Mamma Mia hilariously asks for an Oscar nomination

source: awardsdaily.com

Yikes.

OSCAR WATCH

High School Musical 3 for Best Picture!

The Wrestler Trailer Debut - The Real Oscar Underdog Emerges

Slumdog Millionaire - Danny Boyle's Oscar Hope?

WALL-E For Best Pic? Hey If Crash Can Win...

Check out our Oscar Collection.

The inevitable Steve Guttenberg comeback begins!

source: moviehole.net

It was shaping up to be a very quiet newsday. That is, until these two glorious pieces of Guttenberg goodness fell into our lap!

Steve Guttenberg told Moviehole that he, Ted Danson and Tom Selleck are looking to make a third installment in their Three Men and a Baby saga.

The Goot insists the script has already been written for the project, entitled Three Men and a Bride. Three Men and a Bride? I think I've seen that one before. And it wasn't a family movie, I'll tell you that much.

The original Three Men and a Baby grossed over $167 million back in 1987. The sequel, Three Men and a Little Lady, made a respectable $71 million three years later. That is roughly a decline of $32 million a year. So I think we can safely assume that the third film (which would likely arrive 19 years after Little Lady) will have a projected gross of -$537 million. Yikes, I'd hate to be an investor in that.

The second piece of Goot News involves his other notable franchise - Police Academy. He recently announced that he will be directing (although sadly, not starring in) Police Academy 8. Hopefully the eighth film will answer all those questions left lingering in the first seven.

So all this time, Guttenberg has just been sitting back quietly, waiting for us all to forget him and then BAM! He rockets himself back into the social consciousness.

If he can get Police Academy 8 and Three Men and a Bride in cinemas by 2009, then I don't think it's unreasonable to believe by 2011 he will be starring alongside Shia LaBeouf in Transformers 3, as LaBeouf's older, sexier brother.

By 2012 he'll get that long-awaited Oscar. 2014, he'll be elected Mayor of New York. After that, President Obama will hand over the reigns to The Goot in 2017. In 2019, President Guttenberg will pass through legislation making him supreme ruler of the Universe, and in 2020, the Multiverse.

Finally.

Did you know: Three Men and a Baby was directed by Leonard Nimoy? What's up with that?

Battlestar Galactica's final season's trailer

source: youtube.com

A promo for the final season of Battlestar Galactica has made it's way online, promising the most explosive episodes yet.

The upcoming episodes are officially Part 2 of Season 4. Although I don't want to get into spoiler territory, the finale of Part 1 was absolutely devastating. I literally cannot wait to see what the BSG crew do with the latest revelations.

As if the quality of the show isn't enough to drag the fans back, there are some great, potentially must-see moments hinted at in this short clip.

Adama standing blindfolded in the airlock. Lee conspiring with Tom Zarek about someone's murder. Laura Roslin screaming "I AM COMING FOR ALL OF YOU!!!" Geeking out! Geek! Ing! Out!



"Fate has been all but decided..." that you will watch Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Part 2. It debuts in the U.S. next January.

Check out our review of Season 4 Part 1 here.

Michael Cera's future indie hit Paper Heart

source: hollywoodreporter.com

Everyone's favourite awkward teenage heartthrob Michael Cera is set to star alongside girlfriend Charlyne Yi in Paper Heart.

The semi-secret project (it doesn't even have an IMDB page yet) is supposedly part-scripted comedy and part-documentary based around the real life relationship between Cera and Yi.

According to an article in The Hollywood Reporter, festival programmers believe Paper Heart is THE film to have on their line-up. It is expected to debut at next years Sundance Film Festival.

Producers have been trying to keep advance word on the project limited, especially after a number of recent festival flicks crumbled under the weight of stratospheric expectations.

The film will be Nicholas Jasenovec's (who helmed this hilarious short-film starring Bill Hader) feature directorial debut.

Although Cera has rocketed to stardom thanks to leading roles in Juno and Superbad, he will always be George Michael to me.

Charlyne Yi (12 years Cera's senior) had a small role in Knocked Up as Martin's stoner girlfriend Jodi. Key quote: "You must be angry at the baby whenever it steals your food, huh. Ohh that's mine, not yours. But, you know, because you're family you gotta share."

The project sounds very similar to Cera's brilliant internet show Clark and Michael, in which he played an emotionally unstable version of himself alongside Sex Drive's Clark Duke.

Check out an episode here:



It will be awhile before we get to enjoy Paper Heart in Australia. Those looking for their Michael Cera fix can look forward to Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist on March 12.

Star Trek trailer - We've got your Spock right here

source: traileraddict.com

A modified version of the Star Trek trailer released last week has landed online. What's the difference? This one has Spock, baby.

