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New Battleship Trailer offers a Plot

Damon Houx — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:45:50 +0000

2012′s summer is going to be interesting as many of the big films look like they might not work. Men in Black III is going for another round of re-shoots, and there are a lot of other question marks, as well. Now we have the full trailer for Peter Berg‘s Battleship - which on paper looks dicey – but it’s got scale and a story now. Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson, Rhiana, Brooklyn Decker and Alexander Skarsgard star. The film is set to open May 18. Check it out…

The best thing to say about the new trailer is that now we’ve got a story. Kitsch’s character is put in charge, and you don’t have to think of Star Trek to recognize this as a fun but dusty old trope. Model-turned-actress Brooklyn Decker (her name sounds like a slang term for something incredibly filthy) does not appear to have much chops, but from the gadgets of the villains to their full-body Halo suits, this looks about 20% less dumb than it did before.

Okay, it’s a stupid premise, and it’s great that they’re selling the Hasboro connection to Transformers (really?), but it’s got Jesse Plemons, who played Landry on Friday Night Lights, and who remains one of the great TV geek characters. As long as there is escalation and some actual chess-type strategy involved, this Battleship could be good stupid fun. Fingers crossed.

What Board Game should they adapt next?

Full John Carter Trailer

Damon Houx — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:34:43 +0000

Andrew Stanton‘s John Carter has gone through a paradigm shift in its marketing. Earlier it was selling moody shoots that didn’t really tell the story of Taylor Kitsch‘s titular Carter, who is missing from Earth and thought dead. It gave a hint of his role as savior for Martians, with one played by Willem Dafoe. Now, (as they made obvious recently ) it’s an action movie. Check it out…

It’s hard to tell what to think of the movie considering what they’ve shown previously to what they’re showing now. Earlier clips focused on the moody Carter, the reluctant hero who doesn’t want violence, who doesn’t want to get in the middle of things. Now he’s shown as someone who’s cool with a little violence. That seems a better approach, especially if one of the main characters is a cute Martian dog. Brooding works for Batman a little, but few other pulp fiction heroes.

Still, Carter is a big question mark. It’s not fair to call the film troubled, but the film didn’t start out with great marketing, went though at least one round of reshoots, and has a very high budget. This is a risky picture for everyone involved, and if I were working on the picture, I’d be very, very nervous. March is a ways away, and they’ve got until 3/9/2012.

Does a little Led Zepplin get your blood pumping?

John Carter Gets a New Poster and Trailer

Damon Houx — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:00:39 +0000

With John Carter‘s release date fast approaching, Disney is gearing up for the March 9 release of one of their most expensive films of 2012. And so far… they haven’t gotten much traction with their teasers and posters. The film is based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel, and stars Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins. Yeah, they need to sell something to get people hooked. Here’s a teaser from the latest trailer, which finally starts selling the spectacle.

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Of course this is from Good Morning America, which is showing the highlights of the highlights. This is Andrew Stanton‘s first non-animated film. Stanton started out with Pixar, and directed films like Finding Nemo and Wall*E – he’s definitely talented.

With three months to go, they need to get audiences excited about this event picture if they hope to find an audience. There are very few second weekends for pictures that are as good if not better than their first, and this is a very expensive question mark right now. With a couple of good trailers and TV spots, they could get audiences hooked in, and this is Disney. But it’s still a big question mark.

Here’s the newest poster in full:

Are you excited for John Carter?

D23: Live Action Round-Up – The Muppets Wins, John Carter Stumbles and Oz: The Great and Powerful introduces itself!

Damon Houx — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 23:08:03 +0000

Though The Odd Life of Timothy Green and the nature film Chimpanzee had trailers shown (and Jennifer Garner talked briefly about Green), the majority of attention for Disney’s live Actions films at D23 went to The Muppets and John Carter. The Muppets went over like gangbusters, while Carter just busted. There was also a brief presentation on Oz: The Great and Powerful, which just started shooting. Our report follows.

John Carter

John Carter‘s presentation began with director Andrew Stanton fumbling his way through a teleprompter, talking about how he and the writers loved the books when they were younger. Then they brought out stars Taylor Kitsch, Willem Dafoe and Lynn Collins to talk about the film, and though Kitsch spoke passionattely about his enthusiasm for the project, Collins came off as a blank, and Dafoe was relegated to talking about how he did his part (as a motion captured nine foot tall, four-armed martian) on stilts. The first clip showed John Carter (Kitsch) during his first day on Mars, and his first experience with Dafoe’s Tars Tarkas as they try to understand each other. Perhaps the desert settings make it a little colder, but there was no sense of wonder there as a CGI creation and a guy in a desert who can jump really high try to communicate for the first time.

