Super 8 starts filming, Superhero news, Romancing The Stone, Alpha & Omega, and It’s Kind of A Funny Story.
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News:
- Super 8 gets moving!
- Ryan Reynolds in yet another comic-based movie?
- For the fans of Easter eggs
- Gavin Hood To Attempt Developing ‘Ender’s Game’
The Past: Romancing the Stone (1984)
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Director: Robert Zemekis
Starring: Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito
Trivia:
- The phrase “Romancing the Stone” is a piece of jewelers’ jargon, referring to a step in preparing a gem for use in jewelery.
- Although, upon its release, comparisons to Raiders of the Lost Ark were inevitable (Time magazine called the movie “a distaff Raiders rip-off”), the screenplay for Romancing had actually been written five years earlier. It was written by a Malibu waitress named Diane Thomas in what would end up being her only screenplay; she died in a car crash shortly after the film’s release. Though Thomas received solo writing credit, several uncredited script doctors helped to refine the film’s screenplay.
- The water taxi Joan Wilder rides to meet Ira is named “The Orca,” which is also the name of Quint’s boat in Jaws (1975). Jaws director Steven Spielberg produced director Robert Zemeckis’ previous film, Used Cars (1980). Zemeckis also co-wrote Spielberg’s 1941 (1979) which features a “Jaws” parody.
Alan Silvestri was hired to do a temporary score for the film, but director Robert Zemeckis liked his work so much that he kept him on as composer. - At the beginning of the movie, when Joan Wilder has finished the book, she prepares “dinner” for her cat. This scene resembles a well-known commercial for cat-food.
- The treasure map that is integral to the movie was designed by puzzle columnist Dr. Crypton.
- In the English version of the film, Gloria speaks of “Macy’s” as the department store where Joan gets sick. The German edition of this movie says “Bloomingdale’s” instead of “Macy’s”. Gloria says “Bloomingdale’s” on the English audio of the DVD.
- Reports of kidnappings in Colombia forced the location shoots to be done in Mexico.
- The Eddy Grant song “Romancing the Stone” did not feature prominently in the film (the guitar solo can be heard in the background of the scene where Joan and Jack enter the house of her “fan,” Juan) and was not included on the soundtrack album. Although he was commisioned to write the song for the movie, the filmmakers chose not to use it. When the movie was released and proved to be a big hit, Eddy released the song on his own. One of the video clips of the song, however, makes prominent use of footage from various scenes from the film.
- Both Sylvester Stallone and Christopher Reeve turned down the role of Jack T. Colton, before Michael Douglas accepted the part.
- The stunt double for Kathleen Turner who did the actual mud slide scene was Jeannie Epper who was also the stunt body double for actress Lynda Carter on the “The New Adventures of Wonder Woman” (1975) television series.
- Director Robert Zemeckis asked Danny DeVito to shoot a special promo for the movie. It was to be filmed on a Malibu beach, next to a tall cliff. For the promo, DeVito was strapped into a harness and hoisted fifty feet in the air by a huge crane. When he was in the air, DeVito discovered that there was a house on top of the cliff, with a swimming pool terrace outside. A woman in a bikini was lying on a deck chair next to the pool. She jumped up and began screaming at DeVito, yelling that he was a “peeping Tom”, and that she was going to call the police. In a panic, DeVito yelled for the film crew to bring him down at once. The film crew told him that the crane had jammed, and DeVito was left hanging in the air with the screaming woman throwing things at him from the top of the cliff. A few minutes later, the woman told DeVito that he was being filmed for a segment of the TV show, “TV’s Bloopers and Practical Jokes”.
- When Jack is rummaging through his destroyed Jeep he throws out a couple of magazines including the July 1983 issue of Playboy before finding the picture of his dream yacht.
- The white car driven by Ralph is a RENAULT 4L. Wich in Colombia back then it was the highest selling car in the country and it was known as the “faithful friend” (El amigo fiel) in the TV commercials for the car.
Director trademark: panning across part of a room with a loudly ticking clock to a ringing phone (also found in Back to the Future and Amazing Stories Book Two: Go to the Head of the Class). - The Rolling Stone that Jack finds in the dead pilot’s bag is the September 9, 1982 edition, featuring Elvis Costello on the cover.
