Wachoski bros. retool THE INVASION

[arto_j]

I was wondering what had happened to the Oliver Hirschbiegel directed Nicole Kidman alien invasion flick. It sounded pretty promising, but I guess it's done for now. Joel Silver apparently fired Hirschbiegel and brought in the Wachowskis to dumb down the "artsy, talky" flick it was originally supposed to be. So there's another summer flick I don't need to see any more.

From Hollywood Elsewhere (originally on collider) :

"Collider.com's Steve Weintraub (a.k.a. "Frosty") says he's spent the last few days researching a story about The Invasion (Warner Bros., 8.17), the Nicole Kidman zombie film that Oliver Hirschbiegel began to direct (but wasn't allowed to quite finish), and discovered it's much more of a Wachowski Brothers job than anything else.

The Wachowskis re-wrote 2/3 of it, Weintraub reports, and then arranged for addi- tional footage to be directed by James Teigue, the Wachowski flunky who directed V for Vendetta.

"The last time you may have heard of this film was when Kidman was involved with a stunt gone wrong," Weintraub begins. "What you may not have known was that the stunt took place during the reshoots for the film."

"Apparently, Warner Bros. saw an early rough cut of The Invasion and realized it needed a little work. The director, Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall), was said to be 'unavailable' to work on the planned reshoots" -- i.e., was most likely given the heave-ho -- "so Warner Bros. and Joel Silver brought in a pair of writer-directors that they knew they could rely upon -- the Wachowski Brothers.

"It was reported that the boys came in to shoot a new ending. But I can report that they rewrote over 2/3 of the film, and brought in Mcteigue to direct the material while they were busy prepping their own film.

"Silver and Warner Bros. knew that they were capable of creating a more commercially accessible and large scale film than had previously been put together. Apparently, the earlier cut may have been a little artsy, talky, and not exactly a summer tentpole.

"So, we all knew we were getting a new Wachowski film with the upcoming G-rated Speed Racer in 2008, but now we're getting something to hold our appetites in the meantime. I don't know about you, but I'm excited as fuck about this and I hope there's a trailer soon. Hint. Hint. And if you're curious what this film is about, luckily earlier this year, Warner Bros. provided me with a thorough and complete synopsis of said film:

Weintraub says he got "two people to confirm what I wrote.""

[Lazy Boy]

Originally posted by arto_j
"Silver and Warner Bros. knew that they were capable of creating a more commercially accessible and large scale film than had previously been put together. Apparently, the earlier cut may have been a little artsy, talky, and not exactly a summer tentpole."

When I saw the words "commercially accessible," my interest in this film waned.

Not exactly a summer tentpole -- well, la-dee-frickin'-da, a film that actually wants to go a different route and is subsequently dumbed down for accessibility. Move it, give it a fall/winter release.

Did Silver actually see Downfall or The Experiment and know they weren't edge of your seat thrillers? Damn, and here I was actually thinking a director from outside the studio system would do something interesting without being replaced.

[therealjohng]

Fucking great. *sarcasm*

[IronMonkey]

Fuck that snobby article!

who the flying fuck wants to see an ALIEN film made "ARTSY"?????

SNNNNNOOOOORRRRREEEEE

The Wachowskis "dumbing down"? FUCK THEM

The director of V for Vendetta a FLUNKY?

Fuck that too.

[arto_j]

Originally posted by IronMonkey

The director of V for Vendetta a FLUNKY?

Fuck that too.

I think what he meant by that is that McTeigue was essentially a puppet for the Wachowskis for that flick. Which he was.

[thedudeman69]

Originally posted by arto_j
I think what he meant by that is that McTeigue was essentially a puppet for the Wachowskis for that flick. Which he was.


Yeah, the one fight scene and the MANY scenes of justifying terrorism was AWESOME. *sarcasm* I hated that movie with every fiber of my being.

[RandalGraves]

Originally posted by therealjohng
Fucking great. *sarcasm*

[therealjohng]

We better get some kind of original cut when it's released on DVD. Downfall and The Experiment are great films and it's hard to believe that his guy fucked up a movie so badly that they have to bring in a couple of Hollywood hacks to redo it for mainstream America.

[IronMonkey]

Originally posted by therealjohng
We better get some kind of original cut when it's released on DVD. Downfall and The Experiment are great films and it's hard to believe that his guy fucked up a movie so badly that they have to bring in a couple of Hollywood hacks to redo it for mainstream America.

LOL!!!

Hollywood hacks? :rolleyes:

[floydtheater07]

Originally posted by IronMonkey
Fuck that snobby article!

who the flying fuck wants to see an ALIEN film made "ARTSY"?????


Fuck that too.

Uh, I do. Strangely, "Independence Day" didn't do it for me...

[IronMonkey]

And being in the minority feels how? ;)

Making an Alien movie and approaching the material serious is one thing, but as an "art" film is stupid and has B.O.M.B written all over it.

Its like taking a comedic look at Hitler and the Nazis...I say the backers of this mess made a wise move in bringing on The Wachowski Brothers.

[Fisting Ackbar]

^^^^ Dude, what's with the hostility?

