The Blade Runner 2 project is beginning to sound a lot more promising and not quite as frightening as it once was.
As Ridley Scott is winding down his work on Prometheus, it seems momentum is picking up on him returning to another of his most famous films, Blade Runner. One of the first bits of news to surface was the announcement that not only is Scott directing, but he has hired Hampton Fancher, the screenwriter for the first film, to pick up the reigns and take a stab at the long gestating sequel.
Apparently Scott and Fancher originally envisioned Blade Runner as the first film in a series that would be more about the themes than the characters, but coming out a week after E.T. demolished any hope of the film having a chance at box office success. Although the movie pretty much followed Philip K. Dick’s original novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the two film makers felt there was a lot more material there to be explored.
Along those lines, while speaking to The Daily Beast about Prometheus, and Scott’s well-known fondness for putting women in strong lead roles, there was this nugget:
What about the rumored Blade Runner sequel?
Funny enough, I started my first meetings on the Blade Runner sequel last week. We have a very good take on it. And we’ll definitely be featuring a female protagonist.
Does this preclude Harrison Ford showing up as Rick Deckard still? Actually, no, but seeing as other sources have said the story takes place only a few years after the original, Ford is definitely going to look too old unless a lot of CGI magic is pulled off.
Despite a whole lot of talk about the potential for a Blade Runner 2, it seems no one knows what the heck it’s even going to be about yet.
Last week it was reported that Harrison Ford was in talks to appear in a second Blade Runner film. The problem is that it seems no one had gotten around to telling Ridley Scott, the director of the original film and potentially for the follow-up. Entertainment Weekly caught up with the famous director and got the chance to have him clarify exactly what is going on and where the film is in the development process.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What can you tell me about the Blade Runner project? RIDLEY SCOTT: We’re still in discussions about whether it should be a prequel or sequel. It’s an interesting conversation. I’m meeting with writers and I’ve also gone back to [original Blade Runner screenwriter] Hampton Fancher and he still speaks the speak. He’s right there. I spoke with him this week. But we don’t even have a script yet.
Did you hear about the rumors online that you were supposedly in talks with Harrison Ford to be in it? No. Don’t know yet. Don’t know yet.
But you wouldn’t rule it out? Absolutely not. But I’m not sure that that’s going to be a story point, so I don’t know. But if it were, nothing would please me more. Honestly.
But it sounds like you don’t even know yet if there would be a Rick Deckard character? No. I don’t know.
So, right now, all there is is the concept of doing a Blade Runner film? Nothing more than that? Right. I just thought Prometheus was so enjoyable — returning to the world of science fiction was so fun — that I wanted to [go back to Blade Runner, too]. I’m also thinking about what the hell I might do for a Prometheus 2.
Do you think there will be one? [Knocks the wood coffee table and grins]
So, you’re working with absolutely no clue where this film is going? One would usually hope if you’re going to go ahead with a follow-up to one of the most influential movies in a genre, one would hope they would know they had an amazing idea for it before any movement happened on it. If you go the sequel route you have the potential to really mess up what people walked away from the original with (the nature of Ford’s character); and if you go with a prequel, at least do the background on what caused Deckard to lose his badge with a follow-up of the android’s arriving on earth.
Either way, it doesn’t matter. If you want to do a Blade Runner 2, do it, but make sure you have some sort of clue what you’re doing before anyone walks around talking about it.
According to Twitch Film, the belief has been that only Ridley Scott would return from the original, but now there is word that Harrison Ford may indeed be in early talks to reprise one of his most famous roles. If true, this is a complete contradiction to what Alcon Entertainment producer Andrew Kosove told the Los Angeles Times this past August,
In no way do I speak for Ridley Scott but if you’re asking me will this movie have anything to do with Harrison Ford, the answer is no. This is a total reinvention and in my mind that means doing everything fresh, including casting.
My big issue with this whole rumor is that Twitch Movie only says it has “learned” of these talks, but makes absolutely no mention of how they did so. Was it a source close to Ford? Was it a source close to Alcon? Was it the homeless guy who lives in the stove box by the door of the studio? There is just no indication of how they came about obtaining this information.
