Posts Tagged ‘Vampires’
Posted by dominie in Films, News on December 2nd, 2008
At the AFM in Santa Monica last month, one of the more interesting potentials came from writer-director Rob Stefaniuk. He is developing Suck, a new Rock’n’roll vampire horror starring rockers Alice Cooper, Moby, Iggy Pop, and Henry Rollins with David Foley (Postal), Malcom McDowell (Halloween) and Jessica Pare and others. You may have guessed it already, but the film will involve a group of rockstar wannabies in search of immortality and a record deal. And this would be a horror unless with have a Van Helsing descendant to hunt down the vampires.
Equinoxe Films has acquired Canadian rights for the film while Insight Film Releasing will handle international rights. For the complete synopsis and the full cast, see the press release below courtesy of B-D. (more…)
Posted by dominie in Films, News on November 26th, 2008
According to The Sun Times, stars Robert Pattinson, 22, and Kristin Stewart, 18, will each receive salary boosts for the Twilight sequel New Moon—each is reportedly receiving $10 million more per film plus a percentage of the future movies’ box-office take. That’s six times the $2 million they each earned for Twilight.
The reported salary increase also comes with a much larger story. New Moon will include travels to both Alaska and Italy and in addition to vampires, werewolves are now introduced into the franchise.
I’m sure you’ve already heard the numbers. Twilight grossed $70.5 million over the weekend, which virtually guaranteed the greenlight for New Moon. Now it looks like the third film, based on Stephenie Meyer’s Eclipse novel is nearly sealed as well.
Director Catherine Hardwicke has also returned for the sequel reports People.com. Just yesterday we were still unsure when Hardwicke told the AP Sunday, “I want to be sure that [the second film is] going to be done right. I don’t want to rush into it. It’s not like ‘Friday the 13th’ or ‘Halloween,’ you can’t just do it super fast and knock another one out.” The director insisted to be sure that the film’s producers were on the same page going forward before any agreements were made.
Hardwicke has reportedly begun preparations for New Moon set to premiere in 2010. Not only the sequels, the movie’s projected net gross also ensured Summit Entertainment’s position in Hollywood. Prior to Twilight, the studio released only five films, the biggest known of the bunch being In the Valley of Elah which Tommy Lee Jones received an Oscar nomination.
Posted by dominie in Films, News on November 22nd, 2008
It’s official. Summit Entertainment has greenlit production on New Moon, the sequel to the Catherine Hardwicke-directed Twilight. This is no surprise after a reported Box Office growth of $7.5 million for Thursday midnight screenings that reached to a reported $33 million for opening day. Stay tuned as more detailed information comes in. For now, read on for the press release.
Summit Entertainment Announces TWILIGHT Sequel - NEW MOON
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22 — Summit Entertainment announced today that the studio is officially moving forward with the production of NEW MOON, the second installment of its filmed franchise TWILIGHT, the action-packed, modern day vampire love story. The movie will be based on the second novel in author Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series titled, “New Moon.” The first movie in the TWILIGHT franchise, the self-titled TWILIGHT, arrived in theaters this weekend to sold-out showings.
Stephenie Meyer stated, “I don’t think any other author has had a more positive experience with the makers of her movie adaptation than I have had with Summit Entertainment. I’m thrilled to have the chance to work with them again on NEW MOON.”
Starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, TWILIGHT tells the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan who moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to live with her father, and becomes drawn to Edward Cullen, a pale, mysterious classmate who seems determined to push her away. But neither can deny the attraction that pulls them together … even when Edward confides that he and his family are vampires. Their unorthodox romance puts her in physical danger when Edward’s nemesis comes to town and sets his sights on Bella.
Posted by dominie in Films, Reviews on November 21st, 2008
My feelings about Twilight have been on both extremes. Let me explain. I had no opinion about Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight the novel, prior to the first Twilight footage I saw and thought, ‘what’s the big deal?’ Just two weeks ago, I read Meyer’s novel and I loved it. If the footage didn’t phase me, the book was a ten. I readjusted my expectations, mediocre, a six. Compensated for hope that the film will be good, less, maybe a four… It was both my hope and fear to love the movie. Two really close friends of mine and I finally got to see the highly anticipated movie last night. An argument (see below) ensued and I feel it is a better representative review than I could fairly portray.
