Latest Movie News From Moviefone |
- Roland Emmerich's 'Godzilla' Takes a Beating in the Latest Honest Trailer (VIDEO)
- Original 'Star Wars' Actor Turns Down 'Episode VII,' Says It Would Have 'Bored' Him
- Fall TV 2014: Watch the Trailers for the Networks' New Shows (VIDEO)
- News Anchor Blasts 'Once Upon a Time' Fans Who Complained About Tornado Warning (VIDEO)
- ABC Is Turning Into the Shonda Rhimes Network, and That's a Good Thing
- 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' Release Date Revealed
- The First 'Walking Dead' Season 5 Photo Is Finally Here
- 'American Idol' Is Moving to One Night a Week
- New DVD Blu-ray: 'Her,' 'Orange Is the New Black'
- Helen Mirren Cooks in the First Trailer for 'The Hundred-Foot Journey' (VIDEO)
- Finally! Channing Tatum Confirmed to Play X-Men's Gambit
- Here's Ben Affleck's Batsuit and Batmobile From 'Batman vs. Superman' (PHOTO)
- Why We Still Love Godzilla
- Groundbreaking Artist and 'Alien' Designer H.R. Giger Dead at 74
| Roland Emmerich's 'Godzilla' Takes a Beating in the Latest Honest Trailer (VIDEO) Posted:  While everyone is readying themselves for Friday's "Godzilla" reboot, the folks at ScreenJunkies are turning back the clock -- to 1998 and one of the most spectacular disasters in movie history: "Godzilla." Roland Emmerich's epic critical failure gets the Honest Trailer treatment, and they don't pull any punches. From the downright bad storyline to the blatant "Jurassic Park" rip-offs, 1998's "Godzilla" doesn't stand a chance in the hilariously brutal trailer. Meanwhile, our hopes are high for the Bryan Cranston-starring "Godzilla" and, with "Monsters" director Gareth Edwards at the helm, we're expecting big things. But first, this: This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Original 'Star Wars' Actor Turns Down 'Episode VII,' Says It Would Have 'Bored' Him Posted:  "Star Wars: Episode VII" is set to feature a bunch of familiar faces from the original trilogy, including Luke (Mark Hamill), Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han (Harrison Ford), R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). But one actor who played a supporting character in the series claims he was asked to join the new trilogy -- and turned down the part because he was bored by the concept.Denis Lawson, who played X-Wing pilot and Rebel leader Wedge Antilles in "Star Wars: A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back," and "Return of the Jedi," revealed in a new interview that filmmakers did indeed reach out to him about reprising his role for "Episode VII," but he wasn't interested. "I'm not going to do that," Lawson told the U.K.'s The Courier when the subject of "Star Wars" was broached. "They asked me but it just would have bored me." That's certainly a different perspective than the dozens of actors and actresses who were all vying for a part in the hotly-anticipated new chapter in the "Star Wars" saga, which is rumored to focus on the children of Luke, Leia, and Han as the Jedi torch is passed from one generation to the next. And while Wedge wasn't exactly a major character in the original flicks, The Playlist notes that he did play a significant role in the Rebel cause in all three films, including helping take down both versions of the Death Star, and most likely would have risen to a position of authority in the new galactic government. Still, if Lawson doesn't want to let his "Star Wars" work dominate his latter career aspirations, that's his business. As we mentioned above, there are plenty of other people who do want in, so we're sure J.J. Abrams and co. will find someone to take his place. "Star Wars: Episode VII" -- sans Wedge -- opens on December 18, 2015. [via The Courier, h/t The Playlist] Photo by AP Photo/Edwin Marcow This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Fall TV 2014: Watch the Trailers for the Networks' New Shows (VIDEO) Posted:  It's that time of year again. As we say goodbye to the TV shows that have been canceled or that are just taking a summer break we also welcome a new roster of primetime programs slated to hit our living rooms this fall. New York City is currently hosting the upfronts, which means the networks present their brand spankin' new lineups to advertisers and press. Translation: lots of sneak peek goodies for potential viewers like you. FOX, ABC, and NBC have already hosted their upfronts, unveiling trailers for some of their highly-anticipated dramas and comedies along the way -- and we've rounded them up just for you. Among the highlights are Katherine Heigl's ("Grey's Anatomy") CIA drama, a Viola Davis ("The Help") thriller produced by "Scandal" creator Shonda Rhimes, spooky missing persons series "Wayward Pines," and a detective comedy starring Debra Messing, of "Will and Grace" fame, called "The Mysteries of Laura." Get your first look at these upcoming shows now, and come back later on as we'll be updating our list as more come in. Which ones are you most looking forward to watching? Photo by NBC, Fox, ABC This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| News Anchor Blasts 'Once Upon a Time' Fans Who Complained About Tornado Warning (VIDEO) Posted:  A local news anchor in South Dakota chastised viewers on air this week after she said the station was bombarded by calls from people who were angry that a TV show was cut off by a tornado warning. Nancy Naeve, co-anchor of ABC affiliate KSFY in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, went on a rant Monday directed at those who had complained about missing the final few minutes of Sunday's season finale of "Once Upon a Time," which KSFY cut in to for a warning about an approaching tornado. Station meteorologist Shawn Cable delivered the warning, and was subject of scorn for many viewers, who inundated KSFY's control room with calls about the interruption. After airing a segment detailing the local damage left by the tornado -- including one woman's testimony that warnings like the one that KSFY aired helped her alert her granddaughter about the approaching storm -- Naeve was livid, chastising viewers for complaining about a trivial fictional program when real lives were at stake. "No show is as important as someone's life ... and people just berated our station for [Cable] being on the air," Naeve said on air Monday. "But I tell you what, if it was your home, and your neighbors, you would feel differently. ... We get it, we get it, we love your show ... but we love that Shawn was saving lives, literally." Naeve also added that viewers could simply have gone to ABC.com to watch the rest of "Once Upon a Time" instead of calling to complain. "I felt bad for having to interrupt folks' TV show, but I tell you what, I'm glad I did," Cable said, adding, "It's a TV show. I can live with you missing it. I feel bad, but I can live with it." [via Entertainment Weekly] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| ABC Is Turning Into the Shonda Rhimes Network, and That's a Good Thing Posted:  If things keep progressing, the American Broadcasting Company may soon rebrand itself the Shonda Rhimes Company: ABC just announced that it's signed the "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal" creator on for a four-year contract extension, and will program its Thursday night schedule exclusively with content developed by Rhimes. Beginning this fall, ABC will run "Grey's Anatomy," "Scandal," and Rhimes's new show, "How to Get Away With Murder," from 8-10 p.m., taking up the entire three-hour Thursday primetime programming block. It's a big vote of confidence in Rhimes, who's been responsible for some of the network's most dependable hits since "Grey's" premiered during the midseason in 2005. Another vote of confidence in the producer: She's just inked a reported eight-figure deal to remain at the network for four more years, a commitment that will run through May 2018. "Grey's" will return for its 11th season this fall, while "Scandal" has been renewed for a fourth. Rhimes also created the "Grey's" spinoff "Private Practice," which ran for six seasons. Her new series, "How to Get Away With Murder," stars Viola Davis as a seductive law professor who becomes entangled with four of her students. Both "Grey's" and "Scandal" are planned to split their seasons, like they did this year, while "Murder" will most likely run in one 15- or 16-episode burst. No premiere dates have been set yet. [via Deadline] Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' Release Date Revealed Posted:  The "Harry Potter" spinoff "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" finally has a release date: It's set to hit theaters on November 18, 2016. While there still haven't been any casting details, or any information about characters other than the protagonist, Newt Scamander, a definitive release date is good news for "Potter" fans clamoring for more from the mind of author J.K. Rowling, who's penning the screenplay. "Fantatsic Beasts" is based on Rowling's own fictional textbook, which was written by Scamander and used by Hogwarts students in the "Potter" series. Rowling released a slim version of the text in 2001, and it revealed some details about Scamander, a magizoologist (someone who studies magical creatures) who once worked with dragons and werewolves at the Ministry of Magic, and eventually became headmaster of Hogwarts. The film adaptation of "Fantastic Beasts" has been described as "three megamovies," and the trilogy will begin by focusing on Scamander as a young man in New York City in the early 