By Vives Anunciacion
(unpublished)
Can’t get enough of Hollywood in one year? Here are some more movies baking in the movie city’s back lots, or in their overseas counterparts. Again, there’s no assurance all of these will be distributed locally.
Hopefully within the year we’ll see…
Aeon Flux (Paramount Pictures) – Charlize Theron plays the sexy leather-clad secret agent in the live-action adaptation of the futuristic MTV cartoon.
Bewitched (Sony Pictures/ Columbia) – when a producer decides to remake the classic fantasy TV series, he didn’t expect to cast a real witch for the role. Nicole Kidman is the witch and Will Ferrel plays the guy she marries on the show.
Land of the Dead (Universal Pictures) – legendary filmmaker George Romero adds another zombie flick to his endless list of the living dead movies.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Touchstone Pictures) – promising to be the funniest space comedy since Space Balls, this is the movie adaptation of Douglas Adam’s celebrated novel-turned radio series-turned TV show.
The Fountain (Warner Brothers) – Hugh Jackman stars in this philosophical drama about the search for the fountain of youth. Directed by Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream).
Unleashed (Focus Features/ Rogue Films) – Jet Li stars in an action drama (that’s right, drama) about a slave fighter who becomes enlightened when a blind piano tuner (played by Morgan Freeman) teaches him the meaning of life.
Untitled Munich Olympics project (Universal Pictures/ DreamWorks) – during the 1972 Munich Olympics, a group of Palestinian extremists assassinate Israeli athletes. Steven Spielberg directs Eric Bana who plays the Mossad agent out to track the killers.
The Brothers Grimm (Dimension Films) – folklore collectors Jake and Will Grimm (Matt Damon and Heath Ledger) travel from village to village pretending that they can cast away enchanted creatures, which supposedly plague the towns. A magical curse in a haunted forest puts the con artists to a real test of courage.
V for Vendetta (Warner Brothers) – Natalie Portman plays a young woman rescued from the secret police by a vigilante known only as “V” (played by James Purefoy) in this adaptation of the Alan Moore anti-totalitarian sci-fi graphic novel.
The New World (New Line Cinema) – the clash of cultures and principles between the British and the Native Americans in this 17th century drama featuring John Smith and Pocahontas. Directed by Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line) starring Colin Farrel and Christian Bale.
The following titles are in various stages of production, so it’s a good chance we can see them around 2006:
Xmen 3 (directed by Matthew Vaughn), Superman Returns (d: Brian Singer), A Scanner Darkly (d: Richard Linklater), Cars (the last Disney-Pixar animation), Ice Age 2, Marie-Antoinette (d: Sofia Coppola), Rent (d: Chris Columbus), Wonder Woman (d: Joss Whedon), Ghost Rider (with Nicolas Cage), James Bond movie #21, The Da Vinci Code (with Tom Hanks), Indiana Jones 4, Rush Hour 3, Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest, Mission Impossible 3 and finally, Hellboy 2.
In 2007 and further…
Spider Man 3, Shrek 3, The Hobbit. Yup, there’s no Hulk 2 or Catwoman 2 in sight.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Future films (part 2)
By Vives Anunciacion
Inquirer Libre, April 8 2005
Before and after the summer blockbusters, Hollywood comes up with its more flavorful fare, especially towards the –Ber months when the race for the Oscars begins. Here’s some of the more noteworthy films to be released in the US within the year. However, there’s no assurance all of these films will be released here in the Philippines.
Award hopefuls
Eros (Warner Independent Pictures) – Eros is three short films about love and sex. The theme may not sound extraordinary, but the filmmakers are: the first short is directed by Italian master Michelangelo Antonioni, the second is directed by American cinematographer Steven Sodebergh, and the third is by Hong Kong avant-garde Wong Kar Wai. Sounds like an art film fan’s wet dream? Spaniard Pedro Almodovar created sequences that bind the films together. Multiple wet dreams.
Howl’s Moving Castle (Hauru no ugoku shiro) (Toho Company) – based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones, this Japanese blockbuster anime is directed by the magical Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away).
The Constant Gardener (Focus Features) – based on the novel by John Le Carré, it stars Ralph Fiennes and is directed by City of God’s Fernando Meirelles.
Millions (BBC Films/ Fox Searchlight) - two young boys discover a suitcase full of money, but they only have a week to spend it before the United Kingdom switches to the euro. Directed by Trainspotting’s Danny Boyle.
