Welcome to our new regular section in which members of the HeyUGuys family discuss a variety of topics concerning all things cinema.

We’ll pick a topic inspired by what’s happening in the world of film and invite our writers to voice their opinions, an invitation we extend to you. If you want to submit your own answer, or respond to an answer from one of our writers, then please do so.

This month sees the return of Kate Beckinsale as the gun-toting vampire warrior Selene in Underworld: Awakening. It’s a series which has managed to last for almost a decade now, despite a middling critical and audience response for each film (the domestic gross for previous instalment Underworld: Rise of the Lycans was the lowest out of the trilogy), yet that battle between those two warring tribes is back once more (it’s perhaps no surprise that the addition of 3D had been factored in this time around).

With this in mind, we asked our writers if there were any franchises out there which have more than outstayed their welcome, or alternatively, were there any films yet to be greenlighted for a sequel which could benefit from a continuation in the story.

Kelly Alyse

As much as they are ridiculous, predictable and far-fetched, I still find the Final Destination series very entertaining. The audience watching the films aren’t expecting ground-breaking performances, or storyline that will baffle them for hours after they leave the cinema – they are looking for something light-hearted, silly and fun. The film’s writers do a great job coming up with the different scenarios the teens can get themselves into, and each one comes packed with a gruesomely awesome punch.

One I believe should be put to rest is the Saw franchise. The first film was brilliantly thought out and truly intense to watch, but the films have slowly declined into a world of sadistic torture that’s pretty unbearable. Coming up with scenes that rip a person’s chest open or pull eyeballs out just isn’t entertaining.

I realise you could say the same about someone being burnt to death in a sun bed, but the difference between the two franchises is the fact that Final Destination is made to be laughed at. Saw is made to terrify and cause trauma. I know which one I’d rather watch…

Ones I’d watch time and time again are the Transformers, Paranormal Activity, X-Men and Iron Man franchises, even though I do class these films as guilty pleasures.

Tracy Ladd

Please, no more Transformers! I really hope this franchise has reached the end but with rumours about a 4th twirling about, I don’t think it’s dead yet. As cheesy and over-the-top as i

t was, I adored the first one. I just rewatched it recently and it still holds up pretty well. I did a complete 180 on the second one and had nothing but loathing for it. I went to see the third one to see if it was any better. While it was better than the second, it doesn’t compare to the first. Transformers needs to be put out to pasture.

Speak ill if you must, but I really dug The A-Team. Sure, it planted its foot firmly beyond the borders of ridiculous, but I didn’t care. I loved the action and thought the cast did a great job working off each other. I liked how the movie ended and wished that they continued on with at least a second one just to see where it went. Sadly, that won’t happen.

As much as I adored Pierce Brosnan in the Bond role in Goldeneye, his others were severely lacking and just seemed to get worse. Then Daniel Craig took over and Bond got dirty. The fact that the series went gritty is what drew me back in and even though Quantum of Solace wasn’t quite what Casino Royale was I’m still glad that this franchise is still kicking.

Kenji Lloyd

If I could pick one film to get a sequel it would be Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla, hands down. The original is one of my all-time favourites, starring the likes of Gerard Butler, Mark Strong, Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, Jeremy Piven, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, and of course, Toby Kebbell as the brilliant rocknrolla himself. At the end of the film, Ritchie threw in a genius nod announcing he’d be returning with a sequel, but sadly, it is yet to materialise.

After RocknRolla he directed Sherlock Holmes, (which exploded for him and Warner Bros.) and followed that with last year’s awesome Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and the third film has already been announced, which is great news. But as a lover of RocknRolla, I’m really hoping that Johnny, Archy, and the Wild Bunch will be back in The Real RocknRolla after that, because I can’t wait for Ritchie and his cast and crew to return to that world. Ritchie’s said he’s written a script, and that Joel Silver will pay for him to do it, so it’s just a matter of figuring out when. Whenever that is, it’s going to be amazing.

Adam Lowes

In all honesty, I think Bond should have been retired many years ago. No matter how many do-overs and reinvigorations, it’s a series which always follows that same ridged narrative path, with little in the way of surprises or any interesting deviations. As solid an actor as Pierce Brosnan was in the part, I wasn’t a fan of any of the films from the series he appeared in, and each successive adventure seemed to promise much, but in reality, the series grew increasingly preposterous and tiring.

The makers managed to bring something interesting to the table for Casino Royale (it’s obvious ole’ Jason Bourne was somewhat of an influence), but ‘Quantum’ was a serious step backwards, and returned the franchise to that simplistic structure which Craig’s first outing deliberately tried to avoid. Even the idea of Bond extricating himself from the secret service and making it a personal vendetta was the basis for Licence to Kill nearly twenty years previous, highlighting the lack of originality after a promising return for the character.