Never mind the merits of The Wachowski Brothers and James Teigue, but Hirschbiegel has proven himself to be a more than capable filmmaker. His departure comes across as a significant loss to the film.

[IronMonkey]

I'm not being hostile to anyone here, just the idiotic writers of the article. But I will def give off a strong opinion to anyone who says Wachowskis are hacks and V for Vendetta is shit.

Making Downfall which is a very good movie shouldnt automaticlaly mean making an Alien flick is gonna worlk for the director and making an arthouse alien flick if thats what he was gonna do sounds LAMO

[Fisting Ackbar]

You do realize that the writer of the article isn't saying anything bad about the Wachowskis?

"So, we all knew we were getting a new Wachowski film with the upcoming G-rated Speed Racer in 2008, but now we're getting something to hold our appetites in the meantime. I don't know about you, but I'm excited as fuck about this and I hope there's a trailer soon. Hint. Hint.

[therealjohng]

Originally posted by Fisting Ackbar
You do realize that the writer of the article isn't saying anything bad about the Wachowskis?


He's talking about me.

[kaiser117]

Originally posted by thedudeman69
Yeah, the one fight scene and the MANY scenes of justifying terrorism was AWESOME. *sarcasm* I hated that movie with every fiber of my being.

JUSTIFYING TERRORISM? Did you even see the same movie that i did?

V for Vendetta is more like the United States going to war against England for independance! Anyone with a pulse should love that movie!

i don't know what you are on, but i definately don't want any of it.

[gyro_44]

Originally posted by thedudeman69
Yeah, the one fight scene and the MANY scenes of justifying terrorism was AWESOME. *sarcasm* I hated that movie with every fiber of my being.
So you sided with the fascist government in the film then? Wow.

Fucking great movie if you ask me man. And come now, there were at least three fight scenes. At any rate, good luck with the ADHD.

In a situation like this, you could do waaaay worse than having the Wachowski's do a pass on your movie. But situations like these suck. It's a sad state when you have to tone down the "talkiness" for a mass audience. I hate people.

[Fisting Ackbar]

Originally posted by therealjohng
He's talking about me.

His initial reply (before quoting you) was about the article from the first post.

[ilovemovies]

Originally posted by thedudeman69
Yeah, the one fight scene and the MANY scenes of justifying terrorism was AWESOME. *sarcasm* I hated that movie with every fiber of my being.

You are SO not giving that movie enough credit if you really think it's justifying terrorism.

The movie isn't that simplistic at all. It's a great movie.



As for this, is it still suppose to come out in August? Or will this delay the release?

[yorrick brown]

they`ve added The Architect to the movie

[arto_j]

Originally posted by ilovemovies


As for this, is it still suppose to come out in August? Or will this delay the release?

It's coming out in August. It was originally going to come out last year but obviously, shit happened.

[therealjohng]

Originally posted by yorrick brown
they`ve added The Architect to the movie


And flying robots.

[MadsenOMC]

Whatever happened to stars standing up for the director when the studio or producer does something like this? Remember when Brad Pitt stood up for Fincher and Seven when New Line wanted a totally different ending? Craig and Kidman have some serious pull in Hollywood. If they wanted to, they could probably stand behind Hirschbiegel and his version of the film. That they apparently are not means they either don't give a fuck or the film needed help.

[NuclearMisfit]

Originally posted by IronMonkey


who the flying fuck wants to see an ALIEN film made "ARTSY"?????




Tom: Have you ever seen that movie, "Contact"?
(Mr. Garrison pukes)
Mr. Garrison: Oh, stop! That movie was terrible! Wait the entire movie to see the alien and it's her goddamn father!

[chinton]

And exactly what is wrong with an arthouse alien flick? That actually sounds rather interesting. I would rather see that than an mediocre formula alien flick.

Contact was an arty alien flick and last time I checked that film was excellent.

[The Heart Collector]

I love Contact, but I wouldn't call anything Robert Zemeckis does 'artsy'.

Smart and restrained, sure.

[Backstabba]

Originally posted by IronMonkey
Its like taking a comedic look at Hitler and the Nazis

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/cinema/images/producers_lead.jpg

"Where did we go right?"
;)

Well, I loved Downfall, so this....actually confuses me.
But I also loved the Matrix films and V For Vendetta...
Hopefully they release both versions on DVD like Payback.

[ilovemovies]

Originally posted by The Heart Collector
I love Contact, but I wouldn't call anything Robert Zemeckis does 'artsy'.

Smart and restrained, sure.

Plus, Contact wasn't an alien invasion movie.

[IronMonkey]

Originally posted by NuclearMisfit
Tom: Have you ever seen that movie, "Contact"?
(Mr. Garrison pukes)
Mr. Garrison: Oh, stop! That movie was terrible! Wait the entire movie to see the alien and it's her goddamn father!

You consider CONTACT to be an art film?

I dont.

If however, that was the type of film the director wanted, like a CONTACT, then yes, I do agree that is a very good drama, but I didnt view it as artsy.

[MrPhox]

With the exception of Matrix Revolutions, I've liked everything those guys have done. (Yes. Reloaded was sweet. The Highway sequence = unfuckingtoppable)

And Nicole Kidman is hot. So...yeah I'll probably see this.