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Disney Officially Announces ‘The Avengers 2′ (Of Course)

Bronwen Winter Phoenix — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:32:31 +0000

After The Avengers hit us with a massive $207 million opening weekend (grossing a worldwide $700 million), it should be no surprise that Disney/Marvel has officially announced the obvious; a sequel is on the way. Of course, we already knew a sequel would be on the way (Marvel rarely stops at just one, and its stars are all signed to multi-film contracts); this is simply the assurance of what we all knew would be happening.

According to Deadline, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced in an earnings call that “the company is developing a sequel.” Iger has apparently already gushed that the movie’s success is “a great illustration of why we like Marvel so much.” And that’s not all – there are more sequels on the way, with Iron Man 3, Captain America 2 and Thor 2 already announced – with maybe even an Ant-Man film in store (we’ll have to wait and see about that).

The Avengers raked in $18.7 million in midnight screenings alone from approximately 2,500 theaters which played the film in both 2D and digital 3D, as well as the 273 IMAX 3D theaters.

Marvel fans everywhere flocked to cinemas to see the story that finds Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) of S.H.I.E.L.D forming a super team of heroes called “The Avengers,” who try to save the Earth from Loki and his alien army. Fury and his team battle to save the Earth from disaster, and with a story like that, how could it possibly miss? Well, as you know, it didn’t.

The Avengers stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Paul Bettany, and was directed by Joss Whedon. No word yet on who will be returning and who won’t (you can bet Downey, Evans, Ruffalo and Hemsworth will be there); Whedon currently has an option to direct, but there’s been no official word yet on that front.

Are you already looking forward to The Avengers 2?

Source: FirstShowing

Interview: ‘The Avengers’ Cast Talks Pressure, Power and Expectations

Krystal Clark — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:00:24 +0000

After four years, five films, and countless castings, The Avengers have finally assembled. In less than 24 hours, anxious fans will see Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye fight side-by-side on the big screen. The Avengers Hollywood premiere took place last month, and immediately after, the cast participated in a press conference where they dished on their characters and each other.

Check out some highlights below…

It all began in 2007, when Robert Downey, Jr. was cast as genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist Tony Stark in Iron Man. The film planted a seed that would grow and spread into the next Marvel films, leading to this cinematic event.

Robert Downey Jr.: Going back to 2007 when I was cast in Iron Man and Kevin Feige over there said, you know, this is all going to lead to where we’re going to have all of these franchises come together. And, we’re gonna do something unprecedented in entertainment. We’re gonna make this Avengers movie. And I just remember, I would get nervous about it and excited about it and doubtful of it.

Initially, director Joss Whedon shared Downey’s nervousness. He knew The Avengers would be a huge undertaking, and wanted audiences to be satisfied with the finished product.

Joss Whedon: I think the exciting thing kind of speaks for itself. That bunch of characters,that bunch of actors playing them,that much money. It was kind of a no brainer. The hardest part is and always will be structure. How do you put that together? How do you make everybody shine? How do you let the audience’s identification drift from person to person without making them feel like they’re not involved. It’s a very complex structure. It’s not necessarily particularly ornate or original, but it had to be right. It had to be earned from moment-to-moment, and that’s exhausting. That was still going on in the editing room after we’d shot.

No one knows about trying to identify more than Mark Ruffalo. The actor had the tough task of replacing Edward Norton, who played Bruce Banner in 2008′s The Incredible Hulk. After being cast, Ruffalo quickly learned how harsh and critical the fanboy community can be.

Mark Ruffalo: It was terrifying. I knew what my responsibility was — or I felt it just by making the mistake of going online and reading some of the fanboy responses to the announcement that I was playing the next version of Bruce Banner. That was a mistake. I will never do that again. I’ve never had a role be more scrutinized and criticized even before I shot a single frame. Coming onto the set with all of these guys was pretty daunting. I knew that I had big shoes to fill, so to speak.

Ruffalo wasn’t alone in feeling out of his element. Chris Evans, who plays Captain America, also had to switch it up. The majority of the film’s jokes are handed off to his counterparts, while he delivers earnest dialogue. As someone who’s spent the majority of his career playing smartasses (like Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four), Cap was a welcomed change.