The second clip was probably the best as Carter is captured, put in a semi-prison and then meets a martain dog who wants to play with him. The dog has a large head and mouth and can run real fast. Again, the problem with the footage so far is that everything is a little too familiar. The dog looks like when the Dog in The Mask puts on the Mask.
In the third clip, Carter is with Dejah Thoris (Collins), and she gives him a magical trinket that has the power to transport him back to Earth. The two have a lovers argument as she wants him to stay and fight, and then at the end of the footage Dominic West shows up (and immediately made it seem like The Wire vs. Friday Night Lights) and Carter seems gone. The problem with this clip is that if this is a scene with the hero and the leading lady at ninety minute mark of the film, him leaving is not really dramatic, because he can’t. He’s the hero of the piece (hence the title).
The last clip had Carter and Tarkas in an arena facing off against a giant four armed ape. Yes, everyone in the auditorium started thinking “hey this is like Attack of the Clones” at the same time.
With the third clip having no great context, and the rest looking like familiar empty spectacle, the footage didn’t win over many converts. There was no hint at the pulp origins of the material, nor and it didn’t seem very propulsive – the model would seem to be Raiders of the Lost Ark, but with a dour hero, perhaps they’re going The Dark Knight/”moody” route. There might be a good movie in there, but when Stanton said that the teaser trailer suggested the tone of the film, well watch it and see if that gets you excited.

The Muppets

The Muppets brought out Jason Segel, Kermit and Miss Piggy to talk about the film. Though their antics were kept short (and Piggy arriving to “Born to be Wild” wasn’t a great joke), they showed two scenes from the film, and both were great. The first had Segel, along with a new muppet named Walter, and Amy Adams arriving at Kermit’s place, where Kermit has become a recluse. After running into an electric fence, Kermit takes them in, and in his house we meet Kermit’s stuck-in-the-80′s robot, who is designed a little like Wall*E, but also the robot in Rocky IV as it offers the guests the options of Tab or New Coke.
The second clip shows the Muppets cleaning up the Muppet theater in a musical number staged to Starship’s “We Built This City,” and they couldn’t have found a more winning sequence to highlight. The Swedish Chef, the Muppet band (Animal!) and many other regulars make an appearance as they clean in a montage of funny bits (the chickens dust with their rumps, old food gets blow-torched, etc.) If you love the muppets, it looks liek they got the tone right, irreverent, but childish.

Oz: The Great and Powerful

Oz: The Great and Powerful just started shooting in Detroit, but Sam Raimi gave a personal introduction via video, and a featurette played, with interviews with James Franco, Zach Braff and the film’s witches Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz. AS this is just going, the interviews with vacuous. Everyone followed the standard interview procedures of talking about how great it was, and right at the end there seemed to be a shot from the film – in black and white and 1.33:1 – that is meant to mimic the 1939 Wizard of Oz. The stills shown of the storyboards and conceptual art seemed familiar to the ’39 version, but of a greater (and CGI enhanced) scale. It also reminded a little of Tim Burton‘s Alice in Wonderland. At this stage, it’s hard to know how it will turn out.

What of these films do you most want to see?

Battleship Trailer goes Boom

Damon Houx — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:57:26 +0000

It’s hard to know what to make of Battleship – the movie – even after the trailer. And that’s because it’s hard to call the board game (from which the film is derived) plot driven. It involves calling out numbers, which leads to hits and misses. Here there’s an intergalactic threat, and battleships. No on ei is currently calling out anything resembling numbers, but you know someone’s going to say it, someone’s got to say “you’ve sunk my battleship.” Peter Berg directs Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgard, Taylor Kitsch and Brooklyn Decker, and the teaser’s here now. Check it out…

This looks part Independence Day, but maybe a little Pearl Harborish. Post World War II saw a boom in films about war boats, but partly because location shooting is so temperamental, there haven’t been that many over the last twenty years. You also have submarine movies, but so many of those revolve around claustrophobia.

This must be the set up, but it doesn’t feel like there’s much meat here. There’s a love interest, and some back story (Berg is good with characters, so the first act shouldn’t be too painful, though Brooklyn Decker is still a model first), and then an alien attack. If it follows the board game, it could be a cat and mouse game, but nothing in the trailer suggests as much. So it’s still a weird film. But the footage looks good and the actors are likeable. Maybe once we get a sense that there is a story here, it could be more appealing. Word is that there were groans when the trailer showed at preview screenings of Cowboys and Aliens.

