2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the Steven Spielberg classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (watch it Here), and earlier this year Universal celebrated the anniversary by giving the film a re-release on IMAX screens. Next up, they’re going to be giving E.T. a 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital release on October 18th (pre-order Here). In anticipation of that release, we’ve gotten our hands on an Exclusive clip that gives a glimpse behind-the-scenes of E.T. and shows Spielberg working with E.T. himself while Chris Columbus discusses the film’s practical special effects. Check it out in the embed above!
Scripted by Melissa Mathison, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has the following synopsis:
After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott. Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed,...
Scripted by Melissa Mathison, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has the following synopsis:
After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott. Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed,...
- 10/14/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
The trophies for the 23rd Annual Art Directors Guild Awards were handed out on Saturday night at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown with two of the most game-changing inclusive films of the year Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians taking home awards for film and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Handmaid’s Tale winning for TV.
Hosted by David Alan Grier, the annual award ceremony honors excellence in production design in film and television. Among the special honorees were Academy Award-winning filmmaker Rob Marshall who received the Adg Cinematic Imagery Award as well as Lifetime Achievement Award recipients that included Production Designer Jeannine Oppewall, Senior Illustrator and Production Designer Ed Verreaux, Scenic Artist Jim Fiorito and Set Designer and Art Director William F. Matthews.
Amanda N’Duka was on the scene at the ceremony. The night was light and not weighed down with the usual stress and political-driven speeches from regular award ceremonies.
Hosted by David Alan Grier, the annual award ceremony honors excellence in production design in film and television. Among the special honorees were Academy Award-winning filmmaker Rob Marshall who received the Adg Cinematic Imagery Award as well as Lifetime Achievement Award recipients that included Production Designer Jeannine Oppewall, Senior Illustrator and Production Designer Ed Verreaux, Scenic Artist Jim Fiorito and Set Designer and Art Director William F. Matthews.
Amanda N’Duka was on the scene at the ceremony. The night was light and not weighed down with the usual stress and political-driven speeches from regular award ceremonies.
- 2/3/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos and Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Favourite,” “Black Panther” and “Crazy Rich Asians” walked away with top film honors at the 23rd annual Art Directors Guild Awards Saturday night.
“This journey started six years ago with ‘Fruitvale Station’ and a very awkward Skype interview,” Hannach Beachler, production designer of “Black Panther,” said in thanking director Ryan Coogler. “This journey has altered my life … Just learning about who I am and what I want this film to be, and really pushing the idea that design is not just brick and mortar. It’s not just wax, it’s not just paint. It’s your heart, it’s your soul, it’s everything we do every single day.”
In the TV fields, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Glow” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” were among the winners.
Oscar-nominated production designer Jeannine Oppewall and Adg-nominated production designer Ed Verreaux (“Jurassic Park”) received lifetime achievement awards from the organization.
“I...
“This journey started six years ago with ‘Fruitvale Station’ and a very awkward Skype interview,” Hannach Beachler, production designer of “Black Panther,” said in thanking director Ryan Coogler. “This journey has altered my life … Just learning about who I am and what I want this film to be, and really pushing the idea that design is not just brick and mortar. It’s not just wax, it’s not just paint. It’s your heart, it’s your soul, it’s everything we do every single day.”
In the TV fields, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Glow” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” were among the winners.
Oscar-nominated production designer Jeannine Oppewall and Adg-nominated production designer Ed Verreaux (“Jurassic Park”) received lifetime achievement awards from the organization.
“I...
- 2/3/2019
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Variety Film + TV
Many of today’s movies are shaped as much by visual effects as by physical design. It’s a development that has driven some production designers to stay involved in a production well beyond the shooting stage — even without pay — so that they can provide input on the effects that form a film’s final look.
On big movies especially, VFX helps create entire worlds — bringing extinct dinosaurs to life in “Jurassic Park” and building the nation of Wakanda in “Black Panther.” Improvements in effects technology have allowed writers and directors to reproduce whatever they visualize, which might impact the aesthetics production designers work so hard to create.
The growing imprint of visual effects on the DNA of movies has resulted in a period of adjustment for production designers surprised by final cuts of films that don’t have the look they originally conceived.
This can lead to difficult decisions — and delicate situations.
On big movies especially, VFX helps create entire worlds — bringing extinct dinosaurs to life in “Jurassic Park” and building the nation of Wakanda in “Black Panther.” Improvements in effects technology have allowed writers and directors to reproduce whatever they visualize, which might impact the aesthetics production designers work so hard to create.
The growing imprint of visual effects on the DNA of movies has resulted in a period of adjustment for production designers surprised by final cuts of films that don’t have the look they originally conceived.
This can lead to difficult decisions — and delicate situations.
- 1/30/2019
- by Zoe Hewitt
- Variety Film + TV
Actor and comedian David Alan Grier will host the 23rd Annual Art Directors Guild Excellence in Production Design Awards on Saturday, Feb. 2 at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown.
The announcement was made today by Adg Awards producer Scott Moses, Adg. Grier is a three-time Tony and Grammy nominee, and was included on Comedy Central’s list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.
Grier currently stars in the new Fox comedy series The Cool Kids. His other TV credits include The Carmichael Show and the Emmy-winning In Living Color. He starred in Dag and Life with Bonnie, which earned him Image Award and Golden Satellite Award nominations. In 2015, Grier combined live theater and television when he played the Cowardly Lion in Broadway’s award-winning musical The Wiz Live! on NBC.
In film, Grier will next be seen in the indie drama Sprinter, produced by Will Smith. He...
The announcement was made today by Adg Awards producer Scott Moses, Adg. Grier is a three-time Tony and Grammy nominee, and was included on Comedy Central’s list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.
Grier currently stars in the new Fox comedy series The Cool Kids. His other TV credits include The Carmichael Show and the Emmy-winning In Living Color. He starred in Dag and Life with Bonnie, which earned him Image Award and Golden Satellite Award nominations. In 2015, Grier combined live theater and television when he played the Cowardly Lion in Broadway’s award-winning musical The Wiz Live! on NBC.
In film, Grier will next be seen in the indie drama Sprinter, produced by Will Smith. He...
- 1/18/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
The Art Directors Guild has announced nominations for the 23rd Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards in film, TV, commercials, videos and animation features. Among the candidates: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Favourite and Roma, and, on the TV side, Sharp Objects and Glow.
Winners will be honored Saturday, February 2 in Los Angeles. The nominees were announced today by Adg President Nelson Coates, Adg, and Awards Producer Scott Moses, Adg. A tie in the Short Format: Web Series, Music Video or Commercial category resulted in six nominees this year.
As previously announced, the Adg Cinematic Imagery Award will be handed out to director Rob Marshall (Mary Poppins Returns) and both Anthony Masters (2001: A Space Odyssey) and Benjamin Carré will be inducted into the Adg Hall of Fame. Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to Jeannine Oppewall,...
Winners will be honored Saturday, February 2 in Los Angeles. The nominees were announced today by Adg President Nelson Coates, Adg, and Awards Producer Scott Moses, Adg. A tie in the Short Format: Web Series, Music Video or Commercial category resulted in six nominees this year.
As previously announced, the Adg Cinematic Imagery Award will be handed out to director Rob Marshall (Mary Poppins Returns) and both Anthony Masters (2001: A Space Odyssey) and Benjamin Carré will be inducted into the Adg Hall of Fame. Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to Jeannine Oppewall,...
- 1/7/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Buster Scruggs,’ ‘Black Panther,’ ‘Haunting of Hill House’ Nominated for Art Directors Guild Awards
The Art Directors Guild has announced nominees for excellence in production design in feature film and television for 2018.
Among the film nominees in three categories — period, fantasy, and contemporary — were the Coen brothers’ Western anthology “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” hit Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Marvel blockbuster “Black Panther,” and Tom Cruise spectacle “Mission: Impossible — Fallout.”
On the television side, nominees included Netflix’s latter-year smash “The Haunting of Hill House,” Hulu’s Stephen King-inspired “Castle Rock,” HBO’s “Sharp Objects” with Amy Adams, and FX’s acclaimed episode of “Atlanta,” “Teddy Perkins.”
Previously announced, “Mary Poppins Returns” director Rob Marshall will receive the Adg’s cinematic imagery award. Slated for Hall of Fame inductions are British production designer and set decorator Anthony Masters (“2001: A Space Odyssey”) and Benjamin Carre. Lifetime achievement awards will also be presented to production designer Jeannine Oppewall, senior illustrator and production designer Ed Verreaux,...
Among the film nominees in three categories — period, fantasy, and contemporary — were the Coen brothers’ Western anthology “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” hit Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Marvel blockbuster “Black Panther,” and Tom Cruise spectacle “Mission: Impossible — Fallout.”
On the television side, nominees included Netflix’s latter-year smash “The Haunting of Hill House,” Hulu’s Stephen King-inspired “Castle Rock,” HBO’s “Sharp Objects” with Amy Adams, and FX’s acclaimed episode of “Atlanta,” “Teddy Perkins.”