No doubt Sam Mendes will be hoping to bring something fresh and exciting to the world of 007 once more, but even with the heavyweight cast he’s assembled (the addition of Javier Bardem alone is a very exciting prospect) he has his work cut out.

Click below for Indiana Jones, more Pooh and an intriguing idea concerning Inception…

The game is afoot once again as Steven Moffat’s Sherlock returns to TV screens on the 1st of January to get 2012 off to a cracking start.

Moffat and Mark Gatiss chose wisely with their two lead actors for the series which succeeded in bringing the famous detective up to date while retaining the distinct flavour of Conan Doyle.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman have seen their careers take off in a big way with The Hobbit and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy alone and we are due three new episodes of Sherlock this year and this new trailer, all the way from the marbled halls of The Guardian, will suffice for the next nine or so days.

In 2009 the ex Mr Madonna (otherwise known as Guy Ritchie) called upon the unlikely pairing of Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law to bring back to the screen two of crime fiction’s greatest heroes – Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson.

The pair are up there amongst the most filmed literary characters, Holmes has been sticking his nose into other people’s business since the earliest days of the cinema with one of the first versions being a Danish short from 1908 pitting him against his arch nemesis Moriarty and Raffles, the Victorian gentleman thief – now that really would have been a showdown worth seeing.

So, as Ritchie prepares to throw Downey and Law together again, we decided to do some sleuthing ourselves and find six of the pipe smoking detective’s best screen adventures.  The results have proved anything but elementary!

6)  Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)

By the mid 1980’s there were few directions left in which to take the deer stalker wearing crime buster.  So, why not go back to the beginning?

Imagining how Holmes and Watson might originally have met at school, screenwriter Christopher Columbus (before his Harry Potter days), producers Mark Johnson, Henry (‘The Fonz’) Winkler and fantasy supremo Steven Spielberg placed Nicholas Rowe and Alan Cox as the young sleuths in suitably surreal predicaments complete with Egyptian’esque settings and bizarre flying machines, whilst trying to save a group of business men who are being mysteriously bumped off.

Giving Holmes a love interest in the form of delectable English actress Sophie Ward, the film’s interestingly ‘downbeat‘ finale goes some way to explaining why Holmes remained a bachelor.

5)  Basil, The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

After several lean years Disney was back on form with their reworking of the Sherlock Holmes myth.

Clearly influenced by Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce’s takes on the characters from 1940′s, the cartoon duo find themselves up against the dastardly plans of Professor Ratigan (voiced with deliciously oily venom by Vincent Price) in an imaginary London reminiscent of the studio’s 101 Dalmatians interpretation of the city.

4)  Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Guy Ritchie, a man who up to this point had been best known for one very successful film and one very public marriage, may have seemed a strange choice to bring the character of the broody, introverted Holmes to the big screen.

However his film which had the detective confronting the serial killing and occult dabbler Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong)  was a smash, perfectly casting Robert Downey Jr as a dandy with an eye for the girls in the form of Rachel McAdams, whilst perfectly at ease with his feminine side and flirting outrageously with Jude Law’s bemused and frustrated Watson.

Richie took a characteristically ‘smoking barrels‘ approach to the whole preposterous proceedings without losing Holmes’ Victorian roots, and it appears, from trailers of the new film, that he may manage it again.

3)  The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)

Never a studio to miss a horrific opportunity, Hammer Films unleashed one of Conan Doyle’s best loved and most unsettling Holmes’ stories upon an unsuspecting public.

Colouring the tale of strange murders on the West Country moors with their trademark gory, Technicolor style (with which they had recently reanimated Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster) complemented with a rousing score by Hammer regular Bernard Robinson, they brought Peter Cushing, in the role of Holmes (his appearances as the detective over the ensuing years would become seen as some of the screen’s best interpretations of the character), up against his frequent film adversary (and real life friend) Christopher Lee as the haunted Sir Henry Baskerville, with Andre Morell as a suitably baffled Watson.

2)  Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942)

Though perhaps not the truest to the original essence of Conan Doyle’s hero, the fourteen Sherlock Holmes films made by 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures between 1939 and 1946, starring Basil Rathbone (as the good guy for a change) and Nigel Bruce, can go down in history as creating what has become Holme’s most iconic catchphrase, “elementary my Dear Watson”.

The third of the films, Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror, was the first to be given a contemporary setting, placing the duo within a war torn Britain where the country’s morale is being undermined by Nazi broadcasts being heard on BBC radio.  There is only one person of course for a puzzled government to turn to in their hour of need – Sherlock Holmes (if the great detective had really been around during World War II it probably wouldn’t have run as long as it did).