Did this sink your interest in Battleship?

John Carter Gets a Teaser

Damon Houx — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:12:47 +0000

John Carter is a big expensive question mark. It stars Taylor Kitsch - who gave a breakout performance on the TV version of Friday Night Lights - and is directed by Andrew Stanton, who is best known for his work on Pixar animation. The material by Edgar Rice Burroughs has been floating around for a while, and at one point Harry Knowles of Ain’t It Cool News was attached as a producer, and both Kerry Conran and Jon Favreau were on it for a while. But now it’s coming March 9, 2012. Check out the teaser…

There is scale here, though – like Cowboys and Aliens – if gives the sense of a sci-fi western. And the music suggests this isn’t that rock ‘em sock ‘em spectacle that may be expected. Though some of those effects might not be done yet. There’s also the voice of Willem Dafoe, who is going to have to work to not remind that he’s Willem Dafoe.

There’s hope this could be something special, and with Brad Bird also going live action this year, it’s a good year for Pixar alum to be on the big screen. Right now, the material seems undefined, but if this has the sense of adventure and outer space thrills Stanton brought to Wall-E, then it could be something special indeed.

Have you read the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels?

Bourne Legacy Shortlist: Gyllenhaal, Hedlund, Fassbender and More

Krystal Clark — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:55:52 +0000

We’ve known for a while that Universal is planning a prequel/spin-off to their highly successful Jason Bourne franchise, but they’ve yet to find an actor to play the lead. According to several sources, director and screenwriter Tony Gilroy has cast a very wide net on potential candidates for the primary role in The Bourne Legacy. They include everyone from 20 year old Alex Pettyfer to Australian actor Joel Edgerton. Check out the complete shortlist below…

The Bourne Legacy will focus on a new character, which will leave it open for the possibility of Matt Damon returning to the franchise down the line. Legacy doesn’t center on Jason Bourne but a new assassin with a similar background as him.

According to Variety and Deadline, these are the actors who’ve been mentioned as Bourne possibilities.

Alex Pettyfer
Joel Edgerton
Josh Hartnett
Jake Gyllenhaal
Tobey Maguire
Paul Dano
Michael Pitt
Oscar Isaac
Garrett Hedlund
Kellan Lutz
Tobey Maguire
Michael Fassbender
Luke Evans
Taylor Kitsch
Benjamin Walker

This is truly an interesting bunch of actors. At first glance, we’re not sure what type of look they’re going for. Dano doesn’t exactly strike us as an action star but then again, Damon didn’t seem like the best bet for the series and look how he turned out. The trade claims that no one is currently in the lead for the role, but they’re all being looked at.

Who do you think would make the best Bourne?

Photos: Taylor Kitsch on the Set of Battleship – He Cut His Hair!!

Krystal Clark — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:44:40 +0000

Taylor Kitsch has traded in his signature long locks for a short, spiky do on the set of Battleship. It’s Peter Berg’s latest film and it calls for the actor to take a more military approach to his look. Recently, we posted the first photos of his co-star Rihanna on set, and she also toned down her appearance for her role. Check out another photo of Taylor and his new cut below…

Can all the fans of “Friday Night Lights” let out a huge “why?” with me? 1,2,3, WHY?! I loved his hair! The things actors do for certain characters. But it wouldn’t be realistic if he was hanging out with hair down to his shoulders in such a strict environment. If Rihanna has to get rid of her flaming red color, he had to get a trim.

Battleship will is based on the famous board game of the same name and is scheduled to hit theaters May 18, 2012. The story will take place across the seas, over the skies and land in a battle for planet survival against a superior force. Kitsch stars as a naval officer who leads the fight alongside his brother who’s played by Alexander Skarsgard. Speaking of, when can we get a photo of Alex?

What do you think of Kitsch’s new look for Battleship?

Source: Just Jared

Taylor Kitsch Returning to Friday Night Lights for Season 5

Krystal Clark — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:01:45 +0000

I know what you’re thinking but yes, “Friday Night Lights” is still on the air. The small town, football drama is currently running its fourth season on NBC and it has fans wondering about the uncertain future of two if its characters. The major question on everybody’s mind is: Will Taylor Kitsch and Adrianne Palicki return for season 5? Well, you can rest your pretty little heads because according to EW, they’ll be back and with bells on…

Sources confirm that both Tim (Kitsch) and Tyra (Palicki) will be in Dillon during FNL’s fifth and probably final season. “Palicki will guest in next season’s last two episodes, while Kitsch has signed on for the final four.”

The duo will join Zach Gilford who’s also scheduled to return for the final 4 next season and Scott Porter who’ll appear in episode 7. All the Panthers will be together again for the series when it takes its final bow. Over the past year both Kitsch and Palicki have recently made the transition to feature films, which had fans worried about their allegiance to the show.

Kitsch starred in X-Men Origins Wolverine in the coveted role of Gambit and plays the title character in Pixar’s live action, CGI adaptation, John Carter of Mars. Palicki appeared in Scott Stewart’s Legion earlier this year and co-stars in the upcoming remake of Red Dawn alongside Chris Hemsworth.

Season 5 of “Friday Night Lights” is expected to debut next fall on DirectTV.

Are you excited that Kitsch and Palicki will be back for season 5?

Taylor Kitsch Cast in Peter Berg’s Battleship

Krystal Clark — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:29:44 +0000

Sam Worthington should watch his back because Canadian actor Taylor Kitsch is slowly but surely moving in on his action hero turf. Last year he starred in the coveted role of Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, he’s currently shooting the Disney flick John Carter of Mars, and now he’s about to sink your Battleship!

According to THR, Kitsch has been hired as the lead in Peter Berg’s big screen adaptation of the Hasbro board game. He’ll play a Naval commander named Alex Hopper, described as “wildly spirited” and “a great seaman but a lousy politician.” Before he came along plenty of actors were rumored to be attached to this project including The Hurt Locker’s Jeremy Renner and at one point Robert Pattinson. Neither of them made a solid commitment so the part’s going to the guy who plays Tim Riggins on NBC’s “Friday Night Lights.” You know the super-senior who’s 20 years old and in the 12th grade? Our lives are now in his hands.

The screenplay for Battleship was written by Jon and Erich Hoeber and “sees an international fleet come together to battle a water-bound armada of otherworldly origin.” That means they’re going to be fighting aliens at some point, a new plot device that a lot of fans don’t want. Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do about it so just sit back and pray that Berg’s final product is somewhat watchable.

It looks like the next few years will be all about Kitsch, the guy who got his start with bit parts in John Tucker Must Die and Snakes on a Plane (yeah, I remember you in that, ‘Surfer Guy number 1′) with these two headlining projects. Let the insanity begin!

What do you think of Taylor Kitsch landing the lead in Battleship? Who else should they have considered?

Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins Reunite for John Carter

Krystal Clark — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:15:35 +0000

I can honestly say I didn’t see this coming. For a while now we’ve been reporting on the film adaptation of the sci-fi book series John Carter of Mars. Wall-E director Andrew Stanton will helm the feature for Disney, based on the stories written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The two lead characters, John and Dejah have been cast and they’re none other than Wolverine alum’s Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins!

This will be a reunion of sorts for the two actors who starred in the first installment of the X-Men Origins series last month. Even though their characters in Wolverine didn’t have much to do with each another, it will be the exact opposite with John Carter of Mars. Carter is “a civil war veteran who finds himself mysteriously transported to Mars, where his involvement with warring races of the dying planet force him to rediscover his humanity.” Dejah Thoris (Collins) is the heir to the throne of Mars’ Helium kingdom, and Mars’ love interest.

The casting of these two was just confirmed earlier today by THR, and it’s spread like wild fire through the sci-fi online community. For some odd reason Kitsch keeps managing to steal high profile roles out from under other actors. This time he beat out everyone from Jon Hamm to Josh Duhamel for this role. I don’t watch Friday Night Lights, but I did (unfortunately) see Wolverine. I think he’s a work in progress. Directors may see that he can grow with his roles, and are willing to work with that. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t hurt that he’s good looking either, this is Hollywood.

What do you think of X-Men alum’s Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins reteaming for John Carter of Mars?

8 X-Men Origins: Wolverine Photos

Krystal Clark — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:45:14 +0000

Now that April is right around the corner, the marketing efforts for X-Men Origins: Wolverine is getting really heavy. The film opens on May 1, and has Hugh Jackman reprising the role he originated in the initial X-Men trilogy. I’ve found a new batch of photos that feature Wolverine, Sabretooth, Deadpool, Gambit, and Stryker in what looks like production stills from the film. Out of the eight that are featured I only see two that haven’t been shown in previous trailers or promos. One of them include the above image that has Logan/Wolverine standing in a boxing ring at a gym. You can check out the rest of the pics after the jump.

What do you think? How would you rate these as compared to the previous photos?

Images courtesy of XMenFilms.net

ScreenCrave.com » taylor Kitsch

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