Chris Evans: That’s his role. It’s necessary, and that’s kind of why I like it ’cause I am used to kind of leaning on cracking jokes and being a wise ass. It’s nice to kind of play it straight a little bit. You know, that’s — I think even in this film more than the first Captain America, he, Steve Rogers has some issues, some conflict, some trouble given the fact that he is, a man out of his time. But given who he is as a man, his nature, he puts that second. He puts the mission first, and he’s just selfless.

Chris Hemsworth‘s Thor couldn’t be more different from Captain America. In his first film, he was forced to eat a huge slice of humble pie because of his arrogance. And even though he’s learned the error of his ways, Hemsworth believes Thor’s stubbornness is one of his best qualities.

Chris Hemsworth: I like the sort of visceral, gut instinct that Thor has. I always thought the childlike quality in the sense that if he believes something or, he wants to do something, he does it and says it. You know how kids own their environment and there’s no opinions that they really care about. I think Thor is — it’s there. It’s surrounded by bravado and strength and all that, but end of the day he’s pretty true to who he is and what he wants to do.

Thor will have plenty of time to show off his strength and bravado when he (once again) goes head-to-head with his brother Loki. As the film’s villain, Tom Hiddleston has the honor of battling not one but six of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. It’s a fact the actor has a hard time wrapping his head around.

Tom Hiddleston: It’s such a great character. It’s like playing an iconic Shakespearean character or something. It’s just a privilege to be asked to do it. With a character like Loki, he’s got such a level of complexity and so many layers to him. When I read it, I couldn’t believe my luck. The film was called The Avengers and yet Loki was almost on every page. I just was so excited about it, so I was, there was no trace of fear, just a huge amount of fun.

Two-time Oscar-nominee Jeremy Renner had an interesting way of preparing for his role as Hawkeye. As the team’s master archer, he does things with a bow and arrow Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) and Legolos (Lord of the Rings) could only dream of.

Jeremy Renner: I stretched a lot, and I prepared by stretching. I did take some archery, but I realized very quickly that I couldn’t really use it in the film. It ended up being superhero type archery. It is nice to know the technique behind it but then, you know, shooting behind my back and over my shoulder and using fake arrows and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I gave it a go and shot a few bales of hay and missed a few. And yeah, you get injured, banged around every day when it’s hand-to-hand stuff.

Cobie Smulders, who’s best known for starring on CBS’ How I Met Your Mother, opened up about making the transition from TV to film.

Cobie Smulders: I made it a point to do a lot of training to prepare myself for this role with weapons and to get myself mainly comfortable using them. That was the thing that I tried to do the most. In terms of schedule, it’s very different. I’m very blessed at my job at How I Met Your Mother. We have a very nice schedule,and this too was,very good. But we had a lot of stunts to do and a lot of fun things to explode, so it’s very different.

As the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and foreman of The Avengers, Samuel L. Jackson revealed what he really loves about his character. And why Fury is dead-set on making this team work.

Samuel L. Jackson: I just like the fact that Nick Fury believes that these unique individuals deserve the love and admiration of the world. We pretty much owe everything to [The Avengers] because there are things out there greater than us.

The Avengers opens nationwide May 4.

The Avengers: Movie Review

Damon Houx — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:00:13 +0000

The Avengers is here, and it’s the film Marvel has been planting the seeds for since Iron Man hits screens in 2008. In that time we’ve had films featuring Hulk, Thor, and Captain America to help get audiences in the mood and in the know about these characters. And knowing the characters is important for Joss Whedon’s film, because character development and – for the most part – motivation is kept to a minimum. You’ve got an all–star cast facing evil, and it all builds to a blockbuster conclusion. But too bad it’s such a rocky ride to get there.

The Players:

Written and Directed By: Joss Whedon
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Tom Hiddleston, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlet Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Colbie Smulders, Clark Gregg
Music By: Alan Silvestri
Cinematography by Seamus McGarvey

The Plot:

Loki (Hiddleston) is sent back to earth to find the Tesseract (which will open a portal for invasion), and has the power to turn humans into slaves. He invades SHIELD headquarters, and that sends Nick Fury (Jackson) Agent Coulson (Gregg) and Black Widow (Johansson) to gather Captain America (Evans) Iron Man (Downey Jr.) and the Hulk (Ruffalo) to help stop Loki. Eventually – along with Hawkeye (Renner) – they become a team to fight the alien invasion (the Chitauri).

