Archive for October 20th, 2006
His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman has updated his official website with his October letter. In it he provides an update on the status of director Chris Weitz’s film adaptation of the first book of the trilogy, The Golden Compass, and mentions that American actor Sam Elliott (The Big Lebowski, Hulk) will be playing the role of the sympathetic and helpful Texan Aeronaut Lee Scoresby in the film.
Pullman wrote of Elliott: Sam’s resemblance to the Lee in my mind is just astonishing. His Lee has all the presence, the experience, the battered integrity, the humour, and the courage of the aeronaut who first walked into my story thirteen years ago. I can`t imagine a better cast, and the sets and costumes are just astounding.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in His Dark Materials, Movies •
CHUD has updated with a set of glorious high-quality stills from Zack Snyder’s highly anticipated 300. Click here to view the images (you can load larger versions if you click on them on that link).
Based on the epic graphic novel by Frank Miller, 300 is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy. The film brings Miller’s (Sin City) acclaimed graphic novel to life by combining live action with virtual backgrounds that capture his distinct vision of this ancient historic tale.
Click here to discuss 300 on the X-Boards.
Posted in Movies •
Variety reports that the Halo movie project has lost its studio support, with both 20th Century Fox and Universal backing out of co-financing the adaptation of the successful Microsoft video game. Apparently, the studios got concerned that the budget was rising too high above the originally projected $135 million, while the filmmakers claim that the studios abandoned the project after unsuccessfully trying to get the filmmakers and Microsoft to reduce their cut of any profits the movie would generate.
Kem Kamins, who represents the film’s executive producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, said: “Universal, on behalf of both studios, asked for a meeting with the filmmakers just prior to the due date of a significant payment. Basically, they said that in order to move forward with the film, the filmmakers had to significantly reduce their deals. They waited until the last minute to have this conversation. Peter and Fran, after speaking with their producing partners and with Microsoft and Bungee, respectfully declined.”
This does not mean that the film won’t get made, however, according to Kamins Microsoft is already in talks with other distribution partners. Pre-production on the film continues.
Click here to discuss the Halo film on the X-Boards.
Posted in Movies •
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood, The Girl Next Door) and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (The Ring 2, Final Destination 3) have been cast in key roles in the upcoming fourth Die Hard film, Live Free Or Die Hard. Olyphant will play nemesis of Bruce Willis’ John McClane, while Winstead will play Willis’ daughter.
Live Free Or Die Hard tells the story of an attack on the U.S. computer infrastructure that begins to shut down the country. The mysterious figure behind the scheme has figured out every digital angle but never counts on the old-fashioned, “analog” McClane.
Click here to discuss this on the X-Boards.
Posted in Movies •
Director Tim Story has given an update on Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer on his official blog:
Sorry guys, I haven’t exactly kept my end of the bargain. Shooting has been going well. We are all over the place…lots of locations. Don’t want to give away too much but our Fan 4 travel quite a bit through this one.
I know you all must have had a good time checking out the wedding photos. Whadayagonnado? We were kinda exposed. But there are still some surprises coming in that one. I’m having a ball with Ben Grimm in clothes though. Michael is too. The last film we couldn’t really go there but now he’s very comfortable with himself. Ben that is, not Michael.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Movies •
I am a little leary of the situation. The truth will come out when, and if the US economy, and the dollar begins to strengthen. If prices remain high, you’ll know someone is lying. Either OPEC doesn’t have the supply they claim they have, or Analysts are incorrect when they say demand has decreased. Personally, I don’t buy the claim that demand has decreased. Population is ever increasing, so, the the demand should always be increasing. 