Tuesday, May 26, 2015

5-26-15 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)


        Warner Bros. Pictures has released the Point Break trailer which you can view below. Inspired by the classic 1991 hit starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves, the film is scheduled for release in 3D and 2D theaters on December 25. In Alcon Entertainment’s fast-paced, high-adrenaline action thriller Point Break, a young FBI agent, Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey), infiltrates a cunning team of thrill-seeking elite athletes – led by the charismatic Bodhi (Edgar Ramirez). The athletes are suspected of carrying out a spate of crimes in extremely unusual ways. Deep undercover, and with his life in imminent danger, Utah strives to prove they are the architects of this string of inconceivable crimes. The film is replete with the most daring athleticism ever seen in a motion picture. These action adventure feats are performed by elite athletes representing the world’s best in class in big-wave surfing, wingsuit flying, sheer-face snowboarding, free rock climbing, and high-speed motorcycling. The film stars Édgar Ramírez (Zero Dark Thirty, The Bourne Ultimatum, Carlos the Jackal) as Bodhi, and Luke Bracey (G.I. Joe: Retaliation, November Man) as Johnny Utah, along with Ray Winstone (Noah, The Departed), Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies) and Delroy Lindo (Sahara, Gone in Sixty Seconds), under the direction of Ericson Core (Invincible). Core directed from a screenplay by Kurt Wimmer (Salt, Law Abiding Citizen).

        Alcon principals Broderick Johnson and Andrew A. Kosove produced, along with John Baldecchi, Chris Taylor and Kurt Wimmer. Studio Babelsberg also co-produced. RGM Media principal Devesh Chetty and investor John McMurrick, Chairman of Marloss Entertainment, served as executive producers. Director Ericson Core, who served as director of photography on such films as Invincible, The Fast and the Furious and Payback, also serves as director of photography on Point Break. Renowned extreme athletes performing stunts in the film include surfers Laird Hamilton, Sebastian Zietz, Makua Rothman, Billy Kemper, Brian Keaulana, Ahanu Tson-dru, Ian Walsh, Laurie Towner, Dylan Longbottom, Albee Layer, Bruce Irons, Tikanui Smith and Tuhiti Humani; snowboarders Xavier De Le Rue, Louis Vito, Christian Haller, Lucas DeBari and Ralph Backstrom; skateboarders Bob Burnquist and Eric Koston; motorcyclists Riley Harper and Oakley Lehman; wingsuit stunt pilots Jon Devore, Julian Boulle, Noah Bahnson, Jhonathan Florez and Mike Swanson, and consultant Jeb Corliss; and free climber Chris Sharma, among others. Making cameos in the film are DJs Steve Aoki, Seth Troxler and The Art Department, as well as sports commentator and TV host Sal Masekela.


        I'm a little mixed on the trailer. I'm a huge fan of the the original film and to be honest when I first heard about this I was really skeptical because it would very hard to live up to the original films standards. The film has also went through different directors and changes in the cast and I was beginning to worry about it and the fact that the instead of surfers they were going to be extreme athletes. The trailer has a lot of great action scenes and some beautiful visuals, but I'm just not sure how the film will turn out. One thing that will hurt it is the fact that it is coming out on Christmas Day and coming out the week after Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens. I'm hoping the film is good and it turns out to be film that lives up to the original.


        Empire snagged a couple of quotes from superstar Channing Tatum about his upcoming lead role in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men solo reboot/spin-off movie Gambit, and he makes it very clear that this will be much more of an unconventional character story for title anti-hero Remy LeBeau than the typical superhero outing. “Josh Zetumer just turned in the first draft of the script, and it’s killer,” adds Tatum. “None of us were sure how he was going to deal with the X-Men world. But we’re going to be changing some of the tropes of these movies. It’s always about saving the world (laughs), but maybe we’re going to shift things a little bit. There’s so many ways you can take [an origin story]. You could do it like ‘Batman Begins,’ or a different take and go the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ route. All I can say is, I’m super excited.” Although Tatum has excelled at both comedic (21 & 22 Jump Street) and dramatic chops (Magic Mike, Foxcatcher), he has yet to find a suitable action franchise to hang his hat on, having been unceremoniously killed off in G.I. Joe: Retaliation and bombing outright with White House Down and Jupiter Ascending. One thing that might make The Ragin’ Cajun a perfect fit for Tatum (as opposed to a secret service agent or half-dog man) is his own family heritage.  “I love Gambit,” Tatum said previously. “I grew up in the South; my father’s from Louisiana. We’d go to New Orleans and I heard all the dialects. It felt so different from the rest of America; it has its own ancient culture. So I identified with that. And he always felt the most real of the X-Men to me. He’s kind of a tortured soul and he’s not a good guy. But he’s not a bad guy, either. He walks his own path. And of course he plays cards and drinks and is a martial-arts badass!” That penchant for partying, martial arts and playing cards are all qualities Tatum has in spades (pun intended), having practiced wuzuquan kung fu since childhood and opening his own night club, Saints & Sinners, on NOLA’s historic Bourbon Street three years ago. Needless to say, Tatum should throw a mean energy-charged card once Gambit goes before cameras, assuming the project can find a solid director with only a bit more than a year before its scheduled release date of October 7, 2016. High-profile helmers Bennett Miller and Darren Aronofsky have already passed on the project. With a screenplay by Josh Zetumer (RoboCop), Gambit will be produced by Tatum and his creative partner Reid Carolin, along with X-Men franchise stewards Simon Kinberg and Lauren Shuler Donner

        I really love these comments. I always say I love it when an actor is passionate about a role he has been given especially when it comes to comic book films. When it was first announced that Tatum was cast as Gambit I got pretty excited because he has transformed into this high-profiled actor that has proven he can actually act. I also like how this film won't be your typical comic book film origin story and 'm really curious to see how this film turns out. 