Based on the film (we’re not going to discuss the novel), Twilight is the story of a teenage girl, Bella Swan, who moves to Forks, Washington to live with her father and risks everything when she falls in love with a vampire. Continuing from our conversation after the film, my friend emailed me a review; my response is below.
After our needlessly extended argument, what I realized is we were both arguing the same side. Disregarding the book, Twilight the movie was enjoyable for what it is. Lets “keep it real” (as Billy Black would say); the movie is geared toward young teens. This allows the use of current day slangs and the over exaggerated articulation/motions to be acceptable, and can translate into entertaining.
The problem with the movie is the story seems to be told in vignettes that don’t stream sequentially. In essence, the screenplay lacked the character arcs that provide for motivation behind the characters’ intentions, most particularly Edward’s. One minute he hates Bella, the next he reveals himself in the sunlight and they’re in love. There’s a quick meet and greet the fam that jets into an under-developed climax, and a quick happy ending that is thrown in to complete the formula. I do not believe the performances are to be blamed. Pattinson and Stewart emit potential. Possibly more a lack of direction? Or no direction because the screenplay is a null platform?
The special effects were marginal, with the exception of the baseball scene (done very well). In accepting the movie for what it is however, I feel this area needs no explanation. Hands down, I’ll be the first to admit Twilight was enjoyable. Would I watch it again? Yes. I’d go see all the sequels too. Heck, its only $10! Go see it for yourself. (more…)
Posted by dominie in Films, News on November 20th, 2008
Shock Till You Drop has unveiled the first look at the poster for Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, which opens in theaters on January 23, 2009. To remind you, the third installment is actually a prequel to the two previous films, chronicling the start of the war between the Lycans and the Death Dealers.
Directed by Patrick Tatopoulos, the film stars Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Rhona Mitra, Shane Brolly, and Steven Mackintosh.
Synopsis: The prequel story traces the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. In the Dark Ages, a young Lycan named Lucian (Sheen) emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, Sonja (Mitra), in his battle against the Death Dealer army and his struggle for Lycan freedom.
Posted by dominie in Films, News on October 15th, 2008
Now here’s some very good news from Magnet Releasing’s latest press release. Continued to be wowed, Let The Right One In, the inaugural film of Magnet Releasing’s Six Shooter Series, arrives in limited theaters October 24 in New York and Los Angeles.
NEW YORK – October 15, 2008 – Tomas Alfredson’s LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, the first film in Magnet Releasing’s SIX SHOOTER FILM SERIES, continues to accumulate prestigious awards from festivals around the globe as it approaches its New York and Los Angeles theatrical openings at the Angelika Film Center and Laemmle’s Sunset 5 respectively on Friday, October 24th. The film will expand regionally throughout November. Based on a internationally bestselling Swedish novel, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN tells the story of an introverted and bullied 12-year-old boy whose wish for a friend is answered when a young girl moves into the apartment next door. However, the girl’s arrival coincides with a series of grisly murders, and their relationship is understandably complicated when the boy learns that his new friend is a vampire. Alfredson weaves friendship, rejection and loyalty into a haunting and darkly atmospheric, yet poetic and unexpectedly tender tableau of adolescence which manages to breath fresh life into the vampire genre.
Recently adding Sitges’ prestigious Golden Melies award to the list, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN’s awards this year to date include:
Sitges International Film Festival of Catalonia: Golden Melies Award
Edinburgh International Film Festival: Critical Consensus Awards
Tribeca Film Festival: Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature
Woodstock Film Festival: Audience Award - Best Narrative Feature
Austin Fantastic Fest: Best Film Award (more…)
Posted by dominie in Events, Films, News on October 2nd, 2008
I can’t stop raving about how great this little Swedish vampire film is. Tomas Alfredson’s Let the Right One In (review) debuts in New York and Los Angeles Friday, October 24. The US trailer is now available in high definition on IGN and you can visit the official website for all everything you want to know about the upcoming release.
Let the Right One In is the inaugural film in Magnet Releasing’s Six Shooter Film Series that will feature theatrical releases of six films from the vanguard of quality worldwide genre cinema. Alfredson’s Let the Right One In has been named winner of such film festival honors as Best Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival, Best Film and Best Cinematography at Göteborg, and Best Film, Best Director, Best Photography, Best European, North or South American Film at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal.