For now I’m definitely taking this with a grain of salt. Depending on which version of the original film you watch, you walk away wondering if Deckard was a replicant himself, which would lead you to believe he wouldn’t age. If he comes back as Ford currently looks then you’d have no question he was human. Or would they use the same technology Tron Legacy did to make him young? Either way it takes some of the mystery out of the original, and that’s just not something I think anyone wants.
The trailers for Cowboys & Aliens has been getting movie fans all jazzed up, but lets just hope it’s a lot different than the comic book it’s based on.
I had heard of the Cowboys & Aliens comic, but passed on reading it when it was first released. Now that I’ve seen the trailer for the film, I was far more intrigued. I ordered up a copy of the hardcover re-release of the comic created by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg and gave it a read through.
I’ll save you having to read the rest of the review: It’s horrible and should be avoided at all costs.
While the concept is intriguing, it’s obvious that Mr. Rosenberg has no clue what to do with it once he had the name. The characters are extremely flat and lack any sense of motivation to their actions. The plot, what there is of it, is extremely predictable and feels more like a paint-by-numbers work than anything approximating originality. This may be the fault of co-writers Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley than of Rosenberg himself, but whomever is responsible should feel shame at their name being attached to this piece of drek.
Luciano Lima’s art also leaves a lot to be desired. His anatomy is very loose, and his designs for aliens, their technology and what they wear borders on the sophomoric. His work looks like what you submit to an art school in hopes of going to get some training to improve what talents you have, and not the polished work one would expect from a published work. It’s extremely flat, lacking in details and has no real sense of motion.
There have been some rumors that the book was put together more as a pitch to movie studios than as any sort of serious work, and, if true, it shows. There is no passion here for the project, it is a culmination of people coming in, punching a clock and leaving when their shift is over. This is not “art”, it’s filler.
The good news is that the footage shown in the trailer for the films bears little to no resemblance of the story in the comic. The main character in the comic doesn’t have amnesia, nor does he wake up with alien tech on his wrist that he doesn’t know where it came from. The Harrison Ford character isn’t in the comic at all. And while there is a female that shares what looks to share one scene with the portrayal by Olivia Wilde, there are no other similarities thus far. In short, the film looks to share only the concept in common with the comic, and, for once, that is an extremely good thing.
While I normally berate Hollywood for deviating from source material, this is one time I can honestly tell you that they are doing us a favor. The original comic borders on being unreadable, it is just that bad. While I am known for a harsh critic, my father actually picked up my copy one day without my knowledge and read it. He is known for not having the most discriminating of tastes, and when he told me he had read it, I dreaded hearing what he would have to say about it. His review was just six words, “What the hell was that mess?”
I’d say go for the movies, folks, but just the one time I would suggest you stay as far away from the original as you can.
For once there is a comic book movie coming to the big screen that I know absolutely nothing about!
I’ve heard of Cowboys & Aliens, but I’ve never read the book, and know nothing of the storyline beyond the obvious giveaway of the title. (I’m betting it involves cowboys … and aliens … just a guess, thought) I did get interested in it when I heard Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Elf) was going to be directing. I enjoy his work, so this was pretty much a sealed deal for me. But then the cast started filling up with Daniel Craig (Casino Royale, Layer Cake), Olivia Wilde (Tron Legacy, House) and Harrison Ford (if you don’t know … congratulations on being born yesterday) and … yeah, I have got to see this now.
The trailer is below, and I’m even more intrigued now. In the words of my mother after seeing the trailer, “I wanna go NOW!”
Doesn’t look exactly high brow, but man am I even intrigued.
The movie news pouring out of San Diego Comic Con almost makes you forget this used to be a comic book convention. With more movies based on comic books coming out than ever before, it figures that big announcements are made at this show, and they just keep coming.
(click any of the images for full-sized views)
Green Lantern
Sadly nothing was released after this panel other than the official movie logo. There was some footage shown, but not to the general public to see, sadly. Apparently it was pretty quick, showed the ring forming a giant fist to hit some criminals and so on.
