September 30, 2000

Okay, so you've waited long enough...you can now order the X-Men DVD today! Just click on the pic below and check it all out. Details of the DVD follow:

• Never-before-seen footage comprised of six movie sequences (available as part of "Extended Branching" or to be viewed one after another in a special section). They are:
  
  -- Storm character development -- Teaching Class.
  -- Logan Notices Jean and Scott/Rogue, Scott and Storm in the classroom.
  -- An extended bedroom sequence between Logan, Jean and Scott.
  -- Relationship development as Bobby walks Rogue to her Dorm and Professor Xavier and Jean are in the Cerebro.
  -- Development of relationship between Professor Xavier and Jean in his office.
  -- Ready Room.

• An exciting 22 minute "behind-the-scenes" documentary "Mutant Watch" which was created for HBO and aired to promote the movie's theatrical release.

• The screen test of hot Australian actor Hugh Jackman, as he auditioned for the part of Logan/Wolverine.

• Five excerpts from Bryan Singer's interview on the Charlie Rose Show -- Singer discusses making a "studio film."

• Expansive Art Gallery -- 170 concept art stills from both production and character design stills and development stills -- including shots of several characters not included in the film.

• Two "animatic" animated storyboards, created to demonstrate Singer's vision for the look, blocking and angles of shots in the Statue of Liberty fight sequence and train station fight sequence.

• Two theatrical trailers.

• Three TV spots.

• THX Optimode -- home theater audio optimizing system.

• Two exciting "Easter Eggs" DVD enthusiasts will enjoy.

September 29, 2000

Well, when it comes to big scoops, it doesn't get much bigger than this. Harry Knowles and the gang over at AICN were able to obtain some early storyboards created for the purpose of filming THE MATRIX 2. All of the pictures are presented below in smaller sizes. To see the larger pics and read Harry's take on the whole affair, click on the pictures below.

September 29, 2000

Tom Cruise has officially signed on to star opposite Penelope Cruz in a romantic thriller entitled VANILLA SKY. The film will be directed by the man behind ALMOST FAMOUS and JERRY MAGUIRE, Cameron Crowe, and will be an adaptation of the 1997 Spanish film ALBRE LOS OJOS, which was written and directed by Alejandro Amenabar and which also starred Cruz. The original centered around a wealthy womanizer who falls for his best friend's girlfriend. He later winds up in a car with a previous paramour, who-- extremely jealous of his affairs-- tries to commit suicide by ramming their car into a tree. The bachelor survives the crash, but his face is horribly disfigured. Eventually, doctors are able to reconstruct his face and his best bud's girl declares her love for him, but soon a series of bizarre incidents beset him. Cameron Diaz co-stars.
        

September 29, 2000

Despite not winning the million dollar prize on TV's "Survivor", Colleen (last name Haskell) won the hearts of millions of Americans with her cute smile and fun attitude. Apparently, Hollywood agrees with the rest of America, as Colleen has now officially been signed on to play the love interest for comedian Rob Schneider in his next comedy entitled ANIMAL. She previously turned down the opportunity to pose nude for Playboy magazine. JoBlo.com reported on early plans for this film here. Expect the picture in theatres by June 2001.
       

September 28, 2000

Arnold Schwarzenegger's last attempt at a comeback resulted in a lackluster film called END OF DAYS. This coming November, Arnold will try once more as the clone of himself in a sci-fi flick entitled THE SIXTH DAY co-starring Robert Duvall, Michael Rooker and Michael Rapaport. Is it gonna be any good? Hard to say. The trailer was so-so at best and the film is now into re-shooting some of its scenes, never a good sign. All the same, here are some behind-the-scenes photos from said flick. Thanks to Bear aka L'Ours

Behind the Scenes photos from "The Sixth Day"
      

September 27, 2000

Director Tim Burton becomes one of the first mainstream filmmakers to take his work on to the Net. Beginning this week, and continuing for another 13 episodes shown every 3-4 weeks, Burton has created a character named "Stainboy" who will star in his own series showing on the Shockwave.com website. With a grandiose score by the way of Burton's right-hand man Danny Elfman, the story will follow the character, an ineffectual but diligent superhero whose talent is leaving stains. He was originally featured in Burton's book "The Melancholy Death Of Oyster Boy & Other Stories". There will also be "Stainboy" games, trading cards and e-mail postcards on the site. To check out the first 7-minute episode, click on "Stainboy" below.

September 27, 2000

Now you might've heard about this new movie mag already, but if you have yet to pick yourself up a copy, you might just want to check out this special offer. The magazine is called TOTAL MOVIE and has been described as the "Maxim" of the movie trade. Open to US residents only, you get a free debut issue, with a free DVD, and 5 more issues and DVDs (every issue comes with its own DVD) for $14.95. If it interests you, check it all out below.

