When I watched 2007’s film adaptation of the graphic novel Ghost Rider my thoughts on the subject were severely affected by the state of catatonic boredom that I slowly slipped into throughout it’s less than riveting running time.

When I heard that its sequel Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance was to be directed by Hollywood upstarts Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor I slipped back into consciousness. Dare I say that I was mildly excited?

Well I shan’t because I wasn’t. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t optimistic. Despite what much of the film world might say, despite all of the reviews and the criticism, I maintain that Neveldine and Taylor are very talented directors. The fact that they can only do one thing doesn’t mean that they don’t do it extremely well. Think of them like Hugh Grant but behind the camera, and a lot less loveably bumbling.

If you are looking for great camerawork and a bit of bonkers dynamism with your face pummeling action then with these two you are usually in the right place. Yes they made the sub-standard Gamer and Jonah Hex and wrote the entirely underwhelming Pathology but don’t let what looks to be a terrible track record fool you. Why? Because they made the Crank films of course…

Now that might seem a rubbish trump card to pull but one thing about the duo’s most insane outings is their uninhibited raw energy. Nowhere else in Hollywood will you find such a frenetic (albeit often very vulgar) assault on your retinas. Their first trailer for the sequel to Ghost Rider promised what everyone had hoped for. A lot of stupid, ridiculous, impressively shot smashing.  The internet lost its collective cool, got a bit over excited and Neveldine/Taylor decided to get their film shown at Ain’t It Cool News’ annual ‘Butt-Numb-a-Thon’ 24 hour film screening event.

That was earlier last month and no one at BNAT really liked it. And they’re the films target audience of self professed geeky nerdy fanboy types…

Such disapproval was met by the studios with an ill-judged jerk of the knee. More precisely they did a large u-turn infusing their latest trailer for the film with all of the ‘emotional’ and ‘character’ stuff that you never wanted or asked for. Now they’ve also released a new poster and it’s more of the same messy mixed messages:

The result not only doesn’t play to the films strengths but makes it all look at bit apologetically naff. I don’t want apologies – I want commitment. If you’re making rubbish know it’s rubbish and thrive on that. The trailer was supposed to be the showreel, it was supposed to show the audience what they want. The poster should be too and one thing I’m sure the audience don’t want is Nicholas Cage looking concerned and thoughtful. I’m willing to bet that the people who walked out of BNAT dissatisfied did not do so because of a lack of emotional involvement with the lead character whether his head was currently on fire on not.

No one wants to see anything to do with the plot, or people talking about the plot or anything remotely approaching an intellect. I don’t want anything at all cerebral from them. Thankfully in a Q&A after the BNAT screening Taylor said as much when stated his wish to add a jokey, animated montage in to the trailer to wink at the audience that the directors didn’t really know what was going on with the story either. Perfect. Why isn’t it in there? Also, why isn’t Cage punching something in the poster? Or kicking something? Or exploding into flames?

Failing dumb head-splitting violence, if I wanted to be emotionally involved with the characters I just flat out wouldn’t go. In that case I’d just bide my time until Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and even then I’d spend the whole film waiting for Mr Darcy to get his moping, grumpy head bitten off, or exploded, preferably whilst on fire.

But it still remains that whether or not the new marketing campaign works it looks to be another mediocre offer from two very promising men. How is it that outside of Crank such seemingly talented guys can’t make a good rollicking Hollywood friendly action film? All they need is a stupid, decent, bare bones story that knows precisely how rubbish it is (think The Transporter) and they’d be away. It’s not too much to ask. Is it?

Source: IMP Awards

Should we be worried? Charlie Kaufman is set to attack the world of online film criticism with his latest directing project Frank or Francis.

After his directorial debut Synecdoche New York won critics over, as most of his films do, Kaufman is turning to Hollywood and making a satire about a movie director who feuds with an online blogger, according to Indiewire who have had a sneak peak at the script. With funny men Nicholas Cage (who starred in the Kaufman written Adaptation about a screenwriter), Jack Black and Steve Carrell on board it was never going to be a conventional drama, now was it?

This being a Kaufman project there will be a lot more going on, but as per usual he’ll be the last person to say exactly what that means. In an interview with Time Out London Kaufman was being as mysterious as ever: “In the broadest possible sense, it’s about online film criticism, but as usual, the world that I’m writing about is not necessarily the world that I’m writing about.”

“There’s a lot in there about the internet and anger; cultural, societal and individual anger”, he continued, “and isolation in this particular age we live in.”

Kaufman is returning to our screens with added vigour it seems as, alongside this project, he has written a political satire for long time chum Spike Jonze that is set to star Jaoquin Phoenix.

