When two of the most talked-about television shows of the past decade end, what do you think would be a good idea? Get the creator of one to team up with the lead star of another, and develop another new and awesome TV show that will get people talking again.

With 24’s Kiefer Sutherland leading the cast, and created by Heroes’ Tim Kring, Touch is definitely one to look out for next year, and will no doubt get people talking just like 24 and Heroes have over the past ten and five years, respectively.

“At the center of Touch is Martin Bohm (Sutherland), a widower and single father, haunted by an inability to connect to his mute 11-year-old son, Jake (David Mazouz). After multiple failed attempts at keeping Jake in school, Martin is visited by Clea Hopkins (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), a social worker sent to evaluate Jake’s well-being. Everything changes when Martin discovers that Jake possesses the gift of staggering genius – the ability to see things that no one else can and the patterns that connect seemingly unrelated events. Jake is indeed communicating. But it’s not with words, it’s with numbers. Martin meets Arthur DeWitt (Danny Glover), a professor and an expert on children who possess special gifts when it comes to numbers. Now, it’s up to Martin to decipher the meaning and connect the numbers to the cast of characters whose lives they affect.”

The first season has been picked up by Fox and will be thirteen episodes long, starting sometime next spring, and is definitely something to get excited about. The first trailer has just been put online, Collider report, and it gives us an absolutely brilliant look at just how great we can expect this new show pairing Kring and Sutherland – two of the best people working in television at the moment – to be.

The opening of the trailer begins much like one might expect an episode of Heroes to begin, with a shot of Earth. But have no fear, it doesn’t look like it will simply be a replication of Kring’s earlier successes, but will simply maintain the idea of interconnectivity, that we’re all connected. And it looks like it will be a terrific exploration of that idea. Sutherland is as awesome as ever in this trailer, and it will be good to see him back in a leading role after 24’s eighth and final season finished back in the spring last year. I really hope that this won’t simply get cancelled after one season by Fox, because it looks like there’s a lot here to be enjoyed, and no doubt it could become all the more awesome as the seasons progress.

It’s too early to get carried away with myself thinking about future seasons though, but this first trailer really does have me hooked already. So without further ado, here it is for you to enjoy too. Let us know what you think of it in the comments below.

Is there anyone in the world who doesn’t love Kiefer Sutherland? If there is, I think it could only be because they haven’t seen his ridiculously amazing performance throughout the eight seasons of 24.

The man is a living legend, and I love how in the past eight or so years, there have come to be as many Jack Bauer jokes as there are Chuck Norris ones. For example,

Jack Bauer doesn’t get drunk, whiskey gets Bauered.

Now, with 24’s eight seasons finally over, we have the absolutely fantastic news that Sutherland will be returning to TV with another man who has brought an immensely popular show to our screens in recent years, Heroes creator Tim Kring, Collider report.

Kring’s Heroes only ran for half as long as Sutherland’s 24, but both managed to gain a huge following pretty much right from the get-go, and in my opinion, both shows have been two of the best on television in the past few years. With Kring and Sutherland now working together on a new show, Touched, things can’t go wrong.

The show was announced back in May this year, but Fox have now officially ordered thirteen episodes, which is fantastic news. It may only be half-a-season’s worth of episodes so far, but if this first season goes well, hopefully we could see a full twenty-four episodes billed for next year.

Water for Elephants’ Francis Lawrence has directed the pilot, and David Mazouz, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Danny Glover all co-star. The new series will start airing in the States in the spring of 2012, which is terrific to hear because that’s really not that far away at all. Hopefully it will be a huge success, and we can look forward to several more seasons pairing Kring and Sutherland in years to come. For now, I’ll leave you with the show’s great synopsis.

“At the center of TOUCH is MARTIN BOHM (Sutherland), a widower and single father, haunted by an inability to connect to his mute 11-year-old son, JAKE (David Mazouz). After multiple failed attempts at keeping Jake in school, Martin is visited by CLEA HOPKINS (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), a social worker sent to evaluate Jake’s well-being. Everything changes when Martin discovers that Jake possesses the gift of staggering genius – the ability to see things that no one else can and the patterns that connect seemingly unrelated events. Jake is indeed communicating. But it’s not with words, it’s with numbers. Martin meets ARTHUR DEWITT (Danny Glover), a professor and an expert on children who possess special gifts when it comes to numbers. Now, it’s up to Martin to decipher the meaning and connect the numbers to the cast of characters whose lives they affect.”

