympia in Luhrmann's film. She previously worked with the Aussie director in "Moulin Rouge!"

EI8GHT

The 'Internet Movie Database' has stated that a sequel to serial-killer smash-hit "Se7en" is to be made, entitled "Ei8ght".

An insider said: "The gruesome climax [to 'Se7en'] had previously ruled out a sequel. But bosses think they have the right script now. Brad [Pitt]'s character will be mentioned, but he will not appear. He will be in a mental hospital."

This rumour should be taken with a very large pinch of salt. Mainly because 'IMDB' information is extremely unreliable and, I mean, what will the title of "Ei8ght" actually relate to?! Another Deadly Sin nobody knew about?

EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS 2

'Moviehole' reports that producer Dean Devlin is in talks for a sequel to "Eight Legged Freaks", with David Arquette to return and Ellory Elkayem to direct again.

HARRY POTTER & THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

'E! Online' reports that Michael Gambon ("Sleepy Hollow") looks set to replace Richard Harris in the next Harry Potter movie.

'Entertainment Tonight' later confirmed with a 'Warner Brothers' representative that no-one has been cast yet and the Gambon rumour is false.

In related news, Gary Oldman ("Dracula") will star in the next two Harry Potter movies as Sirius Black.

THE HOBBIT

The 'Chicago Sun-Times' asked "Lord Of The Rings" director Peter Jackson if he will ever film "The Hobbit". Jackson replied: "People ask if I'm going to do 'The Hobbit' as my next film, and the answer is no. I think when I'm done with this trilogy I'll need a break from this theme and move on. I'm not saying never, but certainly not immediately."

DVDfever Dom adds: Upon hearing the news, Thorin sat down and started singing about gold. Gandalf took the curious map and went east, leaving me in a comfortable tunnel-like hall with a round green door.

THE HULK

A new photo has hit the 'net from Ang Lee's "The Hulk", showing Eric Bana post-Hulk transformation. (see right)

LORD OF THE RINGS - THE RETURN OF THE KING

Co-writer Philippa Boyens teased fans with what to expect from the final "Lord Of The Rings" movie next year.

Boyens said: "In film three, a huge part is the conflict between fathers and sons. Just as Gollum's schizophrenia is buried in the story and you have to dig it out, you have this story of fathers and sons."

"Merry learns how to ride a horse and wield a sword, and we make big differences in Middle-Earth."

Director Peter Jackson also said that Bilbo Baggins will return in the next film. "We saw Bilbo in the first film. He's a very affectionate character, but we will see him again in 'Return of the King,' when the journey ends as the Hobbits return to the Shire."

MEN IN BLACK III

'TV Guide' reports that 'Columbia-TriStar' are interested in another "Men In Black" sequel, despite the film being considered a creative by the film's producer, who said: "There were many disagreements among the different principals, and what came out was not a movie worthy of the franchise".

TOMORROW" spoiler!

Roland Emmerich's sci-fi disaster film doesn't arrive till 2004, but 'Delzo' caught has reviewed the screenplay and dished the following spoiles.

The Opening:

Los Angeles Destroyed: It only lasts a few minutes but one sequence has the City of Angels being ripped apart by multiple tornadoes including one tearing right through the heart of Sunset Blvd and a unique joke involving an Angelyne billboard.

The Super Freeze: The big juicy effect which will be awesome to see in this (it happens a few times) is the 'instant freeze' in which air sucked from the upper atmosphere rushes down and freezes everything on the ground (including people) in seconds.

TRON 2.0

Sadly, it seems that early excitement regarding a sequel to 80's sci-fi cult film "Tron" have proved unfounded. The talk of a "Tron 2.0" by industry insiders actually related to a video-game sequel, due out this Spring. Never mind.

STARSHIP TROOPERS 2

Actor Casper Van Dien commented on the sequel to "Starship Troopers" on his official site. Sadly his character, Johnny Rico, looks unlikely to return for the sequel - if one gets made.

Van Dien said: "They may do a 'Starship Troopers 2' with [Phil] Tippet set to direct. Starring Clancy Brown. Direct to Video. I talked with Ed Neumier [the original film's writer]. It is a confirmed maybe. So far I am not involved in that."

