Thursday, January 10, 2008
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates looks to discover the truth behind
the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, by uncovering the mystery within
the 18 pages missing from assassin John Wilkes Booth's diary.
By Claudia Puig, USA TODAY
For those who like their history lessons light and airy and infused with a generic
sense of excitement, there's National Treasure: Book of Secrets.This movie and its
2004 predecessor, National Treasure, offer nothing challenging or stimulating
and may play fast and loose with historical accuracy, but they provide audiences with
a sense that they have learned a thing or two. Whether they have or not is immaterial.
What these movies really are about is a kind of retro escapism, a family-appropriate
adventure saga that just wants to entertain, not break new ground.Producer Jerry Bruckheimer,
who seems to have the Midas touch in a multitude of venues, has cleverly hit on a
hit formula: old-fashioned entertainment with modern production values and underlying
themes of patriotism and family loyalty. The movies don't stint on the excitement
expected in the action-adventure genre — harrowing car chases, perilous stunts — but
they have a wholesome quality lacking in current mainstream fare. A Disney action film
with a PG rating is a sure winner, particularly for the holidays.There's nothing new or terribly
creative about these movies, but they follow a pattern that diverts and satisfies audiences.
Nicolas Cage reprises his role as treasure hunter Ben Gates, as does Jon Voight, who plays
his historian father, Patrick Gates. Diane Kruger is back as his love interest, as is Justin Bartha,
as sidekick Riley Poole. New to the genre are Ed Harris, as a villainous antiquities dealer who wants
to drag the Gates name through the mud, and Helen Mirren, as a linguistic professor who also happens
to be Ben's mother and Patrick's contentious ex-wife.This tale focuses on a missing page in the diary
of John Wilkes Booth that implicates Ben's great-grandfather in Abraham Lincoln's assassination.
Ben is hell-bent on restoring his ancestor's reputation and endures a series of close calls and
near-escapes to do so. Bruce Greenwood plays the U.S. president, who figures into the proceedings
in a far-fetched way. Greenwood ought to just throw his hat into the ring for 2008 since he seems
to be filmmakers' go-to guy for residence in the White House.This sequel is what you would expect:
If you liked the original, you'll probably enjoy this retread. But be warned: It bogs down in a
drawn-out scene near the end. There's certainly nothing to treasure about this movie, but if a
popcorn movie with moderate intrigue and occasional humor is what you're after, this is just the ticket.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
I Am Legend
Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a brilliant scientist, but even he could not contain the terrible
virus that was unstoppable, incurable...and manmade. Somehow immune, Neville is now the last
human survivor in what is left of New York City...and maybe the world. But he is not alone.
He is surrounded by "the Infected"--victims of the plague who have mutated into carnivorous
beings who can only exist in the dark and who will devour or infect anyone or anything in their
path. For three years, Neville has spent his days scavenging for food and supplies and faithfully
sending out radio messages, desperate to find any other survivors who might be out there.
All the while, the Infected lurk in the shadows, watching Neville's every move, waiting for
him to make a fatal mistake. Perhaps mankind's last, best hope, Neville is driven by only
one remaining mission: to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus using his own immune blood.
But his blood is also what The Infected hunt, and Neville knows he is outnumbered and quickly running out of time.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
U2
U2's Bono presses for French aid
01/10/2008 1:38 AM, AP
The Associated Press
Rock star Bono pressed French leader Nicolas Sarkozy to increase aid to developing nations, the aid advocacy group DATA said.The organization, co-founded by Bono, front man of the U2 rock group, has urged France to raise development assistance to 0.7 percent of gross national income by 2012 as agreed earlier. In 2006, French aid stood at 0.31 percent of gross national income, DATA said."The president admitted it would be very, very hard, but France would keep her word," the statement quoted Bono as saying Tuesday following the meeting. DATA's statement cites an October parliamentary report showing France's estimated overseas development assistance would be 0.35 percent of gross national income in 2007 and would remain at 0.35 percent in 2008.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
MEH
Written by Ahmer Allauddin
After getting the word out on BBC, CNN, NBC, Al-Jazeera, San Francisco
Chronicle, The Boston Globe, and now on PRODUCERMAG, we are pleased to
warn the U.S. comic fans that the Middle East Heroes are arriving to
fight the evil. AKCOMICS call them Middle East Heroes (MEH). They were
well received in the last year’s comic con and sold a lot of copies.
