One of my favorite times of the year as it's one of two occasions where I bet money (the other being Ascot btw) at my local bookies.
So what are roughly the odds (Via Skybet http://www.skybet.com/betting/tv-and-film-specials/c10000039.html# ).
Best Supporting actress
Hailee Steinfeld is 10/3 and I think she's gonna win even though the favorite is Melisa Leo at 8/13
Best actor
It's between James Franco (12/1) but the clear favorite which I agree with is Colin Firth with 1/12 which is rubbish unless you plan to do an accumulator.
Best actress
Natalie Portman is going to win this I think and she's 1/6
Best director
It's quite open this one with David Fincher the fav with (1/12) according to skybet, Tom Cooper is (8/1) and Darren Aronofsky is (25/1).
So who do I think is going to win...I think Aronofsky as Fincher won it not long ago (yes things like this do matter in Oscars), Tom Cooper did a good job for The Queens Speech but not enough for a win to me. But Aronofsky's Black Swan is brilliant and fantastically executed by Aronofsky and with 25/1 is great odds.
Best film
Ok 127 Hours odds of 100/1 is shocking and I'm putting a quid on that. But I think it will be the King's Speech which is the second fav with odds of (11/8). The fav according to skybet is The Social Network with 8/15. But in all fairness best picture is very open this year with the four films 127 Hours, The Kings Speech, The Social Network and The Fighter having a really good chance of winning.
So thats my two cents anyway but my god 127 Hours 100/1 odds translates to Hull's odds of winning the premiership at the start of the season????
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Monday, 24 January 2011
What I have been watching lately.
Planet of the Apes (Original version)
Still a great film and still holds up todays blockbusters in terms of scale, action and story.
Charlton Heston gives a great performance as Taylor with a great supporting cast of other Oscar winners Roddy McDowell and Kim Hunter.
It's a shame most franchises of today don't look to films like the Planet of the Apes or inspiration. This film alone in my view saved 20th Century Fox from possible bankruptcy in the 60's, made two sequels, one prequel a cartoon series, a live action series, toys, comic books and a remake.
Oh and another remake on the way of Conquest of the Planet of The Apes called Rise of the Apes.
Learn from this franchise Hollywood.
The Fighter
Really good film that I was expecting to just be a fairly average flick. Boxing films have been done to death from from Rocky to Raging Bull but this film brought a nice freshness to the genre. I found it more of a drama film rather than a sports film like the other boxing films I have seen in the past, the amount of boxing in the film I felt was very little actually. They also filmed the fights as if you were watching it on TV and it worked brilliantly and nicely added more tension and threat in the fights as if it's really happening in front of you, great idea by the makers of the film.
I have no idea if they filmed it this way for budget reasons but either way, it really added to the scenes and made the film more unique.
The performances were fantastic from everyone, but the stand out performance without a doubt was Christian Bale who should get his first Oscar nomination for this film (No idea how he hasn't been nominated before). I really hope it does well in the Oscars as it's a film that Hollywood should make more of with great character's and heart all the way through.
The King's Speech
Brilliant film with a great cast and well executed. I can't think of any negatives with this one as it was great from the get go with Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush being the icing on the cake.
I'm convinced this will do well at the Oscars as it's perfect Oscar material and is a great film in it's own right.
I would recommend this to anyone of all film tastes from Citizen Kane to Star Wars.
Saw...Whatever...6 or is it 7 now?
Crap, just don't bother.
127 Hours
Really enjoyed this and was never bored, which is impressive considering that the film focuses on one man with his arm stuck in a rock for 127 hours.
So already to most peoples minds is that director Danny Boyle hasn't got much to work with. But luckily Aron Ralston (James Franco) has loads of issues that up until that point, just ignored or was essentially running away from.
Also the film like all of Danny Boyle's film's are very visual with plenty of flashbacks in Aron's life as well as trying to move the rocks in lots of different failed attempts.
The scene which I was warned about when going in where Aron cut's his arm off, wasn't as bad as some have made about to be and was really well done.
I think James Franco will get a Oscar nomination for his performance for this film. I have always felt he's a great actor and more than proves it for this film, especially the moment with him and a mini DV camera.
Danny Boyle will also get nominated for this film but I think nomination is all it will be as he won last year for Slumdog Millionaire.
