The First Trailer for Ender’s Game Has Landed
Look, I’m not going to lie to you folks — up until recently, I’ve been incredibly skeptical about this adaptation of Ender’s Game. Despite being written by one of the most bigoted science fiction authors in recent memory, it happens to be one of my favorite books and, incidentally, one of the greatest novels of all time. We’ve all been burned by Hollywood before, so I feel confident that my trepidation towards the film is not entirely unjust. But I have to tell you guys — I took one look at this trailer, and you know what? I’m actually excited.
The award-winning cast should have been enough for me. Of course Harrison Ford is going to ace his performance, and there’s no questioning the utter brilliance that is Ben Kingsley, but it’s really Asa Butterfield’s portrayal of the titular Ender Wiggin that piqued my curiosity. It’s hardly possible to cast a six-year-old in such a tense and demanding role, but I’m looking forward to seeing what the Hugo star is well and truly capable of.
As a director, Gavin Hood has a lot to prove. My initial reaction to his attachment to the film was lukewarm at best, and the thought of him turning one of my most beloved novels into an over-produced blockbuster is not an unfounded fear. However, seeing the Battle School in action and watching a fleet of formic baddies swarm over our heroes has genuinely impressed me — plus, it’s a little hard not to fall head over heels for the Bugger’s ship design. Hell, just look at that thing!
There isn’t much else I can say without spoiling it, so why not take a gander at the first trailer for Ender’s Game and judge it for yourself. The film is set to hit theaters sometime this November, and though the odds of a successful translation of the original text are looking up, always remember, friends: the enemies gate is down.
Release Dates for New Star Wars Films Announced
There isn’t much that we know in regards to the upcoming Star Wars sequels, and something tells me it’ll be a little while longer before we even get a glimpse of what the newest names behind the series have in store. We’ve got J. J. Abrams slated to direct and Michael Arndt on the script, but aside from the confirmation of a few old friends, there isn’t all that much to go on. Disney intends to reward us for our patience, however; during this years Cinemacon, the company announced that fans should expect Episode VII as early as the summer of 2015.
With subsequent releases of Episodes VIII and IX set to follow in 2017 and 2019, Disney promises to fill the time in between with standalone films which would potentially focus on fan favorites such as Yoda, Boba Fett, and Han Solo. Of course, the subjects of the one-offs are purely speculation at this point, but I wouldn’t mind a little more back story with my Episode sandwich.
This begs the question of whether or not Disney can keep up enough momentum to make each film as memorable as (almost) every other iteration in the series. I’m sure there isn’t a fan amongst you that can complain about a steady diet of well-polished sci-fi, but if Disney’s untimely assassination of LucasArts is any indication, you can bet I’ll be waiting around for the upcoming flicks with my fingers crossed, hoping I won’t have to tell the next generation of movie-goers about that time I spent $90 to watch a series of six disappointing misadventures starring characters I once loved and cherished. All I’m saying is: Disney, don’t let me down.
Gareth Edwards Gives Us a Glimpse at Godzilla
It feels like years since we last heard anything about the upcoming Godzilla reboot, but it seems that our patience has finally been rewarded. Friends, say hello to the very first set images from Gareth Edward’s upcoming blockbuster.
Okay so, admittedly, they’re a little underwhelming. Save for a vague idea of the setting (a Japanese airport), a demolished aircraft, and a hint towards some military interference, it’s hard to get a real sense of the film from anything in these photographs. It’s understandable, of course, considering it was only the first day on set. But Edwards was kind enough to record a brief video after, what he described to be, “a very long shoot”, to greet his fans and tease them further.
It seems we’re that much closer to knowing what the acclaimed director has in store for this lofty franchise. Till then, I’ll be tracking it’s every move, much like Matthew Broderick in the 1998 iteration, only slightly less pathetic.
The latest image from Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim.
Pacific Rim (2013)
Here’s the latest crop of photos from Guillermo Del Toro’s upcoming sci-fi spectacle, Pacific Rim. Early screenings of the film generated a fairly positive buzz around the net, including a wonderful nod from Looper director, Rian Johnson: “Go into Pacific Rim preparing to be transmogrified into a 12 year old. And then to pee your pants with joy. I love it so much.”
I hear ya, Mr. Johnson. There is a strong, powerful love for this film growing within me. With little more than kick-ass trailers and a bevy of production photos to go on, I’m truly hoping that Del Toro can show the world just how a modern monster film should be made, and with nary a lukewarm review in sight, it seems that the famed director will do just that.
Pacific Rim crashes into theaters on July 11th.
Pacific Rim
Giant monsters and mobilized mechanical suits hold a special place in my heart. Few things are more entertaining than watching creatures the size of buildings completely demolish an entire city before your eyes. Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming science fiction blockbuster, Pacific Rim, has been on my radar for quite some time, but only now are we privy to a sneak peak at the world of reckless, ancient kaiju and towering, triumphant Jaeger.
Feast your eyes on the film’s latest trailer. We get a startling glimpse at some of the monsters our heroes will be facing, in addition to a bit of exposition, though only just enough to whet our appetites.
I think what most excites me is that first opening shot of the kaiju’s skeletal remains sprawled over a Naval vessel. It’s completely and utterly chilling, and it gives you a great sense of scope as far as the monsters are concerned. Plus, take a look at the way those pilots are handling that mech. Based on what we know about the neurological connections needed to control one, wherein it essentially takes two people hooked up to one of those bad boys in order for it to work, it seems that we’re looking at an incredibly dark film with a lot of depth to explore, and I, for one, absolutely cannot wait to see it.
No word yet on a release date as of yet, but here’s hoping that Pacific Rim robopunches its way into our hearts sometime before the end of summer 2013.
First Look at Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield in Ender’s Game
While the film itself is still almost a year away from being released in theaters, fans of the Ender’s Game saga can now finally sink their teeth into the first official look at the highly-anticipated film.
We see Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield, playing Colonel Graff and Ender Wiggin respectively, standing amongst a line-up of other launchies, fully-suited and ready for action. My initial reaction is, of course, that Butterfield is much too old for the role of Ender. That complaint aside, I’m genuinely looking forward to Ford’s portrayal of the stone-faced Graff, who guides Ender unceremoniously through his time at the Battle School, the design for which seems to be inspired by a combination of 2009’s Star Trek and James Cameron’s Avatar.
Of course, one promotional photo isn’t much to go on, but I’m curious to see the kinds of reactions that it elicits from fans. What say you, world at large? Does this sneak peak sate your appetite, or turn your stomach?
Official poster for Star Trek Into Darkness.
Latest photos from the set of Jose Padilha’s Robocop reboot feature a sneak peak at Joel Kinnaman wearing some state of the art armor and brandishing his signature weaponry. Oh, and here’s a bonus shot of him texting.
Admittedly, these shots reveal a much better look at the suit than what we’ve seen in the past, but I still maintain my apprehensions about the film as a whole. What do you guys think? Will the new Robocop be worth a look?
The latest photos from the set of Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim.
Prometheus Lands On Blu-Ray
October 11th sees the release of Ridley Scott’s latest foray into the Aliens universe onto 3D Blu-Ray and DVD. Fans can look forward to fourteen deleted scenes in addition to a behind the scenes look at the making of Prometheus. Also included is the highly-anticipated extended footage cut from the film’s theatrical ending. The curious and eager can find the titles and run-times for the additional fifteen minutes of cinema here.
Image by John Berkey