Leonard Nimoy gives his famous 'live long and prosper' right at the end of the clip. It's might just be a quickie, but it's another reason to be psyched for J.J. Abrams series reboot.

Star Trek opens May 7th, 2009. It stars Chris Pine as Captain Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Dr. Spock, Karl Urban as McCoy, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Simon Pegg as Scotty, John Cho as Sulu and Eric Bana as the villain Nero.

Terminator Salvation poster has us burning with excitement

source: traileraddict.com

An absolutely amazing internet-only poster for Terminator Salvation has landed on-line. After seeing the trailer earlier this year, and now this, it begs the question: Who ISN'T psyched to see this film?!

Click the picture below to check it out. Geek out! Geek! Out!

I'm pretty sure the Terminator theme music can make anything cool.

Oh my Gods - Battlestar Galactica season 4 review

Battlestar Galactica - Season 4 Part 1. Starring Edward James Olmos, Mary McCormack, Tricia Helfer, Katee Sackhoff and Jamie Bamber. On DVD December 3.

There are few shows on television that make you sit in awe and ask, "how the hell are they going to top that?" There are even fewer that actually do top themselves each week. Battlestar Galactica is one of those shows. It's fourth season arrives under the weight of expectation - it has to follow the revelation-heavy Season 3 finale, and set up the final episodes of this modern classic. Amazingly, it succeeds, providing some of the most shocking, heartbreaking, and life-affirming moments of the series so far.

For those outside the loop, Battlestar Galactica follows the last surviving humans of an apocalyptic attack. The fleet of survivors set out to locate and inhabit the fabled Earth, before they are hunted down and wiped out by the Cylon race (robots who have evolved into sentient, almost-human beings).

At the end of the last season, four members of the fleet discovered they were in fact cylons. At least two of them were genuine surprises, although one had been suspicious in previous seasons, and the other, well no one really cares about her. Gaius Balter was also found 'not guilty' of war crimes on New Caprica, thanks to a last minute speech by Lee Adama. Lee later resigned from his position as CAG to enter the world of politics. And in a final twist, the supposedly dead Starbuck returned with directions to Earth.

Season 4 offers even more highlights. The newly identified cylons must deal with their identity, as well as hide it from their loved ones. One main character meets an undignified end after discovering the final four's horrible secret. Starbuck leads a small contingent in search of Earth, but her crew threaten mutiny when she enlists the help of the cylon Leoban. All is not well amongst the cylon ranks either, as the Sixes lead a coup within their 'Government'.

There is plenty, plenty more, but I would hate to be the one to spoil it for you. There is a surprising team up between two warring factions; one character goes through with an amputation; and one of the unresolved romantic story lines finally comes to fruition. And we also get to see Baltar back as his crazy self, this time as the head of a monotheistic cult.

However, nothing will prepare you for the jaw-dropping season finale. It is one of the most thrilling episodes of the series so far, and the final scene delivers such a shocking sucker-punch, it will haunt your memory for days. Although we won't see the final episodes of the show until January, make sure you acquaint yourself with the series now. Shows like these come around once a millenium.

5/5

The baz age - Australia review

Australia - Directed by Baz Luhrmann. Starring Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Brandon Walters, David Wenham and Jack Thompson. Rated M for violence and coarse language. 165 mins.

When you give a film an all-encompassing title like Australia, you’ve got to deliver the goods. Baz Luhrmann set that task for himself when he scribbled it atop the first page of his screenplay (provided he’s one of those ‘title-first’ writers; I’ve always been ‘title-last). This wasn’t just going to be a film about drovers, or the stolen generation, or romance in the outback. This film is about AUSTRALIA, IN BIG, BOLDED, STYLISED LETTERING. So, as a proud Australian, I was apprehensive of a film that would apparently surmise my country’s entire identity in only 165 minutes (a blink when you think about it). What a pleasant surprise to discover that the film has earned its sweeping title.

The story of Australia is, quite literally, the story of Australia. It begins at the outbreak of World War 2, with Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) heading to the Northern Territory to sell her husband’s flailing cattle station Faraway Downs. Lady Ashley doesn’t take too kindly to the outback at first, or to her assigned companion, The Drover (Jackman). However, conventional wisdom lets us know it won’t be long before the rugged outdoorsman beds the uptight Brit. After all, he’s Australian! Lady Ashley eventually comes to love Faraway Downs, as well as its live-in staff. This includes our young narrator Nullah (Walters), who may only be four-feet tall, but is easily the standout of the film. It’s an exceptionally nuanced performance for a 12 year old. In one scene, he faces off against a herd of stampeding cattle on the edge of a cliff. If I described it in greater detail, you would laugh it off. Trust me, he makes it work.

