The Screening Log - blogging film

Seen on: August 13, 2009

The players: Director: Neill Blomkamp, Writers: Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell, Cast: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt, Sylvaine Strike, John Sumner

Facts of interest: Peter Jackson produced "District 9."

The plot: As Multi-National United gears up to transport alien refugees from camp to camp, a human agent is exposed to a dangerous alien virus.

Our thoughts: Whatever your plans are for the weekend, make sure they include a trip to the theater to see Neill Blomkamp’s “District 9,” a fascinating sci-fi thriller that should put fans of the genre in a frenzy and may even impress those who are not used to watching action-packed movies about alien encounters. This one, my fellow readers, is a real blast!

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Tuesday

04Aug2009

Awesome trailer for Jackson's 'Lovely Bones' hits!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 11:30PM | By

Here's the excellent first trailer for Peter Jackson's upcoming "The Lovely Bones," based on the acclaimed book by Alice Sebold. Check it out after the jump.

The film stars Saoirse Ronan (pictured above) as a young girl who's murdered and watches her family and her killer from heaven. Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Stanley Tucci and Susan Sarandon co-star.

Wow! This first preview definitely delivers the goods. It looks gorgeous, it looks creepy, it looks suspenseful, and above all, it looks incredibly intriguing.

Look for strong storytelling and certainly solid performances when the film opens nationwide Dec. 11, 2009.

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Wednesday

08Jul2009

Excellent new 'District 9' trailer debuts online

Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 7:24PM | By

The quick teaser for Neill Blomkamp's upcoming sci-fi thriller "District 9" really intrigued me, but now that I've seen the film's brand-new trailer, I'm definitely super excited about this one.

As you can see below, "D-9" promises a compelling story and plenty of intense action, and looking at this great footage makes it even harder for me to wait until the film's Aug. 14 release date.

Essentially, "District 9" depicts a fictional world where extraterrestrials have become refugees in South Africa. Everything changes when the government discovers the aliens have been conducting their own experiments on Earth.

"D-9" marks Blomkamp's first major film. Peter Jackson serves as producer. Check out the awesome trailer below.

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Friday

01May2009

First 'District 9' teaser trailer lands online

Friday, May 1, 2009 at 9:22AM | By

A first teaser trailer for Neill Blomkamp's upcoming Peter Jackson-produced sci-fi flick "District 9" has popped up online, and it certainly caught my attention. The film is set in a fictional world where extraterrestrials have become refugees in South Africa. The interesting preview after the jump doesn't reveal much about the central story line, but it definitely roused my curiosity. How about yours? Release date is set for Aug. 14, 2009.

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Monday

20Apr2009

Two images from 'The Lovely Bones' debut online

Monday, April 20, 2009 at 8:56AM | By

I love Empire, I really do, but their latest efforts to promote their site is a liiiiiitle exaggerated. Sure, links and logos should be slapped on exclusive photos and all, but the image you see above isn't really an image anymore. It's more of a logo, really. Anyway, it's supposed to be a still from Peter Jackson's upcoming big-screen adaptation of Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones."

The film stars Saoirse Ronan (pictured above) as a young girl who's murdered and watches her family and her killer from heaven. Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Stanley Tucci and Susan Sarandon co-star. After the jump, you can also check out Tucci in a photo released by the folks at USA Today. "Bones" hits Dec. 11, 2009.

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Tuesday

06Jan2009

Simon Pegg, Nick Frost to star in 'Tintin'

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 11:24AM | By

We haven't heard that much about Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson's ambitious "Tintin" project in a while, but the movie is certainly not dead. On the contrary, it's actually set to head into production in the coming months.

Now, according to the folks at Ain't It Cool News, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg are on board to star as Thomson and Thompson. This info comes from one of their sources, so it has not been announced officially quite yet.

Okay, as you know these two characters totally look alike and Pegg and Frost share no physical similarities at all, but I think they'll somehow be able to make it work because the animated film will be shot in 3D using motion-capture technology.

Andy Serkis is also on board as Captain Haddock. Thomas Sangster was attached to star as Tintin, but he recently dropped out because of scheduling conflicts.

That's all I got for you for now. "Tintin" will be produced on a budget of $130 million via Sony and Paramount. Spielberg is helming the first film, while Jackson will direct the second one.

Good to now this is moving ahead. "Tintin" always was a huge part of my childhood, and I can't wait to see that delightful character stroll across the big screen.

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Monday

22Sep2008

Universal says no to Spielberg’s ‘Tintin’

Monday, September 22, 2008 at 3:31PM | By

Even Steven Spielberg has trouble getting the funding for his films these days. Spielberg and Peter Jackson have been trying to get Universal Pictures to approve a $130 million budget for the development of “Tintin,” a 3D animated flick based on the famous Belgian comic.

But that’s clearly too much for Universal, which – believe it or not – refused to finance the big project, according to the Los Angeles Times. Now the two filmmakers have to look for a new financial partner somewhere else.

Growing up in Europe, I always enjoyed reading Herge’s “Tintin” books, but I somehow understand Universal’s decision of considering the film adaptation a little too risky. After all, “Tintin” has never been a massive hit in the United States. And turning it into a 3D animated feature doesn’t make things easier.

Still, with Spielberg directing and Jackson producing, I still believe they can easily create a highly profitable film. Just look at how much money several other Hollywood productions collected in Europe alone over the past months. Even “Kung Fu Panda” has reached an overseas total of more than $400 million.