Screenjabber blogs

Avatar coming to Blu-ray and DVD in April

Adam Stephen Kelly — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:44:27 -0400

James Cameron's 3D sci-fi epic Avatar will be hitting Blu-ray and DVD in the UK on April 26th. The history-making blockbuster is still in cinemas worldwide, including the UK, despite being released in mid-December. The film has gone on to become the highest-grossing film of all time (as long as you don't adjust for inflation), with $2.6 billion at the global box office and £89.4 million in the United Kingdom alone.

Many will wonder how the scale of the film's theatrical 3D grandeur will translate to home entertainment formats, but no doubt Blu-ray will accomodate well to the Academy Award-winning cinematography, art direction and visual effects. And for those wanting to see the film in high-definition, online retailers will have an exclusive limited edition Blu-ray set for pre-order, featuring two discs, four lenticular art cards and a "Survival Guide" book.

If you're one of the few who haven't seen Avatar, it follows the story of a reluctant hero (Sam Worthington) arriving on a distant planet and embarking on a journey of discovery and redemption, as he leads a battle to save a civilisation.

Worthington co-stars in the Golden Globe and Oscar-winning Avatar with Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang and Michelle Rodriguez. Written and directed by James Cameron and produced by Jon Landau.

Chat live with Predators producer Robert Rodriguez

Adam Stephen Kelly — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:56:00 -0400

Robert Rodriguez, writer-director of the classic Mexico Trilogy and Sin City, to name a few, will be hopping online this coming Thursday (March 18th) to chat live with fans and to discuss the upcoming film Predators, which he is producing with Elizabeth Avellan. The chat will coincide with the release of the first trailer.

SYNOPSIS: A bold new chapter in the Predator universe, Predators was shot on location under Rodriguez's creative auspices at the film-maker's Austin, Texas-based Troublemaker Studios, and is directed by Nimrod Antal (Vacancy). The film stars Adrien Brody as Royce, a mercenary reluctantly leading a group of elite warriors who come to realise they've been brought together on an alien planet... as prey. With the exception of a disgraced physician, they are all cold-blooded killers: mercenaries, Yakuza, death squad members — human "predators" now being systematically eliminated by a new breed of alien Predators. In addition to Adrien Brody, the film stars Topher Grace, Alice Braga and Laurence Fishburne. Co-starring are Walton Goggins, Danny Trejo, Oleg Taktarov and Mahershalalhashbaz Ali.

The live web-chat will take place at www.ustream.tv/predatorsmovie from Robert's Austin HQ and will occur three times on the day to accomodate fans from three different time zones.

Armchair Viewing: The Simpsons Movie (2008)

Justin Bateman — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:54:42 -0400

"Spiderpig, Spiderpig, does whatever a Spiderpig does..."

WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
Despite the best efforts of Lisa to clean up Springfield, Homer dumps his toxic silo into the local lake creating a natural disaster leading to the devastation of their home town. Only Homer can save the day.

New trailer for Mike Judge's Extract

Adam Stephen Kelly — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:42:49 -0400

Mike Judge, creator of Beavis and Butthead and King of the Hill, returns to form as a writer-director in the upcoming comedy Extract, starring Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, Ben Affleck and J.K. Simmons. A work-themed comedic blitz like his excellent Office Space, will Judge be able to recreate such brilliance? Reviews out of the USA, where the film was released in September, have been mixed.

SYNOPSIS: Joel, the owner of an extract manufacturing plant, constantly finds himself in precarious situations that steadily worsen by the minute. First, his soon-to-be floor manager acquires a serious injury in a machine malfunctioning accident that subsequently endangers the wellbeing of his company. Second, his personal life doesn't fair much better when he takes the advice of his bartending friend Dean during a drug-induced brainstorming session on how to test his wife's faithfulness. Finally, compounding these catastrophies is new employee Cindy, who happens to be a scam artist intent on milking the company for all its worth. Now, Joel must attempt to piece his company and his marriage back together all while trying to figure out what he's really after in life.