Previously announced, “Mary Poppins Returns” director Rob Marshall will receive the Adg’s cinematic imagery award. Slated for Hall of Fame inductions are British production designer and set decorator Anthony Masters (“2001: A Space Odyssey”) and Benjamin Carre. Lifetime achievement awards will also be presented to production designer Jeannine Oppewall, senior illustrator and production designer Ed Verreaux,...
- 1/7/2019
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Variety Film + TV
“The Favourite,” “Roma,” “First Man,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” on Monday all nabbed nominations for the Art Directors Guild Awards’ period-film category, the Adg category that most closely corresponds to the Academy Award for Best Production Design.
In the Adg fantasy-film category, which typically supplies one or two Oscar nominees, the guild singled out “Black Panther,” “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” “The House With a Clock in its Walls,” “Mary Poppins Returns” and “Ready Player One.”
Nominees in the contemporary-film category are “A Quiet Place,” “A Star Is Born,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” and “Welcome to Marwen.”
Also Read: Producers Guild Awards Nominations Include 'Roma,' 'Black Panther,' 'A Star Is Born' - and Also 'Crazy Rich Asians'
Animated-film nominees are “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch,” “The Incredibles 2,” “Isle of Dogs,” “Ralph Breaks the Internet” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
In the Adg fantasy-film category, which typically supplies one or two Oscar nominees, the guild singled out “Black Panther,” “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” “The House With a Clock in its Walls,” “Mary Poppins Returns” and “Ready Player One.”
Nominees in the contemporary-film category are “A Quiet Place,” “A Star Is Born,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” and “Welcome to Marwen.”
Also Read: Producers Guild Awards Nominations Include 'Roma,' 'Black Panther,' 'A Star Is Born' - and Also 'Crazy Rich Asians'
Animated-film nominees are “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch,” “The Incredibles 2,” “Isle of Dogs,” “Ralph Breaks the Internet” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
- 1/7/2019
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
In today’s film news roundup, medieval horror movie “The Head” gets distribution, Matt Leonetti becomes head of physical production for Lionsgate and the Art Directors Guild honors three longtime members.
Acquisition
Vertical Entertainment has acquired worldwide distribution rights to medieval horror movie “The Head” and will launch international sales at the American Film Market, which opens Oct. 31 in Santa Monica, Calif.
The independent feature, which premiered at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain, is produced, directed and written by Jordan Downey (“ThanksKilling”). Kevin Stewart (“Unfriended: Dark Web”) co-wrote and produced along with Ricky Fosheim (“Uneasy Lies the Mind”).
“The Head” follows a bounty hunter who seeks vengeance on the monster that slayed his only daughter. It was shoot almost entirely in Portugal and is the film debut of Christopher Rygh. The deal was negotiated by Josh Spector on behalf of Vertical Entertainment and Ricky Fosheim of Detention Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
Acquisition
Vertical Entertainment has acquired worldwide distribution rights to medieval horror movie “The Head” and will launch international sales at the American Film Market, which opens Oct. 31 in Santa Monica, Calif.
The independent feature, which premiered at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain, is produced, directed and written by Jordan Downey (“ThanksKilling”). Kevin Stewart (“Unfriended: Dark Web”) co-wrote and produced along with Ricky Fosheim (“Uneasy Lies the Mind”).
“The Head” follows a bounty hunter who seeks vengeance on the monster that slayed his only daughter. It was shoot almost entirely in Portugal and is the film debut of Christopher Rygh. The deal was negotiated by Josh Spector on behalf of Vertical Entertainment and Ricky Fosheim of Detention Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
- 10/26/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
The Art Directors Guild said today that production designer Ed Verreaux, scenic artist Jim Fiorito and art director William F. Matthews will join previously announced production designer Jeannine Oppewall as recipients of the guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The four will be honored at the 23rd Annual Adg Excellence in Production Design Awards at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown in the Wilshire Grand Ballroom on Saturday, February 2, 2019.
Verreaux, Senior Illustrator and Production Designer, began his film career working for the legendary animation director Chuck Jones, later joined Robert Abel & Associates where he was assigned as one of the earliest designers on the Star Trek project, and then worked on many Steven Spielberg films including Jurassic Park lll, Jurassic World, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Poltergeist, Empire of the Sun, The Color Purple and E.T. He’s worked with Clint Eastwood and Robert Zemeckis, and other credits include George Miller’s Mad Max Beyond Thunderdrome,...
Verreaux, Senior Illustrator and Production Designer, began his film career working for the legendary animation director Chuck Jones, later joined Robert Abel & Associates where he was assigned as one of the earliest designers on the Star Trek project, and then worked on many Steven Spielberg films including Jurassic Park lll, Jurassic World, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Poltergeist, Empire of the Sun, The Color Purple and E.T. He’s worked with Clint Eastwood and Robert Zemeckis, and other credits include George Miller’s Mad Max Beyond Thunderdrome,...
- 10/25/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The Art Directors Guild will honor senior illustrator and production designer Ed Verreaux, scenic artist Jim Fiorito and set designer and art director William F. Matthews.
They, along with Oscar-nominated production designer Jeannine Oppewall, who was previously announced as an honoree, will each receive a lifetime achievement award during the 23rd Adg Excellence in Production Design Awards on Feb. 2 at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown.
Verreaux began his film career working for animation director Chuck Jones. His credits include Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire of the Sun, Back to the Future Part ll and Part lll, and most recently Jurassic ...
They, along with Oscar-nominated production designer Jeannine Oppewall, who was previously announced as an honoree, will each receive a lifetime achievement award during the 23rd Adg Excellence in Production Design Awards on Feb. 2 at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown.
Verreaux began his film career working for animation director Chuck Jones. His credits include Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire of the Sun, Back to the Future Part ll and Part lll, and most recently Jurassic ...
- 10/25/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The Art Directors Guild will honor senior illustrator and production designer Ed Verreaux, scenic artist Jim Fiorito and set designer and art director William F. Matthews.
They, along with Oscar-nominated production designer Jeannine Oppewall, who was previously announced as an honoree, will each receive a lifetime achievement award during the 23rd Adg Excellence in Production Design Awards on Feb. 2 at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown.
Verreaux began his film career working for animation director Chuck Jones. His credits include Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire of the Sun, Back to the Future Part ll and Part lll, and most recently Jurassic ...
They, along with Oscar-nominated production designer Jeannine Oppewall, who was previously announced as an honoree, will each receive a lifetime achievement award during the 23rd Adg Excellence in Production Design Awards on Feb. 2 at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown.
Verreaux began his film career working for animation director Chuck Jones. His credits include Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire of the Sun, Back to the Future Part ll and Part lll, and most recently Jurassic ...
- 10/25/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It's been 35 years since E.T. first phoned home in Steven Spielberg's E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, and you can celebrate the film's anniversary with a new limited edition 4K Ultra HD / Blu-ray set from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (just make sure you're stocked up on Reese's Pieces).
Press Release: Universal City, Calif., July 13, 2017 -- In 1982, acclaimed director Steven Spielberg created iconic movie magic with his classic film, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, the unforgettable and emotional adventure of an adorable alien lost on Earth and the lonely boy who befriends him. Winner of four Academy Awards®, including Best Music, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial has become a cinematic touchstone for generations of moviegoers and one of the most beloved films of all time. Now, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates the film's original theatrical release with a special gift set, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial 35th Anniversary Limited Edition on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray™ + Digital available...
Press Release: Universal City, Calif., July 13, 2017 -- In 1982, acclaimed director Steven Spielberg created iconic movie magic with his classic film, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, the unforgettable and emotional adventure of an adorable alien lost on Earth and the lonely boy who befriends him. Winner of four Academy Awards®, including Best Music, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial has become a cinematic touchstone for generations of moviegoers and one of the most beloved films of all time. Now, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates the film's original theatrical release with a special gift set, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial 35th Anniversary Limited Edition on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray™ + Digital available...
- 7/17/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Bridge Of Spies
Nominees for the Art Directors Guild (Adg, Iatse Local 800) 20th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards in 11 categories of Production Design for theatrical motion pictures, television, commercials and music videos were announced by Adg Council Chair Marcia Hinds and Awards Producer Thomas Wilkins.
The 20th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards presented by Dxv by American Standard, will take place on Sunday, January 31, 2016 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel with comedian Owen Benjamin serving as host.
The Art Directors Guild (Iatse Local 800) represents 2,300 members who work throughout the United States, Canada and the rest of the world in film, television and theater as Production Designers, Art Directors, Assistant Art Directors; Scenic, Title and Graphic Artists; Illustrators and Matte Artists; Set Designers and Model Makers; and Previs Artists.
The Nominees For Excellence In Production Design For A Feature Film In 2015 Are:
1. Period Film
Bridge Of Spies
Production Designer: Adam Stockhausen...
Nominees for the Art Directors Guild (Adg, Iatse Local 800) 20th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards in 11 categories of Production Design for theatrical motion pictures, television, commercials and music videos were announced by Adg Council Chair Marcia Hinds and Awards Producer Thomas Wilkins.
