Fight! 'Piranha' Producer Tough-Talks James Cameron

I probably don't need to tell you that James Cameron's biggest fan is James Cameron. Considering his overpowering success with Avatar, though, I actually expected a higher percentage of pro-Cameron comments from The King of the World, given how many interviews he's granted in the past year or so.

On the flip side, I didn't expect anyone (and it's producer Mark Canton) to lose his mind over Cameron's recent dismissive comments about how 3-D is being used in horror movies. Canton has a reason for a little outrage, because his film, Piranha 3D, is specifically mentioned, although Cameron was prompted by Vanity Fair. In fact, I doubt he would have brought it up had he not been asked. But Cameron also has a point, which probably doesn't pertain to Piranha because it was in development as a 3-D film two years ago, before Avatar made it the hot thing to do. First, Cameron's comments, which are not really off-base, although you could say he should see something before he criticizes it, particularly if he fancies himself some sort of official 3-D spokesman. Then the response from Mark Canton. It's long, like Avatar long.

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Dimension Baiting the Hook for 'Piranha' Sequel

Not waiting for pure profitability, Dimension Films is already planning a sequel to Piranha 3D, and you know what that means: The world's first four-dimensional blood and boobies fest!

The film didn't do bang-up business in theaters, not even for Dimensions Films standards, but the Baby Weinstein Company didn't invest a hell of a lot of money in it, and I'm sure it will do a little better than just scraping by. A hit? Probably not, no. But critics have seemed to enjoy it (a lot more than I did), and the press release announcing the sequel says fans are having a blast. I thought it needed less talk and more rock, personally. Read on:

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Movie Review - 'Piranha 3D'

Piranha 3D Starring Elisabeth Shue, Steven R. McQueen, and Jerry O'Connell Directed by Alexandre Aja Rated R

Filmmaking is really a mystery. Good intentions, heaps of talent, loads of money, and even a cynical dose of formulaics to ensure audience appeal often add up to a mountain of misery. Hard to say why in a lot of cases, but sometimes films just don't work. The remake of the camp horror film, Piranha, certainly doesn't have heaps of talent or loads of money at its disposal, but it does have the advantage of exposed breasts and bloodshed, which account for the formulaics of horror flicks. It also has a gifted genre director, Alexandre Aja, but Piranha 3D is an exercise in idling. There is very little fun contained in these 80-or-so minutes, very little of what makes this genre in particular such a guilty pleasure. Strictly speaking, however, this isn't a horror movie, because there's nothing scary and not a whole lot that's ever intended to be. The violence is not slow and methodical or even brutal but personal. Instead, it's just like watching meat in a blender. If you're squeamish, this certainly isn't the film for you, but if you don't mind blood and dismembered bodies, then what you'll see is almost completely harmless because it's too far over the top to be taken seriously. Here, for the first time, is banal flesh-eating. The set-up is the same as Jaws, which is no surprise since the original film was nothing but a cash-in attempt on that film's overpowering success. The difference is, obviously, just that there are thousands of little villains instead of one indomitable one. So there's no need to go through it all again. If you aren't sure of that connection when you show up, the cameo in the opening scene will erase all doubt. Where Aja's Piranha sets itself apart, on paper, is that it's 3 -D and that it's really hardcore. Lots of boobs bounce around, lots of f-bombs fly about, and lots of limbs are chewed off. The problem isn't with any of that stuff; that's what you're paying to see. The problem is that it's no better than that description.

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Alexandre Aja Eyes 'Cobra-The Space Pirate'

It looks like we won't have an on-time review of Piranha 3-D, so look for that instead on Friday afternoon. We'll get it to you, though. The film's director, French bloodlust merchant Alexandre Aja, is already turning his attention to his next project.

MovieWeb says Aja is gearing up for Cobra-The Space Pirate, his first foray into the world of manga adaptation. It is not the first trip beyond the page for Cobra, though; the Buichi Terasawa creation was turned into an anime series back in the 1980s and there were some anime films, as well. Aja would like to see a live-action franchise grow out of it, although he doesn't have anyone forking over the money just yet. If Piranha doesn't hit...good luck. Anime/manga spin-offs are tough to sell to financiers here in the US, and it's hard to do a lot with a franchise, at least one with a significant global impact, without US studio support.

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Ten Bloody Minutes from Alexandre Aja's 'Piranha 3D'

Better late than never, Alexandre Aja's delayed Piranha 3D will finally open in a couple of weeks. And when it does, here's some of the stuff you'll see. Oh, and there's also a new topless UK quad poster for your persual...

We saw this footage at Filmofilia and it's definitely R-rated, so you've been warned. In fact, this was supposed to screen at Comic-Con but because of its content was not seen last week in San Diego. There's some profanity, nudity, and most importantly, some very gory violence. Blood, blood, blood. Granted, the red-tinted water is less disturbing in this setting than in the documentary The Cove, and one of the great killshots involves Eli Roth, who knows a thing or two about gore. Watch if you can, I guess, but it's not very pleasant.

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