‘Beowulf’ leads 3-D charge

John Powell - Cineplex Entertainment

 

 

Using a single digital projector, the film and its images are projected onto special silver screen in the Real D process. Wearing the special glasses which have clear lenses and fit like sunglasses, the viewer’s eyes “decode” the images played on the screen before them making them appear three dimensional.

 

In the IMAX 3D process, the film is recorded on two separate rolls of film for the left and right eye and projected with two camera lenses. By wearing special glasses, viewers are tricked into seeing a 3-D image on a 2-D

screen.

 

Since the early days of 3-D technology, the experience has made fleeting comebacks. In the eighties, low-budget thrillers like ‘Treasure of the Four Crowns’, ‘Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone’ and ‘Metalstorm - The Destruction of Jared-Syd’ pushed the gimmick to fill theatres.

 

Since the experiment had some mild success three of Hollywood’s greatest movie monsters Jason Voorhees, Jaws and Freddy Krueger received the 3-D treatment with ‘Friday 13th Part 3 in 3-D’, ‘Jaws 3-D’ and ‘Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare’.

 

Still using somewhat antiquated processes though, none of those films compare with the Real D and IMAX systems which as seen with ‘Beowulf’ and previous releases, really does add a whole new dimension to the experience without all the distracting red and green colouring.

 

Unlike the anaglyphic method where being positioned in the centre of the theatre was the optimal place to be, with the Real D and IMAX 3D processes, it makes no difference where you sit or move to. The film and its effects are sharp, clear and consistent from any angle. In ‘Beowulf’, gold coins fly, rain drops splatter and swords spark with realism and depth.

 

‘Beowulf’ and all of its sword and sorcery is just the first in a series of 3-D films scheduled to be released. Under the encouragement of chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, DreamWorks Animation SKG plans on releasing all of its 2009 movies in 3-D.

 

In the future, audiences will also be treated to ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’, James Cameron's ‘Avatar’ and the U2 concert film ‘U2 3D’. Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg are also continuing their work on films based on the adventures of comic book hero Tintin.

 

In a recent press release, Katzenberg continued his unwavering support for IMAX 3-D technology as the cornerstone of DreamWorks Animation's business strategy.

 

“3D cinema has an opportunity to revolutionize the way people experience movies,” stated Katzenberg. “We believe the immersive quality of IMAX will provide our audiences with a unique way to experience our films and we are delighted to include IMAX as a key part of our 3-D strategy.”

 

With the 3-D version of Disney’s ‘Meet the Robinsons’ generating 30 percent of the box office revenue for the film’s opening weekend earlier this year, more theatres being able to utilize the technology and with movie companies having to compete with illegal film pirates and other alternative forms of entertainment such as video games, 3-D is making a comeback in a big and real way.

 

• 'Beowulf' defies animation label

Upcoming 3-D Films

 

1. U2 3D – (January, 2008) – Concert film of U2’s ‘Vertigo’ tour in Latin America.

 

2. Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert – (February, 2008) – Follows the concert tour of the fictional Hannah Montana character played by Miley Cyrus.

 

3. Kung Fu Panda - (June, 2008) - A lazy panda becomes an unlikely hero. Stars the voices of Jack Black, Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman, Lucy Liu, Angelina Jolie and Michael Clarke Duncan.

 

4. Journey 3-D - (July, 2008) - Brendan Fraser stars in the latest adaption of Jules Verne's ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’.

 

5. Horrorween - (August, 2008) – a comedy-horror film directed by Joe Estevez about real scares at a fake haunted mansion.

 

6. Monsters vs. Aliens - (March, 2009) - Monster hunter Rex Havoc and his monster foes battle invading aliens.

 

7. Avatar - (May, 2009) – James Cameron wrote and directed this sci-fi tale of an ex-marine who is ordered to settle and exploit an exotic planet. The film stars Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang.

 

8. How to Train Your Dragon - (November, 2009) - Directed by Peter Hastings, 'Dragon' is based on the children's book by Cressida Cowell. A young viking trains a dragon to be a hero.