The first hour of the film is spectacular. It deftly balances tragic drama with zany comedy, a trait Luhrmann has at this point refined and made signature. The storyline focuses on a last-ditch cattle drive to save The Downs. The station has been losing the cattle war (there was a cattle war?) to King Carney (Bryan Brown) and his evil underling Fletcher (David Wenham, reprising his ‘sniveling villain’ shitck from The Proposition). Sadly, the second half of the film doesn’t quite live up to what came before. The film clumsily patches the conclusion of the first storyline to the big finale – the bombing of Darwin. Part of me thinks the film would have been better if it had finished at the end of part one. However, there are so many great moments from that final half hour. The Japanese attack and its aftermath is an incredible sequence, and I wouldn’t dare suggest cutting a single scene.

The film does suffer from some clichéd representation of Aussies (‘Crikey’ is often used as a verb, a noun and an adjective). However, the performances do exceed their one-note expectations. None more so than Jackman, who provides the most devastating scene of the whole film, in which he demands his Aboriginal brother be allowed into a pub. Did Wolverine make me shed a tear? No, but he came damn close, and that’s much more than I ever expected from any Hugh Jackman performance. Kidman is also (surprisingly) at the top of her game, balancing her flustered screwball-heroine with real emotion.

Australia looks spectacular. It has some truly amazing shots of the outback, displaying both its tremendous beauty and overwhelmingly cruelty. Some sequences are obviously shot on a soundstage (including a campsite that looks as if it was lifted straight from Three Amigos), but for the most part, the film achieves epic realism. It also deftly handles Aboriginal lore and tradition, with David Gulpilil providing an enigmatic performance as the wise King George.

I did not think I would end up writing a positive review for Baz Luhrmann’s Australia. I was certain the film would be unpleasant, glaringly loud and garishly flamboyant. Baz’s trademark extreme close-up’s are still here, but for the most part he has calmed himself down. He knows this film is a big deal, and he has adjusted his style accordingly. It is still his film, or at least it was. Now it’s our film. If a movie can have the guts to call itself AUSTRALIA and not be accused of tarnishing its namesake’s reputation, it should be considered an achievement. It's not the greatest film we've ever produced, but if it becomes the most notable Aussie film internationally, I wouldn't mind.

4/5

Check out the trailer here.

Heath Ledger and Christian Bale's oscar campaign

source: awardsdaily.com

The Dark Knight Oscar Train is gaining momentum, but will it be a Titanic-sized sweep, a Dreamgirls-esque snub, or a nomination-less FAIL.

I think it's fair to say Heath Ledger is a lock for Best Supporting Actor (unless Corbin Bleu or that guy who wears the hat in High School Musical 3 nudge him out). But does Christian Bale have a real shot at Best Actor?

If that raspy Batman voice doesn't ruin his chances, and Brad Pitt, Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn all pull out of the race ... nah, it still seems pretty unlikely. A shame really, because I cannot think of another unrewarded actor who deserves an Oscar more.

OSCAR WATCH

The Wrestler Trailer Debut - The Real Oscar Underdog Emerges

Slumdog Millionaire - Danny Boyle's Oscar Hope?

WALL-E For Best Pic? Hey If Crash Can Win...

Who Are the Major Oscar Contenders?

Check out our Oscar Collection.

Ace ventura jr trailer - so it wasn't just a horrible dream!?

source: trailerspy.com

Part of me knew it was coming, but I guess I didn't prepare myself emotionally or physically for the horrific onslaught of this awful little clip.

The first trailer for Ace Ventura Jr has arrived, proving that this Jim Carrey-less sequel is indeed of war crime proportions.

Ace Ventura Jr. Trailer

I know you're not supposed to hate children, but Josh Flitter, you just made the list.

There is no release date (yet) for Ace Ventura Jr in Australia. Pray it stays that way.

High school musical 3 for best picture!

source: awardsdaily.com

Could it actually happen? Could those perky Wildcats actually garner a nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards? Will we see Corbin Bleu challenging Heath Ledger's guaranteed Supporting Actor victory?

No, of course not. It's ridiculous. But I had to laugh when I saw this poster for High School Musical 3, inexplicably requesting Best Picture consideration by the Academy. Those kids really ARE optimistic.

God bless teen naivitee.

The curious score of benjamin button

source: warnersbros.com

David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is set to land Boxing Day, but the Oscar buzz has been swirling since the film was announced (Saying that, the project has smelt like Oscar bait since F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the original short story back in 1922).

