Father Geek here briefly before I must leave for the SXSW Fest for today... Some pretty interesting stuff today from Robert, Grozilla, ratbert, Ethan and the rest of our Euro-crew... I'll let you get right into it...
Hi guys. Since early this morning, I've thinking about the Episode II trailer. Actually, I can't understand the reason of this excitement. It is just a f/x packed trailer, which makes me very concerned about the chance to see a good and interesting story. And why does Lucas have to rip off a scene from Luc Besson's The Fifth Element? Does he so lack in new ideas?
Okay, it's better to talk about this Euro AICN column. And, for what concerns Luc Besson, we have the latest updates about his Michel Vaillant project. And also from France arrives the very exciting idea to make a live version of classic anime Captain Harlock. From England, there is a new project with Ali G. And, last but not least, we got 4 reviews: Heaven, Ice Age, Resident Evil and Breed. But before all of that, let's see some images from the Sin Eater sets. As you probably know, the latest Brian Helgeland pic is shooted in Rome. I was able to get onto two of the sets used for the movie, and I have the pics for you. Click here to see them: Yes, Just Click Here for SIN EATER.
News from Grozilla
Okay, it's better to talk about this Euro AICN column. And, for what concerns Luc Besson, we have the latest updates about his Michel Vaillant project. And also from France arrives the very exciting idea to make a live version of classic anime Captain Harlock. From England, there is a new project with Ali G. And, last but not least, we got 4 reviews: Heaven, Ice Age, Resident Evil and Breed. But before all of that, let's see some images from the Sin Eater sets. As you probably know, the latest Brian Helgeland pic is shooted in Rome. I was able to get onto two of the sets used for the movie, and I have the pics for you. Click here to see them: Yes, Just Click Here for SIN EATER.
News from Grozilla
News from Grozilla
Hi there, here's some news I caught this week..
To complete an earlier aicn-story about Besson's next work. He definitely will not direct (at least officially, I learned from a granted source, what everyone in the business has said, when he's producing, he's also working very very close on those projects, and quite often directing himself scenes of these productions) Michel Vaillant. Louis-Pascal Couvelaire will officially direct. Who's this guy ? The buzz around him isn't quite good. He directed some time ago now Sueurs (Chill) a euro-thriller with Jean Hugues Anglade, which release has been delayed for months. This kind of repeated delay never has meant something good. Anyway Sueurs is ready now to be released in april. Wait and see, maybe these were just bad intentioned rumors... But I'm really afraid not.
Besson is also working on Special Police, another film he'll produce. Unexpectingly, it should be on a more serious tone that his previous productions : this is supposed to be about the last days of Jacques Mesrine, the french public enemy N°1 in the 70's. Who fell in an ambush before getting killed by the police. The story of Mesrine is still a disturbing case in France. It's truly a surprise to see Besson around that kind of stuff.
Lionel Delplanque has created one of the worst french films two years ago. But as lousy it could be, Promenons nous dans les bois (AKA Deep in the woods) was a hit on boxoffice. So Delplanque is now ready to shoot his second effort. Le fils de Boucle d'Or (The son of Goldilocks) is a weird concept : an actualization of the tale where a gangster's son is kidnapped by a naught fairy... To be fair, Delplanque has proven with Deep... that he's a good cinematographer. As good as he's a very bad writer. So this project sounds intriguing... And more when the first names of the cast are : Bernadette Laffont (huge figure frome the Nouvelle Vague), Isabelle Carré (good actress, sometimes overacting) and Maria de Meideiros.
Olivier Dahan, a very talented guy (I assume his version of Tom Thumb / Le petit poucet will get somedays a release outside France, if not it's soon released on Z2 DVD) has an interesting project : making a live version of Captain Harlock. Leiji Matsumoto has just been asked his agrement on this. Dahan is for sure the right french guy for that idea.
That's all for now... I'm going on Panasia (usually excellent asian film festival) for the next four days. Guess I'll have some stuff for you when I'll be back.
Grozilla
Vibroboy has very good news for french people. Let's go see this movie, it's great!