Extract opens in cinemas across the UK on March 26

Carey Mulligan - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo?

Justin Bateman — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:31:24 -0400

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo has already been a huge literary success and last year the Swedish film version did great business across Europe. Opening last weekend here in the UK, and with parts two and three of the late Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy coming later in the year, it was only a matter of time before an English language remake. Hollywood has taken up the reins and this story on Sky Movies suggests that Bafta-winning, Oscar-nominated Brit Carey Mulligan is in line to play the eponymous hero in the film.

Armchair Viewing: Groundhog Day (1993)

Justin Bateman — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:47:12 -0400

By Lizzie Husher

"I was in the Virgin Islands once. I met a girl. We ate lobster, drank pina coladas. At sunset we made love like sea otters. That was a pretty good day. Why couldn’t I get that day over and over and over?"

Armchair Screaming: Arachnophobia (1990)

Adam Stephen Kelly — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:43:01 -0500

"The itsy-bitsy spider crawled up the water spout; down came the rain and washed the spider out."

What’s it about?
When a killer spider from South Africa hitches a right to the United States, it goes on a killing and breeding rampage in a sleepy country town.

Armchair Viewing: Red Rock West (1993)

Justin Bateman — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:40:07 -0500

By Toby Weidmann.

"Adios, Red Rock.”

What’s it about?
When jobless loner Michael Williams (Nicolas Cage) is mistaken for an assassin and decides to take on the hit, he soon discovers he's way out of his depth, especially when the real hitman (Dennis Hopper) shows up and isn't happy there's a 'rival' already on the scene.

Disney unveils new Toy Story 3 poster

Stuart — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:55:28 -0500

All our favourite toys are back! Yes, as the release dates approach (June 18 for the US, June 24 for Australia and July 23 for the UK), Disney has released a brand-spanking new poster for Toy Story 3 that show us the entire gang from the first two films. Toy Story 3 is directed by Lee Unkrich and features the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, John Morris, Laurie Metcalf, R Lee Ermey, Jodi Benson, Ned Beatty, Bonnie Hunt, Timothy Dalton, Jeff Garlin, Whoopi Goldberg and Michael Keaton.

NEW TRAILER | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Stuart — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:32:27 -0500

The new trailer for the third - and final? - film in The Twilight Saga, Eclipse, is out today ... which should have teenage girls everywhere salivating over their keyboards.

SYNOPSIS: Bella Swan is reunited with the love of her life (and vampire), Edward Cullen. Her life is back to the way it was before the Cullens' left, except for one major thing. Before Edward left, Bella had not considered Jacob Black (werewolf) her best friend, and she is in vain trying to make Edward and Jacob to make peace and be friends. She is torn between the love she feels for Edward, and the strong friendship between her and Jacob. Can she make them see sense, and can they be good too each other to keep from hurting Bella?And there's new dangers lurking around in the corners, Seattle is stalked by massmurders beyond humanity. Who's behond this, and what connection does it have with Bella?

Screenjabber Pubcast: Oscars roundup, and some new releases

Stuart — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:13:06 -0500

This week the gang ventures to the Round Table pub near Leicester Square, in London, to record the podcast. Join Justin Bateman, Doug Cooper, Neil Davey and Stuart O'Connor as we analyse last Sunday's 2010 Academy Awards and discuss all this week's new UK film releases - from Martin Scorsese's stunning return to form, Shutter Island, to Green Zone and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and more. Plus we look at what's new in the world of Blu-ray and DVD.

Armchair Viewing: The Graduate (1967)

Justin Bateman — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:38:05 -0500

By Lizzie Husher.

"Mrs Robinson, if you don’t mind me saying so, this conversation is getting a little strange.”

What’s it about?
A naïve and vaguely bewildered young graduate returns from college to find himself thrust into a series of congratulatory occasions and facing an entirely uncertain future. Soon however, he is propositioned by one of his parents’ oldest friends and a combination of adolescent curiosity, a faint desire to rebel and post-university boredom cause him to succumb to her calculating advances. Things become messier still, when the graduate finds himself drawn to the woman’s daughter.

