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New ‘Skyfall’ Image Shows James Bond Packing Some Heat

traviswoods — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:26:24 +0000

Last month, we reported on the first official picture from Skyfall, the 23^rd film in the James Bond franchise (and the third film in the Daniel Craig continuity). The picture wasn’t exactly action packed and didn’t reveal much, showing as it did the back of Bond’s head as he casually sat by a pool with his legs in the water; however, this new picture features a rough-looking James Bond sneaking and carrying a gun.

The picture shows a bearded Daniel Craig sneaking about with a small handgun in a darkly colorful environment. No word yet on what exactly is happening in this scene, but, given the last two films, it is more than likely something kind of brutal yet eminently badass.

Skyfall is set for release on November 9, 2012, and costars Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Albert Finney, Naomie Harris, and Javier Bardem. The film is directed by Sam Mendes, and is, thank god, not in 3-D (just thought I’d mention that, since just about every other movie being released this year is being saddled with that silly gimmick).

So what do you think of the pic? Do you have any predictions about what Skyfall’s plot will entail?

Source: /Film

First Picture of Daniel Craig as James Bond in Skyfall

Damon Houx — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:45:18 +0000

Yep, that’s Daniel Craig, and Empire is reporting that this is the first official picture of James Bond in Skyfall, the 23rd film in the franchise. The film is due out November 9 later this year, and shooting is underway, so there’s plenty of time to speculate what madness Bond gets into in this adventure. The film is being directed by Sam Mendes and also stars Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Albert Finney, Naomie Harris, and Javier Bardem.

As for the content of the picture, perhaps this is setting up that it’s got a bunch of underwater action, like Thunderball or The Spy Who Loved Me, though perhaps Bond is being pensive after having killed someone (always a good bet). Or perhaps he’s hiding his embarrassment from having just peed in the pool.

Realistically, this says zero about anything except that Daniel Craig is in excellent shape, and at some point he feels the need to get in a pool. But pointless and useless speculation is the name of the game when it comes to a film as highly anticipated as this, so perhaps his legs hurt after having a skyfall. What a skyfall is will be revealed in the film, so there’s that to look forward to.

What’s your favorite Bond film?

The Adventures of Tintin – Movie Review

Damon Houx — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:00:22 +0000

With The Adventures of Tintin, Steven Spielberg has finally decided to play with some of the newest toys of cinema, and in his first motion capture film, he revolutionizes the format. Moreso than Avatar, here Spielberg is let loose to play with the camera as he sees fit, and you can see an invigorated director who’s able to stage sequences in ways that would be unimaginable in live action. And that’s enough to make it a must-see.

The Players:

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Steven Moffatt, Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish
Cast: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
Music: John Williams

The Plot:

After purchasing a antique minature ship, Tintin (Bell) is targeted by Ivanovich Sakharine (Craig) and his minions. The ship holds a secret and Tintin uncovers it with just enough time to be kidnapped and put to sea. There he meets Captain Haddock (Serkis) a drunk with a connection to that mystery. It seems if three pieces of a puzzle are put together, a treasure will be revealed. And it turns out that Ivanovich and Haddock’s family have a long standing grudge.

The Good:

Spielberg’s Camera: Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest working directors, and the man has always been one of the most technically proficient filmmakers in the history of cinema. Here, unmoored from having a practical camera, he’s able to do things that just aren’t humanly possible in live action. From a spectacular one-shot action sequence, to how he moves a camera on a boat, it’s like watching a maestro given everything he’s ever wanted. But even the introduction of Tintin via his famous hair is a delight. The man is just that good.
Andy Serkis: Though Jamie Bell’s Tintin is more avatar than action star, Serkis’s Captain Haddock is a delightful character who goes from fall down drunk to avenger of a family legacy. It’s a fun role, and he makes the best impression of the cast, though Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are charming as the bumbling Thompson twins (yes, the band was named after them).
That One Shot: Seriously, there is no better action sequence this or any other year than the one shot of Tintin and Haddock trying to get a scrap of paper as a broken dam sends water flooding down on them, and bad guys are chasing them. Spielberg’s sense of action in films like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom has never left the master, and it’s one of those shots that left me cackling in delight.
Sense of Adventure: It’s easy to say that this is better than the last Indiana Jones film. But it’s also fair to say that it’s better than the last two Indiana Jones films.

