2008 was a great summer for the movies. Good entertainment was had, and not just dumb popcorn movies for once. We got The Dark Knight, Wall-E, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, and Pineapple Express. This summer is even going to be better. Although the start was a bit shaky with Wolverine, Star Trek kicks it off right this weekend. Here are the top 15 stand out films this summer:
15- Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen
Release Date- June 24th
Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen will inevitably offer no more then a lot of explosions and CGI, but with robots. While the first film wasn’t a landmark of any kind, and mostly dumb, it was fun none-the-less. The 147 minute running time for the new one is a bit bothersome, but long running times are fine when the story calls for it. My only question is do we really need to see robots fighting for that long? Its a Michael Bay movie, there will only be good action, nothing more. Even the length of the first movie was a problem, the last thirty minutes turned into nothing but repetitive action. Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen will without a doubt be a fun action movie, even if it extends its welcome.
In news that can only be described as amazing, Variety is reporting that Sony Pictures is set to adapt the Playstation 2 hit Shadow of the Colossus into a feature film. According to Variety, Justin Marks (writing the upcoming 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo) will be writing the screenplay and Kevin Misher (Fighting) is in negotiations to produce. The game centers around the quest of a young girl to defeat 16 giant monsters, or colossi. The game has few characters other than the colossi, and it will be interesting to see how the the sparse, harsh world of the game will translate to film.
AICN has pointed out that A Pizza Hut and Terminator Salvation tie in website is showing that Terminator Salvation has officially received a PG-13 rating. Right next to the Halcyon logo is the official MPAA Rating: PG-13. Not to long ago McG (Charlie’s Angels) stated that he was fighting with Warner Brothers for an R rating so he could keep a topless scene with Moon Bloodgood (What Just Happened?) in the final cut.
Comedian Will Arnett (Arrested Development) and recent Oscar Nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) have just officially joined Warner Brother’s upcoming 2010 summer tent-pole Jonah Hex. Arnett will be playing a union soldier who enlists Jonah Hex and is blindsided by the dirty fighting style of his enemies. Michael Shannon is set to play Doc Cross Williams, the bizarre ringleader of a brutal gladiator circus event. That character also may be featured in future installments. The cast already includes Josh Brolin (Milk), Megan Fox (Transformers), and John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich).Jonah Hex is set for August 6th, 2010.
Will Arnett seems like an odd casting choice, but then again it’s Will Arnett so it would be a sin to call this bad news. Michael Shannon is of course great news. While it sounds like more of a cameo, Shanon will still most likely be great as he usually is.
What do you think of this cast? Are you excited for Jonah Hex?
Not sure what is coming out this month? Here is my rundown of my most anticipated films coming out:
10. Fast & Furious (Lin, April 3rd)
Plot: As he is released from prison, Brian O’Conner teams up with Dominic Toretto work with the feds to bring down a heroin importer by infiltrating his operation.
Why You Should See It: I’m actually not sure if this is a film to watch or avoid. The first one was enjoyable and it looks like a return to the original. I’ve heard early buzz that it is a decent popcorn flick.
Upcoming Film Scores reports the French electronica duo Daft Punk are signed to score Walt Disney’s upcoming sequel to the groundbreaking 1982 animation cult hit. Tron 2.0 will be the “next chapter” after the first film, with Wilde starring as one of the heroes trying to help fighting the Master Control Program, the evil intelligence protocol that was the nemesis in the 1982 film. Joseph Kosinski is set to direct Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Jeff Bridges for a 2011 release.
Daft Punk is my favorite electronica band so this is great news. I can’t wait to see what they come up with.
What do you think of Daft Punk doing the Tron 2.0 soundtrack?
Today we have the first photo from Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes from USA Todaywhich features all three lead characters – Jude Law as Dr. John Watson, Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock Holmes and Rachel McAdams as “the deceptive” Irene Adler.
Plot Synopsis via /Film: In a dynamic new portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous characters, “Sherlock Holmes” sends Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson on their latest challenge. Revealing fighting skills as lethal as his legendary intellect, Holmes will battle as never before to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy the country.
The USA Today article says Ritchie is aiming for a PG-13 rating, which will mark his first film not rated R. Although I love Ritchie doing gangster films, I’m excited for this departure. With Robert Downey, Jr. as Holmes this is one of my most anticipated films of the year.
Sherlock Holmes will hit theaters on November 20th 2009.
The film adapatation of Capcom’s shooter adventure game Lost Planet is reported (via Comingsoon.net) to cost between $150 to $200 million. In this interview with Toshihiro Tokumaru (head of characters contents business at Capcom) had more to say about the Warner Bros production:
The producer on the project is Avi Arad, producer of Spider-Man. I think that it is because of our original IPs that we are able to try something so ambitious. When the game creators at Capcom develop a game, they think about everything from the main characters to the setting, which makes it easy to bring our games to the big screen. In game-making, we consider the main character’s upbringing, interpersonal relationships, and their place in time. But in a game we can only show a cross-section of that. In Lost Planet for example, we can show the game’s protagonist on a distant planet fighting against various foes, but we can’t really show his interpersonal relationships. By developing that part of it on the movie screen, we can add substance to that world and expand it.
I remember playing the game and loving the style, but not being particularly drawn to the story. If they can capture the beautiful style of the game, I’m confident, with screenwriter David Hayter (Watchmen, X2), that they can bring the story to vibrant life. The film has no directors or actors attached, but its still a possibilty we can see the film in 2010.
Did you playLost Planet? Do you want to see it adapted into a feature film?
UPDATE: The list below was written in January of 2009. I suggest checking out our new list, 65 Must See Movies of 2010. Click the image below to see:
So 2008 is over, come on, it’s time to move on. Here are 50 great reasons to go to the theater this year:
January
My Bloody Valentine 3-D (Jan 16th)
Synopsis: After surviving a fatal accident that claimed the lives of five of men in a mine shaft, Harry Warden performed a horrific killing spree on Valentines night in the town of Harmony, killing 22 people before he was shot to death.
Why You Should See It: Early screening reports have said there is more sex, limbs, and buckets of blood than one can handle. The 3-D gimmick is the only reason this is on my list. If implemented right it should be a great time at the movies.
Yesterday I posted two stills from the film, today we have a trailer:
Synopsis:
Small-town boy Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) has come to New York City with nothing. Barely earning a living selling counterfeit goods on the streets, his luck changes when scam artist Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard) sees that he has a natural talent for streetfighting. When Harvey offers Shawn help at making the real cash, the two form an uneasy partnership.
As Shawn’s manager, Harvey introduces him to the corrupt bare-knuckle circuit, where rich men bet on disposable pawns. Almost overnight, he becomes a star brawler, taking down professional boxers, mixed martial arts champs and ultimate fighters in a series of staggeringly intense bouts. But if Shawn ever hopes to escape the dark world in which he’s found himself, he must now face the toughest fight of his life.
Fighting hits theaters via Rogue Pictures on April 24th, 2009.
