3-16-16 Movie News

        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)

        Paramount Pictures and MGM have released the first Ben-Hur trailer, which you can check out below! Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, the August 12 release stars Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Morgan Freeman, Rodrigo Santoro, Nazanin Boniadi, Ayelet Zorer and Sofia Black-D’Elia. Ben-Hur is the epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. Stripped of his title, separated from his family and the woman he loves (Nazanin Boniadi), Judah is forced into slavery. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption. The film is based on Lew Wallace’s timeless novel, “Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.”

        This was a pretty bland trailer. Look the original Ben-Hur is an all-time classic and it may very well be the best of the 1950's, but the thought of a remake never popped in my mind and when this was announced, I was immediately against it. After seeing the trailer I think this film has a lot of promise, however there might be a few problems. One there is a complete overuse of CGI and it just doesn't feel like anything in the film is real and the other thing is that the film feels way too action packed and while I get why they filmmakers wen this way, it just doesn't feel like Ben-Hur. This film has a lot of potential and I think it could be a great film.

        A new Central Intelligence trailer is here! Take a look at the upcoming action comedy that pairs Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart. The film also stars Amy Ryan, Ed Helms, Danielle Nicolet and Bobby Brown. Kevin Hart plays a former high school sports star turned accountant who, on the eve of a class reunion, is contacted by a former classmate (Johnson) who used to be a bullied “loser,” but who is now a contract killer for the CIA and who wants Hart’s character’s help to foil a plot to sell classified military secrets. Amy Ryan then plays another CIA operative tasked with bringing Johnson’s character in. “The inspiration behind this character ‘Bob’ has always been Tom Hanks in ‘Big’ with an added twist,” Dwayne Johnson wrote of his Central Intelligence movie character on an Instagram post earlier this year. “He’s a grown man who’s extremely childlike and views the world thru exuberant and enthusiastic teenage eyes… Loves to wear his favorite Public Enemy shirt, cargo pants and sneakers to work.. and rocks a fanny pack which holds his Bruce Lee quotes and a condom (he’s always prepared). The ‘added twist’ is Bob has an extremely high IQ and is one of the most lethal men on the planet as a C.I.A. contract killer. Oh the most important character trait.. He hates bullies. Can’t wait for y’all to meet ‘Bob’.” Scott Stuber (Ted, Identity Thief) is producing Central Intelligence through his Bluegrass Films banner, along with Peter Principato and Paul Young of Principato-Young Entertainment. Helms, who worked with Thurber on We’re the Millers, is executive producing. Ike Barinholtz and Dave Stassen wrote the original script, with Sean Anders and John Morris penning a subsequent draft and Thurber taking another pass on the latest draft of the Central Intelligence movie script. Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, We’re the Millers), New Line Cinema and Universal Pictures’ Central Intelligence movie is set to hit theaters June 17, 2016.

        This was a really funny trailer. in the past year, I've gotten tired of seeing Kevin Hart in every film and while I like that he is keeping himself busy, he needs to slow down before people get burned out him. However I think this could be a great film and it's mainly due to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. He has improved in so many ways when it comes to his acting abilities and I think pairing him up with Kevin Hart is a brilliant idea. I laughed really hard at this trailer and my only hope is that there are still a lot of great jokes in the film and that they weren't all used in this trailer. 

        Summit Entertainment has released a new Now You See Me 2 trailer, which you can check out below! The anticipated sequel opens in theaters on June 10, 2016. The Four Horsemen return for a second mind-bending adventure, elevating the limits of stage illusion to new heights and taking them around the globe. One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public’s adulation with their Robin Hood-style magic spectacles, the illusionists resurface for a comeback performance in hopes of exposing the unethical practices of a tech magnate. The man behind their vanishing act is none other than Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe), a tech prodigy who threatens the Horsemen into pulling off their most impossible heist yet. Their only hope is to perform one last unprecedented stunt to clear their names and reveal the mastermind behind it all. With a screenplay by Ed Solomon and Pete Chiarelli, Now You See Me 2 stars Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Lizzy Caplan, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman. Lizzy Caplan is stepping in for Isla Fisher and Jay Chou and Daniel Radcliffe also star. The Jon M. Chu-directed film will be released in theaters by Lionsgate.