1900s, taking place about 70 years prior to the events of the "Harry Potter" series. No word yet on when the other two installments of the "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" trilogy are expected to hit theaters. But we can't wait until 2016. [via Variety] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The First 'Walking Dead' Season 5 Photo Is Finally Here Posted:  AMC has released the first official image from season five of "The Walking Dead," and while it's fairly simple, it hints at some serious strife facing Sheriff Rick Grimes and his group.The photo is a closeup of Rick, who's gazing intently off into the distance from what looks like the train car where he and his cohorts were deposited by the residents of Terminus upon their arrival during the season four finale. He's got blood on his face and hands and his expression can best be described as weary, but determined. That's not really much different from how Rick has looked throughout the entire series, though it certainly ties back into the vibe of the first promo poster for season five, which depicted the onetime lawman hunched over in a darkened room, clutching a gun, with the word "Survive" scrawled on the wall above him. Judging by this new photo, that's exactly what Rick is plotting to do, though it certainly won't be easy. The fifth season of "The Walking Dead" premieres on AMC on October 12.  [via TheWrap] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'American Idol' Is Moving to One Night a Week Posted:  Following in the footsteps of other reality competition shows with sagging ratings, "American Idol" may downsize from two nights a week to one for its upcoming 14th season. Once Fox's flagship series, "Idol" has seen its viewership nosedive over the years. While the competition had already trimmed its results show from one hour down to 30 minutes, its second night of programming will most likely be cut completely next year. "I think you'll see it a two-night format, at least initially during the audition phase," Fox boss Kevin Reilly told reporters Monday. "It's quite likely ... we'll end up being a two-hour show on one night for most of its run." If it does downsize, "Idol" would join other long-running reality series such as fellow Fox program "So You Think You Can Dance" and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," which both eliminated results shows from their formats. This is just the latest ploy to pump up the aging singing show, which added a new trio of judges this year -- the returning Keith Urban, former judge Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick Jr. -- and also allowed its contestants to skip one week of eliminations if all remaining competitors reached a unanimous vote to do so. No premiere date has been set for the 14th season of "American Idol" yet; the show is expected to debut during the midseason in 2015. [via E!] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| New DVD Blu-ray: 'Her,' 'Orange Is the New Black' Posted: "Her" What's It About? A sad sack in high-waisted pants, Theodore spends his days writing love letters for other people. When he installs an intelligent operating system named Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson), his life takes a turn for the better. Or does it? Why We're IN: A weird, sad, beautiful love story from the delicious brain of Spike Jonze? We're so far in. Moviefone's Top Blu-ray of the Week "Overlord" (Criterion) What's It About? Cineastes and fans of war movies will dig this drama that uses real WWII footage in this tale of a young soldier headed to D Day. Sounds simple, but it's pretty heavy, and the unique use of real war footage adds to the narrative. Why We're IN: With Kubrick collaborator John Alcott as the cinematographer, a spiffy restoration, and loads of extras, "Overload" is a good addition to your collection. New on DVD "Eastbound & Down: Complete Fourth Season" What's It About? This is the very last season of the incredibly GIF-worthy "Eastbound & Down." We will miss you, Kenny Powers! IN or OUT: If you don't have HBO on demand or iTunes or whatever, then this might be worth your time. Just how diehard a fan are you? "I, Frankenstein" What's It About? Aaron Eckhart stars as old Frankie's monster Adam. Adam is stuck in the middle of a war between gargoyles (yes, really) and demons, and there's a whole thing about science experiments and whatnot. Mirando Otto plays the Gargoyle Queen, which is pretty cool. IN or OUT: Uhhh, no? "Longmire: Complete Second Season" What's It About? Robert Taylor stars as Sheriff Walt Longmire in this modern Western TV drama about a widow trying to restart his life. Katee Sackhoff ("Battlestar Galactica," "Riddick") co-stars as a deputy, and Lou Diamond Phillips plays Walt's