The Good:

That Third Act: New York is in the crosshairs, as The Avengers must stop an oncoming horde of aliens from taking over the planet. This is what you paid to see and it delivers some great moments of the Avengers fighting bad guys and doing cool stuff. The Hulk is a stand out here.
The Cast: It’s hard to be as excited about some of the returning actors who are doing their well-defined characters, but this is a muderer’s row of talent, and it’s the people who get something new to do who shine. Johansson gives as good as she gets, and has some of the best moments in the film, while Mark Ruffalo as Banner and as Hulk steals the movie.
Quips: It’s Joss Whedon, and they’re mostly funny.

The Bad:

Marvel: This is the big film they’ve been building to for years, and they decided with this one that they were going to shoot it flat (1.85:1) – instead of scope (2.35:1) as they have every film they’ve been behind previous. Not only does that break continuity, but it robs the film of an epic feel. It makes the movie that much smaller. On top of which it’s just a very small feeling film. Not intimate, but none of the early set pieces feel epic. Everything comes across as if it was done on a budget until New York – and even then that’s kept contained.
Nothing to Do: Loki shows up and then gets arrested in a sequence that lays out what little is going on under the surface of this movie (good versus evil, maybe a little anti-fascism) and spends the middle section of the movie waiting for things to happen. Captain America is here because he’s a soldier, and does nothing in the film all that memorable, while Tony Stark also seems to be here because they asked him (and because he’s a little curious about SHIELD himself), same with Bruce Banner. Black Widow and Hawkeye are company men, and Thor joins the group just because – and this was Nick Fury’s big plan? To have people like Thor just show up? No one is acting like they’re trying to stop the end of the world, and the moments where these iconic figures of comic book world finally meet for the first time and then decide to work together seems as powerful and iconic as a coffee date. There was a lot of wrangling that went in to getting this film made, but it seems the film doesn’t find its iconic footing until the last section, when it realizes you want to see the team together. When Banner shows up in New York to fight along side his compatriots, there’s a sense that he’s showing up more because the plot demands it than him feeling like it’s the right thing to do.
It’s a Godzilla Movie: This has been a complaint of mine for a long time with super hero movies, and – to be fair – this is more Destroy All Monsters than Godzilla Vs. The Smog Monster, but it never really functions as a team movie because at no point during the course of anything that happens during the first two thirds of the film do they work together as a team. Seriously. And when they do, they rarely work as a group so much as co-ordinate their assaults. But it’s not about using skill sets so much as random butt-kicking. The set pieces don’t build in the early sections of the film, so much as get things into place for the final act. Which delivers, but still. When they do work together – like Hawkeye and Iron Man – it’s where the movie really soars.

Overall:

If you are just happy to see these characters together, you will love this film, and the idea of this film feels unimaginable. Unfortunately, the imagination that went in to bringing the characters together and what they do once they are together is severely limited by budget and creativity. Once again, it’s an origin story with familiar characters where it feels like it’s all building to an awesome conclusion. But since there’s no real main character or thematic heft or even interesting motivation to latch on to, it’s empty spectacle.

Rating: 6.5/10

The Avengers opens May 4.

Photos:

Trailer:

Is ‘Iron Man’ Wearing Out His Welcome?

Joseph Doherty — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Since exploding onto the screen in 2008, Marvel’s Iron Man has imbedded himself into the pop culture. In addition to headlining two Hollywood blockbusters, the character made a scene stealing cameo appearance in 2008′s The Incredible Hulk and will be featured prominently in The Avengers, which hits theaters Friday. But with Iron Man 3 well in the works, it begs the question – “Is the character wearing out his welcome?”

Looking back at the first Iron Man, it’s a minor miracle that the character became so big – it seemed poised to fail. Iron Man was a second tier superhero that lacked the mythic nature and pathos of a Superman, Batman, or Spider-Man. And Robert Downey Jr. – while being an enormously talented actor – never had to shoulder this sort of big-budget motion picture before, and a lot was riding on his metal outfit.