        This was a really great trailer. It did a great job of giving you an idea of what is going on in the film as well as the basic premise. I enjoyed the first film quite a bit and I didn't know what a sequel would entail and where they would go with the group. However, the idea that this film is presenting is one I am very intrigued by and I think this could be a great film. I am missing Isla Fisher in the film, but I think Lizzy Caplan is a fine addition as well as Daniel Radcliffe who just seems to fit in perfectly with the rest of the cast. My biggest concern is the director and he is the same director who recently directed one of the worst films of all-time in Gem and the Holograms and I'm just a tad bit hesitant, but I'll reserve my judgement when the film comes out. 

        For some time now, The Crow remake has been in trouble. Even before Relativity Media filed for bankruptcy, the film couldn’t keep an actor or creative tied down for too long before they departed. Now, another wrinkle has developed. The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Edward R. Pressman Film Corporation, which produced the 1994 cult adaptation of the comic, have filed papers in court in order to deny Relativity any sequel, prequel, or remake rights to the film. The outlet goes on to reveal that Pressman first optioned the rights to Relativity in 2009 which was extended in 2014 and gave the studio three years to start production on a film. Things almost came close a number of times, most recently with The Hallow director Corin Hardy who was retained with a holding deal to direct the movie. Pressman alleges that once Dana Brunetti came on board to run Relativity Media earlier this year, he fired Hardy from the project, violating the initial agreement regarding The Crow film rights. The Crow was originally published as a four issue miniseries in 1989. Alex Proyas directed the 1994 film based on the series which starred Brandon Lee. Tragically, Lee died in an accident during production. However, the role was recast for several sequels and even a short-lived television series. In the comics, too, O’Barr’s character has been sequelized in quite a few different stories and formats.

         I hate hearing this news. A lot of you know that I am a massive fan of The Crow and I think it is easily one of the top 5 greatest comic book films of all-time and you all know my stance on remakes and this film meets all the criteria that requires a remake. However, with all of the problems the film has had in just the past 7 years alone is insane and to be honest, if you haven't it gotten it together yet, then why would you keep putting effort into something that probably won't work.  I think it's time the studio just drops the project completely and moves on to other things to help the company financially. 

        
        As the ‘Dawn of Justice’ looms, Warner Bros. continues to look at their ever-expanding slate of DC Comics films and it would seem they’ve settled on another project. TheWrap brings word that Lobo is back on at the studio and Wonder Woman screenwriter Jason Fuchs has been tasked with penning the script. Back in 2012, San Andreas director Brad Peyton signed on to direct the big screen adaptation of the character, but development has since stalled. The outlet notes that Fuchs’ screenplay will start from scratch with the character, though there is no word on if Peyton remains on the project. The director is currently in line to direct the upcoming San Andreas sequel, as well as an adaptation of the classic video game Rampage, so his days with the intergalactic mercenary may be over. Created in 1984 by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen, Lobo is a Czarnian (originally Velorpian) bounty hunter who, as a nearly indestructible anti-hero, drives a space-faring motorcycle across the cosmos in search of his next target. The character has fought some of the most powerful members of the DCU including Superman, Hal Jordan, Martian Manhunter, and Deathstroke. Some verisons of the character have aired on the side of sillier tales, seeing the character take down his fourth grade teacher and even the big man himself, Santa Claus. The success of 20th Century Fox’s Deadpool, currently sitting at over $710 million at the global box office, certainly had a hand in this decision. Both characters are anti-heroes that developed a cult following in the ’90s and they both like to break the fourth wall with frequency.

        This is a fabulous choice and some great news to hear. The guy is already in the Warner Bros. wheelhouse and if they are as impressed with Wonder Woman as I've they are, then it makes sense that they want to let a writer move on to another project within the same universe. Lobo is one of the most highly demanded characters when it comes to comic book films and I'm glad he is finally getting his shot. My only question is who in the world is going to take on the role becasue the two people who could play the part are already playing other characters within the  DC Cinematic Universe (Jason Momoa is playing Aquaman and The Rock is playing Black Adam). I wouldn't mind seeing either Tom Hardy or Joe Manganiello take on the role, but I'm sure the studio has their guy. 

        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