Two great bits of news:
The costume we saw is not the final one we’ll see on screen, there is more refining to be done to it, and the black will stand out more.
A kid in the audience asked Ryan Reynolds to recite Hal Jordan’s oath … everyone reported that no words had been changed. I am now much more at ease with the film.
There were other tidbits, but we’ll see how this film turns out.
Cowboys & Aliens
I have never read the comic this is based on, but the premise is pretty easy to grasp since it’s right in the title … aliens … in the old West.
It stars Daniel Craig as a mysterious stranger who arrives in town with an odd wrist band, and when alien ships arrive to shoot the town up, he shoots one of their ships down with his device. Wackiness ensues from there.
It also stars Olivia Wilde as a saloon girl, Harrison Ford as … someone, he’s rumored to be a bad guy. It’s also directed by Jon Favreau who has directed the two Iron Man movies. He’s definitely shown he is capable of directing action, and it should prove to be an interesting movie.
I love the concept of this. There won’t be any going to the mothership and using a Mac to install a virus malarkey. We’ll have to see how this mysterious wrist weapon works into it, but sign me up as being highly interested.
The Avengers
Yes, more news on The Avengers, but it’s because Marvel had the bright idea to bring the whole cast together on stage and become the talk of the con.
From left-to-right
Robert Downey Jr. – Tony Stark/Iron Man
Clark Gregg – Agent Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Scarlett Johansson – Black Widow
Chris Hemsworth – Thor
Chris Evans – Captain America
Samuel L. Jackson – Nick Fury
Jeremy Renner – Hawkeye
Mark Ruffalo – Bruce Banner/Hulk
Joss Whedon – Co-Writer/Director
Kevin Feige – Marvel Studios’ President
The only two thins we learned from this was the re-casting of Bruce Banner, and we didn’t know for sure the Black Widow would be in the movie. Even not in costumes, this line-up looks amazing … I can not wait for May 4, 2012. The only thing missing is someone really should have yelled, “AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!”
Side note from the Marvel panel … The Punisher film rights now belong to Marvel again … can we please finally get a good Punisher movie now?
In what is becoming an annual list, I’m going to share the holiday programming I enjoy every year. However, I am changing the format a bit this year with ones I think everyone should own on DVD, and then following it up with a list of what is airing in the month of December, and on what channels and times you can find them (if you are in the USA that is).
A Charlie Brown Christmas – It’s amazing this show has aired every year since 1965, and it never seems to get old. This was the first of the Charlie Brown specials, and was probably the best of them. Interesting how something that aired in 1965 still seems so relevant in how Christmas has become all about consumerism. A Christmas Carol – Patrick Stewart is a classically trained actor and he brings a powerful tone to the role of Scrooge. A fantastic version of this classic tale of Christmas spirit. This has become one of my first watch items each Christmas season.
A Christmas Story – Being set in the 1940′s does nothing to diminish the fun, or relevance, of this movie. Every kid has had that “dream” gift on their Christmas list that it seemed no one wanted you to have. Fun, cute and so many quotable lines. “You’ll shoot your eye out” if you miss this one!
Elf – I am shocked how fast I took a liking to this film, and I watched it multiple times last year around Christmas. I then spend the entire year screaming, “YOU SIT ON A THRONE OF LIES! You smell of meat and cheese!”
Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas – Sadly it seems the only version floating around of this Jim Henson special is somewhat cut up from the original version with Kermit the Frog cut out of the beginning and end. Still, Henson’s work was always magical, and this special from 1977 is just another example of how good he really was.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas – This is a special I really never got wild about, but it’s a mainstay of the season, so it makes it.
It’s a Wonderful Life – Come on…do I even really need to discuss this one? Is there anyone alive who hasn’t seen this? Actually I did find someone a few years ago…and I promptly pointed her out for the heretic she is… and then I bought her a copy and mailed it to her, forcing her to watch it. This is one of my all time favorite movies. Jimmy Stewart is amazing.
Love Actually – Really, the only connection to Christmas is the time of year, and a couple of holiday jokes, but it’s cute and sweet. Never mind it has a stellar cast of English actors and actresses.