His directing capabilities might need his focus though as, even by Kaufman standards, Frank or Francis looks to be a complex undertaking. “If I look at some of the things in the script that I’m about to embark on”, he said, “I’d have to say I don’t really have any idea how we’re going to do it. I’ve been pretty good at keeping logistics away from the writing process.” And that’s just how we like it Charlie.

Millennium Films have very quietly released the first official poster for Trespass, and it’s nothing more than a badly photoshopped travesty.

Directed by Joel Schumacher (Phone Booth), Trespass stars Nicole Kidman (The Others), Nicholas Cage (Kick-Ass), Cam Gigandet (Burlesque), Liana Liberato (Trust) and Nico Tortorella (Scream 4).

Synopsis: As they’re held for ransom, a husband and wife’s predicament grows more dire amid the discovery of betrayal and deception.

According to the poster, Trespass will hit selected cinemas in the US on October 14. A DVD/Blu-ray release is expected to follow quickly on November 1.

Check out the poster below:

Source: Movieline

John Cusack (Being John Malkovich) and Nicolas Cage (Kick-Ass) are in talks to star in The Frozen Ground.

Set to be written and directed by relative newcomer Scott Walker, The Frozen Ground is based on true events surrounding Alaska’s most notorious serial predator, Robert Hansen.

Emmett Furla Films, Amber Entertainment and Envision Entertainment will co-produce, while Voltage will handle international sales.

Cusack will next be seen in The Raven, while Cage is finishing up production on Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.

Source: Deadline

Movies that know exactly what they are and what their strengths are endear themselves to me, and the unashamedly raucous and silly Drive Angry (or Drive Angry 3D as it is officially titled) has a highly entertaining B movie heart wrapped in ‘A’ budget and 3D clothes. Reveling in its greasy ’70s occult and road movie exploitation roots, without slavishly recreating them in the manner of Tarantino’s and Rodriguez’s Grindhouse, Drive Angry is a wonderfully schlocky ride that never takes itself seriously.

Milton (Nicolas Cage) has escaped from hell to save his granddaughter from the clutches of a hillbilly satanic cult, led by the messianic Jonah King (Twilight‘s Billy Burke, coming on like the bastard love child of Billy Bob Thornton and Timothy Olyphant, if that makes any sense). Needing a lift to his destination, Milton hooks up with gorgeous coffee shop waitress Piper (Amber Heard), who conveniently both quits her job and is in possession of her boyfriend’s equally gorgeous ’69 Dodge Charger. The douchebag boyfriend quickly dispatched with, Piper and Milton set off to track the Satanists down, with Hell’s emissary The Accountant (William Fichtner) and various law enforcement types (Milton was a very bad man when he walked the earth, and it seems a lot of people haven’t forgotten) in hot pursuit.

Cage dutifully serves up his quarterly helping of Cage-ian pissed off middle aged guy, and while he doesn’t approach the perfection that he achieved in last year’s Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, his schtick is perfectly situated in this slice of B movie hokum. Amber Heard supplies the requisite eye candy, but thankfully she and Milton are just pals as Cage is a tad old at this point for her to be believably besotted with him (is Hollywood FINALLY lightening up on its unwavering dedication to perpetuating the aging leading man and a 25-30 years younger love interest rule?). Heard’s Piper is under-written, and she’s too physically slight to be entirely believable as a tough cookie, but no matter. Heard plays well off Cage’s Milton, functioning as a serviceable straight (wo)man riding shotgun through the mayhem (with nary a hair out of place or a make-up smear to be seen).

The film really belongs to co-stars William Fichtner and the array of beautiful muscle cars though. From Fichtner’s first appearance dressed in a pristine white shirt and sombre black suit and tie, he dominates every scene he’s in, dispensing deadpan bon mots and beat downs in equal measure.  The Accountant could easily be spun off into his own vehicle (a cable series perhaps), giving this very capable actor the sort of starring role he clearly deserves. It’s a great part and Fichtner relishes every minute of it, as we do watching him.

Drive Angry foregrounds 3D in a gimmicky and gleeful way that is reminiscent of its original flowering in the 1950s and brief resurgence in the 1980s. As a non-fan of 3D’s current proliferation in live action features, I went into the screening expecting to be annoyed by the use of the format but hoping that the film’s content would overcome my antipathy. The opening scenes quickly waylaid my 3Disgruntlement, announcing in a shower of blood ‘n’ bullets that the filmmakers were utilising the technology for laughs, not misguided notions of realism or an ‘enhanced’ story telling experience a la James Cameron. Thus, one happily delights in flaming bullets exiting gun barrels, beautiful American muscle cars roaring out of the screen, body parts flying about, and even a splintered baseball bat pinning a body to a wall. This is the only way that 3D is at all satisfying for me: highlighted in a way that is obvious and amusing, and used in an unpretentious, goofy genre film like this one, which delivers exactly what the label promises. Nic Cage drives. And he’s REALLY angry.

