Death Note - A Critically Pounded Netflix Remake

Netflix' live action adaptation of Death Note (2017) has been the subject of some strong opinions by critics and outrage by fans. The film was heavily anticipated particularly by fans of the manga series by Tsugumi Ohba and the 2006 anime series but unfortunately, was not received well at all. 

The plot differs somewhat from the anime, following Light Turner (originally Light Yagami) and his girlfriend Mia on a supernatural killing spree in Seattle. Light accidentally finds himself in possession of book known as the Death Note. Once the user touches the book, he or she becomes the keeper of the Death Note and summons a Shinigami; a Japanese god of death. When a name is written in the book, they will die by a method of the keeper's choosing. A gifted detective, known only as "L", has been drafted in to hunt for Light, known to him as Kira (killer in Japanese).

Death Note is directed by Adam Wingard, the shot-caller behind 2016's Blair Witch and the upcoming Godzilla vs. Kong with a screenplay by Fantastic Four writer Jeremy Slater and music by Leopold and Atticus Ross. Warner Bros. acquired the rights to an American remake of Death Note back in 2009 but after the idea was pushed around from studio to studio through various writers and directors, the distribution rights were repurchased by Netflix in April 2016 and the production companies involved (LP, Lin, Vertigo) were offered a budget of $50m. Several producers were involved in the project including Japanese-born producer and actor Masi Oka (Heroes) who cameos in the film as a detective in Tokyo.

The cast features Nat Wolff from harrowing romantic drama A Fault In Our Stars as Light, Margaret Qualley (The Leftovers) as Mia, Lakeith Stanfield (Selma, Get Out) as L and the fantastic Willem Dafoe as the voice of the Shinigami known as Ryuk. Death Note also features a well known that-guy actor many viewers will recognise from various movie bit parts and TV spots, Shea Whingham as Light's father Detective James Turner who teams up with L to catch Kira, unaware that he is chasing his own son.

The R-rated remake is packed full of odd, unexpected plot twists and quickly turns to a sinister psychological drama about an anti-hero who believes in his own cause and his twisted, psychotic girlfriend. The dialogue is a little ropey in places, the editing even more-so. The choice of music (i.e. 80's power ballads in the ferris wheel scene) is downright cringe-worthy. However, all that aside, it really is a good film, particularly considering that it's a remake of an anime classic.

Alpha - An Ice Age Epic

Later in 2018, Sony will be releasing Alpha, a story about the first bond between human beings and canines. The film is due for release on September 14th and is set 20,000 years ago during the last ice age. The trailer paints a picture of a historic epic focusing on the lead character's relationship with a wild wolf.

Director Albert Hughes (From Hell, The Book of Eli) is going solo for the first time after usually working alongside his brother Allen. The screenplay has been penned by first-time screenwriter Daniele Sebastian Wiedenhaupt who's previous film experience extends to just a handful of production and miscellaneous crew credits. The film will be produced by relatively new enterprise Studio 8 Productions, a company which, so far, has only been associated with two other movie releases; harrowing post-war drama Billy Lynn's Halftime Walk featuring Vin Diesel and Kristen Stewart and White Boy Rick starring Matthew McConaughey. The release has been delayed twice, initially slated for September 2017. The date was moved to March 2018 and then again to a final date this coming September.

The story surrounds a boy on the cusp of manhood on his first hunting expedition with the elite hunters from his village in Europe during the Upper Palaeolithic era. He suffers an injury and is left for dead, struggling for survival in the harsh frozen wilderness. He discovers a wild wolf separated from its pack and over time, they form an unshakeable bond, helping each other survive as the boy finds his way home. The story illustrates how the first relationship between man and canine may have come to be. 

The film stars Australian-born actor Kodi Smit-McPhee who will no doubt be recognisable to many moviegoers as young Nightcrawler from X-Men: Apocalypse. Also appearing will be Natassia Malthe (Elektra, Lake Placid) and Leona Varela (Blade II) as well as a handful of other semi-famous faces... Better have the IMDb app at the ready!

Alpha features a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog to play the lead character's faithful canine companion, a fairly new breed developed in the 1950's. The dog, now accepted as a purebreed, was originally bred from German Shepherds and Carpathian Wolves in order to create a dog with the temperament of the shepherd and the pack instinct, hunting ability and body strength of the common wolf. A little controversy befell the movie when it transpired that five Alberta bison were slaughtered to display during a scene showing a carcass being butchered. Unfortunately as such, the film cannot carry the usual post-credit announcement stating that no animals were harmed during its production.

Controversy aside, this film is a must-see for dog lovers and will surely deliver a powerful and dramatic glimpse into the history of the human/canine relationship. With a solid cast, a fresh writer and a director who has proved his metal in Hollywood, It's difficult to see any way that this film won't be good!