Behind the camera, you had Jon Favreau, who was known to bring an independent sensibility – including lots of improvisation – to any project he worked on. Arming him with a $140 million budget was a gamble for studio bosses. In the end, Favreau and Downey had the last laugh, crafting a well-rounded and occasionally riveting film. Iron Man had arrived and fans rejoiced.

But this has proven to be a blessing and a curse for both the character and star. Landing the role of Tony Stark gave Robert Downey Jr. a huge outlet to showcase his talents. and his Stark is one of the most debonair superheroes to ever grace the screen. Downey rocketed to the top of the A-list, becoming one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood. However, his performance as Tony Stark is so iconic that Downey has become imprisoned by it. With the exception of Tropic Thunder (which was filmed before Iron Man was released), Downey has played a series of characters much in the same vein as Stark – his Sherlock Holmes is Stark with a British accent Though he can sell a one-liner with the best of them, Downey is capable of so much more.

As for Iron Man, Marvel has certainly done their job in saturating the market with toys, video games, and film appearances of the character in recent years. While Downey’s cameo in The Incredible Hulk provided a much needed jolt to an otherwise tame motion picture, cracks in the franchise began to show with the release of Iron Man 2. Though it had all the effects and action money could buy, the memorable characters got lost in the mix, including Tony Stark. Iron Man did a wonderful job of laying the groundwork for Stark as a three dimensional character and the sequel failed to build on that. It failed, period.

It looks as though the character’s appearance in the upcoming Avengers film will offer more of the same. Sure, Downey will deliver his characteristic rock-solid performance and The Avengers should go on to become one of the highest grossing films of the year, but is it a sin to ask for a little more substance? There is no question that Iron Man is still at his zenith commercially., but there could be a backlash if the films don’t become more artistically ambitious.

In December 2010, it was announced that Jon Favreau passed on directing Iron Man 3 and writer/director Shane Black would be stepping in. Having only helmed the action-comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (though famous for his scripts for Lethal Weapon and The Last Boy Scout) it is hard to get a read on where Black will take the franchise. Last week at CinemaCon, he dropped a few subtle hints saying the film will be a thriller and incorporate elements of war and terrorism. More intriguing was that Black said the Tony Stark character will be seriously tested by these elements. Hopefully, Shane Black remains true to his word and gets back to the kind of deep-rooted character development featured in the first Iron Man. The last thing we want is Iron Man becoming the next Pirates of the Caribbean, another once-innovative franchise that was drowned in a sea of greed and repetition.

Do you think ‘Iron Man’ is wearing out his welcome?

Robert Downey Jr To Be Replaced As Iron Man?

Travis Woods — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:35:30 +0000

Let’s face it—one of the primary reasons for Marvel Studios recent box office dominion (Iron Man 1 and 2, Thor, Captain America, and however many millions upon millions that The Avengers will make) is Robert Downey Jr. The charismatic actor’s winning performance in the first Iron Man is what made the film such a success, and what laid the foundation for tent-pole franchise that is now flowering with The Avengers. As such, it’s something of a surprise to hear that Marvel’s Kevin Feige is ready to replace Downey if need be once filming wraps on Iron Man 3 later this year.

As of now, it is assumed that Downey’s contract with Marvel locks the actor into the three Iron Man films, as well as The Avengers (though it’s rumored that he has agreed on appearing in Avengers 2). However, mum’s the word as to whether or not Downey would appear in Iron Man 4 or The Avengers 3, films which are already under discussion at Marvel.

Further, in a recent interview with Badass Digest, Marvel Studios’ president Kevin Feige, the studio head revealed that he’s already given thought on how to replace Downey should the actor decide to hang up his armor after Iron Man 3:

“I think Bond is a good example. Let’s put it this way: I hope Downey makes a lot of movies for us as Stark. If and when he doesn’t, and I’m still here making these movies, we don’t take him to Afghanistan and have him wounded again. I think we James Bond it.”