The 20th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards presented by Dxv by American Standard, will take place on Sunday, January 31, 2016 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel with comedian Owen Benjamin serving as host.
The Art Directors Guild (Iatse Local 800) represents 2,300 members who work throughout the United States, Canada and the rest of the world in film, television and theater as Production Designers, Art Directors, Assistant Art Directors; Scenic, Title and Graphic Artists; Illustrators and Matte Artists; Set Designers and Model Makers; and Previs Artists.
The Nominees For Excellence In Production Design For A Feature Film In 2015 Are:
1. Period Film
Bridge Of Spies
Production Designer: Adam Stockhausen...
- 1/6/2016
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Art Directors Guild has unveiled the nominees of its 20th anual Excellence in Production Design Awards and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is one of the contenders in the Contemporary Feature Film category. But it may be hard for the force to beat the magical "Cinderella!"
And as a big Madonna fan, yup I'm a Rebel Heart, it's heartwarming to see the icon as one of the nominees in the Short Format category for her "Ghosttown" music video! The only music video nominated!
Winners will be announced on January 31. Here's the full list of nominees of the Art Directors Guild Awards:
Excellence In Production Design For A Feature Film In 2015
Period Film
Bridge Of Spies
Production Designer: Adam Stockhausen
Crimson Peak
Production Designer: Thomas E. Sanders
The Danish Girl
Production Designer: Eve Stewart
The Revenant
Production Designer: Jack Fisk
Trumbo
Production Designer: Mark Ricker
Fantasy Film
Cinderella
Production Designer:...
And as a big Madonna fan, yup I'm a Rebel Heart, it's heartwarming to see the icon as one of the nominees in the Short Format category for her "Ghosttown" music video! The only music video nominated!
Winners will be announced on January 31. Here's the full list of nominees of the Art Directors Guild Awards:
Excellence In Production Design For A Feature Film In 2015
Period Film
Bridge Of Spies
Production Designer: Adam Stockhausen
Crimson Peak
Production Designer: Thomas E. Sanders
The Danish Girl
Production Designer: Eve Stewart
The Revenant
Production Designer: Jack Fisk
Trumbo
Production Designer: Mark Ricker
Fantasy Film
Cinderella
Production Designer:...
- 1/5/2016
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Wamg is giving away copies of Jurassic World to five lucky readers.
Shattering records globally, Jurassic World crushed the opening-weekend box-office, scoring the highest domestic, international and worldwide openings of all time. The film has taken in more than $1.6 billion globally to become the third-highest grossing film in history.
Now fans can experience the thrill and awe when Jurassic World arrives on Digital HD on October 1, 2015 and on 3-D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on October 20, 2015, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
More than two decades since Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park was released, fans of the original films and new moviegoers alike can witness the story come full circle as the park that was only a promise comes to life.
Now, 22 years later, an even bigger and enormously popular attraction has risen on Isla Nubar: Jurassic World. To keep attendance high, the park operators introduce a new, genetically modified hybrid creature called Indominus Rex.
Shattering records globally, Jurassic World crushed the opening-weekend box-office, scoring the highest domestic, international and worldwide openings of all time. The film has taken in more than $1.6 billion globally to become the third-highest grossing film in history.
Now fans can experience the thrill and awe when Jurassic World arrives on Digital HD on October 1, 2015 and on 3-D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on October 20, 2015, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
More than two decades since Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park was released, fans of the original films and new moviegoers alike can witness the story come full circle as the park that was only a promise comes to life.
Now, 22 years later, an even bigger and enormously popular attraction has risen on Isla Nubar: Jurassic World. To keep attendance high, the park operators introduce a new, genetically modified hybrid creature called Indominus Rex.
- 10/14/2015
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Shattering records globally, Jurassic World crushed the opening-weekend box-office, scoring the highest domestic, international and worldwide openings of all time. The film has taken in more than $1.6 billion globally to become the third-highest grossing film in history.
Now fans can experience the thrill and awe when Jurassic World arrives on Digital HD on October 1, 2015 and on 3-D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on October 20, 2015, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. More than two decades since Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park was released, fans of the original films and new moviegoers alike can witness the story come full circle as the park that was only a promise comes to life.
Now, 22 years later, an even bigger and enormously popular attraction has risen on Isla Nubar: Jurassic World. To keep attendance high, the park operators introduce a new, genetically modified hybrid creature called Indominus Rex. Bigger, stronger and far more intelligent than...
Now fans can experience the thrill and awe when Jurassic World arrives on Digital HD on October 1, 2015 and on 3-D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on October 20, 2015, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. More than two decades since Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park was released, fans of the original films and new moviegoers alike can witness the story come full circle as the park that was only a promise comes to life.
Now, 22 years later, an even bigger and enormously popular attraction has risen on Isla Nubar: Jurassic World. To keep attendance high, the park operators introduce a new, genetically modified hybrid creature called Indominus Rex. Bigger, stronger and far more intelligent than...
- 8/25/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Viewers will be able to enter the realm of dinosaurs from the comfort of their couches this fall, when Jurassic World comes out on Digital HD October 1st and 3-D Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray, and DVD October 20th.
Press Release: Universal City, Calif., Aug. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Shattering records globally, Jurassic World crushed the opening-weekend box-office, scoring the highest domestic, international and worldwide openings of all time. The film has taken in more than $1.6 billion globally to become the third-highest grossing film in history. Now fans can experience the thrill and awe when Jurassic World arrives on Digital HD on October 1, 2015 and on 3-D Blu-ray™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on October 20, 2015, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. More than two decades since Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park was released, fans of the original films and new moviegoers alike can witness the story come full circle as the park that was only a promise comes to life.
Press Release: Universal City, Calif., Aug. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Shattering records globally, Jurassic World crushed the opening-weekend box-office, scoring the highest domestic, international and worldwide openings of all time. The film has taken in more than $1.6 billion globally to become the third-highest grossing film in history. Now fans can experience the thrill and awe when Jurassic World arrives on Digital HD on October 1, 2015 and on 3-D Blu-ray™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on October 20, 2015, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. More than two decades since Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park was released, fans of the original films and new moviegoers alike can witness the story come full circle as the park that was only a promise comes to life.
- 8/25/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
If you.re reading this, chances are that you were one of the multitudes of fans who got their dinosaur fix this weekend as Jurassic World threw open its doors to box office history and a paddock full of cash. If you were, you undoubtedly noticed all of the winks, nods, and hints that the film left out to previous installments . as well as where the series could go in its potential sequels. But there is another that you probably noticed without actually realizing it. During the Pteranodon /Dimorphodon attack that wrecked the park's Main Street, there was a man rather preoccupied with saving his margaritas from Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. Surprise surprise, that man was actually none other than Buffet himself protecting his investment! Yahoo has the proof of this cameo, as their set visit included some time talking to production designer Edward Verreaux. In that conversation, Mr. Margaritaville...
- 6/15/2015
- cinemablend.com
In May, visual effects guru Rick Baker (click here) finally released images of the aliens he designed for Night Skies, which was an unmade Steven Spielberg ("Jurassic Park") film. Though, it wasn't made it still had a heavy influence on the story and creature designs of Spielberg's E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982). If you're not familiar with the fascinating story behind Night Skies I suggest you click on the link by Rick Baker's name. Below, is concept art that Empire recently published. These images were illustrated by Ed Verreaux with the intention of showing different versions of E.T.: The Extra - Terrestrial and the wide range of emotions the alien creature would have to perform. Ed also worked on: Empire of the Sun, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and Poltergeist. Re-live the adventure and magic in one of the most beloved motion pictures of all-time,...
- 10/19/2014
- ComicBookMovie.com
Looper
Directed by Rian Johnson
Written by Rian Johnson
USA, 2012
If there’s any justice in this world, we’ll look back on Looper in 10 or 20 years, and pinpoint it as the moment when Rian Johnson entered into the realm of stardom. Though he proved his directing savvy with Brick and The Brothers Bloom, it’s Looper that cements Johnson as an exciting and ambitious auteur, someone whose next film is something we should all be anticipating breathlessly, no matter what it ends up being. We may soon drown in the hyperbole surrounding Looper, but every so often, a film earns such high praise. Looper is a thrilling and daring story that earns its place next to The Matrix and Children of Men as one of the best science-fiction films of the past 20 years.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Joe, a criminal who works as a looper in Kansas City, circa 2044, when...
Directed by Rian Johnson
Written by Rian Johnson
USA, 2012
If there’s any justice in this world, we’ll look back on Looper in 10 or 20 years, and pinpoint it as the moment when Rian Johnson entered into the realm of stardom. Though he proved his directing savvy with Brick and The Brothers Bloom, it’s Looper that cements Johnson as an exciting and ambitious auteur, someone whose next film is something we should all be anticipating breathlessly, no matter what it ends up being. We may soon drown in the hyperbole surrounding Looper, but every so often, a film earns such high praise. Looper is a thrilling and daring story that earns its place next to The Matrix and Children of Men as one of the best science-fiction films of the past 20 years.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Joe, a criminal who works as a looper in Kansas City, circa 2044, when...