***~~ (3/5)

After a long and protracted development period (which included a version Robert Rodriguez was due to produce with partner Rose McGowan a couple of years back) could a remake of Red Sonja finally be on the cards?

The company behind the upcoming Conan reboot, Nu Image, appear to finally have a time pencilled in and producer Avi Lerner had this to say to Empire when quizzed:

“We will definitely shoot Red Sonja in between Conan and Conan 2. We already chose the director: an English guy called Simon West.”

West is currently in pre-production on the Nicolas Cage action pic The Medallion, so presumably, this would all start coming together after he’s finished on that project. With a director locked, who is the studio looking at to fill the shoes of 80’s Danish model-turned-actress-turned-celebrity houseguest Brigitte Nielsen? None other than Amber Heard apparently, although it may be wise if someone actually informed her of this.

“Amber is the new Red Sonja… but she doesn’t know it yet! When you write it she’ll get the shock of her life! She’ll call me and say ‘How dare you talk to Empire before you talk to me?!’”

The studio has just finished working with the actress on Drive Angry (which stars the ubiquitous Nicholas Cage) so maybe she won’t take much coaxing to slip into the loincloth and weld a big-ass sword.

We’ll keep you updated if and when she signs on the dotted line.

What’s great about this new trailer for The Wicker Tree is the first thing you hear – the rich and resonant voice of Sir Christopher Lee giving us an immediate link to Robin Hardy’s film The Wicker Man, one of the finest horror films ever made.

Lee, who popped up on HeyUGuys a few posts ago, isn’t reprising his role as Lord Summerisle in Hardy’s new film  as this is not a sequel, remake or reboot, but what Hardy and his team are calling a companion piece to the celebrated original.

This is the second trailer we’ve seen for Hardy’s film, the first teaser that was released gave a flavour which spoke of a shared tone between the Wicker films, and now we get to learn a little more about the story Hardy has cooked up for us and we get a chance to see Graham McTavish and Brittania Nicol as well as this image, which I’m hoping gets explained in the film.

Here’s the link to the official site (via Bloody Disgusting) which has the trailer on the front page. It’s certainly not safe for work and contains rituals and entrails, nakedness and shouting. Grand.

Click Here To See the Trailer

Will it only be a matter of time before the bunny needs to go back in the box once again?

Action director Simon West has been doing the promotional rounds for new feature The Mechanic (released over here and in the US on Friday). Interviewed by Crave Online, he mentions the next project he’s involved with (a bank heist picture with Nicholas Cage called Medallion), and asked about any dream projects he’s been itching to do, he has this rather revealing titbit:

“Yeah, I have a couple. Con Air 2, I’d like to do.”

He then goes on to explain why a follow-up to 1997’s barking-mad action extravaganza hasn’t managed to come together before now.

“It’s a matter of getting everybody together. There’s so many people involved and it’s about getting everybody to agree. But I’m going to bring it up to Nic. I’m going to put a bug in his ear about it. If the two of us want to do it, we’ll go after the others.”

A sequel could still be a long time coming, but if West’s next venture with Cage turns out to be another equally positive collaboration as their first (which let’s face it, is a ridiculous, yet thoroughly entertaining piece of pop cinema), the further exploits of ex-marine turned airborne hero Cameron Poe could be a real possibility. I’m thinking Con Rail?

With the distaste of Neil LaBute’s dismal remake of The Wicker Man still festering in many peoples mouths, Robin Hardy has come to the rescue with a sequel to his original take on the story.

While not necessarily a direct sequel, The Wicker Tree will explore similar themes to the first installment. Posted on the film’s official website, the trailer (via Bleeding Cool) sets a moody atmosphere with its religious voice0ver.

In an interview with Shock Til You Drop, Christopher Lee – who starred in the original movie – discussed his role in this overdue sequel.

They wrote this script, I was originally going to play the lead, and do quite a lot of singing. But by the time they got around to offering me the part, I was in New Mexico doing The Resident with Hilary Swank – a delightful person – so I couldn’t play the lead.

Don’t really know who I play in honesty, I’m not named. Good god, I don’t play Summerisle. He’d be at least 38 years older. I was 50 when I shot the movie, so I suppose I could have done without it being too much of a stretch. I don’t know what happens in the film in truth, it’s a bit of a mystery to me. Apparently it’s in the style of the first whatever that means and it explores similar themes.