Just a quick word to let you know that Mamoru Oshii's film, "Avalon" is being released in France on March 27th. To kick it off in style however, an avant-première will be held Thursday, March 14th at 8:30 at the Cinéma Grand Ecran Italie in Paris, with Mamoru Oshii in person, no less. Pretty sweet methinks. I got this from the official site www.avalon-lefilm.com , but check out this link: http://www.allocine.com/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=28557.html and click on "bande annonce" to see a new trailer for the French release, with some new shots.
Vibroboy
News from Ratbert
Ratbert here with my week's news from GB. The new Ali G movie probably won't get a run out beyond Britain; for our international friends, he is a spoof character from various series on Channel 4 in this country and appeared as the driver in Madonna's video for 'Music'. Basically Ali G is a white man who strives street credibility by dressing up as West Indian 'gangsta' (it's not racist). In his shows he has interviewed various celebrities and politicians and swore several times on national radio recently. As for the Jason Donovan film, that is probably going to be as bad as it sounds.
Ali G's new film features jokes about sex with horses and dogs.
Ali G In Da House, which is released in the UK on March opens with Ali scribbling out the 15 certificate changing it to 18. The finale involves Ali and the West Staines Massive breaking into Chequers (Prime Minister's country residence) to retrieve a vital video tape. They use the power of their turbo engine Renault 5s and their breakdancing and bodypopping skills.
Ali G In Da House also features a running joke about a politician who enjoys sex with a horse, and Ali being pleasured by his pet dog Tupac. He appears throughout the movie to comment on the action, stopping one love scene to remark: "This is for da ladies, to show me sensitive side!" In another scene, Ali meets the Queen and is seen sucking Her Majesty's finger. Moments later, he trips and inadvertently pulls down her skirt. Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G's real life alter ego) made a surprise appearance at the Odeon West End to introduce the film's first screening. Referring to journalists in the audience, he said: "Dey is called de press cos they write stuff that depresses you." However, he said he would not be bothered by the reviews for his film, adding: "The Staines And Egham News has given me film three popcorns out of five."
Jason Donovan in Alone in the Dark
Jason Donovan has reportedly landed a role in new Brit horror film Alone In The Dark. He plays an internet geek called Gary, who helps out US university students on the hunt for a missing man. The movie also stars comedian Rik Mayall, with 60's rock star Marianne Faithfull providing a voiceover.
Alone In The Dark will released at the end of the year
The Breed review by Ethan
I want to set a couple of things straight, regarding this review. This one is written by a peculiar fellow who is still waiting for ROLLERBALL remake to open in his country because I think McTiernan can do no wrong. I prefer Renny Harlin to Steven Soderbergh. I wasn`t enchanted by LOTR. I am not waiting for EPISODE 2. I am an all around son of a bitch from Serbia. I love Sacramento Kings. I am listening to The Cult`s latest record as I write this.
I will tell you about a BLADE rip-off named THE BREED that I saw on home video. It is a smart rip-off, cliche-filled without remorse but it is all done quite smoothly concerning the budget and the cast.
It stars Adrian Paul and Bookeem Woodbine as a buddy pair of detectives. Paul stars as a vampire detective assigned to help human police catch the vampire serial killer whose crimes threaten to endanger the secretly negotiated peace between two races.
It was shot in Budapest. The director Michael Oblowitz (of THIS WORLD THEN THE FIREWORKS fame) uses the locations as a ready-made and puts the picture in the context of futurist Communist America. The whole concept of Communist America isn`t built by the script but it makes the things look quite odd.
The direction makes the budget look significant. Vampires have cool superpowers, fly around and bite to kill. Oblowitz never shies away from bloodletting and gunplay which makes me quite happy.
Actors are hammy with Paul looking like damn Marlon Brando when opposed to untalented Woodbine. bai Ling (RED CORNER) delivers her share. She looks a bit skinny for my perception so I hope that it isn`t addiction to something that made her work direct-to-video fodder. Perfect cast in my view. Still, they could have included Bruce Payne in the equation.