- 9/28/2012
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray is coming, and it looks fantastic. On October 9th, Steven Spielberg and company’s restoration of the classic 1982 film comes to stores with a great collection. Thanks to JoBlo we have the details of the special features, and the video below is the unique German packaging for the Blu-Ray that is sure to make everyone jealous.
The E.T. Journals: In this all-new bonus feature, retrace the day-to-day experience of creating E.T from never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage shot by Academy Award®-winning cinematographer John Toll. This piece will give viewers a unique feeling of being on the set and living the excitement of what it was like to make E.T.
Steven Spielberg & E.T.: Watch an all-new interview with Steven Spielberg, as he reflects back on the film and discusses his experience working with the actors, as well as his overall and...
The E.T. Journals: In this all-new bonus feature, retrace the day-to-day experience of creating E.T from never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage shot by Academy Award®-winning cinematographer John Toll. This piece will give viewers a unique feeling of being on the set and living the excitement of what it was like to make E.T.
Steven Spielberg & E.T.: Watch an all-new interview with Steven Spielberg, as he reflects back on the film and discusses his experience working with the actors, as well as his overall and...
- 7/30/2012
- by Andy Greene
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
One of the most beloved sci-fi films of all time is finally coming to Blu-ray! That movie is Steven Spielberg's 1982 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, and it's set to be released on October 9th 2012!
I grew up on this movie. I was 4-years-old when it was released, and I remember going to the movie theater to watch it with my parents! It's doesn't seem like it was that long ago. This is one of those iconic movies for me, I can watch it today and get that same feeling I had when I watched it as a kid. This is a must own Blu-ray for any film geek, and I'm looking forward to watching it in HD glory!
Below you will find a trailer for the Blu-ray along with all of the specs and details. Will you be picking up a copy for yourself?
Here's a trailer for the Blu-ray:
Here's...
I grew up on this movie. I was 4-years-old when it was released, and I remember going to the movie theater to watch it with my parents! It's doesn't seem like it was that long ago. This is one of those iconic movies for me, I can watch it today and get that same feeling I had when I watched it as a kid. This is a must own Blu-ray for any film geek, and I'm looking forward to watching it in HD glory!
Below you will find a trailer for the Blu-ray along with all of the specs and details. Will you be picking up a copy for yourself?
Here's a trailer for the Blu-ray:
Here's...
- 7/27/2012
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, AcademyAward®-winning director Steven Spielberg.s magical adventure, celebrates its 30th Anniversary with its first-ever release on Blu-ray. October 9, 2012. Featuring an all-new, digitally remastered picture that delivers six times the resolution of DVD, as well as all-new 7.1 surround sound, the E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Anniversary Edition Blu-ray. Combo Pack includes the 1982 theatrical movie, an all-new interview with director Steven Spielberg, and .The E.T. Journals. featuring never-before-seen footage from the set of the film. The Blu-ray. Combo Pack also includes UltraViolet., a DVD and a Digital Copy of the film, offering fans a chance to relive the mystery, laughter and wonder of the iconic movie anytime, anywhere on the platform of their choice.
In 1982, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial became the biggest blockbuster of the year, ranking #1 over 16 different weekends. Even today, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial remains the fourth most successful movie of all-time1 in the United States. Nominated for nine Academy Awards® including Best Picture,...
In 1982, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial became the biggest blockbuster of the year, ranking #1 over 16 different weekends. Even today, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial remains the fourth most successful movie of all-time1 in the United States. Nominated for nine Academy Awards® including Best Picture,...
- 7/26/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
It’s taken a few years but Steven Spielberg’s classic ”E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” is finally getting a high-def upgrade. The 30th anniversary edition of the film, which hits stores this October, will feature an all-new digitally remastered transfer of the original 1982 theatrical cut. That’s right kids, the much-maligned 20th anniversary 2002 reissue won’t be making appearance on the disc other than in the form of two deleted scenes, so you don’t need to worry about seeing any walkie-talkies.
For those of you might not remember, the DVD release a decade back swapped out the guns used by the federal agents for more family friendly and less threatning walkie talkies, much to the dismay of fans (though the original theatrical cut was included as well). Why Spielberg bothered with the tinkering is unclear, but last year he made it known which version he preferred and wanted people to see.
For those of you might not remember, the DVD release a decade back swapped out the guns used by the federal agents for more family friendly and less threatning walkie talkies, much to the dismay of fans (though the original theatrical cut was included as well). Why Spielberg bothered with the tinkering is unclear, but last year he made it known which version he preferred and wanted people to see.
- 6/1/2012
- by Cain Rodriguez
- The Playlist
We learned a digitally remastered version of Jaws will be released on Blu-ray this August, and now Steven Spielberg’s E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial will be joining movie collections all over the world on Blu-ray for the first time this October.
The great news is that it is a digitally remastered version of the 1982 theatrical movie and not the odd looking digitally touched version (example: they replaced guns with walkie-talkies). We don’t have an exact date of release, but my birthday is October 9th so plan accordingly.
The Blu-ray will be presented in 7.1 surround sound, and will include a DVD copy too. The bonus features are great, including an all-new interview with Spielberg. All the specs and announcement trailer are below:
E.T. will be presented in 1080p high definition with 7.1 DTS-hd Master Audio, 2.0 Spanish and 5.1 French Dolby Digital. The disc will include English Sdh, Spanish and French subtitles. Here’s...
The great news is that it is a digitally remastered version of the 1982 theatrical movie and not the odd looking digitally touched version (example: they replaced guns with walkie-talkies). We don’t have an exact date of release, but my birthday is October 9th so plan accordingly.
The Blu-ray will be presented in 7.1 surround sound, and will include a DVD copy too. The bonus features are great, including an all-new interview with Spielberg. All the specs and announcement trailer are below:
E.T. will be presented in 1080p high definition with 7.1 DTS-hd Master Audio, 2.0 Spanish and 5.1 French Dolby Digital. The disc will include English Sdh, Spanish and French subtitles. Here’s...
- 5/31/2012
- by Graham McMorrow
- City of Films
Hard to believe it’s been thirty years since that magical summer when tons of great films were released including Steven Spielberg’s E.T.: The Extraterrestrial. The film will celebrate the occasion with several events beginning with an exclusive airing Friday on The Hub on at 9 p.m.
It’s the season of Spielberg, it seems, as first Jaws, then E.T. and the Indiana Jones films finally make their Blu-ray debuts. The sea thriller will be out in August while the other two are scheduled for October releases.
Here are the E.T. release details from Universal Home Entertainment:
Universal City, California, May 30, 2012 – E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Academy Award®-winning director Steven Spielberg’s magical adventure, celebrates its 30th Anniversary with its first-ever release on Blu-ray™ this October. Featuring an all-new, digitally remastered picture that delivers six times the resolution of DVD, as well as all-new 7.1 surroundsound, the E.T....
It’s the season of Spielberg, it seems, as first Jaws, then E.T. and the Indiana Jones films finally make their Blu-ray debuts. The sea thriller will be out in August while the other two are scheduled for October releases.
Here are the E.T. release details from Universal Home Entertainment:
Universal City, California, May 30, 2012 – E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Academy Award®-winning director Steven Spielberg’s magical adventure, celebrates its 30th Anniversary with its first-ever release on Blu-ray™ this October. Featuring an all-new, digitally remastered picture that delivers six times the resolution of DVD, as well as all-new 7.1 surroundsound, the E.T....
- 5/31/2012
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial comes home on Blu-ray this October! Get your Reese's Pieces ready!
To celebrate Universal's 100th Anniversary, the studio is finally releasing E.T. The Extra Terrestrial on Blu-ray this October. An exact date has not yet been announced, but we do know many of the details of the Blu-ray set. The film will get a new, digitally remastered high-definition transfer and a new 7.1 surround sound mix. A new interview with Steven Spielberg will be included, as will never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage from the set. The 2002 special edition of the film will not be included, but two deleted scenes added to the release will be included on the Blu-ray (which is all the fans cared about anyway).
Other extras in the set include a reunion of the cast and footage of John Williams directing a live presentation of the film's score at the 20th anniversary premiere. The Blu-ray set...
To celebrate Universal's 100th Anniversary, the studio is finally releasing E.T. The Extra Terrestrial on Blu-ray this October. An exact date has not yet been announced, but we do know many of the details of the Blu-ray set. The film will get a new, digitally remastered high-definition transfer and a new 7.1 surround sound mix. A new interview with Steven Spielberg will be included, as will never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage from the set. The 2002 special edition of the film will not be included, but two deleted scenes added to the release will be included on the Blu-ray (which is all the fans cared about anyway).
Other extras in the set include a reunion of the cast and footage of John Williams directing a live presentation of the film's score at the 20th anniversary premiere. The Blu-ray set...
