Mark Macready and the Archangel Murders

I’ll be posting a review in the next couple of days for this great indie short horror film. The film continues to get fantastic reviews and write ups around the circuit. If you want to find out more, check out their website where you can order a copy of the DVD (well, well worth it!) or their Youtube channel for trailers, clips, outtakes etc…  It’ll also be showing as part of the Odeon Cinema in Manchesters, Grimmfest event on Halloween (see details here).

Avatar Preview

Last night I saw a 15 minute IMAX 3D preview of James Cameron’s forthcoming film Avatar, the supposed breakthrough revolutionary film with totally photo realistic CGI. Or so says Cameron. The footage is definitely impressive. Totally photo realistic? No. The characters though are a major step forward from the attempts we’ve seen before. The Na’vi move pretty much like a human would, there are certain moments, but nothing like as obvious as issues I’ve seen in the past. The eyes and skin textures and tone are very impressive. The 3D is also well used. The depth of field is well used even in simple scenes like the scene where soldiers are being briefed. The most impressive 3D scenes though had the be the amazing night time shot with glowing vegetation and the depth of field in a scene where there is a big cliff involved with a massive drop.

The scenes shown were all from the first half of the film, as Cameron said, to not ruin any of the pay off. There was a brief montage at the end of a lot of scenes from the trailer with the human/alien battle which looked mighty impressive in IMAX 3D. The story from what you could tell seemed pretty good and it certainly had the feel of a Cameron film, Aliens I felt, in particular. Both I and my friend felt it did have a big Halo vibe as well as Aliens, Jurassic Park too and the forest environments of things like Apocalypto. I’ll certainly be in the line to see this and I’d advise that everyone who can see it in 3D IMAX, the only way to see it really.

UK release dates .. a rant

It’s been said before by many, but I’m going to have to say it again. When will film studios learn that releasing films concurrently in countries will cut down on piracy. Terminator Salvation out now in the US. 2 weeks to wait for the UK. Pixar’s next (trailer below) out next weekend in the US. So, a nice mid June release for the UK? Nope. 16th October!!!! WHAT. Infact it appears the UK is more or less the last country getting it, it appears to be getting released in places that don’t even know what a film and cinema is before the UK. I expect it’ll be on home entertainment release in the US before I even get to see this in the cinema. TV finally caught on and we now get programs within a week of the US broadcast. Lucas caught on about worldwide releases after The Phantom Menace. Why are there still major films from major film studios not being released concurrently around the globe?

Heroes, Trek, Terminator & District 9

It appears NBC may be dropping Heroes season 4 down to only 18-20 episodes according to reports. Whether less episodes will improve the quality of a show that has gone so far downhill you wouldn’t believe season 1 is in the same stable as the rest of it!

I’ll be off to see the new Trek tonight and can’t wait! After managing to miss all the local advance previews …. Hopefully it’ll live up to what everyone else is saying about it, that last trailer was one of the best trailers I’ve seen in a long time.

Apple have posted a new 4 minute clip from Terminator Salvation.

And finally, check out the poster for District 9, due out later this year.

District 9 poster

Musings:- Terminator: TSCC ; Ashes to Ashes & X-Men Origins: Wolverine

It’s looking more and more likely Sarah Connor Chronicles is going to get the chop. All the reports are that it has gone, though Fox keep denying it, their overall silence I think says it all. It’s a pity as when it’s on the ball the show is very very good. However, season 2 just meandered far to much and some of it was totally pointless and self-indulgent. Leaving us with a killer ending though, especially when you know the show is on the line, isn’t the best idea the writers every had. Perhaps a shortened half season to wrap it up would have been feasible …

This week also saw Ashes to Ashes 2nd season, the follow up show to Life On Mars, start on the BBC. After a very mixed first season, it seems the writers have taken the complaints on board and fine tuned season 2. The opener is very good, adding two nice new mystery plot arcs that I presume will run through the season, toning down Keeley Hawes character and her romantic angle with Hunt. If season 2 continues like it has started it could be as good as LoM.

And finishing off with X-Men Origins: Wolverine. So, it appears the leaked working print, which was absolutely panned by anyone who saw it and had Fox subsequently squealing that it wasn’t anywhere near the finished film, loads of SFX and reshoots to add, is, infact, the finished film minus some SFX. So, not looking good for what Fox had hoped would be a big early summer movie for them.