Well good news for those who cannot wait to see it (myself included); the film's entire score is available to listen to on Warners For Your Consideration Site.

We mentioned this site a few weeks ago when it featured The Dark Knight's script and score for Oscar consideration.

Check out the latest international trailer, and just try, JUST TRY to tell me it doesn't look beautiful.




The Curious Case of Benjamin Button stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton and Taraji P. Henson.

OSCAR WATCH

The Wrestler Trailer Debut - The Real Oscar Underdog Emerges

Slumdog Millionaire - Danny Boyle's Oscar Hope?

WALL-E For Best Pic? Hey If Crash Can Win...

Who Are the Major Oscar Contenders?

Check out our Oscar Collection.

The bond identity - Quantum of solace review

Quantum of Solace - Starring Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric and Judi Dench. Directed by Marc Forster. Rated M for action violence. 106 mins.

After all those months of anticipation, I wish I had walked out of the cinema with more to tell you than ... ‘meh’. Anything more than that would simply be far too kind; anything less would be unnecessarily cruel. Perhaps I shouldn’t have rewatched the far superior Casino Royale the night before seeing Quantum of Solace. I figured it would be the best way to get back into the spirit of all things Bond. Perhaps director Marc Forster should have done the same before heading into production. Bond 22 is a mishmash of clever set pieces and poor executions; good performances and weak characters; pretty pictures and terrible dialogue.

Daniel Craig is back as the blonde Bond-shell, and is truly the saving grace of this film. Earning his title as ‘Best. Bond. Ever.’, he brings a calm exterior to the blistering powderkeg beneath. QOS begins with Bond hunting down those responsible for the death of his beloved Vesper Lynd, the woman who betrayed him and turned him into an impenetrable killing machine. He interrogates the intimidating Mr White, head of an organisation called QUANTUM (so that’s what it means). Although White is a little sketchy on the details, QUANTUM is apparently behind, well everything, and its members include almost everyone. An organisation so widespread no one has ever heard of it? I’m intrigued.

Sadly, the intrigue dies away when it becomes apparent that this film won’t be about QUANTUM at all. Instead, we have to suffer through an interminable plot about an evil environmentalist called Dominic Greene (gettit?) who destabilises governments for military dictators and corporations. Greene is played by Matheiu Amalric, an actor who was much more interesting when limited to simply blinking, as in The Diving Bell and Butterfly.

Bond drops his own quest for revenge to stop Greene from unleashing his mad plan to control an important natural resource (it’s not what you think). He teams up with Camille (Kurylenko), a Bolivian agent who is seeking some vengeance of her own. Kurylenko does her best with what she is given, although her action chops are no match for the intellectual sparring skills of Eva Green's Vesper Lynd. Thankfully, Bond doesn’t attempt to romance the spunky Camille, saving his charm for the aptly named Strawberry Fields (Gemma Arterton). And if anyone was questioning Bond’s ability to seduce women, marvel at the effectiveness of this line: “Help me look for some stationary”. If I could deliver that line the way Craig does, I’m pretty sure I’d be set for life.

Of course, the real Bond girl is, and always will be, M. Judi Dench brings the kind of feistiness to the role women forty years her junior can’t even muster. Although she is forced to scold James on several occasions, it definitely seems as though she has real affection for the boy. Those precious few moments between Dench and Craig are the most interesting of the film. I will leave you to decide whether that is a compliment or an insult to the rest of the picture.

I could keep talking about the rest of the plot, but I feel as if I’m spending more time on the story than the film does. So, onto the action! And what action! I haven’t seen action like this since The Bourne Ultimatum. In fact … wait a second. It’s exactly LIKE the action in The Bourne Ultimatum. Some shots feel as if they were lifted directly! (Thank you for humouring the most obvious of revelations.) With the exception of a thrilling sequence set to the opera Tosca and a foot-chase through Sienna, many of the set-pieces fall flat in the execution. The Bourne aping only further proves the identity crisis this franchise has fallen victim too.

Despite its glaring flaws, Quantum of Solace isn’t without its highlights. However, the film feels like an overblown spectacle compared to the far superior Casino Royale, a film that understood the subtle thrills of an interesting conversation, the slow-burn excitement of a poker game, and the minimalistic terror of a piece of rope. I do enjoy the evolution Bond himself is undergoing. Craig is perhaps the first actor to portray 007 like a human being, instead of a clichéd, one-liner spouting cad (yes, ‘Bond, James Bond’ has been nixed, deal with it). A lot of those famous Bondisms like anonymous sex, killing without remorse and vodka martinis are no longer without consequences. This Bond must deal with the fatal price of loving a woman; must reconsider vengeance driven killing sprees; must recognise the difference between having a small drink and requiring an intervention.