The film it self is a great film but like with Slumdog Millionaire, I feel that his older films are still his best. It's only been until Slumdog Millionaire won at the Oscars that people finally caught up with Boyle but for me it was Train spotting and 28 Days Later that made me think he was a great director.
But I'm sure this is another one that I would personally add to Trainspotting and 28 Days Later that shows Boyle at his best.
Megamind
I was expecting this to be rubbish but was pleasantly surprised, thought the voice acting worked especially from Will Ferrell and it never dragged.
Not a classic like Toy Story, Snow White or Spirited Away for example when it comes to children's animated films but I liked it and it ticked all the boxes. Minor negatives would be it's scale as when there were scenes with huge crowds it felt like the makers cut a few corners and in Pixar films for example they never cut corners.
But it was funny and made me laugh a couple of times but I wouldn't really watch it again if the truth be told.
True Grit
I thought this was really good, never seen the the original as I just can't stand John Wayne.
The Coen brothers are on top form with this one as it's well paced with Bridges giving the film a great bit of humor when needed.
The girl in it Hailee Steinfeld is the true star though, who totally outshines Bridges, Brolin and Damon with ease. Reminded me a lot of Natalie Portman's screen debut performance with Leon, as it's very clear she has a bright future ahead of her.
Not quite the classic like No Country for Old Men or The Big Lebowski from the Coen's but still a good watch, but possibly after the Oscars will be forgotten about as in recent years there have been so many good westerns like Unforgiven and 3:10 To Yuma.
I don't think it will storm the Oscars but it will get a couple of nods and I hope Hailee Steinfeld wins something for this.
Still a great film and still holds up todays blockbusters in terms of scale, action and story.
Charlton Heston gives a great performance as Taylor with a great supporting cast of other Oscar winners Roddy McDowell and Kim Hunter.
It's a shame most franchises of today don't look to films like the Planet of the Apes or inspiration. This film alone in my view saved 20th Century Fox from possible bankruptcy in the 60's, made two sequels, one prequel a cartoon series, a live action series, toys, comic books and a remake.
Oh and another remake on the way of Conquest of the Planet of The Apes called Rise of the Apes.
Learn from this franchise Hollywood.
The Fighter
Really good film that I was expecting to just be a fairly average flick. Boxing films have been done to death from from Rocky to Raging Bull but this film brought a nice freshness to the genre. I found it more of a drama film rather than a sports film like the other boxing films I have seen in the past, the amount of boxing in the film I felt was very little actually. They also filmed the fights as if you were watching it on TV and it worked brilliantly and nicely added more tension and threat in the fights as if it's really happening in front of you, great idea by the makers of the film.
I have no idea if they filmed it this way for budget reasons but either way, it really added to the scenes and made the film more unique.
The performances were fantastic from everyone, but the stand out performance without a doubt was Christian Bale who should get his first Oscar nomination for this film (No idea how he hasn't been nominated before). I really hope it does well in the Oscars as it's a film that Hollywood should make more of with great character's and heart all the way through.
The King's Speech
Brilliant film with a great cast and well executed. I can't think of any negatives with this one as it was great from the get go with Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush being the icing on the cake.
I'm convinced this will do well at the Oscars as it's perfect Oscar material and is a great film in it's own right.
I would recommend this to anyone of all film tastes from Citizen Kane to Star Wars.
Saw...Whatever...6 or is it 7 now?
Crap, just don't bother.
127 Hours
Really enjoyed this and was never bored, which is impressive considering that the film focuses on one man with his arm stuck in a rock for 127 hours.
So already to most peoples minds is that director Danny Boyle hasn't got much to work with. But luckily Aron Ralston (James Franco) has loads of issues that up until that point, just ignored or was essentially running away from.
Also the film like all of Danny Boyle's film's are very visual with plenty of flashbacks in Aron's life as well as trying to move the rocks in lots of different failed attempts.
The scene which I was warned about when going in where Aron cut's his arm off, wasn't as bad as some have made about to be and was really well done.
I think James Franco will get a Oscar nomination for his performance for this film. I have always felt he's a great actor and more than proves it for this film, especially the moment with him and a mini DV camera.
Danny Boyle will also get nominated for this film but I think nomination is all it will be as he won last year for Slumdog Millionaire.
