Star Wars in 3D (no not the good Star Wars)

Star Wars in 3D (no not the good Star Wars)
Total Film

Star Wars is heading back to cinemas again, with the official Star Wars Facebook page confirming that the final two films in the prequel trilogy are to get the 3D re-release treatment.

Following on from this year’s re-release of Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Episode II: Attack Of The Clones and Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith will get back-to-back cinema releases in 2013.

Episode II will open on 20 September 2013, while Episode III will open on 11 October 2013.

I think I’m going to be sick…

 

Ebert Liked ‘Premium Rush’

Ebert Liked ‘Premium Rush’
Roger Ebert

But under the direction of David Koepp (“Secret Window,” the screenplays for “Mission: Impossible” and “Spider-Man”), this is an expert and spellbinding adventure. I’m very weary of routine chase movies. There’s nothing routine about “Premium Rush.” Any action formula can be brought to life with enough imagination and energy.

Well, Ebert like it, maybe I should go see it. I’ll see if I can make time.

 

Writer David Koepp leaves ‘Snow White’ Sequel

Writer David Koepp leaves ‘Snow White’ Sequel
Movie Line

David Koepp couldn’t envision a Snow White and the Huntsman sequel without Kristen Stewart — which is one reason he says he’s no longer involved in the project.

Koepp — who scripted Jurassic Park, the original 2002 Spider-Man movie and co-wrote and directed this weekend’s new bike-messenger thriller Premium Rush — told Movieline that he departed the project because he had worked on a script idea “that I really liked” involving Stewart’s character. “And their situation, I hear, changed a little, so they weren’t interested in pursuing that idea anymore.

So the writer thinks it would be…

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Gary Ross on ‘The Hunger Games’

Gary Ross on ‘The Hunger Games’
The New York Times

You asked and he answered. Gary Ross, the director of “The Hunger Games,” took on a wide range of questions from readers about his film version of the Suzanne Collins novel. Mr. Ross selected some of the best questions and  has responded below.

I love stuff like this. My favorite though is:

Q. With the ongoing transition from film to digital capture, the fundamental aesthetic of movies (and TV) is changing. Why did you decide to shoot “The Hunger Games” on film rather than in a digital format? — David, Los Angeles

A. Several reasons. I love the look of the film and, for the…

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Manly Superheroes are Not Americans?

UPDATED:

It was noted by one of our readers (that’s on top of things) that Leonardo De Caprio is not Australian. I knew that too, but I hadn’t drank my coffee for the morning when I wrote the post. My apologies to Leo for the mix-up.

Manly Superheroes are Not Americans?
Travel Light

Maybe you’ve been noticing this lately. Most of America’s favorite superhero roles were taken no less than by gorgeous men from across the Atlantic, England in particular, who dropped their accents to land on these meaty roles.

The Avengers introduced some exceptions to this, but for the most part American actors have not played superheroes in the movies for the last decade. Why is that? Because manly men are not among the Hollywood crowd, so acting scouts are looking offshore for talented masculine men to play the lead roles.

Superman played by Henry Cavill in next year’s The Man…

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Premium Rush

Premium Rush
The Hollywood Reporter

An asphalt-action tale as unadorned as the fixed-gear cycle its hero rides, David Koepp’s Premium Rush supplies just enough dramatic rationale to set a series of Manhattan bike chases in motion and then follows without pretending it cares much about anything beyond the adrenaline. A quick pace and always-enjoyable lead Joseph Gordon-Levitt will please moviegoers, even if the pic’s ticking-clock approach isn’t as invigoratingly pulpy here as in the Koepp-penned Snake Eyes and Panic Room.

This film has failed to capture my interest. I saw the trailer in theatre sometime back and simply…

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‘Thor 2’ Casting

‘Thor 2’ Casting
The Hollywood Reporter

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje has joined the cast of Thor: The Dark World, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Alan Taylor is directing the picture, which brings back most of the first movie’s cast including Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor. Kat Dennings signed on to reprise her character, Darcy Lewis, on Tuesday.

In a supporting role, Akinnuoye-Agbaje will join the ranks of the bad guys led by Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who), who is playing Malekith, ruler of the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim.

I don’t really know who the actor is nor do I remember his role in G.I. Joe, but I’m simply…

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‘Hunger Games’ Tops Home Video Charts

‘Hunger Games’ Tops Home Video Charts
The Hollywood Reporter

Lionsgate easily topped the national home video charts the week ending Aug. 19 with The Hunger Games. The futuristic thriller – well on its way toward spawning a successful franchise a la Twilight – sold an estimated 3.8 million Blu-ray Discs and DVDs its first weekend in stores (it was released at midnight on Aug. 18), according to Lionsgate.

Not surprisingly, the film debuted at No. 1 on both the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert chart, which tracks overall disc sales, and Nielsen’s dedicated Blu-ray Disc sales chart.

Joseph and I will be reviewing this film on next week’s podcast in…

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‘Jack Ryan’ Reboot Late 2013 Release

‘Jack Ryan’ Reboot Late 2013 Release
Slash Film

After a couple years of trying to get the film together, Paramount finally has a loose release window for Jack Ryan, the latest film to adapt the character from Tom Clancy novels such as The Hunt For Red October and Patriot Games, and the first to feature Chris Pine as a younger version of the character. (He’s the fourth actor to play Ryan, following Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, and Ben Affleck.) The studio waited to move forward until Pine was done with the Star Trek sequel, and will be able to get the new Ryan movie shooting soon.

Can’t wait to see how this goes.

 

48 FPS Won’t Cost More

48 FPS Won’t Cost More
Slash Film

When it comes to premium services, moviegoers are used to paying a little more. Almost all theaters charge more for films that are in IMAX, 3D or feature assigned seating and a lack of commercials. So when Peter Jackson announced that The Hobbit would be shot and distributed in 48 frames per second, the first films ever to do so, most assumed the higher frame rate would result in an increased ticket price. Variety now reports that won’t be the case. When The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theaters this December 14, a 3D ticket to see it in 48 frames per second will cost the same as a…

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