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   # 8 3

1 9   M a r c h   2 0 0 4

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

MOVIE NEWS

STAR WARS EPISODE III

The first picture of Episode III villain General Grievous has been released (see right), a cybernetic alien who is the universes greatest Jedi killer.

Also released are SPOILER pictures courtesy of the 'Daily Mirror' that show Annakin Skywalker in his Darth Vader pose (see below-right).

CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Johnny Depp has spoken about his role as Willy Wonka in the new remake of the Roald Dahl story.

Depp: "It's Tim [Burton's] version of Roald Dahl's classic book and it's gonna be a wild ride. Tim and I have had a couple of meetings, sat down and had some talks about where he wants to go, where we need to go. And I think it's gonna be great, you know?"

"Big shoes [to fill], though. Gene Wilder did such an awesome job in that film in the early '70s, so I mean, taking that character of Willy Wonka and going somewhere completely different is... he sort of made the job infinitely more difficult for me."

Tim Burton's remake is slated for a June 2005 release.

Cover

FREDDY VS JASON II

'Moviehole' chatted with Evil Dead guru Josh Becker (author of The Book of the Dead), who also worked on all three films.

In the discussion, Becker gave his view on the prospect of a fourth Evil Dead movie, and the rumoured role for Evil Dead's Ash in a Freddy Vs Jason sequel.

Becker: "There is no truth in the [Freddy Vs Jason] rumour. It's my belief that there will never be an Evil Dead 4. Bruce [Campbell] won't do it without Sam [Raimi] directing, and Sam has no reason to go backward and make another Evil Dead movie until his career falters, which it certainly isn't doing."

THE HOUSE OF WAX

Society girl Paris Hilton, star of TV's The Simple Life and (ahem) a certain candid video available online, is set to star in upcoming House Of Wax remake alongside Elisha Cuthbert (TV's 24).

I AM LEGEND

Director Mathieu Kassovitz (Gothika) confirmed to 'Moviehole' that he's interested in bringing I Am Legend to the big screen at long last, after sitting in development hell for over a decade.

Kassovitz: "I Am Legend was one of my favourite books as kids. People have been trying to make the movie for like 20 years � ever since The Omega Man came out. I think Spielberg wanted to do it at one time."

"We are seeing a lot of different people [to star in it]. Unfortunately Arnold [Schwarzenegger] can't do it, because he's Governor, but he would have been great..."

And how about a sequel to Halle Berry horror hit Gothika? "We've talked about doing a TV series based on it. The film was a success so we have been talking over ideas. I don't know if it will happen, but it probably should, it'd make good TV."

LETHAL WEAPON 5

Richard Donner, director of the Lethal Weapon movies, is keen to shoot Lethal Weapon 5, but it all hinges on Mel Gibson's participation.

Donner: "It's up to Mel. If he says yes then there's another Lethal Weapon. I have a great story, I'd love to do it and put Lethal Weapon to bed. If they want to go and make it without Mel well, go ahead and be my guest but it's not for me. Mel is Lethal Weapon."

"It was hard for Mel to do Lethal 4. It was really hard on him. For Lethal Weapon 5 it would have to be a story that would be worthwhile, but I think maybe there is something out there."

Cover

SHAUN OF THE DEAD

'2000 A.D. Online' have reported that they'll be releasing a tie-in comic-book based on Shaun Of The Dead - the new zombie romantic comedy by the creators of TV's Spaced.

MAGNUM, P.I

'Greg's Previews' at 'Yahoo! Movies' reports that George Clooney is close to singing to play Magnum, P.I - a remake of the 80's TV series starring Tom Selleck.

'Universal Pictures' and 'Imagine' chairman Brian Grazer acquired the rights to create a movie from the Hawaiian detective series last year.

The site also claims that LL Cool J could play the series' helicopter pilot Thomas TC Calvin.

Screenwriter Michael McCullers (Austin Powers) has been hired to adapt the show for the big-screen.

MEET THE FOCKERS

Barbra Streisand is confirmed to star as Ben Stiller's mother in the sequel to Meet The Parents, with Dustin Hoffman as her husband. This marks Streisand's first film role since The Mirror Has Two Faces eight years ago.

PET SEMATARY

'Variety' reports that 'Paramount' have signed screenwriters Mike Werb and Michael Colleary (Face/Off) to script a new version of the classic Stephen King story Pet Sematary.

An unconfirmed rumoured also suggests that George Clooney is being courted to take the lead in the remake.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN II

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has confirmed they hope to film two sequels to Pirates Of The Caribbean at the same time (a la Matrix).

Bruckheimer told 'Entertainment Tonight' that Johnny Depp will reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the first sequel, but isn't contracted for the third. Yet.