Here’s a brand new poster which as the title would suggest, would see Twilight star Taylor Lautner sliding down a building for his new movie, Abduction. We’ve had a trailer for the movie which if you missed you can see here. The movie is directed by John Singleton and stars Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins, Alfred Molina, Jason Isaacs, Maria Bello, Michael Nyqvist and Sigourney Weaver.

Abduction should be with us in the UK 23rd September.

What would you do if you found your own picture on a missing persons website?  Teen Nathan Harper (Taylor Lautner) finds himself facing this very dilemma. Setting out to uncover his real identity, Nathan quickly learns his parents are far from who they say they are. When the police, government agents and shadowy figures start to pursue him, Nathan’s quest for the truth erupts into a full-blown “Bourne”-like man-on-the-run thriller.

Source: Yahoo

The title of this post could be read in a way that implies Taylor Lautner has been abducted and some kind by-stander was on hand to take photos but alas, as far as we know, the Twilight star has not been kidnapped! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!)

Instead,three new images have been released from his new movie, Abduction which is directed by John Singleton and also stars Sigourney Weaver, Danny Glover, Alfred Molina, Michael Nyqvist, Lily Collins, Maria Bello, and Jason Isaacs.

According to IMDb , Abduction should be with us in the UK 23rd September.

What would you do if you found your own picture on a missing persons website?  Teen Nathan Harper (Taylor Lautner) finds himself facing this very dilemma. Setting out to uncover his real identity, Nathan quickly learns his parents are far from who they say they are. When the police, government agents and shadowy figures start to pursue him, Nathan’s quest for the truth erupts into a full-blown “Bourne”-like man-on-the-run thriller.

Images courtesy of Collider.

If you like your weapons lethal then what better way to escape the onslaught of wizards than having a look at our little clip from the special features of the newly minted Lethal Weapon Blu-ray box set, which polishes the four films and delivers them to your face in shiny high definition.

The series was certainly enduring and remains a clear example of the 80/90s action-cop-mullet thriller and this clip gives you a flavour of what to expect when you go four rounds with Gibson and Glover.

Fancy it? Click here to part with your money. In the meanwhile here’s the clip.

Keener eyed readers among you may have observed that HeyUGuys have gone the extra (terrestrial) mile in recent weeks to bring you heaving piles of Predatory goodness.  Dave crossed the globe to meet the talent at Troublemaker Studios. The mighty HUG Video Vault swung open for Dave Roper’s take on Predator and Predator 2. Jon broke down what you can expect from the Predators Blu-ray when you dash out to buy it later today.  And then on Sunday night – on Halloween for pity’s sake – we ventured into deepest darkest Leicester Square to watch all three movies just for you.  Call it foolhardy, call it quality control or call it dedication to our cause.  We went, we watched and we lived to tell the tale.

The legendary Prince Charles Cinema (home to the Kevin Smith toilet cubicle fact fans) was our host for the triple bill.  There in the starlit upstairs screen we congregated – a captive audience of thrill seekers and tired journalists – all hopped up on E-numbers, blood lust and sheer force of will, ready to test our endurance for the Predators cause.  We left the Preds themselves outside to hold off the tourists and gawkers, set our seats to recline, put our caffeinated beverages in the armrests and our fates in the hands of the gods.  We were the lucky ones, the chosen few.  We wouldn’t all make it through the night…

First up to the plate was Predator, all bulging biceps, manly banter and steaming piles of guts.  We laughed at and with the tribulations of He-Men Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura, Carl Weathers and Richard Chaves as their intrepid leader Dutch led them deep into guerrilla territory and inevitable death.  As ever I fell for Billy the noble tracker and decided (in the face of common sense, prior knowledge and the cheap charms of Arnold Schwarzenegger) that he would save the day.  As ever I had a lump in my throat at his dignified demise.

