APRIL, 3


THE AVENGERS 3

Action / Superhero

The Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Edward Norton, Tobey Maguire, Kurt Russell, Rose McGowan, Tyler Mane, Adam Bladwin, William Fitchner, Willem Dafoe, James Gandolfini

The Director and Producer: Gore Verbinski
The Screenwriter: Matt Kubrick

The Plot: It's been two whole years since the battle with the chitauri. Nick Fury (K.Russell) has been training the Avengers, there is always something around the corner, the life of a super hero is never easy. In between training for more battles they all have been resting and taking it easy and sometimes having fights with each other when disagreements break out. But they never hate each other and always depend on each and remain loyal. Tony Stark (R.Downey Jr.) continues with his experiements to help Bruce Banner (E.Norton) with his alter ego and has been able to make it so that Bruce Banner can change into the Hulk whenever he needs to instead of when he gets angry. The team members are Iron Man, Hulk, Nick Fury, Captain America (A.Baldwin), Valkyrie (R.McGowan) and Thor (T.Mane).

Nick Fury has been keeping tabs on Spider Man (T.Maguire). After the events of the past few years he has used a combination of DNA and spying to figure out who Spider Man's true identity is. He believes that even at his young age he could at some point be a valuable ally despite all the rumors of him actually being bad.

Meanwhile in Iraq, Dr. Kurt Conners (W.Fitchner) has been helping soilders who have been severly wounded in battle. One day the camp where he and the soilders have been staying is attacked and Kurt himself is wounded and loses his arm. When he returns to the states he begins doing experiments with lizard DNA to try and grow a new arm. The experiment backfires on him and he grows into a walking hideous lizard. He tries to figure out a way to try and change himself but when he smashes his way into a doctors home he goes on a rampage. Soon Spiderman shows up on the scene and the two begin to battle. Kurt Conners now the Lizard falls to the street below when he is knocked out of the building landing on a parked car in the process.

The Avengers show up moments later missing the battle and take the Lizard away where they put him in the lower section of the massive Triskellion, home of the Avengers. The lower level hundreds of feet below is where they house the worst criminals. It is here where Norman Oswald AKA the Green Goblin (W.Dafoe) and Dr. Otto Octavius AKA Dr. Octopuss (J.Gandolfini) are being held. They have been beaten by Spiderman but they were just hanging onto life when they were found.

It is the governments hope that they can be rehabilitated and can someday have normal lives in society, until then they are kept here until the time is right. Nick Fury has dozens of armed guards that do the best they can at keeping things in order. But Dr. Octopuss is soon released. Because of his communication with his mechanical arms (something doctors could never figure out) he manages to free himself smashing the cell door. Normal convinces the doctor to free him as well and soon they free The Lizard. By the time the guards show up they are already free and Doctor octopuss and the lizard take care of all the guards that show up in a massive battle. They blow through a wall using explosives they find and leave the triskellion.

With the three bad guys missing Nick Fury decides that their most likely target will be Peter Parker. He uses inside help to let his pose as a guidance counsellor and has them called to an office. It is here that Nick Fury tells him that him and everyone he knows is in danger. Three of his most dangerous enemies are on the loose and the Avengers may be his only hope of survival. He dons his Spiderman suit and temporarily joins the team. Meanwhile Norman has retrieved his Green Goblin suit and all of his gear. Nick Fury has secret agents take Mary Watson and May Parker to seperate secure locations. Only he knows where they are at.

Nick Fury is attacked when he is split from the group by the three bad guys and loses the battle. They then take to the streets in their reign of terror to hunt down Spiderman, destroying everything in their path. Finally the Avengers show up and do their best to lead them away from innocent lives to avoid more death and destruction and a major battle ensues taking it's toll on everyone involved. When the dust settles the Green Goblin and Dr. Octopuss are dead and The Lizard is taken back to the the prison inside the Triskellion.

A few days later a private funeral is held for Nick Fury, their good friend the person they looked to for guidance. After the farewell to Fury Captain America assumes Command of the team.

Right after the funeral, we see Nick Fury laying badly wounded on a medical table somewhere deep inside the triskellion. We here several voices talking but we don't see who they are but they are doctors. They are talking about Nick Fury who has been badly injured and almost upon death. We can fix him one voice says. He has agreed to the proceedure. He has been told that he will be better than he was before. Do it then says another voice. Rebuild him, the camera then pulls black and the screen goes dark.