- The scene in which Joan Wilder offers to pay Jack T. Colton in traveler’s checks and he asks if they are American Express is a reference to the American Express commercials featuring Karl Malden, who previously co-starred with Michael Douglas in “The Streets of San Francisco” (1972).
- Studio executives were so sure this film would flop that Robert Zemeckis was pre-emptively fired from directing Cocoon (1985). It turned out to be such a success that Zemeckis was able to go forward on his own project, Back to the Future (1985).
- According to Kathleen Turner’s memoirs Michael Douglas originally offered the role of Joan to Debra Winger. They met at a Mexican restaurant to discuss it but, according to Douglas, she ended up biting him. She didn’t get the part.
- Manuel Ojeda was cast as Zolo based on a previous role in the film Green Ice (1981).
- The film’s success also led to a sequel, 1985’s The Jewel of the Nile, without Zemeckis at the helm but with Douglas, Turner and DeVito all returning. Though it performed respectably, its success didn’t match that of the original. A second sequel called Crimson Eagle was planned but never got past the development stage.
- The film was well received by critics and is considered by many as one of the best films of 1984. It holds an 86% approval rating on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 42 reviews
Talking Points:
What We’ve Learned:
- If you’re taking traveler’s checks, make sure they are American Express
- When standing on the side of a mountain in the rain, be weary of mud slides.
- This is not the bus to Cartehena
- “How about them snappers?”
- Always have a remote controlled hydraulically driven ramp ready so you can make your escape from Colombian drug cartels
Trailer:
Recommendations:
Jeff: Pleasantly Enjoyable. I’d call this a buy for Date Night.
Ray: Hasn’t aged well, but still a fun watch
Steve: Campy good fun. Always enjoyed this movie and glad we brought it back!
The Present: Alpha & Omega
Director: Anthony Bell & Ben Gluck
Starring: Hayden Panettiere, Justin Long, Christina Ricci, Dennis Hopper, Danny Glover
Trivia:
- Wolves from Alberta, Canada, were really used to repopulate Yellowstone National Park.
- Dennis Hopper’s last film.
- Key animation was done at Crest’s animation studio in India. Pre-production and post-production took place in Los Angeles.
- The film received negative reviews and currently holds a 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a rating of 8% from “Top Critics” but has received a 62% positive rating from audience members.
- The film earned an estimated $2.3 million on opening day, placing #5 at the box office. It is estimated to earn about $10 million on its opening weekend.
Talking Points:
- What is the audience for this movie? Kids? Tweens? Adults? Confusing.
What We Learned:
- When filming a cartoon in 3D, put a lot of rollercoaster-type shots to justify the expense
- Being an omega seems like a whole lot more fun than an alpha!
- There is no reasoning with an angry grizzly bear.
Trailer:
Recommendations:
Jeff: Enjoyable, definitely geared for kids.
Ray:Think i need to be a tweenage girl to enjoy this one.
Steve: Balto + Lion King + Romeo & Juliet = an “eh” movie. Kids will love it.
The Future: It’s Kind of a Funny Story
Starring: Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts, Keir Gilchrist, Lauren Graham, Zoe Kravitz, Viola Davis
Trivia:
- In May 2006, Paramount Pictures and MTV Films acquired the film rights to the novel. Boden and Fleck were hired to adapt the screenplay. The film was later placed in turnaround and bought by Focus Features.
- Production began in New York City on November 30, 2009. Principal photography took about six weeks, ending on February 2, 2010. Scenes taking place in the fictional Executive Pre-Professional High School were shot at Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, while Victory Memorial Hospital in Brooklyn stood in for Argenon Hospital.
- The film was originally scheduled for a limited release in the United States on September 24, 2010. Focus Features later opted for a wide release of approximately 500 theaters across the US and a release date of October 8, 2010. The film premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.
- To coincide with the film’s release Hyperion Books will publish a new edition of the novel, featuring photos from the film on the cover.
Talking Points:
- Wow.. what a makeup job on zach! he looks awful!
Summary:
A clinically depressed teenager gets a new start after he checks himself into an adult psychiatric ward.
Trailer:
Excitement:
Jeff: Strangely appealing. I don’t know why, but I really want to see this movie.
Ray: Not as enthusiastic as Jeff.. but id go see it.
Steve: Not really my kind of movie. No offense.
Coming Attractions
The Past: The Breakfast Club
The Present: The Town
The Future: Sucker Punch
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