Tag: 3-D

HUGO – The Review

Wow. It seems only yesterday that I was bemoaning having to don the big glasses and watch another film in 3D. It seemed that it was turning into a tired gimmick. It was an extra cost for films that needed an extra push. And then there’s the films converted to 3D after being shot with standard cameras. I couldn’t recall all the 3D movies I’d seen this past year. And then a master shows us how it’s done. Martin Scorsese’s HUGO (based on the children’s book ” The Invention of Hugo Chabret” by Brian Selznick ) truly utilizes the format to its full potential. With most films, I’ve told friends that the 3D wasn’t necessary. With this film I hope people will make the extra effort ( and spend a bit more ) in order to experience it’s eye-popping wonders. A friend was complaining that Scorsese was slumming by stooping to shoot in 3D. I remembered that Alfred Hitchcock shot DIAL M FOR MURDER at the height of the 3D movie craze of the 1950’s ( after the big box office of HOUSE OF WAX and B’WANA DEVIL ). If Hitch could work with the format, why shouldn’t Scorsese get a crack at it? I think movie goers will be glad he did. 

At the film’s start we’re high above Paris. The camera swoops into the train station. The year is 1930. We meet a pre-teen boy named Hugo ( Asa Butterfield ). It’s revealed that Hugo worked alongside his inventor father ( Jude Law ) who was the custodian of a large museum. They both attempt to activate a small robot called an automaton. It appears that it writes with pen and ink. Their work comes to a halt when the father is killed and Hugo must live with his lush of an uncle,Claude ( Ray Winstone ) who is the clock maintenance man at the station. When Claude goes missing after a bender, Hugo assumes his duties at the station. As he scrambles to survive while servicing the clocks, Hugo must keep two steps ahead of the determined station inspector ( Sasha Baron Cohen ) and his Doberman. The inspector believes that Hugo is a thieving child of the streets. In his adventures Hugo works with a sullen toy shop owner ( Ben Kingsley ) and befriends the man’s god-daughter Isabelle ( Chloe Grace Moretz ). As the two kids explore the city they soon discover the mystery surrounding her Papa Georges.

This barely scratches the surface of all the wonders of the film. The Paris of 1930 is almost another character in the film. HUGO makes a nice companion piece to Woody Allan’s film from earlier this year MIDNIGHT IN PARIS. Both films are meticulous in their recreation of the era and both feature real artists of the time, although there’s more historical cameos in the Allen film. HUGO has yet another cinema brother in the soon to be released THE ARTIST. In one scene Hugo sneaks Isabelle into a cinema where she is dazzled by an American silent film ( kudos to Scorsese for the excellent choice ), while THE ARTIST  is a silent film set around the same period in Hollywood. In this film Scorsese is really able to display and share his passion for the history of cinema. While dazzling us with the sumptuous visuals, Scorsese has not neglected the actors. The film rests on the very capable shoulders of young Butterfield, His Hugo is a smart, resourceful, daring young man. Moretz continues to build a great body of film work as Hugo’s sympathetic sidekick ( and perhaps love interest ). Cohen aptly displays his considerable comic skills ( almost a slapstick silent film clown ) as the comic villain . But the inspector’s not all bad. He pines for the train station flower seller ( Emily Mortimer ), but is embarrassed by the brace on his left leg ( a war injury ). Kingsley gives a very moving performance as the toy peddler who is more than he seems, although his interplay with Hugo makes for some great comedy. Bravo  to the producers for populating the station with some great veteran actors like Richard Griffiths and the great Christopher Lee as a kindly book seller. The film may be a tad too long for the very young ( some were getting a bit fidgety at the screening ), but older kids will be thrilled by Hugo’s daring escapes and adventures. With HUGO Scorsese has wrapped up a delightful cinema gift to us this holiday season and proves that any movie format can work when an artist with passion is behind the lens.

Overall Rating: Four and a Half Out of Five Stars

Elwes Returns for SAW VII 3-D

Yes, I know we are few and far between.  Some of us still look forward to the latest installment of the SAW franchise, even if the series’ best days are behind it.  However, this latest news may bring a glimmer of hope for those of us who are still waiting for the ultimate SAW film.  Latino Review is reporting Cary Elwes, last seen in the first, SAW film, has signed to reprise his role as Dr. Lawrence Gordon in this year’s SAW VII 3-D.

The Dr. Gordon character has been rumored and wishfully thought to be returning to the SAW series ever since 2005’s SAW II hit theaters.  Many believed his return would be the “big twist” in the last, couple of films.  However, it appears his return won’t be a twist at all, but part of a much bigger storyline.

Here, also, is the official synopsis for the upcoming film:

As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw’s brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror.

SAW VII 3-D is to be directed by Kevin Greutert, who directed SAW VI.  Elwes joins a cast that includes Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, and Sean Patrick Flanery.  It his theaters on October 22nd.