Armchair Viewing: Dogma (1999)

Stuart — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:53:00 -0500

Bethany "Wait a minute. Christ. You know Christ?”
Rufus "Knew him? Shit, nigga owes me 12 bucks!”

What’s it about?
Two fallen angels banished to Earth discover a theological loophole could get them back into Heaven - except their plan will cause the world's destruction. It falls to a lapsed Catholic woman to stop them, with the aid of two so-called prophets, a muse-turned-stripper and a forgotten 13th apostle.

The Lost Boys star Corey Haim dead at 38

Adam Stephen Kelly — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:01:23 -0500

Today we bring you the tragic news that '80s child star Corey Haim passed away this morning in Burbank, California. TMZ reports that police were called to St Joseph's hospital to investigate shortly before 4am Pacific Time.

Haim rose to fame in the 1980s with another child star and best friend Corey Feldman. The world watched them grow up together and hit turbulent times, with Haim's drug addiction heavily publicised. It is this personal demon that has been apparently revealed as the cause of his death, and it is listed as being most likely an accidental overdose. He was 38.

His mother told authorities that he got out of bed in her apartment at just before 1am and collapsed in front of her. He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead at 2.15am. No hard drugs were found at the scene, although bottles for perscription medication were – not related to a flu-like illness that he had been suffering for the last few days. This echoes Brittany Murphy's death, who also had flu-like symptoms and was on a heavy amount of perscription medication when she died. A toxicology report showed that she had pneumonia that brought on cardiac arrest.

Corey's biggest role was in the 1987 cult classic The Lost Boys, where he co-starred alongside the likes of Kiefer Sutherland and Feldman. He also starred in the 2008 straight-to-video sequel The Lost Boys: The Tribe, and was rumoured to make an appearance in the third film. Corey had five films in pre-production to be shot this year, with another couple having wrapped in recent months.

Jordan: The Movie in the pipeline?

Adam Stephen Kelly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:55:28 -0500

Today we share the unfortunate news that it looks as if a biopic is to be made on the life of attention-seeker/Britain's most hated woman, Jordan (aka Katie Price). Peter Andre's ex-wife has sold all three of her autobiographies to a producer and has agreed to sell him the fourth, which she is currently writing. The fourth book will apparently detail her divorce from Andre, but will more than likely be used to keep the fire nice and hot now that her public approval is down to about minus 500%.

There is currently no word on who will play her, but I wouldn't be surprised to see her do it herself, despite the fact that acting is not one of her her talents. Though, does she actually have any? Personally, I think she'd do far better in a remake of a Chesty Morgan film. Any of them. Who's with me?

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with GoreZone editor Bryn Hammond

Adam Stephen Kelly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:58:08 -0500

This week I got together with the founding father and Editor-in-Chief of the internationally-distributed GoreZone Magazine, Bryn Hammond, to discuss the past, present and future of the mag. But, like all things in the spotlight, controversy looms, and Bryn saw perfect opportunity to set the record straight. This controversy has created quite the buzz on the internet in the past few days and has attracted the attention of some of the film industry's biggest names, such as legendary US film critic Roger Ebert. I'll let Bryn explain the recent goings on and give his side of the conflicted story ...

NEW TRAILER: Tron Legacy

Stuart — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:08:39 -0500

Tron: Legacy is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world thats unlike anything ever captured on the big screen.

Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Oscar-winner Jeff Bridges), looks into his fathers disappearance and finds himself pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevins loyal confidant Qora (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey of escape across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the cast also includes Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett and Michael Sheen.

Armchair Viewing: Crank (2006)

Justin Bateman — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:44:16 -0500

By Toby Weidmann.

"Don't pop a blood vessel, you little penis.”

What’s it about?
Ace hitman Chev Chelios is poisoned by a conniving Mob boss seeking revenge. The only way Chev can keep his heart pumping, and thus buy him time to find an antidote, is by keeping his adrenaline cranked up to the max. All of which makes Chev one buzzed up badass on a mission.