Stark’s Comment: The mother of all CMP’s superheores franchises reaches its third instalment surrounded by controversy. But I don’t think that will affect to its box office’s turnout. Yes, the secret hero was no other than Spider Man!

TENDER IS THE NIGHT

Drama

The Cast: Daniel Day Lewis, Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson, Kevin Costner, Adrien Brody, Maggie Gyllenhaal

The Director: Martin Scorsese
The Screenwriter: James Bradley

The Plot: Dick (B. Pitt) and Nicole (A.Jolie) Diver are a very glamorous couple who take a villa in the South of France during the summer of the 1930s and surround themselves with a circle of friends, mainly Americans. Also staying at the resort is Rosemary Hoyt (S.Johansson), a young actress, with her mother. Rosemary gets sucked into the circle of the Divers, and falls in love with Dick and also becomes adopted as a close friend by Nicole. Dick first toys with the idea of an affair with Rosemary at this point, which finally acts upon years later.

However, Rosemary senses something is wrong with the couple, which is brought to light when one of the guests at a party reports having seen something strange in the bathroom. Tommy Barban (K.Costner), another guest, comes loyally to the defense of the Divers. The action involves various other friends, including the Norths, where a frequent occurrence is the drunken behavior of Abe North (A.Brody). The story becomes complicated when an unnamed man is murdered and ends up in Rosemary's bed, in a situation almost of high farce. This nearly compromises the situation with Rosemary and Dick.

While all this events take place, the history of the Divers emerges. Dick Diver was a doctor and psychoanalyst and had taken on a complicated case of neuroses. This was Nicole, whose complicated, incestuous relationship with her father is suggested at as the cause of breakdown. As she becomes infatuated with Dick, Dick is almost driven to marry her as part of the cure. However strong objections are raised as Nicole is an heiress and her sister (M.Gyllenhaal) thinks Dick is marrying her for her money.

However they do marry, and Nicole’s money pays for Dick's partnership in a Swiss clinic and for their extravagant lifestyle. However Dick gradually develops a drinking problem. He gets into fights and trouble with the police in various incidents and is bought out of the clinic by his partner.

The opening episode almost marks the cross over point whereby Dick becomes the weaker partner, progressively failing in what he attempts while Nicole becomes stronger. Dick's behaviour becomes embarrassing as he mishandles situations with friends. Eventually Nicole has an affair with Tommy Barban, and divorces Dick to marry him.

Nicole survives, while Dick drifts into ever diminishing circumstances. The underlying theme is then how one person has become strong by destroying another—a point emphasized cynically by Nicole's sister, who having seen Dick originally as the parasite, finally remarks that "That was what he was educated for".


Stark’s Comment: A quality production. The dark side of the roaring 1920’s are shown in this adaptation of the classic Scott Fitzgerald’s novel. Martin Scorsese returns to CMP with an outstanding cast. Probably not a blockbuster but a product to collect awards.

THE AWFUL TRUTH

Comedy / Dark

The Cast: Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Laura Linney, Jane Fonda, James Cromwell

The Director: Joel and Ethan Coen
The Screenwriter: Richard Franzwa

The Plot: A woman (Julia Roberts) with a secure and happy marriage wakes up one morning with the unwarranted feeling that her loving husband (Tom Hanks) is having an affair with her best friend (Meg Ryan). She tries to shake off the feeling but finds herself paying closer attention to her husbands actions. When she overhears a part of a phone conversation between Hanks and someone she believes is Meg, she springs into action and discreetly starts shadowing Hanks.

Julia follows Hanks to her parents home where she learns through a series of misadventures that her father (James Cromwell) likes to dress in women’s clothing and that her mother (Jane Fonda) gives sexual favors to neighbors for spending money. But she still doesn’t find the smoking gun as far as Hanks infidelity is concerned.

Very disheartened and thinking herself foolish she seeks out her sister (Laura Linney) for support, but as she approaches her sisters home she observes Hanks entering the building. After another series of misadventures she discovers that not only is Hanks having an affair, but he’s in a ménage a trois with her sister and Meg.