The film it self is a great film but like with Slumdog Millionaire, I feel that his older films are still his best. It's only been until Slumdog Millionaire won at the Oscars that people finally caught up with Boyle but for me it was Train spotting and 28 Days Later that made me think he was a great director.
But I'm sure this is another one that I would personally add to Trainspotting and 28 Days Later that shows Boyle at his best.
Megamind
I was expecting this to be rubbish but was pleasantly surprised, thought the voice acting worked especially from Will Ferrell and it never dragged.
Not a classic like Toy Story, Snow White or Spirited Away for example when it comes to children's animated films but I liked it and it ticked all the boxes. Minor negatives would be it's scale as when there were scenes with huge crowds it felt like the makers cut a few corners and in Pixar films for example they never cut corners.
But it was funny and made me laugh a couple of times but I wouldn't really watch it again if the truth be told.
True Grit
I thought this was really good, never seen the the original as I just can't stand John Wayne.
The Coen brothers are on top form with this one as it's well paced with Bridges giving the film a great bit of humor when needed.
The girl in it Hailee Steinfeld is the true star though, who totally outshines Bridges, Brolin and Damon with ease. Reminded me a lot of Natalie Portman's screen debut performance with Leon, as it's very clear she has a bright future ahead of her.
Not quite the classic like No Country for Old Men or The Big Lebowski from the Coen's but still a good watch, but possibly after the Oscars will be forgotten about as in recent years there have been so many good westerns like Unforgiven and 3:10 To Yuma.
I don't think it will storm the Oscars but it will get a couple of nods and I hope Hailee Steinfeld wins something for this.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
BAFTA'S 2011 Nominations
Will have to do a write up for this when the Oscar noms come out, but in the mean time and keeping with tradition
and the nominations are...
BEST FILM
Black Swan
Inception
The King's Speech (Win)
The Social Network
True Grit
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
127 Hours
Another Year
Four Lions
The King's Speech (Win)
Made in Dagenham
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
The Arbor - Director, Producer - Clio Barnard, Tracy O'Riordan
Exit Through the Gift Shop - Director, Producer – Banksy, Jaimie D'Cruz
Four Lions - Director/Writer - Chris Morris
Monsters - Director/Writer – Gareth Edwards (It has to be this guy, Monsters was one of my fav films of last year)
Skeletons - Director/Writer – Nick Whitfield
DIRECTOR
127 Hours - Danny Boyle
Black Swan - Darren Aronofsky (Win)
Inception - Christopher Nolan
The King's Speech - Tom Hooper
The Social Network - David Fincher
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Black Swan - Mark Heyman, Andrés Heinz, John McLaughlin
The Fighter - Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson
Inception - Christopher Nolan
The Kids Are All Right - Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg
The King's Speech - David Seidler (Win)
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
127 Hours - Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy (But I want this to win)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Rasmus Heisterberg, Nikolaj Arcel
The Social Network - Aaron Sorkin (Win)
Toy Story 3- Michael Arndt
True Grit - Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Biutiful - Alejandro González Iñárritu, Jon Kilik, Fernando Bovaira
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Søren Stærmose, Niels Arden Oplev (I have no idea tbh, total guess)