While his plan is understandable, it seems highly unlikely that audiences would welcome a new actor in the role of Tony Stark in Iron Man 4 or Avengers 3, especially when Downey Jr is so indelibly wedded to the character. That said, audiences probably thought they’d never embrace a Bond as strongly as Sean Connery, and now Daniel Craig is widely accepted (though we had to go through George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan to get here).

What do you think—should Downey stick with the role as long as there are Iron Man films to be made?

Latest ‘Avengers’ Clip Has Robert Downey Jr. Talking Up the Team

Damon Houx — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:32:22 +0000

With its May 4 release date fast approaching, it seems like we’re going to get a new clip or ad from The Avengers every day until the film comes out. The latest has Robert Downey Jr. squaring up against Tom Hiddleston’s Loki as he summarizes what his team of players can do to protect or possibly avenge the Earth.

What’s interesting about this clip is that it takes a scene that has been used for a number of the film’s ads and gives it context. This is not the super flippant Tony Stark (he’s only moderately flippant), but in context it seems that it’s a completely different conversation. Stark is trying to buy some time, and looks to be slightly outgunned. It also sets up what looks to be the crux of the narrative:

What’s new-ish here is that The Avengers is a team that is going to get together to face Loki and lose poorly – at least to start with. Which means this clip also reveals some of the structure of the movie, how it’s going to build to its third act. It also suggests that much of the advertising – with the team fighting in the middle of downtown New York – is from the big third act climax as Loki mentions that he’s waiting for his army to show up.

The trailers have also shown a big forest brawl, perhaps that’s part of the first (losing) encounter, but it could also suggests that at least one of the film’s big action set pieces hasn’t been put into the trailer footage. The film’s first press screening is tonight, and it’s likely if word is good, reviews (either full-length or from Twitter) will be hitting shortly.

Are you excited or over-hyped for The Avengers?

Get Ready for ‘The Avengers’ With a New Featurette

Damon Houx — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:22:14 +0000

Though The Hunger Games may have set the event film bar higher with its record-breaking $155 Million opening, the summer movie season is only a few weeks away and it’s going to kick off with The Avengers – which is looking to be a monster of a release. It’s not a sequel, per se, but it does bring together Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man with Mark Ruffalo‘s Hulk, Jeremy Renner‘s Hawkeye, Chris Hemsworth‘s Thor, Chris Evans‘s Captain America, and Scarlet Johansson‘s Black Widow. To get you more stoked, there’s a new featurette on the film, check it out…

This fluff piece is heavy on the previous films, and I find it funny that they talk up The Incredible Hulk, but can’t show Edward Norton‘s face as Bruce Banner, but then also don’t really show Mark Ruffalo either. Such is the actor switch-up game.

You mostly have writer/director Joss Whedon and producer Kevin Feige talking here, buffered with clips from the returning cast (Downey Jr., Evans and Hemsworth). But with many of those interview clips, it’s hard to tell if they were done for this movie or are leftover snippets from the previous films. Mostly it seems that this is trying to get people caught up with the last couple movies in the series, as it does end with an ad for those previous efforts. No surprise: This also leaves out Ang Lee‘s Hulk.

What’s interesting about this film is that – as we’ve said before – the only real movie star of the film’s superhero leads is Iron Man. Though the other comic films have done okay, Iron Man and its sequel are the only ones that have done $300 Million dollars or more at the domestic box office. The Avengers has the first week of the summer season, and there’s no Fast Five spoiler this year, so the picture will open, and open big. But if it ends up doing numbers closer to what Captain America or Thor did, it will definitely be a disappointment. The Avengers opens in a little more than a month from now, so we should start getting reviews shortly. That said, early word has been very positive.

Would you buy your Avengers tickets now?

New ‘Avengers’ Trailer Features More Action, More Villains And More Hulk

Travis Woods — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:17:00 +0000

After dropping an official poster on us on Tuesday, today Marvel has unloaded their newest The Avengers trailer, chock full of Robert Downey Jr-isms, dramatic music, more Hulk, more villains, and thankfully, very little of Cap America’s silly, decidedly un-cinematic uniform. Check out the full trailer below!