As Arnold flew away to fight another day the lights came up on the screening room.  We shook thoughts of the fallen from our minds and ran to the lobby for supplies.  It was every man for himself down there (though in a very English “after you” way of course).  Two of our comrades never returned from that queue, they ran out into the night and cowered in the neon safety of the West End.  Slackers, we didn’t need them, this was a unit for real men – a unit for survivors.

As the survivors and their fizzy drinks bedded in for Predator 2 a weary pall of acceptance settled over the room.  I must confess that I was a Predator 2 virgin.  I didn’t know what to expect from the film but from Chinese whispers in the playground, the groaning in the rows behind me and chuckles in the halls of HeyUGuys I suspected it was going to hurt.  It began as surreally as I’d expected with big guns, big shoulders and big spliffs aplenty but what unfolded onscreen was quite the revelation – Glover and Paxton and Busey?  Oh my!  I lost my marbles somewhere between the Feared Jamaican Voodoo Posse, Bill Paxton’s yeehaw overacting and the Predator loose in Los Angeles targeting crime lords premise.    It was a terrible film.  I liked it a lot!

By the final film only the truly hardcore remained.  Popping M&Ms for fuel and jiggling the Coca Cola in our tired veins to life as the Troublemaker Studios logo flamed across our pulsing pupils.  I am not ashamed to say that I think Predators is awesome.  It fulfils all my popcorny needs in one very tidy package.  Aside from the flaccid pointlessness of Topher Grace (go away please and do not return), the nicely drawn action stereotypes are each perfect Pred fodder.  The addition of the Predator pecking order – which failed to make any real impact in the shabby Vs crossovers – works far better here and the respect Rodriguez holds for the origin story is evidenced by clever breadcrumbs of back-story scattered throughout.

So we made it.  We lived to tell the Predators tale.  It was an amazing night and one that rushed by us in a bloodletting blur.  Watching all three films on one sitting was quite a ride and reminded me of a dreadful character flaw I have tried my best to suppress…

When it comes to Predator I always root for the bad guys!

Predators is available on Blu-ray and DVD now!

With the Blu-ray release of the Alien Anthology on the 25th of October HeyUGuys are taking a look at the entire Alien and Predator series. From Facehuggers to trophy hunting Predators, from the iconic and classic to the dubious crossovers – this is your ultimate retrospective.

So remember, even if you ain’t got time to bleed, in the Video Vault no-one can hear you scream…

Dave Roper enters the vault, with a couple of days to kill.

We were all really hoping that Arnie would come back for a second crack at the Predator. He escaped the first one by jumping out of the way of an atomic blast (take that Indiana Jones, he doesn’t even need a fridge) and would surely have had a blast taking on a new Predator in a different setting.

Sadly it was not to be and after the opening credit tease of a camera rushing over the tree line of a jungle, we find ourselves instead in LA in the then-future of the late 1990′s. LA is being torn apart by drug wars between Jamaicans and Colombians, with the increasingly helpless and ineffective LAPD stuck in the middle, trying to prevent the city melting down into anarchy.

What looks initially like the bloody end to a stand-off turns out to be the handiwork of a Predator who, to quote the film’s excellent tagline, is in town with a few days to kill. All of this “skin them and hoist them up high” stuff is pretty familiar to us from the first film, but it takes the Predator’s attack on the Jamaicans as they are about to slice and dice the head of the Colombian gang to get the LAPD thinking that they might have something a little different on their hands.

This time around, we get Danny Glover instead of Arnie and although he does his best and is no doubt a finer actor than Arnie will ever be, he lacks the physicality that Arnie always brings to his best roles. It just does not seem credible that even with the benefit of a commandeered alien weapon, Glover would be able to square off against a seven foot tall Predator. Glover has often seemed to me to be slightly awkward in his fight scenes and unfortunately this carries through to this performance. This is not intended as a slight on Glover per se, rather an error in the casting.