At the end of the movie, Julia’s world has fallen apart and she wonders why she started digging up dirt when she had such a perfect life.


Stark’s Comment: A dark, acid and even a bit sordid story told with the peculiar sense of humour of the Coen Brothers. Exaggerated characters and situations guaranteed. It may become a cult movie as many comedies from this couple of brothers have.


THE LEGEND OF ZELDA II: Two movies with Liam Neeson in them will be released soon, after the tragic death of his wife, actress Natasha Richardson. Neeson returns to this franchise playing the main villain…

STANLEY & LIVINGSTONE:…and he has almost finished his work in this James Cameron’s movie. With that busy agenda – and mixed with the tragic events in his life – Neeson has become one of the stars most punished for the wrong planning of this Season’s shootings.

HAWKEYE. THE PREY: A mess for Claire Danes. This is the movie where she was supposed to appear as Marvel’s Black Widow. Later, the Studio decided she would show up in ‘The Avengers 3’. And, finally, the original decision has been retaken and Danes will make her debut as Black Widow in this one. Together with her, Benjamin Bratt – who returns to CMP nine seasons later after his work in Season 1’s ‘Corsairs’ – and the young Logan Lerman (‘Welcome To Summer Camp’) will also be seen in the movie.

BORGEL: We already said a youngster and a 111 years old man would be the starring couple of this Terry Gilliam’s movie. Well, we’ve got their names: GMA Nominee Dustin Hoffman (‘Dare To Be Perfect’) will put some make up on to be the old man and Spencer Breslin (‘Ugly’) will be his younger partner in the adventure.

FLASHMAN AND THE MOUNTAIN OF LIGHT: Still fresh the success of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, one of its stars, Freida Pinto will make here her debut in CMP. Ken Watanabe, whose last work for the Studio was ‘The Chinese Bride’, and Judi Dench, playing no other than British Queen Victoria, have also joined the cast.

PREACHER 2: ALL AMERICAN FAMILY: Green light for the awaited sequel of Matt Kubrick’s adaptation of this cult comic. While ‘Preacher’ director Zack Snyder moved to the Wild Cards franchise with ‘Battle Of The Rox’, the previous director of the Wild Cards’ franchise, Guillermo del Toro, moves to this one. Of course, James Marsden repeats as the preacher.

L.A.WOLF: A long long time ago, back in Season 1, Michelle Monaghan worked in the acclaimed second instalment of the Darkman saga, ‘The Long Dark Night’. Same way as Benjamin Bratt (see above), it has taken her nine seasons to be back in CMP with this action thriller. Andy Garcia, only seen before in CMP in another cops story, ‘The Law’, and heard past Season in the animated feature ‘Bird Of A Feather’, is also back here.

THE SECRET PEOPLE: Three talents are making their debut in CMP in this adventure production: Djimon Hounson, Cedric The Entertainer and Jeremy Piven.

AQUAMAN: BATTLE FOR ATLANTIS: After his recent success with adults stories – ‘Fallen Kings’, ‘Blood Meridian’ – Dawson Edwards returns to superheroes universe with another comic adaptation. This time, it’s the turn for a minor character like Aquaman. And the talent chosen to play the hero is Paul Walker, never seen before in a CMP’s movie.

DEEP SILENCE 2: Yes, we have read about this project for years. But it’s finally here. Joey Stark has at last written the screenplay for this sequel of one of the first CMP’s hits, directed by James Cameron and written by the now retired author Tom Figgs. Not much is known about it yet. Things for sure: Jessica Alba is starring it and her co-star Keanu Reeves and James Cameron won’t get involved in this long awaited sequel.


TENDER IS THE NIGHT
By James Bradley

When I started working on the adaptation of the Harry Flashman’s adventures, I decided I would keep trying to make movie adaptations of my favourite books.

One of my favourite writers has always been Francis Scott Fitzgerald. I like that mix of old fashioned glamour and self-destruction fatality in his characters – and in him. So I first considered adapting The Great Gatsby. I think the movie version with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow didn’t really capture the spirit of the book. And a definitive adaptation of The Great Gatsby to the big screen is still to be done.