3-D, CG POPEYE Am What it Am

I know I’m in the minority on this one.  No, not that that headline is perfect grammar, which it aren’t, but the belief that Robert Altman’s 1980, live action version of POPEYE starring Robin Williams is a fine, funny, enjoyable film.  Paul Dooley plays Wimpy, people.  How can you go wrong with that?

Of course, that’s not stopping Sony from taking the property and making their own CG and 3-D version of the spinach-swallowing sailorman.  Variety is reporting Avi Arad is on board as producer on the new POPEYE film and Mike Jones is punching out the screenplay.

In case you haven’t heard of Jones, he got a special thanks credit on BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, something that probably still doesn’t make him a household name.  He picked up the POPEYE gig based on a screenplay he wrote titled THE MINOTAUR TAKES A CIGARETTE BREAK, which, if that is a literal title, sounds like an amazing film.

Says Jones about coming on board POPEYE:

I’m an unabashed, lifelong Popeye fan.  Introducing this squinty-eyed sailor to a new generation also means reintroducing him to those who, like me, grew up with him.

POPEYE will be set up at Sony Pictures Animation who are also developing THE SMURFS film for 2011.  No word on a director as yet, but I’m guessing someone of Altman’s talents won’t be on board this time around.

LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS First Look

From the bloodthirsty director of 2004’s DAWN OF THE DEAD, 300, and WATCHMEN comes…an animated film about owls?  Hey, whatever floats Zack Snyder’s boat, and, judging from these first glimpses of LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS (Warner Brothers recently changed the name from GUARDIANS OF GA’HOOLE, because, evidently, you can’t pronounce GA’HOOLE), the man’s got an eye for animation, too.

First up, USA Today brings us the first stills from the film, which tells the tale of a young barn owl who is captured by a society that turns normal owls into brainwashed soldiers.  Pretty dark, and, judging from what Snyder has to say about the film, it is going to follow suit.

Check out these images:

Also up today, thanks to Yahoo! Movies, we have the first trailer for the film.

Check it out right here:

Hey, any trailer that begins with Hugo Weaving’s voice telling us about a legend has me immediately sold.  But, more than that, it’s just a really well-cut trailer that makes the film look very powerful.  It almost seems like a film that should be coming out this Summer instead of the dog days of September.  Oh, well, we need quality films then, too, I guess.

LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS hits theaters on September 24th.

The Toys Are Bursting Out of This TOY STORY 3 Poster

The gangs all here.  Well, Totoro’s not here.  And Pickaxe Pete seems to not be along for the ride this time around.  And there seems to be something a bit different with Slinky Dog.  But, other than that, it seems the whole gang is front and present for this TOY STORY 3 poster.

Brought to us today by Yahoo! Movies, the poster is fine.  It’s colorful enough so as to draw the eye in those brightly lit theater lobbies.  And, for some reason, Jessie sticking her leg out to show us Andy’s name still promptly written on the bottom of her boot brings a heart-filled grin to my face.  And, hey, the ascot is there for anyone who can’t get enough of that.  The poster could have been a black print with the ascot hanging in the middle, and I would have been sold.

TOY STORY 3 hits theaters in 3-D and IMAX on June 18th.

TRON LEGACY Coming At You in IMAX Size

As some of you may or may not know, Disney held a trailer unveiling event for TRON LEGACY across the nation this past Saturday.  At the Los Angeles premiere, TRON LEGACY director Joseph Kosinski and the director of the original TRON, Steven Lisberger, were on hand for a Q&A following the teaser.  However, the biggest news, both literally and figuratively, came after the event when FirstShowing and SlashFilm caught up with Kosinski for a quick chat.

During that chat, it was revealed TRON LEGACY would be featuring scenes in the full, 1.7:1 aspect ration exclusively for IMAX.  If you’re not 100% sure what that insinuates, Christopher Nolan utilized the same style for many scenes in 2008’s THE DARK KNIGHT, utilizing the full capability of the IMAX’s immense size.  Kosinski revealed there would be five such action scenes featured in TRON LEGACY.

As if TRON LEGACY and its 3-D qualities weren’t going to be immersive enough, these IMAX elements are going to completely transport the audience fully into the TRON world.  Here’s hoping Kosinski’s usage of the technique is as smoothly utilized as Nolan’s scenes were in THE DARK KNIGHT.

SlashFilm was also told Disney would be releasing a special, online trailer for TRON LEGACY showing the difference audiences are to expect in the IMAX presentation.  TRON LEGACY is set for release on December 17th.

James Cameron and Marc Webb Discuss 3-D and a Little SPIDER-MAN

A little history lesson to start this article off.   Some of you might not know that AVATAR director James Cameron was inches away from helming the first run at the SPIDER-MAN property for the big screen.   It’s a long and windy road that took Cameron near the project and, ultimately, pushed him far, far away from it, as well.   Let’s just say, based on the 47-page scriptment he put together in the early ’90s, Cameron’s SPIDER-MAN would have been huge and quite vociferous, maybe even a bit Michael Bay-ish if you will allow me a generalized comparison.