Bond 25 - What We Know So Far

The James Bond series is the fourth most successful movie franchise of all time behind the MCU, Harry Potter and Star Wars and has grossed a total of over $7 trillion worldwide since the release of Dr. No in 1962. The powerhouse of a franchise has had its ups and downs but I think we can all agree that we are currently living in a good age for the exploits of 007. The 25th instalment is due to begin filming at Pinewood Studios in December of this year and so far, only a handful of information is currently available about the movie. 

Daniel Craig will return as James Bond for the last time before the character is recast again, meaning the film will almost certainly be a monumental finale to the current continuity. Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire) will direct the blockbuster with some help from Craig after he requested a more hands-on creative role in the film's production. The screenplay has been penned by John Hodge, writer of both Trainspotting movies.

In terms of supporting cast, although only Craig has been announced so far, it's probably safe to assume that Ralph Fiennes, Ben Wishaw and Naomi Harris will all return to reprise their iconic roles as M, Q and Moneypenny respectively. Unfortunately, Christoph Waltz will not be returning as Blofeld in Bond 25. This will come as sad news to many Bond fans who enjoyed Waltz' spectacular performance in Spectre, playing a role he was clearly born for and of course surviving the events of the movie, left marked by the classic scar across his eye. Waltz has stated that because the tradition in the franchise leans towards Blofeld being portrayed by a different actor in each film, he will not come back. This could, of course, be a red herring to throw the press off the scent. There may indeed be, at the very least, a cameo by the quintessential villain.

A few rumours have been floating around concerning the possible addition of world renowned actress Helena Bonham Carter as the main villain in the movie. An unnamed inside source told the Daily Mirror that Angelina Jolie was being tipped for the role but the producers preferred Bonham Carter. Other actors allegedly being eyed for roles in the film include Benedict Cumberbatch and Scottish star of the Kingsman movies, Mark Strong.

Other rumours surrounding the movie have tipped Beyonce and Dua Lipa as possible contenders for the much coveted job of performing the film's title theme. The as-yet-untitled movie will be distributed domestically by relatively new-to-the-scene Annapurna Pictures, the production company that brought you Detroit, Phantom Thread and American real-life war drama Zero Dark Thirty. International distribution of the film has been secured by Universal Pictures. With any luck we'll see the usual return of the Walther PPK, a new Aston Martin and maybe a couple of new gadgets courtesy of Q Branch. Bond 25 is set for release in November 2019.

Mowgli Movie Grabbed By Netflix

Mowgli has been bounced around all corners of Hollywood for the last few years and now it seems there are finally some solid plans. Warner Bros. originally had the movie slated for release in October 2016 but kept pushing the date back amid concerns about rushing the visual effects process and having to compete with Jon Favreau's live action retelling of The Jungle Book (2016). This week, Netflix has officially announced that they have purchased the rights to the movie and will release it on their online streaming platform in early 2019.

Unfortunately this news means that Mowgli will not be released theatrically but following the success of Favreau's 2016 remake which grossed nearly $1bn worldwide, it's unclear whether audiences will rush to cinemas to see another one quite so soon. There are some advantages, though! A Netflix exclusive release will mean the film won't be compared to its predecessor, or indeed any other film, in terms of box office success. Viewers who aren't fond of the cinema experience will be able to see the film for the first time from the comfort of their own homes.

The film directed by Andy Serkis has been produced through his own production company The Imaginarium which he co-owns with Bridgett Jones producer Jonathan Cavendish, a company that has contributed heavily to the recent Star Wars movies and the modern Planet of the Apes series. Several high-profile names are featured in the cast lineup including Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Naomi Harris and of course, Serkis himself.

The director has made it quite clear in interviews that Mowgli will feature a much darker and more gritty take on the story. The trailer appears to show a strong dramatic epic with a deeper story and certainly a much more graphic and potentially bloodthirsty depiction of Rudyard Kipling's classic jungle tale. The characters appear to be much more emotionally driven and multi-dimensional which could perhaps sway the sympathy of viewers somewhat.

Mowgli has been in the works for a long while now. The project has gone through various directors, cast members and studios before finally settling this year. Not much is known of the specifics of the story yet but it will certainly grab the attention of Netflix users worldwide upon release. Serkis stated that at one point, the production of this movie was running neck-and-neck with the production of Favreau's 2016 hit, but they wanted to take more time over principal photography and make sure the film was in the best shape in which it could be. This perhaps is a strong testament to the quality of the film!

Demolition Man - 25th Anniversary

Futuristic action classic Demolition Man turns 25 this year. The movie, directed by Hollywood first-timer Marco Brambilla, was released in November of 1993 and is often hailed as one of Sylvester Stallone's all time best movies. 