Quantum of Solace has been called a direct sequel to Casino Royale, although it’s not much of one. I would be kinder to it if it was a bridging film for a final, answer-providing entry, but the filmmakers have stated no such intentions. Instead, it’s just another entry into the Bond canon. A humourless, sometimes boring entry. But hey, it’s still better than Die Another Day. At the very least, Quantum of Solace gives us James Bond doing what he does best. Let's just hope next time, he's given a more interesting universe to do it in.

3/5

Check out the trailer here.

The wrestler trailer debut - The real Oscar underdog emerges

source: traileraddict.com

After months of hearing how amazing Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler is, we've finally been given a trailer to confirm the hype.

Mickey Rourke stars as Randy 'Ram' Robinson, a professional wrestler from the eighties who has fallen on tough times. When a heart attack sends him out of the game for good, he gains employment at a deli, strikes up a friendship with a stripper (Marisa Tomei), and attempts to reconcile with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). However, the prospect of a rematch against his greatest rival tempts him back into the ring for a possibly life-endangering fight.



The film won the Golden Lion (Best Film) at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year, and many consider Mickey Rourke a shoo-in for a Best Actor nomination at the upcoming Oscars. However, the film itself is rarely mentioned alongside Best Picture contenders The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Revolutionary Road, and even The Dark Knight. The film is currently holding 100% positive reviews over at Rotten Tomatoes. After seeing this trailer, I think the film may have a real shot for the title.

The Wrestler, directed by Darren Aronofsky, opens January 16 in Australia.

OSCAR WATCH

Batman Begins...The Dark Knight Oscar Campaign

The WALL-E Oscar Juggernaut Rolls On

WALL-E For Best Pic? Hey If Crash Can Win...

Who Are the Major Oscar Contenders?

Check out our Oscar Collection.

Lost season 5 poster

source: slashfilm.com

The first promotional poster for the 5th season of Lost has landed, promising the kind of 'city meets the sea' vibe that made Sea Change so popular. It's a brave change of direction!

The last season of Lost featured some of the best hours of television ever produced (Ben going crazy in Tunisia; Sayid turning into Jason Bourne; Desmond jumping back and forth through time). This season has a lot to live up to, but now that the grand scheme is coming into focus, I've never had more faith in the show. Not that I ever lost it. See what I did there?

Lost debuts January in the U.S. Hopefully Australian audiences will get it early February.

Night at the museum 2 - Could it be good?

source: usatoday.com

A whole batch of new pics from Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian have emerged, promising a much funnier installment than the original.

Night at the Museum grossed a phenomenal $575 million worldwide, so a sequel was inevitable. I thought the concept of the first film was pretty interesting, but it really wasn't executed in the best possible way. It was a shame, considering the high level of comic pedigree attached (Ben Stiller, Ricky Gervais, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams, Dick van Dyke).

However, it's hard not to get excited for the sequel, which reunites the original cast with even more brilliant comic actors. Enjoy the photos below and ask yourself: Should we get our hopes up for the sequel?

The brilliant Bill Hader is getting closer and closer to a leading role by starring as General Custer. You may recognise him as Officer Slater in Superbad, or for his work in Saturday Night Live.

The beautiful Amy Adams brings some good old fashioned class to the game, starring as missing aviator Amelia Earhart. Considering she starred in the last great live-action family film (Enchanted) she might end up being MVP.

Ricky Gervais is back as museum curator Dr McPhee. But can he please be in it for more than 3 minutes this time?

Jonah Hill also has a cameo as a Smithosonian guard. Hill and Stiller competing to see who is the king of awkward improvised banter? I'd pay to see that.

Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian is directed by Shawn Levy, and also stars Hank Azaria, Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy. The film opens May 21st in Australia.

Nicole Kidman might retire from acting while she's ahead. Umm...

source: yahoo.news.com

Nicole Kidman has revealed she is unsure about the future of her career, and might move away from acting.

Kidman was promoting her Oprah-endorsed epic Australia when she announced her future plans (or should that be lack of plans).

"In terms of my future as an actor and stuff, I don't know," she said.

"I am in a place in my life where ... I've had some great opportunities and I may just choose to have some more children. I've no idea what is in my future but I am very at peace with where I want to be. There are many things I want to do besides act."

Well good for her I suppose. If she's happy, I'm happy. But could this little decision have to do with her recent box office disasters. It has been a slippery slope since she won an Oscar for her performance in The Hours.