- 5/30/2012
- by feeds@themoviepool.com (Victor Medina)
- Cinelinx
I remember seeing E.T. when I was a kid and automatically wanting to get on a BMX bike and lead the cops on a chase through a partial developed subdivision. Luckily I settled for practicing jumps on a dirt track. Fans can experience the magic of Steven Spielberg's E.T. on Blu-ray in October. The disc is part of Universal Studios' 100th anniversary. The actual street date will be announced soon to celebrate the film's 30th anniversary. The disc will feature an all-new, digitally remastered picture that delivers six times the resolution of DVD and 7.1 surround sound.
Relive the magic with this Blu-ray trailer:
Here is the official press release:
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Academy Award®-winning director Steven Spielberg’s magical adventure, celebrates its 30th Anniversary with its first-ever release on Blu-ray™ this October. Featuring an all-new, digitally remastered picture that delivers six times the resolution of DVD, as well as all-new 7.1 surround sound,...
Relive the magic with this Blu-ray trailer:
Here is the official press release:
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Academy Award®-winning director Steven Spielberg’s magical adventure, celebrates its 30th Anniversary with its first-ever release on Blu-ray™ this October. Featuring an all-new, digitally remastered picture that delivers six times the resolution of DVD, as well as all-new 7.1 surround sound,...
- 5/30/2012
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Academy Award®-winning director Steven Spielberg.s magical adventure, celebrates its 30th Anniversary with its first-ever release on Blu-ray. this October. Featuring an all-new, digitally remastered picture that delivers six times the resolution of DVD, as well as all-new 7.1 surround sound, the E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Anniversary Edition Blu-ray. Combo Pack includes the 1982 theatrical movie, an all-new interview with director Steven Spielberg, and .The E.T. Journals. featuring never-before-seen footage from the set of the film. The Blu-ray. Combo Pack also includes UltraViolet., a DVD and a Digital Copy of the film, offering fans a chance to relive the mystery, laughter and wonder of the iconic movie anytime, anywhere on the platform of their choice.
In 1982, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial became the biggest blockbuster of the year, ranking #1 over 16 different weekends. Even today, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial remains the fourth most successful movie of all-time1 in the United States. Nominated for...
In 1982, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial became the biggest blockbuster of the year, ranking #1 over 16 different weekends. Even today, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial remains the fourth most successful movie of all-time1 in the United States. Nominated for...
- 5/30/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The wait is finally over to experience one of the most anticipated motion-picture trilogies of all time like never before when Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III debut as a trilogy set on Blu-ray. October 25, 2011 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Wamg has Two special copies to giveaway!
Official Rules: 1. You Must Be A Us Resident. Prize Will Only Be Shipped To Us Addresses. 2. Fill Out Your Real Name And Email Address Below. 3. Answer The Following Question: In a battle, who do you want in your corner and why – Velociraptor or T-Rex? Best answer wins… Winners Will Be Chosen From All Qualifying Entries. No Purchase Necessary. Prizes Will Not Be Substituted Or Exchanged. Contest Will End On Friday, November 4th 11:59pm Cst.
Acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg.s award-winning cinematic franchise, based on the best-selling book by Michael Crichton, generated nearly $2 billion combined at the worldwide...
Official Rules: 1. You Must Be A Us Resident. Prize Will Only Be Shipped To Us Addresses. 2. Fill Out Your Real Name And Email Address Below. 3. Answer The Following Question: In a battle, who do you want in your corner and why – Velociraptor or T-Rex? Best answer wins… Winners Will Be Chosen From All Qualifying Entries. No Purchase Necessary. Prizes Will Not Be Substituted Or Exchanged. Contest Will End On Friday, November 4th 11:59pm Cst.
Acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg.s award-winning cinematic franchise, based on the best-selling book by Michael Crichton, generated nearly $2 billion combined at the worldwide...
- 10/27/2011
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
I think I may have actually felt a little bit of wee come out earlier when we heard the news that the legendary legends (!) from Universal Studios have decided to bring Jurassic Park back to the cinema! They did it with Back to the Future and it as one of the best cinematic experiences I’ve ever had!
We were all geared up for the Blu-ray release but not we find out that it’s coming back to the cinema. I don’t usually like putting up press releases in full because they can often be boring But anything to do with Jurassic Park being remastered and coming to the big screen is far from boring! There’s also a few pics of the full box set which I’ve placed below so scroll down and read on to find out all your need to know about one of the...
We were all geared up for the Blu-ray release but not we find out that it’s coming back to the cinema. I don’t usually like putting up press releases in full because they can often be boring But anything to do with Jurassic Park being remastered and coming to the big screen is far from boring! There’s also a few pics of the full box set which I’ve placed below so scroll down and read on to find out all your need to know about one of the...
- 8/26/2011
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Universal Home Entertainment has announced that the Jurassic Park trilogy will be coming to Blu-ray this fall, with some T-rex-sized bonus features, and an awesome gift set edition, complete with a custom T-rex dino statue. Check out all the details below!
Official Press Release:
One of the Most Thrilling & Groundbreaking Motion-Picture Trilogies of All Time Roars onto Blu-ray™ with Breathtaking
New High-Definition Picture & Perfect Sound Jurassic Park All Three Epic Adventures from Filmmaker Steven Spielberg Plus More Than Two Hours of All-New Bonus Features
Available on Blu-ray™ For the First Time Ever On October 25, 2011 “You won’t believe your eyes!”—Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
“A triumph of special effects artistry!”—Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Universal City, California, June 27, 2011 – The wait is finally over to experience one of the most anticipated motion-picture trilogies of all time like never before when Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III...
Official Press Release:
One of the Most Thrilling & Groundbreaking Motion-Picture Trilogies of All Time Roars onto Blu-ray™ with Breathtaking
New High-Definition Picture & Perfect Sound Jurassic Park All Three Epic Adventures from Filmmaker Steven Spielberg Plus More Than Two Hours of All-New Bonus Features
Available on Blu-ray™ For the First Time Ever On October 25, 2011 “You won’t believe your eyes!”—Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
“A triumph of special effects artistry!”—Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Universal City, California, June 27, 2011 – The wait is finally over to experience one of the most anticipated motion-picture trilogies of all time like never before when Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III...
- 6/28/2011
- by Jason Moore
- ScifiMafia
One Of The Most Thrilling & Groundbreaking Motion-picture Trilogies Of All Time Roars Onto Blu-ray. With Breathtaking New High-definition Picture & Perfect Sound Jurassic Park
All Three Epic Adventures From Filmmaker Steven Spielberg Plus More Than Two Hours Of All-new Bonus Features Available On Blu-ray For The First Time Ever On October 25, 2011
“You won’t believe your eyes!” – Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
“A triumph of special effects artistry!” – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Universal City, California, June 27, 2011 - The wait is finally over to experience one of the most anticipated motion-picture trilogies of all time like never before when Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III debut as a trilogy set on Blu-ray. October 25, 2011 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s award-winning cinematic franchise, based on the best-selling book by Michael Crichton, generated nearly $2 billion combined at the worldwide box office and featured groundbreaking visual effects...
All Three Epic Adventures From Filmmaker Steven Spielberg Plus More Than Two Hours Of All-new Bonus Features Available On Blu-ray For The First Time Ever On October 25, 2011
“You won’t believe your eyes!” – Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
“A triumph of special effects artistry!” – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Universal City, California, June 27, 2011 - The wait is finally over to experience one of the most anticipated motion-picture trilogies of all time like never before when Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III debut as a trilogy set on Blu-ray. October 25, 2011 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s award-winning cinematic franchise, based on the best-selling book by Michael Crichton, generated nearly $2 billion combined at the worldwide box office and featured groundbreaking visual effects...
- 6/27/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Are aliens out there? Do they really exist? Well, they are out there this weekend with the release of both Columbia Pictures Battle: Los Angeles and Walt Disney’s Pictures Mars Needs Moms, so we decided to talk about what makes a memorable, and all around cool alien. Where it be computers, puppets, or just a really neat paint job… these aliens bring their A-Game in the design department!
Top Ten Alien Designs Honorable Mention: The Bugs – Starship Troopers (1997)
Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers (1997) introduced a whole new generation to the glorious goodness of cheesy sci-fi fun, complete with his own blend of bloody over-the-top action and violence and corny dialogue. But, the best part of the movie were the “bugs” (or, aliens) with which the humans were deeply embroiled in intergalactic battle. The “bugs” were a nasty bunch, primitive and wild on the surface, but organized and efficient as...
Top Ten Alien Designs Honorable Mention: The Bugs – Starship Troopers (1997)
Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers (1997) introduced a whole new generation to the glorious goodness of cheesy sci-fi fun, complete with his own blend of bloody over-the-top action and violence and corny dialogue. But, the best part of the movie were the “bugs” (or, aliens) with which the humans were deeply embroiled in intergalactic battle. The “bugs” were a nasty bunch, primitive and wild on the surface, but organized and efficient as...
- 3/9/2011
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
135 filmmakers and executives have been invited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences to join its ranks. Recent Oscar nominees and winners such as Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Mo'Nique, Carey Mulligan, Jeremy Renner, Gabourey Sidibe and Christoph Waltz have been invited to join; but even "Saw's" Tobin Bell and "Avatar's" Zoe Saldana received invites.