The plot follows a punch-throwing renegade cop named John Spartan (Stallone) who is cryogenically frozen in prison following a botched operation to rescue a group of hostages from the clutches of evil career criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes). Phoenix is released from cryoprison in the year 2032 and immediately causes mayhem, murdering his way out of custody with a new set of deadly skills subconsciously taught to him during his incarceration. Spartan is then brought out of cryo to track down and stop the maniac, as the police department have found themselves pathetically incapable in a society where crime is virtually extinct. 

The film features an extraordinary (if a little mismatched) cast. The role of John Spartan was originally offered to martial arts legends Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal but both turned it down. Jackie Chan was originally cast to play Simon Phoenix but turned it down as he didn't wish to play a villain. Supporting cast members include Sandra Bullock and Benjamin Bratt as Stallone's police sidekicks. Antagonist and society leader Raymond Cocteau is portrayed by British actor Nigel Hawthorne, easily recognisable to many sitcom aficionados as Sir Humphrey Appleby in the early 1980's BBC series Yes Minister. Bob Gunton of The Shawshank Redemption is also thrown in the mix along with Denis Leary (The Amazing Spider-Man, Ice Age), Bill Cobbs (Oz The Great And Powerful), esteemed voice actor Glenn Shadix and even a little surprise appearance from comedy legend Jack Black before he was famous.

Warner Bros. afforded Demolition Man a budget of around $57 million. The film pulled down a modest $58.05m in domestic box office takings and $159m worldwide, ranking it at No.1 at the time. It was released on VHS in March 1994, on DVD in 1997 and eventually on BluRay in 2011.

Demolition Man remains one of the best action movies of the 90's and has aged extremely well. The contrast between the dark world of law enforcement in 1996 and the bright utopian/dystopian future has been the subject of so many sci-fi greats and this portrayal is undoubtedly the best. It's a top scoring card on the records of several key cast members as well as directors and writers. Give it a watch to celebrate its 25th birthday!

10 Reasons Why The Phantom Menace Isn't That Bad

As Star Wars movies go, The Phantom Menace (1999) isn't the best by any means. Fans, however, seemed to have completely lost their minds complaining savagely about the movie's quality. Jake Lloyd (Anakin) was bullied so badly over his role that he made the decision to retire from acting at just eleven years old. JarJar Binks actor Ahmed Best fell into a deep depression and considered suicide after receiving buckets of hate-mail about his character. For the sake of the cast and crew involved, and by way of an apology for the way they were treated by brutal, obsessive fans in the wake of its release, we have to at least try and see the good in a film which, to all intents and purposes, really isn't all that bad! In the true spirit of this blog's mission statement, let's cast aside the negative and examine a few things that this movie does well...

Liam Neeson

He trained Obi Wan, he trained Batman, he chased his daughter's kidnappers all over the planet! Liam Neeson is not to be messed with! His monk-like character, the Jedi Master Qui Gon Jin, is a font of wisdom and dramatic dialogue right from the get-go. His calm yet firm training style towards Obi Wan is reminiscent of the scenes on Dagobah that we all know and love as Master Yoda teaches the impatient young Luke Skywalker the ways of the force. Although the existence of his character creates a continuity error in Empire (i.e. "There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi Master who instructed me" - Ghost Obi Wan), we wouldn't want him omitted from the franchise.

Ewan McGreggor

Young Obi Wan Kenobi's shoes are bound to be difficult to fill. The prequel trilogy tells the backstory of the iconic character and his relationship with young Anakin Skywalker before he becomes the infamous villain Darth Vader. At this point in the story, Obi Wan is headstrong and still has much to learn but he has the makings of a strong and fearless Jedi Knight. The Phantom Menace provides us with a realistic insight into the character's personal development. 

Samuel L. Jackson

Jackson is clearly a little out of place in this movie. He's not quite the "F"-bomb dropping badass we're used to in other movies. On the other hand, having Sam Jackson in a movie always improves it, regardless of the subject matter.

JarJar Binks

Okay, so the less said about JarJar from an adult point of view, the better... That being said, I, like many other people of my generation who grew up on the prequels, watched Episode I as a child and personally, I thought he was brilliant. Maybe it's just me. Let's park that and move on.

Better lightsaber action

The prequels swapped out the slower, steadier fighting style in the original trilogy for a fast, martial arts formula. Advanced complex choreography gave these films a real edge when it came to lightsaber combat. The Jedi and Sith alike are clearly utilising a much faster paced and more precision-based fighting style which, in the continuity of the story, may be seen as a dying art-form, explaining why it is no longer present in the original trilogy.

Important backstories

It's not only Obi Wan that gets a strong backstory from the prequel. The first meeting between R2D2 and C3P0 occurs, beginning probably the most important relationship between two characters in the entire saga. Yoda makes his first chronological on-screen appearance, as well as the Emperor, Jabba the Hutt and of course, Anakin Skywalker, later to become Darth Vader. The film also provides a good view of the Skywalker family's home planet Tattooine and some insight into Padme Amidala, future mother of Luke and Leia.

