Romancing the Stone Remake Still Trucking

Nine times out of ten, we dismiss the idea of remaking what we perceive as a classic 80s movie. Something we grew up watching on either on VHS, and subsequently wearing the copy down to the bone, or on cable, long before the days of original programming where it was just movies and reruns of old shows.

Some of it, I'm sure, is psychological. The decision-makers and ball-rollers at studios are in essence saying, "That's old stuff! Kids today don't know what that is, so let's make it new for them!" Thing is we were kids (maybe a little younger, or maybe a little older depending on your age) when we first saw them. By default, that would make us "old" now would it not?

Our pals at Movie Hole are hearing through the grapevine 20^th Century Fox is "inching closer towards the cameras" on their Romancing the Stone remake. They're in search for a new director after Robert Luketic vacated. Someone young and hungry, instead of a simple "point the camera and shoot" helmer. Sounds like they're hoping to strike gold like the Dawn of the Dead remake did when they hired a wet-behind-the-ears commercial director named Zack Snyder.

As for the circa-2011 versions of Joan Wilder and Jack Colton, the likes of Katherine Heigl (Who does need a hit after a slew of shitty rom-coms), Taylor Kitsch (Which may or may not be a good idea after John Carter and Battleship drop next year) and Gerald Butler (Oh boy...) are getting tossed around the Fox offices. None of them particularly interesting, or bankable.

Peter and I spit-balled a handful of better choices earlier this morning over the phone: Rachel Weisz, Elizabeth Banks and Amy Adams for Joan and Hugh Jackman, Jon Hamm, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans for Jack. But it's the early days of the remake and an outside-the-box choice could come from the eventual director none of us thought about.

Or the Romancing the Stone remake just plain never happens and Fox decides that Alvin & the Chipmunks: Squeakageddon is the better production to greenlight.

The Avengers Footage Screened

Disney had plenty to show off this past weekend at their D23 Expo. The biggest hit among the crowd had to be some early footage of the upcoming ultimate team-up movie The Avengers. Check out a description below from Ryan Turek over at Superherohype.com, and follow the link to read his full report of the Marvel showcase.

Loki (Tom Hiddleston) takes his place in a prison of glass and metal. We presume he's on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Hellicarrier. Loki assesses his surroundings, but doesn't appear impressed. More amused. Nick Fury types away on a keypad nearby, threatening that if Loki even touches the glass, he'll meet a certain doom. But again, Loki isn't deterred by this. He's confident this prison won't hold him. Fury begs to differ, saying it was built to hold something powerful.

"You threaten my world with war. Steal a force you can't control. You have made me desperate," Fury says. Hinting, of course, to the Tesseract (the Cosmic Cube) seen in Captain America. Loki and Fury continue their tête-à-tête and we find that the Avengers have been assembled in another room and they're listening in. Elsewhere on the Helicarrier, we get a glimpse of Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), also monitoring the Fury/Loki encounter.

This extended scene flows well; the dialogue has a tight rhythm as these two large personalities, separated by glass, face one another. The intensity palpable. One gets the sense if Loki wants out... he'll get the hell out. But there's something else simmering in his motivations and, of course, we don't know what it is, because this scene gives way to a second teaser trailer, of sorts.

Enticing imagery that flies by furiously: A S.H.I.E.L.D. jet soars towards a city. Thor raises his hammer to the sky. Hawkeye taking aim with his bow and arrow. Loki standing on the back of a military vehicle (at least that's what it looked like, it flew by). Steve Rogers stands before a hi-tech closet. The doors pull away to reveal his revamped costume. Thor slams his hammer down on the shield of a crouching Captain America (training perhaps?). This is all inter-cut with Tony Stark, standing behind a bar making a drink, as he makes an Avengers "roll call": Two highly trained assassins, a "Demigod," an American legend... We realize he's doing this for Loki, who is standing in the room with him.

Loki responds to this with, "I have an army."

Stark quickly shoots back, "We have a Hulk."