New members will be "baptized" in an invitation-only reception in September at the Academy's Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture Study in Beverly Hills.
Here's a complete list of the 2010 invitees:
Actors
Tobin Bell -- "Saw," "The Firm"
Vera Farmiga -- "Up in the Air," "The Departed"
Miguel Ferrer -- "Traffic," "RoboCop"
James Gandolfini -- "In the Loop," "Get Shorty"
Anna Kendrick -- "Up in the Air," "Twilight"
Mo'Nique -- "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," "Phat Girlz"
Carey Mulligan -- "An Education," "Public Enemies"
Jeremy Renner -- "The Hurt Locker,...
New members will be "baptized" in an invitation-only reception in September at the Academy's Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture Study in Beverly Hills.
Here's a complete list of the 2010 invitees:
Actors
Tobin Bell -- "Saw," "The Firm"
Vera Farmiga -- "Up in the Air," "The Departed"
Miguel Ferrer -- "Traffic," "RoboCop"
James Gandolfini -- "In the Loop," "Get Shorty"
Anna Kendrick -- "Up in the Air," "Twilight"
Mo'Nique -- "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," "Phat Girlz"
Carey Mulligan -- "An Education," "Public Enemies"
Jeremy Renner -- "The Hurt Locker,...
- 6/27/2010
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
it's not Tuesday but it's time for a Top Ten anyway... as this is yesterday's news already!
AMPAS used to hide their membership roster like the vote tallies but in the information age, they've opened up. Now we get to see the whole list of new invitees each year. I wonder how they keep they're membership around 6,000 given how many people they invite annual. Maybe enough people reject the offer, stop paying their dues, or pass from this mortal coil each year to balance it out?
You can read the full list of recipients at Indiewire, but as is the Film Experience tradition, we like to pinpoint the newest (potential) members whose future ballots we'd most like to see. So let's have at it.
New Academy Member Ballots We Most Want To See
10 Bono & The Edge (music)
They're two separate people but we'd like to imagine them filling out their ballots together inbetween sets.
AMPAS used to hide their membership roster like the vote tallies but in the information age, they've opened up. Now we get to see the whole list of new invitees each year. I wonder how they keep they're membership around 6,000 given how many people they invite annual. Maybe enough people reject the offer, stop paying their dues, or pass from this mortal coil each year to balance it out?
You can read the full list of recipients at Indiewire, but as is the Film Experience tradition, we like to pinpoint the newest (potential) members whose future ballots we'd most like to see. So let's have at it.
New Academy Member Ballots We Most Want To See
10 Bono & The Edge (music)
They're two separate people but we'd like to imagine them filling out their ballots together inbetween sets.
- 6/26/2010
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
HollywoodNews.com: Adam Sandler is gearing up for the release of his new film, “Grown Ups,” and has just been announced as one of 135 artists selected to join the Academy.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 135 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2010 to the Academy’s roster of voting members.
“The work of these individuals has been appreciated by moviegoers all around the world,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “The Academy is proud to invite each and every one of them.”
The Academy’s membership policies would have allowed a maximum of 180 new members in 2010, but as in other recent years, the several branch committees endorsed fewer candidates than were proposed to them. Voting membership in the organization has now held...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 135 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2010 to the Academy’s roster of voting members.
“The work of these individuals has been appreciated by moviegoers all around the world,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “The Academy is proud to invite each and every one of them.”
The Academy’s membership policies would have allowed a maximum of 180 new members in 2010, but as in other recent years, the several branch committees endorsed fewer candidates than were proposed to them. Voting membership in the organization has now held...
- 6/25/2010
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
Oscar winner Indian sound recordist Resul Pookutty has been invited to join the coveted Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences as a member. Along with Resul the invitation has been extended to 135 film professionals from around the globe that includes Christopher Walts (Inglorious Basterds) and Jacque Audiard (A Prophet). Resul was awarded an Oscar last year for Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire.
Members of the academy vote for the annual academy awards.
“The work of these individuals has been appreciated by moviegoers all around the world,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “The Academy is proud to invite each and every one of them.”
The Academy’s membership policies would have allowed a maximum of 180 new members in 2010, but as in other recent years, the several branch committees endorsed fewer candidates than were proposed to them. Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since...
Members of the academy vote for the annual academy awards.
“The work of these individuals has been appreciated by moviegoers all around the world,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “The Academy is proud to invite each and every one of them.”
The Academy’s membership policies would have allowed a maximum of 180 new members in 2010, but as in other recent years, the several branch committees endorsed fewer candidates than were proposed to them. Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since...
- 6/25/2010
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 135 filmmakers and executives -- including such recent Oscar nominees and winners as Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Mo'Nique, Carey Mulligan, Jeremy Renner, Gabourey Sidibe and Christoph Waltz -- to join its ranks.
The Academy issued its annual invitation list Thursday.
The actor's portion of the list ranged from genre favorites like "Saw's" Tobin Bell to "Avatar's" Zoe Saldana, from "Sopranos" star James Gandolfini, whose film credits include "In the Loop" and "Get Shorty" to rising leading man Ryan Reynolds, who's appeared in "The Proposal" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."
An international sampling of directors made the cut: Among them France's Jacques Audiard, Argentina's Juan Jose Campanella, Denmark's Lone Scherfig and, from the U.S., Lee Daniels and Adam Shankman, the latter of whom co-produced the last Oscar show.
Oscar nominee "District 9" was well represented: Matt Aitken and Dan Kaufman...
The Academy issued its annual invitation list Thursday.
The actor's portion of the list ranged from genre favorites like "Saw's" Tobin Bell to "Avatar's" Zoe Saldana, from "Sopranos" star James Gandolfini, whose film credits include "In the Loop" and "Get Shorty" to rising leading man Ryan Reynolds, who's appeared in "The Proposal" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."
An international sampling of directors made the cut: Among them France's Jacques Audiard, Argentina's Juan Jose Campanella, Denmark's Lone Scherfig and, from the U.S., Lee Daniels and Adam Shankman, the latter of whom co-produced the last Oscar show.
Oscar nominee "District 9" was well represented: Matt Aitken and Dan Kaufman...
- 6/25/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Summer blockbuster season goes out with a bang in the action-packed adrenaline ride G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
Director Stephen Sommers, whose previous films include The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and Van Helsing, piles on the pyrotechnics in a full-on assault of action and special effects.
G.I. Joe is an American line of military action figures marketed in the UK as Action Man and Action Force. The toys were also adapted into comics and cartoons, with Sommers saying he drew mainly on the comic books for the film's story.
Paramount Pictures and toymakers Hasbro are hoping for another big-screen franchise after previously collaborating to turn Transformers into a monster hit at the box office.
For those unfamiliar with the G.I. Joe brand, imagine putting Top Gun, The A-Team, Thunderbirds, the earlier Bond movies and the X-Men into a blender with a hefty dose of steroids, and this is what might result.
Director Stephen Sommers, whose previous films include The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and Van Helsing, piles on the pyrotechnics in a full-on assault of action and special effects.
G.I. Joe is an American line of military action figures marketed in the UK as Action Man and Action Force. The toys were also adapted into comics and cartoons, with Sommers saying he drew mainly on the comic books for the film's story.
Paramount Pictures and toymakers Hasbro are hoping for another big-screen franchise after previously collaborating to turn Transformers into a monster hit at the box office.
For those unfamiliar with the G.I. Joe brand, imagine putting Top Gun, The A-Team, Thunderbirds, the earlier Bond movies and the X-Men into a blender with a hefty dose of steroids, and this is what might result.
- 8/6/2009
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
Writing CTU is always an adventure for me, because I get to learn so many new things through Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan's films. This week I got to add yet another new experience to my list.
I made a trip to my local comic book store for the first time to get the latest issue of Toyfare magazine that has the very first photo of one of Channing Tatum's new actions figures for 'G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra'.
During filming, the actor's were scanned so their action figures could be created by Hasbro. Above, you can check out the "Convoy Attack Duke" that was created in Channing's goatee-wearing likeness for the film. To the left of Duke, you can also see Dennis Quaid's Hawk action figure for the movie.
Sienna Miller's action figure for her character The Baroness is featured on the cover of the March 2009 issue of magazine,...
I made a trip to my local comic book store for the first time to get the latest issue of Toyfare magazine that has the very first photo of one of Channing Tatum's new actions figures for 'G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra'.
During filming, the actor's were scanned so their action figures could be created by Hasbro. Above, you can check out the "Convoy Attack Duke" that was created in Channing's goatee-wearing likeness for the film. To the left of Duke, you can also see Dennis Quaid's Hawk action figure for the movie.
Sienna Miller's action figure for her character The Baroness is featured on the cover of the March 2009 issue of magazine,...
- 1/19/2009
- by Blog Expert
- Channing Tatum Unwrapped
As virtually the last of the 1970s Movie Brats to tackle science fiction, Brian De Palma ventures into an outer space that is not just overly familiar but downright worn-out.