So, I’m not sure how to take the latest news coming from MTV that the next SPIDER-MAN director, Marc Webb, met recently with Cameron and some of his AVATAR crew to compare notes.   When you read it like that, it almost makes it sound like Webb is aiming for the next SPIDER-MAN to run along the same lines as Cameron’s massive scriptment.   However, story has nothing to do with it, especially when you have something as groundbreaking and as loved by Hollywood as 3-D in the mix.

You see, the meeting had nothing to do with SPIDER-MAN.   Oh, I’m sure Cameron’s intentions for the property came up a time or two.   Cameron has long since gotten over the fact that he never go to make his vision of SPIDER-MAN, and even recently went so far as to say any director who takes on the project would be getting his sloppy seconds.   That Cameron’s a class act, folks.   But, no, this particular meeting was mostly about 3-D and the ideas Webb has for the next SPIDER-MAN film.

Says Jon Landau, Cameron’s business partner:

Webb wants to do the next one in 3-D, which they’ve announced that they want to do. So, we want to try to support that as much as possible.

Other movies are turning to it now, some of which I agree with, some of which I don’t agree with. CLASH OF THE TITANS is coming out in 3-D; they’re converting it very hastily into 3-D. I’m not in favor if that.   If you want to shoot a 3-D movie, shoot it in 3-D.

Well, on that, I agree with Landau 100%.   That still doesn’t mean I’m in favor of Webb shooting the next SPIDER-MAN this way, but, if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it the right way.   Consulting with Cameron is the way to do just that.

Downey Jr. Not a COWBOY nor an ALIEN

As if we needed another reason to run a picture of Robert Downey Jr. shirtless and bloodied, today comes news that he has stepped down from the lead role in COWBOYS AND ALIENS.  This comes just seven days after the announcement that the Jon Favreau-directed project might be going the way of AVATAR with 3-D ALIENS and 3-D COWBOYS.

The news of Downey’s departure comes from The LA Times, who also speculates this could bring about his potential signing in a SHERLOCK HOLMES sequel.  Whether this departure has anything to do with that film’s making remains to be seen, but, at $165 million in domestic box office, it seems a HOLMES sequel is pretty much  inevitable  at this point.

DreamWorks is still moving forward with Favreau’s direction on the film, and it remains one of their Summer 2011 tentpole films.  Production is set to begin later this year.

YELLOW SUBMARINE Cast Emerges

Or would the phrase “rises from the depths to swallow the world” be more appropriate in this case seeing as how unwelcome this whole YELLOW SUBMARINE reboot is.  It was announced back in September that this project would be next on Robert Zemeckis’ motion capture plate, and, today, The Hollywood Reporter has our breakdown on the cast.

Essentially, Cary Elwes will be playing George, Dean Lennox Kelly will be playing John Lennon, Peter Serafinowicz will be playing Paul, and Adam Campbell will be playing Ringo.  For the record, Ringo always gets listed last.  Just FYI.

If you don’t recognize some of the names, you will, perhaps, recognize the faces.  THR was kind enough to put together this side-by-side comparison of the actors and the respective Beatle they will be portraying.

The tribute band, The Fab Four, will be used in the scenes where the band performs together.  Actual Beatles music will be used in the film.

What do you think?  Is this a good cast to bring the Beatles back to life?  Do you, like me, think this remake sounds like a bad idea from the start?  Are you, also like me, tired of Zemeckis’ motion capture films and yearn for the days when he goes back to shooting real people in real situations?  Let us know by shooting us a comment below.

No release date for YELLOW SUBMARINE has been set.

Favreau Following IRON MAN 2 with a 3-D COWBOYS AND ALIENS?

Vrrrooooo!

Krow!

Blooo!

Kakrow!

…and other spaceship-y noises that could be coming straight at us in 3-D.   What’s more, we could be seeing the Jon Favreau-directed adaptation of COWBOYS AND ALIENS earlier than expected.   In an article about the 3-D life after AVATAR, The Daily Beast goes over the potential success and risky trappings studios have to weigh on the 3-D agenda.   Buried deep within the article is this little section:

The Avatar factor could make the difference on Cowboys and Aliens, a DreamWorks project to be directed by Jon Favreau that starts shooting in July.

Evidently, the film, to star Robert Downey Jr. as an Old West settler who takes on violent beings from space, is going to get the 3-D treatment, as well.   This is just one more instance of a studio behind a big budget film wanting to capitalize on something someone else proved is successful.   It’s reactive film making, but, fortunately, it’s not at its worst.   That comes when people behind a film decide after the film has already been shot to spruce up the visuals with a caked on 3-D layer.   At least, with the case of COWBOYS AND ALIENS, they are planning the 3-D element before shooting commences.

The film is set for release sometime in 2011.   Thanks to /Film for leading the way.