Archive for March, 2009

Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Tech Stuff

If you were watching the box office over the weekend, you might have noticed that the success of Monsters vs. Aliens has everyone talking about 3D again. Everywhere you look, critics are weighing in on whether 3D really is the wave of the future, or another last gasp of a fad that will fall by the wayside soon enough. Well, I don't know about that, but one thing is for sure; I think we all better get used to wearing those goofy goggles, because another director is looking to get into the 3D game. During a reception at the British Film Institute for director Ridley Scott, he spoke about his upcoming sci-fi actioner, The Forever War, and he told reporters that after getting a glimpse of James Cameron's Avatar, "...I've got to go 3D. It's going to be phenomenal."

The film is based on the 1974 science fiction novel by Joe Haldeman and was announced last October. But, Scott has had his hands full with his Robin Hood update, the story of Gucci, and the inexplicable decision to bring Monopoly to the big screen. Forever War looks to be a little more in line with Scott's usual fare; sci-fi, and politically charged action flicks, and is described as, "Both an action-laden and contemplative story of an interstellar war between humanity and the enigmatic Tauran species, it deals with themes like the inhumanity of both war and its attendant bureaucracy". The book was considered to be a response to the authors own military service during the Vietnam War, even using a 'time-travel glitch' that would return soldiers centuries later as a parallel to the US military experience when soldiers returned home.

Since the release of Beowulf, I have been hoping that a filmmaker would finally get a strong enough story on screen that would complement the technology which has become jaw-dropping. I'll keep my fingers crossed that between Cameron and Scott, the two will make 3D something more than the standard for kids films; or even worse, just another gimmick.

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Filed under: Classics, Tech Stuff, Distribution, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand, Home Entertainment, Movie Marketing

Offering custom, burn-to-order DVDs seems like such a no-brainer that it's a wonder no one has come up with it before -- but Warner Bros has done it first, and that's what counts. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio is opening its archives and offering film fans the chance to order old films that have never been released on DVD before.

The Warner Archive currently offers 150 films from Warner Bros, RKO, and MGM. They're all $19.95, and they'll be adding 20 titles a month, hoping to have 300 films and television shows available by the end of the year. It's not quite as good as offering them up for instant watch, but it's a brilliant way to reintroduce some lost films to the public. It's also rather eco-friendly ... there won't be hundreds of unwanted copies of Wichita being dumped in a garbage bin if it's made to order.

There's some pretty cool stuff to pick from already ... my fingers are itching at all the Clark Gable and Cary Grant selections, wondering if The Abdication is as good as it sounds, and laughing at the truly hideous poster art so many of them have.

Warners hasn't forgotten about new technology either -- they'll also be launching an iTunes podcast called The Golden Age of Hollywood that will feature archival footage. I hate to sound cheesy, but this is the kind of preservation the Internet was meant for. It's nice to see a studio taking advantage of it.

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Filed under: Action, Comedy, Thrillers, Lionsgate Films, Tech Stuff, Movie Marketing, Remakes and Sequels, Images, Posters

Internet history was made on March 18, 2009. Lionsgate became the first studio to debut original content on Twitter, which means anyone who signs onto the social media network after this point is officially five minutes late. (Hooray! I made it under the wire.)

What was this content? Why, a Crank 2: High Voltage poster! It's very yellow and Jason Statham-y, for those missing his squint from the popping vein poster. I've put both in the gallery below. Maybe we'll get some shirtless pictures to pad it out in the next few weeks. (Hey, a girl can dream.)

But more important than the poster is where it appeared, and what this might mean for all of us. Many are applauding this new frontier of communication, while others say this is the beginning of the end -- the Re-Tweeting of posters, stills, and trailers could put us all out of work. For other media geeks, the Crank 2 poster means that Twitter is no longer cool, and is now just another tool of the corporate machine.

All I know is that Lionsgate is really lucky TwitPic was working, and didn't replace Statham with a Jason who uploaded his photo at the exact same time they did. That happened to me the other day, and boy was it embarrassing.

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Filed under: Tech Stuff, Exhibition

If you thought smell-o-vision was weird, get prepared to keep a tight grip on your movie concessions -- the seats, they'll soon be shakin'.

TechRadar reports that there's a new motion-generating system called D-Box Motion Code, which will accompany films by shaking theater seats. It's "perfectly synchronized with all onscreen action, creating an unmatched realistic, immersive experience." The first film to get matched up with these seat-shakers is the upcoming Fast and Furious (in theaters April 3), and in only two locations: Mann Chinese 6 in Hollywood, and the UltraStar Surprise Pointe 14 in Arizona. From there, either all the seats will start shaking in a cacophony of vibration and shrieks, or there will be a revolt of sticky movie patrons.

There are so many scenarios where I can see this being a real annoyance. Just as you get that drink to your lips, bzzzz! It's all over you. As a poor lad sits there trying to make his bladder ignore the insistence of that extra-large drink, vibrations send him into agony. And heck, would pregnant women be allowed on this cinematic "ride"?

The idea is neat, but seems quite impractical. I like to curl up in the seat and experience the film, not go for a ride. But what do you think? Would you like your seat to rumble with the action on the screen?

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