Page Not Found - DVDfever.co.uk

Follow DVDfever.co.uk

WP Twitter Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com

Dan Owen reviews

DAN'S   MOVIE   DIGEST

I s s u e   # 7 8

1 3   F e b r u a r y   2 0 0 4

Movie News
Trailers
US & UK Top cinema listings
In the Pipeline

MOVIE NEWS

Cover

BATMAN - INTIMIDATION GAME

Liam Neeson (right) has signed to play a villain in the new Batman movie, according to 'Cinescape' and 'The Hollywood Reporter'.

In related news, 'Variety' has published an article on the new Batman movie with quotes from director Christopher Nolan, writer David Goyer, and 'Warner Brothers' executives.

Here are some excerpts:

'This time around, it's about the genesis of Batman: how billionaire Bruce Wayne makes a series of decisions that turn him into the Caped Crusader. Batman will be more realistic and less cartoonish. There are no campy villains. Wayne - younger, more vulnerable, more human - will be getting as much attention as his masked alter-ego.

"I felt like doing the origins story of the character, which is a story that's never been told before," says Chris Nolan (Memento), who takes the reins from Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher.

Humanity and realism, says Nolan, is the crux of the new pic. "The world of Batman is that of grounded reality," he says. Burton's and Schumacher's visions were idiosyncratic and unreal. Nolan says, "Ours will be a recognizable, contemporary reality against which an extraordinary heroic figure arises."

Nolan, a self-confessed James Bond fan as a child, is keen on reinventing Wayne as more of a modern-day Bond than hapless playboy - an action-adventure hero who has mythic qualities and battles the odds to save the world.

'WB Pictures' president of production, Jeff Robinov, says: "There's an emotional component to the film which grounds it and really tells us about Bruce Wayne's struggle."

While the new Bruce Wayne is getting emphasis, Nolan, scripter David Goyer and WB have focused on fixing problems that plagued the other pics. For example, Bruce Wayne was too dark and impenetrable and had lost the humorous side found in the comics. The character was basically just dead screen time until Batman appears - which in the new film may not happen until 40 minutes after it begins.

"If we're successful, the thing that will be talked about a lot and on what we worked on the hardest is that the audience will really care about Bruce Wayne and not just Batman," Goyer says. "It doesn't matter how much you spend on special effects - if it feels hollow, no one gives a damn."

Nolan starts helming the film next month, and its summer 2005 release will prove whether WB has been able to breathe new life into the Caped Crusader -- and to rescue its biggest franchise outside of Harry Potter.

So the new, untitled "Batman" is getting a complete overhaul, backed by a roughly $150 million budget. Rather than pit Batman against a new set of super-villains, the new film focuses on how billionaire Bruce Wayne becomes the Dark Knight.

"It's almost impossible to reinvent Batman," says Robinov. "Chris is reintroducing Batman, and it feels smart and cool and fresh. That's no disrespect to the other movies, but it's really Chris' vision of Batman, and that's what we're supporting."

There'll be a new Batmobile, a new arsenal of gadgets, a new Batsuit (sans nipples) as well as a new musical theme.

Even Gotham City is getting a facelift. Previous pics made the city seem dark and claustrophobic or garishly stylized. Instead of lensing on sets built inside huge soundstages, the new film will be shot on locations in New York, London and Iceland, assembling pieces of each city to recreate Gotham as a modern-day metropolis.

"Gotham will seem like this great city in a contemporary world and will be created through various cities," Nolan says. "We are trying to avoid a villagey feel for Gotham, as it starts to get claustrophobic."

Goyer - who penned the successful Blade series for 'New Line' and was a former staffer at Batman publisher 'DC Comics' - adds: "As the Batman films progressed, they became increasingly more cartoonish and more like the campy TV show. We think the audience is tired of that, and it's at odds with the way Batman is depicted in the comic-books over the last decade. Batman is a classic figure whose story is wrapped in tragedy."

Nolan jumps on that theme: "Few superheroes have the sense of purpose and destiny that Batman has. He is driven by an incredible sense of rage, sadness and grief because of the tragedy of his parents' murder at an early age. To me, Batman is the most interesting superhero because he doesn't have any superpowers. He is very human."