        With only three weeks to go before shooting was scheduled to begin, “True Detective” director Cary Fukunaga has departed New Line’s upcoming two-film adaptation of Stephen King’s IT. The Hollywood Reporter has the news, bringing word that Fukunaga’s retreat from the project stems from creative differences, specifically over the budget for the planned features. Published in 1986, IT is described on King’s official site as follows: A promise made twenty-eight years ago calls seven adults to reunite in Derry, Maine, where as teenagers they battled an evil creature that preyed on the city’s children. Unsure that their Losers Club had vanquished the creature all those years ago, the seven had vowed to return to Derry if IT should ever reappear. Now, children are being murdered again and their repressed memories of that summer return as they prepare to do battle with the monster lurking in Derry’s sewers once more. The book was previously adapted by Tommy Lee Wallace as a 1990 two-part, three-hour event miniseries on ABC, starring Tim Curry as Pennywise. Fukunaga also wrote the screenplay for the films with Chase Palmer and David Kajganich and was attached to produce alongside Dan Lin, David Katzenberg, Doug Davison and Seth Grahame-Smith. Although the project recently signed Will Poulter (The Maze Runner) to play Pennywise, it is uncertain at this point what Fukunaga’s departure will have on the project overall. Check back for details as they become available.

        I really hate hearing this news. When I first heard that Fukunaga was directing the film I got really excited because of the amazing work that he did on True Detective and I thought he would have an interesting take on the material. I honestly don't know who they will get to replace him, but I'm holding out hope for James Wan because the film would be flat out amazing. 



        There are a few things we know for certain about 20th Century Fox’s upcoming Deadpool film – it will feature a number of mutant characters we haven’t seen on the big screen before, as well as new versions of characters we have seen. But will the oldest of old favorites, Wolverine, make an appearance? “God I hope so, that would be really nice,” star Ryan Reynolds tells News.com.au. “I dunno, we’ll see. It seems like he’s open to it, but it’s gonna be more of a scheduling issue than anything else.” Jackman has previously confirmed that the upcoming Third Wolverine film would be his last go as the character, but since Deadpool opens in theaters over a year before that film, an appearance wouldn’t stifle those plans. Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life. Ryan Reynolds stars as the title character alongside TJ Miller as Weasel, Gina Carano as Angel Dust, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Morena Baccarin as Copycat and Ed Skrein as Ajax. The film will also feature the mutant Colossus, though Daniel Cudmore has confirmed he will not appear as the character. Tim Miller is directing the movie from a script by Zombieland writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Confirmed to be rated R, Deadpool is scheduled for a release on February 12, 2016.

        I would absolutely love this if it happens. The last time those two were on the big screen together it was an absolute disaster and I think Fox needs to do a mulligan. It would be awesome to see Jackman on screen with Reynolds one more time and it would be a great cameo and they could do a joke that be in the realm of Deadpool talking to Wolverine about the last time they saw each other and Wolverine to replay with something along the lines of wanting to forget a lot of the past, just as shot towards X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I hope it happens and it is realistic idea if they can get the schedules just right. 



        Deadline brings word that Spy Kids, Sin City and From Dusk Til Dawn director Robert Rodriguez has joined Warner Bros.’ live-action adaptation of the cartoon series Jonny Quest. Rodriguez is set to direct the film and co-write the script with Terry Rossio (The Lone Ranger, Pirates of the Caribbean), rewriting a draft by Dan Mazeau. Dan Lin (The LEGO Movie) and Adrian Askarieh (Hitman: Agent 47) will produce the feature. The original animated series ran from 1964 – 65, lasting a mere 26 episodes. The blond and brainy Jonny (voiced by Tim Matheson) was the 11-year-old son of scientist Dr. Benton Quest. Along for the adventure was Hadji Singh, the gifted 11-year-old Calcutta orphan who was adopted by Dr. Quest, and Quest’s tough and charistmatic bodyguard, Race Bannon. The series was revived in both the ’80s and ’90s for additional episodes, along with comic books and video games based on the series. A feature film version of the classic Hanna-Barbera action adventure series has been in development for a few years now with Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson both previously in talks for a version that was never produced. Multiple directors have also tried to get the film off the ground, including Race to Witch Mountain‘s Andy Fick, Grudge Match‘s Peter Segal, and even Superman director Richard Donner.

        I really like this idea. Look I'm a fan of Robert Rodriguez, but lately he hasn't made any good films and I think that this film could be something to help him get back on track. I've watched a little bit of Johnny Quest and I actually enjoyed and I think a live-action version can work, it just depends on who they get to star in the film. 

        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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