Geez! Usually things are winding down in Hollywood in the weeks before the holidays. Not so in the world of comic book movies. We've got tons of chatter from around frigid, snow-covered wastelands of the internet, so lets take a look at your Comics2Film roundup for December 17.
Variety reports that the trial to settle the dispute over 'Watchmen' has been pushed back two weeks according to Daily Variety.
Fans recall that 20th Century Fox filed suit the summer, seeking to enjoin Warner Bros from releasing the film. Fox asserts they still have a hold on the film rights to the property.
The new start is January 20th. Judge Gary Allen Feess set the date to make room for a criminal matter that is to be handled on the 6th, the original trial date.
Variety reports that the judge also refused to make a pre-trial summary judgment -- as requested by both sides -- because, he said, the contracts between Fox and 'Watchmen' producer Larry Gordon are so open to interpretation that a trial is required.
The movie is still slated for a March 6th release.
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You know that when Alan Moore authored 'Watchmen' he wanted nothing more than to see the work plastered all over toys, coffee mugs and other products and merchandise, right?
Well, sarcasm aside, DC Comics did a pretty fair job of restraining themselves with regards to diluting the work over the past few decades, but now that the movie is coming out, the merchandising floodgates are wide open!
WatchmenComicMovie.com has a listing of the latest round of tzotchkes being released in anticipation of the film.
[LINK] - Thanks to Antonello Blueberry for the submission.
In the increasingly granular world of internet reporting, where we run reports describing TV commercials which advertise trailers for movies that are coming out next summer, we now also have CHUD, reviewing the first 22 minutes of 'Watchmen'.
The verdict? So far, so good.
"The film is packed with details. Every frame seems to have something that lends depth to the world or background to the characters; there were elements in the opening scene that I missed the first time around and only caught here. This is definitely a movie that will have a high replay value, both for the uninitiated and the hardcore fan.
Finally, the performances seemed right on. Maybe it's because I've been seeing more and more of this footage over time, but both Patrick Wilson and Haley seem perfect in their roles. My first look at Stephen McHattie as Hollis Mason was a good one; he gets across a certain air of wistfulness without forcing it. He's also instantly likable, a trait that's key since he'll only be in a few short scenes in the film and his character needs to have an emotional pay off."
[LINK] - Thanks to Antonello Blueberry for the submission.
Oh, you sheltered American children. The MPAA has protected you from psychological harm once more.
Remember that new trailer for 'X-Men Origins Wolverine'? Remember the beat where Wolverine rises from the tank, and Stryker's man fires a gun at him, and Wolverine's head whips around but displays no other discernible effect from the gun shot?
Well, the French have the too-hot-for-American-green-band version of the trailer up on their official Wolverine site. Watch that moment closely for a little blood splatter followed by the impact damage on Logan's forehead.
[LINK] - Thanks to Antonello Blueberry for the submission.
'The Dark Knight' director Christopher Nolan is set to receive the American Society of Cinematographers' Board of Governors Award. Trophy is to be handed to him at the 23rd ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards on Feb 15 at the Century Plaza Hotel.
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One week. That's how long it took 'The Dark Knight' to outsell all other home video products for 2008.
Variety reports over 13.5 million in units sold across all retail channels worldwide.
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Frank Miller told MTV Splash Page that he's eager to get going on 'Sin City 2'. He said the script includes Marv and he hope Mickey Rourke is up for returning to the role. He also has an actress in mind to play Ava (the titular 'Dame to Kill For') but really doesn't "want to talk about casting because it could end up being somebody else and I wouldn’t want to insult her.”
Years-old reports had linked Angelina Jolie to the role.
[LINK] - Thanks to Antonello Blueberry for the submission.
Hot on the heals of yesterday's news of a new 'Phantom' movie screenwriter Tim Boyle is doing some spin-control.
First up, he posts on his MySpace blog that the new movie is not a sequel to the 1996 Billy Zane movie.
"It is a 're-launch' or 're-boot' of the comic franchise to the big screen. This film has nothing to do with the 1996 movie," Boyle writes.
Then he posted a follow-up blog about the project:
First of all, I've got to say - this is a very exciting time. Being able to bring the first masked comic superhero back to the big screen is an absolute honor. I've been researching The Phantom intensely for the last year or so and I've been working with the support of King Features Syndicate to try and bring you the tightest possible film. Yes, this is a new look at the comic book hero, but rest assured - He wont be 'heavily gadget man' (as that is another comic book hero named Batman) and he wont be an 'angry mob killer' (as 'The Punisher' -Frank Castle has been made into a film 3 times - remember the Dolph Lundgren film - that too was shot in Australia... old skool). He will be, without doubt 'The Phantom'. A man who has sworn an oath to protect - but at what cost?
...
Unfortunately I can't say too much else on the project apart from that we're ALL working very hard to do this film right. We're making choices. We're trying to keep the essence of the characters real and not get caught up in the 'wrong stuff'.
There's an actor I'd like to see play the lead role - but that's for another day.
[LINK] - Thanks to Antonello Blueberry for the submission.
Given how awkward the whole situation with Terrance Howard and 'Iron Man 2' has gotten, it's interesting to hear from actor Don Cheadle, the man who is filling the role of Jim Rhodes in the sequel.
Cheadle told IGN, "When they called me I asked what was going on with Terrence. I've worked with Terrence, I've known Terrence for a long time. And they said they were moving away from him. So it's not like I was taking Terrence's job, because the job was already gone. Someone else was going to do the part. I don't know who the next person in line was, but that's who they were going to. And I literally had a few hours to accept the job or not."
Cheadle says he's not seen the script yet, but hopes that there's a payoff to the line "next time", which Rhodey uttered in the first movie after looking at the Iron Man suit.
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Times Online has an in-depth article packed with details about the 'Spider-Man' stage production.
[LINK] - Thanks to Antonello Blueberry for the submission.
On IronMan 2 with Don Cheadle taking the role of Jim Rhodes: what the audience is going to figure out how the light-skinned, youthful Jim Rhodes in the first IronMan goes dark-skinned, older-looking Jim Rhodes in the sequel?
I know! Tanning beds!! I bet a scene in IM2 in which Tony Stark is telling Jim that he's spending too much time in tanning beds.
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I just recently read the WATCHMEN, I know I know, why did I wait SOOOOO many years, and I WAS BLOWN AWAY. IT truly lives up to the HYPE everyond gives it. Actually I read it twice in one week. Though it is a bit dated, but the concept of the story, the depth, and the complexities, are on point and are ageless. Cant wait for the movie
I have NEVER been a fan of JACKMAN as Wolverine, but the clip LOOKS decent, so hopefull we will have a good movie Saw IRONMAN last week, and it was AVERAGE at best, story was choppy, had many many holes, and Downey Jr was mediocre. I know the FANBOYS/GIRLS loved it, but it was simply a "nothing else to do, hey lets watch this DVD" movie..PERIOD