I Am Love - Luca Guadagnino, Francesco Melzi D'Eril, Marco Morabito, Massimiliano Violante
Of Gods and Men - Xavier Beauvois
The Secret in their Eyes - Mariela Besuievsky, Juan José Campanella
ANIMATED FILM
Despicable Me
How to Train Your Dragons
Toy Story 3 (Win)
LEADING ACTOR
Jarvier Bardem - Biutiful
Jeff Bridges - True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network
Colin Firth - The King's Speech (Win)
James Franco - 127 Hours (Brilliant in 127 hours and in other years would be the clear fav)
LEADING ACTRESS
Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Julianne Moore - The Kids Are All Right
Natalie Portman - Black Swan (Win)
Noomi Rapace - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale - The Fighter (Win)
Andrew Garfield - The Social Network (I want him to win)
Pete Postlethwaite - The Town (Big outsider)
Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech (Another big outsider :Personal note to self: don't put any money on this category)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams - The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech
Barbara Hershey - Black Swan (Win)
Lesley Manville - Another Year
Miranda Richardson - Made in Dagenham
ORIGINAL MUSIC
127 Hours - AR Rahman
Alice in Wonderland - Danny Elfman
How to Train Your Dragon - John Powell
Inception - Hans Zimmer (Win)
The King's Speech - Alexandre Desplat
CINEMATOGRAPHY
127 Hours - Anthony Dod Mantle, Enrique Chediak (But this should win)
Black Swan - Matthew Libatique
Inception - Wally Pfister (Win)
The King's Speech - Danny Cohen
True Grit - Roger Deakins
EDITING
127 Hours - Jon Harris
Black Swan - Andrew Weisblum
Inception - Lee Smith (Win)
The King's Speech - Tariq Anwar
The Social Network - Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Alice in Wonderland - Robert Stromberg, Karen O'Hara
Black Swan - Thérèse DePrez, Tora Peterson
Inception - Guy Hendrix Dyas, Larry Dias, Doug Mowat (Win)
The King's Speech - Eve Stewart, Judy Farr
True Grit - Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh
COSTUME DESIGN
Alice in Wonderland - Colleen Atwood
Black Swan - Amy Westcott
The King's Speech - Jenny Beavan (Win)
Made in Dagenham - Louise Stjernsward
True Grit - Mary Zophres
SOUND
127 HOURS - Glenn Freemantle, Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Steven C Laneri, Douglas Cameron
Black Swan - Ken Ishii, Craig Henighan, Dominick Tavella
Inception - Richard King, Lora Hirschberg, Gary A Rizzo, Ed Novick (Win)
The King's Speech - John Midgley, Lee Walpole, Paul Hamblin
True Grit - Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff, Peter F Kurland, Douglas Axtell
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
Alice in Wonderland - Nominees TBC
Black Swan - Dan Schrecker
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - Tim Burke, John Richardson, Nicolas Ait'Hadi, Christian Manz
Inception - Chris Corbould, Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Peter Bebb (Win)
Toy Story 3 - Nominees TBC
MAKE UP & HAIR
Alice in Wonderland - Nominees TBC
Black Swan - Judy Chin, Geordie Sheffer
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - Amanda Knight, Lisa Tomblin
The King's Speech - Frances Hannon (Win)
Made in Dagenham - Lizzie Yianni Georgiou
SHORT ANIMATION
The Eagleman Stag - Michael Please
Matter Fisher - David Prosser
Thursday - Matthias Hoegg (I like Thursday so I will guess Thursday)
SHORT FILM
Connect - Samuel Abrahams, Beau Gordon (I have an Xbox 360 so Connect...well it sounds like Kinnect)
Lin - Piers Thompson, Simon Hessel
Rite - Michael Pearce, Ross McKenzie
Turning - Karni Arieli, Saul Freed, Alison Sterling, Kat Armour-Brown
Until the River Runs Red - Paul Wright, Poss Kondeatis
ORANGE WEDNESDAYS RISING AWARD
Gemma Arterton
Andrew Garfield
Tom Hardy (Win)
Aaron Johnson
Emma Stone
and the nominations are...
