Now in Theaters
Now in Theaters: The Clone Wars Tropic Thunder Pineapple Express
  Traveling Pants The Mummy Dark Knight

Entries in Sequels (80)

'Anchorman' Sequel Going to the Moon?

Is Anchorman best left as it is? Although Will Ferrell has not exactly showed a great deal of versatility in his most successful films - they're all variations on the giant, screaming manchild character - he has never made a sequel, even though Old School, Talladega Nights, and Anchorman (and now, maybe, Step Brothers) have all performed very well. Usually, that's the only criterion for making a follow-up.

But there has been discussion and opinion about an Anchorman sequel since before the original film even opened. I remember attending the junket and Will Ferrell and director Adam McKay both said they'd like to come back to Ron Burgundy and the Channel 4 News Team because they had so much material left to cover. That talk has intensified recently, since Step Brothers is another Ferrell/McKay collaboration, and now Paul Rudd, who memorably played field reporter Brian Fantana, has chimed in on what he knows.

Talking to MTV, Rudd said, "Last I heard they were starting to write it and they were thinking about setting it in the eighties." That makes sense, because it allows the queso factor to remain strong while advancing the story of the characters a few years.

However, Rudd cautions, “[But] I know when we were shooting it Adam said if they ever did something it would have to be really weird like we were on the moon or something. I think it has to go even further if it was to work.”

Let's hope it doesn't get to that point. Anchorman on the Moon kind of defeats the purpose, because the gimmick would be more ludicrous than Ron, Brian, Brick, and Champ. A lot of people are down on the sequel, but that group doesn't appear to include any of the original cast or the director. So, because of the strong box office of Step Brothers, I think this has a better chance than ever of happening. Maybe they can even find a role for John C. Reilly in the sequel.

Posted on Friday, August 15, 2008 at 03:34PM by Registered CommenterColin Boyd in , , , , , | Comments1 Comment

Movie Review - 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Featuring the voices of Matt Lanter, James Arnold Taylor, and Samuel L. Jackson
Directed by Dave Filoni
Rated PG


starwarstheclonewars_galleryposter.jpg Although it sports crystal clear digital animation and some of the imagination that powered the franchise in its first two films, there are elements of Star Wars: The Clone Wars that casual fans might not warm up to. To a die hard Lucasian – the sort of devotee who will see this on opening night with light sabers on his utility belt – this could be a vital and vibrant new beginning. However, a lot of those fans have already seen an animated Clone Wars, so they, too, may be wondering what the score is here.

In terms of chronology, The Clone Wars falls between Episode II and Episode III in the saga. Jedi masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are assisting the Galactic Republic in its battle against the seceding star systems, and the war is being waged by an army of clones against evil battle droids.

During one such battle Skywalker is assigned a new Padawan, or apprentice, a spirited teenager named Ashoka Tano. Purists may resent the inclusion of a new character, but she is one of the film’s most refreshing new developments, along with the distinctive animation style that gives new character to old characters.

The details of the story aren’t of much consequence; Star Wars: The Clone Wars is merely an appetizer for the animated series that debuts this fall with plans of launching about 100 episodes. This is just another adventure somewhere in the middle of the Wars.

We see an extended Hutt family, which I’m not sure was demanding a greater thrust. Jabba and two relatives figure prominently in the plot, perhaps even more than Obi-Wan and Yoda.

Hardcore fans won’t care, and ultimately, they’ll decide whether this movie is successful by choosing or not choosing to watch the series this 100-minute commercial promotes. The pristine quality of the digital animation, even if you disagree with the exaggerated features it gives certain faces, is a refreshing change. I like the appearance of a new central heroine, too.

The overwhelmingly youth-oriented dialogue could siren that Star Wars is counting on a new generation of fans to carry the series forward from here. That remains to be seen, although the banter between Ashoka and Skywalker (whom she calls “Sky Guy”) feels more appropriate for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie than it does for Star Wars.

For the casual viewer, however, the new additions may make this movie feel longer than the Kessel Run.

Posted on Friday, August 15, 2008 at 12:23AM by Registered CommenterColin Boyd in , , , , , | Comments1 Comment

'Twilight' Author Sees Two Movies for Fourth Book

twilightposter3.jpgSlowly but surely, I'm navigating my way through Twilight, the young adult novel that has spawned one of the year's most anticipated movies for the teenage crowd. Normally, I don't bother reading the books - because I'm not reviewing the books, after all - but they sent it out to me months ahead of time, so I figured I'd return the favor.