However I wish them all the luck in the world of course because they have a superb cast and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be good with all the talent they have attached. It didn’t matter if my role was going to be large or small in The Wicker Tree. Audiences expected me to be in it anyway, and I am, so why do longer than a day’s work when that perception is out there already?

While his comments don’t exactly ooze faith in the project, the original’s campy tone does appear to remain intact. We can only hope that a few of the scares made it too.

At the very least, and this can’t be overstated, Nicholas Cage is nowhere to be seen.

Thanks to Dead Central for the embed.

Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer have had a very busy year already. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time came out a few months ago and now we have their next blockbuster to look forward to, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice stars Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Monica Bellucci, Toby Kebbell and is directed by Jon Turteltaub.

Synopsis: Walt Disney Studios, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Jon Turteltaub, the creators of the “National Treasure” franchise, present “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” — an innovative and epic comedy adventure about a sorcerer and his hapless apprentice who are swept into the center of an ancient conflict between good and evil.

Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina).  Balthazar can’t do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protégé.  The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness.  It’ll take all the courage Dave can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” The screenplay is by Matt Lopez and Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard from a screen story by Matt Lopez and Larry Konner & Mark Rosenthal.

Those lovely people at Disney have been kind enough to give us 2 pairs of tickets to an advance screening of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, this Sunday, 25^th July at a London West End location (which will be revealed if you win). Doors open at 10.30am with the film starting at 11am. To enter, you must be available at that time.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice doesn’t open in the UK until 11th August so you’d get to see the movie weeks before anyone else! If you’ve not already seen the trailer, you can check it out here!

To be in with a chance of winning this great prize, just tell us the answer to the following question.

On which Disney animated movie is The Sorcerer’s Apprentice based?

The small print:

• This competition is open to the UK only
• Only one entry per household will be counted
• The competition will close Friday 23rd of July at 12:00 noon GMT
• The winners will be picked at random from entries received

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

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED

Now that all the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time promo is done and dusted, Disney / Jerry Bruckheimer films are concentrating all their energies on The Sorcerer’s Apprentice which is released 13th August.

The movie stars Nicholas Cage, Jay Baruchel and Alfred Molina and is based around part of the animated classic, Fantasia. The movie sees Nicolas Cage reunite with his National Treasure director, Jon Turteltaub and from what we’ve seen of the movie so far, we’re in for a treat.

This new featurette is called Good vs Evil and pretty much does what it says on the tin.

Anyone out there looking forward to this movie? Tell us in the comments below.

It’s a slow week for movie releases, with Fantastic Mr. Fox the only release of note in the UK, along with Cirque Du Freak. Most of the remaining big films this year are due out in November and December.  

So, with the big winter films already hyped to the max, and with Iron Man 2, Clash of the Titans and Robin Hood being the highly anticipated movies this Spring, I thought i’d take a look at some Spring movies that maybe aren’t getting the attention they deserve – The Losers, Green Zone, A Couple of Dicks, Machete and Kick-Ass. Note, this is a list of the films i’m personally looking forward to, so you won’t necessarily agree with me…

 The Losers

When is it? – 9th April.
 
Where is it? – Currently filming in Puerto Rico
 
Who is it? – Directed by Sylvain White, starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans, Zoe Saldana, Jason Patric.
 
What is it? – Based on the short lived DC comic series, it follows members of a CIA black ops team that are betrayed and left for dead. The team goes out to hunt down the people that tried to kill them.
 
Why am i excited? – Jeffrey Dean Morgan is brilliant in everything he does, from John Winchester to The Comedian. Zoe Saldana is one of the hottest properties in Hollywood, with roles in this years Star Trek and the upcoming Avatar. And Chris Evans is vastly under-rated, having to try and shine in films like Fantastic Four and Push. The plot actually sounds very similar to next year’s The Expendables, and whilst Sly’s action all-stars will easily out-gross The Losers, the great source material means The Losers should have a much better storyline. Word has it this movie will roughly follow issues 1 to 12, leaving ample material for a franchise if its successful.
 
But? – White is an inexperienced director, with I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer one of his few credits. And writer Peter Berg was responsible for the mess that was Very Bad Things.

Would you like to know more? – You can find our interview with one of the stars, Idris Elba, here. The first official photos can be found here. The fantastic trailer can now be found here.

 Kick-Ass

When? – 16th April (USA)
 
Where? – In the can
 
Who? – Directed by Matthew Vaughn, and co-written with Mrs Jonathan Ross Jane Goldman. Starring Nicholas Cage, Aaron Johnson and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
 
What? - A young schoolboy decides to become a superhero, despite a distinct lack of super powers.
 