BEST FILM
Black Swan
Inception
The King's Speech (Win)
The Social Network
True Grit
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
127 Hours
Another Year
Four Lions
The King's Speech (Win)
Made in Dagenham
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
The Arbor - Director, Producer - Clio Barnard, Tracy O'Riordan
Exit Through the Gift Shop - Director, Producer – Banksy, Jaimie D'Cruz
Four Lions - Director/Writer - Chris Morris
Monsters - Director/Writer – Gareth Edwards (It has to be this guy, Monsters was one of my fav films of last year)
Skeletons - Director/Writer – Nick Whitfield
DIRECTOR
127 Hours - Danny Boyle
Black Swan - Darren Aronofsky (Win)
Inception - Christopher Nolan
The King's Speech - Tom Hooper
The Social Network - David Fincher
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Black Swan - Mark Heyman, Andrés Heinz, John McLaughlin
The Fighter - Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson
Inception - Christopher Nolan
The Kids Are All Right - Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg
The King's Speech - David Seidler (Win)
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
127 Hours - Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy (But I want this to win)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Rasmus Heisterberg, Nikolaj Arcel
The Social Network - Aaron Sorkin (Win)
Toy Story 3- Michael Arndt
True Grit - Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Biutiful - Alejandro González Iñárritu, Jon Kilik, Fernando Bovaira
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Søren Stærmose, Niels Arden Oplev (I have no idea tbh, total guess)
I Am Love - Luca Guadagnino, Francesco Melzi D'Eril, Marco Morabito, Massimiliano Violante
Of Gods and Men - Xavier Beauvois
The Secret in their Eyes - Mariela Besuievsky, Juan José Campanella
ANIMATED FILM
Despicable Me
How to Train Your Dragons
Toy Story 3 (Win)
LEADING ACTOR
Jarvier Bardem - Biutiful
Jeff Bridges - True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network
Colin Firth - The King's Speech (Win)
James Franco - 127 Hours (Brilliant in 127 hours and in other years would be the clear fav)
LEADING ACTRESS
Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Julianne Moore - The Kids Are All Right
Natalie Portman - Black Swan (Win)
Noomi Rapace - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale - The Fighter (Win)
Andrew Garfield - The Social Network (I want him to win)
Pete Postlethwaite - The Town (Big outsider)
Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech (Another big outsider :Personal note to self: don't put any money on this category)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams - The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech
Barbara Hershey - Black Swan (Win)
Lesley Manville - Another Year
Miranda Richardson - Made in Dagenham
ORIGINAL MUSIC
127 Hours - AR Rahman
Alice in Wonderland - Danny Elfman
How to Train Your Dragon - John Powell
Inception - Hans Zimmer (Win)
The King's Speech - Alexandre Desplat
CINEMATOGRAPHY
127 Hours - Anthony Dod Mantle, Enrique Chediak (But this should win)
Black Swan - Matthew Libatique
Inception - Wally Pfister (Win)
The King's Speech - Danny Cohen
True Grit - Roger Deakins
EDITING
127 Hours - Jon Harris
Black Swan - Andrew Weisblum
Inception - Lee Smith (Win)
The King's Speech - Tariq Anwar
The Social Network - Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Alice in Wonderland - Robert Stromberg, Karen O'Hara
Black Swan - Thérèse DePrez, Tora Peterson
Inception - Guy Hendrix Dyas, Larry Dias, Doug Mowat (Win)
The King's Speech - Eve Stewart, Judy Farr
True Grit - Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh
COSTUME DESIGN
Alice in Wonderland - Colleen Atwood
Black Swan - Amy Westcott
The King's Speech - Jenny Beavan (Win)
Made in Dagenham - Louise Stjernsward
True Grit - Mary Zophres
SOUND
127 HOURS - Glenn Freemantle, Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Steven C Laneri, Douglas Cameron
Black Swan - Ken Ishii, Craig Henighan, Dominick Tavella
Inception - Richard King, Lora Hirschberg, Gary A Rizzo, Ed Novick (Win)
The King's Speech - John Midgley, Lee Walpole, Paul Hamblin
True Grit - Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff, Peter F Kurland, Douglas Axtell
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
Alice in Wonderland - Nominees TBC
Black Swan - Dan Schrecker
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - Tim Burke, John Richardson, Nicolas Ait'Hadi, Christian Manz
Inception - Chris Corbould, Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Peter Bebb (Win)
Toy Story 3 - Nominees TBC
MAKE UP & HAIR
Alice in Wonderland - Nominees TBC
Black Swan - Judy Chin, Geordie Sheffer
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - Amanda Knight, Lisa Tomblin
The King's Speech - Frances Hannon (Win)
Made in Dagenham - Lizzie Yianni Georgiou
SHORT ANIMATION
The Eagleman Stag - Michael Please
Matter Fisher - David Prosser
Thursday - Matthias Hoegg (I like Thursday so I will guess Thursday)
SHORT FILM
Connect - Samuel Abrahams, Beau Gordon (I have an Xbox 360 so Connect...well it sounds like Kinnect)
Lin - Piers Thompson, Simon Hessel
Rite - Michael Pearce, Ross McKenzie
Turning - Karni Arieli, Saul Freed, Alison Sterling, Kat Armour-Brown
Until the River Runs Red - Paul Wright, Poss Kondeatis
ORANGE WEDNESDAYS RISING AWARD
Gemma Arterton
Andrew Garfield
Tom Hardy (Win)
Aaron Johnson
Emma Stone
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Is the Planet of the Apes franchise coming back for good?