In the last six years she has starred in no less than 4 flops (not including the average-performing The Golden Compass). Kidman quaintly refered to these films as "quirky". Honey, if Bewitched was "quirky", there wouldn't have been a problem. Me-yow!

Of course, all of this 'retirement' nonesense is just speculation. She's still got a few projects in the pipeline, including Rob Marshall's Nine alongside Daniel Day-Lewis and Penelope Cruz. Kidman is also rumoured to star as the world's first transexual in The Danish Girl. Hmm, sounds "quirky".

Australian film to open Sundance

source: slashfilm.com

Aussie Oscar winner Adam Elliot's latest film Mary and Max will open the 25th Sundance Film Festival.

Mary and Max is a clay animation film featuring the voice talents of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Toni Collette and Barry Humphries. The film tells the story of penpals Mary, an 8-year-old girl living in Melbourne, and Max, a 40-year-old obese man living in New York. The film is inspired by Elliot's own 20-year long pen friendship.

It marks the feature film debut for Elliot, who gained recognition for his Academy Award winning short film Harvey Krumpet. If Mary and Max deals with its themes of isolation and loneliness in Elliot's unique style, this film could stand alongside other animated classics on the world stage.

Mary and Max will hit Australian cinemas April 9 , 2009.

The 25th Sundance Film Festival runs from January 15th to the 25th in Utah. The remaining lineup of films will be announced December 3.

Spielberg and Smith to ruin, I mean, remake Oldboy

source: slashfilm.com

Steven Spielberg and Will Smith are in talks to remake Chan-Wook Park's South Korean classic Oldboy.

The pair have supposedly been looking for a project to work together on for a while. Screenwriter Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend, the upcoming Thor) is being considered to adapt the film for English-speaking audience.

Oldboy tells the story of Oh Dae-Su, a man who is kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years without explanation. Once released, he is given five days to exact his revenge, and discover the horrible truth behind his incarceration.

Oldboy is one of my all time favourite films. It is a flawless masterpiece, and any fan of cinema should see it. Saying that:

W! T! F!

I don't want to sound like one of those people who always rags on remakes. After all, the last major foreign film to be remade in the U.S. was The Departed. And that was kinda good.

But Oldboy!? Oldboy!? Has Spielberg even seen Oldboy? Look, its a massive understatement to say that Steven Spielberg is a talented director. But Oldboy is absolutely, unbelievably, uncomprimisingly brutal. And Steven Spielberg wants to direct it! The guy who did The Terminal!

I have a little more faith in Smith starring in the lead role. After all, he is an incredibly talented actor. But there is NO WAY a film starring Will Smith can end the way the original Oldboy ends. Quite simply, NO WAY. They will not allow it.

(For the sake of the uninitiated, all spoilers for the original have been blocked out)

He is currently the number 1 attraction for moviegoers. A studio will not let their billion dollar drawcard star in a film in which he ***** *** *** ********, even if it's the whole point of the film! And don't think for a second he'll be eating a **** ******* in this version either!

And that bit where he ***** * ***** in the elevator. I'm sure that'll be gone.

Please, please, please don't make this film. It is just not a film that can be made for mainstream audiences. I'm not saying Oldboy isn't an amazing film that everyone should see. But a PG-13 version starring Will Smith, who doesn't see a ****** ********* *** ****** and who doesn't cut *** *** ****** off? I'll pass.

We'll keep you updated. In the meantime, enjoy the trailer for the original.



Further viewing: Oldboy is the 2nd film in Park's Vengeance Trilogy. Add Sympathy for Mr Vengeance and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance here.

Hancock 2 - Smith's superhero is back off the wagon

source: latimes.com

The LA Times is reporting that Sony is planning on producing a sequel to Will Smith's blockbuster Hancock.

Since Quantum of Solace will be the last Bond film for the studio, they are now looking for their next big franchise. It seems they've turned to Will 'Money-Printing' Smith to save them.

Hancock was the fourth biggest film of the year, grossing a pants-droppingly amazing $623 million worldwide.

It's no surprise really. The ultra-high wattage of star Will Smith + an excellent concept = $$$. Unfortunately, I thought the film really fell apart in the second half. Which leads into my problem with a sequel to Hancock: Why would anyone want to see the next part of the story?

It's hard to discuss without spoiling the first film, but those who have seen it will understand my quandary. Certain revelations are made in the second half of the film that threatened to ruin the excellent first half. I'm not saying said revelations were necessarily a bad idea, they were just executed poorly. Had said revelations not been so poorly explained, than the film wouldn't have had to end the way it did. You know what I'm saying? I certainly don't.