The premise of placing Holmes in a modern (for the 1940’s) setting sounds like it shouldn’t work.  But given a suitably foggy ambience by legendary Cinematographer Elwood Bredell and Art Director Jack Otterson, and with the addition in this story of 1940’s ‘Scream Queen‘ Evelyn Ankers as the prerequisite damsel in distress, this film, and the others in the series, are amongst the best and most fondly remembered of the detective’s cinematic outings.

1)  A Study in Terror (1965)

“You’ll never see anything like it this side of hell!”

With a tagline like that A Study in Terror was clearly going all out for the ‘horror’ angle.  The film brought together two legendary characters from Britain’s Victorian past, one real (Jack The Ripper) who has passed into folklore, and one fictional (Holmes, portrayed by John Neville) who has become so real in the public’s imagination that’s it’s often hard to believe he didn’t actually exist.

That the premise of the story (Holmes is called upon to investigate a spate of gruesome murders in London’s East End by the infamous Jack The Ripper) is relatively simple doesn’t matter greatly, as it’s its depiction of Victorian London with its fog enveloped East End and panic stricken ‘ladies of the night’, which makes this 1960’s gem so memorable.

Considered shocking for it’s time (it was given an X certificate by British censors due to scenes like the opening one where a young woman has a knife graphically driven through her neck), the film will also go down in history for giving us a young Judi Dench and Barbara Windsor as two of the aforementioned ‘loose women’, which in itself would be worth the admission fee.

Six of the Best – Sherlock Holmes was written by Cleaver  Patterson

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle might be turning in his grave at the use of his work but if he had a sense of humour he might appreciate Guy Ritchie’s more contemporary, humorous interpretation of his British sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, and certainly admire Robert Downey Jr’s eccentric turn as the infamous detective again.

What is certain is Ritchie gets to play out his love of Cockney bromance once more, while taking a European action-packed tour, Orient Express style this time around.

Holmes (Downey Jr) turns sulky schoolboy when his right-hand man, Dr Watson (Jude Law), decides to give up bachelorhood and get hitched, leaving his detecting days behind. After taking over his stag do, ‘Best Man’ Holmes sabotages the happy couple’s honeymoon to Brighton, after discovering his arch nemesis, the brilliant mathematician Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), has hatched a bombing plan to set off a war in Europe, in order to peddle his arms wares. With ample action set-pieces and Matrix-style manoeuvres, plus the help of tag-a-long gypsy beauty Simza (Noomi Rapace), who is searching for her long-lost brother, the ‘brothers-in-clues’ set off on one finale adventure.

Downey Jr and Law have perfected their quick-fire, dry exchange and camp rebuffs in the second film with the finesse and the ease of a comedy duo with years of live performance experience. Downey Jr’s portrayal of Holmes’s borderline insanity is heightened in this film by a touch of transsexual tomfoolery that is inoffensive and relevant to the plot. With the delightful addition of the witty gentleman’s gentleman, Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s equally absurd, ‘naturist’ brother in the mix, there has never been such a display of English idiosyncrasy on-screen in a long time to revel in, and although Downey Jr is always a tonic, Fry steals the scenes they share with aplomb.

Ritchie ramps up the action tenfold, with full slow-mo, sharp-angled purpose to extract every Holmes clue and acute observation while turning parts into impressive cat-and-mouse, war chase scenes that fuel your enthusiasm and adrenaline. The waterfall finale that encompasses a meeting of brilliant minds over a deadly chess match is breathtakingly honed for full effect, leaving us – and even Conan Doyle – wondering on the actual fate of the UK’s most notorious fictional detective; this might leave some Sherlock Holmes fans perplexed, even perturbed.

However, the film has its flaws. First and foremost is its padded length that although punctuated by the impressive action sequences has a lot of lag to it. All the sharp dialogue and subsequent action suffers when it could have been a more succinct viewing experience. For example, the brief appearance of Holmes’s love, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), at the start is merely present for the benefit of giving Holmes’s mission a deep-felt purpose and to pour salt on the wound that his best pal, Watson, has found happiness in true love.

In addition, although Rapace as Simza is a mysterious beauty to have along on the ride, apart from being there to offload Watson’s trademark knitted scarf and to detect her brother’s presence – which she fails to, is sorely underused and underdeveloped and merely part of a gypsy resistance group that those with historical knowledge on the World Wars might find interesting as a persecuted people still in the news today. Even the snatched sideways glances between Simza and Watson are left lingering in the ether. Thankfully, the climax does make up for any tedious areas, with Downey Jr opposite Harris’s devilish and equally insane villainy in a wonderful sporting standoff of sheer intellectual prowess that befits Conan Doyle’s exceptional literature.

A Game of Shadows is pure period action drama with a delicious camp twist (cross-dressing aside) that demonstrates Downey Jr has made Holmes as much a part of his nature, as Captain Jack Sparrow is to Depp’s. This alone will keep fans more than occupied throughout Ritchie’s second sleuthing romp – inflated run-time aside.

