Story: Variety Critics Review Sundance - Daily Variety
The Film Critics of Daily Variety weigh in on this year's Sundance Film Festival.
Peter DeBruge and Justin Chang talk about the films they saw, and to what degree Sundance is important to independent film.
Story: It's Official: JJ Abrams Closes Deal to Direct 'Star Wars: Episode VII' - The Hollywood Reporter
It is now official that J.J. Abrams will be the director of Disney's new "Star Wars" film.
Producer Kathleen Kennedy pushed hard for Abrams to accept, even though he said in November that he wouldn't be involved. "Toy Story 3" writer Michael Arndt has been working on the script since October.
I personally would have chosen Joss Whedon first, but he is busy with "Avengers 2." Abrams is a good second choice, though. He breathed new life into "Star Trek," and could here too.
Trailer: Olympus Has Fallen - Film District
"Die Hard" in the White House! Or, the battle of the White-House-under-siege movies! Either way, "Olympus Has Fallen" takes the lead over Roland Emmerich's summer release "White House Down." Here, it's Gerard Butler vs. thugs who have taken the White House and the President hostage. As you can imagine, it's one guy against terrorists!
Antoine Fuqua, who directed "Training Day," has had a rocky career ever since. This might be his chance to regain action credibility. The trailer looks good, but definitely completely serious. No "Die Hard" one liners here! Lots of good actors are on board, including Aaron Eckhart and Morgan Freeman. My guess is that this movie is going to turn out better than the rival Emmerich project, which has the not-very-inspiring casting of Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx as the Prez!
"Olympus Has Fallen" is being released by Film District on March 22.
Story: Report: J.J. ABRAMS Directing STAR WARS EPISODE VII - Newsarama
The website The Wrap is citing a "an individual with knowledge of the production" that J.J. Abrams will be the director of Disney's new "Star Wars" film.
Deadline.com and The Hollywood Reporter followed with their own reporting. THR cited numerous sources, giving further validation to the story. The Hollywood Reporter specifies that Abrams is "negotiating to direct." Time will tell!
Trailer: A Good Day to Die Hard - Twentieth Century-Fox
A new TV Spot Confirms it: "A Good Day to Die Hard" will be Rated R!
"Die Hard" fans are going to be very psyched about this! The trailers have been getting better and better. And, you have to appreciate the fact that Fox is releasing the film on Valentine's Day!
Trailer: Wreck-It Ralph - Disney
While the last Disney Video Game Movie, "Tron: Legacy" failed a couple years ago, a much more entertaining movie seems to be on the horizon. "Wreck-It Ralph" tells the story of a video game villain who wants to turn good after 30 years.
"Tron: Legacy" turned an entertaining first film into a depressing second. This all-animated new film sounds like a lot of fun, taking video game characters of all types and portraying them as real people. Sounds like fun to me, especially as a video game fan since Pong!
The only downside I see is the stunt casting of Jane Lynch, who gets cast every time a tough woman character is needed. I think they could have been more imaginative in their casting.
Trailer: Man of Steel - Warner Bros.
Amidst the horrors in Colorado this weekend, Warner Bros. has released the first teaser for "Man of Steel." Zack Snyder's version of Superman will be released next summer.
As with all teasers, this is short, with mostly lead up, and one money shot. In this case, it is of Superman speeding off with a sonic boom shockwave. Otherwise, the footage is very colorless, some of it handheld. Not an attractive movie, to be sure! Gone is the great work of cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth, who shot the 1978 "Superman." I would certainly have to say I am not at all enthused by this teaser. The next preview is going to have to be much better for me to be at all optimistic about this release.
Christopher Nolan of "The Dark Knight" series is a producer on this. Hopefully, his depressing, nihilistic viewpoint will not ruin "Superman."