A new Behind the Scenes Featurette for Green Zone

Stuart — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:44:09 -0500

Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, United 93) reteam for their latest electrifying thriller Green Zone, a film set in the chaotic early days of the Iraq War when no one could be trusted and every decision could detonate unforeseen consequences.

SYNOPSIS: During the US-led occupation of Baghdad in 2003, Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller (Damon) and his team of Army inspectors were dispatched to find weapons of mass destruction believed to be stockpiled in the Iraqi desert. Rocketing from one booby-trapped and treacherous site to the next, the men search for deadly chemical agents but stumble instead upon an elaborate cover-up that inverts the purpose of their mission. Spun by operatives with intersecting agendas, Miller must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil for answers that will either clear a rogue regime or escalate a war in an unstable region. And at this blistering time and in this combustible place, he will find the most elusive weapon of all is the truth.

read more

New Iron Man 2 Trailer

Stuart — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:41:20 -0500

As well as lots of awards for The Hurt Locker, Oscar night also saw Marvel Studios release the new trailer for the highly-anticipated superhero sequel Iron Man 2, which stars Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Jon Favreau, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L Jackson, and Scarlett Johansson.

Transformers 2 wins big at the Razzies

Adam Stephen Kelly — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:29:16 -0500

Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen swept up three Golden Raspberry awards last night in what is being hailed as one of the most predictable and deserving trio of victories in the history of the Razzies. Now, I suppose "victories" is a questionable word to use. The Hollywood blockbuster won the biggest "prizes" in the only star-studded ceremony in Hollywood where the awards are equal to receiving a lump of coal in your stocking at Christmas. Boo hoo, Michael. Boo hoo.

But getting into the spirit of the thing – just as Halle Berry did in 2005 – was Sandra Bullock, who popped in to the awards ceremony to accept her prize for Worst Actress in All About Steve . The video of her speech is embedded below, just after the list of losers. Sorry, winners ...

Worst Picture of 2009 - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Worst Actor(s) of 2009 - All three of the Jonas Brothers for Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience

Worst Actress of 2009 - Sandra Bullock for All About Steve

OSCARS 2010: Live blog

Justin Bateman — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:07:47 -0500

0500 The award for Directing. Could it be the first African-American in Lee Daniels, or the first woman and it is... Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker! Wow, fantastic. Guardian film critic Jason Solomons is right, she does have great arms. And without much messing around, Tom Hanks is on stage, opening an envelope and the Best Picture goes to The Hurt Locker as well!

So that's six Oscars for The Hurt Locker, the overall winner you might say and a fine, fine film. I thought Avatar was a great spectacle and Up was the most outright enjoyable film of the year but I can't deny that The Hurt Locker was terrific in what was a year of very good but not absolutely brilliant movies. Here are Adam's final thoughts.

Machete to feature a fake trailer by Quentin Tarantino?

Adam Stephen Kelly — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:49:39 -0500

Robert Rodriguez's upcoming film Machete, starring Danny Trejo and based on the fake trailer of the same title from Robert's 2007 collaboration Grindhouse, with Quentin Tarantino, will now see the best friends teaming up once again to deliver the retro goods according to a rumour. Sometime this month, Tarantino will apparently film a fake trailer to precede Machete, titled Agent Orange.

Our source indicates that it will be set in 1975 and will feature Tim Roth as Agent Ringo Orange, a British soldier who wants to restart the Vietnam war. Roth will share the screen in the trailer with Rick Yune, who will play Li Chan, Orange's South Vietnamese sidekick. It will also star Sacha Baron Cohen as Colonel Weathers, and Stacy Keach as Doc Franklin, the rumoured antagonist.

Not only will a fake trailer play just before the main attraction, but a second will bring the Machete experience to a close. Ethan Maniquis, long time editor of Rodriguez's films and co-director on Machete, will also be directing Die, Machete, Die!, a trailer for a proposed sequel, starring Danny Trejo and Inglourious Basterds' Til Schweiger.

