'Gears of War' Movie Loses Budget and More

I think it goes without saying that the track record of video game movies doesn’t exactly bode well for the upcoming video game movies currently in development. "Gears of War" is no exception – even if it’s based on one of the most critically acclaimed games of the last decade.

Now there's going to be some major changes to the "Gears of Wars movie, namely regarding who is directing it, what the story is and what the budget is.

According to the LA Times, New Line has decided to dramatically cut the film's budget and limit its storyline, sending director Len Wisemen ("Underworld," "Live Free or Die Hard") into the arms of his other project, "Nocturne."

The budget has been scaled back from what was to be well over $100 million to a considerably lower amount (no number is actually confirmed). The plan now is to make a more straightforward alien invasion story instead of the action adventure epic it was originally intended to be.

Wiseman was tapped to direct the film a while back and even co-wrote the script for the film with Chris Morgan ("Wanted"). The film was set to be a prequel to the first game in the popular Xbox 360 series and possibly be the first in a trilogy.

Although technically still attached to "Gears of War," Wiseman will in fact depart the project when all is said and done (which will probably squash any chances of his wife, Kate Beckinsale, starring in the film).

Producers are currently looking for a new writer to pen the script for this “straight-forward alien invasion” approach they’ve suddenly decided on. I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this stalled project as time goes by - like who the new director will be and any casting announcements (if the film ever gets made...).

It seems that the sprawling and epic "Gears of War" adaptation will now be substantially less sprawling and significantly less epic...*sigh*

What do you think of the film's budget shrinking and losing its director?
More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Sources: Screen Rant, UGO movie Blog

Box Office Results and Weekly Movie News

Movies coming out this week!

Date Night - In New York City, a case of mistaken identity turns a bored married couple's attempt at a glamorous and romantic evening into something more thrilling and dangerous.

Letters to God - A young boy writes letters to God as he fights cancer, inspiring, among many other people, a postal worker tasked with "delivering" the boy's mail.

Movies coming out on DVD and Blu-ray!

The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans
The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Sharpe's Peril

Box Office results for the weekend!

1 Clash of the Titans $61.4 M

2 Why Did I Get Married Too?$30.1 M

3 How To Train Your Dragon $29.2 M

4 The Last Song$16.2 M

5 Alice in Wonderland $8.2 M

6 Hot Tub Time Machine $8.0 M

7 The Bounty Hunter $6.2 M

8 Diary of a Wimpy Kid $5.5 M

9 She's Out of My League $1.4 M

10 Shutter Island $1.4 M

"Clash of the Titans" slayed the competition at the box office earning $61.4 million dollars its opening weekend. Though the movie has been getting so-so reviews, especially on the film's converted 3-D format, "Titans" easily scored the highest debut for a movie on Easter weekend - beating 2006's "Scary Movie" (which opened to $40.2 million).

I've never seen a Tyler Perry movie, but the man is a cash cow. He continues to make profitable movies for less money, something even the major studios often have troubles with.

"How to Train Your Dragon" fell 33 percent in its second weekend while "Hut Tub Time Machine" fell even worse. Why are these films going dropping? Because of other films that are still in theaters such as "The Bounty Hunter" and "The Last Song" The former should be out of the Top Ten next weekend (or so help me...) and the new Miley Cyrus flick will hopefully fall flatter than her voice.

Can "Date Night" win the next weekend or will those 3D price spikes help "Clash of the Titans" make a repeat victory. Seriously though, see it in 2D...
More news to come! Catch ya' later!

'Robin Hood' Featurette

Universal Pictures has released a first look featurette for Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood" starring Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, William Hurt, and Matthew Macfadyen.

It is an interesting featurette with interviews from Scott, Crowe and Blanchett discussing the origins of Robin Hood and how they depict his transformation from soldier to hero in the upcoming new adaptation of the classic tale.



"Robin Hood" hits theaters May 14, 2010.

'Resident Evil: Afterlife' Trailer Blows Up In Your Face

Sony has debuted the first official trailer for "Resident Evil: Afterlife," the fourth installment in the declining "Resident Evil" franchise.

Following 2007's "Resident Evil: Extinction," "Afterlife" is set in the same world ravaged by a virus infection, turning its victims into the Undead. Milla Jovovich returns as Alice as she continues her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead – and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap.

The trailer's focus is on emphasizing the 3D technology they’re employing in the film, using the team and technology behind the 3D used in "Avatar." The film was shot in 3D, not converted into it in the post-production process, so it should have a better look than the "Clash of the Titans" remake. However, in the trailer below you can see they’ve gone for lots of deliberate shots of things heading straight at you. Subtle 3D it is not!



This looks as action cheesy as it can get, but I am amused by the fact that they chose to say in the trailer that this was shot in 3D. At least these guys know that converting to 3D is a bad idea! This makes "Afterlife" the first video game to film adaptation in 3D.