Will I read all of the books in the vampire series? I guess if they send me all of them, sure. And if they do, I apparently ought to block out a significant amount of time for the fourth and final book.

Stephanie Meyer, the author of the quadrilogy, says that Breaking Dawn might be too big for one movie, kind of like - OK, exactly like - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. According to Cinema Blend, Meyer believes the last book should be at least two movies.

“[Breaking Dawn] is actually broken up into book one, book two and book three, and the end of book two is kind of the exact middle of the story," says the author. "It really feels like the clearest place to stop the action, but I’m not a movie person, I don’t know. I just think it’s too long for one movie.”

Now, slow your roll, teenage vampires. The first movie needs to be an unqualified smash before we start thinking about making two movies out of one book three movies down the line. I'm fairly certain Twilight will make money, but will it continue to be successful when the sequels come out?

True, this doesn't have the budgetary concerns of a Golden Compass or a Lemony Snicket or even a Narnia (which may not go the distance, either), but I think we need to see some performance before we lay out plans for the rest of the franchise.

Twilight will arrive in theaters on December 12th.

Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 10:33AM by Registered CommenterColin Boyd in , , , | Comments2 Comments

New French Trailer for 'Transporter 3' is All Action, All Subtitles

The scenery sure hasn't changed much in the Transporter movies. I guess that's no surprise. I'm hopeful the third one will be somewhat better than the second one, and I'm always fearful we'll get more homoerotic shirtless oil wrestling, an action scene that gave a new definition to "smuggling" in the first film.

There's a new French teaser trailer from Trailer Addict that features some staples of the franchise: Jason Statham in a suit, Jason Statham shirtless, Jason Statham driving fast, and Jason Statham fighting a room full of dudes. This time, however, he's hooked up to Dennis Hopper's bomb from Speed or something.

I know we shouldn't expect greatness or even a huge degree of inventiveness from these movies, but surely they can change it up a little more than they have, right? After all, it's not like the formula they're following has ever been overwhelmingly successful. There is one cool addition: The director's name is Olivier Megaton. Since he was born on August 6th, Megaton takes his professional name from the first atomic bomb. So, this movie may not play well in Hiroshima.

Transporter 3 zooms into theaters on November 26th.

Posted on Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 03:10PM by Registered CommenterColin Boyd in , , | CommentsPost a Comment

'Terminator Salvation': The Updates Begin

The Comic Con crowds absolutely devoured Terminator Salvation last month, where they were treated to new footage and a panel discussion led by director McG, who I'm told by the brothers at MoviePulse displayed plenty of "self-assuredness" during his time on the dais. One fan who couldn't make it to Comic Con was California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I guess if Arnold wants to see what you're working on, you set that up for him.

So the Los Angeles Times reports that Arnie had a private screening of Terminator Salvation footage, and the odds are he saw the same thing the Comic Con fans did. But he sounds a little unimpressed.

"I still don't know how it will play out with this one," said Schwarzenegger. "They showed me some footage, but I don't have a feel for the movie. I didn't see enough. I wasn't sure who the Terminator was. I don't know if there is one or if he's the star or the hero. These are the things that determine the success and how the strong the movie will be."

Geez, dude, pay attention. Christian Bale is John Connor, and one of the Terminators is your old workout buddy, Roland Kickinger. He was probably too busy laying off 10,000 state workers when the Kickinger news broke. It happens.

But he remains optimistic, kind of. "With Batman and Terminator, those big movies, there's a certain expectation and if you don't live up to it, if the movie is not a 10, then the business will be soft," continued Arnold.. "If [Salvation] is pushing it forward, it will be breaking records all the time. If [director McG] has the T4 and the kind of shots that has the audience thinking, 'Now how did he do that?' -- then it is Terminator and you can blow everyone away and every record at the box office."

In other Terminews, it's been announced that the first full trailer will be attached to Quantum of Solace, the new James Bond movie. That movie opens on November 7th, which means you'll probably be able to find the trailer online by October 30th. Terminator Salvation opens on May 22, 2009. Based on what I've seen of this film, Watchmen, and Wolverine, the first big blockbusters of the year look pretty good. Now we just need some Star Trek updates and we're set through Memorial Day.

Posted on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 10:14AM by Registered CommenterColin Boyd in , , , , | Comments3 Comments
Page | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Next 5 Entries