First Piranhas and now sharks. Director David R. Ellis (Final Destination 2, Snakes On A Plane) has cast his first four vacationers for his upcoming 3D epic, the aptly titled Shark Night 3D. Heat Vision reports Ellis has cast Sinqua Walls (Savage County), Chris Carmack (The Butterfuly Effect: Revelation), Alyssa Diaz (Red Dawn) and Joel David Moore (Avatar).
Who cares about a cast of people no one has heard of? I agree. But the horror film, penned by Jesse Studenberg and Will Hayes, revolves around seven men and women who spend a weekend at a lake house in Louisiana's Gulf area and find their vacation quickly becomes a nightmare of hellish shark attacks, unheard of in freshwater lakes. The group soon discover that the sharks are part of a sick, greedy plan on the part of several locals.
If done right, this could be a lot of fun. The film rolls in September.
Avatar: Special Edition is set to be released exclusively in theaters in 3D and IMAX 3D on August 27th. The re-released film is set to include an extra 8-9 minutes of new material (including the famous 'sex scene').
Obviously, these two pics have not been taken from that particular scene but are still great to look at.
Click on the pics to view them in High Def and Enjoy!
Will you be going back to theaters to see Avatar: Special Edition? Do you think the new footage will be worth the money?
I know what you're going to say: Titanic is not a Sci-Fi movie!!
Yes, BUT, according to Slash Films, the movie is apparently finally getting the 3D conversion treatment from THE MAN himself, James Cameron, and Fox is supposedly quite keen to have it released in time for the 100 year anniversary of the sailing (and sinking) of the most famous liner in history. Titanic had been the most successful film of all time (yes, I know about inflation and Gone With the Wind bla-di-blah. But back then, the only time people could see a movie was in theaters; they didn't get to buy the movie and bring it home so they had to go see it over and over again in the cinemas so THERE) until a little movie from the same director called Avatar came along. On April 14th 1912, four days into it's journey to New York after setting sail from Southampton, Titanic hit an iceberg and sank, resulting in the deaths of 1 517 of her passengers.
Since Titanic was - obviously - not shot in 3D like Avatar was, I wonder how successful can the conversion actually be. Most 3D movies shown in cinemas were shot in 2D, then converted to 3D, and have experienced mixed results in the quality of the conversion (Clash of the Titans, Alice in Wonderland).
Still, I'm quite certain that James Cameron will do the best work he possibly can and it will most probably be fantastic. I would be quite keen to see it again on the big screen, this time in stunning 3D.
And since theaters usually put the air conditioning to a max, I'm quite sure it'll help make the experience even more uncomfortably realistic.
The 36th Saturn Awards (which honor movies and TV shows in the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genre primarily) were handed over last night.
It was Avatar who basically dominated the awards with ten wins, including Best Picture, Best Writer and Best Director (James Cameron), Best Actor (Sam Worthington), Best Actress (Zoe Saldana), Best supporting Actor (Stephen Lang) and Best Supporting Actress (Sigourney Weaver) - take that Oscars!
Star Trek was recompensed for Best-Makeup and writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman received the George Pal Memorial Ward. On the TV side of Sci-Fi, Lost and Fringe were winners with a win for Best Television series for Lost and best actor for Josh Holloway. Fringe's Anna Torv picked up the award for Best Actress, and Leonard Nimoy received the award for Best Guest Actor for his role on Fringe!
Of the British BBC shows only Torchwood: Children of Earth received an award for Best Presentation on Television (whatever that means).
However, I still can't understand why Dexter and Breaking Bad were even included in the competition in the first place since neither shows are Sci-Fi. Oh well - seems the definition of Sci-Fi and Fantasy is a little loose with the Saturn Awards! Oh well.