The casting of Bale, Nolan hopes, will not only give audiences a younger Batman to root for but also a weighty sense of his true character.

"Bruce Wayne is strong, and the things that are done to him to make him become Batman are all psychological and character-based," Nolan says. "We needed an actor capable of taking us along on this journey and showing the different psychological layers which inspire Bruce to become Batman."

In terms of whether the movie will be too dark, Robinov says the film's more about conflict than darkness: about Batman's internal conflict and what drives him to suit up as a superhero.

The director's feeling the pressure to succeed. "It's an awesome responsibility," Nolan says, "because the fan-base for Batman is extraordinary, and there's a lot of emotional investment in the character."'

Cover

THE HITCH-HIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

Sam Rockwell (Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, right) has signed to star in the movie adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.

Rockwell will play Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed president of the galaxy. Shooting starts this April in London with Garth Jennings directing.

Mos Def will play Ford Prefect, an alien disguising himself as an out-of-work actor who sets out on an intergalactic journey with his best friend, mild-mannered earthling Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman).

The duo hitches a ride through space with Rockwell's Zaphod, the beautiful and brilliant scientist Trillion (Zooey Deschanel) and a depressed robot called Marvin while on a quest to discover the meaning of life...

CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Apparently, screenwriter John August (Big Fish) handed his first draft of the Charlie And The Chocolate Factory to Tim Burton recently. August admitted to Burton that he's never seen the 70's movie version with Gene Wilder, and was then ordered not to watch it by Burton.

Sadly, though, August's screenplay (working entirely from Roald Dahl's book) is somehow less dark than the Wilder version! Not what the macabre Burton was hoping for, obviously. So, back to the drawing board...

INDIANA JONES 4

'Variety' reports that Indiana Jones 4 is on hold yet again while a new draft of the script is commissioned!

'Paramount' had hoped to go into production this year for a summer 2005 release, but George Lucas was apparently unhappy with Frank Darrabont's latest draft - which will be rewritten by a new writer, but retain the overall storyline.

KING KONG

'Variety' columnist Army Archerd talked to director Peter Jackson at the annual Oscar nominees luncheon about his next film - King Kong.

Of star Naomi Watts, Jackson says "I've been a fan for years" and as for Kong himself? "We want him to be quite real." But what of the original's 1930's setting and iconic Empire State Building finale? "[it's] ingrained in memory. I want to be respectful."

Jackson has also mentioned elsewhere that the movie will have a budget of $150 million and that he would like to cameo as "the guy in the airplane shooting at him [Kong]."

Cover

SHAUN OF THE DEAD

Director Edgar Wright (TV's Spaced, right) was at the 'Empire' awards and revealed some details about his upcoming zombie romantic comedy Shaun Of The Dead.

Wright: "I saw John Hurt on the way in - I'm already excited. He's a hero of mine. I can say on record, [Alien] is the best film ever made."

"We started writing [Shaun Of The Dead] before we knew about [the Dawn Of The Dead remake]. And when we heard about it, we were really pissed off. And then we thought maybe it's a good thing to come hot on the heels of it. It's not a spoof of the original: even though it's a comedy it's kind of reverential. It's me and [star] Simon Pegg's favourite film."

"We keep joking about sequel ideas, but this one hasn't even come out yet. But we'll do something in a similar vein if people like it. They might hate it. It might go down like a ton of bricks. It's very British. There's been a great reaction to the trailer in the States. People find it charming when we do a take on something - it's only a mistake when we try and compete with the big boys."

The film features a cameo by Bill Nighy as a zombie, to which Wright comments: "He's been very sweet, he mentions it in every interview he ever does. He's on commission - no, I think he's just excited about being a zombie. He's fantastic in it."

OCEAN'S TWELVE

Catherine Zeta Jones has signed to star in the Ocean's Eleven sequel. Was she persuaded by star George Clooney after they starred together in Intolerable Cruelty?

Harvey Weintraum has commented, saying: "Catherine is just terrific -- one of those stars who comes along once in a long while. It's not easy to find an actress who can measure up to the star power of this cast, but Catherine will not only hold her own, she'll add a lot to the movie. I've wanted to work with her forever, and couldn't be happier to welcome her."