And being a huge fan of the RE games, I can say I am still uncertain about this film. Yes, the games have moved to different locales and the genre has become more action than horror, but I think the films have gone way too overboard. I'm glad they seem to be trying to go back to the the style of the games (by bringing in new characters and creatures), but it may be too late.

And someone needs to be told that the last shot in the trailer was ripped straight out of "The Matrix Reloaded." And why is Milla Jovovich performing the same action in every scene in that trailer (pulling out kunai, gun, sword, etc.)?

"Resident Evil: Afterlife" hits theaters September 10, 2010.
More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Sources: Screen Rant, Rope of Silicon, Live for Films, First Showing

'Avatar 2' Trailer is Completely Original

"Avatar" was such a completely original film and made so much money that a sequel was in the works before the first film finished its run in theaters. Now the trailer for "Avatar 2" has come online and dare I say it - it is even more original and inventive than the first film.



If you couldn't tell, this is my late April Fool's Day post. I kind of missed it yesterday, so here ya' go.

If you feel cheated and pissed off about not seeing a real trailer for "Avatar 2," then watch the first official trailer for "Harry Potter and the Death Hallows" below.



Oh wait...that's fake too. Oh well, enjoy these funny videos anyway and have a great weekend!
More news to come! Catch ya' later!

'Captain America' has its Bucky

Now that we all know Chris Evans is cast as Captain America and Hugo Weaving will be the Red Skull, there is still some more casting additions left for the film, mostly along the lines of Cap's sidekick and the leading lady.

Now joining Weaving and Evans in "Captain America" is Sebastian Stan ("Gossip Girl") - who will play Cap’s sidekick, Bucky Barnes. Despite being Romanian-born, Stan was thrown into the list of final candidates in the running to play the title character of Steve Rogers. Similar to the story behind Tom Hiddleston auditioning for the title role in "Thor" and instead being offered the part as the villain Loki, Marvel and and director Joe Johnston felt Stan would be better suited to play the role of Bucky.

For those unfamiliar with the character Sebastian Stan will be playing, James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes is a teenaged orphan who was too young to join the army but instead became a sort of mascot for the base he lived in. When he discovered Captain America’s identity as Steve Rogers, he joined him as a partner in his Nazi-fighting escapades. The character died in Captain America’s final World War II adventure.

After decades of being “dead,” the character was revived in 2005 and brought back into modern comic continuity, initially as a covert assassin named Winter Soldier.

There’s no word from Marvel if the Winter Soldier identity is something they will explore in the movies as the studio would only confirm that Stan is playing Barnes. But according to Heat Vision, Stan has signed a 5 to 6 picture deal with the studio and with a multi-picture contract we know he’s not being killed off that quickly.

"The First Avenger: Captain America" hits theaters July 22, 2011.
More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Sources: Latino Review, Screen Rant

Second 'The A-Team' Trailer

Fox has debuted the second full-length trailer for Joe Carnahan's "The A-Team," which stars Quinton Jackson as B.A. , Liam Neeson as Hannibal, Bradley Cooper as Face and Sharlto Copley as Murdock

As badass as the first trailer was, this one is even better. It gives us more of an idea of the style of action in the film (luckily it’s not all as ridiculous as parachuting out of a plane in a tank from the end of the first trailer) as well as the plot. We also get to see a bit more of Jessica Biel as Captain Charisa Sosa, the ex girlfriend of Face (Cooper) and Patrick Wilson as the man trying to track the Team down.




Having never being an avid watcher of the television show (not a child of the 80's) and since I mostly stick to films, I don't know how well this trailer reflects upon the show. If you are a fan of the original show, does this trailer make it look like the film might do the show justice?

I have to say that I still think the action still looks a little over the top, but the previous few trailers posted on this blog have all been full of action that defies the laws of physics.

"The A-Team" hits theaters on June 11, 2010.
More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Sources: Screen Rant, First Showing

New Trailer for Angelina Jolie's 'Salt'

Sony has premiered a full theatrical trailer for "Salt," starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Phillip Noyce ("Patriot Games").

We last featured the teaser trailer in November so its been a while since we've seen any new footage for this and I've got to say, this new trailer is pretty intense.

As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt’s efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: “Who is Salt?”



Although some of the action is way over-the-top (such as Salt jumping onto a truck traveling at high speed), Jolie still impresses in a leading role. I don’t think it’s going to be the type of heavyweight acting we’ve seen in some of her recent films like "Changeling," but this just shows how diverse she is in her choice of roles.

The interesting thing about "Salt" is the fact that the lead role was originally written as a man and was even set to be played by Tom Cruise at one point. However, Jolie was then brought in to replace Cruise and the script was rewritten to account for the change in gender.

Is the trailer full of salt and pepper or is it just bland and tasteless?
"Salt" will shake its way into theaters July 23, 2010.
More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Sources: Screen Rant, First Showing