friend Henry Standing Bear. IN or OUT: This A&E program is pretty popular, but with tons of online options, it's really up to you if you want to shell out the ducats for physical media. "Orange in the New Black: Season One" What's It About? This smash-hit Netflix show is about a yuppie named Piper (Taylor Schilling) who heads to the slammer because her ex-girlfriend (Laura Prepon) rats her out. There's so much more! It's so great! You should watch it now! IN or OUT: If you don't have Netflix, you'll definitely want to see what the fuss is all about. EXCLUSIVE: Learn about prison rules in a behind-the-scenes clip from "OITNB: Season One" (VIDEO) "That Awkward Moment" What's It About? Zac Efron, Miles Teller, and Michael B. Jordan are three dudes trying to be and stay single, but love and life and ladies have other plans for them! Can these bros navigate the complexities of modern dating? IN or OUT: This got terrible -- like, awful -- reviews, so you might be better off just watching these fine folks' other cinematic ventures. New on Blu-ray "Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Parts 1 & 2 3D" What's It About? It's never too late to learn about Harry Potter and his wizardly adventures, but seriously? Where have you been? IN or OUT: If you have your own sorting hat and play Quidditch on the weekends and have a 3D TV, you'll probably want this. Maybe. "Hellboy Animated Double Feature" (20th Anniversary Limited Edition) What's It About? "Hellboy: Sword of Storms" and "Blood and Iron" are animated films starring everyone's favorite kitten-snuggling demon! "Hellboy" stars Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, and Doug Jones reprise their roles as Hellboy, Liz Sherman, and Abe Sapien. IN or OUT: It's not a big investment, so if you're a fan, why not? "Rollerball" (Limited Edition) What's It About? In the future (2018, wheeee!) we'll be playing deadly games of Rollerball instead of going to war. James Caan stars at the rebellious Rollerballer who just might stick it to the Man. IN or OUT: Blu-ray, limited edition, audio commentary with the director, and more -- why not? Some Blu-ray fans don't dig the distributor Twilight Time, but it doesn't look like you're gonna get your "Rollerball" on any other way for now. "To the Arctic / Born to be Wild 3D" Double Feature What's It About? The first movie gets up close and personal with a mama polar bear and her babies, and the second is all about orphaned wild animals and the humans who take care of them. Meryl Streep and Susan Sarandon narrate "To the Arctic," and Morgan Freeman does the honors for "Born to be Wild." IN or OUT: "Born to be Wild" is a solid doc for animal-lovers, while "To the Arctic" got more middling reviews. Still, it's not a bad deal. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Helen Mirren Cooks in the First Trailer for 'The Hundred-Foot Journey' (VIDEO) Posted:  Dame Helen Mirren is cool as a cucumber as a fancy French restaurant owner named Madame Mallory in "The Hundred-Foot Journey." Her Michelin-approved restaurant and her uptight life get a shake-up when an Indian family moves into the neighborhood and starts their own restaurant... a hundred feet away. The patriarch of the Kadam family, played by Om Puri, is certainly game for a grand battle between Madame Mallory's Le Saule Pleureur; he can dish it out as well as he can take it. His son Hassan (Manish Dayal) is a chef in the great family tradition, but his interest in combining the two cuisines is piqued by his new neighbors. Oh, and Madame Mallory's delicious sous chef Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon). It looks quite charmant, n'est ce pas? "The Hundred-Foot Journey" has quite a filmmaking team behind it. Lasse Hallström, who is no stranger to sexy food onscreen a la "Chocolat," is directing, and Steven Knight ("Locke," "Eastern Promises") adapted the script from the best-selling novel by Richard C. Morais. If that wasn't enough to whet your whistle, Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey are producers. Oprah! What more do you want? "The Hundred-Foot Journey" hits theaters on August 8, which is generally a darn good time for releasing big films targeted to a female audience. Previous late-summer offerings include "Eat Pray Love," "Julie & Julia," "Mamma Mia!," and "Hope Springs." Coincidentally, all but one of those star Meryl Streep, although we're happy to see Mirren back in action. "The Hundred-Foot Journey" opens on August 8. [via Deadline] Photo courtesy DreamWorks This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Finally! Channing Tatum Confirmed to Play X-Men's Gambit Posted:  High-powered "X-Men" producer Lauren Shuler Donner has confirmed that Channing Tatum will indeed be taking on the role of