The droid/Gungan battle

It's a little cheesy but this battle scene is strongly reminiscent of epic historic battles seen in films such as Gladiator and Braveheart. In film, that level of carnage and destruction will always go down well in any room.

The Pod Race

This scene doesn't need a whole lot of explaining. George Lucas introduced a sporting event into the film to kick things up a notch. When the queen's ship breaks down over Tattooine, they must rely on gambling on a pod race in order to obtain the parts they need to repair the ship and to free young Anakin. The race scene is incredible.

The Score

It's difficult not to be fan of John Williams. The main Star Wars theme is easily the most famous film score of all time (among others by the same composer) and in this movie, we have a couple of added extras. A new score surfaces during the pod race scene as well as a few added bits and pieces in the shootout scenes and the droid/gungan battle. The best bit, though, we all must agree, is during the final fight scene. Epic chorus-driven composition Duel of the Fates (available on the Phantom Menace soundtrack) is one of John Williams' absolute best creations. The theme music is all conducted by the man himself and performed by the legendary London Symphony Orchestra.

Darth Maul

It's time to address the horned, red-and-black-painted elephant in the room. Darth Maul is a classic villain shrouded in mystery and weirdness, only speaking when absolutely necessary. His double ended lightsaber definitely put smiles on the faces of viewers everywhere, introducing a higher standard of cool weaponry to the proceedings. The fight scene between Maul and the two Jedi is undoubtedly one of the best in the whole saga.

Compared to the rest of the saga, The Phantom Menace is by no means a stand-out classic, it may indeed be the worst film in the franchise. Although, being the worst film in the Star Wars franchise is much like being the worst chocolate in the box. You may not like it that much but if you've got a sweet tooth, it will still satisfy the craving. The film is full of important information that provides valuable backstories to key characters that come later, explaining their actions in more detail and indeed, shedding a sympathetic light on Darth Vader, perhaps the most iconic villain in film history. Try watching it again from a purely non-cynical standpoint and maybe you might find it more of a worthy addition to a Star Wars marathon.

The Meg - Jason Statham vs. Giant Prehistoric Shark

New action horror The Meg is slated for release on August 10th and so far, it looks like it could be a ferociously entertaining watch. The film starring Jason Statham carries a budget of $150 million and will be distributed by Warner Bros. in the US and Gravity Pictures in China.

The Meg is based on a series of novels of the same name by Steve Alten and centres around a deep-sea diver and palaeontologist named Jonas Taylor (Statham) who is convinced of the existence of a sixty-five foot prehistoric shark called a "Megalodon", thought to have been extinct for two million years. The giant sea monster resurfaces and attacks an underwater research centre off the coast of China, leaving the crew stranded. Protagonist Jonas Taylor is called in to rescue them and stop the giant shark from attacking the mainland.

Weirdly reminiscent of Steven Spielberg's 1975 hit Jaws (but on a much bigger scale), the trailer paints a picture of an adrenaline-fuelled thrillride of a shark horror with lots of suspense, chaos and somehow a giant squid (obviously) appearing from nowhere just to kick things up another prehistoric/mythical notch. There will be some panicked pandemonium as the shark terrorises the beach, presumably eating a few people and causing more than a little distress to locals and holidaymakers. The music in the trailer, however (starting at around 1:25) suggests that this film is a clear parody of itself and is not something to be taken overly seriously - thankfully.

The film has been a long time coming. Disney purchased the rights to Alten's novel back in 1997 and since then, the movie has been kicked around between a few producers and production companies. The project was pitched to a few foreign distribution moguls at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005 and New Line tried to fast track the film's release to summer, 2006. Editor Jan De Bont began assembling a production team to start building the project adding Jurassic Park producer Colin Wilson and production designer William Sandell (Total Recall, The Perfect Storm). With the film's price tag edging further out of reach, New Line abandoned the project and the rights to the novel were returned to its author.

Warner Bros. re-acquired the rights to the novel in 2015 and brought in horror director Eli Roth. Roth wanted to retain a budget of $150 million for the project, retain the R-rating and according to some sources, he wanted to play the lead in the film. Warner decided that the creative differences between them and the director were insurmountable and instead hired National Treasure director Jon Turteltaub who would then cast Statham as well as Australian actress Ruby Rose (Orange is the New Black) and Rainn Wilson (The Office).

Make no mistake, this film will be utterly ridiculous. It seems like a typical retelling of another silly shark story with loads of suspense and screaming and teeth... Yes, that's right, it's going to be brilliant and audiences all over the world are going to love it. Watch this space for a review when it comes out!