Monday, August 11, 2014

Weekend Movie News 8-8-14 to 8-10-14

        Hello ladies and gentlemen, here is some movie news with some of my thoughts and opinions (which will be in BOLD print). So without further ado...


(NOTE: All of these stories come from comingsoon.net)


        Filming for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is continuing in Detroit and a video has leaked for the set.. In the video you'll see Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne, sand it comes from Mr.Dan Newman. Starring Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter and Scoot McNairy, the Zack Snyder-directed Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters on March 25, 2016.


        This video is just awesome. I like that we got to see a little peak at Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne. All I can is my goodness the man is absolutely jacked and I think he'll pull off the part and shut up all of the negative people. I want 2016 to get hear fast.



        As you may have heard, earlier this week Warner Bros. decided to move the release date for the highly-anticipated Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice from May 6, 2016 to March 25, 2016. Ever since the film initially moved to the May 6th date, many fans, including our own Ed Douglas, begged one of the two companies to do the sensible thing and move the film. Now that it has happened,  Warner Bros.’ president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman spoke with EW about why their most recent move is the smart thing to do. "The reality now is there really isn't a bad week to open a movie," Fellman said. "If you look at the summer box office this year, you can see that there were so many movies, one after the other. You can start with Spider-Man, two weeks later Godzilla, and then Maleficent, and then Edge of Tomorrow, and then Jump Street and Transformers. And the one thing they all had in common, not one of them did over $250 million. We'll be the first one up [in 2016], which is very important, and we'll have six weeks before Captain America comes in."

        Fellman also confirmed that the initial push of the film's release date of July 2015 to May 2016, and landing on the same day as Marvel's Captain America 3, was because they believed Marvel Studios wouldn't have a film ready to release on that date.  "In terms of going back and reviewing the situation, it looked to us--and maybe our reconnaissance wasn't great--that they were not going to have a movie [ready] on that date. Just that they held onto it and they might not be able to deliver. But they took another position."

        Fellman also teased that at least a few of the recently dated DC films will likely be announced by the end of the month, and reportedly said that we might not have to wait long for the first official Justice League team-up following "Batman v Superman." "While it hasn't been officially announced, I think it's a pretty good bet."

        I really like what was said here. I'm glad that Fellman is speaking with confidence about the future of DC comic book films. He's exactly right on the opening of the film is well in saying that this date helps them get more money then what it would've gotten if it had stayed on it's original date. I'm really looking forward to what the future has in store for Warner Bros./DC.



        It's been some time since we had an update on the upcoming Assassin's Creed feature adaptation, which is set to open in one year's time on August 7, 2015, but IGN recently sat down with star Michael Fassbender who confirmed that he's still attached to the project and they're still working on the script. The outlet also asked Fassbender how faithful he thinks they'll be to the original game, to which he replied: "You know, we absolutely want to respect the game. There's so much cool stuff in the game that we're actually spoiled for choice in terms of what we can use and what we can't, but we also want to bring new elements to it and perhaps our own version of things that already exist in the game. But we're definitely making a feature film, and we're approaching it as a feature film, as opposed to approaching it as a video game. But I love the world. I don't really play that many video games, but when I met up with the guys from Ubisoft and they started to explain this whole world and the idea of DNA memory - you know, I think it's a very feasible scientific theory. I just thought, 'This is so rich,' and about the possibility of it being this cinematic experience. So I'm really excited about it, and we're working very hard to make sure that we've got the best and most exciting, original package."

        Fassbender also opened up about director Justin Kurzel, who joined the project back in April, saying: "I just think that there's one thing Justin should be doing, and that's directing. I know that from working with him on Macbeth. He's just fantastic in terms of his vision. Adam, the DP that he works with, is amazing. They've got a great shorthand - that's essential. He's fantastic with actors and each department. He's a real heavyweight."

        I'm really stoked to hear this. I'm a huge fan of the Assassin's Creed franchise and hearing that they are going to stick close to the game really gets me interested plus adding something new will great as well. I can't wait for this film and I'm excited to see how Fassbender can do in the role. 



        Announced as being in development back in March, the feature film based on the hit video game The Last of Us is still chugging along and Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann, who not only wrote the game but is penning the screenplay, has provided an update on the film's progress. "In two hours you can't tell the same kind of story that you can in a game like The Last of Us, which is 15 hours," Druckman told MCV (Via Flickering Myth): "I'm in the middle of it now, and it's been super difficult because there's so much that happens in The Last of Us – even just in the cinematics – that can't fit in a film, let alone all the gameplay in-between and dialogue."

        Druckmann continued, speaking about the focus of the game and how that will translate to the big screen, noting that though some elements from the game will remain some will be altered. "It almost has this novel quality as far as how much content there is, and a film works really well when it's laser-focused, so the first part of it was like: well, what is this story really about? It's clearly about Joel and Ellie. What are the most important beats that we can't lose? Start with those, and cut everything else out. It's been really difficult to cut certain things out, but what I'm starting to get this is really focused narrative that's about these two characters. Some parts will be similar to the game and some parts will be quite different, but it's kind of interesting in helping me understand this other medium and its strengths compared to video games."

        Druckmann will co-produce the film along with Naughty Dog Co-Presidents' Evan Wells and Christophe Balestra, Game Director Bruce Straley, and Sam Raimi via their Ghost House Pictures banner. It was revealed at this year's San Diego Comic-Con that "Game of Thrones" star Maisie Williams had been approached to take on the role of Ellie in the game, though no casting has been confirmed at this point.

        The Last of Us follows hardened survivor Joel and Ellie, a young and capable girl, on their journey through a radically transformed world. Set twenty years after an infectious pandemic spread by the cordyceps virus ravaged the course of humanity, these two people, who were brought together by chance, must make life-altering decisions in order to survive. The Last of Us explores themes of survival, loyalty, love, and redemption in an emotionally charged expedition across a post-epidemic United States.

        This is pretty interesting to hear. Having played The Last of Us (and loving it) there is a lot to cover and put into a 2 hour movie. as long as they take the key essential parts of the game and can execute the gameplan then the film will be amazing. I honestly cannot wait to see this film.



        Skyfall and 28 Days Later star Naomie Harris has, according to Deadline, joined the cast of director Antoine Fuqua's upcoming drama, Southpaw. She'll star as a social worker named Angela opposite leading man Jake Gyllenhaal. Scripted by Kurt Sutter ("Sons of Anarchy"), the drama follows a welterweight boxing champion (Gyllenhaal) whose personal life is falling apart despite his professional success.

        This is interesting casting. While Harris hasn't been in a lot of films, she has done a really good job in all of her roles. Look this film sounds like an Oscar bait film just like most boxing films are (Raging Bull, Rocky, Million Dollar Baby, The Fighter, Ali, The Hurricane and Cinderella Man) so let's hope it's as good as those films. 


        So there you have it ladies and gentlemen, which of these stories peaked your interest or was there another story that interested you? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                                         Jonah Sparks

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