Without further ado here is the full list of winners:
Best Science Fiction Film: Avatar Best Fantasy Film: Watchmen Best Horror Film: Drag Me To Hell Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film: Inglourious Basterds Best Actor: Sam Worthington (Avatar) Best Actress: Zoe Saldana (Avatar) Best Supporting Actor: Stephen Lang (Avatar) Best Supporting Actress: Sigourney Weaver (Avatar) Best Performance by a Younger Actor: Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones) Best Director: James Cameron (Avatar) Best Writer: James Cameron (Avatar) Best Music: James Horner (Avatar) Best Costume: Michael Wilkinson (Watchmen) Best Make-Up: Barney Burman, Mindy Hall, Joel Harlow (Star Trek) Best Production Design: Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg (Avatar) Best Special Effects: Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, Andrew R. Jones (Avatar) Best International Film: District 9 Best Animation Film: Monsters vs. Aliens
Best Television Series: Lost Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series: Breaking Bad Best Presentation on Television: Torchwood: Children of Earth Best Actor on Television: Josh Holloway (Lost) Best Actress on Television: Anna Torv (Fringe) Best Supporting Actor on Television: Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) Best Supporting Actress on Televison: Julie Benz (Dexter) Guest Starring Role on Television: Leonard Nimoy (Fringe)
Best DVD Release: Nothing But the Truth Best DVD Television Release: Lost (The Complete Fifth Season)Best DVD Special Edition: Watchman: The Ultimate CutBest DVD Collection: Star Trek Original Motion Picture Collection
Best Local Stage Production: Fantasy/Musical: Mary Poppins (Ahmanson Theatre) Best Local Stage Production: Play/Dramatic Musical: Parade (Mark Taper Forum) Best Local Stage Production: Small Theatre: Fellowship: The Musical (Falcon Theatre)
The Visionary Award: James Cameron The George Pal Memorial Award: Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman The Producers Showcase Award: Lauren Shuler Donner The Life Career Award: Irvin Kershner
The Inside Trekker is proud to present an article by Sci-Fi Writer, Producer, Director Patti Beninati of Centerboro Productions LLC.
The New 3D World Order
3D movies are here to stay, thanks to the first 3D camera, which was invented by Sir William of Bristol. 3D films have existed since 1980, but until 2010 had been largely relegated to a niche in the motion picture industry because of the costs, and the lack of ingenuity regarding a standardized format for all sectors of the entertainment business. Everybody is talking about 3D technology and Hollywood fully embraces 3D cinemas. 3D films are now a part of cinemas globally. I'm not going to complain about 3D movies or the 3D movie-ticket prices. They are slightly higher at the box office, but surely worth it!
Avatar
Many home theater TV manufactures have been making 3D TV’s and the demand is growing. Manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, and others have launched 3D TV sets with consumers lining up to buy them, and not squawking about the higher prices.
Alice in Wonderland
Stereoscopic 3-D is the new technology being used today, and it takes you on a breathtaking journey and it allows you to view movies in an all immersive way. As the supersonic mega Writer/Director James Cameron said, “Stereoscopic 3-D is the most exciting evolution in cinema presentation since color and widescreen.” Last year's Avatar carved the way for 3D blockbuster films, validating the format as a whole with its record breaking box office receipts. At the Seoul Digital Forum Cameron said, "3D Will Replace 2D As Standard For Movies, TV." I agree, especially with all the new 3D movies slated for 2010, 2011 and 2012. Stereoscopic 3-D technique is capable of recording three-dimensional visual information or creating the illusion of depth in an image.
Shrek Forever After
New feature films like James Cameron's Avatar, the most successful 3D film ever, and NASA's Hubble, all used Stereoscopic 3-D; and so will many current and upcoming feature films such as: Green Lantern, Men in Black III, Judge Dredd, Saw VII, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Spy Kids 4: Armageddon, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Shrek Forever After, The Newcomers, V, and famed Sci-Fi Writer and Director, M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender.
Imax Hubble 3D
The heavily promoted Shrek Forever After held on to the No. 1 spot and remains on top as the film stayed secured for its second weekend. Shrek Forever After kicked Sex and the City 2, and the fantasy action-adventure film starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Prince of Persia, at the box office, with Shrek racking in $55.7 million over the Memorial Day weekend. The 3D movie raised its 10-day domestic total to $145.5 million.
Resident Evil: Afterlife
Some films that were converted to 3D in post production are: Clash of the Titans, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, and G-Force, and I could certainly tell the difference --- I was not impressed. That’s why using true Stereoscopic 3-D is ultimately the best decision for film makers.
SyFy's "Stargate: Universe"
It will be rather interesting to see what TV series will be the first to produce in 3D. Many great TV and cable sci-fi series are ripe for 3D, and with the current use of VFX, the special effects take viewers on an out of this world experience. With their dazzling and mind blowing special effects, SyFy Channel’s new series “Caprica” and “Stargate Universe” may be good candidates to shoot in 3D. ABC’s “Chuck” uses innovative fight scenes; big blazing explosions, and surreal “flashes,” that make “Chuck” a leader in the special effects category. Fox’s “Fringe” and “V” also raise the bar for special effects and these shows are great content for 3D TV.