 

9. The Stewardesses – (2009) – Director Ed Meyer tackles this remake of the most successful 3D movie of all time. L.A. stewardesses party for one fun-filled night.

 

10. Shrek Goes Forth - (May, 2010) - More offbeat adventures of everyone's favourite ogre and his friends.

 

11. George Lucas has indicated that he may re-release his ‘Star Wars’ films in 3-D.

  

 

'CliffyB': 'Gears' movie still on track

John Powell - Cineplex Entertainment

 

The creator of the 2007 video game of the year is spending more time these days shooting down movie gossip than wily opponents on Xbox Live.

 

Slamming the lid on the rumours to the contrary, Clifford Bleszinski (alias ‘CliffyB’) wants fans to know that the ‘Gears of War’ movie is still alive and well. It is in the development phase and moving ahead on all fronts.

 

“We are currently at the point where we have had a couple drafts of the script and now we are talking to different directors and trying to feel out who would be the best fit for it,” Bleszinski told Cineplex Entertainment while he was in Toronto promoting the Windows PC release of ‘Gears of War’.

 

A multi award-winning ‘hide and seek’ first-person shooter, ‘Gears’ tells the story of a disgraced army officer leading a rag-tag brigade of soldiers in a perpetual war against invading aliens. According to Bleszinski, the game’s action film presentation immediately sparked thoughts of a big screen movie adaption.

 

“When we made the game, it was important to us to keep that breakneck pacing so we had that Jerry Bruckheimer – Michael Bay action movie experience going. That is where ‘Gears’ came from and that is why it resonated very well with people,” said Bleszinski.

 

While the project has no director attached to it at present, Stuart Beattie, the scribe behind ’30 Days Of Night’, ‘Collateral’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’, is working on the ‘Gears’ screenplay for New Line Cinema. Beattie, a fan of the game, landed the gig after messaging a New Line executive on Xbox Live one night.

 

“It has been a fascinating process. It has been one where Stu actually came to us as far as the fact that he loved the game and realized that he didn’t quite know how to put together a huge blockbuster,” recalled Bleszinski.

 

Donning the movie producer’s hat is a major shift for the video game guru at Epic Games. Thus far, he has been learning on the fly absorbing all that he can about the twists and turns of the movie-making business while at the same time bearing the burden that traditionally, movies based on video games don’t exactly have the best track record. There has been more misses than hits to be sure.

 

“It has been a really fascinating process to learn how Hollywood works,” said Bleszinski. “I just hope that whatever comes out of this is compelling entertainment and is very representative of the ‘Gears of War’ universe.”

 

 

Seinfeld's back with 'Bee Movie'

John Powell - Cineplex Entertainment

 

Nobody can ever question comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s dedication to the ‘Bee Movie’. Although no animals were injured in the filming of the DreamWorks animated film opening November 2nd, the funnyman was. In conducting research at a bee farm, Seinfeld got more than he bargained for when a bee keeper opened a hive for him to examine.

 

'The Queen got a little upset and they sent a bee out to get me. He stung me on the nose,’ said Seinfeld who wasn’t wearing a protective suit at the time because as he puts it, the beekeeper was worried that the standard issue outfit would “offend” the insects.

 

Humbled but not defeated, Seinfeld forged ahead with his story of an idealistic bee who rebelliously breaks from tradition by refusing to accept his pre-ordained fate. Naturally, he causes quite a stir in the animal kingdom. Rescued from an untimely demise by florist Vanessa (Rene Zellweger), Barry B. Benson (Seinfeld) quickly realizes there is more to life than just making honey.

 

“I just thought bees were funny. They live in a small company. They have a product. They have offices. They have bosses. They have employees. They have schedules,” said Seinfeld while in Toronto promoting the film. “A hive seemed like a little corporation hanging from a tree to me so I thought that it would be a great situation for a movie.”

 

While working on the film for four years, Seinfeld turned down other projects including thoughts of teaming with filmmaker and writer David Mamet on a comedy. The challenges of making an animated feature were just too enticing.