Jeff Robinov, President of Production at 'Warner Brothers' has said: "Catherine has demonstrated her ability to handle humour as gracefully as she does drama; she will be the perfect addition to our already terrific cast on this movie. We're extremely happy to be working with the tremendous team involved with this picture."

A SCANNER DARKLY

School of Rock director Richard Linklater is attached to helm Philip K. Dick's novel A Scanner Darkly, according to Production Weekly.

Originally published in 1977, the novel comes frighteningly close to capturing the U.S. in 1991 in terms of the drug crisis and the relationships between the sexes.

Bob Arctor is a dealer of the lethally addictive drug Substance D. Fred is the police agent assigned to tail and eventually bust him. To do so, Fred takes on the identity of a drug dealer named Bob Arctor. And since Substance D--which Arctor takes in massive doses--gradually splits the user's brain into two distinct, combative entities, Fred doesn't realize he is narcing on himself.

Cover

WONDER WOMAN

Charisma Carpenter (TV's Angel, right) told 'TV Guide' that she'd like to star in any future movie version of Wonder Woman - a project that has been stuck in development hell for years.

Carpenter: "I have a son now, so I want the half-hour sitcom lifestyle, where you can have a family and work. And then, during summer hiatus, I'd like to do a Kill Bill or Wonder Woman or some movie like that."

"I am actively putting it out there that I want to do Lynda Carter. It's my mission to be Wonder Woman! My agent hasn't seen a script, but some studio needs to do it. She's beautiful, she fights, and I like the concept of an empowerment role."

"I've always been so passive on Angel, where they usually wouldn't let Cordelia do martial arts stunts. Charisma wants to kick ass and bust heads!"

THE SIMPSONS - THE MOVIE

'DVD Fanatic' got a chance to talk to The Simpsons producer and writer Mike Reiss, who talked about the next Simpsons DVD and that The Simpsons movie is definitely in the works.

Mike Reiss: "They've wanted to do this [movie] since season two. It's been 13 years of wanting to do The Simpsons Movie. Finally 'Fox' said, 'Let's just do it!' We never had the greatest idea that was compelling but 'Fox' said, 'Maybe if we start paying you, you'll get inspired.' And sure enough it worked! We've got a very good and interesting idea and it's different from the show."

"You know, it's like the South Park movie where it's just a bigger, longer, amplified version of the show. I can't tell you anything specific about it. My wife doesn't even know the secret.

"[It should come out] two years from this summer. I think it's going to be Summer 2006 or maybe Christmas 2006. It's a reality after being just sort of this phantom idea. I think it is really gonna happen."

'Variety' later added that creator Matt Groening and producer James L. Brooks are leading a team of writers in developing the big screen feature. At least seven past and present writers of The Simpsons are said to be involved. It is believed that, in addition to Reiss, Brooks and Groening, Al Jean, Mike Scully, Mike Reiss, David Mirkin and George Meyer are all on board the project.

SUPERMAN

It wasn't just a silly rumour! Yes, Beyonce Knowles really was in talks to play Lois Lane in the Superman remake! Speaking to 'Extra' she confirmed her involvement, saying: "Everyone pray that happens for me."

It's also known that Superman's potential director McG (Charlie's Angels) would have no problem should Knowles being cast as Lois. I need to lie down...

TRAILERS

King Arthur
Trailer link

Yippee! Knights, swords, wizards - it's Lord Of The Rings all over again!
Er, not quite.

Oh. Is there another King Arthur I've mistaken this film with?
No, but just hold off on the spell-casters and aquatic lake-dwellers.

Why?
Well, because this movie is altogether more historically accurate.

You mean boring.
Tut, tut. No, King Arthur is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (Armageddon, The Rock, Con Air, etc) so it'll be anything but boring. Just don't expect all that mythical side of the Arthurian legend. This movie aims to set the record straight with Arthur portrayed as a Romanian chieftain.

Okay, but it does have Merlin, Lancelot and Guinevere, right?
Yes.

... and the Holy Grail?
No. And, before you ask; I doubt there'll be a Round Table, or any pulling of swords from stone. Or Knights Who Say "Ni", for that matter.

Shame. So who's in it?
Clive Owen (Croupier) is Arthur, while Keira Knightley (Pirates Of The Caribbean) plays Guinevere.