Wall-E says “Hi.”

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     Lovin’ the new poster for Get Smart - the redux of the popular 60’s television show. You know it’s Steve Carrell in the movie, so we don’t need to see his face in favor of the much more fetching Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway). I love how the poster concedes comedy and gives us a great idea of what the movie will be like (Maxwell Smart figuratively being shat upon throughout the entire picture) instead of focussing on popularity and star power. From everything I’ve seen about this movie so far, all signs point to great fun.

click image for hi-res version

If you’ve not seen the teaser trailer yet, it’s worth a look - - you can see it by unwrapping the text below…

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     I have yet to see The Pang Brothers original version of The Eye, (IMDb) even though I own it and I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. I know they did great things visually with Re-Cycle (MP review), so I’m excited to see The Eye. I am not excited however to see the upcoming remake (tentative release of Feb 1, 2008) starring Jessica Alba. I’m so tired of American versions of great Asian films.

     However, the new one-sheet has got kind of a nice feel to it. Creepy and wince-worthy at the same time. Have a look and let us know what you think. It doesn’t make me want to see the film, but it’s still kind of a cool poster if you ask me.

click for higher-res version

     Now this is something I did not see coming in a million years. The great Jack Nicholson, who we all remember played The Joker in Batman ‘89, has told MTV News that he is “furious” about Heath Ledger playing The Joker in The Dark Knight. Here is some of what he said:

MTV - What do you think of another actor, Heath Ledger, playing The Joker in next summer’s “The Dark Knight”?

Nicholson - Let me be the way I’m not in interviews. I’m furious. I’m furious. [He laughs.] They never asked me about a sequel with the Joker. I know how to do that! Nobody ever asked me.

MTV - I’m surprised to hear you sounding competitive about a role like that.

Nicholson - Well, the Joker comes from my childhood. That’s how I got involved with it in the first place. It’s a part I always thought I should play.

MTV - Will you see the new film?

Nicholson - I’m not inclined to watch it because of what I said. But if it’s a good movie, I’ll catch up with it somewhere. I don’t think they ever really captured Tim Burton’s spirit [since he stopped being involved]. They kind of drove the franchise into the ground. Tim Burton’s a genius. He had the right take on it. That’s why I did the movie. I did the movie based on a single conversation with him. We both come from the cartoon world originally. We had similar ideas. Tim said [the Joker] should have a humorous dark side to him. [Burton is] one of the great moviemakers. I think the world of him. He’s the most unassuming man. And he doesn’t feel pressure. That’s what I love about him. Once he’s in there, he’s smiling making the movie. That’s it!

     You can read the rest of the interview over here at MTV.com

     Personally I think Nicholson is being a big-headed baby about this. His portrayal in Batman ‘89 was fun and it will always remain great to watch but that’s not what The Joker is. For anyone familiar with the comic books The Joker is an evil, sadistic and downright despicable human being, the kind of guy who would shoot a child and laugh straight afterwards. And the way Nicholson portrayed him (and how Tim Burton wrote him to be) was still a little on the dark and ‘bad’ side but a far too campy (again not knocking it). And as for them driving the franchise into the ground; I agree they did with with the fourth one (yes I quite like Forever) but I have a question for Mr Nicholson - did you not see Batman Begins? They totally and completely captured Batman and the whole world around him perfectly.

     In the end though this is just Nicholson expressing what he feels, and I can’t exactly discredit him for speaking his mind. What are your thoughts?

     The great Edward Norton has scared me lately with his decision to play the title role in the Hulk sequel. I guess everyone needs a paycheck, but seriously, someone as terrific as Norton could surely find something better right? Well thankfully, it looks like he might’ve sort of gotten back on track after seeing the recently released trailer for Pride and Glory. Brought to us by the same screenwriters who are sort of hit or miss with the likes of Miracle, NARC and Smokin’ Aces, the movie has potential to be either really good or really bad. With Norton and Colin Farrel on board, as well as Jon Voight and Noah Emmerich (Little Children), I lean more towards really good.

     I couldn’t find an embeddable trailer yet, so head on over to WorstPreviews.com and check out this trailer of fairly decent quality of Pride and Glory. Then come back over and let us know what you think.

Update - thanks to CinemaFusion, I tracked down the YouTube version of the trailer. Enjoy…

     The first domestic version of the one-sheet for Guillermo Del Toro produced, The Orphanage, has hit the web. The poster doesn’t do much for me, but it does reek of Guillermo Del Toro’s style, even if he’s not directing. New man in town, Juan Antonio Bayona will be taking the reins for this one and it looks to be very much in the same vein as Del Toro’s The Devil’s Backbone. Of course, this is just the feel I get from the poster, so we’ll have to wait and see until some footage is released. In the meantime, here’s the marketing shot (click image for hi-res)…

     One of the best westerns of the last 25 years is certainly Dances with Wolves. I saw it at least three times in the theater and loved it even as a young man. Costner haters be damned as this film was totally amazing in almost every respect and won Costner best picture and best director along with editing and cinematogrpahy wins, not to mention nods in several other categories. It is the epitome of outstanding film achievement.