MEH are selling fast in their homeland (Egypt and) neighboring countries. Their monthly sales have already exceeded 20,000 copies and now if you plan to fly through Egyptian airlines you may receive a copy of the comic too.
The heroes consist of a princess of darkness; a time-traveling
pharaoh and an ancient Arabian swordsman. Jalila is most powerful
character in terms of her abilities to combat followed by other
characters: Aya, Zein Rakan. For the time being, the artwork is
outsourced to a studio in Brazil, while their in-house staff is under
training and they are hoping to centralize all production in Egypt
soon. Check them out at: http://www.akcomics.com/
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
DEAD RISING
Written by Ahmer Allauddin
From the development team of hit games Megaman and Resident Evil 4,
Capcom jazz up your Xbox 360’s collection with a new game, Dead Rising
(created by Keiji Inafune).
CONCEPT: In this third-person action game, you’re a playing as Frank West, a photojournalist, who is trapped in a local Willamette Mall with thousands of zombies. He has to go through series of missions that include investigation, protection and survival.
READ ON
XBOX 360: CONDEMNED
Written by Ahmer Allauddin
If you own the new Xbox 360 then you should own a copy of
Condemned. It’s a hell of ride from first-person’s perspective and the
story unfolds with your actions.
CONCEPT: You are in a search of a serial killer and it takes you to the dark side. The villains are super intelligent as they first judge you (and the weapon you are carrying) and then they find a bigger weapon in the surrounding area to charge at you. They will look for any opportunity to create a tactical advantage over you. Oh, one more thing about the villains is that they will attack you with unique fighting styles…so watch out amigo!
READ ON
Monday, January 09, 2006
GREAT LODGING AT… “HOSTEL”
Written by Ahmer Allauddin
In the last couple of years, there is an increased demand for psychological thrillers like Silence of the Lamb and Seven. These days audience is not showing interest in straight horror movies that are based on creatures (Doom, Cave, Alone in the Dark), ghost (Stay), vampires (BloodRayne) and werewolves (Cursed). Underworld and Jeepers Creepers are few exceptions that have their own cult following, let’s see how Underworld: Evolution would do in two weeks from now.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
THE AMAZING LUNA BROTHERS
By Juliet Hsieh
Luna Brothers didn’t choose to build their story around a
superhero. Rather, imagine a normal guy you might pass on the street
and hardly give notice to; a guy who also turns out to be an unlucky
contender for women’s affections. This is Ethan Daniels, the leading
character of GIRLS, devised by a mastermind factory of comics who call
themselves the Luna Brothers. Preceded by the comic series ULTRA, the
two brothers have managed to churn out the ongoing series, GIRLS, while
working with Marvel on the anticipated new comic SPIDERWOMAN. Jonathan
and Joshua Luna join us to reveal what’s brewing in their minds.
(Thanks to JD @ ImageComics to help us connect with the LUNABROS). READ
THE COMPLETE INDEPTH INTERVIEW....
THE RETURN OF THE KING
By Liddy McD
At a running time of 3 hours, you’d expect the remake of so famous
a story as KING KONG to offer reinvention on every level to justify its
own gargantuan size. Unfortunately, KONG doesn’t deliver on that
expectation. What Jackson has created is a very loving remake of the
original but now with all the computerized bells and whistles that he
used to great effect in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Friday, September 23, 2005
DAVID LATT TALKS ABOUT H. G. WELLS' WAR OF THE WORLD
By Ahmer Allauddin
We recently sat with a talented filmmaker David Latt (producer,
director and writer) from The Asylum, a Los Angeles based company that
focuses on making horror and sci-fi movies, where David is one of the
founding partners. In this interview we asked David about the making of
(his version) of H.G. Wells’ War of the World.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
GIRL WITH GUN
By Staff
PRODUCERMAG recently sat with Russ Emanuel(director, producer) and
Emile Haris (writer), who worked together on various indie-film
projects like Mavet, Her Knight and most recently Girl With Gun. Enjoy
reading this interesting interview with the talented duo.