With Machete being born out of a trailer three years ago, what does the future hold for Agent Orange? Will Tarantino's first ever fake trailer lead on to a bigger and brighter one for Mr Ringo Orange? Machete has an all-star cast featuring Robert De Niro, Steven Seagal, Cheech Marin, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez.

The film will be slicing its way into cinemas this autumn, and I personally can't wait!

• Machete on IMDb

Alice in Wonderland grosses over $40 million on Friday

Adam Stephen Kelly — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:47:17 -0500

Disney will certainly be happy this weekend, and no doubt Tim Burton will be salivating at the current look of the backend he's going to get, as news has broken that Alice in Wonderland grossed just over $41 million in the USA and Canada on Friday alone. That's certainly a lot of money in just 24 hours, and it looks as if the film is going to go on and break weekend box office records the way it's going so far, with a projected $110 million gross for the end of the weekend, which would already put the film's takings at just over half the budget. If it takes the $110 million for the weekend, it'll be the biggest ever opening in history for a film, released outside of summer, since The Twilight Saga: New Moon last year.

So, the teets of the cash cow are certainly working in overdrive at the moment, but is the film actually any good? Check out our review page to see some extremely divided opinions!

Official Website

NEWS JAB: Hollywood reboot #738 ... Police Academy

Stuart — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:30:43 -0500

Do we really need more Police Academy movies? Really? In further proof that Hollywood has not only scraped through the bottom of the barrel, but has dug halfway to China, The Hollywood Reporter says that studio New Line is looking for recruits to relaunch the series, with with original producer Paul Maslansky back at the helm:

Armchair Viewing: Saturday selection

Justin Bateman — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 07:11:25 -0500

Unable to decide what to write about, I'm going to give you veritable cornucopia of filmy treats on TV today.

The Age of Innocence (3.10, Five), classy period drama starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder.

The Railway Children (3.45pm, ITV3), charming family drama starring Jenny Agutter and Bernard Cribbins.

Armchair Screaming: Wrong Turn (2003)

Adam Stephen Kelly — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 06:35:58 -0500

Jessie: "Woah, wait guys, this road isn't on here."
[Points to map]
Carly: "That's because we don't have the redneck world atlas."

What’s it about?
Ruthless redneck cannibal hillbillies! Six people find themselves trapped within a vast woodland in West Virginia and become the prey of hideously disfigured hunters, who are determined to use whatever kind of weaponry they can get their creepy mits on to quench their thirst for human blood.

The first Alice in Wonderland from 1903

Stuart — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:57:15 -0500

The first-ever film version of Lewis Carroll's tale has recently been restored by the BFI National Archive from severely damaged materials. Made just 37 years after Carroll wrote his novel and eight years after the birth of cinema, the adaptation was directed by Cecil Hepworth and Percy Stow, and was based on Sir John Tenniel's original illustrations. In an act that was to echo more than 100 years later, Hepworth cast his wife as the Red Queen, and he himself appears as the Frog Footman. Even the Cheshire Cat is played by a family pet.

Jibberjabber: Mad as a hatter

Stuart — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:02:35 -0500

By Justin Bateman

It's Friday, which is film day! Without a doubt the biggest film of the week is Alice in Wonderland , Tim Burton's take on the Lewis Carroll tale. Opinion is divided (although my opinion is obviously the correct one).

Armchair Viewing: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Justin Bateman — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:19:45 -0500

Walter Stratford: "Do you know what happens at proms?"
Bianca: "Yes. We'll dance, we'll kiss, we'll come home. It's not quite the crisis situation you imagine."
Walter Stratford: "Kissing? That's what you think happens? I've got news for you. Kissing isn't what keeps me up to my elbows in placenta all day long.”

What’s it about?
In a nutshell, Shakepeare's The Taming of the Shrew for the '90s teenager. Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) accepts money to date the miserable Katarina Stratford (Julia Stiles) but ends up falling in love with her.