Gambit... eventually. She was walking the blue carpet at the X-Men X-Perience Global Tour when she confirmed to Total Film that Channing Tatum is confirmed to play Gambit.In case you're unfamiliar with the X-Man character, Gambit (aka Remy LeBeau) was a slick street thief in New Orleans who discovered his mutant powers when he was a teen. Guess puberty was just full of surprises! Shuler Donner said, "He's a rogue, Channing. He's a rascal, just like Remy LeBeau, and he can handle the action, we all know that. And he's got a really good heart, because I know him personally. I did a movie with him, so I think he'll be great. He'll be great for Gambit." (Tatum appeared in 2006's "She's the Man" with Amanda Bynes, which counts Shuler Donner among its producers.) Total Film also got a good scoop on Gambit in 2013 when he talked about the character during an interview for "White House Down." If he were given a choice to play any superhero, he'd want to snag the role of Gambit. "My dad's from New Orleans," Tatum said. "I like to do the Cajun accent, and I can do it for real. No knock on Taylor Kitsch at all, because I actually like his Gambit, but I've always lived in and around the Cajun people, and I would have liked to have seen... Gambit was always a woman-lovin', cigarette-smokin', drinkin', you know, he was the punk rock of all the superheroes. He's a thief. He kind of rode the line." Kitsch played Gambit in 2009's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," which was poorly received by fans and critics. However, it doesn't look like the Marvel universe will stop expanding any time soon, and fans do love Gambit. "X-Men: Days of Future Past" director Bryan Singer has said he's interested in bringing Gambit and Nightcrawler back for "X-Men: Apocalypse," but it's not clear if that's what Shuler Donner confirmed. ScreenCrush confirmed with various sources (including Fox) that this will be a stand-alone "Gambit" movie. "While many have speculated that Tatum would join the cast of the upcoming 'Days of Future Past' sequel, 'X-Men: Apocalypse,' he is not yet attached to star in that film (though, there may be some kind of post-credits appearance). Tatum would instead star as Gambit in his own standalone 'X-Men' spinoff. Fox has announced their Marvel slate through 2018, with only one date not attached to a specific movie -- July 13, 2018 -- which, is likely reserved for Tatum's 'Gambit' film." Either way, Tatum's dance card is very full. He's got the Cannes premiere of "Foxcatcher" on May 19, "22 Jump Street" opening on June 13, and "Jupiter Ascending" on July 18. Whew! Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Here's Ben Affleck's Batsuit and Batmobile From 'Batman vs. Superman' (PHOTO) Posted:  Zack Snyder is such a tease.Yesterday the director tweeted a rather lush photo of the Batmobile with a dust cloth over it. Snyder made good on his promise and posted a photo of what looks like Ben Affleck in the full Batman regalia standing next to his Batmobile, which Snyder shot with a fancy Leica camera. (Nice product placement?) There's been a lot of hullaballoo about whether or not Ben Affleck can fill out the nipple-y Batman suit that Christian Bale and Michael Keaton have worn in years past, so what Snyder is doing is very smart. Olivia Pope would surely approve of how he's taking control of the narrative by engaging with fans directly. Sure, we all know how social media works on this level of publicity, but it definitely gives fans the feeling that they're in direct contact with what's happening on set, as well as the illusion that they have a say in it or that their feedback matters on a critical level. On the other hand, it does allow Snyder et al to test the temperature and tweak accordingly. Way to go, Gladiators! This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted:  For a creature who's been asleep for hundreds of millions of years, Godzilla is surprisingly adept at changing with the times. Across 60 years and 30 movies, from his first appearance in 1954's "Godzilla" to the second American reboot "Godzilla" opening this week, the Lizard King has reflected the anxieties of his times, from World War II to the War on Terror, from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima to the atomic reactor disaster of Fukushima., and from Japan to the rest of the world. Even in that first film, the linkage of the radioactive-breath monster with the atomic anxieties of the only nation ever attacked by nuclear weapons was explicit. "First Nagasaki, now this!" cries a woman in anticipation of Godzilla's imminent arrival. Less then a decade after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki forced Japan's surrender in World War II, and just months after U.S. hydrogen bomb testing in