Plot-wise, we’re on even simpler ground than the first film. The two gangs are fighting, the LAPD want them to stop, the Predator wants to kill lots of people. The most interesting addition is a team of federal agents who are intent on capturing the Predator in order to harness its impressive array of advanced alien technology. This climaxes in one of the film’s better sequences when the agents try to corner and capture the Predator in a meat-packing warehouse. It doesn’t end well.

Another of the film’s better sequences is the Predator’s attack on the above-mentioned Jamaican killing party. The Predator unleashes an array of weapons not seen before, such as a razor-wire net, a retractable spear and a very, very sharp frisbee. It’s all a lot of fun but despite a reveal at the end that shows how long the Predators have been visiting Earth, as well as a glimpse of the Predator’s trophy cabinet that shows a very distinctive alien skull, not much is done here to extend or deepen the Predator mythology, as most noticeably contrasted with Aliens.

So what are we left with? A few pretty exciting set-pieces, a lead actor who gives the role a fair crack but seems fundamentally miscast, some effectively gruesome death scenes and a bit of “I’ve a feeling they’ll be back” at the end. Somehow though, it doesn’t add up to a satisfying whole. Compared to the first film, watching the Predator scythe through some fairly faceless, meaningless characters has nowhere near the impact of seeing the deaths of a group of tight-knit commandos. It winds up being a film that fails to grab your attention, where you find yourself caring very little for the outcome, save for a bit of a cheer when Gary Busey gets his head cut off.

It’s not a bad film, just a bit of a lazy one and in the end, a wasted opportunity to develop and build on the many considerable strengths of the first film. You can see the trailer below, which actually makes it look considerably more action-packed than it really is.

Alpha and Omega is released in 3d in UK cinemas this coming Friday and I got to see it a couple of weeks ago. Although it’s not based on my demographic whatsoever, I did take some good things away from it. The movie is aimed at young kids who probably haven’t been to the cinema too many times before, if ever and this will be a great introductory movie, to take them along to.

Alpha and Omega is directed by Anthony Bell and Ben Gluck with a voice cast which includes the legendary Easy Rider himself, Dennis Hopper alongside Christina Ricci, Justin Long, and Hayden Panettiere. You’ll notice Dennis Hopper’s name in there and this movie was the final one that he filmed before he died earlier this year. A tribute was very quick to come up at the end of the movie and was nice to see.

Synopsis:  Just ask Kate and Humphrey, two wolves who are trying to get home after being taken by park rangers and shipped halfway across the country. Humphrey is an Omega wolf, whose days are about quick wit, snappy one-liners and hanging with his motley crew of fun-loving wolves and video-gaming squirrels. Kate is an Alpha:  duty, discipline and sleek Lara Croft eye-popping moves fuel her fire. Humphrey’s motto – make ‘em laugh. Kate’s motto – I’m the boss.  And they have a thousand miles to go.

Packed full to the brim with moments that will keep your kids on the edge of their seats, this movie brings fun back to the cinema. It’s colourful, fun and enjoyable.

As I said in the opening paragraph, this movie is not going to be seen by teenagers in their droves, if at all. It could have been funnier and slightly less cliched in places. Watching wolves do knuckle punches with one another got on my nerves by the end! It could also have had a few more adult jokes thrown in to keep the parents happy while watching with their kids but overall, the animation was good, the 3d looked great with some moments when wolves fly into your face and some wonderful shots of the sky, merged into the clouds merged into the land worked really well. In a nutshell, it kept me entertained for the 87 minutes it ran and will probably sell like hot-cakes when it’s released on DVD.

Alpha and Omega is released in the UK 22nd October. We currently have a competition to win merchandise from the movie here.

To celebrate the theatrical release of new 3d movie, Alpha and Omega, Lionsgate have been kind enough to give us ten of these rather cuddly wolf packs to give away!

Alpha and Omega is released in UK cinemas 22nd October but there are some advvanced screenings for the movie 16^th & 17^th October. It features a voice cast which includes Dennis Hopper, Christina Ricci, Justin Long, Hayden Panettiere, Danny Glover and is directed by Anthony Bell and Ben Gluck.

Synopsis: Puppy love takes on a new meaning in this animated film featuring a slew of celebrity voices. Kate is a dominant and driven female wolf, while hairy Humphrey lives for the moment. But when the two young wolves are captured by park rangers and taken far away, they bond despite their differences.

