Entertainment Today and Beyond

Never Met a Zombi I Didn’t Like…

AUSTRALIA’S final TRAILER

australiaHere’s a look at the final TRAILER to Baz Luhrmann’s (Moulin Rouge) epic love story, AUSTRALIA. I must admit I’m looking forward to seeing this film as it looks really good. As of today, Luhrman continues to tinker with the final cut as he reportedly re-shot the ending to be more upbeat when test audiences gave the conclusion negative feedback. After negotiations with Fox, Luhrmann agreed to the change. The movie, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, opens Nov 26. VIEW TRAILER

November 12, 2008 Posted by Entertainment Today & Beyond | And Beyond - Trailers & News | | Leave a Comment

KARATE KID remake officially announced!

karate_kidjaden_smithAccording to Variety, Columbia Pictures will do a new version of the 1984 hit, THE KARATE KID. Will Smith’s 10-year-old son, Jaden Smith (The Pursuit of Happiness), will star in the film with its setting taking place in Beijing. While the story will be updated to fit the young actor, the basic elements of a bullied youth who learns to stand up for himself with the help of an eccentric mentor will remain the same. It’s hard to believe that Hollywood is remaking films that are not even 25 years old. The original Karate Kid is a classic film. It’s a textbook example of a great mainstream movie that captured movie magic at its best. Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita had incredible chemistry playing Daniel Larusso and Mr. Miyagi. The Karate Kid was part of an incredible summer at the movies that year which featured films like Beverly Hills Cop, Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Gremlins. I saw The Karate Kid eight times that summer. I must admit I find the idea of this remake a bad one, with the biggest problem casting an actor who’s only ten years old. Earlier this year there was a film titled NEVER BACK DOWN (which I actually enjoyed) that aped the storyline somewhat but never used the original title. While greed and madness continue to permeate the mindset of Hollywood I guess I’ll always have the memory of the 1984 original which cannot be done any better! Here’s the trailer to the Original Karate Kid.

November 12, 2008 Posted by Entertainment Today & Beyond | And Beyond - Trailers & News | | Leave a Comment

CAPTAIN AMERICA gets director and rumors fly on WONDER WOMAN

captainamerica2captain_americaAccording to the Hollywood Reporter, Marvel Enterprises has hired Joe Johnston to helm its First Avenger: Captain America film. Johnston, whose previous credits include The Rocketeer, October Sky, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Jumanji and Jurassic Park 3, seems to be a solid choice as his Rocketeer work is highly respected among most superhero fans. The film’s storyline will be set during WW2 and will help set up the studio’s Avenger film which will feature Iron Man, Thor and The Hulk. At this point there is no script for the Captain America film but Marvel is currently in the process of searching for a screenwriter to pen the project. They already have a release date of May 6, 2011.

wonderwomanposter5-361x500While many may not remember, there was a low budget Captain America film produced in 1990 by the long out of business 21st Century Film Corporation who put the film on the fast track after Tim Burton’s Batman became a huge hit in 1989. The film, which starred Matt Salinger as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Ronny Cox, Darren McGavin, Ned Beatty and Scott Paulin as the film’s villain, The Red Skull, was deemed so awful it wasn’t released in theaters, despite the fact that its posters were prominent a few months before its target release of Dec 19, 1990. It wound up going straight to video and is rarely seen on television. I saw the film on video and while interesting as a novelty item, the final result is better left in the fireplace.

As for Wonder Woman, casting rumors are flying around the Net with Beyonce Knowles reportedly pitching her services to the studio and publically campaigning for the role. There is also a fan-made poster featuring actress Megan Fox that has caused a lot of talk over the last few days. I must admit that fan-poster is terrific. Personally I think a viable big screen version of Wonder Woman will be a tough one to pull off, as I just don’t see it as coming across as believable in a post Dark Knight World. I could be wrong but for now I’m squarely in the skeptic camp on this one.

November 12, 2008 Posted by Entertainment Today & Beyond | And Beyond - Trailers & News | , | Leave a Comment