     So word comes today that a director has just been signed to helm the sequel to Dances with Wolves, The Holy Road. I didn’t even know novelist/screenwriter Michael Blake even wrote a sequel. To me, this is bad news for three reasons.

1) It probably won’t star Costner.
2) The first film is perfect and should be left alone where it ends. I can’t think of a movie with a more unfathomable sequel possibility.
3) The director hired on is Simon Wincer. Let’s take a look at Mr Wincer’s resume:

D.A.R.Y.L.
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
Free Willy
Lightning Jack
Phantom
Flash
…and the kicker?
Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles

     Sweet, tap-dancing Jesus does this guy know how to pick ‘em or what? Now, in all fairness, he also did direct a couple of the watchable “Young Indiana Jones” episodes (which were okay). And he also did Quigley Down Under and the “Lonesome Dove” mini-series which were pretty decent westerns for their time. So at least I have hope that the guy has a knack for doing some good western stuff. Otherwise, this is something of a tragedy and the worst news I read all day.

     No secret around here that I love Paul Giamatti. I eagerly anticipate just about anything the man is involved in (though my enthusiasm for Fred Claus has waned due to the lame posters and newest trailer). Still, he’s usually terrific and I’ve learned that one of his newest projects will be to star in an adaptation of an unfinished Phillip K. Dick (Blade Runner, Scanner Darkly, Minority Report, Total Recall and many others) story.

     The The Owl in Daylight, is a complicated tale that involves Ed Firmley, a B-movie composer, a race of aliens that have evolved without the ability to hear sounds, and our deeply held believes about art, happiness, and, oh yeah, heaven.

says Giamatti (who actually plays Dick in the film):

“There’s a guy writing a script right now… The idea is to take one of his last stories and put him as a character in the story. A lot of his stories were about reality getting bent around, so we’re trying to do that.”

“Well [Phillip K. Dick] was mentally ill in a lot of ways and he had lots of problems; he was married many times, was paranoid about a lot of things,” Giamatti explained. “Strange guy. He had a very interesting, complicated life.”

source: MTV movies blog

     Sounds good to me. Giamatti playing Dick in an unfinished story written by Dick has excellence writte all over it. Thoughts? Feel free to let them be known below…

     In case you blinked during the Southland Tales trailer (Apple), that IS Kevin Smith in the wheel chair. Here’s a close-up image of that character.

     I can’t believe that is him! As a side note, as I see this trailer more and more, the more I’m looking forward to it. I think the ridiculous cast will actually work in the film’s favor. Plus I like the comedic, quirky, action-filled vision of the future and what is sure to be a real thinker of a movie (ala Donnie Darko). The kind where you have to watch it 16 times to understand what is going on; and even then have to jump on the message boards to confirm your theory.

     Hayden Christiansen evokes a lot of feelings in people. Most know him as the guy who murdered Anakin Skywalker with some sub-par acting. Some hate him for that and others are just indifferent. Very few people actually like him quite a bit. I am one of those in the minority. With terrific performances in titles like Shattered Glass and Life as a House, he is often overlooked because of his larger (poorer) role in Star Wars. Also, while watching the recently released on DVD film, Factory Girl, about he life of Edie Sedgwick, I was surprised to see him steal the show playing the legendary Bob Dylan.

     Anyway, cutting to the chase, here is the latest trailer for his film, Awake. Alongside the always great Terrence Howard and the beautiful Jessica Alba, this does have potential. Potential to be what I’m not sure, but potential none the less. Take a look at this recently released trailer and tell me what you think. I think it is compelling, but it could go either way in terms of quality.

     What do you get when you cross Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Phillip Seymour Hoffman? A lot of people in a theater; that’s what. Today I got my first glimpse of the trailer for Charlie Wilson’s War. What sounds like a political thriller/social commentary film looks to actually be a fun, biting comedy.

     Besides the great Hoffman, we also have another underrated actress by the name of Amy Adams. Although I can’t spot her in the trailer, IMDb claims she’s there. If you’re wondering who she is, let’s just say Rachel Wiesz has a gold trophy on her shelf at home that should be on Ms. Adams’ shelf.

     So anyway, here’s the trailer; unfortunately with some ET commentary, but you get the gist. To see the trailer without the reporter talking in a couple of places, you can head over to Yahoo! movies. And yeah, that’s Julia Roberts looking more than OK in a bikini.

thanks to filmjunk for the heads up.

     As much fun as I have had with Ferrell in the past, I think it’s time he moved on from this juvenile stuff. Maybe this will prove to be funny; and I hope it is. But most likely it will be just as crappy as Taladega Nights was. Although Stranger than Fiction was far from a masterpiece, these are the type of roles Ferrell should be looking for. Just my opinion.

     Non entirely sure what to make of this. A musical, a comedy, a horror thriller and a drama seemingly all rolled into one. To be honest, it doesn’t really strike the fancy of my particular tastes, but judging from the trailer this will be unlike just about anything else we’ve seen. Still, at the same time, it is very Burton-esque and unmistakeable as his work.

     I put a lot of stock in what Burton can do and of course Depp (despite the bad taste still in my mouth from the Pirates debacle) looks as strong as always. Couple that with one of the better villain actors out there in Alan Rickman and I thnk we’re set for a great ride. Oh yes, and then there’s always Carter’s cleavage prominently featured.