 

"This project was about working in a whole different medium as this movie is entirely made of computer-generated characters,” he said. "The trick was to pour the liquid into a different glass and have it taste the same."

 

For Seinfeld and the other producers, casting Rene Zellweger as Barry’s friend/love interest Vanessa was an absolute no-brainer. Having seen her charming performances in ‘Bridget Jones's Diary’, ‘Shark Tale’ and ‘Jerry Maguire’, they knew her voice and more importantly, her persona, would be perfect for the role.

 

"Rene was my first choice because I think she is an incredibly talented actress. She has a very sweet personality,” said Seinfeld of the casting process. "She is the type of woman a bee would fall for. Her voice is like honey."

 

Seinfeld also managed to get his good friend and star of ‘Madagascar’, Chris Rock, a role in the ‘Bee Movie’ too when the comedian made a friendly inquiry as to how the project was coming along.

 

"I told him to come on down. I would think of something for him to do. He ended up becoming a mosquito,” Seinfeld laughed.

 

Not only did Seinfeld have fun pulling friends into the project but also his family too. His three children are becoming more and more excited as the premiere date gets closer and closer.

 

"It is much more fun having children and getting to see their faces. They are so excited about it."

 

Looking back, Seinfeld is proud of what he was able to accomplish with the ‘Bee Movie’, especially the fact that he was able to put a lot of his own personality into the film. Moviegoers who cherished the quirky observational comedy Seinfeld brought to his television series will be happy to see that tone resurface in the ‘Bee Movie’.

 

"Right up until the end, you feel like you are looking at a little bee, stand-up comic. That is kind of the way he comes off because that is what I am,” he said.

 

• Seinfeld buzzing about ‘Bee Movie’
• Famous Kids: A Sticky Situation
• Seinfeld touts 'Bee Movie'

 

Seinfeld buzzing about ‘Bee Movie’

John Powell - Cineplex Entertainment

 

TORONTO -- When it came to getting the ‘Bee Movie’ made, creator and comedian Jerry Seinfeld is quick to admit that he owes it all to his three children.

 

“They wrote most of it, actually. They gave me a lot of notes. They did a lot of rewrites. That is the great thing about kids and child labour. I love it,” the New York funnyman joked with Cineplex Entertainment as he visited Toronto and hosted a special presentation to promote the DreamWorks film.

 

Admitting that he discovered the joys of fatherhood late in life, Seinfeld loves his role as dad to his three children but confesses there are some things he will never truly understand about parenthood.

 

“I love having kids but the worst part is they develop these so-called “friendships”. Friendships with other little kids and you get sucked into this children’s-birthday-party-infinity-wheel-of-hell that keeps starting over every year,” Seinfeld kidded. “I go to birthday parties now and I envy the piñata.”

 

The ‘Bee Movie’, Seinfeld’s labour of love, took four years to complete and his family couldn’t be happier for him.

 

“They are so excited about it. We are starting to see the ads on the top of the taxi cabs in New York. It is really fun."

 

The movie, due out in theatres November 2^nd, tells the story of Barry B. Benson (Seinfeld), a worker bee who refuses to conform to the rigid society that exists in his hive. It is a place where everyone’s jobs whether it be drone or worker are decided for them. Once Barry has a brief taste of the outside world and befriends a human (voiced by Renée Zellweger), he recognizes that he was truly meant for bigger and better things. When Barry realizes that humans have been “stealing” honey from bees and profiting from their ill-gotten gains for centuries, Barry does what any red-blooded American would do faced with such an injustice…he sues the entire human race.

 

One of the scenes shown to the media during the presentation hosted by Seinfeld and director Simon J. Smith, the court case itself is anything but ordinary. It features the voice talents of Oprah Winfrey as the judge, musician Sting and actor Ray Liotta as witnesses and a hysterical appearance by Vincent the bear from DreamWorks’ ‘Over The Hedge’.