NBC's "Chuck"
However, some factors will hamper the growth of 3D TV’s including the lack of suitable 3D TV content, high production costs, high cost of 3D TV sets, and the need for 3D TV glasses. I believe that one idea that might help would be for the cable companies to prepackage 3D glasses in with the monthly bill, and secure advertisers to pay for the costs. Another glaring issue is that the 3D glasses use different standards and consumers might complain about needing separate pairs of 3D eyewear, one for their TV and one for their computer.
SyFy's "Caprica"
The new Stereoscopic 3-D home standard is not just heading to your TV, it's also making its way to the PC market and 3D will be in laptops and hit the gaming industry! Can you just imagine - - - playing ''Halo'' and ''God of War'' on 3D TVs!
With all the new thrilling 3D movies and TV content slated for 2010 and beyond, there will be plenty of new movies and shows for the avid movie-goers to dive into --- enjoy the 3 dimensions, I know that I will!
Patti Beninati is a Writer Director Producer and writes editorial entertainment articles online and in print, and can be reached at: Centerboro Productions patti@centerboroproductions.com
Not only has Worthington starred in the most succesful movie of all-time, Avatar, he also starred in Terminator Salvation and Clash of the Titans (Ok, it's more fantasy than Sci-Fi but close enough). Now, Heat Vision reports that the ruggedly handsome Aussie actor will star in Quatermain:
Allan Quatermain was the hero of “King’s Solomon’s Mines,” a Victorian adventure novel by H. Rider Haggard, and its sequel, “Allan Quatermain.” In the first book, Quatermain leads an expedition into an unexplored region of Africa to find the brother of a friend as well as a fabled treasure of the lost mines.
DreamWorks’ version is set in a time in which humans have left Earth and sees Quatermain return to the planet from a sojourn in space, embarking on another “King Solomon’s Mines”-style adventure but on a planetwide scale. Mark Verheiden was the writer behind the first script when the project was revealed early last year.
Worthington is joining producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar on the project, which has no director and is in the development stages. [Heat Vision]
This sounds exciting doesn't it? Space, planets, adventure, a ruggedly handsome Worthington ... Let's return to our regularly scheduled programming.
Sam Worthington is really making a niche for himself by starring in Sci-Fi movies. He's a great action star and a good actor to boot.
As for the character of Quatermain, I remember seeing the 1980s movies with then hearthrob Richard Chamberlain and a very young Sharon Stone.
Will you be looking forward to Quatermain for more Worthington?
Over at Trek Movie they have an analysis of the chances of Star Trek winning an Oscar on this Sunday's Academy Awards.
This has led me to think about this and to give my own opinion and predictions on the matter.
Below are the categories in which Star Trek was nominated with a list of the other nominees:
Visual Effects
Avatar
District 9
Star Trek
Sound Editing
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Star trek
UP
Sound Mixing
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Star Trek
Transfomers: Revenge of the Fallen
Makeup
Il Divo
Star Trek
The Young Victoria
I believe that Avatar will win the Visual Effects category. This is almost a no-brainer. Trek Movie claims that District 9 could pull an upset over Avatar because of the quality of the effects achieved with a small budget. However, all 3 nominies definitely boast some particularly impressive effects but it's Avatar's 3D technologie and motion capture that gives it the edge.
Trek Movie is also pegging Avatar down for Sound Editing. In my opinion it's a difficult category to guess but my belief is that it will play between Avatar and The Hurt Locker. Still, I'm not ruling out Star Trek either.
The Hurt Locker seems to be Trek Movie's choice for Sound Mixing. Apparently it won the CAS Guild's award. Once again, this is a category hard to pin down and any of the nominees could walk away with the Oscar sunday.
(Seriously though. These are the two categories I have a difficult time understanding as most of you certainly do as well. Sound editing and sound mixing certainly sound alike no? And yes, the pun IS intended.)
For Makeup I'm going with Star Trek. There were some amazing makeup effects in the movie. Being nominated against Il Divo and The Young Victoria may render the competition less fierce, but I believe it would be no less deserving. One must know as well that The Young Victoria was the winner at the BAFTAS (Trek Movie blames the win on the UK home advantage which I agree with. I mean come on!)
