Sunday, October 4, 2015

Weekend Movie News 10-2-15 to 10-4-15

        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)


        EON Productions, MGM and Sony Pictures have released the final trailer from the 24th James Bond film, SPECTRE. Check out the SPECTRE trailer in the player below. In the film, a cryptic message from the past sends James Bond (Daniel Craig) on a rogue mission to Mexico City and eventually Rome, where he meets Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci), the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal. Bond infiltrates a secret meeting and uncovers the existence of the sinister organisation known as SPECTRE. Meanwhile back in London, Max Denbigh (Andrew Scott), the new head of the Centre for National Security, questions Bond’s actions and challenges the relevance of MI6, led by M (Ralph Fiennes). Bond covertly enlists Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Q (Ben Whishaw) to help him seek out Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), the daughter of his old nemesis Mr White (Jesper Christensen), who may hold the clue to untangling the web of SPECTRE. As the daughter of an assassin, she understands Bond in a way most others cannot. As Bond ventures towards the heart of SPECTRE, he learns of a chilling connection between himself and the enemy he seeks, played by Christoph Waltz. SPECTRE (Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion), as Bond fans know, is a fictional global terrorist organization featured in Ian Fleming’s novels, as well as the films and video games based on those novels. The organization was led by the villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld, although the cast is definitely playing it coy about whether or not Blofeld will actually appear in the new film. Directed once again by Sam Mendes, SPECTRE is written by John Logan and Neal Purvis & Robert Wade. The 24th Bond film hits theaters and IMAX on November 6, 2015.


        This was an awesome trailer. I honestly think that I have loved every single trailer from this film. The reason for that it because they've shown just enough to understand that plot without giving anything away and that it has a lot of nice action and dramatic set pieces. I can honestly say that this film has a really good shot to be better than Skyfall and that's saying a lot. If the film is half as good as Skyfall then I'll be pleased. 



        Following the news that a Transformers 5 is on the way along with an animated “origin story” film set on Cybertron, comes word today that you can expect a whole lot more Transformers movies in the next 10 years in addition to those. Hasbro Studios president Stephen J. Davis was the Keynote speaker at MIP Junior in Cannes. “Well, you’re going to see a new Transformers movie coming from Hasbro and Paramount and Michael Bay and our other partners,” he says. “In fact, we just finished, as some of you may have read, just an incredible experience. We decided that we wanted to plot out the next 10 years of the Transformers franchise, so we got together in a room over a three-month period of time. Nine of some of the most creative writers I have ever worked with, shepherded by Akiva Goldsman, who many of you may know won an Academy Award for A Beautiful Mind and written a bunch of great movies. And they plotted out the next 10 years of Transformers. Similarly, we are doing the same in television and in digital. So stay tuned, Transformers 5 is on its way, and 6 and 7 and 8.” Ant-Man scribes Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari will script the animated film and the writers room also included “The Walking Dead” and “Invincible” creator Robert Kirkman, the Iron Man writing pair of Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, “Fringe” and “Lost” scribe Jeff Pinkner, X-Men: The Last Stand and The Incredible Hulk‘s Zak Penn, Black Hawk Down scribe Ken Nolan, “Black List” scribes Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Christina Hodson, “Marvel’s Daredevil” season one showrunner Steven DeKnight and Lindsey Beer, a science major at Stanford, who has written original specs in the sci-fi and fantasy genre. Paramount Pictures’ most recent entry in the Transformers franchise was 2014’s Transformers: Age of Extinction. Earning more than $1.1 billion at the worldwide box office, the film stars Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor. Michael Bay is expected to direct Transformers 5 again with Wahlberg starring.

        For the first time in my life I am speechless. I really can't find the words to describe how I feel about the news. Let's just say I'm dumbfounded, upset and deranged. I honestly hate this news so much because it shows that you can make a pile of crap film that everyone hates and still have the audacity to make not just 1 more sequel but four more sequels over the next 10 years. I wouldn't feel this way about if Michael Bay wasn't coming back to direct the film(s) because he could honestly care less about a good story as long as he makes the film he wants (with no limitations) and if he makes a trillion dollars. The one silver lining in the whole news is the talent in the writers room and maybe they can come up with something that is compelling enough to help save the franchise from a story POV.