I tried to composure different casts for my Gatsby’s version but I didn’t feel satisfied with any of them. So, finally, I just abandoned the idea. Then, I turned my eyes to another Fitzgerald’s classic, Tender Is The Night. This book also had a movie adaptation decades ago I don’t particularly like. Everything turned easier with this book. Angelina came instantly to my mind as the perfect Nicole Diver, a woman with a complex mix of madness, mystery, sensuality and glamour. Nobody could be better than Angelina to play Nicole... although of course I seriously considered Kate Winslet.

So who could play her glamorous but decadent husband? Brad Pitt came instantly to my mind too. But I know real life married couples together in a movie usually become box office poison (and, although a completely different movie, the memory of ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’ was such a heavy weight for me!). So Brad was finally out.

It was hard to find a director for the movie. It was Harry Stark who gave me the names of Martin Scorsese and Clint Eastwood. And I agreed it would be nice offering Scorsese the chance of making something different from the ordinary mob movie everyone always expects from him. Also, he made a wonderful work with the adaptation of ‘The Age Of Innocence’, another book with some common elements with Tender Is The Night. And remembering that movie gave me the idea of Daniel Day Lewis. He starred The Age Of Innocence and also made a great job for Scorsese in Gangs of New York. So teaming up again Marty and Daniel looked as a wonderful option!

Scarlett is a regular in my pitches, as you all know, but besides that I honestly think she was absolutely perfect to play the sweet, charming, attractive and naïve Rosemary, the opposite to Nicole / Angelina. Kevin Costner fits as a glove playing a mature but still attractive playboy and I am so happy Brody accepted a minor role cause he has done a great job as the heavy drinker Abe North. Finally, I wanted very much to have Maggie Gyllenhaal in a movie again since I directed her in ‘Celebutantes’.

In conclusion, I feel so satisfied with this cast. They all look so perfect for their characters and this is mainly a movie based on the acting works. Cast is always essential for me when putting up my pitches. But this time I felt it was specially important to find the perfect cast. And I honestly think this is it.

After Pompeii, the Flashman’s movies and this one, I feel more and more comfortable adapting books. It is as challenging as writing new stories, which I like so much too. So expect more books adaptations in the future!


'200 MILLIONS' MOVIES

CMP’s movies making more than 200 millions in box office used to be a rarity for long (not counting the first CMP’s Season, when a lower level of Hollywood Mogul was used to manage the release of the movies). Reaching 100 millions is already considered an outstanding success in CMP. But lately, it seems like the Studio has gained the experience to reach more often the 200 millions. Anyway, after 270 movies released by CMP only 9 of them have reached the 200 millions landmark.

As past week ‘Devil Trigger’ became the 9th release to overcome the 200 millions’ barrier, we take a look today at those 9 movies with a special mention to the genre and the talent in the movie most favoured by that success.

STAR WARS: NEW ORDER – Season 3
Steven Spielberg / Marcus Trax
B.O.: 229 mill. / N.G.: 250 mill.
Sci-Fi / Action
Most Favoured Talent: Marcus Trax. After the flop of ‘Tales Of The Jedi’, Trax proved that a Star Wars movie could work in CMP. His trilogy continuing the story of the Skywalker family became one of his more acclaimed works for the Studio.

THE GREAT WAR SERIES: DARKENING SKIES – Season 3
Peter Weir / Jack Hammer
B.O.: 206 mill. / N.G.: 238 mill.
Action / Drama
Most Favoured Talent: Peter Weir. The unexpected success of this epic WWII saga put Weir on top of the most acclaimed directors working for CMP. It was not the kind of movie to break records, but the brilliant story written by Hammer and the masterly directional work of Weir made the miracle.

GAME BOY – Season 5
Robert Zemeckis / John Daws
B.O.: 211 mill. / N.G.: 242 mill.
Fantasy / Adventure
Most Favoured Talent: Daniel Radcliff. This wonderful mix of live action and digital animation was the perfect popcorn show to make box offices burn. And Radcliff played another character to be remembered for besides Harry Potter.

GAME BOY 2: WARLANDS – Season 6
Robert Zemeckis / John Daws
B.O.: 265 mill. / N.G.: 206 mill.
Fantasy / Adventure
Most Favoured Talent: George Lucas. With the impressive success of both the Trax’s Star Wars Trilogy and the Game Boy franchise, Lucas confirmed there’s no producer like him to put up profitable sagas. ‘The Legend Of Zelda’ continued later that rule.