The Bad:

Tintin, Kinda Boring: If there’s a problem with the film it’s that as an adult this doesn’t have the sort of lead that’s exceptional. Tintin is a young reporter who’s not a total blank, but is meant to be an audience surrogate for the children in the audience. The script does what they can with the character, and it’s a fun movie and story regardless, but if the film has one drawback, it’s that the main character is a bit of a blank.
Sequels: The film treats a follow-up like a an afterthought, and though the film works on its own merits, it’s still the shortest theatrical film Spielberg has ever made. It’s nice that the film’s reasonably tight, but the ending undercuts some goodwill by insisting there will be more.

Overall:

Robert Zemeckis blanched at the idea that Motion-Capture movies are animated films, but if they are, then Tintin is easily the best animated film of the year. It’s a ridiculously entertaining film that never outstays its welcome.

Rating: 8.8/10

The Adventures of Tintin hits theaters December 21.

Photos:

Trailer:

Daniel Craig To Play James Bond In Five More 007 Films?

traviswoods — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:46:05 +0000

Hey, James Bond aficionados—for those of you in the ‘Daniel Craig is the best Bond’ camp, well, Christmas just came early: producer Michael G. Wilson has stated that he wants Craig to portray the dapper super spy in five more films, which, after Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and the upcoming Skyfall, will bring Craig’s Bond film total to a whopping eight.

Eight times around would officially make Daniel Craig the longest running Bond actor thus far, and Wilson seems determined to make that happen, speaking highly of the actor. “Filming has gone very well so far and I’d love Daniel to surpass Roger’s record and do eight pictures,” Wilson has stated, adding that “Daniel’s been an absolute pleasure to be around because he takes the role so seriously. There’s really no one more passionate about making these films work than him – he’s a film maker’s dream.”

While it seems hard to imagine Craig being willing to play the same character for the next 15-20 years, he does make a hell of a good Bond, and it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have him hold the title for longest-running Bond, especially since it would knock the Roger Moore out of the top spot, whose Bond was always hyper-smarmy and cheesy. Go, Craig, go!

Who is your favorite Bond?

Source: /Film

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Opens Hours Early

Damon Houx — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:11:36 +0000

It’s a big day for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo news. Today the embargo broke, and non-David Denby types can review the picture willy-nilly. We’ll have our review closer to release, but along with that, Sony has announced that David Fincher‘s latest opus will be hitting screens Tuesday, December 20 at 7 pm, instead of its scheduled December 21 opening.

With a number of festivals and screenings already, the film has had a chance to make an impact on top ten lists and Critics votes, but has yet to make much of an impression as a “Best” film. Early word is that the film is either good but minor Fincher, or that it’s one of his weaker (or weakest) efforts. Panic Room is often mentioned.

The positive that’s come out is that Rooney Mara – who had the great opening scene in The Social Network – is supposedly excellent as Lisbeth Salander, and the role could be star-making. Word is that Daniel Craig makes less of an impression. As the film seems to be out of serious Oscar contention at this point, the question is if it’s the next The Da Vinci Code style pop hit, and if it can weather the onslaught of last minute 2011 films. Stieg Larsson’s books have remained popular, so there’s a good chance this R-rated film will be the adult film to see over the next month. Sony doesn’t seem to be taking any chances.

Have you read the Larsson books?

David Fincher Releases Eight Minute ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ Extended Trailer

traviswoods — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:23:02 +0000

For those of you still unsure as to whether or not David Fincher’s English-language remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is worth seeing later this month, Fincher just about removed all reasons for doubt today by releasing an excellent eight-minute trailer for the film!