Now some of you may not be aware of this but there is a new Planet of the Apes film coming out...this year!!!!
Yes a new Planet of the Apes film is coming out in 2011 (June I have been told) and it will be called Rise of the Apes and it stars James Franco, Freida Pinto and Andy Serkis.
Here is the general jist of whats going on from Wikipedia
Proof!!!!!
It should also be noted that And Serkis plays a CGI Caesar (a bit obvious from the picture unless the make up guy was having a laugh).
But anyway this is isn't the first time that 20th Century Fox have tried rebooting the Planet of the Apes franchise as we all still remember the Tim Burton version with Marky Mark as the lead.
Yep still rubbish, I agree
As we all know that failed as it was all over the place and film fans are instantly gonna compare it to the original.
When watching it back in 2001 I think in the cinema, I could clearly the see rift between so many fractions of the people involved with the making of the film.
1. Tim Burton wanted to make it a Tim Burton film.
2. The studio wanted to create another franchise and sell toys, less effort was made in the film and only cared if the trailer looked good.
3. They didn't know if they wanted to make a copy of the first film or be more faithful to the original book. As quite clearly it started very similar to the Heston version and ended very similar to the book. I'm sorry but you can't do both as they are totally different approaches. It's like the problem with the Stepford Wives "Are they robots or brainwashed? as they can't be both"
4. Why remake a clear classic with possibly the greatest ending to a film ever.
So already from what I have gathered 20th Century Fox have learned from their mistakes with the Tim Burton version. The director is alright as well with his last film was well received by critics The Escapist but I thought it had a few problems, but the director Wyatt seemed capable of getting the best from his actors.
I'm sorry but the ending is a total copout and done to death in films numerous times
But anyway as you may have noticed I love the original Planet of the Apes franchise. I have the DVD boxset, watched all the documentaries and read the original book Monkey Planet by Pierre Boulle which is also really good but no where near as good as the film.
So I would love to see The Planet of the Apes franchise make a come back and I'm really looking forward (and a little nervous tbh) to Rise of the Apes.
Yes a new Planet of the Apes film is coming out in 2011 (June I have been told) and it will be called Rise of the Apes and it stars James Franco, Freida Pinto and Andy Serkis.
Here is the general jist of whats going on from Wikipedia
James Franco is set to play a scientist working on a cure for Alzheimer's by testing on apes. When test subject Caesar suddenly begins to mutate rapidly, the scientist takes him home to remove him from the cruel lab doctors.
Franco was cast after talks with Tobey Maguire broke down. Freida Pinto and John Lithgow joined the cast on June 22, 2010.Andy Serkis will play Caesar, the ape that leads the revolt. Tom Felton will also star as the human character Dodge.As of July 12, 2010,Brian Cox was in final negotiations to join the cast.According to his Twitter page, David Hewlett has also joined the cast, though he has not mentioned what his role in the film will be.Canadian actress Chelah Horsdal will also star as Irina.
It should also be noted that And Serkis plays a CGI Caesar (a bit obvious from the picture unless the make up guy was having a laugh).
But anyway this is isn't the first time that 20th Century Fox have tried rebooting the Planet of the Apes franchise as we all still remember the Tim Burton version with Marky Mark as the lead.
As we all know that failed as it was all over the place and film fans are instantly gonna compare it to the original.
When watching it back in 2001 I think in the cinema, I could clearly the see rift between so many fractions of the people involved with the making of the film.
1. Tim Burton wanted to make it a Tim Burton film.
2. The studio wanted to create another franchise and sell toys, less effort was made in the film and only cared if the trailer looked good.
3. They didn't know if they wanted to make a copy of the first film or be more faithful to the original book. As quite clearly it started very similar to the Heston version and ended very similar to the book. I'm sorry but you can't do both as they are totally different approaches. It's like the problem with the Stepford Wives "Are they robots or brainwashed? as they can't be both"
4. Why remake a clear classic with possibly the greatest ending to a film ever.
So already from what I have gathered 20th Century Fox have learned from their mistakes with the Tim Burton version. The director is alright as well with his last film was well received by critics The Escapist but I thought it had a few problems, but the director Wyatt seemed capable of getting the best from his actors.