THE ICE PRINCESS – Season 8
Andrew Adamson / Matt Kubrick
B.O.: 316 / N.G.: 320 mill.
Adventure
Most Favoured Talent: Andrew Adamson. The amazing success of this entertaining animated movie instantly transformed Adamson in the King of Animation in CMP. The recent success of his second animated feature, ‘He-Man and Masters Of The Universe’, has confirmed him in that position.

THE DARK TOWER: THE DRAWING OF THE THREE – Season 9
Sam Raimi / Matt Kubrick
B.O.: 285 mill. / N.G.: 349 mill.
Action / Mystery
Most Favoured Talent: Russell Crowe. Again, a movie not expected to reach such landmark surprised everyone. And Crowe has become with it the head of a lasting franchise expected to be developed in no less than seven movies.

THE LAND OF NOD – Season 9
Peter Jackson / Marcus Trax
B.O.: 243 mill. / N.G.: 191 mill.
Adventure / Fantasy
Most Favoured Talent: Young Stars. The most profitable ‘Kids + Fantasy World’ product opened the door to more productions of the genre starred by young stars that have also worked in box office like ‘The Fantastic Mansion’ or the recent ‘The Green Children’.

WOODLAND CREATURES – Season 10
Adam McKay / Josh Collins
B.O.: 262 mill. / N.G.: 219 mill.
Comedy / Children
Most Favoured Talent: Ben Stiller. The only comedy in the ‘200 millions Club’ has put Stiller way ahead of the rest of CMP’s comedians. Now, Stiller has a guaranteed immediate green light for any project he would want to develop in the Studio.

DEIL TRIGGER – Season 10
Larry & Andy Wachowski / David Makalaster
B.O.: 248 mill. / N.G.: 382 mill.
Action / Supernatural
Most Favoured Talent: David Makalaster. After his beginnings with more modest productions like ‘Little Tin Goddess’ or ‘The Metal’, Makalaster seems to have specialized in epic fantasy productions. The success of ‘Devil Trigger’ has turned him into ‘the screenwriter of the moment’.


‘Tender Is The Night’ tells the story of a decadent married couple living in the French Riviera in the 20’s. And that’s also where the premiere of the movie has taken place. Here are Daniel Day Lewis and Angelina Jolie at the red carpet in Cannes.




A new experience in CMP. The debutante screenwriter Chad Taylor has decided to share with all of us his experiences as a CMP’s author in a blog: http://chadtaylorcmp.blogspot.com/ A permanent link to it will be tried to be included in this CMP’s blog. Chad Taylor will release soon his first pitch, the adventure production ‘Stanley & Livingstone’. Don’t miss this great initiative that expands the CMP’s universe.

Where’s Claire Danes / Black Widow in ‘The Avengers 3’? Last controversy for a mostly controversial movie. After the shooting was finished, the Studio decided that it would be better to present her character in ‘Hawkeye. The Prey’. So Danes’ presence in ‘The Avengers 3’ was eliminated in the editing room. According to the Studio, ‘it would be more impressive to see her for the first time as Black Widow in ‘Hawkeye’ than lost in the middle of so many stars and characters in The Avengers 3’. The good thing for Claire is that she got her pay for being in The Avengers 3 although her character won’t be seen on screen.

And now that we know Spider Man was the big surprise of The Avengers 3, I can reveal what other superhero was behind some recent stories I’ve written about: Batman. Yes, Josh Collins sent to CMP his vision of the character in an adaptation of the series ‘Batman Beyond’. A bit later, Chat Taylor send to CMP his own version: ‘Batman: Year One’. A bit later, Collins cancelled his project. And a bit later Taylor renounced to his. So, a bit later, CMP has ended up with no project involving Batman. If there are any news about it later, I will be here to tell you.

No time (…and not too much will neither) to write about sequels this week. I will just point out that CMP has announced there are a few ones on their way: Franzwa’s Sonja Blue, Dawson Edwards’ The Flash, Makalaster’s Magic The Gathering and scary but true… Kubrick’s Psycho!