Featuring a score created exclusively for the trailer by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (who also composed the—get this—three and a half hour soundtrack to the film), the labyrinthine eight minutes establishes the same plot as previous trailers—a rich older gentleman hires an investigative journalist to unlock the murder of a relative of his 40 years previous, while that journalist in turn teams up with a trouble you hacker—but adds several minutes of character shading and plot nuance, without being too heavy on spoilers.

The trailer is currently streaming on iTunes only, check it out here (along with a six song sampler of Reznor’s soundtrack).

So, what did you think? The film seems to combine the urban decay of Fincher’s Se7en with the chilly, intellectual precision and beauty of Zodiac. While you still may doubt how necessary this remake is, you certainly can’t argue that it doesn’t look incredible.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is set for a December 21, 2011 release.

What did you think of the extended trailer?

Source: /Film

Quick Look: The Adventures of Tintin

Damon Houx — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:09:40 +0000

Last night the AFI festival hosted the first public screening of director Steven Spielberg‘s The Adventures of Tintin. Or, that is to say, the first public screening in America – the film has been open outside of the U.S. for more than a month, and has already made over $100 Million internationally. Spielberg’s first animated/motion-captured film, it stars Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in an adventure story where Tintin comes across clues to pirate treasure. We’ll have a longer review when the film is released, but check out our quick thoughts…

Though much lighter and much more kid-centric than the Indiana Jones films, Tintin was approached by Spielberg from a child’s perspective, and so Tintin (played by Jamie Bell) is much gentler and far less quotable than Indy. That’s not a knock on the film, merely an acknowledgement that those looking for Raiders redux will be disappointed. That said, it’s also a better action movie than the last Indy adventure, and maybe a little better than Last Crusade. Untethered from cranes or having to worry about where the camera is, Spielberg’s visual panache is unmatched, and there is an extended one shot action set piece that validates his decision to do this animated. If W.C. Fields complained about working with children and animals (Tintin has a charming dog named Snowy), Spielberg’s found the best workaround.

And when Spielberg removed guns from E.T. for the special edition, there was a worry that he had gotten a little soft. So when Tintin goes for a gun early on there’s a slight transgressive thrill – and Tintin uses that gun from time to time (that said, never at people). Though it takes a while to get going, once the adventure starts, the film becomes nearly non-stop action as Tintin is kidnapped and sent to the Middle East where the evil Sakharine (Daniel Craig) has both Tintin and Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) held hostage in the hopes of uncovering pirate treasure. Tintin escapes with Haddock and they must figure out the secret of his lineage.

Though the script by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish is solid, the real delight here is watching Spielberg play, and though there were definite sequences in his Jurassic Park films that had Spielberg firing on all cylinders, this movie is more consistently entertaining, and Spielberg’s classic cleverness stamps the film repeatedly. A great sequence tends to make me cackle and there are a number here that are awe inspiring in his staging. Seeing Spielberg – one of the greatest living directors – have this much fun is infectious. The Adventures of Tintin opens December 21 stateside and it’s well worth checking out.

Are you excited for Tintin?

James Bond Producers Reveal Details On Skyfall

Laura Aguirre — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:42:45 +0000

James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, and director Sam Mendes held a press conference in London yesterday morning to unveil the title of the 23rd bond film – Skyfall. Daniel Craig will reprise his role as the handsome and daring James Bond, along with Judi Dench. The new cast was also announced, along with plot details and shooting locations, and budget rumors. Everything you need to know about the latest Bond film, after the jump.

Although Mendes isn’t your typical action movie director, he mentioned that he’s all for the action here. “There will be plenty of surprises,” he said, and also added that “the action needs to be balanced with the drama.”