Basically. Hancock 2 - bad idea. But lets face facts, we'd all see Will Smith in anything. So bring it on!

Other Suggested Will Smith Sequels

The Pursuit of Happyness: With A Vengeance

7 Degrees of Seperation

Independance Day 2: Thanksgiving and A**kicking

2, Robot

Wilder Wilder Wester

What Will Smith sequels would you like to see?

Star trek trailer debut - trekkies just got sexy

source: traileraddict.com

The official trailer for J.J. Abrams Star Trek has finally debuted online.

The trailer promises plenty of action and adventure, as well as some sexy bedroom antics. You can't keep James Tiberius Kirk down!

I only hope the film doesn't amp up the action to the point in which the original spirit of Star Trek is lost.

However, I have complete faith in Abrams. If the trailer is anything to go by, the 11th film could be one of the best.

Click on the image to below to check out the trailer!

Star Trek opens May 7th, 2009. It stars Chris Pine as Captain Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Dr. Spock, Karl Urban as McCoy, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Simon Pegg as Scotty, John Cho as Sulu and Eric Bana as the villain Nero.

In cinemas this week - Bond beats up teenagers; the elderly.

Bond is back to shake up the Australian box office this week, and no major film is brave enough to challenge it. Instead, a couple of smaller films will be fighting for very different audiences.

MUST SEE THIS WEEK

QUANTUM OF SOLACE

Look, does anything else really have to be said. 2006's Casino Royale was a welcome surprise, breathing life into a series that most people didn't even realise was dead (the previous film Die Another Day had been the highest grossing Bond film up to that point). However, the fans (and most cinema savvy audiences) knew the series was in a creative ditch, and thankfully the brilliant Daniel Craig was brought on board to reboot the series.

Quantum of Solace picks up right where Casino Royale left off, and follows Bond as he takes revenge on the people responsible for the death of his beloved Vesper Lynd. Critics don't love the sequel as much as it's predecessor, although few are denying the impressiveness of the action. Directed by Marc Forster and co-starring Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko and Mathieu Amalric, QOS is the one to see this week.

AMERICAN TEEN

Although it's unlikely to match the predicted zillion dollar gross of QOS, this small indie documentary is expected to claim hearts all over the country. A hit at the Sundance Film Festival, American Teen examines the lives of five teenagers in their senior year at high school. It takes the established 'Breakfast Club' stereotypes (the jock, the geek, the rebel, the princess and the arty girl) and provides a deeper understanding of these young adults.

Although the film has been criticised for some obviously staged moments, many critics believe it transcends the Laguna Beach/Hills-esque mugging it is cruelly compared to. Most importantly, the subjects are interesting and likable. Directed by Oscar-nominatee Nanette Burstein, American Teen is an interesting project worth definitely worth the price of admission.

WAIT FOR DVD

YOUTH WITHOUT YOUTH

Francis Ford Coppola's first film since 1997's The Rainmaker (exluding his uncredited work on Supernova), Youth Without Youth is the underwhelming return of a legend. Set in pre-war Germany, Tim Roth stars as a 70-year-old linguistics professor, who returns to the height of his youth after being struck by lightning. When the Third Reich learns of his superhuman abilities, they attempt to harness it for their own use.

The film was a critical and financial flop when it was released earlier this year in the U.S. Although it's hard to find someone willing to recommend it, Coppola fans should be happy to see the master back in action. Plus, the synopsis sounds like something worth checking out. BUT, if you do head out this weekend to see it, don't say you weren't warned.

OUT NEXT WEEK

Oh, just a little film called Australia. Yeah, I haven't heard of it either. Also opening is the Cloverfield-esque Quarantine and Rob Schneider's Big Stan.

Quantum of Solace Hilariously Challenges Nights in Rodanthe For Top Spot At Box Office

source: reuters.com

The latest Bond flick Quantum of Solace has surprised no one by being an absolute smash at the box office.

The flick picked up $70.4 million over the 3-day-weekend in the U.S, well above Casino Royale's $40.8 million opening.

Daniel Craig's second outing as Bond has opened in 73 markets over the last two weeks, and has already grossed an impressive $251.6 million worldwide. To put that in perspective, it sits right between Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Charlies Angels: Full Throttle. Yikes. Well, it won't be there long, as some analysts are predicting a huge $700 million worldwide gross.

The film opens in Australia on Wednesday, and is expected to knock current leader Nights in Rodanthe off its 1-week perch. Gee, I hope Bond can do it.

Check out the Bond collection here.

Happy Feet 2 On The Way

source: theage.com

The Age is reporting that a sequel to George Miller's Oscar-winning film Happy Feet is in the works.