the Pacific had killed the crew of a Japanese fishing boat with radiation poisoning, the movie has atomic bomb blasts waking Godzilla from his ancient slumber and endowing him with nuclear breath. Once again, an atomic-powered foreign invader lays waste to a Japanese city (in this case, Tokyo). A scientist develops a doomsday device that can destroy the beast but wonders whether or not the cure is worse than the disease. The defeat of the creature, then, is not an occasion for joy or relief but further anxiety that we will wipe ourselves out with our own technology. Not to mention the notion (in hindsight) that more apocalyptic monsters, perhaps even worse than Godzilla, are waiting to attack. It's easy to see, then, why Godzilla captured such a strong hold on the Japanese imagination, but why did he succeed in America and elsewhere, as well? One reason is that Godzilla was inspired in part by American movie monsters. King Kong and Mighty Joe Young are apparent influences; the Japanese name "Gojira" is a combination of the words for "whale" and "gorilla." The plot of "King Kong," with the giant ape rampaging in New York, suggests a similar revenge-of-nature-against-civilization theme that would be exploited throughout the "Godzilla" series. And then there were the pioneering stop-motion monster effects of movie-creature wizard Ray Harryhausen, whose jittery, handmade creatures came to life in "Mighty Joe Young" and "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" (another "Godzilla" precursor, in which nuclear blasts awaken an amphibious dinosaur-like monster). So Americans took to Godzilla (even with the inept introduction via the 1956 recut of "Godzilla," with footage added of Raymond Burr as a reporter superfluously explaining the action to English-speaking viewers), in part because his DNA came from American movies, and in part because our 1950s sci-fi and monster movies were imbued with similar nuclear fears. As we immersed ourselves in Cold War fears that the atomic weapons we'd dropped on Japan would be used against us, our movies worried that the nuclear monster we'd unleashed would come back to haunt us in some new and terrifying form. Even as far away from Japan as England, Godzilla had an impact. You can see it in "Gorgo," the 1961 movie about a giant dinosaur-like creature, awakened from its slumber and captured by "Kong"-like adventurers. They turn the lizard into a sideshow exhibit in London, only to draw the wrath of the monster's 200-foot mother, resulting in a destructo-thon in a London only recently rebuilt after the devastation of the Blitz in World War II. "Gorgo" actually premiered in Tokyo and inspired a raft of new "Godzilla" sequels. In the "Godzilla" movies of the 1960s, Godzilla became more kid-friendly, like a superhero or a pro wrestler. The lizard still wreaked havoc in Japan but also became Japan's champion, its protector against other kaiju (giant monsters). Some of the fights were nationalistic ("King Kong vs. Godzilla," the first post-"Gorgo" movie in the series, played like a World War II rematch of the U.S. vs. Japan, with the gorilla fighting Godzilla to an apparent draw). Others saw Godzilla reunite with former foes (Anguirus, Mothra) to fight extraterrestrial threats. In the spirit of international cooperation and diplomacy, American actor Nick Adams joined the franchise for 1965's "Invasion of Astro-Monster," in which an alien race offers Earthlings a cure-all drug in return for handing over Godzilla and Rodan; it turns out they just want to use the two kaiju (along with a third that they control, three-headed dragon King Ghidorah) to conquer the planet. In 1968's "Destroy All Monsters," an effort to confine the world's kaiju in one isolated place backfires when an alien race takes control of them and has them attack major cities all over the world. The series found topicality again with 1971's "Godzilla vs. Hedorah," in which the opponent was a smog-based monster spawned by pollution. Modern fears of mechanization were addressed in two mid-'70s installments where Godzilla fought Mechagodzilla, a robot doppelganger. Like the monster itself, the series lay dormant for a decade, from 1974 to 1984. In an economically resurgent Japan, Godzilla found himself dwarfed by the new skyscrapers of the rebuilt Tokyo. In 1991's "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah," the two monsters are pawns of a plot by the Futurians to go back in time and prevent Japan's rise to economic glory. In 1998, we got Roland Emmerich's "Godzilla," the first all-American Godzilla movie. The beast's nuclear origins were preserved, though the nuclear explosions that awakened the creature were blamed on the French (the French!). The film came in the middle of a turn-of-the-millennium