Miracle on 34th Street – While some can believe it’s like a film length ad for Macy’s department store, it’s still a cute film with a central message that Christmas can be magical for any number of reasons.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – The Vacation movies have been a mixed bag (as has most of Chevy Chase’s career), but this film is so easy to relate to. We all have those dreams of the perfect family Christmas, just to have them dashed and never have them live up to our hopes. Plus, the Cousin Eddie scene in white sweater, with green dickie, is worth the entire price of the movie!
The Nightmare Before Christmas – Not only is it a sweet story, and amazing to watch, how can you not love a movie that can make both the Halloween AND Christmas movie lists? And without it, would Hot Topic have anything to sell.
Santa Claus – The Movie – This movie got ravaged by critics, but it is cute, funny and warm. Deal with it.
Star Wars Holiday Special – This thing has never been released to video, and aired only once on television on November 17th, 1978. It is two hours of solid pin set in the Star Wars universe. What is even sadder is the original cast of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels and so on all appear in the special… along with the likes of Harvey Korman, Art Carney and Bea Arthur. Yes… you read all of that correctly. You can find the Star Wars Holiday Special online, but be prepared to cringe. The only cool thing is that it does feature the first appearance of Boba Fett, albeit in an animated form.
And yes, I know a lot of these movies show up on TV, but if it’s something like It’s A Wonderful Life, PLEASE don’t watch it on commercial television. It is deserving of your hard earned money being spent on a DVD of it. Same with Christmas Vacation. Christmas Story I don’t mind because it’s a 24-hour marathon, I usually watch it 3 – 4 times through out the time period. Yes… 3 – 4 times, I love it that much.
2008 Holiday Specials On TV Schedule
I will be putting this list up by network and in order of airing.
ABC:
Dec. 1, 8-9pm: Shrek the Halls and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated version)
Dec. 2, 8-9pm: Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
Dec. 5, 8-10pm: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (live-action version)
Dec. 8, 8-9pm: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Dec. 9, 8-9pm: America’s Funniest Home Videos Christmas Special
Dec. 13, 8-9pm: America’s Funniest Home Videos Christmas Special
Dec. 13, 9-11pm: Surviving Christmas
Dec. 14, 8-10pm: The Santa Clause 2
Dec. 15, 8-9pm: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
Dec. 16, 8-9pm: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Dec. 20, 8-9pm: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
Dec. 20, 9-11pm: Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat
Dec. 22, 8-8:30pm: Shrek the Halls
Dec. 23, 8-9pm: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated version)
Dec. 30, 8-9:30pm: Happy New Year, Charlie Brown and Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
CBS:
Dec. 3, 8-9pm: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Dec. 12, 8-9pm: Frosty the Snowman and Frosty Returns
Dec. 20, 8-10pm: Elf
Dec. 23, 8-9pm: 10th Annual Home for the Holidays with Faith Hill
Fox:
None… apparently they have no holiday spirit!
NBC:
Dec. 3, 8-9pm: Christmas in Rockefeller Center
Friday, Dec. 5, 8-9pm: Greatest Holiday Moments: TV & Film Countdown
Dec. 10, 8-9pm: Little Spirit: A New York Christmas
Dec. 12, 8-9pm: Greatest Holiday Moments: Songs of the Season Countdown
Dec. 13, 8-11pm: It’s a Wonderful Life
Dec. 17, 8-9pm: A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (BRAND NEW, MUST WATCH!)