        Casting is underway for Lionsgate’s upcoming Power Rangers reboot, and Variety brings word on a number of young actors and actresses up for three of the main roles. Up for the role of Jason/The Red Ranger are KJ Apa (“Shortland Street”), Austin Butler (“Arrow,” “The Carrie Diaries”) and Mitchell Hope (“Descendants”). Testing for the role of Zack/The Black Ranger are Daniel Zovatto (It Follows), Ross Butler (“Chasing Life”) and Brian “Sene” Marc (“Major Crimes”). Finally, testing for the role of Kimberly/The Pink Ranger are Naomi Scott (The Martian) and Stephanie Scott (Insidious: Chapter 3). The outlet goes on to say that the studio is seeking young talent for the roles of the Rangers themselves and will likely go to big name stars for the film’s antagonists. Screenwriters Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller (X-Men: First Class, Thor) wrote the screenplay for Power Rangers, which is described as a modern reinvention of the long-running franchise. In it, a group of ordinary high school kids find themselves infused with extraterrestrial powers and must harness those powers as a team to save the world. Original creator Haim Saban is acting as producer along with Brian Casentini and Allison Shearmur. Saban’s “Power Rangers” franchise is the brainchild of Haim Saban, creator and producer of the original “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” hit series that launched in 1993. Following its introduction, “Power Rangers” quickly became the most-watched children’s television program in the United States and remains one of the top-rated and longest running boys live-action series in television history. The series follows the adventures of a group of ordinary teens who “morph” into superheroes and save the world from evil. It is seen in more than 150 markets around the world, translated into numerous languages and is a mainstay in the most prominent international children’s programming blocks. 20th Century Fox previously released two feature films, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie in 1995 and Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie in 1997. Set to be directed by Project Almanac‘s Dean Israelite, Power Rangers will debut in theaters on January 13, 2017.

        These are all really interesting names. If I were the one choosing I would choose either Austin Butler or Mitchell Hope for Jason simply because in everything I have seen them in I've really liked, but if a gun was to my head and I had to choose then I would go with Butler. For Zack I would go with Daniel Zovatto because he was just amazing in It Follows and I thought he actually stole the movie with his performance. For Kimberly I would choose Naomi Scott simply because she is so fresh on my mind after seeing her in The Martian this past weekend, plus she is a few inches taller than Stephanie Scott (and yes those few inches matter to me). I think this is a great selection of young and unknown talent and it really excites me for the direction the film is going. I really enjoyed what Dean Israelite did with a young cast in Project Almanac and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do with this property that it is near and dear to my heart. 



        Flight of the Conchords and What We Do in the Shadows helmer Taika Waititi is in negotiations with Marvel Studios to direct Thor: Ragnarok, according to TheWrap. The God of Thunder will again be played by Chris Hemsworth. The site says that Waititi beat out former Ant-Man hopefuls Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland, Gangster Squad) and Rawson Marshall Thurber (Dodgeball, We’re the Millers) in addition to Rob Letterman (Goosebumps) for the job, and he will follow in the footsteps of Thor director Kenneth Branagh and Thor: The Dark World director Alan Taylor. Waititi’s other credits include Eagle vs. Shark and he wrote the script for Walt Disney Animation’s upcoming Moana, featuring Dwayne Johnson. Thor: Ragnarok will close out the Asgardian trilogy with a screenplay by Christopher Yost (Thor: The Dark World) and Craig Kyle (producer on previous two Thor films), and will continue the cliffhanger of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) having secretly taken the throne in guise of his adoptive father Odin (Anthony Hopkins). Marvel Studios will release Thor: Ragnarok on November 3, 2017 in 3D/2D theaters and IMAX.

        This is a really interesting choice. I haven never even heard of Taika Waititi and I have never seen anything he's done so I can't really judge if he would be a good choice. I was really hoping that Kenneth Branagh would come back because he did such an amazing job with the first Thor film (it was actually my favorite standalone film in Phase 1). If there is one thing I never doubt Marvel on is that they get quality directors for every single film so in essence I have to trust their judgement on this one. Waititi has only done small Indie films and maybe he could be the next one to transition from directing Indie's to directing big time blockbusters. 



        According to Deadline, Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons (Reversal of Fortune, “The Borgias,” upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) and acclaimed actor Brendan Gleeson (Edge of Tomorrow, Calvary) will join Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard in 20th Century Fox’s Assassin’s Creed movie. Irons will be playing Cotillard’s father, while Gleeson plays Fassbender’s dad. Meanwhile, What Culture is reporting on a rumor that the film is shooting right now under the working title of “Time Out of Mind” (not to be confused with the recent Richard Gere film of the same name). Whether this is just a production code name or the film will actually be subtitled “Assassin’s Creed: Time Out of Mind” remains to be seen, although it does sum up the anachronistic nature of the franchise. The long-running Ubisoft game series began in 2007 with new entries taking place across time including the Crusades, the Italian Renaissance, the American Revolutionary War, and an upcoming title set in Victorian England. Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day. Assassin’s Creed stars Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender (X-Men: Days of Future Past, 12 Years a Slave) and Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard (The Dark Knight Rises, La Vie en Rose). The film is directed by Justin Kurzel (Snowtown, Macbeth); produced by New Regency, Ubisoft Motion Pictures, DMC Films and Kennedy/Marshall; co-financed by RatPac Entertainment and Alpha Pictures; and distributed by 20th Century Fox. The Assassin’s Creed movie opens in theaters worldwide on December 21st, 2016.

        This is terrific casting. Both Brendan Gleeson and Jeremy Irons are two of the most recognizable actors in films and they are just absolutely tremendous and yet they never get the credit that they deserve. I think that they are perfect for this film and this just builds upon the unbelievably talented cast the film already has plus it doesn't hurt that they are both European just like Fassbender and Cotillard. I'm a fan of the first few games in this franchise and I have been looking forward to this film for a really long time and I can't wait to see the final product next Christmas. 

        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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