The newest trailer seems to be far more focused on the conflict between Avengers, featuring as it does a three-way battle between Iron Man, the Captain, and Thor, as well as what appears to be some friction between the Hulk and Black Widow, and Black Widow and Hawkeye. Also, we see a bit more of the film’s villainy, which includes Loki, as well as some kind of steampunk flying caterpillar thing at the very end. And yes, “steampunk flying caterpillar thing” is my official name for that object until further notice.

So, what did you think? The trailer features far more action than the last one, as well as the inclusion of the “we’ll have to overcome our differences and learn to work as one to beat this thing” theme that was always a hallmark of the Avengers comics. It still looks like it could slip off into Fantastic Four schlock, but for now, we’re cautiously optimistic about The Avengers.

Will you assemble for the film on May 4^th?

Source: /Film

New Photos of The Avengers Looking At Things

Damon Houx — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:22:28 +0000

Marvel wants to get you excited about their upcoming film The Avengers. Really excited, as much of the future of their cinematic empire rests on its success, and so prepare to be inundated with ads and trailers and such until it hits theaters on May 4. Until then, Marvel.com has issued five new pictures that show stars Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, and Scarlet Johansson looking at things. But, you know, looking intently. Take a look…

As you can see from this gallery, much of the movie involves looking at things. Some of those things include files and paperwork, while others include cast members. They talk, they stare at the camera, and perhaps perform unnecessary surgeries on unsuspecting patients. This was always a concern when Joss Whedon was hired, as he’s known for his gab-fests and elective surgery bent.

In case you forgot, the film is in 3-D. It’s interesting to note that this is rarely a selling point any more, and sometimes you have to study a poster to know for sure if what you’re seeing is going to be offered in more dimensions than two. Such should make the film’s intense “looking at things” moments all that more realistic and engaging.

If you see The Avengers, will opt for 2-D or 3-D?

Latest Avengers Pictures and Superhero Cameo Rumors

Damon Houx — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:12:50 +0000

With less than four months to go until the launch of the The Avengers, we’re getting all sorts of stories, pictures and rumors about the film, which has a May 4 release date. Of late, Empire Magazine has had four character-specific covers, there’s hints at what the film’s Hulk might look like, and a completely baseless rumor about a possible Marvel franchise cross-over. Take a look….

Empire has four covers for the movie with Robert Downey Jr., Scarlet Johansson, Chris Evans, and Chris Hemsworth, and you can view those on their site, or right here:

Empire also has a sculpture for the upcoming Hulk Toy, and here’s some artwork from the likely film-approved comic-book tie-in.

But the most iffy news to come out is that Jenny Agutter (best known for her work in such films as Walkabout and An American Werewolf in London) was interviewed by The Radios Times, and talked about her role in the film where she mentioned how much secrecy was involved in making the movie. Though Agutter is not directly quoted, she supposedly shared Winnebagos with Iron Man and – more interestingly Spider-Man. Spider-Man is currently owned cinematically by Sony, and though it’s possible that the companies could work out some sort of cross-over for promotion, it seems more likely that the journalist or Miss Agutter are not all that comic-book savvy and thought the web-slinger was in the film. But what is the internet for if not baseless speculation?

What is the internet for if not baseless specualtion?

Robert Downey Jr. To Star In Tim Burton’s ‘Pinocchio’ Adaptation?

Travis Woods — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:07:37 +0000

Tim Burton certainly is on a remake/adaptation tear lately—the Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands director knocked out a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory adaptation in 2005, a Sweeny Todd adaptation in 2007, and an Alice in Wonderland remake in 2010, as well as currently filming a Dark Shadows update with Johnny Depp, and is set to helm an adaptation of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, along with a remake of his very own Frankenweenie. And now, news has broke that Burton has his eye on a live-action version of Pinocchio starring Robert Downey Jr.

But no, don’t worry, he doesn’t want Downey Jr. quirking it up as a living wooden dummy boy—he wants the Iron Man star to play the woodcarver Geppetto, who acts as a father figure to the living puppet. Now, keep in mind that “neither Burton nor Downey has a deal with Warners, but sources say Burton is keen to direct the film and has begun talks with the studio, so it’s just a question of whether Pinocchio will be his next movie.” That said, Downey has apparently expressed interest in working with Burton.

