Predators: Edwin - He may prove to be the deadliest of them all.

Cool! Looks like Fox have really have really thought about the marketing for Predators. Rather than inundating us with plot revealing media- they are focusing on developing the characters and bigger world of Predators.


I was curious a little while back when Robert Rodriguez held is an online chat for fans. What would he discuss? Would he throw everything on the table and see what we picked at the most? I was in 2 minds about taking part as by the end of the chat there was a chance I would know too much about Predators and lose interest in the film as well as pull the carpet out from any possible surprises the film might have. But this was not the case at all. Rodriguez had lots to talk about without giving away any "secrets".

Today on the http://www.predators-movie.com site Rodriguez has dropped a little clip discussing Topher Grace's character "Edwin". For your viewing pleasure the clip is embedded below.

I noticed that this was in addition to the Adrien Brody "Royce" character clip from a while back and you can expect 2 more clips later this month.

Edwin

This is shaping up to be very interesting and I'm getting excited about Predators. What do you you think?

New Iron Man 2 website & pics

The Iron Man 2 website has officialy being launched over at http://ironmanmovie.marvel.com/ . It has a pretty nifty interface and you can listen to the Iron Man 2 Soundtrack, view some awesome new pics in the gallery, has character, cast & story breakdowns, watch the trailer & teaser, download screensavers, Wallpapers, Icons (all including Nick Fury) and sign up for updates.

http://ironmanmovie.marvel.com/

Bond 23 catchup

With the Internet typically alive with rumours in the build up to a Bond film we thought that we would take a look at some of them.



Plot
The current rumour is that the plot may be based around the Heroin trade and Afghanistan may feature. Bear in mind that this may only be a small part of the story or just the opening sequence to Bond 23.

These rumours have been kicking around fans sites fuelled by The Guardian who reported that "Speculation has arisen that at least some of the next Bond movie will take place in Helmand province in Afghanistan after a member of the Foreign Office's drug task force in the country reportedly signed on as a consultant for the franchise. " However the Guardian also says that the source of this piece of information is a fan website.

More than likely this rumour has come about as the Heroin trade was central to the plot of Devil May Care the Sebastian Faulks's novel written to commemorate Ian Fleming's centenary and chronologically picks up straight after Ian Fleming's James Bond run ended at the height of the Cold War. In it the brutal death of an Algerian drug runner on the desolate outskirts of Paris sparks the adventure that follows. Bond is tasked with shadowing the mysterious Dr. Julius Gorner, a power-crazed pharmaceutical magnate. The evil genius is out to destroy Britain by flooding England with heroin as well as more nefarious plans.

After finding a willing accomplice in the shape of a glamorous Parisian named Scarlett Papava, Bond rushes to stop a chain of events that threaten to lead to global catastrophe.

That added with the fact that in Risico one of the 5 short stories along with Quantum of Solace to be found in Ian Fleming's 1960 For Your Eyes Only compilation. Bond tackles double crossing criminal masterminds that aim to demoralize England by supplying it with cheap drugs. Make it easy for Bond aficionados to see the possibility.

All that we currently know for sure is that Peter Morgan a Bond 23 writer has said that Bond 23 will have "a shocking story."

Title
Both of Daniel Craig's Bond films have used Ian Fleming titles. So it follows that one of Ian Fleming's remaing 4 unused titles; The Hildebrand Rarity, Risico, The Property Of A Lady and 007 in New York. May be title of Bond 23. However I guess we can rule out 007 in New York.

Casting

We know that both Daniel Craig and Dame Judi Dench will be back. Jesper Christensen (Mr. White) will not be back. As for the Bond girls, by now you know that Olivia Wilde has denied any involvement in Bond 23 -

“Despite the rumors, I have no plans to do Bond, but the Internet may be confused as I am doing Cowboys & Aliens with Daniel Craig. fun!”
- 7:32 PM Mar 22nd from @Oliviawilde

And on the same day Frieda Pinto's spokesperson issued the following statement:

“I would like to confirm that as of today, Freida Pinto has not been approached to be part of the next Bond film. It is of course very flattering to even be rumoured to be part of a Bond film but she has certainly not been approached for the role of the next Bond girl opposite Daniel Craig”

Adding "as yet" at the end.

Dates
My understanding is that the current financial difficulties that MGM (who hold the film rights to James Bond) have been holding back Bond 23 production. Close to bankruptcy they have been hoping for a buy out but as yet have not been offered anywhere near there target off £1.3 billion.

However in the clip below, taken last year Daniel Craig mentions at 1:01 that the next Bond should start production "at the end of next year (2010)" So as far as we know all is still going to plan.

If you are a Bond fan there is only one place to be this April 24 & 25t, Fan Fest! The Ultimate Spy and Sci-Fi Event. Last night I was fortunate to visit the London Film Museum for a private viewing of portraits of Sir Michael Caine In Film by Paul Karslake. To celebrate the launch of Harry Brown on DVD. Full report up soon.

Whilst chatting to the London Film Museum team (@ldnfilmmuseum) it was mentioned that Little Nellie (James Bond's Gyroscope from You Only Live Twice) had arrived for Fan Fest and was in the building. No need to mention that my anticipation level for Fan Fest shot up. With the lineup they are programming Fan Fest may be the best film event this year.

Picture taken at the Imperial War Museum as part of the For Your Eyes Only E£xhibition

Bond 23 catchup

Freida Pinto in Bond 23?

Earlier today The Mirror ran an article confirming that Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto will be a Bond girl.

There has been speculation over the last week on Pinto starring in the next Bond film and it seems that they are the first to confirm this. Bear in mind no official statment has been made as yet.

In the article here they also say that:

• Freida Pinto has been cast in a multimillion Pound deal
• Olivia Wilde (House, Tron@ Legacy) is being sought to play "a double-crossing UN worker".
• A location for Bond 23 will be Afghanistan.

We already know that Sam Mendes will direct the Peter Morgan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade screenplay.


Freida Pinto in Bond 23?

John Carter of Mars needs you! Warriors wanted to fight 12ft barbarians!

After a couple of false starts Disney's John Carter of Mars is set for a 2012 release and urgently looking for extras.

John Carter of Mars is a a stunning adventure epic set on the wounded planet of Mars, a world inhabited by warrior tribes and exotic desert beings. Based on the first of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Barsoom Series,” the film chronicles the journey of Civil-War veteran John Carter, who finds himself battling a new and mysterious war amidst a host of strange Martian inhabitants. he film is based on the first serial to feature John Carter, 1912's A Princess of Mars. Carter is an American Civil War veteran who is transported to Mars, here called Barsoom. Formerly an Earthlike world, it became less hospitable to life due to its advanced age: as the oceans evaporated, and the atmosphere thinned, the planet devolved into partial barbarism with the inhabitants hardened and warlike, fighting one another to survive. Barsoomians distribute scarce water supplies via a worldwide system of canals, controlled by quarreling city-states. The Martian atmosphere is maintained by a power plant. Carter rescues a humanoid Martian princess Dejah Thoris from the belligerent four-armed Green Martians, whose respect he gains for his superior strength and fighting ability. He enlists the Green Martians' assistance in winning a civil war, and saves Mars from destruction when its atmosphere plant malfunctions.

It's being directed by Andrew Stanton (who can be found on Twitter here> @6mman) and stars Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins. Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church, Polly Walker, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West and James Purefoy.
Back in the 1940's, animation director Bob Clampett (director of Bugs Bunny and creator of Beany and Cecil) proposed a series of animated theatrical shorts adapting the John Carter of Mars books by Edgar Rice Burroughs (creator of Tarzan). This footage was the test reel for the studios. Apparently one major Hollywood studio was interested in producing these shorts, but changed their mind when they thought the concept might be to weird for some people.

Photography is currently underway in the UK before heading over to the Mojave Desert. This week an urgent casting call went out for muscular extras for scenes to be shot in Surrey.

Casting Collective are looking for:

Men under 45, with muscular gym fit bodies.
Height between 5’8 and 6’3. Chest 38 to 46 Inches, with very good muscle definition.
No tattoos. Skin tone has to be Caucasian, Olive, Asian or Mixed race.

Women under 45, with muscular gym fit bodies.
Height between 5’4 & 5’9. Dress size 10-14
Very good muscle definition.No tattoos.
Skin tone has to be Caucasian, Olive, Asian or Mixed race.

For more info and to apply visit

http://www.castingcollective.co.uk/new-artistes/urgent-castings/

Below is a pic tweeted by Jon Favreau (@jon_Favreau). It is a concept model of Woola from his earlier attempt to get John Carter to the screen. Previously he was lined up to direct John Carter.

For an explanation of what Woola is: Below is an excerpt from an early part of Edgar Rice Burroughs' A Princess of Mars

"SOLA: His name is Woola. The men of our tribe use them in hunting and war. He has been told to guard and protect you. He has also been told to prevent your escape. There is no faster creature in our world. And in a fight they can kill very quickly. Do not try to escape, John Carter. Woola will tear you to small pieces.

JOHN CARTER: I continued to watch the creature named Woola. I had already seen how the green Martians treated other animals. They were very cruel.

I thought, perhaps this beast can be taught to be my friend…much like a dog on Earth. I walked close to the creature and began speaking in much the same way I would speak to a dog or other animal on Earth.

I sat down next to him while I talked softly. At first he seemed confused. I believe the creature Woola had never heard a kind word.

For the next several days I gained the trust and friendship of Woola. In a few short days Woola was my friend and fierce protector. He would remain my loyal friend as long as I was on Mars."

Duncan Jones's next film Mute & the fate of Sam Bell

By know you know that Director Duncan Jones's next film will not be an adaptation of "Escape from the Deep" as anticipated.

It sounds like "Escape from the Deep" the true story of a WW2 submarine crew that go to hell and back will be tackled after another forage into the Sci Fi with "Mute". More information about the Alex Kershaw book "Escape from the Deep" can be
found here http://www.escapefromthedeep.com/.

Mute
The Mute concept art released via Jone's Liberty Films website looks pretty damn spiffy and tantalising enough to keep Sci Fi fans wanting more. The artwork is very reminiscent of Syd Mead's conceptual art for Blade Runner. Interesting to note that the signage in the street scene says Fremde which is German for strange, but could also mean foreign or Alien. Jones has said that Mute is not about Aliens as such. I'm guessing that this scene is some high class clientele leaving a bar/club that caters for strange tastes. This is possibly the club that the lead's girlfriend works at before disappearing. Then again it could just be a street scene.

Mute is basically the other side of the coin from Moon. Moon is about isolation, loneliness, living on your own and having to find a way to deal with that.

Mute is based in a future Berlin, so it's a big city film, a thriller in a city that so full and so unfriendly in a way. It's going to be a very different kind of film - but a good companion piece.

Mute is a much busier, nosier kind of film. It’s a thriller based in a future Berlin…. If Moon is inspired by films like Outland and Silent Running, then Mute, is inspired by Blade Runner.

For twitter updates on everything Duncan Jones's including Mute follow: @manmademovies

You can follow Duncan Jones here: @manmademoon

You can follow Moon Producer Stuart Fenegan (One of Variety's 10 Producers to Watch) here: @LibertyStu (Warning! Does not update much - yet)

The most media rich news can be found on the Liberty Films blog here: http://blog.manmademovies.co.uk/

Follow the Moon Facebook Group here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/manmademovies/151750620947

The Wolfman Cometh

The Wolf Man

Despite leaving nothing to the imagination the Wolfman trailer is compelling and let's us know that that Joe Johnston's The Wolfman is a quality production with top notch acting.

Lawrence Talbot, a haunted nobleman, is lured back to his family estate after his brother vanishes. Reunited with his estranged father, Talbot sets out to find his brother... and discovers a horrifying destiny for himself. Talbot's childhood ended the night his mother died. After he left the sleepy Victorian hamlet of Blackmoor, he spent decades recovering and trying to forget. But when his brother's fiancée, Gwen Conliffe, tracks him down to help find her missing love, Talbot returns home to join the search. He learns that something with brute strength and insatiable bloodlust has been killing the villagers, and that a suspicious Scotland Yard inspector named Aberline has come to investigate

Movie-Con II 2009: Video Highlights

The official Empire Movie Con II video.

BFI & Empire's Movie-Con 2 kicked off today

Today the much anticipated Movie Con 2 kicked off. I'm still reeling from the mind blowing Film goodness of day 1.

The BFI & Empire Magazine have pulled off another collaborative coup for film lovers. The second Movie Convention is heading to all time greatness.

Movie Con is a annual collaborative effort between the BFI & Empire Magazine. It takes place just after after Comic Con (San Diego) at the BFI on the Southbank in London. This means that the organisers can cherry pick the best of Comic Con as well add some good stuff. It's held for film fans and the core content covers forth coming features in the Super Hero, Horror, Fantasy, Sci Fi, blood and Cult genres.

Empire have a much better run down of today's schedule over here. But today's events have roused me from my Blog laziness of late and mention must be made of some of the key events:

Trailers & footage from Astroboy. Over the last 18 months I have been hearing the buzz about the animated Astroboy feature but had no real interest in this remake of a 60s Japanese TV show. After today's clips I'll be seeing this gem. It will enthrall kids & older kids alike. It had the audience oohing, aahing & laughing in all the right places.

Harry Brown Presentation. Harry Brown is a new film from British filmmaker Daniel Barber and stars Sir Michael Caine. The film is about an elderly veteran that due to circumstances decides to do something about his neighbourhood that has been over run by young yobs.

Coming across as a modern day version of Michael Winner's Death Wish with big boots, genuinely threatening yobs, knuckledusters and big guns. The clip we saw made it clear this was a quality production with outstanding performances Sir Michael and the blinding Sean Harris as a very, very scary low life (think Drexel nastier brother, the love child of Travis Bickle & Myra Hindley on crack). I recently saw Tonto Woman the brilliant short that Daniel Barber adapted from an Elmore Leonard story. He received an Oscar nomination for it. I'm looking forward to seeing Harry Brown in full as well as anything else Daniel Barber serves up. Think Peckinpah with a social conscience.

Next up the indomitable genius "Still not a Sir" Terry Gilliam showed us some mind melting clips from The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus. Seems to be a true return to form for Mr Gilliam whose tribulations of getting his film made rival anything you have seen on screen. Doctor Parnassus recaptures the magic of Time Bandits and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen with a dash of sensibility from The Fisher King.

* When re-watching the classic Spies Like Us keep an eye out for Terry Gilliam as Dr. Imhaus.

Kick Ass Presentation. Put together by the Stardust team & Brad Pitt, independently financed, directed by Matthew Vaughn, written by Jane Goldman (Mrs Johnathan Ross but a super talent in her own right) & Mark Millar. Kick Ass promises to turn the Super Hero genre upside down. Referencing the both comic & film super heroes, eastern sensibilities and the slacker/Clerks space. The Kick Ass clips shown deliver in the holy Triumvirate of modern super hero genre: high action, humour & blood stakes.

I was surprised thaty neither Jane Goldman or Matthew Vaughn did not pitch up but enjoyed Editor Jon Harris' presentation and chat with Christopher Mintz-Plasse (yes that's right McLovin) and Jason Flemyng. I'm slightly annoyed I didn't get a chance to quiz Flemyng about Clash of the Titans & Solomon Kane both of which I am eagerly waiting for.

The super secret screening
I guessed that this year's secret screening was going to be District 9 - D9. I have been curious about D9 for awhile Weta and Peter Jackson's name should have made this a dead cert but South African films tend to do emotional small films well and haven't really shone in the high action or sci fi genre as yet. D9 changes that - whilst being true to it's African setting it shines at being a high adventure sci fi romp that has it's roots firmly planted in complex social issues. Google "District 6" & "Africa xenophobia" for sight of the bigger picture.

Originally Jackson and Director Neil Blomkamp were to make HALO: Combat Evolved when that fell through they decided to remake an earlier Blomkamp short film "Alive in Joburg".

* Sharlto Copley whio plays D9 lead Wikus Van De Merwe is not a trained actor and was a producer on Alive in Joburg.

Next up was Warner Bros screening of the Jonah Hex trailer. I've been waiting for this film for about 20 years.

Jonah Hex is a scarred Mad Max by way of Dirty Harry in the West that was on the wrong side during the Civil war. This makes fior an intresting character seeking redemption.

The trailer looked good but it could still go either way the newly added occult plot devices are a bit of a concern. I'm holding off on judgment for now.

Finally and "saving best for last" Robert Downey Junior & Guy Ritchie made an appearance to introduce an extended trailer for Sherlock Holmes. They were in good spirits and played off each other like a comedic duo rather than Star and Director. And well they should be in high spirits the Sherlock Holmes footage was everything it needed to be. My only query would be that it seemed fairly light and didn't really show any darkness that usually haunts Victorian era pea soap London. Possibly emulating the very successful Iron Man's formula? I'm holding thumbs.

Terry Gilliam Retrospective at the BFI

When Terry Gilliam’s Tideland was awarded the FIPRESCI prize at Spain’s 2005 San Sebastian Festival, jurist Sergi Sánchez noted, ‘Gilliam’s was the only film that dared to propose a risky and radical image, without any concessions, on a specific matter: madness as the only way of escaping in the face of a hostile environment. All this is endlessly coherent with the director’s body of work, which has been frequently misunderstood by the critics, the industry, and audiences alike.’ The BFI reflects on just how Gilliam’s own brand of cinematic ‘madness’ has cast him as a true maverick, perhaps even caught on the cusp of genius, as they mount a comprehensive retrospective.

Born in Minnesota in 1940, Gilliam moved with his family to LA where he was brought up and, for a while, tried his hand as a (struggling) cartoonist. His chagrin at the US invasion of Vietnam was a catalyst for his move to England where he re-invented himself as an ‘animator’. Gilliam would often provide snippets of work for the BBC, which led to his meeting with the Monty Python team and the beginnings of his career as an imaginative and highly inventive director. In his first feature, Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975), he and fellow director Terry Jones managed to transform the lack of money for hiring horses into a joke (coconut sound-effects accompaniment to knights miming riding) fondly remembered even now. This was followed by the medieval fantasy Jabberwocky (1977) and the smash-hit Time Bandits (1981). Then came his Kafkaesque feature Brazil (1985), starring Jonathan Pryce and Robert De Niro, which has become a cult classic.

In the years that followed, Gilliam declined the opportunities to direct blockbusters such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Forrest Gump, amongst others. He suffered battles with studios, abandoned projects and outrageous bad fortune – including, most recently, the death of one of his lead actors, Heath Ledger. Despite this he has managed to persevere and deliver truly individual curiosities in a field often dominated by bland and predictable fare and has always been able to turn a drawback into an advantage in his cinematic world that’s part fairy tale, part Hieronymus Bosch, but all Gilliam, and populated by a strange but oddly compatible group of fellow eccentrics. Whether he’s following The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), The Fisher King (1991) or The Brothers Grimm (2005), his films can electrify audiences. Gilliam has never trod an easy route, his career path more obstacle race than 100-metre dash, but the results glitter with ambition and glorious imagination.

Devil in the White City - Fan Made Trailer

Devil in the White City is a book by Erik Larson that tells the story of 2 men "Their fates were linked by the magical Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, nicknamed the “White City” for its majestic beauty. Architect Daniel Burnham built it; serial killer Dr. H. H. Holmes used it to lure victims to his World’s Fair Hotel, designed for murder. Both men left behind them a powerful legacy, one of brilliance and energy, the other of sorrow and darkness." This is an awesome tale weaving 2 stories together. The mast incredible thing about the story is that it is all true.

This story is ripe to be made into a film. I recently asked David Fincher if he had any intrest in adapting it his response was brief and to the point "I would need to see a screenplay". For more info visit here: http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/devilinthewhitecity/home.html

I hope to see this on the big screen soon.

Just released - the official Crank 2: High Voltage trailer

On it’s release Crank! was an injection of pure testosterone straight into the politically correct, sanitised & revisionist heart that currently pumps Hollywood's lifebood. The producers risky
slap tradition in the face strategy paid off. It cost $12 Mill to make and earned $44,777,321 - £30,401,940 worldwide. Keen to capitalise on the fan following Chev Chelios has garnered Crank 2: High Voltage will hit (kick, blowup and more than likely drive over) screens April 2009. Hopefully the sequel will stay true to the original winning formula whilst adding more layers.

At the time of it's release Crank embodied the same original, anti establishment, devil may care stance that John Mclaine brought to the screen in 1988 With Die Hard. There were no half measures and it cer

tainly never tried to be anything other than a fun film. An important factor that many film makers of this genre often overlook.

Unlike many action films released in the last 15 years Crank did not hedge bets with trying to downplay it's adult content, add in a feel good ending or try make the lead sympathetic so that we forgave his rough edges - Oh no! It was made clear that this was a film for adrenaline fans who enjoyed high action and was not kowtowing to financiers demanding that it be watered down to ensure the large teenage market that dominates this genre could view it.

If only all of Jason Stratham’s half hearted films were as good Crank there would more talk of

the obvious effort he puts into these roles to make them credible and less of his bad film choices.

The not safe for work (Red band) version:

Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor the writer/Director team of the the Cranks are also releasing the sci-fi game film "Game" in 2009 starring Gerard Butler (300, Rocknrolla) and may currently be in pre-production on the film version of the Western bad ass "Jonah Hex" the adaptation of the DC comic with Josh Brolin.

Most recent rumours have it that the Awhile ago the Internet was abuzz with rumours that Thomas Jane was going to be Jonah Hex.

Looks like Game is being scheduled to go up against James Cameron's Avatar and T2ON. To shoot Crank the team used high end cameras this time they are using consumer grade cameras.

Notice the UK's very own Mike Figgis's Fig Rig used to keep cameras stable while shooting.

Jack Says wins BEST FEATURE FILM at the Newport International Film Festival

The film I helped produce won BEST FEATURE FILM at the Newport International Film Festival.

BEST FEATURE FILM: JACK SAY'S – Directed by Bob Phillips (UK)

Jack Says is a 2008 British independent feature film known particularly for being the last professional engagement of the legendary Mike Reid, who died shortly after filming in 2007.

The film is a contemporary film noir, with comic book undertones that reflect it's precursor graphic novel Jack Said, and is comparable in style to Sin City. The film also stars Simon Phillips, Rita Ramnani, Daniel Roberts, Rula Lenska and Eric Cantona.

Waking up in London with amnesia next to a dead body, Jack has just enough time and sense to disappear before the police arrive. In an attempt to lay low, he heads to Paris to visit the ex he can’t remember. But a guy like Jack attracts trouble, and an encounter with the mysterious Girl X draws him and the woman he loves back into a world he’s trying hard to avoid … and to remember.

Val Kilmer & what happened? With some Richard Stanley thrown in

OK!! So my pal Mart & I were chatting about Val Kilmer (I had just watched Tombstone) and Doc "I'm here Huckleberry" Haliday deserved a mention. Kilmer seemed to have the world at his feet sky rocketing career, buckets of talent and the golden touch. What went wrong you may ask yourself?

He brought some great characters to life:

Nick “my father thought of it while shaving” Rivers - Top Secret (I was 14)
The Iceman - Top Gun (I was 16)
Madmartigan - Willow (OK I wasn’t a big fan of this one, but worth a mention)
Jim Morrison - The Doors (as a period piece, pretty good)
Doc Holliday - Tombstone (awesome)
Chris Shiherlis - Heat (acting for a change)
Entourage - The Sherpa (Episode 05, Season 01)

Yea I think that's it. Pretty much everything else he did was crap &
got exponentially worse. 3 unsubstantiated stories I can repeat - to add to the "Kilmer is difficult and brings it on himself" are:

I should mention that these stories are hearsay & never been proven in a court of law.

1. Circa 1980 - Apparently Kilmer & Kevin Spacey were amigos before either made it big. Val is set to go to Juilliard and become an ACKTor. He convinces the penniless Spacey to do the same. So spacey borrows the tuition fees from Kilmer's father. Spacey never repays the loan. This causes a rift between the 2 friends that continues to this day.

Side note: Up until 2002 Kilmer was the youngest student ever accepted into Juilliard's Drama department.

2. Circa 1986 - Val is up for a career making role as Kyle Reese the hero in an edgy sci-fi film called the Terminator. For some reason Arnult nixes the idea and squashes Val's chances. Ironically Arnult was the first choice for Kyle Reese, but when Cameron meets him, he decides he is more Terminator material.

The role eventually goes to Michael Biehn who does a great job anyway. Ironically Kilmer's Doc Holliday faced off against Biehn’s Johnny Ringo in Tombstone

This comes back to haunt Arnult years later when he is put forward
for the role of Mr. Freeze in "Batman 93 - Mo bat crap". Naturally being an ego less artist Val kicks up a fuss. The ensuing conversation
must have gone something like this:

Val: "I don't think so. Listen Mr Producer only one of us is going to
be in this film. So it's either Arnult or me. Need I remind I am the
greatest actor of my generation and you'll remember me from such films
as Afterschool Special: One Too Many, Spartan, Red Planet, Batman Forever and Alexander."

Producer:"PA get me Clooney on the phone & Val Don't slam the door too hard on your way out.

3. Circa 1995 - Kilmer career is bottoming out but gets the chance to act in a contemporary version of "The Island of Dr. Moreau" with Marlon Brando. By now Kilmer is a few roles away from Van Damme/Lundgren/Rourke status. However the producers clearly happy to have Kilmer on board and buckle to his ongoing demands including swapping from the lead hero to the Doctors sidekick.

Richard Stanley the skilled but relatively unknown director is continually at odds with Kilmer. After making a couple of low budget sci-fi/horror films including; "Hardware aka M.A.R.K. 13 & "Dust Devil". The underrated South African gets:
- a break that could make him
- gets a decent budget to play with
- gets to direct a classic story
- gets to work with Marlon Brando
- gets to work with Val Kilmer

However ongoing clashes between Kilmer & Stanley continue. Eventually Kilmer gets Stanley replaced by Frankenheimer. Putting Stanley’s career on hold again. Ironically by the end of filming Frankenheimer vows never to work with Kilmer again.

In a bizarre move Stanley hides out on the island set, gets disguised as one of the "mutated" extras and continues to be part of the film. Seriously who can blame the guy for not letting go of his dream?

Yea!! I'm rooting for the guy he's talented and will eventually break Hollywood. Just watch "Hardware aka M.A.R.K. 13" his first big effort. The screenplay was written by Kevin O'Neill (comic legend).

Although a low budget, the film exudes imagination, skill & talent. C'mon Iggy Pop as the DJ voice of Angry Bob. The destined for eventual greatness Dylan McDermott is the protagonist in this tale of a dystopian future.

Richard Stanley is coming back to Montreal. Last year he presented Dust Devil, this year he brings us his director's cut of the 1990 film Hardware, one of the few good cyberpunk films. A hallucinatory, drug-fuelled blend of Terminator, Mad Max and Blade Runner (with a cameo by Motörhead's Lemmy Kilmeister!), Hardware suffered at the hands of those shadowy studio types who always manage to fuck things up for creative and ground-breaking filmmakers. - montrealmirror

OK so on balance Kilmer's ego seems to be writing cheques his talent can't cash.

The quick and definitive history of Blade Runner

Early in the 21st Century, THE TYRELL CORPORATION advanced Robot evolution into the NEXUS phase -- a being virtually identical to a human -- known as a replicant। The NEXUS 6 Replicants were superior in strength and agility, and at least equal in intelligence, to the genetic engineers who created them. Replicants were used Off-world as slave labor, in the hazardous exploration and colonization of other planets. After a bloody mutiny by a NEXUS 6 combat team in an Off-world colony, Replicants were declared illegal on earth -- under penalty of death. Special police squads -- BLADE RUNNER UNITS -- had orders to shoot to kill, upon detection, any trespassing Replicants.

This was not called execution. It was called retirement.

LOS ANGELES
NOVEMBER, 2019
OK!! the other day I got into a discussion with a friend, lets call him Alex about the new release of Blade Runner he was under the impression that a version had just been released. We have had a running discussion about BR over the last 4 years. I'm a big fan and he doesn't understand what more there is to see, say or know about BR. I should mention that Alex actually owns a copy of "Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner" by Paul M. Sammon as well as has a recorded from TV version of "On the Edge of 'Blade Runner' ". Both of which he loaned to me awhile back. Alex doth protest too much, methinks.

Anyhoo!! I thought I'd create the definitive list of the visual & soundtrack versions of the film that exists. I have steered clear of the content of Blade Runner for now. Allthough the following timeline is in chronological order I have indented the timeline where it was reto fitted.

1927 - German expressionist Fritz Lang creates Metropolis which feeds Ridley Scotts vision
1942 - Edward Hopper paints Nighthawks again this feeds Scotts bleek vision. Building on the dark atmosphere created by the death of Scott's just before the making of Blade Runner
1968 - Philip K. Dick writes "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?". This forms the backbone of Blade Runner. Martin Scorsese and Jay Cocks were both interested but they don't option it.
1973 - Herb Jaffe options
1973 - Robert Jaffe does a screenplay
1975 or 76 - Dan O'Bannon and Moebius give us the conceptual visual stylings from their "The Long Tomorrow" graphic novel.
1975-77 - Hampton Fancher gets involved. Failing to option William Burroughs’ Naked Lunch. Brian Kelly & Hampton Fancher finalise a deal.
1979 - Alan E. Nourse gives us the title Blade Runner from one of his books about smugglers of medical supplies.
1979 - William S. Burroughs writes "Blade Runner, a movie" loosely based on Nourse's story. Only the title was kept for the film.
1979 - Hampton Fancher completes his screenplay for Blade Runner called "Android" later changed to "Dangerous Days".
1980 - David Peoples rewrites it
March 9, 1981 - Photography starts
June 25, 1982 - Blade Runner is released

Thank you http://scribble.com for the following detail of each print.

1982 - US Denver/Dallas Sneak Preview/Workprint
1982 - US San Diego Sneak Preview
1982 - US Theatrical Release
1982 - European Theatrical and Laserdisc Release
1992 - Blade Runner The Director's Cut
2006 - Restored and remastered DVD version of the 1992 Director’s Cut
2007 - Blade Runner: The Final Cut
Cable TV Version
Video Version

US Denver/Dallas Sneak Preview/Workprint--70mm (113 min):
- Webster's 2012 definition of a replicant used in lieu of opening crawl
- voiceovers deleted except at Batty's death
- Bryant says TWO replicants were fried running through an electric field
- conversation between snake-maker and Deckard is different and matches their lips
- includes shot of nearly nude dancers in hockey masks outside Taffey's bar
- Batty says, "I want more life, father."
- Pris lifts Deckard up by his nostrils when she beats him up
- different voiceover used after Batty's death
- ends with the elevator doors closing
- shorter than other versions

This version was shown at the Fairfax Theater in 1990 and UCLA's Los Angeles Perspectives multimedia festival in 1991. This was also the print shown at a London sneak preview in March of 1982. A 35mm reduction of this version was later shown at the Nuart and Castro Theaters in 1991. There were rumours that THIS version was the original director's cut, but the official 1992 Director's Cut is not the same.

US San Diego Sneak Preview (115 min):
- shows Batty making a telephone call to see if Chew is there
- shows Deckard reloading his weapon after firing at Batty
- Deckard and Rachael ride into the sunset

[Source: Video Watchdog no. 20, November-December 1993.]

European Theatrical Release/Criterion Laserdisc/Videocassette (117 min):
- Batty sticks his thumbs in Tyrell's eyes, which bleed copiously.
- Pris lifts Deckard up by his nostrils when she beats him up.
- Deckard shoots Pris a third time.
- more of Pris kicking and screaming when she is shot by Deckard.
- shows Roy actually pushing the nail through his hand
- Deckard and Rachael ride into the sunset

The added violence makes this version about 15 seconds longer than the US theatrical release. The 10th Anniversary video edition is the same as this release.

The Director's Cut (BRDC) (117 min):
- voice-overs completely eliminated
- added dialog from blimp to cover missing voice-over while Deckard waits for a seat at the noodle bar.
- 12-second unicorn scene added when Deckard plays the piano
- happy ending deleted (movie ends with elevator doors closing)
- extra violence seen on videocassette deleted
- digital soundtrack was remixed for BRDC.

Cable TV [? min]:
When BR first appeared on American cable TV, there was an additional line of dialog when Bryant gives Deckard the description, names, and addresses of Tyrell and Sebastian over the radio. In the cable TV version, Bryant adds "...and check 'em out" after he says "I want you to go down there."

VIDEOTAPE (117 min):
All video tapes before January 1993 are the "Not Rated" version and contain the extra violence in the Euro-release that's not seen in the 117 minute American theatrical release.

Restored and remastered DVD version of the 1992 Director’s Cut:
Restored and remastered DVD version of the 1992 Director’s Cutwill debut in September in the U.S. and October in the UK for a special four-month limited release, after which it will be placed on moratorium by WHV.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut:
Later in 2007, to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary, the studio will unveil Blade Runner: The Final Cut, Scott’s definitive new version of his science-fiction masterpiece. The film will be released theatrically in select major U.S. cities, followed by a multi-disc Special Edition DVD release which will also contain three alternate versions of Blade Runner: the Original U.S. Theatrical Cut, the Expanded International Theatrical Cut and the 1992 Director’s Cut. Ample, ground-breaking bonus features will also be included.

First look at Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre (The Cypher)

A Danish newspaper has printed the first look at Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre (The Cypher). I think they must have made a mistake this is clearly a high school shot of Dr. Evil!!??

I have high hopes for this film. A young serious Bond that looks the business and a decent plotline that sounds almost true to the book.

James Bond (Craig) is a new recruit at the MI6 team. He's reckless and careless and on a mission. After just earning his 00 status with his first 2 kills he is sent to the Bahamas where he is to verse Le Chiffre (Mikkelsen)in a game of Texas Hold 'Em Poker. Although Bond must ensure that Le Chiffre's death comes at the hands of his own people.
Source - Internet Movie DataBase

Having a closer look at Mads he certainly does look like a young Donald Pleasance "Bloefeld". I have intentionally stayed away from any info that will give away some of the rich world the film will create as I would like a fresh view of the film on its release.

I recently listened to "Casino Royale" to refresh my memories of casino Royale. I read the book when I was young and remember Casino Royale's Bond being one of the more credible Bonds. This is an opportunity for the Bond producers to refresh the franchise. No doubt the film will be a success. Unfortunately I have 2 scenarios playing out in mind about he future of this Bond.
1. Although contractually bound. After the 3rd film Daniel will probably thinking wait a minute you guys are making $XXX and I'm only making $X. Time to renegotiate. Ala Brosnan. We know how this ends.
or
2. Although the film's are critically acclaimed, profits are not high enough and the producers revert back to the Bond cartoon formula. Ala Batman (pre Batman Begins).

I hope this time they elevate Bond from a wisecracking cartoon to an idealistic, alcoholic, keen to prove his worth , inexperienced (although self assured) Civil Servant.

Sounds like this Bond will be a mixture of Timothy Dalton, George Lazenby and early Sean Connery. Some of the images of Daniel Craig seem to stylistically hark back to the early Sean Connery Bond.

I must be looking forward to the film I can't remember the last time I thought about a forthcoming Bond film this much. I guess I just want the Bond that's in minds eye to be up on the screen rather than another cash spinning merchandising opportunity.

Some trivia about Casino Royale

• A published report by BSkyB in early 2003 indicated that Sean Connery was among those being considered to direct the film.

• Quentin Tarantino also expressed an interest in directing. He said at the Cannes film festival 2004 that he wanted to film "Casino Royale" properly - pretty much as Ian Fleming wrote it. He backed Pierce Brosnan for Bond and Uma Thurman as Bond Girl (presumably the tragic Vesper Lynd). He approached Eon Productions with his ideas, but they turned him down. Then, shortly thereafter, Eon announced the film would indeed be called "Casino Royale", but with Martin Campbell as the director, and with a new (not-yet-revealed) actor to portray the role of James Bond.

• Before Daniel Craig was officially announced as the sixth actor to play James Bond there were several other actors considered for the part. Producer Michael G. Wilson said that they looked over 200 actors searching for the right one. Some of them were:

1. Julian McMahon
2. Dominic West
3. Gerard Butler
4. Henry Cavill
5. Goran Visnjic
6. Sam Worthington
7. Alex O'Lachlan
8. Rupert Friend

C'mon Layer Cake was one long audition for Casino Royale. For Matthew Vaughn (Director) and Daniel Craig. So it should not be a real surprise to anyone.

• The announcement of Daniel Craig as the new James Bond was made on October 14th, 2005, aboard the HMS President, in London. In that same day, former James Bond Roger Moore was celebrating his 78th birthday. Many of the other actors in the running for Bond didn't even know they didn't get the job until they saw the TV broadcast of Daniel Craig accepting the offer.

• The rights to Fleming's first 007 novel "Casino Royale", sold by him separately very early on, now reside with Eon Productions. The book was filmed for television and later as a big-screen spoof.

• The first Bond film to be named after an Ian Fleming book or story since The Living Daylights (1987).

• For this film Daniel Craig had to learn how to drive a car with manual transmission.

Source - Internet Movie DataBase

First Look At Benicio Del Toro as Che

Benny the Bull

Latino Review has provided a first look at Benicio Del Tor as Che Guevara in director Steven Soderbergh next film "Guerilla.