Upcoming Movies
Posted: 2004-05-27 04:20pm
I was bored and decided to overview some coming movie trailers as I noticed them in Empire lately, so here are some brief thoughts on some selections.
The Village
M. Night Shyamalan's fourth major film after the decidedly mixed results that came with Signs. This time, the story revolves around Joaquin Phoenix from the previous film as he inhabits a village in Philadelphia again it seems that has a pact with creatures in the surrounding forest.
Only one day they find marks on their house doors. A warning? Well, the trailer doesn't show much, but I can assume that it will be creepily like Sleepy Hollow meets Aliens, oh, and the trademark surprise ending apparently doesn't come with this film, though that could be misinformation.
The Incredibles
Pixar. It's a Pixar film and that's all that needs to be said, other than Samuel L. Jackson is in this one along with a whole load of other superheroes who are followed around as they save the world time and time and time... again. I expect loads of good rips on comic book lore and generally cool animation.
Collateral
Michael Mann's newest venture sees Tom Cruise act as a hitman doing his rounds with an unsuspecting cabbie in downtown LA. Typical Mann style directing is evident in the trailer and it may be as action packed in the same vein as Heat. The fact that it's Cruise may drive some away, but given Mann hasn't flopped yet I'll be looking forward to it as will my brother, a rabid Mann-phile (that doesn't sound right).
Around The World In 80 Days
Quite how they got Steve Coogan, Jackie Chan and Ah-nuld in the same film I'll never know. But they did and it looks to be a fun flick with Coogan making a proper bigscreen debut thanks to Disney here and having his humour seen by all. Jackie Chan is self-explanatory, but the cameo by Arnie wasn't expected, though it's nice to see him take time to do this.
Comedy + martial arts and loads of Wild Wild West style inventions has me hooked.
Thunderbirds
Oh no. What have they done to this classic show? I got worried when I saw the teaser last year on the Hulk DVD. I got even more concerned by the fact that the director, a little known Jon Frakes, hadn't seen a single episode of the series until he took the project up.
All I can say is, the craft look totally out of the ordinary, they set it in 2010 which is totally unrealistic given the series takes place in the 2060s and the cast all all adolescent Yanks from a Spy Kids audition reject file. If Bill Paxton can't say "how do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?" in it, then it's at a loss. I'm not optimistic. NO ONE fucks with Gerry Anderson's designs.
I, Robot
I've seen mixed feelings on here and elsewhere about this. Having just seen the trailer, I'm unsure. It looks like it's trying to be Minority Report and Terminator as well as hints of one of the better Animatrix shorts. The iPod style robots look silly, though I suspect Apple would design something as awkward as that anyway and sell it for thousands so the people unsure about their fashion can make a statement much like any other Mac user (sorry, I never liked their stuff).
I haven't read the book and the last rendition for screen of Asimov, Bicentennial Man wasn't exactly eye-opening unless you get into a seething rage at Robin Williams' jokes. But I'm willing to give it a try and at least it looks to be action packed and not just a Bladerunner clone. I notice another concept product placement like with the Lexus in Minority Report only it's an Audi this time as Smith's car. The future is one big advert if Hollywood has anything to say about it.
And finally...
Chicken Little
No one else need see this CG animation bar Deimos Anomaly, but then he doesn't come here anymore. Disney fighting back against Pixar's defection? Perhaps, but I think Pixar is more deserving of my money this time.
The Village
M. Night Shyamalan's fourth major film after the decidedly mixed results that came with Signs. This time, the story revolves around Joaquin Phoenix from the previous film as he inhabits a village in Philadelphia again it seems that has a pact with creatures in the surrounding forest.
Only one day they find marks on their house doors. A warning? Well, the trailer doesn't show much, but I can assume that it will be creepily like Sleepy Hollow meets Aliens, oh, and the trademark surprise ending apparently doesn't come with this film, though that could be misinformation.
The Incredibles
Pixar. It's a Pixar film and that's all that needs to be said, other than Samuel L. Jackson is in this one along with a whole load of other superheroes who are followed around as they save the world time and time and time... again. I expect loads of good rips on comic book lore and generally cool animation.
Collateral
Michael Mann's newest venture sees Tom Cruise act as a hitman doing his rounds with an unsuspecting cabbie in downtown LA. Typical Mann style directing is evident in the trailer and it may be as action packed in the same vein as Heat. The fact that it's Cruise may drive some away, but given Mann hasn't flopped yet I'll be looking forward to it as will my brother, a rabid Mann-phile (that doesn't sound right).
Around The World In 80 Days
Quite how they got Steve Coogan, Jackie Chan and Ah-nuld in the same film I'll never know. But they did and it looks to be a fun flick with Coogan making a proper bigscreen debut thanks to Disney here and having his humour seen by all. Jackie Chan is self-explanatory, but the cameo by Arnie wasn't expected, though it's nice to see him take time to do this.
Comedy + martial arts and loads of Wild Wild West style inventions has me hooked.
Thunderbirds
Oh no. What have they done to this classic show? I got worried when I saw the teaser last year on the Hulk DVD. I got even more concerned by the fact that the director, a little known Jon Frakes, hadn't seen a single episode of the series until he took the project up.
All I can say is, the craft look totally out of the ordinary, they set it in 2010 which is totally unrealistic given the series takes place in the 2060s and the cast all all adolescent Yanks from a Spy Kids audition reject file. If Bill Paxton can't say "how do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?" in it, then it's at a loss. I'm not optimistic. NO ONE fucks with Gerry Anderson's designs.
I, Robot
I've seen mixed feelings on here and elsewhere about this. Having just seen the trailer, I'm unsure. It looks like it's trying to be Minority Report and Terminator as well as hints of one of the better Animatrix shorts. The iPod style robots look silly, though I suspect Apple would design something as awkward as that anyway and sell it for thousands so the people unsure about their fashion can make a statement much like any other Mac user (sorry, I never liked their stuff).
I haven't read the book and the last rendition for screen of Asimov, Bicentennial Man wasn't exactly eye-opening unless you get into a seething rage at Robin Williams' jokes. But I'm willing to give it a try and at least it looks to be action packed and not just a Bladerunner clone. I notice another concept product placement like with the Lexus in Minority Report only it's an Audi this time as Smith's car. The future is one big advert if Hollywood has anything to say about it.
And finally...
Chicken Little
No one else need see this CG animation bar Deimos Anomaly, but then he doesn't come here anymore. Disney fighting back against Pixar's defection? Perhaps, but I think Pixar is more deserving of my money this time.