Cover

WAR OF THE WORLDS

'Variety' reports that Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise are teaming up to remake classic sci-fi disaster movie The War of the Worlds to the big screen, with Cruise expected to star.

David Koepp (Secret Window) will rewrite Josh Friedman's first-draft script, itself based on the classic H.G. Wells novel.

It's possible the sci-fi epic could start filming in late 2005. Cruise and his 'C/W Productions' partner Paula Wagner set up the film at 'Paramount' in May 2002. 'DreamWorks' will come aboard as a partner, now that Spielberg is involved.

Steven Spielberg will not direct the movie, but will produce alongside Cruise and Wagner.

THE RING 2

Hideo Nakata, the Japanese director behind the original Ring movie and its sequel, is going to Hollywood to direct the U.S sequel!

The plot for The Ring 2, written by Ehren Kruger (Scream 3), is unconnected to any of the Asian sequels - which means Nakata won't be merely translating his work for Western audiences but giving the world a new story.

VAN HELSING

Well, despite having the best trailers for any 2004 summer blockbuster (so far, anyway) the initial glee is being slowly polluted with some decidedly lukewarm test screening feedback and a disparaging review of the script here: Screenwriting.ugo.com/screenwriting/vanhelsing_review.php

TRAILERS

Alien Vs Predator - Internet-Only Trailer

Weblink: www.apple.com/trailers/fox/avp/internet_trailer

Internet only?
Yes, in a transparent attempt to elicit favour with the growing dread surrounding AvsP's production (worrying set-reports and terrible script reviews) the studio have released a trailer targeted at AvsP's demographic - 'net-savvy sci-fi fans.

Are things really that bad online?
Admit it; Alien Vs Predator is a stupid idea that may have worked as a spin-off comic-book series and video-game franchise, but perhaps not for a movie.

Why?
I'm not saying it isn't possible to make a fun and exciting movie using this "versus" premise (just look at Freddy Vs Jason) but Alien is a respected sci-fi franchise, and perhaps shouldn't be open to exploitation like this.

Okay, but is the trailer good or bad?
Well, it's okay. Basically it's just the teaser trailer with added inserts showing clips from the film - all quickly edited, but admittedly fun. Facehuggers clawing out of eggs, a Predator in a corridor, humans entering a temple and a Predator/Alien psyche-out!

See? Just breathe slowly and think good thoughts.
But it's Paul W.S Anderson - the ultimate Hollywood hack. All his work either borrow liberally from better source-material (Event Horizon, Soldier, TV's The Sight), or are direct translations of existing source-material (Mortal Kombat). There isn't an original bone in his body!

Then maybe he's the best man for the job. AvsP isn't going to worry the Oscars next year, so all we need is a fan of the franchise giving the fans a fun little sideline to the "proper" movies.
Hmmmm. But what about the set reports saying the production is besieged with problems?

So was Titanic's, and look at that!
So was The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and look at that!

Touch�.
I need to lie down. But, okay, the trailer is okay. Think positive for now... it's only a movie...

Cover

I, Robot - Trailer 1

Weblink: www.apple.com/trailers/fox/i_robot

I... not know what this film is.
This is a movie adaptation of a classic short-story by sci-fi guru Isaac Asimov, starring Will Smith and directed by Alex Proyas (The Crow).

Sounds good so far, so what's it about?
Basically, Asimov's story has been altered to fit a contemporary Hollywood action blockbuster, but retains the plot where a robot is suspected of murdering a human.

Ah, and robots aren't programmed to kill humans.
Exactly. It's encoded into their three governing rules - so on the eve of a massive robot rollout across the globe, Will Smith obviously doesn't want an army of homicidal tin-cans killing people.

For obvious reasons. So is the trailer good?
Hmmmm, it's okay. Unfortunately, the "future" looks like a contemporary city - but with snazzier cars, etc. Obviously, much of the budget is being spent on the hordes of CGI robots.

Do they look good?
Yes, not bad. Individually, they look okay, but the effects-work for them en masse looks a little flaky. They resemble crash test dummies, actually...

Hmm, nice. So, this all sounds quite mediocre.
Sadly, yes. Director Alex Proyas is renowned for his imaginative visuals (The Crow, Dark City), but this looks like a low-budget Minority Report and nothing really sets it apart from the crowd. I hope they're saving the true scope and spectacle for the final film.

Still, Will Smith is always good value...
You think? While it's true Smith has charisma, he's becoming a one-trick pony and just relying on his cock-sure ID4/Men In Black persona. It's frustrating, because Ali showed he can truly act if he puts the effort in... but I, Robot doesn't reflect that. In fact, at times the trailer isn't sure if this is a "Will Smith Sci-Fi Comedy" (with duff comedy lines peppered throughout, worryingly) or "Cerebral Sci-Fi" because of its Asimov pedigree.