***½~ (3.5/5)

Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the world’s most famous detective  Sherlock Holmes, and Jude Law returns as his formidable colleague, Dr. Watson, in “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.” The film is in UK cinemas this Friday, 16th December.

Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room…until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large—Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris)—and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective.

The investigation becomes ever more dangerous as it leads Holmes and Watson out of London and across Europe, to France, Germany and finally to Switzerland.

But the cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead as he spins a web of death and destruction—all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.

To celebrate the release of SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS, in cinemas Friday 16 December, we have some fantastic merchandise up for grabs. These great goody bags include a set of tarot cards, a pawn key ring, a grey, long sleeved hoody, a handkerchief set and a trucker hat. As well as all of this, one lucky winner will also receive a phone skin, a tablet plaid portfolio and a stunning wooden 7-in-1 desktop game set. To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the below question using the form:

This Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows actor, who plays Dr. John Watson, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Cold Mountain. He can also be seen in The Holiday, Closer and Contagion. Name the actor.

1. Matt Damon
2. Colin Firth
3. Jude Law

To find out more about SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS visit www.sherlockholmes2.co.uk become a fan at www.facebook.com/sherlockholmesmovieuk or tweet @GameofShadowsUK

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED

The small print:

• Open to UK residents only
• Only one entry per household will be counted
• The competition will close 19th December at 23.59 GMT
• The winner will be picked at random from entries received
• No cash alternative is available

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

© 2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

This evening, London plays host to the European Premiere of Guy Ritchie’s new movie, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows which stars Robert Downey Jr​, Jude Law​, Noomi Rapace​, Jared Harris, Stephen Fry​ and Eddie Marsan​. Many of the main cast will be there including Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, Director Guy Ritchie and Producer Joel Silver but if you can’t be there in person, fear not as we have the live stream of the event for you right here!

The lovely Edith Bowman will be hosting the event and interviewing the stars as they arrive. They’ll also be a gypsy band performing to open the evening who are featured in the movie. It’s amazing what you can learn while they’re doing the live sync test!

The stars should be arriving on the carpet from 17:45 so go and get a cuppa and come back to watch it all as it unfolds! Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is in UK cinemas 16th December. While you’re waiting, you can see our extensive Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows coverage including trailers and posters here.

Twelve days separate us from catching up with Guy Ritchie’s latest fidgeting with Conan Doyle’s greatest creation with Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows unleashed into cinemas.

Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law return as Messrs. Holmes and Watson for another round of quick wits and fisticuffs, with a few new cast members along for the ride. Jared Harris enters as Professor Moriarty while Stephen Fry lends himself rather well to the role of the elder Holmes brother Mycroft with Noomi Rapace cast as a gypsy fortune teller who is dragged into the mysterious game of shadows.

Collider have nine clips from the film and present them here as one large chunk. Highlights include out first decent looks at Moriarty and Mycroft as well as Rachel McAdams returning as Irene Adler.

Here’s your eight minutes of Shadowy Games,

And the latest Photoshoppery has Holmes and Watson drawing guns while a train journey goes awry. I think that’s enough posters now, don’t you? As always, Click=big.

Guy Ritchie’s upcoming sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, is one of the films I’ve been looking forward to all year, and it’s just a matter of weeks now until we get to see it on the big screen next month.

As if there weren’t enough reasons to see it already, with its impeccable cast featuring the return of Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law as the iconic Sherlock Holmes and Watson, with additions including Jared Harris as the notorious Moriarty, Stephen Fry as Sherlock’s brother Mycroft, and Noomi Rapace as the mysterious Sim, with Rachel McAdams reprising her role as Irene Adler, Collider are now reporting that the film is likely set to have two fantastic trailers attached before it in the form of The Dark Knight Rises and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

We heard from Andy Serkis just a few days ago that we should be lucky enough to have a teaser for the film in time for Christmas, and it looks like he was right! At the time, it was considered possible that the film might be attached to The Adventures of Tintin in America, which wouldn’t be very helpful for us, since we’ve already had Tintin in our cinemas! But thankfully it’s looking likely now that it will be A Game of Shadows that gets The Hobbit, which is one more brilliant reason to head to the cinema next month when it comes out.

If you caught Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 this summer in the cinema, you’ll no doubt remember that this was the setting of our first look at footage from Christopher and Jonathan Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. I love that teaser trailer so much, and found myself watching it over and over when it made its way online. If that first teaser is anything to go by, the film is going to be utterly epic, and you can be sure that our second look at the film next month is going to be brilliant just like the first.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows will be hitting our cinemas on 16th December, and by the sounds of it, you’re definitely going to want to make sure you get to the cinema on time to see the trailers when you see it. It’s going to be an awesome cinematic experience before the film even starts!