Producer Jon Davidson concurred with Van Dien when he talked to 'Moviehole', saying: "There may be a sequel to 'Starship Troopers'. If there is; it will be directed by Phil Tippett. It will be shot High Definition and go direct to DVD [at least in the US]. If it goes soon Clancy Brown won't be in it as he's busy with a series for HBO. If it goes in the summer or later, Clancy said he'd love to do it."

WES ANDERSON

Writer-director Wes Anderson ("The Royal Tenenbaums") is rumoured to be basing his next comedy on oddball characters that work for The Ministry Of Defence here in the UK!

xXx 2

Director Rob Cohen spoke with 'CNN' while promoting the "xXx" DVD and spilled some information about the sequel. He said: "I'm dedicated to the idea that there'll be no template for 'xXx'."
"Xander's adventures will always be different. It will not be going to another foreign place and having another exotic villain. I would like you to come to 'xXx-squared', as I call it, [in which you'll] think you're going to see the NSA and another Xander-defeats-the-bad-guys-in-strange-locales, and in fact I have something very different in mind... It will in fact, almost be a different genre of movie each time."
"There's two scripts being developed. One by Rich Wilkes, the original writer, our buddy from No. 1, and that will take place in Southeast Asia, in the Malacca Straits, and [there are] dirty doings going on in a much prettier place than Central Europe."

"[Also,] I've just hired Simon Kimberg to write more of a thriller that would take place in Washington, D.C., which isn't as pretty as Prague, but as we know, there's lots going on there today. I think Xander should save the United States, I think that's the next thing. [Simon's] script has a little more grit and thriller tension. Rich's is a splashy, fun, off-the-chain kind of adventure."

WARGAMES 2

Producer Walter Parkes recently talked with 'Screenwriting' magazine about "Catch Me If You Can", and was asked if he will ever write anything for the big-screen again. Parkes has only ever written two scripts in his career: "WarGames" and "Sneakers".

Parkes said that "I'm actually writing a follow-up to 'WarGames'. The idea's actually been floating around up there - in my head - for years, but it's just been finding time to sit down and write it."

"Anyway, we're doing that right now. I'd like to keep most of it secret for the moment but it'd definitely deal with the information age explosion we've been dealt in years to come. We're hoping Matthew [Broderick] and Ally [Sheedy] will come back to play David and Jennifer."

"We'd love John [Badham] to direct of course. 'War Games 2' will take us up to about 2004. I'll be producing another of [Tom] Hanks' films then. But early days on that."

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers ($25.0m)

2. Catch Me If You Can ($21.1m)

3. Two Weeks Notice ($11.1m)

4. Maid in Manhattan ($8.6m)

5. About Schmidt ($8.5m)

6. Gangs of New York ($7.3m)

7. The Wild Thornberrys Movie ($5.5m)

8. Drumline ($5.3m)

9. Chicago ($4.9m)

10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ($4.6m)

UK TOP 10 (CINEMA)

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (�5.7m)

2. Star Trek: Nemesis (�1.95m)

3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (�1.14m)

4. Die Another Day (�1.09m)

5. Sweet Home Alabama (�0.87m)

6. Cidade de Deus (�0.30m)

7. The Santa Clause 2 (�0.29m)

8. Like Mike (�0.13m)

9. The Quiet American (�0.11m)

10. Chicago (�0.08m)

TRAILERS

Kill Bill - Teaser #1

What's it about?
The fourth film from Quentin Tarantino is "Kill Bill", starring Uma Thurman as "The Bride" - a female assassin who wakes up from a 5-year coma and vows vengeance on the man who put her there - Bill...
Buzz Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

"Kill Bill" doesn't arrive until late-2003, but the screenplay was leaked onto the 'net about 6-months ago. The script is a very enjoyable read, but it's obvious that the impact of the film will only really be seen once made.

Tarantino hasn't made a film since 1997's "Jackie Brown". But he also hasn't made a bad movie. Ever. So hopes are high he's not going to start now! The script certainly contains his trademark witty dialogue and pop-culture riffs, as well as QT's favourite gimmick "the non-linear plot". But unlike his previous hits, the script is powered by a series of action set-pieces (not dialogue) and the overall plot is fairly rudimentary stuff minus the leapfrogging narrative.

That said, the cast Tarantino has assembled is fabulous; favourites Thurman and Michael Madsen return, new stars like Lucy Liu, career-reviving hopefuls Darryl Hannah and David Carradine, and Hong Kong legend Gordon Liu.