Why? – Kick-ass was struggling to find a distributor, due to some slightly questionable content – said to be mainly due to the presence of Hitgirl, an 11 year old schoolgirl assassin. Vaughn took some footage to comic-con, which got a standing ovation, and a bidding war was triggered. Lionsgate won, but considering they’ve been distributor for every Marv Films production (Vaughn’s production company), this wasn’t all that surprising. The leaked trailer showed a fairly even mix of comedy and stylistic action. 

 But? – The team of Vaughn and Goldman achieved success with their first film Stardust, but will have to have stepped up their game for Kick-Ass – Vaughn hasn’t really done action, and worryingly there were rumours he ducked out of X-men as he felt out of his depth.

Would you like to know more? – You can now find the trailer here, official posters here and here, and the official movie site here. The fantastic Hit Girl trailer is here with another clip here..

 Green Zone

When? – 12th March
 
Where? – In the can
 
Who? – Directed by British director Paul Greengrass, and written by Brian Helgeland. Starring Matt Damon, Jason Isaacs, Greg Kinnear and Brendan Gleeson.
 
What? - A thriller about a pair of CIA agents on the trail of WMDs, and a foreign correspondent following their mission 
 
Why? – Greengrass has shown great talent for compelling drama with Bloody Sunday and United 93, and great action with Bourne’s Supremacy and Ultimatum. This, coupled with his working relationship with Damon developed during those Bourne films, makes him the perfect man for the job. United 93 was based on a politically and socially sensitive subject, and the majority feel he handled it well. Damon’s career has improved dramatically thanks to his work as Jason Bourne, and this year has shown his diversity with a career performance in Steven Soderbergh’s The Informant. The book it is based on is a non-fictional account of the early days of the invasion of Iraq, when political relations were perched on a knife edge. The book was written by real life journalist, so historic details should be fairly accurate.

But? – Some attendees of very early focus group screenings have criticised perceived overuse of shaky-cam, but the film wrapped some months ago, so there’s been plenty of time for post-production.

Would you like to know more? – You can find some trailers here and here, some images here, and the poster here.

 Machete

When? - 16th April (USA)
 
Where? – In post
 
Who? – Written and Directed by Robert Rodriguez, and starring Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Jessica Alba, Robert de Niro, Lindsay Lohan, Don Johnson.
 
What? – Based on the fake trailer shown between Tarantino and Rodriguez’ Grindhouse double feature of Death Proof and Planet Terror. Based on an idea formed by Rodriguez back during Desperado, the titular Machete, Danny Trejo, is an assassin on the FBI’s payroll. He is double-crossed, and is now out for revenge, pursued by FBI agent Alba.
 
Why? – The trailer is really cool, in a crazy over-the-top kinda way. Word is Rodriguez has cut all the scenes from the trailer into the movie, and built the rest of the story around them. Rodriguez had a big hit with Sin City, which suggested he may be beginning to find his form again. Danny Trejo is due a lead role, following two decades of bit-part characters. Cheech Marin is always great to watch, and is reunited here with Johnson; they’ve worked together in Tin Cup and tv series Nash Bridges.
 
But? – Once Upon a Time in Mexico was a bit off a mess, and the Spy Kids pictures Rodriguez is now known for are as far removed from this kind of movie as you can get.

Would you like to know more? – You can find a poster here.

 A Couple of Dicks/A Couple of Cops – Now Cop Out!

When? – 26th February  

Where? – In post
 
Who? – Directed by Kevin Smith, written by Mark and Robb Cullen. Starring Bruce Willis, Sean William Scott, Michelle Trachtenberg, Adam Brody.
 
What? – The dicks in question are two cops, and the movie follows them through a series of hilarious situations.
 
Why? – This is the first movie Smith has directed that he didn’t write, so he must have been impressed by the screenplay. As listeners of Smith’s Smodcast podcasts know, he is a genuinely funny guy with a great feel for comedy. Despite a career based mainly on action movies, Willis has also shown a talent for comedy. He did, after all, start off in comedy series Moonlighting. After meeting Smith, Bruce took a liking to him and specifically wanted to work with him. 
 
But? – This is Smith’s first feature without regular producer, Smodcast co-host and friend, Scott Mosier. Willis has a reputation for poor script choices, and, barring 2005′s Sin City, hasn’t had a big hit for 10 years.

Would you like to know more? – You can follow Kevin Smith at http://twitter.com/thatkevinsmith. He recently stated on a tweet that A Couple of Dicks is the best movie he has been involved with.You can now find the trailer here.

Bazmann - You can now follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/baz_mann