Javier Bardem officially confirmed what he’d been saying all along. The Spanish actor will be playing the villain, but not much else was said on his character. Also joining Craig and Dench (they will reprise their roles) is Berenice Marlohe, who’ll be playing the “glamorous [and] enigmatic” Severin, a.k.a. the new Bond girl. The cast also includes Naomie Harris, Ben Wishaw, Albert Finney, and Ralph Fiennes, but nothing has been said on their roles.

Skyfall‘s official plot was released via Twitter, mentioning that:

“Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the treat, no matter how personal the cost.”

Producer Michael G. Wilson slashed the rumors that their budget was being cut, “We’re on the same budget as the last film. We haven’t had to change anything in the script. In fact, we keep adding things – everything is going to be just as it was.” Not only that, but Bond will be filming on location all over the world – London, Scotland, Shanghai, and Istanbul.

Skyfall will hit U.K. theaters on October 26, 2012, and then the U.S. on November 9, 2012.

Are you excited about Bond 23?

Additional sources: Deadline, /Film

‘Bond 23′ May Be Called ‘Skyfall’

traviswoods — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:42:09 +0000

Hey, at least it isn’t Quantum of Solace (or Octopussy, The Spy Who Loved Me, or Die Another Day, for that matter), right? Well, it appears that the 23^rd James Bond film may finally have a title, and, in the tradition on vague, one-word titles in the Bond franchise, it could be worse: Skyfall.

While this is by no means confirmed, /Film has it that Sony “has registered URLs such as skyfall-themovie.net, jamesbond-skyfall.com, and others that lend credence to the idea that Skyfall will be used,” and, again, let’s just all thank God it’s not Skyfum of Quantfall or Quantsky of Fallace or whatever the hell. Seriously, that title was just ridiculous.

The Sam Mendes-directed film is set for a November 9, 2012 release, meaning we’ll have a whole year to debate whether or not this is the actual name for the film, and then debate whether or not it’s any good. Honestly, I sometimes wonder why they Sony doesn’t just drop the hip, affected Bond film titles and just put some truth in advertising, and call Bond 23 something like, Daniel Craig Whips The Everliving Hell Out of Some Disfigured And/Or Handicapped Villain and His Various and Nefarious Henchmen While Occasionally Knocking Boots with a Model… Part 23.

What do you think of Skyfall as a title?

Box Office Predictions: Leftovers Triumph over Dream House and 50/50

Damon Houx — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:44:50 +0000

When the most anticipated movie of the weekend wasn’t reviewed for critics as is barely expected to crack ten million, yeah, we’re in the dog days. Dream House – which wasn’t screened for critics – could lead the pack of new films, and The Lion King looks to end its two week run at the top of the charts, which means we may see Dolphin Tale climb to the top slot. Or perhaps Moneyball, or… forget it Jake, it’s September.

The big winner this weekend is going to be a film called Courageous. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s because it wasn’t marketed for anyone but it’s target audience, much like the Kirk Cameron film Fireproof. And it’s from the same creators. Subtly, we’ve seen more and more successful pictures that are pitched to religous audiences – much of Dolphin Tale‘s success and Soul Surfer‘s are due to a campaign that didn’t go for ad placement during sports shows or hit sitcoms. As a business model this is very exciting for the industry, but throughout the last forty years, we’ve sene numerous films do well by targeting an audience that was hungry to go to the movies, but didn’t respond to the big names. From Easy Rider and Superfly to Tyler Perry, there are numbers of films that have worked well by playing to a base. It doesn’t always work, but for a film like Courageous to do over five million is a big win for the film.

Dream House is being dumped by its studio and runs 92 minutes. It’s got names across the board – Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz and Naomi Watts - and was directed by Jim Sheridan, who used to be an Oscar-friendly filmmaker. It runs 92 minutes and is coming out a little early for the Halloween season, which in film terms usually says it all. Still, it’s short enough and with enough famous people to do not terrible business.