You can find out more about the movie on the official UK website here.

Now, this prize is a little different to what we normally give away but we thought it might be nice for our younger audience or for the kids of the adults who read HeyUGuys.

So, to be in with a chance of winning this cuddly collection, of Alpha and Omega goodies, answer the following question using the form below:

Which TV series did Hayden Panettiere play the ‘Cheerleader’?

The small print:

• This competition is open to the UK only
• Only one entry per household will be counted
• The competition will close Friday  22nd October (release date) at 23.59 GMT
• The winner will be picked at random from entries received

The usual T&Cs can be found here. Good Luck!

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED

Universal Pictures have just sent us the trailer for a movie which originally came out in US cinema in 2007, UK cinemas earlier this year and has now made it’s way to DVD. The movie is an animated sci fi called Battle for Terra and has a voice cast which includes Evan Rachel Wood, Luke Wilson, Brian Cox, Justin Long, James Garner, Chris Evans, Danny Glover, Dennis Quaid and is directed by Aristomenis Tsirbas.

Battle for Terra is released this coming Monday on DVD and you can pre-order it here.

Synopsis: When Earth’s natural resources began to rapidly diminish, mankind was forced to seek out a new home and build colonies on Mars and Venus. However disaster struck when the two colonies attempted to declare independence from Earth, and the ensuing Great War destroyed all three planets. Now mankind’s only hope for survival is to find a new home.

A peaceful and magical planet, Terra is inhabited by a gentle race of extraterrestrials called the Terrians who harbour a deep respect for nature and have no need for war or violence. But when plans to find a peaceful solution for the humans and Terrians to live in harmony are scuppered by a villainous General, it is only a matter of time before the stage is set for a battle that threatens to destroy both species.

Will the humans find a way of living in harmony with the Terrians or will both races be lost forever?

One of the biggest releases this week comes courtesy of Chris Rock and we took up his invitation to attend a Death At a Funeral and have our review here.

And what better way to celebrate the release of this film than with a giveaway of a Death At a Funeral poster signed by the main man himself, Chris Rock?

So, here’s your chance – just answer the very easy question below and you could be the recipient of the prize.

Please use the form below to submit your answer to the following question:

Who directed the 2007 original Death At a Funeral?

The small print:

• This competition is open to the UK only.
• Only one entry per household will be counted.
• The competition will close Friday 11th June at 23.59 GMT.
• The winner will be picked at random from entries received.

The usual T&Cs can be found here. Good Luck!

Competition now closed

Death at a Funeral is the new comedy film from director Neil LaBute (Wicker Man) starring Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Danny Glover, James Marsden, Tracy Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Luke Wilson to name a few, which is about a family funeral that descends into chaos due to exposed family secrets, hallucinogenic fuelled guests, blackmail, relationships and a little person.

If the film title sounds familiar then that’s because it’s a remake of the British Frank Oz movie of the same name, in fact it has the same writer in Dean Craig and the same actor in Peter Dinklage playing the Frank who’s the catalyst for the downturn in events at the funeral. This is all fine but the problem for me is that it’s almost a scene for scene remake of the original British film and shows no originality apart from what appears at times to be some improvised dialogue from the now African-American family with a bit more swearing.

The film opens with the arrival of a coffin to a big family home, The coffin initially contains the wrong body, a Chinese man or “Jackie Chan” (ha ha…) to the annoyance of Aaron (Chris Rock) and things continue to go down hill from there when the arrival of Aaron’s brother Ryan (Martin Lawrence), a successful writer, adds pressure to his eulogy he’s prepared as well as claiming he can’t afford to pay for half the costs of the funeral. Aaron’s sister Elaine (Zoe Saldana) arrives with her accidentally drugged up boyfriend Oscar (James Marsden) after he took some supposed valium that is actually acid which sends him into a crazy delirious hallucinogenic state which is perfect for funerals and on top of that family friends Norman (Tracy Morgan) and Derek (Luke Wilson) arrive with foul mouthed wheel chaired uncle Russell and so begins the madness.