Total Movie Free Trial Issue
     

September 27, 2000

In one of the highest sums paid to an actor in his first starring role, WWF champion The Rock (aka Dwayne Johnson), has just been signed to star in THE SCORPION KING for Universal Pictures for the tidy sum of $5.5 Million. The Rock is currently playing the character of "The Scorpion King" in the sequel to THE MUMMY, and his own pic's storyline would take place long before the MUMMY 2. Set in ancient Egypt, the story revolves around a peasant whose town is plundered by a marauding army from the north led by a violent guy out to rule Egypt. The Rock plays the peasant, who attempts to exact revenge for his flattened village and to recover his kidnapped village by joining up with a band of outlaws. Get ready to check out THE MUMMY 2 in theatres by May 2001, while THE SCORPION KING is shooting for a summer 2002 release. 
     

September 27, 2000

I guess not many pictures have surfaced from the set of HANNIBAL, the follow-up to the successful SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, sans Jodie Foster, starring Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore. Well, here comes Premiere France once again with some behind-the-scenes photos of Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore and director Ridley Scott (GLADIATOR). Thanks to Bear aka L'Ours

Behind the Scenes photos from "Hannibal"
      

September 27, 2000

Freddie Prinze Jr.'s "Teen Beat" stage might finally be behind him as the young actor has just signed on to a as-yet-untitled martial arts project from Miramax Films. The movie is based on a pitch by the screenwriter of THE KARATE KID. The story follows an American boy who is raised by Chinese monks after his parents are murdered, who travels to Gotham seeking vengeance.
     

September 26, 2000

The dudes over at AICN were able to snatch a nice little interview with Mr. Elusive Director himself, Quentin Tarantino. Strange guy, to say the least. He spends a couple of years surfing the limelight of Hollywood and celebrity and then suddenly disappears from the face of the planet. Anyway, in this informal interview, which is an easy read, he discusses his next movie projects, the PULP FICTION and JACKIE BROWN DVDs, Roger Avary, film and comic book geeks, how he feels about TRUE ROMANCE and NATURAL BORN KILLERS, his part in Adam Sandler's LITTLE NICKY and a whole bunch of other cool stuff.

Quentin Tarantino Interview (Part One)
Quentin Tarantino Interview (Part Two)
   

September 26, 2000

Oscar-winning screenwriters, best buddies and actors in their own right, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, have joined with Miramax and HBO to create a website entitled ProjectGreenlight.com, which would allow aspiring filmmakers to submit original screenplays online with the chance of having their script turned into a movie. The site was launched on Monday and will run until October 22, 2000, at which point the registered scripts will be narrowed down to 250, and then further narrowed to 30 contestants then a final 10. Damon, Affleck and the other sponsors of the contest will then determine the winner. Miramax has promised to contribute $1 million to the winning project's budget and will release the movie in theaters nationwide after HBO airs a 13-episode documentary-style TV series about the contest. The site will also feature chat rooms for filmmakers to share insight into one another's work.

Check out ProjectGreenlight.com here
   

September 26, 2000

Yup, yet another comic book hero has been green-lit into a movie of his own and this time it's IRON MAN, Marvel Comics' high-tech knight in shining armor! Ironically, the same man who penned 1999's IRON GIANT, Tim McCanlies has been slated to write the screenplay for this one as well. Word on the street is that the costume colors, yellow and red in the comic, might have to be changed since they will more than likely not look so nice on the big screen. Both Tom Cruise and Nic Cage have expressed interest in playing the lead role, but no casting choices has been set in stone yet. IRON MAN is actually secret billionaire industrialist Anthony Stark. A prisoner of war, Stark managed to build himself a powerful suit of armor which he used to escape. In addition to battling crime with the suit, the armor also provides a lifeline, as its mechanisms also regulate his faulty heart.
   

September 26, 2000

AMERICAN PSYCHO star Christian Bale is apparently in negotiations to star in the Rob Bowman directed action film called REIGN OF FIRE. Bowman is best known for bringing the TV show "X-Files" to the big screen. REIGN is a MAD MAX-like tale set in England involving a brood of fire-breathing dragons that emerges from the earth and begins setting fire to everything, establishing dominance over the planet. Bale would play the role of a young Brit whose mother is killed by the dragons. After the dragons have taken over, Bale's character becomes a "fire chief," the leader of a small clan of survivors. He meets an American dragon slayer with whom he teams with to try to destroy the queen dragon. The role of the American has yet to be cast. The film should begin shooting in the UK in February, 2001.
  

September 26, 2000

After a disastrous test outing in Washington, where the film only managed to gross a pitiful $1,019/screen, distributor Miramax has decided to look for a cable premiere for the third installment of THE CROW movies entitled: THE CROW: SALVATION. Despite that bit of bad news, the franchise is still alive as part four entitled THE CROW: LAZARUS starring rap star and actor DMX is apparently still in the works.

Read JoBlo's review of THE CROW: SALVATION
Read The Arrow's review of THE CROW: SALVATION
 

September 26, 2000

Enough talk about the Grinch movie, right? You wanna see some cool behind-the-scenes schtuff on the set of Whoville, right? Well, whether or not you do, here it is, boys and girls! The first clip features the film's production design, while the second clip covers the auditions for Max, the Grinch's dog. Thanks to Bear aka L'Ours.

Behind the Scenes: Grinch #1 (8.4MB)
Behind the Scenes: Grinch #2 (5.4MB)