The NSW Government is funding a new digital production facility in Sydney which is expected to provide a significant boost to the flagging local film industry.

The first film to be developed by the new 'Dr D' production facility will be Happy Feet 2.

The original 2006 hit grossed more than $378 million worldwide, and is one of the highest grossing Australian films ever.

I remember absolutely falling in love with Happy Feet when I saw it at the cinema. I thought it was funny, sweet and incredibly well made. Until that damn ending. I really hate the ending to Happy Feet.

It provided one of the most shoe-horned, patronising and underdeveloped messages in recent cinema. If you want to see a film that handles similar themes in a much more accomplished manner, check out WALL-E.

However, I'm sure most children aren't too worried about narrative structure and the like. So Happy Feet 2 is good news for parents who have worn down the original DVD to a nub.

Plus, I'll probably see it too.

New Watchmen Trailer Replaces Moon Landing As 'Most Important Piece of Footage Ever'

source: movies.yahoo.com

OK, it's official. Waiting until next March to see Watchmen is not possible. I am currently searching for a team of super-intelligent physicists who will assist me in the creation of a time-machine that will help us skip through the next 4 months.

I'm finding it harder and harder to make more hyperbolic statements about this film - so I'll just leave you with the trailer.

And if it doesn't change your life - then you're already dead.



Watchmen opens March 5th, 2009. For more information, check out these previous articles.

Who Watches The Watchmen? We Do!

Watchmen Trailer Debut - Eye Bleedingly Good

Geek Out! New Watchmen Footage

New Watchman Trailer to Replace Your Loved Ones

Another Gratuitous Watchmen Article - Look, A Poster!

Apatow Gives Us The First Taste of Upcoming 'Funny People'

source: slashfilm.com

A teaser poster for Judd Apatow's latest directorial project Funny People has debuted, even though the film only recently started production.

The film stars Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen as stand-up comics of varying degrees of success. Apatow has stated the film will be a slightly more serious affair than Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

I think the posters look great - Apatow's always do - and its enough of a taste to keep us interested until the films release next July.

It's also exciting to see Adam Sandler in a promising flick. Along with this December's Bedtime Stories, it looks like he is redeeming himself after his recent misfires.

I'm still not sick of the Apatow gang's brand of humour, even though they seemingly release a film every fortnight.

Let us know what you think about the posters, the project, and Apatow in general below.

P.S - Looks like all that working out for The Green Hornet is doing Rogen some good. Nice work!

Quickflix's 50 Favourite Movies

We asked our loyal Quickflix readers to help build a definitive list of favourite movies. You all responded in force, giving us over 400 films to choose from!

After tirelessly slaving away in a small padded cell for the last 7 days straight, we have added up the votes and ranked the hundreds of films accordingly. We now have a solid Top 50 that we can truly be proud of. Good work team!

So here you go Australia! Your 50 Favourite Films Are:

1. The Shawshank Redemption

2. Star Wars: A New Hope

3. Blade Runner

4. Aliens

5. Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring

6. Reservoir Dogs

7. Fight Club

8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

9. Transformers

10. The Dark Knight

11. Amelie
12. Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King
13. American Beauty
14. Titanic
15. The Godfather
16. The Notebook
17. Pulp Fiction
18. Goodfellas
19. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
20. Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers
21. Serenity
22. Forrest Gump
23. Back to the Future
24. The Godfather Part 2
25. Natural Born Killers
26. Die Hard
27. To Kill A Mockingbird
28. Casino Royale
29. Lost in Translation
30. Fargo
31. Se7en
32. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
33. The Green Mile
34. Snatch
35. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest
36. Gladiator
37. Beauty and the Beast
38. Casablanca
39. Donnie Darko
40. The Sound of Music
41. Schindler's List
42. Saw
43. Alien
44. The Crow
45. The Matrix
46. A Clockwork Orange
47. Casino
48. Kill Bill Vol. 2
49. Lawrence of Arabia
50. Juno

What do you think? Is Reservoir Dogs Tarantino's best film? Is Beauty and the Beast the best animated film ever? Is Transformers better than The Dark Knight? Let us know what you like (and what you DON'T like) about this list.

Be sure to check out our Greatest Films Ever collection. Add the top 50 to your queue; check out some other classics that made the top 100; find out the top films in different genres; and see some individual members personal top 10's!

Quickflix's favourite movies: 1-25
Quickflix's favourite comedies
Quickflix's favourite Australian films
Quickflix members top 10 - Jane
Quickflix members top 10 - Patrick
Quickflix members top 10 - Moorey

and many more!

P.S Start thinking of your favourite TV shows - we'll be calling for those in the near future!