It’s the arrival at the funeral of an unknown little person called Frank (Peter Dinklage) when things start to get out of hand, claiming to Aaron that he is the secret lover of his father with pictures to prove it, he asks for money that is owed to him in return for secrecy and when Aaron gets his brother Ryan involved things go from bad to worse as they try to prevent the truth getting out.

The film will no doubt be a minor hit mainly due to box office draw of the ensemble cast and that it’s using the same relatively successful material of the 2007 original. The only real improvement is over the original was, surprisingly, James Marsden’s performance as the hallucinogen stricken Oscar who puts in a brilliant display of funny mannerisms, sayings and facial expressions throughout and was easily the funniest on show amongst the exceptional collection of comedians, actors and Martin Lawrence.

Tracy Morgan was again, like in the appalling Cop Out, playing his 30 Rock Character/himself (I forget which one is real now) which isn’t always a bad thing but it is predictable, Danny Glover was as foul mouthed and abusive as required and Martin Lawrence was wooden and unfunny as ever. The other cast all played their roles sufficiently enough to keep the film moving along with the excellent Keith David providing a nice turn as the suffering Reverend Davis witnessing the family chaos unfold, Luke Wilson was fine and had good rapport with Tracy Morgan but it all seemed over familiar and unoriginal as it was so close to the source material.

The only reason the film has been made is to bring the average story to the American audience and using a chance to bring some of the best black actors/actresses together in one film and it works in that respect with the jokes bound to bring laughs and the subject matter although being quite dark offering some familiar family issues and laughing at them. Is it worth 92 minutes of your time? Maybe, James Marsden’s enjoyable display and if you fancy a few decent jokes and some scat humour performed by some superb actors of our generation then go for it. Was it worth remaking? Not at all, the original was ok the remake matched it.

Death at a Funeral is released on 2nd June.

We’ve just been sent the brand new international trailer and poster for the Neil LaBute directed Death at a Funeral which  has an awesome cast which includes Loretta Devine, Peter Dinklage, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, Martin Lawrence, James Marsden, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana, Columbus Short and Luke Wilson.

Directed by Neil LaBute, Death at a Funeral is a hilarious day in the life of an American family come together to put a beloved husband and father to rest.

As mourners gather at the family home, shocking revelations, festering resentments, ugly threats, blackmail and a misdirected corpse unleash lethal and riotous mayhem.

It’s released in the UK 2nd June. Check out the new treailer below and click the image to enlarge.

The chaps over at AVP Galaxy have managed to get they’re hands on some awesome behind-the-scenes images from the Predators set. This movie is a reboot / sequel of the original two movies that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Glover. It’s directed by Nimród Antal and produced by Robert Rodriguez.

These new photos show some cast members on the set of the new movie. The cast includes Adrien Brody, Danny Trejo, Alice Braga and Topher Grace and it should be with us Summer this year. I’ve embedded a few images which you can click below to enlarge or head over to AVP Galaxy for the full gallery.

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying Independence Day was a big movie, with a place in cinematic history. Roland Emmerich has been the prince of diminishing returns since, but remains the current king of the global disaster movie. With next week’s 2012, he’s hoping to get his career back on track.

10,000 BC was universally panned, so he has decided to go back to what he does best. Namely, destroying contemporary landmarks, and killing a large percentage of the population. Emmerich loves himself a budget, and epic scale CGI, and judging from the trailer, he has used both liberally. There have been plenty of pre-release clips to encourage the hype. You can see a five minute clip in full HD here, some additional clips here, and some behind the scenes footage here.

As usual, however, there is a human story to be told. In this case, it’s the story of John Cusack’s failed novelist, divorcee Jackson Curtis, now a part-time limo driver. Whilst on a trip to Yellowstone park with his two children, he meets a crackpot who warns him of the coming apocalypse. When the warning signs begin to start, Curtis hires a plane, rescues his wife, and together they must make their way to China, where great arks have been built to carry the human population to safety. Cusack has played the ordinary Joe to great effect in films like High Fidelity, but has shown his action credentials in Con Air and Grosse Point Blank. The Randy Quaid crackpot role is played by Woody Harrelson this time, as trailer park DJ Charlie Frost, who predicts the imminent apocalypse.