cycle of disaster movies (including Emmerich's own "Independence Day," "The Day After Tomorrow," and "2012"), in which the coming of the millennium was accompanied by fears of apocalyptic destruction, environmental disaster, threats from space (the asteroids of "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon") and post-Cold War geopolitical instability. With the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Emmerich's repeated destruction of New York suddenly seemed eerily prophetic. Monster movies began to use the imagery of 9/11 in resonant ways, including "War of the Worlds" (2005), "Cloverfield" (2008), and "Pacific Rim" (2013). After 50 years, the "Godzilla" franchise went out with a bang with 2004's "Godzilla: Final Wars." As with "Invasion of Astro-Monster," the final film saw Godzilla take on a variety of other kaiju set loose on Earth by a race of duplicitous aliens. (This time, it's Rodan that attacks New York.) Having saved humanity one last time, a tired Godzilla returns to the watery depths. After another decade of hibernation, the new 2014 "Godzilla" is also a model of international cooperation, made by an American production company (Legendary) and a British director (Gareth Edwards) with a cast of American, Japanese, French, and British actors. Once again, fears of environmental disaster, nuclear catastrophe, and terrorist explosions inform the story. The family of human protagonists is named Brody, an apparent reference to "Jaws" (another classic movie about a monster from the depths). The film contains references to the atomic blasts of the 1950s and the recent nuclear-plant disaster in Fukushima. The lizard hits San Francisco this time, as if Bay Area residents didn't have enough to worry about from earthquakes. In any case, the re-emergence of the scaly-spined creature is shown to be a crisis of global proportions. Whatever the source of the danger -- technological hubris, the revenge of nature, sinister invaders -- it's increasingly clear that, in an interdependent world, a threat to one country is a threat to all. Edwards seems to have taken this into account, telling the Huffington Post last summer, "You're never ever gonna have to worry about a giant monster ever smashing up your city or attacking your country. But you do have to worry about skyscrapers that can come falling down out of the blue or giant tsunamis can hit. The effects that a giant creature has are effects that we encounter all the time. "And so, these monsters always end up being these metaphors for some sort of kind of vengeance of nature or something. And in our film, we definitely embraced the theme of man versus nature. It's something that reoccurs in the movie. And our abuse of the power of nature, and how that can come back to haunt us -- and that's something at the heart of this film. So, my goal was to try to make a monster movie that had some meat on the bone, you know? In terms of it wasn't just mindless spectacle -- you could enjoy it on another level if you wanted to." Well, if there's one monster franchise that's never been just mindless spectacle, and has always "had some meat on the bone," it's "Godzilla." As long as kids identify with monsters, and as long as grown-ups seek cathartic resolution of their fears of apocalyptic disaster, "Godzilla" will continue to evolve. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Groundbreaking Artist and 'Alien' Designer H.R. Giger Dead at 74 Posted:  H.R. Giger, the artist behind some of the most fantastically disturbing art of the 21st century, has died. Giger won an Oscar for the design of the Alien that Sigourney Weaver faces down in Ridley Scott's "Alien," which was inspired by his painting "Necronom IV." The surrealist artist was known for his biomechanical designs that fused humans and machines in strange and weirdly erotic ways, as you can see from his cover art for Debbie Harry's album "Koo Koo" and Danzig's "Danzig III: How the Gods Kill." In addition to designs for movies like "Poltergeist II" and "Aliens 3," Giger also contributed designs and concepts for Alejandro Jodorowsky unfinished adaptation of "Dune," as shown in the recent documentary "Jodorowsky's Dune." There are currently two Giger bars in Switzerland, which are described as "immersive art" experiences designed by the artist himself, as well as a museum in Gruyères, Switzerland. There is also a plan to open a Giger bar somewhere in the US in the near future. His artwork and designs inspired by his art adorn the bodies of countless tattoo enthusiasts around the world. Get up close and personal with Giger's Xenomorph in this behind-the-scenes doc about "Alien." Giger was 74. Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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