Cinderella Man (Universal Pictures) – sounds like an Oscar movie released in summer (June in the US), this boxing drama stars Russell Crowe, directed by Ron Howard. The last time they teamed up, Crowe was nominated for his acting in A Beautiful Mind, which won Best Picture.
The Corpse Bride (Warner Brothers) – the animated version of an old Russian folk tale, in which a man mistakenly marries a corpse. Directed by visualist Tim Burton (Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands). Includes voices of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Emily Watson and Christopher Lee. Before the Bride, Burton and Depp reunite in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a remake of the 1971 classic children’s movie starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. Pure imagination.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Warner Brothers) - the fourth installment of the Potter series is directed by Mike Newell. Arrives around November.
Memoirs of a Geisha (Columbia Pictures/ DreamWorks) – from the director of Chicago (Rob Marshall) comes the movie adaptation of the international bestseller. Starring Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh, Ken Watanabe and Gong Li.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Disney/ Buena Vista International) – based on the second book of the classiest of classic children’s books, The Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis. If this gets the slightest Peter Jackson treatment, it’s a sure winner. Directed by Shrek’s Andrew Adamson.
King Kong (Universal Pictures) – Hollywood’s latest king Peter Jackson is doing a remake of the 1933 classic fantasy drama (not the 1976 version starring Jessica Lange). After The Lord of the Rings, can he ever go wrong?
The Producers The Movie Musical (Universal/ Sony International) – based on the Broadway musical based on the acclaimed 1968 comedy by Mel Brooks. The original movie won Brooks the Oscar for original screenplay, the Broadway version won him the Tony. It seems the Oscar for best picture is next in line.
Inquirer Libre, April 8 2005
Before and after the summer blockbusters, Hollywood comes up with its more flavorful fare, especially towards the –Ber months when the race for the Oscars begins. Here’s some of the more noteworthy films to be released in the US within the year. However, there’s no assurance all of these films will be released here in the Philippines.
Award hopefuls
Eros (Warner Independent Pictures) – Eros is three short films about love and sex. The theme may not sound extraordinary, but the filmmakers are: the first short is directed by Italian master Michelangelo Antonioni, the second is directed by American cinematographer Steven Sodebergh, and the third is by Hong Kong avant-garde Wong Kar Wai. Sounds like an art film fan’s wet dream? Spaniard Pedro Almodovar created sequences that bind the films together. Multiple wet dreams.
Howl’s Moving Castle (Hauru no ugoku shiro) (Toho Company) – based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones, this Japanese blockbuster anime is directed by the magical Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away).
The Constant Gardener (Focus Features) – based on the novel by John Le Carré, it stars Ralph Fiennes and is directed by City of God’s Fernando Meirelles.
Millions (BBC Films/ Fox Searchlight) - two young boys discover a suitcase full of money, but they only have a week to spend it before the United Kingdom switches to the euro. Directed by Trainspotting’s Danny Boyle.
Cinderella Man (Universal Pictures) – sounds like an Oscar movie released in summer (June in the US), this boxing drama stars Russell Crowe, directed by Ron Howard. The last time they teamed up, Crowe was nominated for his acting in A Beautiful Mind, which won Best Picture.
The Corpse Bride (Warner Brothers) – the animated version of an old Russian folk tale, in which a man mistakenly marries a corpse. Directed by visualist Tim Burton (Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands). Includes voices of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Emily Watson and Christopher Lee. Before the Bride, Burton and Depp reunite in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a remake of the 1971 classic children’s movie starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. Pure imagination.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Warner Brothers) - the fourth installment of the Potter series is directed by Mike Newell. Arrives around November.
Memoirs of a Geisha (Columbia Pictures/ DreamWorks) – from the director of Chicago (Rob Marshall) comes the movie adaptation of the international bestseller. Starring Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh, Ken Watanabe and Gong Li.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Disney/ Buena Vista International) – based on the second book of the classiest of classic children’s books, The Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis. If this gets the slightest Peter Jackson treatment, it’s a sure winner. Directed by Shrek’s Andrew Adamson.
King Kong (Universal Pictures) – Hollywood’s latest king Peter Jackson is doing a remake of the 1933 classic fantasy drama (not the 1976 version starring Jessica Lange). After The Lord of the Rings, can he ever go wrong?
The Producers The Movie Musical (Universal/ Sony International) – based on the Broadway musical based on the acclaimed 1968 comedy by Mel Brooks. The original movie won Brooks the Oscar for original screenplay, the Broadway version won him the Tony. It seems the Oscar for best picture is next in line.
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