With Danny Glover as President Thomas Wilson, and Oliver Platt as his advisor Carl Anheuser, there’s some interesting casting here. Four actors who’s recent CV’s have been spotty at best. Good timing for Harrelson and the movie though, well positioned to capitalise on his performance in surprise hit Zombieland. Harrelson’s star looks to be ascending again. One actor already at the top of his game, the quietly brilliant Chiwetel Ejiofor, plays another of the president’s aides, Adrian Helmsley. Brilliant in smaller masterpieces like Children of Men and Serenity, 2012 will be his biggest film to date.

The cause of the apocalypse this time round is the Mayan prediction of the end of days. Of course, this ‘prediction’ is an interpretation of an ambiguous belief. In actual fact, the Mayans didn’t predict anything. Rather, their calendar resets the date to zero every 1,872,000 days, which makes it next due on December 21st 2012. It’s not known the particular significance of this event to the ancient civilisation, but some have taken it to mean an evolution, some a revolution. Emmerich has used it to suggest a slate wiped clean, the annihilation of the human race and all it has created. It could simply have been a mathematical anomaly.

2012 features earthquakes, super volcanoes, mass suicides, floods and a giant tidal wave. Whilst the ‘weather gone wild’ part of the story is similar to Emmerichs previous The Day After Tomorrow, with the addition of the Earth’s crust displacement, and the vaguely supernantural element of the ‘prediction’ causing global panic, there should certainly be enough here to elevate 2012 beyond some of Emmerich’s previous work.

In a fairly quiet November movie-wise, with the shadow of Avatar yet to loom, 2012 could easily be a box office big hitter. We are all suckers for a big popcorn disaster movie, and they’re obviously confident based on the news of a possible TV series (Read our story here). It’ll certainly need a landslide victory in the box office charts to recoup it’s $200 million budget. If 2012 flops, Emmerich could find his budget for his next movie, possibly the proposed Independence Day 2 (ID5?) reduced to rubble. And that would be a disaster.

You can find our story on the proposed sequel here.

You can try and win a 2012 poster here.

2012 is released this Friday 13th November in the US and UK. You can read our review next week.

Bazmann

You might remember that we posted the five minutes of footage that Columbia Pictures released for 2012 a while ago. Well, they’ve now released that same footage in full HD. I’m talking full 1080p, 1920 *1200px resolution. So, for all those out there with a computer and the facility to hook it up to your hi def televisions, I highly recommend you do as it looks fantastic!! For those of you who don’t have this luxury, I’ve embedded the original clip below for your view please as it’s well worth a watch.

Since the footage is 360mb, we’re not hosting it on our site so click here to watch it or right click the link and save the target to download it.

2012 stars John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton,Danny Glover and is directed by Roland Emmerich. It’s out 13th November and tells the story of the end of the world!

Remember Adrien Brody? He’s the chap who played Wladyslaw Szpilman in the Pianist for which he won an Oscar. The Pianist is up there as one of my all-time favourite movies. He has also appeared in The Village and King Kong. This news today has surprised me a bit since it’s so different to the roles he normally plays.

Variety are reporting that Brody wants to reinvent himself as an action hero and has signed up for the lead role in ‘Predators’, the prequel to the movie made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987.

Variety: Brody and his Paradigm reps lobbied hard for the role. Fox has high hopes to spring a new franchise, and Brody has signed options to return for future installments, sources said.

I have no doubt he’ll do well in the role as every other film I’ve seen him in, he’s excelled in. Predators also stars Alice Braga, Danny Trejo, Walt Goggins, Oleg Taktarov, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, and Louiz Ozawa. It’s directed by Nimród Antal and is scheduled for release July 2010.

So, we’ve seen two trailers (teaser and theatrical) and a five minute clip of Roland Emmerich’s new movie, 2012. If you want to see a bit more footage from the movie and go deeper into how the special effects were done, then this post is for you.

Yahoo have posted a new behind the scenes look at the tidal wave scene. I’ve embedded it below or head over to Yahoo to view in it HD.