Dec. 19, 8-10pm: Greatest Holiday Moments: TV & Film Countdown and Greatest Holiday Moments: Songs of the Season Countdown
Dec. 22, 8-9pm: Greatest Holiday Moments: Hilarious Home Video Countdown
Dec. 24, 8-11pm: It’s a Wonderful Life
Dec. 25, 10-11pm: Greatest Holiday Moments: Hilarious Home Video Countdown
MyNetwork TV:
Dec. 6, 8-10pm: Miracle on 34th Street
Dec. 8, 8-10pm: Blizzard
Dec. 9, 8-10pm: Olive the Other Reindeer and Santa’s Funniest Moments
Dec. 10, 8-10pm: Home Alone
Dec. 16, 8-10pm: Soul of Christmas
Dec. 17, 8-10pm: Christmas is Here Again and Santa’s Funniest Moments
Dec. 18, 8-9pm: Wrestlemania Holiday Special
Dec. 22, 8-10pm: The Spirit of Christmas
Dec. 23, 8-10pm: Babes in Toyland
The CW:
Dec. 5, 8-9pm: Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
Dec. 5, 9-10pm: The Story of Santa Claus
2008 Holiday Special on TV By Date
(All times listed are EST)
Dec. 1, 8-9pm: Shrek the Halls and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated version), ABC
Dec. 2, 8-9pm: Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, ABC
Dec. 3, 8-9pm: Christmas in Rockefeller Center, NBC
Dec. 3, 8-9pm: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, CBS
Dec. 5, 8-9pm: Greatest Holiday Moments: TV & Film Countdown, NBC
Dec. 5, 8-9pm: Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, The CW
Dec. 5, 8-10pm: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (live-action version), ABC
Dec. 5, 9-10pm: The Story of Santa Claus, The CW
Dec. 6, 8-10pm: Miracle on 34th Street, MyNetwork TV
Dec. 8, 8-9pm: A Charlie Brown Christmas, ABC
Dec. 8, 8-10pm: Blizzard, MyNetwork TV
Dec. 9, 8-9pm: America’s Funniest Home Videos Christmas Special, ABC
Dec. 9, 8-10pm: Olive the Other Reindeer and Santa’s Funniest Moments, MyNetwork TV
Dec. 10, 8-10pm: Home Alone, MyNetwork TV
Dec. 10, 8-9pm: Little Spirit: A New York Christmas, NBC
Dec. 12, 8-9pm: Greatest Holiday Moments: Songs of the Season Countdown, NBC
Dec. 12, 8-9pm: Frosty the Snowman and Frosty Returns, CBS
Dec. 13, 8-9pm: America’s Funniest Home Videos Christmas Special, ABC
Dec. 13, 8-11pm: It’s a Wonderful Life, NBC
Dec. 13, 9-11pm: Surviving Christmas, ABC
Dec. 14, 8-10pm: The Santa Clause 2, ABC
Dec. 15, 8-9pm: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown, ABC
Dec. 16, 8-9pm: A Charlie Brown Christmas, ABC
Dec. 16, 8-10pm: Soul of Christmas, MyNetwork TV
Dec. 17, 8-10pm: Christmas is Here Again and Santa’s Funniest Moments, MyNetwork TV
Dec. 17, 8-9pm: A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (BRAND NEW, MUST WATCH!), NBC
Dec. 18, 8-9pm: Wrestlemania Holiday Special, MyNetwork TV
Dec. 19, 8-10pm: Greatest Holiday Moments: TV & Film Countdown and Greatest Holiday Moments: Songs of the Season Countdown, NBC
Dec. 20, 8-9pm: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown, ABC
Dec. 20, 8-10pm: Elf, CBS
Dec. 20, 9-11pm: Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, ABC
Dec. 22, 8-8:30pm: Shrek the Halls, ABC
Dec. 22, 8-9pm: Greatest Holiday Moments: Hilarious Home Video Countdown, NBC
Dec. 22, 8-10pm: The Spirit of Christmas, MyNetwork TV
Dec. 23, 8-9pm: 10th Annual Home for the Holidays with Faith Hill, CBS
Dec. 23, 8-9pm: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated version), ABC
Dec. 23, 8-10pm: Babes in Toyland, MyNetwork TV
Dec. 24, 8-11pm: It’s a Wonderful Life, NBC
Dec. 25, 10-11pm: Greatest Holiday Moments: Hilarious Home Video Countdown, NBC
Dec. 30, 8-9:30pm: Happy New Year, Charlie Brown and Rudolph’s Shiny New Year, ABC
The Blade Runner 2 project is beginning to sound a lot more promising and not quite as frightening as it once was.
The trailers for 
For once there is a comic book movie coming to the big screen that I know absolutely nothing about!