 

 

On paper, a court room may not seem like the kind of rip-roaring setting you would expect to find in a kids’ movie but as with all of the other scenes that were screened, Seinfeld has managed to find a successful comedic blend that will really appeal to adults who loved the ‘Seinfeld’ television series and children who may not know the cultural significance of a “low-talker” or a “puffy shirt”.  In fact, with ex-'Seinfeld' writers Barry Marder, Andy Robin and Spike Feresten assisting Jerry on the film, there is a lot of ‘Seinfeld’ in the ‘Bee Movie’. Since ending the TV series, Seinfeld has been very surprised by the number of children he has met who are big fans.

 

“We certainly never wrote the series for them but they love it. They just know when adults are acting funny. It doesn’t matter to them why. They know what is funny and what isn’t funny,” he said.

 

Although he has had his fair share of projects come his way, Seinfeld is not looking to go back to television any time soon. To him, nothing beats traveling around and performing his stand-up act in front of live audiences.

 

“It is pretty hard to follow that act, I’ll tell you,” he said reflecting on his television career. “That was a pretty good show for me and I really enjoy having it as my contribution to television. To make another 150 episodes of something else wouldn’t be smart. I like leaving the audience this way as far as television goes. It is kinda like the athlete who wants to go out with a winning game.”

 

Seinfeld did reveal that he was once in talks with writer, producer and director David Mamet to star in a big screen comedy but in the end, the idea didn’t quite work out.

 

“I never find that thing that expresses my voice and point of view,” said Seinfeld about the opportunities he has been offered. “You become a successful comedian by expressing a point of view that people relate to. For me to be in something where I don’t do that is a waste of my time.”

 

By the looks of things, the ‘Bee Movie’ was anything but for Seinfeld. For all intents and purposes, Barry B. Benson is an animated stand-up comic pointing out all that is humorous or curious in the world. The Jerry Seinfeld brand of comedy in the film has that familiar rhythm that made his sitcom such a hit. Seinfeld is certain that kids will not only appreciate the observational humor but also the fact that the insects mimic amusing adults behaviours.  

 

“When you show kids human behaviour and human action in a cartoon format they get this amazing look in their eyes. It is really great,” he said.

 

• Famous Kids: A Sticky Situation

 

UPI News: Green card, marriage focus of new show

Thursday, November 29th, 2007

 

"We're out to prove love knows no borders," Adrian Martinez, creator of the show said in a statement. "Besides, that's what America is all about -- a multi-cultural nation."

 

Host Angelo Gonzales said the show makes it clear to all contestants that it does not guarantee marriage or legal status, but will pay for a wedding party and honeymoon should the show culminate in a marriage.

 

"We're just out to play matchmaker," Gonzales said. "There are thousands of U.S. citizens seeking a spouse, and just as many immigrants seeking the same. So we want to make it a win-win situation for all involved."

 

 

International writers back WGA

 

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Scribes in Berlin, Montreal, Toronto, Paris, Amsterdam, London, Sydney and Madrid marched in support of the striking Writers Guild of America Wednesday.

 

The International Affiliation of Writers Guilds issued a call for a day of action to support the WGA, which has been on strike since Nov. 5, at its meeting in Montreal earlier this month.

 

Many writers struggle to make a living, yet the film studios and TV networks stand to make billions of dollars when writers' successful scripts are published on DVD or are downloaded from the Internet. All the writers are asking for is a fairer share of the huge profits to be made, said Brendan Barber -- of the Trade Union Congress of Britain, which represents nearly 7 million workers in 66 affiliated unions -- in a statement posted on the WGA Web site.

 

WGA picketers also held their own international solidarity event in Burbank Wednesday.

 

Screenwriter Jean-Yves Pitoun, a French native and WGA West member said: "Europeans are very carefully watching the writers, actors and directors in the (United States) because Rupert Murdoch is everywhere. Our negotiations with him here will have consequences for writers in Europe."

 

Late author Mailer wins 'bad sex' prize

 

LONDON, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. author Norman Mailer is the first writer to posthumously win Literary Review's Bad Sex in Fiction Award, the BBC reported.