Until then, you can catch up on all of our coverage of the three films to keep you entertained. You can check out everything Holmes-related here, everything Batman-related here, and everything Hobbit-related here. They’re all going to be brilliant. For no reason other than the fact that I love it, I’ve decided to embed the first teaser for The Dark Knight Rises below. Enjoy. It’s immense.

To watch more, visit tag

Dartmoor, War Horse

We here at HeyUGuys are very proud to be British. We love our movie heritage and are so pleased when big Hollywood studios decide that the UK is a place they want to shoot their movie. Some of the most iconic movies of all times have been shot here and looking at this list, the movies keep on coming! We’ve been contacted by VisitEngland who work tirelessly to promote the country and all that it stands for. They’ve compiled this fantastic list of movies that have either just come out, about to come out or that are currently filming in England.

In the list, we get to see Madonna’s W.E., Martin Scorcese’s Hugo, Steven Spielberg’s War Horse and Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows to name but a few and like I say, these have all been filmed right here! We wanted to share this list with you so that you could see if you could spot locations that you’ve been to or may want to visit after being inspired by what you read here. Enjoy and make sure you head to the VisitEngland website for more info.

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From the coarse beauty of Yorkshire’s moorland to the opulent exteriors of the National Trust’s most lavish Stately Homes, England is one big, beautiful movie set. Don’t just take our word for it – moviemakers have filmed some true classics here and last weekend has seen the release of another: Andrea Arnold’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel Wuthering Heights. Here, VisitEngland showcases some of the locations featured in this film season’s most anticipated releases.

Yorkshire Moors, Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights

Brontë depicted the barren Yorkshire moors as a representation of central character Heathcliff’s innately wild nature and this new adaptation brings the rousingly romantic nineteenth-century novel to life. Kaya Scodelario has received much critical acclaim for her role as Cathy but the film’s true star is North Yorkshire’s stunning moorland. Sumptuous locations, including Cotescue Park, a country house built in 1666, and Swaledale highlight the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Explore these valleys and discover the true romance of these beautiful hills. If you scratch deeper than the surface you will find a truly wonderful place that lies at the beating heart of this ultimate love story.

Release date: 11 November 2011

My Week with Marilyn     

Staring Michelle Williams as everyone’s favourite blond bombshell, My Week with Marilyn focuses on the week Monroe spent in England whilst making the 1957 film The Prince and the Showgirl. Introduced to British life, Monroe escapes the pressures of Hollywood and then husband, Arthur Miller. Filming took place on locations in and around London, including a house near Windsor, which Monroe and Miller lived in during their stay in England. Curtis used the same studio featured in The Prince and the Showgirl in 1956 and Williams was reportedly given the dressing room Monroe had used at the time of the shoot.

Release date: 18 November 2011

Hughenden Manor, W.E

W.E.      

Directed by Madonna, W.E. brings together the Queen of Pop and King Edward VIII in an unconventional tale of contemporary love between a married woman and a Russian security guard. Locations include Hughenden Manor and West Wycombe Park in Buckinghamshire. The Manor, owned by the National Trust, was a country hideaway and home to the colourful private life of Benjamin Disraeli, the most unlikely Victorian Prime Minister. Today, you can follow in his footsteps: take a stroll through the elegant gardens and imagine feasting with Queen Victoria in the atmospheric dining hall.

Release date: 9 December 2011

The Iron Lady   

Here, Academy Award Winner Meryl Steep takes on a role of a lifetime, portraying the iconic former British Prime Minster, Margaret Thatcher. In preparation for the role, Steep sat through a session at the House of Commons to perfect the pursed lips and a steely glare needed to portray this extraordinary and complex woman.  The film was shot at Pinewood Studios, which recently celebrated its 75^th birthday, and is credited with creating some of British cinema’s most famous scenes.

Release date: 6 January 2012            

Royal Naval College, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows   

British director Guy Ritchie invites his audience to follow Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) and his sidekick Dr. Watson (Jude Law) across London as they outwit and bring down their fiercest and most cunning adversary, Professor Moriarty. Filmed at many iconic English destinations, from the historic Old Royal Naval College to Bourne Wood’s ancient woodland, Sherlock Homes promises to be the festive season’s biggest blockbuster.

Release date: 16 December 2011  

Dartmoor, War Horse

War Horse          

Set in Devon at the outbreak of World War I, War Horse describes unbreakable bond between a young man and his faithful horse. Directed by Steven Spielberg, filming was undertaken across England’s vast counties, including Bourne Woods, Surrey, Castle Combe and Dartmoor, Devon. Spielberg himself praised the beauty of the Dartmoor countryside, commenting on the unparalleled beauty of its landscapes and skies.

Release date: 13 January 2012      

 Great Expectations

To celebrate the 200^th birthday of Charles Dickens, this lavish adaptation of Great Expectations stars some of the country’s most beloved actors (Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, David Walliams, Jason Flemyng and Helena Bonham Carter) and will make great use of several high-profile locations. Fans of the legendary narrative will once again welcome the opportunity to get lost in the enchanted serenity of period film.

