Tag: Shawn Levy

Real Steel: Cinefantastique Spotlight Podcast 2:39

Posted on by Dan Persons

Bots that Box: Hugh Jackman (right), Evangeline Lilly (center) and Dakota Goyo say hello to a new contender in REAL STEEL.
Bots that Box: Hugh Jackman (right), Evangeline Lilly (behind bench) and Dakota Goyo say hello to a new contender in REAL STEEL.

The official Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots movie is still in the planning stages, but until then, we have REAL STEEL, the Disney/DreamWorks family-friendly take on a world in which the squared circle has been commandeered by mechanical pugilists while the humans stay safely in their seats. Wrapped in the redemptive tale of an absentee father (Hugh Jackman) bonding with his son (Dakota Goyo) in order to rescue a hang-dog sparring robot from the junkyard and turn it into a populist sensation in the ring, the film features director Shawn Levy’s assured way with top-level special effects, not the least being Jackman’s formidable physique. Join Cinefantastique Online’s Steve Biodrowski, Lawrence French, and Dan Persons as they discuss whether the project goes the distance, or should just retire and open up a night club in Florida (strained boxing analogy ahoy!).
Also: The gang offers an appreciation of Steve Jobs and discusses the recent spate of announced projects taking on the Frankenstein legend; and Dan gets all sloppy over the deliciously bizarre J-Horror film, THE SYLVIAN EXPERIMENTS. Plus: what’s coming in theatrical and home video releases.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

New 'Real Steel' Trailer

Posted on by Tom Powers

“Set in the near-future, where the sport of boxing has gone hi-tech, REAL STEEL stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring.
Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next.
When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.”

Also starring:  Anthony Mackie , Evangeline Lilly, Hope Davis, and Kevin Durand
Directed by Shawn Levy from a screenplay by John Gatins, Dan Gilroy,  and
Jeremy Leven. Based on Richard Matheson’s classic SF story Steel.  (Previously adapted as an episode of THE TWILGHT ZONE).
Due in theaters October 7th from Dreamworks SKG and Walt Disney Pictures. Rated PG-13.
(Via The Movie Reel and Yahoo)

'Real Steel' — Trailer

Posted on by Tom Powers

Here’s the first trailer for DreamWorks SKG’s film for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, REAL STEEL.
Directed by Shawn Levy (NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM), REAL STEEL takes place in the near-future, a time when robot boxers have replaced humans in the ring.
Hugh Jackman (X-MEN) plays one of these replaced fighters, now out of work and trying to bond with the son (Dakota Goyo) he barely knows. (Though you’d never guess it from THIS trailer.) Kevin Durand and Evangeline Lilly also star.
 Seem familiar? It’s based on Richard Matheson’s short story Steel, which was adapted into a harrowing episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, starring Lee Marvin as the desperate former pugilist.
Screenplay by Leslie Bohem (TAKEN) and John Gatins, after a long history of revisions. 
Due out October 7th, 2011.