 

The review presents the prize in an attempt to discourage writers from writing dreadful scenes of passion. It is bestowed upon the author of a bad passage in an otherwise well-written book.

 

Mailer, who died last month at the age of 84, earned the distinction for his lamentable description of an encounter in his recent novel, The Castle in the Forest.

 

Four hundred guests turned out to toast Mailer's memory at a recent ceremony in London.

 

"We were sure he would have taken the prize in good humor," the judges told the BBC.

 

Jeanette Winterston's and David Thewlis' pitiable literary portrayals of sex were also nominated for the award and the offending passages from their novels were read aloud by actresses at the prize presentation.

 

 

'Enchanted' charms box office

 

Monday, November 26th, 2007

 

John Powell - Cineplex Entertainment

 

Canadian audiences have fallen under Disney’s spell once again. The company’s latest release ‘Enchanted’ which stars Amy Adams as a princess banished to our present-day world by an evil queen, debuted in the top spot at the Canadian box office with $2.03 million dollars in ticket sales over the weekend. The fairy tale romance also stars Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden and Susan Sarandon.

 

The fantasy-adventure film ‘Beowulf’ with its 3-D effects and thrilling battle scenes pulled in another $1.30 million with its second place finish. The 2-D version of the film was fourth with $850,000.

 

Based on the video game series by Eidos Interactive, ‘Hitman’ was third with $1.09 million while the latest Stephen King adaption, ‘The Mist’, was the fifth most popular movie in Canada tied with ‘The Bee Movie’ at $730,000. Based on King’s novella, ‘The Mist’ follows the paranoia and chaos created when a mysterious mist and the creatures that live within in it descend on an unsuspecting small town in Maine. The movie itself has a distinctly different ending than the one King penned for the original story.

 

After debuting strongly, the crime-drama ‘American Gangster’ fell to seventh with $670,000 in earnings ahead of ‘Fred Claus’ ($570,000), No Country For Old Men ($520,000) and ‘August Rush’ ($510,000).

 

North America as a whole mirrored Canada with the exception of the holiday family drama ‘This Christmas’ which was second with $18.6 million. ‘Enchanted’ was first with $35.3 million, ‘Beowulf’ in second with $16.2 million, ‘Hitman’ in fourth with $13 million and ‘Bee Movie’ building more momentum adding another $12 million to its overall take.

Nowhere to be found in the top ten were ‘ Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium’, ‘Dan in Real Life’, ‘Lions for Lambs’, ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’ and ‘Saw IV’.

‘Enchanted’ also weaved its magic in Quebec with $339,446 in the No. 1 spot. ‘Hitman’ did much better in Quebec coming in second with $262,010. While ‘Beowulf’ was third with $250,648, Stephen King’s ‘The Mist’ also had a better showing finishing in fourth with $167,891.

 

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak.

 

1. Enchanted - $2.03 million.
2. Beowulf (3-D) - $1.30 million.
3. Hitman - $1.09 million.
4. Beowulf (2-D) - $850,000.
5. The Mist - $730,000.
6. Bee Movie - $730,000.
7. American Gangster – $670,000.
8. Fred Claus - $570,000.
9. No Country For Old Men - $520,000.
10. August Rush - $510,000.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC.

1. Enchanted -  $35.3 million.
2. This Christmas - $18.6 million.
3. Beowulf - $16.2 million.
4. Hitman - $13 million.
5. Bee Movie - $12 million.
6. Fred Claus - $10.7 million.
7. August Rush - $9.4 million.
8. American Gangster - $9.2 million.
9. The Mist - $9.1 million.
10. No Country for Old Men - $8.1 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at Quebec theaters, according to Cineac.

1. Enchanted - $339,446.
2. Hitman - $262,010.
3. Beowulf - $ 250,648.
4. The Mist - $ 167,891.
5. American Gangster - $ 146,369.
6. Bee Movie - $ 129,806.
7. Fred Claus - $ 84,542.
8. August Rush - $ 74,725.
9. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium - $ 63,918.
10. No Country For Old Men - $ 50,650.