But anyway as you may have noticed I love the original Planet of the Apes franchise. I have the DVD boxset, watched all the documentaries and read the original book Monkey Planet by Pierre Boulle which is also really good but no where near as good as the film.
So I would love to see The Planet of the Apes franchise make a come back and I'm really looking forward (and a little nervous tbh) to Rise of the Apes.
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Cinema's get your act together!!!!!!
Cinemas at the moment are getting worse (Yes I know I can't believe they are getting worse either) with the film times getting worse, more Bollywood films (I'm sorry but Bollywood films are shit and no one watches them in Cardiff FACT) and 3D showings still dominating when quite clearly no one gives two shits about 3D.
I went into my Cineworld in Cardiff yesterday to watch 127 Hours and I got there about 8PM and noticing the next showing was 9:10...I'm sorry but 127 Hours has several things going for it.
1. It's this weeks big release
2. It's had a big marketing campaign in the UK as much as some of the blockbusters like Green Hornet for example which is the next big release.
3. It's Danny Boyle's first new film since Slumdog Millionaire!!!!!!!
4. It's an Oscar contender
5. It has a decent bankable star with James Franco (unlike Slumdog Millionaire and 28 Days Later which made a good amout of money)
6. Oh yes I nearly forgot and the most important point...The film looks good and people wanna watch it!!!!!!!!!
So why are there bugger all screenings for this film?
I looked at the monitor and the showings were 18:40 and 21:10???????
Yes there would have been earlier ones as well but lets be fair very few people are gonna watch a film at 11 in the morning.
It was the same thing for The Kings Speech but that was 17:50 and 20:30 but again massive gaps with showings.
It's just daft when they have films in there which no one watches like Harry Potter (Everyone have now seen it Cineworld and everyone else who hasn't wants to avoid it!!!!!!!! ) 3D showings for Guliver's Travel (Should be straight to DVD) and Narnia (Same as Harry Potter).
Also who the hell is gonna watch It's kind of funny Story (Yes I didn't forget the "a" as thats what it's called on the Cineworld site http://www.cineworld.co.uk/cinemas/8?film=3943) which looks rubbish and people will choose Love and other Drugs instead.
So already I have cleared plenty of screenings for 127 Hours and The Kings Speech and it took me 30 seconds to work that out last night in Cineworld (Yes I stood there for 30 seconds in rage and in my head pretended to be the Cineworld manager which I agree on my part is rather sad).
and to finally make myself feel better and end my childish rant in style
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
I went into my Cineworld in Cardiff yesterday to watch 127 Hours and I got there about 8PM and noticing the next showing was 9:10...I'm sorry but 127 Hours has several things going for it.
1. It's this weeks big release
2. It's had a big marketing campaign in the UK as much as some of the blockbusters like Green Hornet for example which is the next big release.
3. It's Danny Boyle's first new film since Slumdog Millionaire!!!!!!!
4. It's an Oscar contender
5. It has a decent bankable star with James Franco (unlike Slumdog Millionaire and 28 Days Later which made a good amout of money)
6. Oh yes I nearly forgot and the most important point...The film looks good and people wanna watch it!!!!!!!!!
So why are there bugger all screenings for this film?
I looked at the monitor and the showings were 18:40 and 21:10???????
Yes there would have been earlier ones as well but lets be fair very few people are gonna watch a film at 11 in the morning.
It was the same thing for The Kings Speech but that was 17:50 and 20:30 but again massive gaps with showings.
It's just daft when they have films in there which no one watches like Harry Potter (Everyone have now seen it Cineworld and everyone else who hasn't wants to avoid it!!!!!!!! ) 3D showings for Guliver's Travel (Should be straight to DVD) and Narnia (Same as Harry Potter).
Also who the hell is gonna watch It's kind of funny Story (Yes I didn't forget the "a" as thats what it's called on the Cineworld site http://www.cineworld.co.uk/cinemas/8?film=3943) which looks rubbish and people will choose Love and other Drugs instead.
So already I have cleared plenty of screenings for 127 Hours and The Kings Speech and it took me 30 seconds to work that out last night in Cineworld (Yes I stood there for 30 seconds in rage and in my head pretended to be the Cineworld manager which I agree on my part is rather sad).
and to finally make myself feel better and end my childish rant in style
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
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