CLICK TO ENLARGE Entertainment Weekly’s latest issue features the first officially released shot of Chris Evans from CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER on its cover.
Fans of the character has been worried about the former “Human Torch” actor playing Cap, and it turns out that Chris Evans shared many of those concerns. He siad he turned down the part three times.
“At the time, I remember telling a buddy of mine, ‘If the movie bombs, I’m f—-ed. If the movie hits, I’m f—-ed!’”
Finally, he went to a meeting with Marvel executives and director Joe Johnston (THE ROCKETEER, THE WOLFMAN), was impressed by their plans and approach to the film, and wound up signing a six-picture deal.
“I was just scared. I realized my whole decision making process was fear based, and you never want to make a decision out of fear. …I can’t believe was almost too chicken to play Captain America.”
The issue will feature a set visit to the production, shooting in England, and more from Evans and Joe Johnston, who sees Steven Roger as an ‘everyman’ character whose life and pyhsical form is suddenly transformed. Johnston observes with understatement that it’s bound to create “some interesting personal issues.”
The issue hits newsstand this Friday, October 29th.
Also coming out on home video this week: A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, CAPRICA SEASON 1.0, STARGATE UNIVERS: COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, THE SECRET OF KELLS, GRINDHOUSE SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY, and DOCTOR WHO: DREAMLAND
Click to purchase
Tuesday, October 5 is overflowing with horror, fantasy, and science fiction titles of all shapes and sizes arriving on home video in various formats: DVD, Blu-ray, and iTunes downloads. The best of the new releases is SPLICE, which arrives in two versions, DVD and Blu-ray. When it hit theatres earlier this year, Vincenzo Natali’s sci-fi horror opus was a bit misrepresented by its advertising campaign, which suggested a SPECIES-type monster movie. Instead, audiences got a thoughtful science fiction film with an overlay of dark satire.
Also out this week is A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, the unnecessary (and unnecessarily dull) remake of writer-director Wes Craven’s 1984 classic. The new version is slickly made but typically soulless. Somewhat less typically, it is also almost entirely devoid of shocks and suspense. Give this one a pass. click to purchase
This is one of those rare weeks when classic titles are overwhelming new releases, thanks to some deluxe editions that surpass and eclipse previous home video versions. Horror fans disappointed by the ELM STREET remake can take solace in Warner Brothers Home Video release a two-disc Blu-ray of THE EXORCIST (1973), which includes the original theatrical cut and the so-called “Extended Director’s Cut,” plus three new documentaries. The film is also being made available for download via iTunes for the first time. The extended cut is just a new name for the 2000 theatrical re-issue of the film, which at the time was dubbed “The Version You ‘ve Never Seen” – a sobriquet that hardly makes sense ten years later. Even if (like me) you have previously purchased both versions of the film on DVD (including the excellent 25th anniversary edition), you will find much worth viewing on this disc, thanks to previously unreleased behind-the-scenes footage that provides an amazing glimpse at the making of this horror classic. Click to purchase
If your tastes run more toward fairy tale fantasy, you are in luck: Walt Disney Home Video is releasing a 3-disc Diamond Edition of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, their 1991 Oscar-nominated blockbuster, which has been unavailable in any form since 2003. (This combo pack will be followed seven weeks later by a 2-Disc standard definition DVD on November 23.) The 3-disc set includes one DVD and two Blu-rays. The DVD features an all-new digital restoration, three versions of the film, sing-along mode (with subtitles for the lyrics), and an audio commentary. The first Blu-ray disc includes the DVD bonus features and the three versions of the film (in high-def, of course), plus more extras, including previously unseen alternate opening and a deleted scene. The second Blu-ray disc offers the bonus features from the old Platinum Edition DVD, plus some new Blu-ray extras, including “Beyond Beauty – The Untold Stories,” “Enchanted Musical Challenge Game,” and “Bonjour, Who is This” – a game in which you use your phone to receive secret messages and guess players’ identities before they guess yours. In a move no one could ever have expected, the abysmal TROLL 2 receives a Blu-ray release this week; the format seems altogether too refined by the cheezy little movie, which has gained some cult notoriety this year, thanks to the art house release of BEST WORST MOVIE, the documentary tracing the lives and reunion of some of the TROLL 2 cast members.
MGM Home Video offers the MGM Sci-Fi Movie Collection. Unfortunately, the company’s 1956 classic FORBIDDEN PLANET is nowhere to be seen. Instead, we get one (WAR GAMES) and a bunch of forgettable duds (SOLAR BABIES, ALIEN FROM L.A. with Kathy Ireland, HACKERS with a young Angelina Jolie film, SPACE CAMP, and a WAR GAMES sequel). Apparently, bargain days have arrived this week, with several previous available titles re-released in two-packs: GROUNDHOG DAY and SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER, HANCOCK and GHOST RIDER, THE GRUDGE and SILENT HILL, BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA and WOLF, FANTASTIC FOUR and X-MEN, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL and I ROBOT, plus several others.
But wait, there’s more! Also on store shelves this week:
CAPRICA: SEASON 1.0 on DVD
SGU: STARGATE UNIVERS – THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON on DVD and Blu-ray
THE SECRET OF KELLS on DVD and Blu-ray
GRINDHOUSE two-disc collector’s edition on Blu-ray
THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE COLLECTION on DVD
DOCTOR WHO: DREAMLAND on DVD
DELGO on DVD and two-disc Blu-ray and DVD combo
THE EVIL/TWICE DEAD, a two-pack of Roger Corman Cult Classics
FINGERPRINTS on Blu-ray
THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS, a deluxe edition
THE RIG
SISTERS on Blu-ray (no not the Brian DePalma original but an unnecessary remake)
And the list goes on and on… All are available in the Cinefantastique Online Store. Click the links below to check them out, or go here.
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According to ScreenRant, 20th Century Fox is actively seeking higher level stars for their FANTASTIC FOUR re-boot.
They repeated the rumor that Alice Eve, who stepped away from the role of Emma Frost in Fox’s X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, is in line for the female lead, Sue Storm. Amber Heard (ZOMBIELAND) is reportedly also being considered.
They claim (as do most sources) to be quite sure that the THING will be entirely CGI, which I consider somewhat dismaying.
But the big news is that 20th Century Fox is pursuing Adrien Brody (PREDATORS) and UK thespian Jonathan Rhys Meyers (MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III, THE TUDORS) for the role of Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic. Adrien Brody is old enough and projects a certain intelligence, probably enough to give the part the proper gravitas. He doesn’t really look the part, but then few modern actors do.
Frankly, none of the the live action actors in the Reed Richards role have ever brought to it the quiet authority and paternalistic air the comic book character always seemed to possess. Richards had that 1950’s sci-fi scientist-hero ethos that worked well with the comic’s often outlandish plots, grounding them in at least a veneer of verisimilitude.
The movie —which the article states will NOT be called FANTASTIC FOUR REBORN—could use that kind of presence.
In contrast to the first two Fantastic Four films which featured actor Michael Chiklis in an actual costume, the reboot, FANTASTIC FOUR REBORN, will bring a completely computer generated version of The Thing. This news comes along with confirmation that filming on the project has been pushed back until production has been completed on X-MEN: FIRST CLASS. Given that X-Men won’t even begin filming until this September, it’s safe to assume that we won’t be seeing much on the Fantastic Four front for quite some time.