     My home state of Minnesota is soon to be the location of a Coen Brothers filming location once again in early to mid-2008. This will be their first filming return to MN since 1996’s, AFI Top 100 list film, Fargo.

     According to a Minneapolis Star and Tribune article, the film, A Serious Man will start filming in their hometown of St Louis Park in mid March. This past summer The Coens scouted locations in Richfield (where I lived just a year ago), Brooklyn Center and Hopkins (where I graduated from high school). These are all neighborhoods that match the ones they grew up in in St. louis Park - just a very short jaunt from any of these locales

     The Coen-scripted dark comedy centers on “Larry Gopnik, a Jewish college professor in the Midwest during the 1960s,” according to the website FilmJerk. Bedeviled by children who lift his wallet, a wife who wants a divorce, a too-intense grad student and a hot neighbor who sunbathes in the nude, “he starts to question the value of life.”

     After a drought in Minnesota film production alleviated only by “North Country” in 2005 and “A Prairie Home Companion” last year, Winter said she was “over the moon.”This is a serious production,” she said. “They’ll be here from January [for preproduction] through June. There’ll be jobs for about 100 Minnesotans.”

     Uh… yeah. And if this means a call for extras, you can bet your ass I’ll be in line hoping for a part. Not to mention this will “jump-start” Minnesota’s visibility as a filming location. And by the way, even though most of Fargo is filmed in Minnesota, the actual city of Fargo is not n Minnesota; it’s in North Dakota - a common misconception.

Just a few new posters for the highly anticipated new Coen Brothers film ‘No Country For Old Men’. Check them out below:

I prefer the first one over the other two, how ’bout you?

     The Darjeeling Ltd, Wes Anderson’s new film was scheduled to be released along with the short film, Hotel Chevalier before each screening. Then recently we heard that that idea had been scrapped. Well, today, slashfilm is letting us know that Hotel Chevalier, which is sort of a prequel to The Darjeeling Ltd, will be screened at the Apple Stores in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco on Tuesday. If you’re in one of those small towns, stop in and check it out for free.

     For the rest of us, it will be available on iTunes for free on Wednesday. If Wes Anderson alone doesn’t do it for you, maybe the promise of Natalie Portman nude will keep it in your memory to check out. I know I will. Plus, it might be a good idea to check out before The Darjeeling Ltd. is released in theaters. A back story is always nice before seeing the real thing. If you remember to check it out, stop back here and leave your thoughts.

     After the disaster that was AvP, I had little hope or desire to see the sequel. Well, that feeling is still there, but the red band trailer and this new poster do look slightly cool and do pique a little interest. Well, the trailer has been out for a while, but this new poster is sort of a cool idea. Not ultra-clever, but groovy none the less. You can check out the violent as hell red band after the unwrap.

click for larger

see the trailer beneath this link
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     I can pretty much guarantee that both Andrew, and I will be at the theatre watching Like Moles, Like Rats as soon as we get a chance. Both of us were pretty big fans of Behind the Mask (Movie Patron Review) and we all thought Nathan Baesel did an excellent job in the lead role. Quiet Earth via Todd over at Twitch just posted up a link to the official site for the movie.

     Everything that could go wrong did go wrong: War, Terrorism, Natural Disasters. Evacuees were ushered from the cities to refugee camps in rural areas. In-fighting, famine and disease took their toll on the survivors. Now, twenty years after the bombs fell and the plagues ran their course the few that remain live in fear and without hope.

     This is a post apocalyptic fairy tale about a young woman’s journey to deliver the first child born in 15 years. Sarah’s refusal to give up is inspired by a lone voice on her radio. Michael broadcasts distant messages of hope mixed with the music he scavenges from the dead. Forced from her basement home by drought and relentlessly pursued by those who want her baby, Sarah crosses paths with Michael in a strange and enchanting refuge of disparate survivors. Together Sarah and Michael will begin a journey that will take them beyond the desolate Southern Corridor and into the unknown future.

     It looks like the trailer is only available from the official site although I’m sure someone will put it up over at youTube shortly. After watching the trailer and reading the full synopsis I really like the look of this. I love how the radio (as shown in the trailer and also focussed on over at the site) is being used to bring the characters together. The thing that really draws me in though, is that this doesn’t just seem to be a zombie flick or anything of the sort but a post apocalyptic movie about fear and hope.

     Over at AICN, they are reporting that the trailer for the long awaited fourth installment in the “Indiana Jones” franchise will appear in front of Paramount Pictures’ “Beowulf” on November 16th.

     The site adds that this should be taken as a rumor, but in addition to the tip that they received, there are other clues. “Beowulf” will likely be the biggest film for the studio, making it the ideal movie to premier the trailer in front of. In addition, George Lucas himself has said that he expects for the first trailer to hit around Thanksgiving.

     Finally, rumor has it that John Williams, who is responsible for the famous “Indiana Jones” theme song, is currently working on the music for the trailer. Whether he will update his original work or create something completely different is still unknown.

source: worstpreviews