Official Plot Synopsis:
A fragile, anxious boy, 12-year-old Oskar is regularly bullied by his stronger classmates but never strikes back. The lonely boy’s wish for a friend seems to come true when he meets Eli, also 12, who moves in next door to him.
But Eli’s arrival coincides with a series of gruesome deaths and attacks. Though Oskar realizes that she’s a vampire, his friendship with her is stronger than his fear…
Swedish filmmaker Tomas Alfredson weaves friendship, rejection and loyalty into a disturbing, darkly atmospheric, yet unexpectedly tender tableau of adolescence. The feature is based on the best-selling novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, which the UK press qualified as “reminiscent of Stephen King at his best.”
Screening Dates and Locations:
10/24/2008
West Hollywood, CA: Sunset 5
New York, NY: Angelika Film Center
11/7/2008
San Diego, CA: Hillcrest Cinemas (more…)
Posted by dominie in Films, News on September 25th, 2008
No one is busier than Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy series, Pan’s Labyrinth). The writer, director, producer, and not to mention video game helmer is now heading for an epic release. According to The Associated Press, del Toro, best known for Pan’s Labyrinth (of which he won three Academy Awards for in this rendition of the Spanish Civil war) has been in collaboration with crime writer Chuck Hogan (The Blood Artists, The Killing Moon, Prince of Thieves) to release a new vampire trilogy titled The Strain.
“The idea is epic in scope,” he stated. “The trilogy advances in unexpected ways and each book contains unique and surprising revelations about the history, physiology and lore of the vampiric race, tracing its roots all the way back to its Old Testament origins.”
Guillermo has been working on The Strain for several years now. No word on whether he will be going for theatrical yet, but he assures us genre fans, it will be a horror. The Strain is due in stores next summer.
Posted by dominie in Films, News on September 16th, 2008
Director Catherine Hardwicke of Summit Entertainment’s Twilight talks details for the reshoots that went on in late August. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hardwicke cited weather problems and time conflicts with Kristen Stewart’s high school schedule that contributed to a delay in production.
Going back she explains, “We got to shoot some things I really wanted. It’s all just icing on the cake.” Entertainment Weekly listed a few reshot scenes. “One redone scene shows Edward playing Bella’s lullaby. And if that doesn’t whet your appetite, Hardwicke also reshot the bedroom kissing scene.” And according to MTV news, a “redo was also done for [the] meadow scene.”
A little redeeming fact, Hardwicke did shoot some new scenes: more of Jacob and more on the Cullens’ backstory.
Stars Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen) and Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen) reaffirmed the new scene shot that will help explain the Cullen’s backstory on MTV news. “The reshoots are basically flashbacks that can go [along with] big voiceovers,” reveals Pattinson. “We are actually showing the scenes from back in the day…what actually went on,” continues Lutz. The flashback he is referring to is the old peace treaty made by a family of vampires and the Quileute Indian tribe. (more…)
Posted by dominie in Films, News on September 12th, 2008
Oldboy director Chan-Wook Park returns!! If you haven’t seen Oldboy you will regret not running to your nearest video store now to rent the psycho mystery thriller. Oldboy comes alive in Park’s wholly original story about a man who is locked up in a cell for 15 years and then suddenly released only to find himself still trapped in a web of conspiracies.
This morning Variety received news that Universal Pictures and Focus Features sealed a deal Thursday to jump on board as co-producers to director Chan-Wook Park’s new vampire film Thirst. The film is currently in production under Korean major CJ Entertainment who’s been the film’s sole financier up until now. This collaboration marks the first time a Korean film has ever received US studio coin and a US distribution deal (through Focus) before its local release. Local sales in South Korea along with international sales rights will remain the responsibility of CJ Entertainment.
Thirst will star Song Kang-ho (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, The Host, The Good the Bad and the Weird) and Shin Ha-kyun (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance), with Kim Ok-bi (Dasepo Naughty Girls) as leading lady in a story about a well respected priest Sang-hyun, who falls in love with his childhood friend’s wife and who, after a failed medical experiment is turned into a vampire. The priest’s faith can only hold for so long as his humanity withers away in this unique thriller and horror impassioned by an illicit love story.
With Focus Features to distribute, Thirst will likely be guaranteed a theatrical release! Sources say we can expect Thirst sometime in mid 2009!