I thought 50/50 was a solid piece of work that would have benefited only from an adjustment to a character that was a little too arch for the film, but I think it plays. It’s both funny and touching, but the question is if the people like who like the stars of the film (Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt) will turn out for an emotional roller coaster. I think the studio has been smart in telling audiences the results of the film, but this may be the worst or the best date-night movie ever. Films like this tend to work better when they have Oscar chances or are aimed at women. Perhaps if sports had somehow been involved. It may do the best out of the new releases, but only just.

What’s Your Number is another off season effort. Anna Farris has shown she can carry a Hollywood comedy, and Chris Evans is coming off his biggest solo hit with Captain America, and yet… late September. Off season is sometimes good for a rom-com, but they tend to go with near-Valentine’s day releases for more synergy. Basically, now is the best time for studios to release products they’re unsure of because with less competition, it makes sense to hope that people just want to go to a movie. If a film is set to be counter-programming during the busy months, it will often die that much faster – which is sometimes the goal (studios often hate the films they make). To release a film now suggests that either you’re going for a word of mouth appeal (like 50/50) or you can’t punch your weight.

So let’s top five it:

Dolphin Tale – $14 Million
Moneyball – $13.5 Million
The Lion King – $11.7 Million
50/50 – $10.2 Million
Dream House - $9.5 Million

Nothing’s really charting heavy, so it’s possible either Courageous or What’s Your Number could jump into the top five, and it’s also possible that Dream House dies a quick death even with the talent involved. It’s hard to know if this will hurt Daniel Craig any more than Cowboys and Aliens did. Next week brings Real Steel. That’s going to be fascinating.

Classic James Bond Villain To Appear In ‘Bond 23′?

traviswoods — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:13:45 +0000

Oh boy—fans of the classic-era James Bond films just might have something to draw them to the upcoming (and currently untitled) James Bond 23, the third film in the Daniel Craig iteration of the long-running franchise: classic Bond super villain and arch nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld (you know, the guy that Dr. Evil was partly based upon) might be making an appearance in the Sam Mendes-directed film.

/Film reports (via WhatCulture!) that Bond 23 screenwriter John Logan has dropped a vague hint about Blofeld’s presence in the upcoming film:

Rather interestingly, during the talk last night Logan was reminded by an audience member of a quote that he said some ten years ago that, in his opinion, “Bond should always fight Blofeld”. When pressed on this he gave a wry smile and said “Bond should always fight Blofeld”.

The character, a long running staple of the early Bond films, has been played by Donald Pleasence, Telly Savalas, Charles Gray, and Max von Sydow, with his first appearance in 1963’s From Russia with Love, and his final appearance in 1983’s Never Say Never Again. In the films, Blofeld is an evil genius and is the head of SPECTRE, a global criminal syndicate. And now that Javier Bardem has confirmed that he will play the villain in Bond 23, does that mean he’ll be portraying Blofeld?

What do you make of the Bond 23 news?

Extended The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Trailer

Damon Houx — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:53:14 +0000

David Fincher now believes in viral marketing! The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which will be hitting theaters just in time for Christmas, first had a bootleg trailer that sold Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara in the film with the sort of fast cutting one expects of Fincher. Now they’ve released an extended trailer (not intended for theaters) that sets up the entire film. Check it out.

This lays out the plot of the film fairly cleanly. An old murder, a late stage attempt at solving it, powerful and weird people who might be behind it, and Lisbeth Salander (Mara) – the investigator who is unconventional to say little else. The books were a phenomenon – much like The Da Vinci Code or The Firm – and that usually translates to a big hit. It’s unknown if the holiday season release will help or hurt.

This gives a very clean set up to the film and the relationship between Craig and Mara, with hints at what she’s going through. And with the elaborate mystery revolving around someone’s death, it suggests Fincher is in his wheelhouse. It looks and sounds great (and you can hear composer Trent Reznor in soundtrack), and at this point the question is: is it also an awards picture? We’ll know for sure come 12/21.

Have you read the Millennium trilogy?

ScreenCrave.com » Daniel Craig

New ‘Skyfall’ Image Shows James Bond Packing Some Heat

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The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 8.8/10

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