Release date: 2012 (TBC)

Layer Marney Tower, The Woman in Black

The Woman in Black      

This supernatural thriller, based on Susan Hill’s novel and hugely successful West End production of the same name, tells the story of a young lawyer’s encounter with the ghost of a scorned woman set on vengeance. Layer Marney Tower, near Colchester, provides the dramatic setting to this haunting affair.  Built in the reign of Henry VIII, the Tudor palace stands tall within the Essex landscape, commanding views over the River Blackwater and beyond.

Release date: 10 February 2012    

It seems the Korean Warner Bros. Marketing department have decided that going with the scary looking posters are the way forward as we have one here of Rachel McAdams from her new movie, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and I think the word ‘scary’ is the most apt. Not sure what happened in Photoshop but anyway, here we are!

Sherlock Holmes is the second movie in the franchise directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Stephen Fry, Eddie Marsan. From what we’ve heard, McAdams only has a small cameo in this sequel but I guess time will tell. It’s set for release on Boxing Day, 26th December here in the UK and we can’t wait to see it!

Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, and Jude Law returns as his formidable colleague, Dr. Watson​, in “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.” Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room…until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large–Professor Moriarty​ (Jared Harris)–and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective.

We’re hoping to have lots of Sherlock fun in the run up to release so keep your eyes peeled.

Click the poster below to enlarge.

Source: Cine1

Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes has a second cinematic outing in a few weeks time with leads Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law returning to lead us through the titular Game of Shadows.

Yahoo have a nice new featurette which has Ritchie and his leads waxing lyrical about the film and what a lot of fun it was, and last year’s film managed to enjoy itself without seeming too indulgent. While the detecting duo have already shown their hand there are a few new faces in the mix, not least Jared Harris as Moriarty and Noomi Rapace who joins in the hijinks.

Feast your eyes on this synopsis before diving in.

“Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) has always been the smartest man in the room… until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large—Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris)—and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder—a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty. The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction—all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.”

The film is out next month and if it does well then we can expect another case from the team, as it’s certain that Warners enticed Ritchie with a boatload of cash to take another turn with Holmes and Watson and it’s not done his career any harm, has it?

We’ve been getting a pretty great look so far at Guy Ritchie’s upcoming sequel to his brilliant first Sherlock Holmes film, entitled Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and it’s all looking likely that he’ll be repeating the great success he found with the first film.

If you’ve missed it, you can catch up on the full trailer here, which landed last month, and most recently the three TV spots that surfaced just a few days ago.

We’ve now got six brilliant new character posters to share with you, courtesy of ComingSoon.net, which follow in the same footsteps visually as the first two sets of posters we saw back in July and last month.

The film will of course see the return of Robert Downey, Jr. in the titular role, with Jude Law naturally reprising his role as Watson, Rachel McAdams returning for a small reprisal of Irene Adler, and Eddie Marsan returning as Inspector Lestrade, and they’ll be joined by Jared Harris as Professor Moriarty, Stephen Fry as Holmes’ brother Mycroft, and Noomi Rapace as the gypsy woman Sim, whose full name on the posters is revealed as Simza.

“Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) has always been the smartest man in the room… until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large—Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris)—and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder—a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty. The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction—all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.”

A Game of Shadows is due to hit cinemas on 16th December, just over a month away, which is a date I can’t wait for. Expect this to be awesome. Until then, here are the great new character posters to enjoy; two each for Moriarty and Simza, and one each for Watson and Holmes. As usual, click to enlarge.

More Holmes to welcome in the week, and there’s the requsite fast paced fists and quick wits on show here in Guy Ritchie’s sequel which has own favourite literary detective duo coming face to face with Professor Moriarty in the titular shadowy game.

Stephen Fry and Noomi Rapace are two of the new faces in the film and there is a surprising amount to live up to as the first film was so well received that this follow up was fast tracked into production and we have only a few short weeks until the film flies into cinemas on the 16th of December.

The Movie Box (via ComingSoon) have a trio of tasty TV spots to tease and tantalise.

Wow. These sequels are getting greenlit, lined up and into pre-production faster and faster. I remember a time (he wistfully notes) when you used to have to wait and see if a film was both good and commercially successful before you started cracking on with sequels. Those times are long gone. With Marvel setting the pace with their fearless timetable for Thor, Iron Man, Spidey and Avengers sequels, WB are getting in on the act, clearly having decided that they are happy enough with what they have seen of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock sequel to give the go ahead to more.