It seems to all be down to a matter of timing. Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller has already written the script, but Burton’s heavy schedule may keep the film from happening any time soon—which may kill the project, as both Guillermo Del Toro and Shawn Levy are already making their own respective Pinocchio films. Stay tuned, we’ll keep you updated!

What do you think of the Burton news?

Source: /Film

Sherlock Holmes: A Games of Shadows — Movie Review

Laura Aguirre — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:04:37 +0000

Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the legendary fast-talking intellectual sleuth Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie‘s sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Jude Law also returns as Holmes’s faithful best friend and sidekick Dr. Watson. This time, the two travel to exotic places like Paris and Switzerland with the sole purpose of taking down the villainous Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), an influential scholar and close friend to the British prime minister. Joining them in their journey is Noomi Rapace, the Swedish actress who became an international success thanks to her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; comedian Stephen Fry plays Holmes’s snobby older brother. Let’s see if this blockbuster is worth your jolly golly time this Holiday season.

The Players:

Director: Guy Ritchie
Writer: Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney, and Arthur Conan Doyle
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, and Noomi Rapace
Cinematography: Philippe Rousselot

The Plot:

Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson take on a new criminal mastermind, Professor Moriarty. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes concludes that the prince has been the victim of a murder designed to look like a suicide by Professor Moriarty. Holmes and the Doctor set out to expose Professor Moriarty for what he really is, but he proves to be a fierce adversary.

The Good:

Robert Downey Jr. Is A Star: The true star of this movie is RDJ. With his charm and wit, RDJ’s Holmes keeps this movie alive. Whether he’s dressed in drag or covered in dirt, he is always entertaining to watch.
The Sleuth And His Sidekick: RDJ and Jude Law have mastered their brother-like relationship on the screen. They know each other better than they know themselves. In this sequel, Holmes is sad – though he denies it – to see his best friend and partner in crime-solving get hitched. Unfortunately, because of the lack of story (see below), that’s all we see. The film doesn’t explore how things will be now that Dr. Watson is married. Sometimes the two talk about their future, but these conversations are overshadowed by plot and action. Still, the chemistry is there. RDJ may be the star, but behind every great detective, there’s a great sidekick. Jude Law brings out the best in RDJ.
Noomi Rapace: Sherlock Holmes is Rapace’s first American movie. It’s endearing watching her play with two Hollywood big shots. Despite being a relatively newcomer, Rapace never allows herself to be overshadowed by RDJ or Jude Law. In part, this is thanks to Ritchie who didn’t cast Rapace as a replacement for Rachel McAdams, instead she plays a badass gypsy who needs no looking after. Here, she’s doing the saving.
Professor Moriarty: Although Jared Harris isn’t as charming as our hero, he’s the perfect match – intelligent, arrogant and, he’s even got an evil grin.

The So-So:

Clever Cinematography: Throughout the movie, there’s this recurring sequence where Holmes calculates the outcome of a certain fight seconds before it happens. While this is a unique way to play out a fighting scene, it could be a bit distracting and insulting. The big problem with this clever cinematography is that it’s not just showing us what is going to happen, but Holmes is describing his every move. Filmmaking 101: Show, don’t tell. Yes, the slow motion, attention to detail and loud sound effects look and sound amazing, but by the end, Ritchie’s method is exhausted. He’s spoon-feeding his audience and that’s insulting. He doesn’t allow his audience the chance to figure anything out.

The Bad:

They Forgot About The Story: Despite the great performances in the movie, it’s sad to say that each character, with the exception of Holmes, is mostly used to move the plot forward. At a glance, Sherlock Holmes has some great topics both political and personal, but none of these are ever explored. It’s always about solving the murder and getting rid of the bad guy.

Overall:

Sherlock Holmes is a movie for the masses – there’s exotic locations, tons of action and a charming and witty hero. Though some of us may want more story than plot, let’s face it, 70% of the box office revenue will come from overseas audiences where plot is king. Does Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows entertain? You bet it does.

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Sherlock Holmes: A Games of Shadows — Movie Review

The Players:

The Plot:

The Good:

The So-So:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 6.5/10

Photo Gallery:

Trailer:

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