"Mission to Mars" achieves a handful of tense moments and eye-catching images in its depiction of a Mars rescue mission. But the overall feeling is unmistakably that of Deja Vu. De Palma must compete with characters and images and ideas ranging from "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" to "Dune", "2001" and the many "Star Trek" and "Alien" productions.
Featuring a solid ensemble cast but lacking any actor with true star power, "Mission to Mars" appears headed for a less-than-stellar boxoffice performance domestically. Overseas and ancillary prospects may be brighter.
The most damaging aspect to this movie about the rescue of a marooned astronaut on Mars is its startling lack of urgency. Granted, it takes six months to mount and accomplish such a mission. But De Palma creates little tension in any of the mechanics of this languid errand.
The film even gets going slowly as we are introduced to a group of NASA astronauts in the year 2020 (without any concessions to futuristic fads or clothing) who are about to blast into space for the Red Planet. The first mission to Mars is headed by Don Cheadle, who got the assignment when Gary Sinise refused psychological testing following the cancer death of his astronaut wife.
When Cheadle's crew gets wiped out in a baffling disaster on Mars, the last communication holds out the faint hope Cheadle may have survived the mysterious catastrophe. Getting a green light from the Mars program head (an unbilled performance by Armin Mueller-Stahl), a rescue mission takes off under the command of Tim Robbins that includes Sinise, Robbins' loving wife Connie Nielsen and all-around fix-it guy Jerry O'Connell.
En route, a meteor shower damages the recovery ship, which necessitates space-walking repairs. But the craft is more damaged than the crew realizes. So when they power up to enter Mars' atmosphere, the ship is destroyed.
This leads to the film's most suspenseful sequence, in which the four space-walking astronauts attempt to capture a small resupply module, their only hope to survive and land on Mars.
Robbins dies in the attempt, leaving the other three to encounter Cheadle's Martian Robinson Crusoe. The remaining astronauts then confront the "enemy," a Modigliani-like alien (evolved, apparently, from Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters" alien) when they enter a holographic planetarium. Here they learn the fate of Mars' ancient civilization and the impact its destruction had on the evolution of life on Earth.
This third act is the most likely to lose audiences. Not only does any conflict drain away from the story, but the "explanation" of mysterious event and the subsequent history of Mars feels more like a special on the Discovery Channel rather than the climax of a sci-fi movie. The old Mars ride at Disneyland delivered more thrills.
De Palma and his frequent collaborator, cinematographer Stephen H. Burum, furnish their usual highly fluid camera, offering strange angles and floating shots that show off the spiffy production design of Ed Verreaux's spaceships to good effect. The Mars surface and weather patterns are also nicely rendered in location shooting at Fraser Sand Dunes in British Columbia along with second-unit work in Jordan and the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.
But these landscapes are almost too realistic for the movie's good. They contain little of the mystery or wonder that is part and parcel of science fiction. The story and dialogue almost emphasize the everyday reality of space travel. Even in Robbins' death, De Palma seems more interested in what happens to the human body when exposed to the vacuum of space than the emotions of a wife seeing her husband die instantly before her eyes.
In the end, "Mission to Mars" feels like work rather than fun. Which may explain why the mystical climax works against the studied realism of the first two acts.
MISSION TO MARS
Buena Vista Pictures
Touchstone Pictures presents
A Jacobson Co. production
Producer:Tom Jacobson
Director:Brian De Palma
Writers:Jim Thomas, John Thomas, Graham Yost
Story by:Lowell Cannon, Jim Thomas, John Thomas
Executive producer:Sam Mercer
Director of photography:Stephen H. Burum
Production designer:Ed Verreaux
Visual effects supervisors:Hoyt Yeatman, John Knoll
Music:Ennio Morricone
Co-producers:David Goyer, Justis Greene, Jim Wedaa
Costume designer:Sanja Milkovic Hays
Editor:Paul Hirsch
Color/stereo
Cast:
Jim McConnell:Gary Sinise
Woody Blake:Tim Robbins
Luke Graham:Don Cheadle
Terri Fisher:Connie Nielsen
Phil Ohlmyer:Jerry O'Connell
Sergei Kirov:Peter Outerbridge
Nicholas Willis:Kavan Smith
Renee Cote:Jill Teed
Running time -- 112 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
"Mission to Mars" achieves a handful of tense moments and eye-catching images in its depiction of a Mars rescue mission. But the overall feeling is unmistakably that of Deja Vu. De Palma must compete with characters and images and ideas ranging from "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" to "Dune", "2001" and the many "Star Trek" and "Alien" productions.
Featuring a solid ensemble cast but lacking any actor with true star power, "Mission to Mars" appears headed for a less-than-stellar boxoffice performance domestically. Overseas and ancillary prospects may be brighter.
The most damaging aspect to this movie about the rescue of a marooned astronaut on Mars is its startling lack of urgency. Granted, it takes six months to mount and accomplish such a mission. But De Palma creates little tension in any of the mechanics of this languid errand.
The film even gets going slowly as we are introduced to a group of NASA astronauts in the year 2020 (without any concessions to futuristic fads or clothing) who are about to blast into space for the Red Planet. The first mission to Mars is headed by Don Cheadle, who got the assignment when Gary Sinise refused psychological testing following the cancer death of his astronaut wife.
When Cheadle's crew gets wiped out in a baffling disaster on Mars, the last communication holds out the faint hope Cheadle may have survived the mysterious catastrophe. Getting a green light from the Mars program head (an unbilled performance by Armin Mueller-Stahl), a rescue mission takes off under the command of Tim Robbins that includes Sinise, Robbins' loving wife Connie Nielsen and all-around fix-it guy Jerry O'Connell.
En route, a meteor shower damages the recovery ship, which necessitates space-walking repairs. But the craft is more damaged than the crew realizes. So when they power up to enter Mars' atmosphere, the ship is destroyed.
This leads to the film's most suspenseful sequence, in which the four space-walking astronauts attempt to capture a small resupply module, their only hope to survive and land on Mars.
Robbins dies in the attempt, leaving the other three to encounter Cheadle's Martian Robinson Crusoe. The remaining astronauts then confront the "enemy," a Modigliani-like alien (evolved, apparently, from Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters" alien) when they enter a holographic planetarium. Here they learn the fate of Mars' ancient civilization and the impact its destruction had on the evolution of life on Earth.
This third act is the most likely to lose audiences. Not only does any conflict drain away from the story, but the "explanation" of mysterious event and the subsequent history of Mars feels more like a special on the Discovery Channel rather than the climax of a sci-fi movie. The old Mars ride at Disneyland delivered more thrills.
De Palma and his frequent collaborator, cinematographer Stephen H. Burum, furnish their usual highly fluid camera, offering strange angles and floating shots that show off the spiffy production design of Ed Verreaux's spaceships to good effect. The Mars surface and weather patterns are also nicely rendered in location shooting at Fraser Sand Dunes in British Columbia along with second-unit work in Jordan and the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.
But these landscapes are almost too realistic for the movie's good. They contain little of the mystery or wonder that is part and parcel of science fiction. The story and dialogue almost emphasize the everyday reality of space travel. Even in Robbins' death, De Palma seems more interested in what happens to the human body when exposed to the vacuum of space than the emotions of a wife seeing her husband die instantly before her eyes.
In the end, "Mission to Mars" feels like work rather than fun. Which may explain why the mystical climax works against the studied realism of the first two acts.
MISSION TO MARS
Buena Vista Pictures
Touchstone Pictures presents
A Jacobson Co. production
Producer:Tom Jacobson
Director:Brian De Palma
Writers:Jim Thomas, John Thomas, Graham Yost
Story by:Lowell Cannon, Jim Thomas, John Thomas
Executive producer:Sam Mercer
Director of photography:Stephen H. Burum
Production designer:Ed Verreaux
Visual effects supervisors:Hoyt Yeatman, John Knoll
Music:Ennio Morricone
Co-producers:David Goyer, Justis Greene, Jim Wedaa
Costume designer:Sanja Milkovic Hays
Editor:Paul Hirsch
Color/stereo
Cast:
Jim McConnell:Gary Sinise
Woody Blake:Tim Robbins
Luke Graham:Don Cheadle
Terri Fisher:Connie Nielsen
Phil Ohlmyer:Jerry O'Connell
Sergei Kirov:Peter Outerbridge
Nicholas Willis:Kavan Smith
Renee Cote:Jill Teed
Running time -- 112 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
- 3/10/2000
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If you build it, they will come. This time we're not talking about ballparks and baseball players, but rather satellite dishes and intelligent extraterrestrial life, as an unconventional astronomer obsesses to connect with other life in the universe.
A distillation of the late Carl Sagan's best seller "Contact", this filmic adaptation is also constructed with generic sci-fi components and characters and draws on blueprints from such filmic predecessors as "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." But despite its lineage and some impressive special effects, "Contact" is a disappointingly earthbound production, weighed down by the ballast of talking-heads dramaturgy and bloated storytelling.