Certainly the trailer we’ve seen for Sherlock 2 looks impressive enough, with plenty of style, quips, intrigue and bombast and equally certainly, WB must be convinced that they have more on their hands than just 2.5 minutes of good trailer material. Drew Pearce, creator of UK superhero satire series No Heroics and currently scribbling away on Iron Man 3, has been tasked with the script for the threequel, which THR rightly note follows the formula with the greenlighting of SH2 and the appointing of Michele and Kieran Mulroney as writers before part 1 had yet seen the light of day, back in late 2009.

Given how most studios handle their key properties, it seems likely that RDJ and Jude Law will both be tied into three picture deals. RDJ in particular is looking like becoming utterly absorbed with franchises (Iron Man, Avengers and Holmes) though it is hoped that he will be able to find time for other projects as well. As excellent as his work is on those franchises and as much as he is entitled to make his money from those while the opportunity is there, it would be a shame to not see him in less conventional material like Zodiac, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and A Scanner Darkly.

As for Drew Pearce, he is rising and rising and rightly so. Sherlock Holmes will be his first departure from his comfort zone of superheroes and their ilk since his work on the 2006 TV series Lip Service, but one would think that a good writer is a good writer and no doubt Pearce will turn his hand as confidently and capably to Holmes as to anything else.

Source: THR.

Our friends over at MSN have just launched the first Full Length trailer for Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows. We’ve had a teaser before but this one gives us a lot more footage and storyline.

Guy Ritchie returns to direct this movie after the success of the 2009 movie with a cast that includes Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Eddie Marsan, Stephen Fry, Gilles Lellouche. We can expect to see it in UK cinemas 16th December. Scroll down for the brand new trailer.

Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, and Jude Law returns as his formidable colleague, Dr. Watson, in “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.” Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room…until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large–Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris)–and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder–a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by one Professor Moriarty. Mixing business with pleasure, Holmes tracks the clues to an underground gentlemen’s club, where he and his brother, Mycroft Holmes (Stephen Fry) are toasting Dr. Watson on his last night of bachelorhood. It is there that Holmes encounters Sim (Noomi Rapace), a Gypsy fortune teller, who sees more than she is telling and whose unwitting involvement in the prince’s murder makes her the killer’s next target. Holmes barely manages to save her life and, in return, she reluctantly agrees to help him. The investigation becomes ever more dangerous as it leads Holmes, Watson and Sim across the continent, from England to France to Germany and finally to Switzerland. But the cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead as he spins a web of death and destruction–all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history. Filmmaker Guy Ritchie returns to direct “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” the follow-up to the smash hit “Sherlock Holmes.” The sequel also reunites producers Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey and Dan Lin. Bruce Berman serves as executive producer, with Steve Clark-Hall co-producing. Jared Harris (TV’s “Mad Men,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) joins the cast as the notorious Professor Moriarty. Also joining the cast, in her first English-speaking role, is Swedish actress Noomi Rapace, who gained international attention in the Swedish film “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” Stephen Fry (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”) plays Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s older brother. Additional cast members returning from the first film include Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lestrade; Kelly Reilly as Watson’s bride, Mary Morstan; and Geraldine James as Holmes’s long-suffering landlady, Mrs. Hudson. “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” is written by Michele Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were created by the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and appear in stories and novels by him.

In the past few months, we’ve seen some brilliant things from Guy Ritchie’s highly anticipated follow-up to his 2009 film, Sherlock Holmes, entitled Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

We got the first trailer for the film back in July, along with some terrific posters introducing and re-introducing us to the new and returning characters alike, and most recently some great stills that included a shot of Holmes and Moriarty head-to-head in a game of chess.

The only thing that was missing from all of this was Rachel McAdams. In the first film, McAdams played the lead female role of Irene Adler, and she was terrific. When Ritchie announced the sequel, there was a lot of speculation about whether or not McAdams’ character would be returning, and for a long time it was thought that she wouldn’t be when Noomi Rapace was announced as the film’s female lead.

Thankfully, however, McAdams was finally confirmed for A Game of Shadows, in cameo capacity, back in February, and we’ve now got the first photos from the set, courtesy of Just Jared via ComicBookMovie.com, that show her looking wonderful opposite Robert Downey, Jr.’s Holmes, who is himself dressed up in one of his excellent disguises.

“Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room…until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large—Professor Moriarty —and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade, points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder—a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by one Professor Moriarty.

Mixing business with pleasure, Holmes tracks the clues to an underground gentlemen’s club, where he and his brother, Mycroft Holmes are toasting Dr. Watson on his last night of bachelorhood. It is there that Holmes encounters Sim, a Gypsy fortune teller, who sees more than she is telling and whose unwitting involvement in the prince’s murder makes her the killer’s next target. Holmes barely manages to save her life and, in return, she reluctantly agrees to help him. The investigation becomes ever more dangerous as it leads Holmes, Watson and Sim across the continent, from England to France to Germany and finally to Switzerland. But the cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead as he spins a web of death and destruction—all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.”