I was really surprised to see Oblowitz directing such a predestined exploitation flick since I tought he can always find a job in the not-so-far-from-theatrical-release neo noir market. His THIS WORLD THEN THE FIREWORKS was irrelevant but stylish enough to whup ORIGINAL SIN`s ass any time. It was also surprising that THE BREED played out quite seriously on the level of scriptwriting, even though the villain`s identity was predictable. It was later that I found out that larry Gross helped Oblowitz retool the script. That`s right THE Larry Gross, guy behind 48HRS and SE7EN rewrites.
THE BREED is an interesting little flick that ought to fill your time between aggresively marketed theatrical features that studios push you to see.
God bless, Ethan
Ice Age, Tom Tykwer's Heaven and Resident Evil reviews by Roland
"Heaven"
When walking into a the screening of Tom Tykwer's new film "Heaven", i didn`t know much about it besides that it Mr. Tykwer was directing from a script written by the great Krzysztof Kieslowski. Ok i had already seen the german teaser, which made me anticipate this movie very much, but still i didn`t know what it was actually about.
So the movie starts and we start flying across an computer landscape. It is an helicopter simulation and we fly higher and higher the helicopter starts to rumble. We fall and o.s someone says "You can`t fly that high". How high can we fly ?
The premise of Heaven is heart breaking. Actually i think you should go into this movie with knowing as little as possible about it. All i will tell you is that in my opinon this film has much in common with Tykwers last film "Der Krieger + Die Kaiserin". It really is an very quite and emotional film. It isn`t anything like "Lola Rennt"! Heaven is a film just beautiful to watch. This is what directing and acting is all about in my opinion. The last time i have seen emotions brought so well across the screen was...well "Der Krieger + Die Kaiserin". Tykwers way of showing us the love between the 2 main characters is very unique.
I think that "Der Krieger + Die Kaiserin" is Tykwers best film (I can only hope that non german speaking audience could enjoy it as much as i did), still Heaven is a overwhelming film. If you got any interest in film there is no way you can`t see this movie. This film is very beautiful shot, there are images that pop up again in your head when you close your eyes at home. It's just beautiful.
9 1/2 / 10
"Ice Age"
Okay i haven`t really have much to say about "Ice Age". Besides that this is one hell of a funny movie! It isn`t as great looking as "Monsters Inc.". But Ice Age works on a totally different level ! Its very slapstick like and in my opinion quite dark for a "kids" movie. The animation of some of the animals is just great! It really is a very funny movie and i certainly didn`t expect such a fun experience from the Fox Animation department.
Rating 8/10
"Resident Evil"
I know you all aren`t really fans of Paul Anderson. His movie aren`t really good, infact he managed to turn "Soldier" into a piece of shit. But believe it or not i liked Paul W. S. Anderons (yes, that IS HIS NEW SCREEN CREDIT *lol*)new movie to some degree. Resident Evil had a very pumpy and really great score by Marilyn Manson and Marco Beltrami. The Manson score was exceptional, i can honestly say that i loved it. Even if i am not a big fan of Mansons music. Beltramis parts of the score were more like the tipical Craig Armstrong "Kiss of Dragon", "The Bone Collector" scores, but anyway the music rocked. So this is one reason to see this movie. Actually the first reason to see this movie is Milla Jovovich. She is just great and when you combine her with a shotgun. There isn`t anything that can stop mrs. Jovovich. What bothers me about this film is that it really starts out great but it just gets badder and badder. I think you all know what its about. Milla and a bunch of other people get down into "THE Hive" a secrect lab that shut itself up and killed everyone inside. They get down...zombies attack. It is simple as that. Now like i said this movie really starts out promising, but sadly the movie falls apart because of some very unlogical scenes and just a bad 2nd part. But what angers me most is that they attached an ending scene to an cliffhanging ending scene that could have also served as an ending, but no they give us this totally cool scene in the end that makes you want to hit Paul W. S. Anderson with your empty bag of popcorn for fucking up the middle part of the movie.
Anyway liked this movie (still a wasted opportunity), it had a B quality fun to it and I just love this movie for its great and scary score by mr. Manson. I hope they release this score on cd
5/10 - if your can handle all the fun 7 / 10
bye bye... i am off to catch an "Elfriede Jelink" reading bye bye
Roland