So bar an upset in the sound category, I believe Star Trek will at least walk away with the Oscar for Best makeup.
It would be the first Oscar ever for the 30 year old franchise. Crossing my fingers!
2009 was an amazing year for Science-Fiction movies.
We’ve had District 9, Star Trek, Moon (which deserves its own post) and Avatar. All fantastic Sci-Fi films. For me, 3 of those 4 were absolutely amazing – Star trek, Moon and Avatar. Though I think District 9 does boast an interesting story and amazing special effects for a film that had less budget money than most films, I didn’t get drawn into it unfortunately.
But I digress.
I’m here to actually talk about the awesomeness of Avatar which I’ve seen twice as of today.
James Cameron has managed to bring the fictional world of Pandora to life through amazing special effects that look lifelike. The believability factor of these special effects was one of my personnal fears. I know CGI has come a long way in the past 10 years but from what I had seen in the trailers and in pictures, I wasn’t convinced by Avatar’s CGI (seriously, the movie trailers never did justice to the movie), and I felt they would never be able to convince me that these CGI creatures were flesh and blood when compared to the real life actors. I have to say I was agreeably surprised that they stood up well to their human counterparts in the finished movie! The expressions were as lifelike as possible. I noticed even the movements of the nose as expressions changed. It’s all fascinating stuff in my humble opinion.
The world of Avatar is a fully realized world with its own wildlife, creatures, atmosphere and rituals. Just thinking about how everything was rendered so realistically has my mind swimming with wonder. The seeds of the spirit tree (I’m drawing a blank here) were so beautiful, and the way they floated everywhere looked so real that I just stood agape at the sheer magnificence of it all. I even had the feeling that the bugs were real and just buzzing in front of me (pesky little things Haha). The attention to details was incredible - James Cameron and team did an incredible job.
At the heart of the story is a love story but Avatar also conveys important messages. The most important one is that we are destroying our planet and that there is beauty and wonder in nature. As for the story itself, the conquest of other lands and cultures for another’s own greedy benefit has existed ever since the World was born. It’s not just a parallel story for the white man coming to take the land away from the native Indians. The Romans did the same, the Vikings did the same. It’s all about conquest. That’s how we are that’s who we are. But in the process, other cultures are destroyed and irrevocably lost. It’s also a tale of resistance where everyone thinks their way is better. Okay, in Avatar, it’s mostly about greed and money which is what drives the destruction of the Rain Forest nowadays right?
Even though one is amazed by the technology and CGI displayed on the screen in Avatar, we must not forget the actors’ performances in the movie. Underneath the artificial characters, there are real flesh and blood actors that give their best performances to the Na’vi.
Sam Worthington shines in the movie and he is subdued as the human Jake Sully but also poignant and sweet. As his Na’vi self he is electric and energetic and touching. Zoe Saldana is strong and vulnerable as Neytiri and through her eyes, as well as those of Jake, we see the beauty of Pandora. I found myself believing in all of the performances onscreen. Even Steven Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch I hated with a passion (which in itself is good, since he’s supposed to elicit that feeling of hatred in the viewers). Everyone’s performance was good, no one was over the top or bad. Sigourney Weaver was great as Dr. Grace Augustine and it was definitely great to see her. However I’m not too certain about having a character smoke on screen, in 2154 you’d think cigarette would be gone, but I suppose that it shows her as a non-conformist rebel.
Avatar has definitely touched many people as evidenced by the repeat attendance of movie goers and the fact that it has now surpassed Titanic as the number one grossing movie of all time (whether it’s the story, the message or the special effects is personal to each and everyone I guess). Plus it has garnered an impressive 9 Oscar nominations (falling short of Titanic’s 14 however) including Best Picture (so has District 9 by the way). The movie has been so popular that James Cameron is now considering Avatar 2 ahead of the long awaited Battle Angel.
I loved Avatar, and now I find myself waiting feverishly for the DVD/BluRay to come out and hoping that the release will include the 3D version of the movie, much like Coraline did. I'm really happy to see that the Science-Fiction genre is in such a healthy productive state these days and that finally, it is getting proper recognition everywhere.
But I will end this post on a question. What did YOU think of Avatar?
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