Along with Downey, Jr. and McAdams, the film will see the return of Jude Law as Watson, and will introduce Stephen Fry and Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s brother; Noomi Rapace as Sim, a mysterious Gypsy woman; and Jared Harris and the notorious Professor Moriarty.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Thrones comes out on 16^th December, and I personally can’t wait to see how the sequel turns out. I’m a big fan of everything Ritchie does, and with less than three months to go now, it’s not too long before we get to see how the sequel unfolds. Without further ado, here are the great new set photos revealing Rachel McAdams’ return. As usual, click to enlarge.

Last month saw a brilliant early drive to promote the forthcoming sequel to Guy Ritchie’s 2009 Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows. We got some awesome posters for the film, followed by a few new images, and then finally the excellent first trailer for the film.

Now we can see Robert Downey, Jr. on the cover of the latest issue of Empire, along with three great new images from the film, and it’s all adding to the anticipation of its December the 16th release.

Downey, Jr. and Jude Law will of course be returning in their roles of Sherlock Holmes and Watson respectively, after being received pretty damn well in the first film, which earned more than half a billion dollars at the box office. After some rumoured speculation either way, it looks like Rachel McAdams will also be reprising her role as Irene Adler, though Noomi Rapace will be the film’s lead female. Stephen Fry has also joined the cast as Holmes’ brother, Mycroft Holmes, and Jared Harris will be playing Professor Moriarty, Holmes’ notorious adversary.

Downey, Jr. has said of the films,

“Last time we were, I think, treated very kindly, considering that the movie had enough really good, bright, sweet parts and it kinda held up. However, it wasn’t exactly the most innovative or clever act three of any movie. But we’re all confident that, this time, for the bones of the story, we couldn’t work it out any better than we have.”

That suggests that they’re confident the sequel will be even better than the original, and if what we’ve been seeing for the film so far is anything to judge by, they should be finding a lot of success with A Game of Shadows.

We get a nice look at Harris as Moriarty in the third of the three new pictures, engaged in a game of chess with Holmes, and the pair both look the part in their tuxedoes, complete with white gloves. We also get a look at Rapace as the gypsy woman, Sim, and a picture of Ritchie, Downey, Jr., and Law behind the scenes, and either they’re all somehow enchanted by the awesomeness of a storage crate, or (slightly more likely) there’s a monitor in the back of the crate. Either way, December really can’t come fast enough. Without further ado, here’s the new Empire cover, followed by the three new images for the film.

As usual, click to enlarge.

Here’s some news which may take a particularly large leap of imagination for some to fathom. Josh Brolin is developing a new version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Warner Bros. which he intends to both produce and star in.

Husband and wife team, Kieran and Michele Mulroney (they penned the upcoming Sherlock Holmes sequel) are on script duties here, and Tim Burton is being mentioned as a possible director for the project.

Wonder if Brolin’s recent turn as loathsome killer Tom Chaney in True Grit has instilled in the actor that another attempt at “going ugly” could result in an equally favourable outcome again?

News courtesy of Variety

Danny Boyle is back in theatreland (where he began his career) with a production of Nick Dear’s Frankenstein for the National Theatre on London’s Southback. Bleeding Cool has posted a teaser trailer of sorts, which is embedded below.

The director is reunited with Trainspotting actor Jonny Lee Miller and the nation’s second favorite  Sherlock Homes, Benedict Cumberbatch is also onboard for this adaptation of Shelley’s classic. The added attraction here is that both actors will be swapping roles throughout the production. Wonder if this will encourage theatergoers to make a return visit to see both performances?

Frankenstein will be broadcast to cinemas as a part of National Theatre Live on 17th March 2011.

Although we know that Downey is signed up for next summer’s The Avengers (which should begin shooting soon-ish and progress through to late summer), it’s not clear what he is intending to fill his time with after that, given that he has dropped out of Oz, The Great & Powerful and Gravity.

One possible filler of his downtime later in the year may be “Inherent Vice”, which is due to be directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood, Magnolia, Boogie Nights).

Inherent Vice is an adaptation of a 2009 novel by Thomas Pynchon, all about a stoner private detective trying to solve a series of mysteries in late 1960′s LA, against a backdrop of the Manson trials. Inherent Vice is said to be one of Pynchon’s more accessible works, though I can’t pretend to hold any first hand knowledge on that front. CAA rep both Downey Jr and Anderson and have declined to comment so far. File this one under rumour for the time being and we’ll let you know when we hear further.

Downey Jr has now concluded his work on Sherlock Holmes 2, ready for a late 2011 release and The Avengers is set for release in Summer 2012. Iron Man 3 has also been announced, potentially for a 2013 release, so RDJ looks like being pretty busy, whether he signs for Inherent Vice or not.

Source: THR.