The presentation ends with a close-up shot of Mark Ruffalo's Hulk snarling at the camera, then, The Avengers logo slams onto the screen.

Upcoming Pixar Releases

Disney's D23 Expo has rolled out some really interesting tidbits of information including footage of The Avengers being screened. Another top priority from the company are a few new projects from Pixar which each sounds unique and interesting. First up is Brave;

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In “Brave,” a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts.

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly​) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson​). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

Next, and I really hope this title stays because it's genuis, The Untitled Pixar Movie About Dinosaurs;

What if the cataclysmic asteroid that forever changed life on Earth actually missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct?

Lastly is an untitled project with an early synopsis that sounds intriguing and one of the most potentially unique stories from the company;

Pixar takes audiences on incredible journeys into extraordinary worlds: from the darkest depths of the ocean to the top of the tepui mountains in South America; from the fictional metropolis of Monstropolis to a futuristic fantasy of outer space. From director Pete Docter (“Up,” “Monsters, Inc​.”) and producer Jonas Rivera (“Up”), the inventive new film will take you to a place that everyone knows, but no one has ever seen: the world inside the human mind.

That last description has my excitement level rising. While all that's given is that short description, I already get a sense that this could be something very special and might end up being a favorite animated flick for many people. Sounds like Pixar is staying on top of their game with originality and will refuse to be outdone so long as the writing for the features continues on a strong course.

Shark Night 3D Clips

The 3D cheesefest continues with Shark Night 3D coming out on September 2nd. Last year Piranah 3D took the extra dimensional format to a new low and it looks like it will be repeated around the same time frame this year. No surprise here that director David Ellis will be bringing this one to life with movies like Snakes on a Plane and The Final Destination on his resume. I very much enjoyed Snakes on a Plane when watching it at home and I assume that Shark Night 3D will also be enjoyable as well, just not in theatres and certainly not in the low budget 3D these B-style movies are using. Not sure why anyone would pay the 3D price tag to see this movie but there obviously is an audience out there for it.

Real Steel Featurette

Comingsoon.net has scored an exclusive featurette from Dreamworks Pictures' Real Steel. This one is hard to pinpoint. The early descriptions of the film gave an interesting vibe, but since the release of the trailers my thoughts on it have trailed off into the mediocre. Hugh Jackman is sure to bring a good performance to his character though it's looking more forgettable as a whole to me. I'm hope to be proven wrong. Real Steel hits theatres on October 7th.

Jackman stars as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.

"Tangled: Ever After" Poster

Shrek called, he wants his title back. Disney's "Tangled: Ever After" poster has been revealed. The short will run on the Disney Channel in Spring 2012.  No synopsis has been released as of yet but by the title I wouldn't be surprised if somehow, some way, Shrek shows up. Sweet.

Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie" Wordmark

Frankenweenie follows young Victor after he loses his dog Sparky and harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.

"Underworld: Awakening" Poster

Underworld: Awakening brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D. Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.

"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" Benedict Cumberbatch Character Poster

Through a love affair with the wife of a Moscow Centre intelligence officer, British agent Ricki Tarr (Tom Hardy​) discovers that there may be a high-ranking Soviet mole within the Circus. Tarr alerts Oliver Lacon​, the Civil Service officer responsible for the Intelligence Services, and Lacon enlists Peter Guillam (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his mentor, retired agent George Smiley (Gary Oldman), to investigate. Smiley and Guillam must investigate without the knowledge of Circus leadership, which is headed by Percy Alleline and his deputies Bill Haydon, Roy Bland​, and Toby Esterhase, as any of these could be the mole.

Anne Hathaway On The Catpod...I Mean Batpod!

We've known for a while now that at some point during The Dark Knight Rises, Selina Kyle aka Catwoman, steals the Batpod from Batman OR he gives it to her. From the filming of the huge chase in Pittsburgh we also know Catwoman is involved riding said Batpod.

Now most of the time it's been Anne's stunt double but these two awesome shots captured today by this person, are apparently of the actress herself on the Batpod.