JANUARY, 29
WEST FLASHMAN
Adventure / Comedy
The Cast: Rupert Everett, Catherine Z. Jones, Nick Nolte, Michelle Rodriguez, Djimon Honsou, Graham Greene. Cameo By Jude Law.
The Director: Frank Darabont
The Screenwriter: James Bradley
The Plot:
London, 1848
Harry Flashman (R.Everett), now Colonel Flashman, is back in London after his latest adventures in India. His political prestige has risen to the sky now that he is said to be a Queen Victoria’s favorite. In fact, it is rumored that Flashy will be appointed soon as member of the House of Commons. But all those happy days will have a quick ending.
During a high-powered political house party, Flashy is playing a card game with prominent politicians, including the future Prime Minister Disraeli. He is accused (falsely for once) of cheating. In a rage, Flashy, who has been drinking more than reasonably during the game, beats the accuser – a very important member of the British Government. He sends the accuser to hospital, nearly killing him. That – together with the fact that some guests saw him putting the moves on the respected Lady Fanny Duberly – ruins his political future and destroys his reputation once again.
Always short of money and not willing to return to his military career, Flashy decides to join a ship’s crew for a while until the scandal of his aggression cools down… only to discover once sailing that he has joined a slave ship on a slaving expedition to Africa. The slave trade ship is under the command of Captain John Charity Spring (N.Nolte), a Latin-spouting madman, described by Flashy as a ‘classics-quoting, slaver and an eccentric and homicidal lunatic’.
After a slave run, the ship is attacked and captured by the US Navy at the Gulf of Mexico. Flashy immediately changes sides with his usual elan: he masquerades as an abolitionist agent fighting the slave trade from within. That way, he avoids prison and is taken by the US Navy’s officers to Washington D.C. being considered almost a hero. There, he meets a junior congressman named Abraham Lincoln (J.Law), who is admired of his bravery and promises him the medal of the American Congress if he can do another thing for him.
Lincoln asks Flashy to go to New Orleans and meet some guys from the Underground Railroad, an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by abolitionists to help black slaves to escape to free States.
Once in New Orleans, he has a surprising encounter there: Anne Willinck (C.Z.Jones), the last mistress of his dead father and his own lover for a while (see ‘The Misadventures of Harry Flashman’ and ‘Flashman’s Travels’). Anne explains Flashy that her latest husband – a presumed very rich and for sure very old man – died leaving her full of debts so she had to emigrate to the US seeking for fortune. Now, Anne is the madame of one of the most popular New Orleans’ whorehouses. Of course, although they have always hated each other, Flashy and Anne remember the good old days in bed.
Flashy tries to get rid of the people from the Underground Railroad. But once they discover he is not a brave abolitionist at all, they coerce him to accept a mission under the thread of denouncing his lies to the US Navy. So Flashy is coerced into running Cassy (D.Honsou), a supercilious slave, to freedom up the Mississipi River. Their run away all across Mississipi and then a frozen Ohio River – fighting against cold, hunger and gunners hired to capture them – with Cassy being often more heroic than Flashy and the one to help Flashy instead the other way around - becomes a tough survival experience.
Once Cassy is free in Canada, Flashy returns to New Orleans travelling in trains as a tramp. He is exhausted and has no money at all. Anne accepts to take him in her brothel for a while if he works free as a croupier. One night, Captain Spring appears in the brothel. For some mysterious reason, he has avoided imprisonment too. Spring is also ruined so – although he considers Flashy betrayed him and fondly hates him – they agree to team up to make some money cheating at poker games in the brothel. Not even Anne knows that.
But one night a professional gambler discovers their cheats. There’s a big fight at the brothel and Police comes and closes it. Spring and Flashy end up in jail and Anne loses her business.
Although she wants to kill Flashy for ruining her, she is desperate and needs help. So she uses her contacts – mainly blackmailing New Orlean’s Police Chief, a frequent client of the brothel – to free Flashy. She offers Flashman a deal. He will take care of her and her girls. Anne wants to travel west to the promised land of San Francisco, where gold is said to be everywhere.
Flashman accepts to shepherd Anne and her company of prostitutes to San Francisco, where she intends to set up shop and make a bundle from goldminers. So now Flashy becomes a wagon captain of a caravan financed by Anne.
Flashman is nominally in charge of Anne’s collection of women, supplies and sex toys, and the other forty-niners and invalids looking for a better life, but he depends of the guidance of the famous Richens Lacey Wootton to see them through. Unfortunately, Wootton becomes stricken with cholera. Flashman is left to get everyone to San Francisco in safety, including surviving to a couple of attacks from Comanches. Eventually, they reach Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Although they have wonderful sex all over the trip and she proves to be a brave fighter and shooter against the Comanches, Flashman is fed up of Anne’s bad temper and the girls’ whims, so once in New Mexico he absconds with two thousand dollars made from selling one of the prostitutes to Navajos.
Looking for safety in the wilderness, Flashman falls in with a group of travellers, but he soon discovers them to be scalp-hunters when they attack a band of Apaches. Flashman feels obliged to join in but refuses to take any scalps or rape the captive women. And that will save him when finally the scalp-hunters are killed by the rest of the tribe in their return.
Kept captive by the Apaches, his usual charm and sympathy helps him to end up becoming friend with their chief, Mangas Coloradas (G.Greene). In fact, Mangas Coloradas offers him to marry his own daughter, Sonsee-Array (M.Rodriguez). Flashy – who, in fact, has been secretly having sex with her since he was captured by the Apaches – considers he cannot deny the gentle offer, so he marries her following the Apache rituals (although he is already married, as we all know).
After a nice stay with the Apaches, where he is treated with maximum respect as the chief’s son-in-law, Flashy begins missing home. So one night he escapes from the tribe. In his run away, he will be found by the legendary Kit Carson, who helps him to travel to Washington. There, he meets again with the young Abraham Lincoln.
When Flashy tells him his adventures – of course, changing the facts a bit to look as a heroic adventurer – and how he helped Cassy to be free and then guided the caravan of women and invalids to San Francisco and then survived as captive of the Apaches, Lincoln promotes Flashy to be decorated with the Golden Medal of the American Congress.
News about all these events travel to England. There, newspapers talk about Flashman as a British hero and an icon for the American people.
When Flashman finally returns to London – with a ship passage payed by Lincoln himself -, he is welcomed as a hero. Past scandals are suddenly forgotten and his reputation and prestige is higher than ever. Queen Victoria sends him a personal note congratulating him for his bravery (and with a PS saying that she hopes to see him privately again soon…) and even the young Disraeli invites him to his house to play cards games with prominent members of the British political scene…
Stark’s Comment:
Flashman’s adventures have already become a classic in CMP. And they are also a GMA’s voters favorite, as the first movie won the Most Wanted Sequel award and still the third one was again nominated at the same category. The bad side is that box offices of the movies have regularly decreased from one installment to the next, making 108, 88 and 61 millions. I hope that this fourth movie can revitalize moviegoers’ interest in good old Flashy’s adventures.
Behind The Scenes:
-The movie recovers the character played by Catherine Z. Jones, already present in the two first installments of the saga but absent in ‘Flashman And The Mountain Of Light’.
-Each movie of the saga has had a different director. The three previous ones were Mike Newell, Kenneth Branagh and Stephen Frears.
-The plot of the movie is based on two different Flashman’s novels from George McDonald Fraser.
-Josh Brolin was considered at some moment during pre-production to play the character finally played by Nick Nolte.
-As part of Flashy’s legend, the original novel makes a joke about Flashman’s runaway with the slave as the inspiration for the classic ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’.
-As usual, real life characters appear in Flashy’s life in this movie: Abraham Lincoln, Disraeli, Mangas Coloradas, Richens Lacey Wooton and Kit Carson.
-James Bradley has announced that there will be only one more movie of the saga.
KARATE KAT
Animation / Comedy / Family
Cast Of Voices: Ryan Reynolds, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Nathan Gamble, Radha Mitchell.
The Director: Andrew Stanton
The Screenwriter: Josh Collins
The Plot:
Have you ever wondered where your cat wonders off to when it gets outside? Does it prowl your neighborhood? Hunt for smaller animals to bring you as a gift? Or maybe it tries to make sure you're safe from the world's toughest villains.
At the beginning of the film, we are introduced to Benjamin (Voice of Nathan Gamble), an unlucky kid who gets bullied and taunted on a daily basis from his peers. After an incident at school in gym class when he creams one of his bullies in a game of dodge ball, the bully and his goons chase him down after school and get him cornered against a wall. Ben is absolutely terrified and the bully demands that Ben at least look like he's defending himself, so Ben cowers low, puts his arms up, turns his head and closes his eyes.
But all of a sudden, fighting sound effects ensue, along with the sound of a cat's hissing and angry meowing. Ben realizes he is not getting pummeled and looks to see the bullies taken out and a stray cat (Voice of Ryan Reynolds) sitting on the head bully, licking his paws and fur. Ben doesn't realize the cat saved him and he's under the impression that he fought the bullies off himself. He decides to take the cat home against the cat's wishes (he tries telling Ben that he's not a pet but Ben doesn't hear the cat, only meows.) and Ben convinces his mom (Voice of adha Mitchell) that he can keep the stray cat. But at first, they leave him locked inside the house so that he can't escape and therefore, can not save the town from crime.
One funny moment near the beginning is Ben and his mom take the cat to the vet for vaccination shots and when the doctor suggests getting the cat neutered, he manages to escape the room. Ben tries to get the cat, and he manages to run out the door. Once he's out the door, he's out of sight. But at least he's back to saving the city from criminals.
His real name is Neko, a karate student of Katmandu style karate. His Sensei (Voice of Michael Douglas) is an old Siamese Cat looking to pass his Dojo on to the next worthy student. Neko could very well be the next sensei.
While Neko strives to prove himself worthy of being sensei, Benjamin is sad about losing his cat and wanders the city to find Neko. While all of this is going on, a supervillain is in the making. Nicholas Sane (Voice of Matt Damon) is a corrupt scientist/engineer working at his dad's lab. He was supposed to be making technology that would help people, but he was making weapons. Once his father catches wind of what his son is doing, he fires Nick, only to be disintegrated by Nick's ray. Nick takes over the lab and forces the other engineers to build WMD's along with his vehicles and a giant robot of war.
They dub him 'Dr. N. Sane' and while Neko tries to fend off an attack on the villain, Benjamin finds him and takes him home again. Neko gets locked up while Dr. N. Sane wrecks havoc. The other cats from the Dojo are not as trained enough to stop him. Neko's had enough and tries to explain to Ben that he is the Karate Kat by miming it in front of him, but Ben doesn't get it at first. Neko gets frustrated and tries to explain by drawing a picture of himself in his karate gi with his claws. Ben finally realizes that Neko IS the Karate Kat and sets him loose to save the town.
It all comes to a big showdown between Neko and Dr. N. Sane while he's in his robotic war machine. Neko manages to apprehend Dr. N. Sane and save the day!
Sensei retires from instructing the dojo and passes it on to Neko. Neko returns to Benjamin to live as a regular house cat by day and the Karate Kat by night. It is also established that he helps Ben learn Katmandu and the final scene shows him sitting on top of Ben's home, meditating. A police siren is heard in the distance and his eyes open, his ending monologue saying "I live for this stuff"
Stark’s Comment:
Almost every Season, the Studio releases at least one animated movie. And they usually work very nicely at box office. This one, strongly influenced by Pixar’s style, brought to CMP by Andrew Stanton, looks as a sure bet. Family and Children oriented movies always work so well for the Studio.
Behind The Scenes:
-This screenplay has stayed at the waiting list for so long. The unmentionable reason is that Harry Stark didn’t trust much in a project about a karate fighting cat.
-Will Smith was offered to put the voice to Neko, but he refused as he was too busy working on ‘John and Tommie’.
-Before this one, Matt Damon has already made a voice only work for CMP in ‘Robotech 2’. Michael Douglas has also made a voice only work before in ‘Bullet Witch’.
THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM
Love Story
The Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Emile Hirsh, Andy Garcia, Kristen Stewart, Frank Langella
The Director: Jodie Foster
The Screenwriter: Joey Stark
The Plot:
Ryan (E. Hirsh) is an unsettled 21 years old guy studying at the nice and traditional Redmond University. He does not have too many friends, he never goes to parties and he spends most of his time alone. He is not aggressive but he seems to be always angry.
Katherine (M. Pfeiffer), her Literature teacher, notices how good his works are and contacts him. Katherine, 49, is a nice and quiet woman that seems to live only for his classes and his books.
Ryan and Katherine soon begin a nice teacher / pupil relationship based on their common love for literature. She recommends him what to read and then they talk about the readings. Katherine invites sometimes Ryan to go to her house at the campus after classes to talk about books. Katherine realizes how lonely Ryan is and feels sympathy for him. Ryan does not speak much but slowly he begins to open up more to her.
As their friendship based on literature progresses, Ryan tells Katherine his biggest secret: he likes to write short stories. Ryan reads Katherine his stories and she realizes how good they are.
They also begin to talk about themselves. Ryan tells Katherine about his dysfunctional family: an alcoholic father and a bitter mother, how he worked hard for a scholarship that let him come to college… Katherine also talks about her past: a failed marriage and her personal pain and frustration for not being able to have children…
But that comfortable friendship blows out one evening at Katherine’s home when, after talking about Ryan’s writings and sharing a cup of wine, Ryan confesses Katherine that he is beginning to feel ‘something more’ about her. Katherine is shocked and disturbed and tells Ryan that it will be better if they don’t see each other anymore.
For a while, they try to avoid each other. But one rainy night, somebody knocks at her home’s door. It’s Ryan. He is desperate. He tells Katherine he can’t live without seeing here. Katherine tries to resist her own feelings about him but finally, that very same night, they make love.
That’s the beginning of a romantic and passionate love story between them. Katherine insists in convincing Ryan that she is too old for him, that they should stop, and Ryan insists that he does not care about anything but her. She cannot stand going on with that secret relationship. She wants to end it at the same time that it makes her so happy.
Their ‘public’ life goes on… A class mate, Julia (K. Stewart), becomes a good friend of Ryan. Katherine notices that and, although she cannot help feeling jealous, she also encourages Ryan to ask her for a date and try to have at least a friendship with somebody of his age.
A Philosophy teacher, Daniel (A. Garcia), also shows some interest for Katherine. They are good friends and go out for dinner and a drink a few times. But when Daniel makes an advance on her, Katherine rejects him, so he accepts to be just friends.
A few months later, Daniel visits Katherine at her home. He tells her that there’s something she should know: there’s a rumor at the University about her having an affair with a student. Katherine denies it. But she looks so nervous and Daniel understands that the rumor is true.
A couple of days later, the College Dean (F.Langella) calls Katherine at his office. The Dean has always been kind and friendly with her. He tells her too about the rumors. He only tells her that he does not want a confession. But, if it’s true, it has to stop immediately, he tells her.
Katherine tells Ryan about it. She tells him they have to break up. Katherine tells Ryan that it’s not for her but for him. All that could take him to be expulsed from the University. The whole thing might ruin his future. Ryan gets so mad at her for breaking up but she gets to stay firm in her decision although it breaks her heart.
Katherine and Ryan keep the distance. He begins dating Julia. He just wants to make Katherine jealous. She sees them together at the campus but controls her suffering. Also, Ryan sees Katherine talking and spending time with Daniel and he gets so jealous too.
One night, Ryan and Julia are together in Ryan’s old car. They are kissing and are about to make love. But Ryan can’t. He finally says Julia he doesn’t want to lie to her. He tells her he loves somebody else. ‘It’s Katherine, right? I have heard the rumors…’, she says. Hurt, Julia leaves.
Ryan is desperate. He misses Katherine too much. That night, after Julia leaves, he drives to Katherine’s home. He begs her to get back together. Katherine decides to lie to him to protect him. She tells him that she doesn’t love him anymore. She tells him that everything between them was a big mistake and that now she loves Daniel and has a relationship with him.
Ryan cries, shouts at her, tries to kiss her… but Katherine rejects him and stays apparently cold and distant. When Ryan finally leaves, Katherine breaks down in tears.
Next time we see Katherine, she is at the Dean’s office. The Dean is saying: ‘Ok, we will do it that way. There will be no scandal. People forget soon. And I accept your proposal: Ryan can stay at the University and continue his studies…’ Katherine only says ‘thank you’.
Katherine is loading the back of her car with her boxes full of books. Daniel is helping her. When the car is loaded, Daniel smiles at her and asks her: ‘Will I ever know from you again?’ She also smiles and answers: ‘You never know…’
As Katherine is driving down the campus, she sees Ryan in a park. He is with Julia. They are talking and both laugh. Katherine smiles and drives away, leaving the University forever while we hear the voice of Ryan reading a passage of one of his short stories…
Stark’s Comment:
There are not many CMP’s movies directly defined as ‘Love Story’. So I am not absolutely sure of how this one will work at box office. Anyway, my brother Joey also wanted to turn a bit artsy this Season, so here goes his most serious screenplay for quite a while. The movie includes a very explicit sex scene with implied nudity from both stars (the first sexual relationship in the movie between Emile and Michelle). I particularly like the choice of Jodie Foster to direct it.
Behind The Scenes:
-The steamy sex scenes were shot by the stars themselves, not using body doubles.
-The shooting of this movie suffered some delays due to Emile Hirsh commitment with ‘The Beatles’.
-It was a coincidence that affected very much the shooting dates for this movie that many of the talents involved were working in other CMP’s movies this very same Season: Emil Hirsh (‘The Beatles’), Kristen Stewart (‘Riders On The Storm’) and Frank Langella (‘Booster Gold’).
-Frank Langella replaced James Cromwell in the very last minute, as Cromwell could not end up on time his work in ‘A Hard Place’.
-A curiosity: Jodie Foster and Michelle Pfeiffer met in Season 7 at the GMA as nominees for Best Supporting Actress for ‘Lyra’ and ‘Only In America’ respectively. After nominations’ votes, Michelle looked as the clear winner. But things turned upside down during the voting for winners and it was finally Jodie who took the statue home.
THE LOVERS STAGE: Josh Collins proposes us in this ensemble movie a look at love
relationships across the different periods of life. Four couples – all including members of the same family – show us how love is during childhood, teen years, maturity and old age. Tamara Jenkins, director of ‘The Savages’, will make her debut in CMP directing this movie. And the talents to play the two older couples will be: Alan Arkin (already seen this Season in another Collins’ movie, ‘The Pitiful Plight Of Tom Collins’) and Vanessa Redgrave and Matthew Broderick (who made a voice only work in Collins’ ‘Bird Of A Feather’) and Felicity Huffman. Both actresses make their debut in CMP with this appealing project.
THE HELLBOWL: Still recent his debut in CMP with ‘The Avengers 4’, John Cho has joined the shootage of this wild comedy. Also in the movie, we’ll see Alec Baldwin. Baldwin’s last work for CMP was the successful comedy ‘Mary’s Dark Side’. Before that, he could be seen in the three movies of CMP’s Captain America’s trilogy.
THE FORGOTTEN: Another member of The Avengers quickly joins another shootage: Robert
Downey Jr. will be one of the villains in this Jonathan Demme’s sequel of ‘The Heirs’. The other main villain will be played by Tom Wilkinson (‘Flashes Of Life’, ‘When Dreams Die’). And the legendary starring couple of ‘Basic Instinct’ will meet again in this movie: Sharon Stone, not seen in CMP since her work in the sequel of ‘Lieutenant USA’, will be Wilkinson’s wife; and GMA Winner Michael Douglas retakes here the character that he already played in ‘The Heir’ movies, the FBI agent that killed Sean Penn and put Robert De Niro in jail.
LOST AT SEA: Besides Michelle Trachtenberg, Matt Kubrick has deliberately wanted to put up a cast of young new faces in CMP for this suspense movie. Anton Yelchin and Jared Padalecki will be two of the newbies. He has also chosen a debutante in CMP – and a peculiar one! - to direct this Midnight Movies’ production: Brian Trenchard Smith, an specialist in B-series – to be generous - horror and action movies.
FADED: It is obvious by now that ‘500 Days Of Summer’ made a big impact on CMP’s authors.
Since that movie was released, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has developed a highly interesting career in CMP, including winning a Best Actor GMA for ‘Weigh Anchor’, the interesting ‘Running On Empty’ and getting the lead role in the ambitious ‘The Forgotten’. Now’s the turn for her starring couple in that one. Zooey Deschanel – only seen before in CMP in ‘The Thinking Man’ – co-stars this comedy playing a peculiar girl, same thing she did in Marc Webb’s movie. And talking about peculiarities, look at who will be playing minor roles in this one: no other than the Sklar Brothers… and Mr. T!!!
ZOIDS: EVE: Rumors say that after his acclaimed work in ‘The Beatles’ and his closed agreement to star another big CMP’s project coming up soon, Jamie Bell was not very interested to repeat his work in this sequel of the successful ‘Zoids’. But there was a sequel contract signed so Bell has had to accept returning to a franchise he might consider too superficial for his acting ambitions.
UNCOMMON VALOUR: ONLY THE VALIANT: John Cleese and Jude Law – who can be seen
this week making a peculiar cameo as a young Lincoln in ‘West Flashman’ – retake their characters in this fourth installment of the adventure saga. And Hayden Christensen joins the cast too. Christensen already worked in another one of Jack Hammer’s epic sagas, ‘The Great War Series’. Christensen, who will probably work in another CMP’s movie during next Season, had been away from the Studio since Steven Spielberg’s hit in Season 7, ‘Atlantis’.
SILENT HILL: THE RETURN: Once solved the main casting problems, it can be announced that Ray Winstone is also working in this sequel. Winstone has previously worked in other CMP’s sequels like ‘The Dark Tower: The Drawing Of The Three’ and ‘Preacher: All American Family’.
OUT PARTYING: It has taken 13 Seasons to CMP to make a teen comedy. And it has been Trent
Nielsen the one to decide trying luck with this traditional genre. In fact, this comedy will mean Nielsen’s debut as movie director. The cast of young talents will be formed by CMP’s debutantes. Among them, you can count on Dave Franco, James Franco’s younger brother and star of the tv series ‘Scrubs’, and Briana Evigan, the sexy young star from ‘Step Up 2’.
JUSTICE LEAGUE: And the big news is kept for the last. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it has been finally greenlighted one of the most hyped CMP’s project ever. Now that The Avengers seem to be gone forever, here comes the Justice League. Chad Taylor is the author of the screenplay and Christopher Nolan is ready to shoot this mega-project that will reunite a new crew of superheroes ready to save the world. Nolan has previously directed for CMP ‘Hot Iron’, ‘The Law’, ‘Monolith’ and ‘Human Axis’.
JOEY STARK – THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM
After a few Seasons writing action movies like ‘Deep Silence 2’, ‘Tracks Of Blood’ or the megahit ‘Silver Sable and the Wild Pack’, Joey Stark returns to more adult and intimate stories with this week’s release, the romantic ‘The Impossible Dream’.
1.It’s hard to imagine you writing a love story?
Why? Well, I know I have been a bit too focused on superheroines movies lately, but remember that
I used to be a serious writer of adult movies once. I had the feeling I needed to go back to more adult issues. And I hide a sweet sentimental guy inside of me. I like love stories and romantic comedies and I am so happy to take a chance at the genre.
2.No more superheorines for you?
Well, next Season we’ll see the third Silver Sable’s movie. And ‘Daughters Of The Dragon’ worked so well at box office that I know some time in the future my brother Harry will demand a sequel. But I think that will be all. I feel in the mood for more adult stories at this point of my career. At least for a while. I am working really hard on an extremely ambitious project: the adaptation of the Michael Chabon’s novel ‘The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier and Clay’. It’s a huge project and really difficult. I have already written quite a few drafts. I want it to be perfect. In so many ways, I expect it to be my master piece.
3.Chad Taylor has resurrected one of your most famous sagas, ‘The Heirs’. How do you feel about it?
Mad. He has done it without my permission…!!! *Laughs* Just kidding. I was so surprised when Harry told me about it. Taylor has had a great idea to retake the story. In fact, I read his screenplay
and I liked so much his ideas that now we are working together in it and the movie may be released as a co-written work by Taylor and me.
4.The CMP’s artsy Season is reaching its end. What are your conclusions about how things have turned out this Season?
It’s been a hard Season. Box office’s numbers have dropped in general for all CMP’s releases, not only the artsy ones. But still the Studio is making nice profits, so Harry has nothing to worry about. Personally, I think it has been a most interesting Season. Most of the Studio’s screenwriters have shown their most creative and intellectual side with daring proposals. It’s great. That’s what CMP is about, isn’t it? Creativity. And it has been a Season full of creativity and talent.
5.Which CMP’s authors are you specially following lately?
We have some new and very interesting writers that are trying new things. But we also have the veterans that keep producing an amazing amount of new and brilliant ideas. CMP is so challenging. You see what all these guys' writting and you are just scared you cannot stay at the same creative level. How many movies has the Studio released? Near 400? And how many great stories are there? Something like 300? It’s amazing. It’s such a creative achievement. And the best thing is that, after nearly 400 movies, I am still curious about what will come out next from the mind of all these talented guys.
JAMES BRADLEY – WEST FLASHMAN
Each new Flashman’s movie is a great event… at least for me. You know how much I enjoy writing these stories. They have everything I like in a movie: a fast pace, adventure, sense of humor, a sexy touch and a great anti-heroic lead character.
For this fourth movie of the saga, I have taken plot elements from two of George McDonald Fraser’s books: ‘Flash For Freedom’ and ‘Flashman and the Red Skins’. As usual, I have introduced some changes to adapt it all to a movie.
The main change is that Anne, the character played by Catherine Z. Jones seen before in ‘The Misadventures Of Harry Flashman’ and ‘Flashman’s Travels’, is back. That character is almost my
own creation. The latest mistress of Flashy’s father before he died only appeared in the initial pages of the first Flashman’s book. But I think that the chemistry between Rupert Everett and Catherine is so great that I decided to turn her into a major character in the movies – dismissing Flashy’s wife, who is a main character in the books but not in my movies. In fact, I missed Catherine in ‘Flashman and the Mountain Of Light’ and that’s why I took her back for this one. So her character is my own personal creation. I think that the relationship between Flashy and Anne works great in the stories: they have a great love / hate relationship full of betrayals and sex… and that’s what Flashman is mostly about after all.
So Flashy goes west… It’s a complete new scenario after travelling across Asia and Africa in the previous movies. In fact, the movie laughs at the stereotypes of western. That’s why I decided I wanted an American director for this fourth movie and Frank Darabont looked more than talented enough to take care of this complex project.
New characters show up in Flashy’s life. Captain Spring is a great one. A rude drunk rogue that makes a funny contrast with Flashy’s educated manners. I love the way he speaks, always using Latin quotes. And Nick Nolte looked perfect to play it. Also, I like the episode about the slave running away. Legend will say that this Flashy’s adventure inspired the classic ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’. The funny truth is that the slave had to rescue Flashy more than Flashy was rescuing him and, at the end, Djimon’s character ends up fed up of Flashy’s cowardness.
Also, historical characters show up, as usual. After Flashy’s affair with Queen Victoria in the previous movie, we’ll see here a young Abe Lincoln, impressed – and fouled – by Flashy’s fake
bravery. It’s the only historical character in the plot I have cast with a major star. Jude Law looked great as a young Lincoln.
Well, besides my enthusiasm about these movies, I know every saga ends up becoming repetitive and losing strength. So I can announce that there will be only one more Flashman’s movie after this. Five looks enough. I don’t want audiences to get tired of my dear Flashy. I will begin working on the fifth screenplay soon. I would like to recover in it characters from previous movies, like the White Rajah played by Ewan McGregor or the effeminate British Colonel played by Kenneth Branagh. And, of course, I would like Flashy meeting again with Anna. I’ll see…
In the meantime, enjoy this new adventure and don’t be hard on judging Flashy. He just does the best he can… to survive.
ANIMATION IN CMP
The relationship between animated movies and CMP has never been an easy one. Harry Stark has publicly admitted that he never feels sure with animated productions. During its first Seasons, CMP created an Animation Division, encouraged by the success of the Robotech’s movies. Michael Bay, director and/or producer of those movies, was appointed as head of that Division. Then, a couple of fiascos – ‘Happy Hamsters’ and ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ – discouraged Harry Stark and the CMP’s Animation Division was closed. Since then, Stark has never trusted much in animation. But that’s an unfair prejudice. The truth is that only one animated production has ever flopped in CMP and the Studio has had some of its biggest hits with animated movies. Don’t forget that still two animated movies stay in the alltimes box office’s top 6 (‘The Ice Princess’ and ‘Game Boy: Warlands’). This week, we take a look at the unstable romance between animation and CMP.
ROBOTECH 1, 2, 3
2D Animation
Seasons 1, 2, 4
Michael Bay, Tony Scott / Matt Kubrick
B.O.: 127, 121, 85 mill. / N.G.: 127, 131, 74 mill.
It has been the only CMP’s animated saga. Based on a sci-fi anime, Michael Bay was responsible of it, although the second movie was directed by Tony Scott. It was a surprising success and caused the creation of the CMP’s Animation Division. Kubrick announced three more movies for the saga but they finally were not done.
HAPPY HAMSTERS
Digital Animation
Season 3
Robert Zemeckis / Marcus Trax
B.O.: 24 mill. / N.G.: 4 mill.
In the middle of the Robotech’s fever, CMP bet for this animated comedy about hamsters long before ‘G-Force’ made them succeed in box office. The poor box office was a big disappointment and red alerts about animated movies started to flash at CMP’s offices.
CALVIN& HOBBES
2D Animation
Season 4
B.O.: 6 mill. / N.L.: 33 mill.
James L. Brooks / Matt Kubrick
Kubrick adapted the popular comic strip and Brooks, producer of ‘The Simpsons’, took control of direction. It looked as a sure bet. And it surprisingly became one of CMP’s biggest disasters. This unexpected mega-flop made Stark to close the Animation Division and lose his interest in animation for long.
GAME BOY
Live Action / Digital Animation
Seasons 5, 6
Robert Zemeckis / John Daws
B.O.: 211, 265 mill. / N.G.: 242, 206 mill.
Not exactly animated movies, these top budget productions mixed a live action character, played by Daniel Radcliff, with a digitally created universe where iconic console games characters showed up with the voices of big stars like Will Smith, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom or Christian Bale. And it worked. The movies became a tremendous success. In fact, they beat the most popular CMP’s franchise of the moment: Marcus Trax’s Star Wars new trilogy. In a time when making more than 200 millions in box office was not something usual in CMP, the ‘Game Boy’ movies overcame that landmark easily. For long, ‘Game Boy: Warlands’ stayed as the top 1 box office’s movie in CMP. Now, a third movie coming up has been recently announced by John Daws.
THE ICE PRINCESS
Digital Animation
Season 8
Andrew Adamson / Matt Kubrick
B.O.: 316 mill. / N.G.: 320 mill.
…and then came ‘The Ice Princess’. Harry Stark never believed in this movie. It was released without any hype at all. It had the shortest cast possible (only two stars’ voices in it: Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow) and CMP’s executives where crossing fingers begging that it would be only a slight flop and not another ‘Calvin and Hobbes’. And it suddenly became the biggest hit ever in CMP’s history against any prediction. Together with ‘Silver Sable and the Wild Pack’, still is the only movie to have made more than 300 millions in box office and remains as the fourth most profitable production in CMP’s History. That tremendous success took everyone at CMP by surprise and, obviously, re-animated Stark’s trust in animated movies.
BIRD OF A FEATHER
Digital Animation
Season 9
Chris Columbus / Josh Collins
B.O.: 126 mill. / N.G.: 167 mill.
No matter previous successes, Stark still was reluctant to produce animated movies. ‘Bird Of A Feather’ was a nice comedy about a bird (voice of Matthew Broderick) helping a girl (voice of Drew Barrymore) to succeed in Broadway. A family and less epic movie than ‘The Ice Princess’. And again, being released without too much hype, it became a big hit. Finally, animated movies were back to stay in CMP.
HE-MAN AND MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE
3D Animation
Season 10
Andrew Adamson / Matt Kubrick
B.O.: 130 mill. / N.G.: 114 mill.
The creative team of ‘The Ice Princess’ (Adamson and Kubrick) reunited again for another epic animated production. After the wonderful results of both ‘The Ice Princess’ and ‘Bird Of A Feather’, Harry Stark was ready to bet strongly again for a new animated feature. And to take some risks: this was the first 3D movie ever produced by CMP (and the only one so far). Again, audiences responded enthusiastically to this proposal and it became a box office’s hit.
WILD CARDS: ORIGIN
2D Animation
Season 10
Matt Kubrick / Matt Kubrick
Only On DVD
As you can see, Kubrick has always been one of the main supporters of animation in CMP. This 60 minutes animated feature written and directed by him has never been seen on screens. It was an extra included in the special Wild Cards’ DVD Box Set released by the Studio. It told the origins of all the legendary Wild Cards’ saga. It’s a nice rarity only for collectors and fans of the saga.
YOGI BEAR
Live Action / Digital Animation
Season 11
B.O.: 75 mill. / N.G.: 80 mill.
Harold Ramis / Chad Taylor
Chad Taylor tried luck in animation with this nice version of the classic Hannah-Barbera’s character ala Scooby Doo’s movies. It wasn’t a huge success but still worked nicely in box office. At this moment, CMP has turned into a regular date to release one animated production per Season.
KARATE KAT
Digital Animation
Season 12
Awaiting release
Collins has counted on an animation genius like Andrew Stanton for his second adventure in the genre after ‘Bird Of A Feather’. The movie is based on a traditional conception for animation (a peculiar animal starring the story) and oriented to family and children. It looks as a sure bet. After all, the last (and only!) time that a CMP’s animated movie flopped was back in Season 4. So the bad reputation of the genre in CMP is totally unjustified.
‘The Impossible Dream’ brings a few novelties to CMP’s world. It is the first directional job for the Studio for the two Golden Moon Awards winner Jodie Foster. And it also shows a different kind of starring couple: Michelle Pfeiffer and Emile Hirsh. The three of them were photographed together during the premiere of the movie in LA.
Edward Norton, relief. Norton has been the big absence in the recent release of ‘The Avengers 4:
Civil War’. But he does not look sad for it. After being an essential part of the franchise playing Hulk in its second and third installment, he decided to stay aside of this new episode. ‘I was tired of fighting with Harry Stark and the production team. At the end, everything was ‘what superhero will be seen more on screen?’ I simply lost the interest. No more Hulk for me, thank you’, he has stated in a recent interview. Ego problems took him away from the saga. Everybody knows about his duels with Robert Downey Jr. Now, Norton prefers to look at the future and he is already involved in the pre-production of a new CMP’s production coming up next Season. So bye, bye, Mr. Big Green Man.
And now that The Avengers seem to be gone forever… welcome ‘Justice League’! Yes, Chad Taylor’s project has been waiting for months to be finally greenlighted. Harry Stark wanted to release first the last Avengers movie before launching
this new mega franchise. Stark expects it to become the new main superheroes franchise of the Studio and he wanted to avoid a competition between Avengers and Justice League. Now that it seems like Matt Kubrick’s saga is over, all the efforts of the people at CMP will be turning ‘Justing League’ in a franchise as successful as The Avengers. It’s all about money, after all.
A new franchise is born, another one ends. After the very disappointing box office of ‘Nathan Zachary and the Pilfered Prototype’, Jack Hammer has announced that it has been the last flight for Nathan Zachary. Although Hammer had planned to write three more movies based on the ‘Crimson Skies’ games, the poor numbers made by the movie has taken him to change his mind. For what I know, Harry Stark had offered Hammer the chance of making a third movie in the future, trying to revitalize the saga. But it seems like Hammer prefers to concentrate on other projects than taking the risk of returning to a saga that audiences have not supported enough.
And a rectification. A few weeks ago I wrote that James Bradley was writing a sequel for ‘The Funeral Drum’. Well, forget about it. It wasn’t that I was bad informed, it is that Bradley has changed his mind. He is writing a new cops movie but it won’t finally be any sequel. The characters in it will be brand new ones. Rumors say that Bradley had to change his mind when Sean Penn told him that he was not interested in playing the same character again.
We don’t know much about Max Arilius yet. His only two screenplays have been the two Silent Hill’s movies, the second one being released next week. So it has surprised me to know that, after that, Arilius was planning to write a highly romantic love story. But, according to my sources, Harry Stark wasn’t satisfied with the first draft of screenplay sent by Arilius so CMP’s President asked him to re-write it. Since then, nobody at CMP has ever heard again about this love story and nobody knows which way Arilius will go after his return to Silent Hill.
Past week, I announced that the upcoming GMA Gala will be a different one, as all the stars presenting awards will be past GMA winners. Now I know something more. The location chosen for the Gala is Madrid, Spain. Yes, Harry Stark’s family hometown. So the golden statues fly again to Europe after having previously visited London, Paris and Venice. No doubt Harry will feel at home this time.
WEST FLASHMAN
Adventure / Comedy
The Cast: Rupert Everett, Catherine Z. Jones, Nick Nolte, Michelle Rodriguez, Djimon Honsou, Graham Greene. Cameo By Jude Law.
The Director: Frank Darabont
The Screenwriter: James Bradley
The Plot:
London, 1848
Harry Flashman (R.Everett), now Colonel Flashman, is back in London after his latest adventures in India. His political prestige has risen to the sky now that he is said to be a Queen Victoria’s favorite. In fact, it is rumored that Flashy will be appointed soon as member of the House of Commons. But all those happy days will have a quick ending.
During a high-powered political house party, Flashy is playing a card game with prominent politicians, including the future Prime Minister Disraeli. He is accused (falsely for once) of cheating. In a rage, Flashy, who has been drinking more than reasonably during the game, beats the accuser – a very important member of the British Government. He sends the accuser to hospital, nearly killing him. That – together with the fact that some guests saw him putting the moves on the respected Lady Fanny Duberly – ruins his political future and destroys his reputation once again.
Always short of money and not willing to return to his military career, Flashy decides to join a ship’s crew for a while until the scandal of his aggression cools down… only to discover once sailing that he has joined a slave ship on a slaving expedition to Africa. The slave trade ship is under the command of Captain John Charity Spring (N.Nolte), a Latin-spouting madman, described by Flashy as a ‘classics-quoting, slaver and an eccentric and homicidal lunatic’.
After a slave run, the ship is attacked and captured by the US Navy at the Gulf of Mexico. Flashy immediately changes sides with his usual elan: he masquerades as an abolitionist agent fighting the slave trade from within. That way, he avoids prison and is taken by the US Navy’s officers to Washington D.C. being considered almost a hero. There, he meets a junior congressman named Abraham Lincoln (J.Law), who is admired of his bravery and promises him the medal of the American Congress if he can do another thing for him.
Lincoln asks Flashy to go to New Orleans and meet some guys from the Underground Railroad, an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by abolitionists to help black slaves to escape to free States.
Once in New Orleans, he has a surprising encounter there: Anne Willinck (C.Z.Jones), the last mistress of his dead father and his own lover for a while (see ‘The Misadventures of Harry Flashman’ and ‘Flashman’s Travels’). Anne explains Flashy that her latest husband – a presumed very rich and for sure very old man – died leaving her full of debts so she had to emigrate to the US seeking for fortune. Now, Anne is the madame of one of the most popular New Orleans’ whorehouses. Of course, although they have always hated each other, Flashy and Anne remember the good old days in bed.
Flashy tries to get rid of the people from the Underground Railroad. But once they discover he is not a brave abolitionist at all, they coerce him to accept a mission under the thread of denouncing his lies to the US Navy. So Flashy is coerced into running Cassy (D.Honsou), a supercilious slave, to freedom up the Mississipi River. Their run away all across Mississipi and then a frozen Ohio River – fighting against cold, hunger and gunners hired to capture them – with Cassy being often more heroic than Flashy and the one to help Flashy instead the other way around - becomes a tough survival experience.
Once Cassy is free in Canada, Flashy returns to New Orleans travelling in trains as a tramp. He is exhausted and has no money at all. Anne accepts to take him in her brothel for a while if he works free as a croupier. One night, Captain Spring appears in the brothel. For some mysterious reason, he has avoided imprisonment too. Spring is also ruined so – although he considers Flashy betrayed him and fondly hates him – they agree to team up to make some money cheating at poker games in the brothel. Not even Anne knows that.
But one night a professional gambler discovers their cheats. There’s a big fight at the brothel and Police comes and closes it. Spring and Flashy end up in jail and Anne loses her business.
Although she wants to kill Flashy for ruining her, she is desperate and needs help. So she uses her contacts – mainly blackmailing New Orlean’s Police Chief, a frequent client of the brothel – to free Flashy. She offers Flashman a deal. He will take care of her and her girls. Anne wants to travel west to the promised land of San Francisco, where gold is said to be everywhere.
Flashman accepts to shepherd Anne and her company of prostitutes to San Francisco, where she intends to set up shop and make a bundle from goldminers. So now Flashy becomes a wagon captain of a caravan financed by Anne.
Flashman is nominally in charge of Anne’s collection of women, supplies and sex toys, and the other forty-niners and invalids looking for a better life, but he depends of the guidance of the famous Richens Lacey Wootton to see them through. Unfortunately, Wootton becomes stricken with cholera. Flashman is left to get everyone to San Francisco in safety, including surviving to a couple of attacks from Comanches. Eventually, they reach Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Although they have wonderful sex all over the trip and she proves to be a brave fighter and shooter against the Comanches, Flashman is fed up of Anne’s bad temper and the girls’ whims, so once in New Mexico he absconds with two thousand dollars made from selling one of the prostitutes to Navajos.
Looking for safety in the wilderness, Flashman falls in with a group of travellers, but he soon discovers them to be scalp-hunters when they attack a band of Apaches. Flashman feels obliged to join in but refuses to take any scalps or rape the captive women. And that will save him when finally the scalp-hunters are killed by the rest of the tribe in their return.
Kept captive by the Apaches, his usual charm and sympathy helps him to end up becoming friend with their chief, Mangas Coloradas (G.Greene). In fact, Mangas Coloradas offers him to marry his own daughter, Sonsee-Array (M.Rodriguez). Flashy – who, in fact, has been secretly having sex with her since he was captured by the Apaches – considers he cannot deny the gentle offer, so he marries her following the Apache rituals (although he is already married, as we all know).
After a nice stay with the Apaches, where he is treated with maximum respect as the chief’s son-in-law, Flashy begins missing home. So one night he escapes from the tribe. In his run away, he will be found by the legendary Kit Carson, who helps him to travel to Washington. There, he meets again with the young Abraham Lincoln.
When Flashy tells him his adventures – of course, changing the facts a bit to look as a heroic adventurer – and how he helped Cassy to be free and then guided the caravan of women and invalids to San Francisco and then survived as captive of the Apaches, Lincoln promotes Flashy to be decorated with the Golden Medal of the American Congress.
News about all these events travel to England. There, newspapers talk about Flashman as a British hero and an icon for the American people.
When Flashman finally returns to London – with a ship passage payed by Lincoln himself -, he is welcomed as a hero. Past scandals are suddenly forgotten and his reputation and prestige is higher than ever. Queen Victoria sends him a personal note congratulating him for his bravery (and with a PS saying that she hopes to see him privately again soon…) and even the young Disraeli invites him to his house to play cards games with prominent members of the British political scene…
Stark’s Comment:
Flashman’s adventures have already become a classic in CMP. And they are also a GMA’s voters favorite, as the first movie won the Most Wanted Sequel award and still the third one was again nominated at the same category. The bad side is that box offices of the movies have regularly decreased from one installment to the next, making 108, 88 and 61 millions. I hope that this fourth movie can revitalize moviegoers’ interest in good old Flashy’s adventures.
Behind The Scenes:
-The movie recovers the character played by Catherine Z. Jones, already present in the two first installments of the saga but absent in ‘Flashman And The Mountain Of Light’.
-Each movie of the saga has had a different director. The three previous ones were Mike Newell, Kenneth Branagh and Stephen Frears.
-The plot of the movie is based on two different Flashman’s novels from George McDonald Fraser.
-Josh Brolin was considered at some moment during pre-production to play the character finally played by Nick Nolte.
-As part of Flashy’s legend, the original novel makes a joke about Flashman’s runaway with the slave as the inspiration for the classic ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’.
-As usual, real life characters appear in Flashy’s life in this movie: Abraham Lincoln, Disraeli, Mangas Coloradas, Richens Lacey Wooton and Kit Carson.
-James Bradley has announced that there will be only one more movie of the saga.
KARATE KAT
Animation / Comedy / Family
Cast Of Voices: Ryan Reynolds, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Nathan Gamble, Radha Mitchell.
The Director: Andrew Stanton
The Screenwriter: Josh Collins
The Plot:
Have you ever wondered where your cat wonders off to when it gets outside? Does it prowl your neighborhood? Hunt for smaller animals to bring you as a gift? Or maybe it tries to make sure you're safe from the world's toughest villains.
At the beginning of the film, we are introduced to Benjamin (Voice of Nathan Gamble), an unlucky kid who gets bullied and taunted on a daily basis from his peers. After an incident at school in gym class when he creams one of his bullies in a game of dodge ball, the bully and his goons chase him down after school and get him cornered against a wall. Ben is absolutely terrified and the bully demands that Ben at least look like he's defending himself, so Ben cowers low, puts his arms up, turns his head and closes his eyes.
But all of a sudden, fighting sound effects ensue, along with the sound of a cat's hissing and angry meowing. Ben realizes he is not getting pummeled and looks to see the bullies taken out and a stray cat (Voice of Ryan Reynolds) sitting on the head bully, licking his paws and fur. Ben doesn't realize the cat saved him and he's under the impression that he fought the bullies off himself. He decides to take the cat home against the cat's wishes (he tries telling Ben that he's not a pet but Ben doesn't hear the cat, only meows.) and Ben convinces his mom (Voice of adha Mitchell) that he can keep the stray cat. But at first, they leave him locked inside the house so that he can't escape and therefore, can not save the town from crime.
One funny moment near the beginning is Ben and his mom take the cat to the vet for vaccination shots and when the doctor suggests getting the cat neutered, he manages to escape the room. Ben tries to get the cat, and he manages to run out the door. Once he's out the door, he's out of sight. But at least he's back to saving the city from criminals.
His real name is Neko, a karate student of Katmandu style karate. His Sensei (Voice of Michael Douglas) is an old Siamese Cat looking to pass his Dojo on to the next worthy student. Neko could very well be the next sensei.
While Neko strives to prove himself worthy of being sensei, Benjamin is sad about losing his cat and wanders the city to find Neko. While all of this is going on, a supervillain is in the making. Nicholas Sane (Voice of Matt Damon) is a corrupt scientist/engineer working at his dad's lab. He was supposed to be making technology that would help people, but he was making weapons. Once his father catches wind of what his son is doing, he fires Nick, only to be disintegrated by Nick's ray. Nick takes over the lab and forces the other engineers to build WMD's along with his vehicles and a giant robot of war.
They dub him 'Dr. N. Sane' and while Neko tries to fend off an attack on the villain, Benjamin finds him and takes him home again. Neko gets locked up while Dr. N. Sane wrecks havoc. The other cats from the Dojo are not as trained enough to stop him. Neko's had enough and tries to explain to Ben that he is the Karate Kat by miming it in front of him, but Ben doesn't get it at first. Neko gets frustrated and tries to explain by drawing a picture of himself in his karate gi with his claws. Ben finally realizes that Neko IS the Karate Kat and sets him loose to save the town.
It all comes to a big showdown between Neko and Dr. N. Sane while he's in his robotic war machine. Neko manages to apprehend Dr. N. Sane and save the day!
Sensei retires from instructing the dojo and passes it on to Neko. Neko returns to Benjamin to live as a regular house cat by day and the Karate Kat by night. It is also established that he helps Ben learn Katmandu and the final scene shows him sitting on top of Ben's home, meditating. A police siren is heard in the distance and his eyes open, his ending monologue saying "I live for this stuff"
Stark’s Comment:
Almost every Season, the Studio releases at least one animated movie. And they usually work very nicely at box office. This one, strongly influenced by Pixar’s style, brought to CMP by Andrew Stanton, looks as a sure bet. Family and Children oriented movies always work so well for the Studio.
Behind The Scenes:
-This screenplay has stayed at the waiting list for so long. The unmentionable reason is that Harry Stark didn’t trust much in a project about a karate fighting cat.
-Will Smith was offered to put the voice to Neko, but he refused as he was too busy working on ‘John and Tommie’.
-Before this one, Matt Damon has already made a voice only work for CMP in ‘Robotech 2’. Michael Douglas has also made a voice only work before in ‘Bullet Witch’.
THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM
Love Story
The Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Emile Hirsh, Andy Garcia, Kristen Stewart, Frank Langella
The Director: Jodie Foster
The Screenwriter: Joey Stark
The Plot:
Ryan (E. Hirsh) is an unsettled 21 years old guy studying at the nice and traditional Redmond University. He does not have too many friends, he never goes to parties and he spends most of his time alone. He is not aggressive but he seems to be always angry.
Katherine (M. Pfeiffer), her Literature teacher, notices how good his works are and contacts him. Katherine, 49, is a nice and quiet woman that seems to live only for his classes and his books.
Ryan and Katherine soon begin a nice teacher / pupil relationship based on their common love for literature. She recommends him what to read and then they talk about the readings. Katherine invites sometimes Ryan to go to her house at the campus after classes to talk about books. Katherine realizes how lonely Ryan is and feels sympathy for him. Ryan does not speak much but slowly he begins to open up more to her.
As their friendship based on literature progresses, Ryan tells Katherine his biggest secret: he likes to write short stories. Ryan reads Katherine his stories and she realizes how good they are.
They also begin to talk about themselves. Ryan tells Katherine about his dysfunctional family: an alcoholic father and a bitter mother, how he worked hard for a scholarship that let him come to college… Katherine also talks about her past: a failed marriage and her personal pain and frustration for not being able to have children…
But that comfortable friendship blows out one evening at Katherine’s home when, after talking about Ryan’s writings and sharing a cup of wine, Ryan confesses Katherine that he is beginning to feel ‘something more’ about her. Katherine is shocked and disturbed and tells Ryan that it will be better if they don’t see each other anymore.
For a while, they try to avoid each other. But one rainy night, somebody knocks at her home’s door. It’s Ryan. He is desperate. He tells Katherine he can’t live without seeing here. Katherine tries to resist her own feelings about him but finally, that very same night, they make love.
That’s the beginning of a romantic and passionate love story between them. Katherine insists in convincing Ryan that she is too old for him, that they should stop, and Ryan insists that he does not care about anything but her. She cannot stand going on with that secret relationship. She wants to end it at the same time that it makes her so happy.
Their ‘public’ life goes on… A class mate, Julia (K. Stewart), becomes a good friend of Ryan. Katherine notices that and, although she cannot help feeling jealous, she also encourages Ryan to ask her for a date and try to have at least a friendship with somebody of his age.
A Philosophy teacher, Daniel (A. Garcia), also shows some interest for Katherine. They are good friends and go out for dinner and a drink a few times. But when Daniel makes an advance on her, Katherine rejects him, so he accepts to be just friends.
A few months later, Daniel visits Katherine at her home. He tells her that there’s something she should know: there’s a rumor at the University about her having an affair with a student. Katherine denies it. But she looks so nervous and Daniel understands that the rumor is true.
A couple of days later, the College Dean (F.Langella) calls Katherine at his office. The Dean has always been kind and friendly with her. He tells her too about the rumors. He only tells her that he does not want a confession. But, if it’s true, it has to stop immediately, he tells her.
Katherine tells Ryan about it. She tells him they have to break up. Katherine tells Ryan that it’s not for her but for him. All that could take him to be expulsed from the University. The whole thing might ruin his future. Ryan gets so mad at her for breaking up but she gets to stay firm in her decision although it breaks her heart.
Katherine and Ryan keep the distance. He begins dating Julia. He just wants to make Katherine jealous. She sees them together at the campus but controls her suffering. Also, Ryan sees Katherine talking and spending time with Daniel and he gets so jealous too.
One night, Ryan and Julia are together in Ryan’s old car. They are kissing and are about to make love. But Ryan can’t. He finally says Julia he doesn’t want to lie to her. He tells her he loves somebody else. ‘It’s Katherine, right? I have heard the rumors…’, she says. Hurt, Julia leaves.
Ryan is desperate. He misses Katherine too much. That night, after Julia leaves, he drives to Katherine’s home. He begs her to get back together. Katherine decides to lie to him to protect him. She tells him that she doesn’t love him anymore. She tells him that everything between them was a big mistake and that now she loves Daniel and has a relationship with him.
Ryan cries, shouts at her, tries to kiss her… but Katherine rejects him and stays apparently cold and distant. When Ryan finally leaves, Katherine breaks down in tears.
Next time we see Katherine, she is at the Dean’s office. The Dean is saying: ‘Ok, we will do it that way. There will be no scandal. People forget soon. And I accept your proposal: Ryan can stay at the University and continue his studies…’ Katherine only says ‘thank you’.
Katherine is loading the back of her car with her boxes full of books. Daniel is helping her. When the car is loaded, Daniel smiles at her and asks her: ‘Will I ever know from you again?’ She also smiles and answers: ‘You never know…’
As Katherine is driving down the campus, she sees Ryan in a park. He is with Julia. They are talking and both laugh. Katherine smiles and drives away, leaving the University forever while we hear the voice of Ryan reading a passage of one of his short stories…
Stark’s Comment:
There are not many CMP’s movies directly defined as ‘Love Story’. So I am not absolutely sure of how this one will work at box office. Anyway, my brother Joey also wanted to turn a bit artsy this Season, so here goes his most serious screenplay for quite a while. The movie includes a very explicit sex scene with implied nudity from both stars (the first sexual relationship in the movie between Emile and Michelle). I particularly like the choice of Jodie Foster to direct it.
Behind The Scenes:
-The steamy sex scenes were shot by the stars themselves, not using body doubles.
-The shooting of this movie suffered some delays due to Emile Hirsh commitment with ‘The Beatles’.
-It was a coincidence that affected very much the shooting dates for this movie that many of the talents involved were working in other CMP’s movies this very same Season: Emil Hirsh (‘The Beatles’), Kristen Stewart (‘Riders On The Storm’) and Frank Langella (‘Booster Gold’).
-Frank Langella replaced James Cromwell in the very last minute, as Cromwell could not end up on time his work in ‘A Hard Place’.
-A curiosity: Jodie Foster and Michelle Pfeiffer met in Season 7 at the GMA as nominees for Best Supporting Actress for ‘Lyra’ and ‘Only In America’ respectively. After nominations’ votes, Michelle looked as the clear winner. But things turned upside down during the voting for winners and it was finally Jodie who took the statue home.
THE LOVERS STAGE: Josh Collins proposes us in this ensemble movie a look at love
relationships across the different periods of life. Four couples – all including members of the same family – show us how love is during childhood, teen years, maturity and old age. Tamara Jenkins, director of ‘The Savages’, will make her debut in CMP directing this movie. And the talents to play the two older couples will be: Alan Arkin (already seen this Season in another Collins’ movie, ‘The Pitiful Plight Of Tom Collins’) and Vanessa Redgrave and Matthew Broderick (who made a voice only work in Collins’ ‘Bird Of A Feather’) and Felicity Huffman. Both actresses make their debut in CMP with this appealing project.THE HELLBOWL: Still recent his debut in CMP with ‘The Avengers 4’, John Cho has joined the shootage of this wild comedy. Also in the movie, we’ll see Alec Baldwin. Baldwin’s last work for CMP was the successful comedy ‘Mary’s Dark Side’. Before that, he could be seen in the three movies of CMP’s Captain America’s trilogy.
THE FORGOTTEN: Another member of The Avengers quickly joins another shootage: Robert
Downey Jr. will be one of the villains in this Jonathan Demme’s sequel of ‘The Heirs’. The other main villain will be played by Tom Wilkinson (‘Flashes Of Life’, ‘When Dreams Die’). And the legendary starring couple of ‘Basic Instinct’ will meet again in this movie: Sharon Stone, not seen in CMP since her work in the sequel of ‘Lieutenant USA’, will be Wilkinson’s wife; and GMA Winner Michael Douglas retakes here the character that he already played in ‘The Heir’ movies, the FBI agent that killed Sean Penn and put Robert De Niro in jail.LOST AT SEA: Besides Michelle Trachtenberg, Matt Kubrick has deliberately wanted to put up a cast of young new faces in CMP for this suspense movie. Anton Yelchin and Jared Padalecki will be two of the newbies. He has also chosen a debutante in CMP – and a peculiar one! - to direct this Midnight Movies’ production: Brian Trenchard Smith, an specialist in B-series – to be generous - horror and action movies.
FADED: It is obvious by now that ‘500 Days Of Summer’ made a big impact on CMP’s authors.
Since that movie was released, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has developed a highly interesting career in CMP, including winning a Best Actor GMA for ‘Weigh Anchor’, the interesting ‘Running On Empty’ and getting the lead role in the ambitious ‘The Forgotten’. Now’s the turn for her starring couple in that one. Zooey Deschanel – only seen before in CMP in ‘The Thinking Man’ – co-stars this comedy playing a peculiar girl, same thing she did in Marc Webb’s movie. And talking about peculiarities, look at who will be playing minor roles in this one: no other than the Sklar Brothers… and Mr. T!!!ZOIDS: EVE: Rumors say that after his acclaimed work in ‘The Beatles’ and his closed agreement to star another big CMP’s project coming up soon, Jamie Bell was not very interested to repeat his work in this sequel of the successful ‘Zoids’. But there was a sequel contract signed so Bell has had to accept returning to a franchise he might consider too superficial for his acting ambitions.
UNCOMMON VALOUR: ONLY THE VALIANT: John Cleese and Jude Law – who can be seen
this week making a peculiar cameo as a young Lincoln in ‘West Flashman’ – retake their characters in this fourth installment of the adventure saga. And Hayden Christensen joins the cast too. