Disney's A Christmas Carol World Premiere and London's Christmas Light Switch-Ons
London will celebrate the launch of a traditional festive season with one of the capital's biggest-ever Christmas events on 3 November. This year, the Christmas Lights across the West End and in the City of London will be switched on simultaneously.
There'll also be a fantastic Christmas concert, and a unique light show at St Paul's Cathedral.
All this will be followed by the world premiere of Disney's A Christmas Carol, attended by the major stars of the movie.
Where & When Christmas Lights Switch-on and Street Concert
London's Christmas lights will be switched on alongside street concerts between 5pm and 6.30pm on 3 November. Three locations across the city will come together to create London's first ever co-ordinated street concerts and Christmas light switch-on.
Oxford Circus – live concert with major performing artists from 5pm, switch-on of Disney's A Christmas Carol lights by Jim Carrey – finishes at 6.30pm
Regent Street – live concert with major performing artists from 5pm, switch-on of Disney's A Christmas Carol lights by Colin Firth and Robin Wright Penn – finishes at 6.30pm
St Paul's Cathedral – live concert with major performing artists from 5pm, light show on St Paul's Cathedral switched on by Bob Hoskins
All events are free to the public – get there early to grab a good viewing spot.
Sing Your Way into the Record Books Following the Christmas lights switch-on, the three stages will be linked for Londoners to join together to break the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people carol singing at one time! The singing will be led by the St Paul's Cathedral Choir.
The World Premiere of Disney's A Christmas Carol: Leicester Square 7.30pm After the Christmas lights switch-on, the focus will shift to Leicester Square for the world premiere of Disney's A Christmas Carol.
The film's world premiere will be one of the most glittering and star-studded premieres that London has ever seen, attended by all the major stars including Jim Carrey and director Robert Zemeckis.
The film will be screened in three of London's leading cinemas – the Odeon Leicester Square, the Empire Leicester Square and the Odeon West End, all in cutting-edge Disney Digital 3D – creating the biggest-ever 3D screening.
Get yourself a ticket for the biggest party the unfashionable end of the galaxy has ever seen and join best-selling author Eoin Colfer – creator of criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl – and actor Simon Jones, the original Arthur Dent, in a celebration of 30 years of the late, great Douglas Adams’ classic British comedy. This’ll be your first chance to see, hear and buy the sixth instalment, And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer.
With other out-of-this-world entertainment throughout the day – including special free screenings of the Hitchhiker’s series in The Clore Ballroom – this is one event no self-respecting lover of classic British comedy will want to miss.
One of the best dystopian sci-fi movies to come out of the 70s, Rollerball focuses on an ultra-violent sport used to keep an overpopulated planet under control and probes its links to politics, the media and big conglomerates. When a star player refuses to obey the owners of his team, the stage is set for a Gladiator-like confrontation between a rebellious individual and the corporate power that seeks to crush him.
Events include: Photo Call Start the day at a photocall of the largest number of Hitchhiker's fans ever.
Session 1: The Douglas Adams Chat Show A full panel of Hitchhiker’s experts and friends of Douglas Adams discusses the great man and his work.
Booksigning: Mega-signing of the fantastic new edition of the first five Hitchhiker's novels.
Sessions 2 & 3 (And Another Thing... & Hitchhikers Live On Stage!) The sixth book in the series, special guests and a live gig – Sessions 2 & 3 of our day-long celebration of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Booksigning: Eoin Colfer Buy the new sixth book in the series a day before everyone else and get it signed by Eoin Colfer.
Where The Southbank Centre Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
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
An exclusive ICA release. A huge hit in China and Hong Kong, Yip Man or Ip Man is the semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the first martial arts master to teach the Chinese (as well as Bruce Lee) the martial art of Wing Chun.
The charismatic Donnie Yen plays the lead in this period tale set against the backdrop of the second Sino-Japanese War during the 1930s, and Johnnie To favourite Simon Yam also stars. Director Wilson Yip brings his customary dynamism to proceedings, although the man who really pulls it all together is the legendary Sammo Hung. His work here as action choreographer won a Hong Kong Film Award, as did the film itself.
In the scene above a Japanese General is giving out white rice to any Chinese person who defeats the Japanese fighters at a ratio of 1 bag per 1 defeated fighter.
Prior to this scene the General has killed Ip Man's friend (Sifu Liu) in a duel. Ip Man demands a fight with 10 of the black belts. Upon his victory, he refuses to take his reward, the 10 bags of rice and says "I did not come here for the rice". The General asks for his name and Ip Man replies "I am just a Chinese". The interpreter tells the General, "He is Ip Man".
Where The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) 12 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH
Curzon Cinemas is delighted to welcome director and writer Park Chan-wook to discuss his latest film in this post screening Q&A.
A priest becomes a vampire… another man’s wife is coveted… a deadly seduction triggers murder. Sang-hyun (played by top Korean star Song Kang-ho, The Host) is a priest who cherishes life so much that he volunteers for a secret vaccine to eradicate a deadly virus. In the process however, he becomes infected by vampire blood and his faith is tested further when a childhood friend’s wife, Tae-ju (Kim Ok-vin), comes to him asking for help. Sang-hyun soon plunges into a world of sensual pleasures, finding himself on intimate terms with the Seven Deadly Sins. The new film from acclaimed director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy) was jointly awarded the Cannes 2009 Jury Prize.
Where Curzon Soho 99 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 5DY
Finally a trailer for Solomon Kane! Written by Robert E Howard the creator of a huge host of characters including; Conan, Red Sonja, and Kull the Conqueror. Solomon Kane was a puritan that wondered the face of the Earth with no destination and a zero tolerance for evil. Think a middle ages Clint Eastwood that encounters supernatural beings. Apparently this is the first in a trilogy and if the trailer is anything to go by it looks kick ass. Hopefully it won't be another big budget fantasy film that disappoints in the same way Van Helsing and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen does.
At one point Christoper Lambert (Highlander) was going to be Solomon Kane, which would have been interesting. However after watching "The Philanthropist" (first couple of episodes are mediocre, but Purefoy shines) I was keen to see James Purefoy as the stoic Solomon Kane. Looking at the trailer it seems the film is an adaptation of " The Castle of The Devil" and "The Sword of Solomon Kane". Both of which were released in comic format recently.
Jason Flemyng one of the stars of Solomon Kane recently hosted a Q&A for Kick Ass. I was kicking myself afterwards as I did not know he was in Kane. A missed opportunity to gain some insight into the treasure chest of Solomon Kane.
Paul Berrow Producer of Solomon Kane can be found on Twitter here @paulberrow
Expected release date: France 18 May 2009 (Cannes Film Market) Canada 16 September 2009 (Toronto Film Festival) Russia 31 December 2009 Netherlands 14 January 2010
Preview of Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee and Q&A with Shane Meadows, Paddy Considine and Mark Herbert.
Rock roadie, Le Donk, has lived, loved and learned. Along the way, he's lost a classy girlfriend but gained a sidekick, Scorz-Ayz-Ee. He sets out to make Scorz a star with a little help from the Artic Monkeys.
A freewheeling, no-budget experiment by one of the UK’s most prominent and successful producer/director teams, LE DONK was born out of Shane Meadows’ and Mark Herbert’s frustration at the sheer expense of time and money required to get a new project off the ground. Why not just get together an enthusiastic team (including the actor often cited as the De Niro to Meadows’ “Scorsese of the Midlands”, Paddy Considine), cobble together a skeleton script, and simply play for a few days? So, Considine broke out an earlier comic creation of his, an endearing/repellent rock’n’roll roadie known as Donk; an Arctic Monkeys gig provided the backdrop; and Meadows played himself, as a documentary-maker seeking to capture the secrets of a life lived just beyond the reach of the bright lights. Irrepressible fun.
Curzon Mayfair proudly welcomes director Terry Gilliam to the stage in a post screening discussion to answer
all audience questions.
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR PARNASSUS
Dir: Terry Gilliam Starring: Christopher Plummer, Heath Ledger, Tom Waits.
A director seemingly affiliated with bad luck, that Terry Gilliam got to complete this at all is a minor miracle. A fantastical morality tale set in present-day London (for the most part at least), the alternate realities Gilliam spins will be more than familiar to fans of TIME BANDITS and BRAZIL. With more than a hint of Doctor Faustus, the film’s kernel is an ambitious travelling magician whose ambition has caused him to
enter a number of deals with the devil, the most personally damaging of which has seen Parnassus (played
impeccably by Plummer, THE NEW WORLD) trade immortality for his daughter (Lily Cole) on the occasion of her 16th birthday. A characteristic feast for the senses, the film is a fitting epitaph to Ledger, whose character is also ably portrayed in its transformative states by Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Johnny Depp.
Extremely entertaining, the film also has at its heart a larger than life turn from Tom Waits as the devil.
Tickets go on general sale on the Curzon website on Friday 4 September.
Wednesday 7 September, 6:10pm
Curzon Mayfair
38 Curzon St London W1J 7TY
onedotzero_preview: Up 3D + Q&A with Pete Docter & Jonas Rivera
Carl Fredericksen, a curmudgeonly 78-year-old balloon salesman, is not your average hero. When he ties thousands of balloons to his house and floats to the wilds of South America, he finally fulfills his life-long dream of adventure. But on discovering an 8-year-old stowaway named Russell, an unlikely duo, they soon find themselves on an hilarious journey in a lost world filled with danger and surprise.
Oliver Parker directs a strong cast in this adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic novel of youth, excess and vanity. Adored for his beauty, Dorian Gray can seemingly have anything or anyone his heart desires. When this power is captured in a painting, Dorian wonders what he wouldn't do to stay as beautiful. As the painting begins to show the excesses of an indulgent lifestyle and Dorian himself stays ageless, it seems his wish come true...
The BFI are pleased to announce that this preview will be followed by a Q&A with director Oliver Parker and screenwriter Toby Finlay.
Preview: Dorian Gray and Q&A with director Oliver Parker and screenwriter Toby Finlay Wednesday September 9, 2009 at 6:20pm BFI Southbank NFT1 Belvedere Road London, England SE1 8XT
Join us at FRIGHTFEST the UK's Leading fantasy & horror film festival. For The premiere event of the year for horror fans - Time Out
UK PREMIERE MILLENNIUM: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (18)
Directed by Niels Arden Oplev
Cases rarely come colder than the inexplicable 1960s disappearance of a teen heiress from her family’s remote island retreat. Nor do fiction debuts come any hotter than the European best seller ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ by Swedish journalist Stieg Larsson on which this gripping nail-biter is based. Director Niels Arden Oplev’s atmospheric and strikingly original thriller introduces the provocative odd couple of a disgraced financial journalist and a multi-pierced hacker with severe social behaviour problems. Together they uncover an undetected chain of serial killings when investigating the decades-old mystery in a startling and near-the-knuckle giallo Swedish style. With very disturbing and intense scenes, and an international superstar-making performance from Noomi Rapace as the tattooed Lisbeth, MILLENNIUM is the Euro sensation of the moment. The other two parts of the MILLENNIUM movie trilogy, based on ‘The Girl Who Played With Fire’ and ‘The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest’, are released soon.
FRIGHTFEST: UK PREMIERE of Millennium: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Saturday August 29, 2009 at 3:45pm Empire Cinema, Leicester Square 5-6 Leicester Square London London, England WC2H 7NA
Defying the usual conventions of film, RAGE is the new cinematic creation from writer-director Sally Potter. Using a radical narrative structure focused entirely on individual performances, RAGE consists of a dynamic series of interviews, as if shot by a schoolboy on his mobile phone. He goes behind the scenes at a New York fashion show during a week in which an accident on the catwalk turns into a murder investigation.
Fourteen actors, both celebrated stars and emerging talents, play characters who each have a role in the show, from the designer (Simon Abkarian) and his models (Lily Cole and Jude Law), the fashion critic (Judi Dench) and photographer (Steve Buscemi), to the fashion-house financier (Eddie Izzard) and his bodyguard (John Leguizamo).
The radical style of RAGE is embraced in its unique distribution strategy, with the film premiering on mobile and internet alongside its digital screen and DVD release.
The premiere event will be broadcast live by satellite from London's BFI Southbank to dozens of cinemas across the UK. You can be part of the satellite broadcast of the Q&A after the film, sending your questions by Skype video and SMS direct from your local cinema live to Sally Potter and members of the RAGE cast, including Jude Law, Eddie Izzard and Lily Cole
RAGE (15) A Film by Sally Potter With Interactive Q&A Live via Satellite Thursday 24 September, 8.30
The premiere event will be broadcast live from BFI Southbank. You can be part of the satellite Q&A by sending your questions via Skype video and SMS to Sally Potter and members of the RAGE cast, including Jude Law, Eddie Izzard and Lily Cole (line-up TBC).
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.
The full schedule for Movie Con 2 can be found over here on Empire's website. Below are my highlights from day 2:
Day 2 started with a flash of fury, explosions and red metal, that's right! Some seriously awesome clips from Iron Man 2 were on display introduced by Robert (I'm in town to shoot some additional scenes for Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes) Downey Jr. Unfortunately I was late and missed what was a highlight of day 2.
The legendary Kim Newman ran his now infamous Movie Quiz with the precision of a T800 which was loads of fun. One of the prizes was for a winner's name to be used in Mr. Newman's next novel.
Next up was a clip from the super tense Hurt Locker and Q&A with Director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal. Loosely based on Boal's experiences in Baghdad. Hurt Locker is refreshingly direct and will keep you on the edge of your seat. It could be seen as a natural progression to Point Break.
Optimum rolled out a hilarious and heartwarming presentation for Bunny And The Bull. Hosted by Director Paul King and Star Simon Farnaby. If you are looking for something that lands somewhere between a holiday, run by The Mighty Boosh filmed by Michel Gondry.
"Bunny & the Bull is a road movie set entirely in a flat. Stephen Turnbull hasn't been outside in months. Living with a painfully restrictive routine, he refuses to interact with the world or think about the past. When a sudden infestation of mice forces him to change his ways, he finds his mind hurtling back to the disastrous trek around Europe he undertook with his friend Bunny, a womanising, gambling-addicted booze-hound. Unable to stem the flood of memories, Stephen’s flat becomes the springboard for an extraordinary odyssey through landscapes made up of snapshots and souvenirs, from the industrial wastelands of Silesia to the bull fields of Andalusia. A story of love, disillusionment, stuffed bears and globalised seafood, Bunny & the Bull is an offbeat and heartfelt journey to the end of the room."
Next Director/Writer Stuart Hazeldine introduced Exam.
"Eight talented candidates have reached the final stage of selection to join the ranks of a mysterious and powerful corporation. Entering a windowless room, an Invigilator gives them eighty minutes to answer one simple question. He outlines three rules they must obey or be disqualified: don't talk to him or the armed guard by the door, don't spoil their papers and don't leave the room. He starts the clock and leaves. The candidates turn over their question papers, only to find they're completely blank. After the initial confusion has subsided, one frustrated candidate writes 'I believe you should hire me because...,' and is promptly ejected for spoiling. The remaining candidates soon figure out they're permitted to talk to each other, and they agree to cooperate in order to figure out the question: then they can compete to answer it. At first they suspect the question may be hidden in their papers like a security marker in a credit card, and they figure out ways to change their environment to expose the hidden words. But light, liquids and other plans all come to naught. Soon enough, the candidates begin to uncover each other's background, prejudices and hidden agendas. Tensions rise as the clock steadily descends towards zero, and each candidate must decide how far they are willing to go to secure the ultimate job." Tense stuff.
The end of the day closed with a 3D spectacular! You should know that I love 3D! Even the crappiest film in the world can become wonderful by either showing it in IMAX or 3D format. I have never seen a bad 3D film at the IMAX. Even the big screen 3D trailers are Worth the entry alone. So what if this new push towards 3D was engineered by Hollywood marketeers to revitalise the industry and shaft Movie piracy. I love it. The final hour and a half of of Movie Con was spectacular. In order:
Disney presented; The trailer & loads of footage from the mind boggling A Christmas Carol, the trailer for Toy Story 3, and footage from the much talked about Up.
Welcome back Flynn! Then we were shown the 3D trailer/footage from Tron Legacy ! This was the same bootleg footage that haunted the net after Comic Con last year and was recently released onto the net in high def. Except that this was in 3D on a BIG screen! Tron Legacy looks like it will be worth the 27 year wait.
Finally we were treated to footage from Jim Cameron's 4 years in the making AVATAR. Stolen from Empire's blog:
"James Cameron recorded a short introduction, just for Movie-Con II, to two scenes of footage from Avatar, due out in December. We wouldn’t be exaggerating too far if we say that jaws hit the floor. The first, short scene gave a flavour to the threat in the film: Stephen Lang’s Colonel Quaritch explaining to newcomers just how dangerous the world of Pandora is, and telling them frankly that they won’t all make it out alive. Then we saw Jake Sully’s (Sam Worthington) Avatar alive and working in the jungles of the planet. Having faced off one rhino*/hammerhead shark added by me:)*-looking beastie, he’s surprised by the much more dangerous spider-lynx looking monster, and a spectacular chase scene occurs. We also get a glimpse there of Sigourney Weaver’s Grace in action: check the next issue of Empire for more on that.
Naturally, we had to see that again, so we rewound and went for a second go." The team also let us know that there would be more & different footage shown on AVATAR day this Friday. Info here!
All that is left for me to say is thank you Empire & BFI. I had a wonderful time. Next year please bring some display cases and props with you. I'm just saying.
In my previous round up of Movie Con 2 Day 1 I omitted to mention that Christopher Smith (Severance, Creep) gave us a taste of his new film Triangle. If the tension of Creep is maintained with the added dimension of Smith's intention to take you somwhere new, works out. Be prepared to have your mind thrown, dropped and kicked. Triangle will premiere as the opening film for the Film4 FrightFest on Thursday August 27, 2009. More info here!
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.
The 15-minute Avatar Day screenings, presented in 3D at “select cinemas and Imax theaters,” will provide regular moviegoers their first glimpse of Cameron’s highly anticipated sci-fi epic outside of footage screened last month at Comic-Con International in San Diego and Movie Con 2 at the BFI London hosted by Empire Magazine last weekend.
The big-budget sci-fi movie, conceived by Cameron 14 years ago and filmed in stereoscopic 3-D using cameras developed by the director, takes place on Pandorum, a strange and beautiful planet replete with bizarre creatures and plant life. Sam Worthington plays a paraplegic who is linked through a medical process to an “avatar,” a 10-foot-tall, blue-skinned creature that looks like Pandorum’s native Na’vi
Also rolling out on Friday’s Avatar Day:
- The official Avatar trailer, which will be shown in theaters and online. The worldwide trailer launch will be presented in all formats, including Imax 3-D, Imax 2-D, digital 3-D, digital 2-D and 35-mm 2-D, the studio said. - 3D/lenticular one-sheet posters for the film. - The trailer for Ubisoft’s videogame James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game. - First look at Mattel action figures for the film’s avatar and alien Na’vi characters.
The showings will be limited to two on the 21st, except for the BFI Southbank, which is holding four.
Among the participating cinemas:
Cineworld Aberdeen Cineworld Birmingham, Broad Street Cineworld Brighton Cineworld Cardiff Cineworld Edinburgh Cineworld Glasgow, Renfrew Street Cineworld Sheffield Odeon London IMAX Greenwich Odeon London IMAX Wimbledon Odeon Manchester Printworks Odeon Southampton Vue Bristol Cribbs Vue London West End BFI Southbank IMAX
Avatar hits theaters Dec. 18. Friday August 21, 2009 at 1:30pm BFI London IMAX 1 Charlie Chaplin Walk London, England SE1 8XR
White Lightnin’ Special Preview and Q&A with director Dominic Murphy in London
Electric Sheep Magazine presents weird, wild and wonderful films every first Wednesday of the month at the Prince Charles Cinema.
A dark, surreal semi-biopic about glue-sniffing, hard-drinking, hell-raising Appalachian mountain dancer Jesco White (impressively played by newcomer Ed Hogg), British director Dominic Murphy’s controversial debut feature takes us deeper and deeper into Jesco’s crazed visions and wild religious fantasies, culminating in horrific revenge and violent redemption.
We are delighted to welcome Dominic Murphy for a Q&A after the screening.
With thanks to Momentum Pictures. White Lightnin’ starts its theatrical run at the ICA and Rich Mix (Bethnal Green), London, on September 25.
