5-14-15 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)

        Even before Dawn of the Planet of the Apes debuted in theaters last summer and became a box office smash, 20th Century Fox was already making plans for a follow-up film. Collider now brings word that the previously unnamed feature will go by the title: War of the Planet of the Apes. This remains unconfirmed by Fox, but stay tuned for updates as we learn them. “It could be five years after the event, it could be the night after the events of where we left ‘Dawn,’ so it’s very difficult to know where the story is going right at this moment because it’s being written as we speak,” series star Andy Serkis said of the film last year. “I know that part of the desire for Matt [Reeves] to do this next movie is about continuing the enjoyment of seeing these apes evolve. So I don’t think we’re going to see a situation where we’re jumping….It might be three films, It could be four. It could be five. Who knows? But the journey will continue. It might not necessarily be summarized or completely fulfilled in this next one. The point being, eventually we know that we’re going to end up back at ‘The Planet of the Apes,’ but whether it’s this film or not, I don’t know.” Director Matt Reeves also chimed in about the movie previously, saying: “The notion of what we’re after with the third is to sort of continue that trajectory and see how he becomes a seminal figure in ape history. He almost becomes sort of like an ape Moses. A mythic status… We’re trying to play out those themes and continue to sort of explore it in this universe. Exploring human nature under the guise of apes.” Reeves, who directed last year’s “Dawn,” will return for the sequel, the script for which he is co-writing with Mark Bomback. War of the Planet of the Apes is set for release on July 14, 2017. 

        I really like this title. It makes a lot of sense especially if you've seen Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. It also breaks the trend of Dawn and Rise and it will bring something fresh. I'm glad Andy Serkis and Matt Reeves are returning for the third film simply because they worked well together compared to Andy Serkis and Rupert Wyatt (who directed Rise of the Planet of the Apes) I really enjoyed Dawn and I'm really looking forward to this one.

        Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment have released the new trailer for Minions which you can check out below. Arriving on the big screen July 10, 2015, this Despicable Me spinoff begins at the dawn of time. Starting as single-celled yellow organisms, Minions evolve through the ages, perpetually serving the most despicable of masters. Continuously unsuccessful at keeping these masters–from T. rex to Napoleon–the Minions find themselves without someone to serve and fall into a deep depression. But one Minion named Kevin has a plan, and he–alongside teenage rebel Stuart and lovable little Bob–ventures out into the world to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow. The trio embarks upon a thrilling journey that ultimately leads them to their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock), the world’s first-ever female super-villain. They travel from frigid Antarctica to 1960s New York City, ending in mod London, where they must face their biggest challenge to date: saving all of Minionkind… from annihilation. Featuring a soundtrack of hit music from the ’60s, Minions is produced by Illuminatio’’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and is directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda. Brian Lynch has written the screenplay for the 3D-CG comedy adventure, and Chris Renaud serves as executive producer of the film.

        This trailer was hilarious. I'm going to be completely honest I know the whole plot of the movie, but still seeing these trailers make me laugh out loud. I think the minions are the best part of the Despicable Me franchise and without them then the franchise wouldn't be as big. I've said from the beginning that Inside Out would be the big animated film of the year, but this has the chance to be just as good if not better.

        The cast of director Antoine Fuqua’s The Magnificent Seven continues to grow today as The Hollywood Reporter brings word that “White Collar” and “The Normal Heart” star Matt Bomer has signed on for a role. He joins Denzel Washington (who took home an Oscar for Fuqua’s Training Day), Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Chris Pratt, The Equalizer‘s Haley Bennett, Boyhood‘s Ethan Hawke, Elite Squad‘s Wagner Moura, Aquaman‘s Jason Momoa, G.I. Joe: Retaliation‘s Byung-hun Lee and “Marvel’s Daredevil” star Vincent D’Onofrio. Originally drafted by “True Detective” scribe Nic Pizzolatto (since rewritten by The Blind Side‘s John Lee Hancock),The Magnificent Seven will remake the 1960 film directed by John Sturges that itself was inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 classic Seven Samurai. Sturges’ version starred Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Robert Vaughn as a group of disparate gunmen who come together to protect a Mexican village from bandits led by Eli Wallach. It led to a number of sequels as well as a CBS television series. The new film is said to feature a victimized mining town, taken over by a gold baron, rather than the Mexican village of the original. Bomer will, according to the outlet, play the husband of Bennett’s character. He unsuccessfully attempts to stand up to the baron, leading to her pulling together the titular band of heroes.

        This is great casting. I've not seen much of White Collar, but from what I've seen of it Matt Bomer was really good in it. I think this is great role for him to really start off his movie career. This cast is simply amazing so far and i think this film has the chance to be better than the original film.

        Tracking Board brings word that MGM is moving forward with Shanghai Dawn, the third film in the Shanghai Noon series, with both Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson set to reprise their roles of Chon Wang and Roy O’Bannon. The project is currently seeking writers. Shanghai Noon was an action-comedy combination of the Western and kung fu genre and was released fresh off the heels of Chan’s other notable buddy pairing franchise, “Rush Hour.” The first movie hit theaters 15 years ago and grossed just under $100 million at the global box office. The film was written by screenwriting duo Alfred Gough & Miles Millar and directed by Tom Dey. A sequel, Shanghai Knights, was released in 2003 and saw the pair travel to London. It grossed $88 million at the global box office. Talk of a third film in the series came up upon the release of the second movie, and was even referred to at the time as Shanghai Dawn, though it previously never materialized. “There’s talk about going to Egypt,” Wilson told Empire back in 2003. “This does seem like a Hope/Crosby thing. You can put the characters in all different situations and it works.”

        I'm a little split on the news. On one side I don't think we need another film in the franchise simply because the films weren't that financially successful and plus it's been over ten years since the last film. On the other hand I'll be glad to see Jackie Chan back on the big screen and I'm excited to see what stunts he'll do in this film. I'll need to see a trailer before I can begin judge it, but for now I'm a little split.

        Kate Beckinsale will be back on the big screen as the Vampire warrior Selene in the upcoming fifth installment of Lakeshore Entertainment and Screen Gems’ hit Underworld franchise. The Hollywood Reporter has the news, bringing word that the production has also found a director in Anna Foerster, best known for her work with Roland Emmerich, most recently as the director of photography on 2013’s White House Down. It was reported last fall that Theo James will also be returning to the franchise, reprising his role as the Vampire David. At that time, it was not believed that Beckinsale would be back for the fifth film. Today’s report, however, confirms that both talents will again star opposite one another. The first Underworld, directed by Len Wiseman, was released in 2003 and follows the adventures of Kate Beckinsale’s Selene, a vampire “Death Dealer” caught in the war between vampires and Lycans. It was followed by Underworld: Evolution in 2006, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans in 2009 and Underworld: Awakening in 2012. Beckinsale recently headlined Brad Anderson’s Stonehearst Asylum and can be seen coming up in Terry Jones’ comedy science fiction fantasy Absolutely Anything. Underworld 5, scripted by Cory Goodman, aims to begin production this October in Prague.

        I honestly don't know what to think about this news. First off let me say that I'm not that big a fan of the franchise itself, but I did enjoy the movies for what they were worth. This also falls in line with the Pattern of releasing the films every three years (although this one is four or five years from the last film). Maybe this film can get me on board, but I honestly don't know what to think about the franchise.

        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