At the boxoffice, Warner Bros. has a "tweener" on its hands, a vessel that falls between certain audiences: High schoolers and special-effects buffs will find its thermo-dramatics insufficiently charged, lacking in action and outer-space razzle-dazzle, while intelligent life forms will find its philosophizing a quantum level below expectations, unless one is hoping for an "Oprah"-ish discussion on the science-vs.-religion debate. Look for a big launch based on Jodie Foster's star appeal in the lead role and Sagan's following, but word-of-mouth will soon put this Robert Zemeckis-directed film into a disappointing tailspin, burning out far below boxoffice outer space.
In this ambitious undertaking, Foster stars as Ellie Arroway, a brilliant astronomer who has alienated her mentors by her choice of specialty: Ellie has chosen to dedicate her career to making contact with other intelligent life forms in the universe. After all, as her late father told her, "If we're The Only Ones here, what a waste of space."
While gutty little crackpot yarns are always appealing as the renegade thinker takes on the establishment and ultimately wins the day, this scenario is so ponderous and transparently schematic that one only half-heartedly roots for the scrappy scientist to prove her point by connecting with extraterrestrial life and toppling the dunderheaded establishment, herein consisting of not only the scientific-industrial complex but the citadels of organized religion as well.
While one can appreciate the vexing tribulations with cross-wiring Sagan's downbeat novel to popular filmic dimension, screenwriters James V. Hart and Michael Goldenberg have programmed a bugged-up format of story viruses and black hole-sized logical voids.
Consisting of dialogue so gratingly expositional that one would have to consult a VCR manual to duplicate its utilitarian dullness, and philosophical debates so turgidly pompous that one would have to fetch an Los Angeles Times Op/Ed page for comparable drivel, the story is woefully dependent on talking-heads newscasters delivering the plot.
Admittedly, we possess a certain perverse admiration for an opus that relies on the likes of "The Larry King Show" for delving into the big issues. Still, even an enthusiastic numbers cruncher would be taxed by tabulating the truly amazing number of times this serioso mind-candy relies on TV talking heads to propel its narrative. So leaden is its dramatic thrust that not even director Robert Zemeckis, whose productions usually travel at the speed of light, can get this one moving faster than a mule train.
The data is not all bad on the writing, however. On the plus side, the science-vs.-religion debates are mercifully short, interrupted, for instance, by a beeper-page from President Clinton. Indeed, Clinton appears in a number of press conference-ish vignettes, delivering wishy-washy blather on the big happenings. In this regard, the screenwriters are to be commended for their deft duplication of Clintonesque platitudinery.
Despite being short-circuited by the dialogue, Foster is commanding as the strong-minded astronomer. Alternately shrill, contentious and self-absorbed, the character is nicely rounded and made sympathetic by Foster's smartly textured portrayal. As the voice of science, she is paired with and against Palmer Joss (Matthew McConaughey), a touchy-feely religious type. Unfortunately, this dichotomy is crammed up with an unlikely romance, so bipolar that it defies even the laws-of-opposites attraction.
Under Zemeckis' surprisingly small screen-ish visualization, the technical contributions are a mixed bag. Highest praise to production designer Ed Verreaux and the visual effects team for the brainy look, an inspired mix of Leonardo Da Vinci and Niels Bohr. Most impressively, there's some dazzling sorcery in the opening, big-space sequence -- it's thrilling and humbling, all at once. Along with "2001" and "Star Wars", it's among the best eye-openers for a space-directed movie.
CONTACT
Warner Bros.
A South Side Amusement Co. production
A Robert Zemeckis film
Producers Robert Zemeckis, Steve Starkey
Director Robert Zemeckis
Screenwriters James V. Hart,
Michael Goldenberg
Based on the novel by Carl Sagan
Based on the story by Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan
Executive producers Joan Bradshaw,
Lynda Obst
Director of photography Don Burgess
Production designer Ed Verreaux
Editor Arthur Schmidt
Music Alan Silvestri
Costume designer Joanna Johnston
Senior visual effects supervisor Ken Ralston
Casting Victoria Burrows
Co-producers Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan
Sound designer Randy Thom
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ellie Arroway Jodie Foster
Palmer Joss Matthew McConaughey
David Drumlin Tom Skerritt
Rachel Constantine Angela Bassett
Michael Kit :James Woods
S.R. Hadden John Hurt
Young Ellie Jena Malone
Ted Arroway David Morse
Fisher Geoffrey Blake
Richard Rank Rob Lowe
Running time -- 150 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
A distillation of the late Carl Sagan's best seller "Contact", this filmic adaptation is also constructed with generic sci-fi components and characters and draws on blueprints from such filmic predecessors as "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." But despite its lineage and some impressive special effects, "Contact" is a disappointingly earthbound production, weighed down by the ballast of talking-heads dramaturgy and bloated storytelling.
At the boxoffice, Warner Bros. has a "tweener" on its hands, a vessel that falls between certain audiences: High schoolers and special-effects buffs will find its thermo-dramatics insufficiently charged, lacking in action and outer-space razzle-dazzle, while intelligent life forms will find its philosophizing a quantum level below expectations, unless one is hoping for an "Oprah"-ish discussion on the science-vs.-religion debate. Look for a big launch based on Jodie Foster's star appeal in the lead role and Sagan's following, but word-of-mouth will soon put this Robert Zemeckis-directed film into a disappointing tailspin, burning out far below boxoffice outer space.
In this ambitious undertaking, Foster stars as Ellie Arroway, a brilliant astronomer who has alienated her mentors by her choice of specialty: Ellie has chosen to dedicate her career to making contact with other intelligent life forms in the universe. After all, as her late father told her, "If we're The Only Ones here, what a waste of space."
While gutty little crackpot yarns are always appealing as the renegade thinker takes on the establishment and ultimately wins the day, this scenario is so ponderous and transparently schematic that one only half-heartedly roots for the scrappy scientist to prove her point by connecting with extraterrestrial life and toppling the dunderheaded establishment, herein consisting of not only the scientific-industrial complex but the citadels of organized religion as well.
While one can appreciate the vexing tribulations with cross-wiring Sagan's downbeat novel to popular filmic dimension, screenwriters James V. Hart and Michael Goldenberg have programmed a bugged-up format of story viruses and black hole-sized logical voids.
Consisting of dialogue so gratingly expositional that one would have to consult a VCR manual to duplicate its utilitarian dullness, and philosophical debates so turgidly pompous that one would have to fetch an Los Angeles Times Op/Ed page for comparable drivel, the story is woefully dependent on talking-heads newscasters delivering the plot.
Admittedly, we possess a certain perverse admiration for an opus that relies on the likes of "The Larry King Show" for delving into the big issues. Still, even an enthusiastic numbers cruncher would be taxed by tabulating the truly amazing number of times this serioso mind-candy relies on TV talking heads to propel its narrative. So leaden is its dramatic thrust that not even director Robert Zemeckis, whose productions usually travel at the speed of light, can get this one moving faster than a mule train.
The data is not all bad on the writing, however. On the plus side, the science-vs.-religion debates are mercifully short, interrupted, for instance, by a beeper-page from President Clinton. Indeed, Clinton appears in a number of press conference-ish vignettes, delivering wishy-washy blather on the big happenings. In this regard, the screenwriters are to be commended for their deft duplication of Clintonesque platitudinery.
Despite being short-circuited by the dialogue, Foster is commanding as the strong-minded astronomer. Alternately shrill, contentious and self-absorbed, the character is nicely rounded and made sympathetic by Foster's smartly textured portrayal. As the voice of science, she is paired with and against Palmer Joss (Matthew McConaughey), a touchy-feely religious type. Unfortunately, this dichotomy is crammed up with an unlikely romance, so bipolar that it defies even the laws-of-opposites attraction.
Under Zemeckis' surprisingly small screen-ish visualization, the technical contributions are a mixed bag. Highest praise to production designer Ed Verreaux and the visual effects team for the brainy look, an inspired mix of Leonardo Da Vinci and Niels Bohr. Most impressively, there's some dazzling sorcery in the opening, big-space sequence -- it's thrilling and humbling, all at once. Along with "2001" and "Star Wars", it's among the best eye-openers for a space-directed movie.
CONTACT
Warner Bros.
A South Side Amusement Co. production
A Robert Zemeckis film
Producers Robert Zemeckis, Steve Starkey
Director Robert Zemeckis
Screenwriters James V. Hart,
Michael Goldenberg
Based on the novel by Carl Sagan
Based on the story by Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan
Executive producers Joan Bradshaw,
Lynda Obst
Director of photography Don Burgess
Production designer Ed Verreaux
Editor Arthur Schmidt
Music Alan Silvestri
Costume designer Joanna Johnston
Senior visual effects supervisor Ken Ralston
Casting Victoria Burrows
Co-producers Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan
Sound designer Randy Thom
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ellie Arroway Jodie Foster
Palmer Joss Matthew McConaughey
David Drumlin Tom Skerritt
Rachel Constantine Angela Bassett
Michael Kit :James Woods
S.R. Hadden John Hurt
Young Ellie Jena Malone
Ted Arroway David Morse
Fisher Geoffrey Blake
Richard Rank Rob Lowe
Running time -- 150 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
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