Tag: michael bay

Michael Bay & New Footage: ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’

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I’ll admit it… I have a huge geeky crush on Michael Bay. First noticed   him when he directed ‘Bad Boys,’ liked him when he directed ‘The Rock,’   loved him when he directed ‘Armageddon.’ (Yes, I am the proud owner of the Criterion version). He started a personal website at the beginning of 2006 when he first  began work on ‘Transformers’ and I’ve   followed “Michael Bay dot com/shoot for the edit” on a regular basis.

Recently, there was a tribute to Michael Bay at ShoWest 2009.  Ã‚  Here is the emotionally charged  montage that was shown before  he accepted the Showest 2009 Vanguard Award for Excellence in Filmmaking.


ShoWest 2009 Michael Bay Tribute from Bay Films/Michael Bay Dot Com on Vimeo.

So where was I… oh yeah, his website. A few hours after this tribute was posted, new video was posted on the site of ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.’ Looks great. Don’t get me started on how much I loved the  first film and score from Steve Jablonsky. Click here for some new photos from the set of ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.’

Good stuff… So get ready on June 24, 2009 for the second epic battle between the Autobots and Decepticons!

Michael Bay Says No ‘Transformers 3’ Until 2012

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Seems like Paramount screwed the pooch. Everyone was reporting it… even us. Variety said earlier today that Paramount/Dreamworks had claimed the July 1, 2011 date for ‘Transformers 3.’ The article stated, “the studio wanted to claim the date before a competitor did, considering that the 2011 summer release calendar is filling up.”

But according to Nikki Finke over at the always enjoyable Deadline Hollywood Daily, director Michael Bay had other ideas:

Wait, director Michael Bay is now saying Transformers 3 is for July 2012? Didn’t Paramount talk to him before they announced the 2011 release date this week? Here’s what Bay blogs by way of explanation for the mix-up: “I said I was taking off a year from Transformers. Paramount made a mistake in dating   Transformers 3 – they asked me on the phone – I said yes to July 4 – but for 2012 – whoops! Not 2011!!! That would mean I would have to start prep in September. No way. My brain needs a break from fighting robots.

‘Transformers 3’ gets a Release Date

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Before the sequel ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ even hits theaters, Paramount and DreamWorks have already decided to move forward with the third installment in the “revived” franchise, setting a release date of July 1, 2011.

While it seems somewhat early to be making such an announcement, the studio claims they wanted to call shotgun on the popular date before any other major movie got dibs on it. No official arrangements (that we know of) have been made with director Michael Bay, or with stars Shia LeBouf or Megan Fox at this time. In fact, there’s not even a script.

[source: Variety]

‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ Remake Gets a Release Date

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Damn you, ‘Friday the 13th’!!!   You just knew with that franchise reboot making $40-plus million its opening weekend that Platinum Dunes and New Line would put ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ on the fast-track.   We’ve had news in the last couple of weeks about casting, but, now, we have an official release date.

Expect to see Jackie Earl Haley Billy Bob Thornton whoever gets set to play Freddy Krueger in action on April 16, 2010.

Not sure who will be playing Krueger, but we do know that special effects and makeup duties will go to Andrew Clement who worked on animatronics on ‘Cloverfield’ and was the makeup artist on ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Spider-Man 3’.

‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ begins production next month.

Source: Shock Till You Drop

Megatron is Returning for ‘Revenge of the Fallen’

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One question on fans of the original ‘Transformers’ when they announced that a sequel was happening was, “Is Megatron coming back?”   Okay, maybe I was the only one asking that question, but I asked loud enough to account for the masses who weren’t.   One of Michael Bay’s original statements about ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ was that Megatron would NOT be returning.   Turns out Bay’s pants are on fire, ’cause the big robot baddie is coming back if you trust what Hugo Weaving has to say.

Check out this excerpt from The Advertiser, an Australian newspaper:

In town to promote his rather excellent new Aussie film, “Last Ride”, Hugo Weaving let slip he’ll be returning as the voice of Megatron in “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”.

Fans no doubt will recall that when we last saw Megatron, Sam (Shia LaBeouf) had rammed the All Spark cube into his chest, thereby destroying him. Despite this certain death, rumours have been circulating the villain was going to make a comeback. Director Michael Bay went so far as to flatly deny the rumour, telling Empire: “He’s not in the movie”.

Turns out Bay was fibbing. “I’ve already done it,” Weaving says, adding Bay had told him to keep the news hush-hush. “He’s over in LA and we were working on the video split sort of thing and I had this strange conversation where he seemed to imply it was all a big secret. So there you go – I’ve given you the secret scoop.”

So how is Megatron resurrected? Weaving is coy about revealling too much, but does give a tiny hint.

“I think in the last one, doesn’t Optimus Prime pick up a little bit of, a shard of the cube, or the thing that’s left, and he takes it with him. Maybe there’s something there… but I don’t know,” he laughs.

We’ll find out on June 25, the film’s Australian release.”

I think Weaving has been a huge star in geeks’ eyes ever since he donned the sunglasses to play Agent Smith, and it’s pretty cool that he’s doing the voice of Megatron once again.

I guess we’ll all find out what other things Bay has lied about when the film comes out on June 24th.

Source: Seibertron

‘Friday the 13th’ Sequel Moving Forward

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I can hear the production meeting from earlier this week as if I were a fly on the wall over at New Line/Platinum Dunes.

“We gotta get this thing moving. Â  The movie dropped 80%!”

By “this thing”, they were referring to the sequel to ‘Friday the 13th’. Â  By “The movie dropped 80%”, they were referring to ‘Friday the 13th’ being number 6 on the all-time biggest second weekend drops in history (it comes in just ahead of ‘Brothers Solomon’ and just behind ‘Return to the Blue Lagoon’).

The two companies are going forward with, presumably, ‘Friday the 13th Part 2’. Â  Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, who wrote the recently released reboot, will work on the script for the new picture. Â  However, they say the new film will not be so much a sequel as it will be a follow-up.

What?

They claim the new film will  use elements of the original franchise more as a jumping-off point than as a template.

I’m confused. Â  Not a “sequel” but a “follow-up”. Â  Not a “jumping-off point” but a “template”. Â  Someone over at Platinum Dunes needs a thesaurus.

For those keeping count, this will actually be the 13th film in the ‘Friday the 13th’ franchise if you count ‘Freddy Vs. Jason’, and I think you should.

Best-case scenario for New Line and Platinum Dunes is that ‘Friday the 13th Part 2’ will come out late 2010. Â  No, I’m sorry. Â  They say the film won’t “come out”, it’s being “released”. Â  And it will no longer be referred to as 2010. Â  It’s “The Year We Make Contact”.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Casting Calls for ‘Elm Street’ Remake

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Casting has begun for Platinum Dunes and New Line’s remake of ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’.   Bloody Disgusting got their paws on the casting call.   Here’s what to expect from the characters and who the producers are looking for:

[FREDDY KRUEGER] (40s) The fedora-wearing villain of children’s nightmares. He’’s taunting and vindictive. He’s the last person you want to see in your dreams…

[KRIS] 18, attractive, hot, sexy and confident. She’s smart and curious. She’s also the type of girl who has to figure things out when they don’t make sense…

[QUENTIN] (18) Mysterious, smart and cool. Think indie type guy. He runs the school podcast, “Insomnia Radio†. Think Johnny Depp…

[NANCY] (18) Attractive, interesting, and intriguing. Very smart. Not terribly social. There’s one in every class. The pretty-girl image is not her priority. Getting out of town after graduation is…

[DEAN] (18) He’s the school jock. Attractive. He’’s the kid that lives in the two-story home on the street that screams “Rich Suburbia.† He’s the guy that everyone seems to love…

[JESSE] (18) – Alpha male. Cool, attractive. He used to date Kris, and he’s still trying to get back together – even though they’ve broken up about 4 times already…

“Think Johnny Depp…?”   Glad to see they’re thinking outside the box on this one.

The remake is set to be directed by Samuel Bayer from a screenplay by Wesley Strick.   Shooting officially begins April 27th in Chicago, IL.

Source: Bloody Disgusting

Verbinksi to Direct ‘Clue’

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Anyone who knows me for any extended period of time knows that the strangest film in my all-time top 10 favorite films is the 1985 adaptation of ‘Clue’ starring Tim Curry and Madeline Kahn. Â  You’d think I’d be pissed that Gore Verbinski is directing a remake/new version of the popular board game. Â  I couldn’t be more ecstatic about this news.

The project comes as part of a partnership between Universal and Hasbro to develop iconic board games into movies. A number of other properties have big names attached to them, including ‘Candyland,’ which has Kevin Lima attached to direct and Etan Cohen to write, and ‘Ouija Board,’ which Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes is producing. Ridley Scott is on board to produce and possibly direct ‘Monopoly.’

Apparently this is the new wave of film adaptations, and we’re just going to have to sit back and enjoy it. Â  Who knows? Â  It could result in some decent films. Â  Verbinski certainly is not slouch when it comes to sitting in the director’s chair.

Now the question if whether ‘Clue’ will be a comedy a la the original film or if it will just be a straight drama. Â  If there is a God who still looks over Hollywood, he will have Verbinski shoot three separate endings to be released randomly in theaters. Â  This is what made the 1985 version of the film such a cult hit.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

‘Transformers’ Exhibit Exclusive Recap

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What better way to cap off a weekend roadtrip to Chi-town to see ‘The Dark Knight’ at the Navy Pier IMAX than to also hit the Chicago Auto Show. Â  At this year’s Auto Show, General Motors used the stage to show off five Chevrolet cars that are playing important roles in the upcoming ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’.

Let’s get to the pictures: Continue reading ‘Transformers’ Exhibit Exclusive Recap

Official ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ Teaser Trailer

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If you were one of the 600 million people who went to see ‘Friday the 13th’ this past weekend, chances are you saw the new teaser trailer for ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’.   If you were one of two people who were snowed in somewhere, worry not.   We got the trailer for you right here, right now.

Check it out:

This is a pretty sweet trailer.   It has the same, foreboding style that the first film’s first trailer had, and I love it.   You can’t not love the underwater shot of the aircraft carrier sinking.   Also, I’m assuming the giant robot with the single wheel is The Fallen.   Very cool!

‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ comes out on June 24th, and stay tuned.   Later today, we’ll be bringing you a recap and pictures from the Chicago AutoShow/Transformers Exhibit where many of the cars from the film were on display.

Source: First Showing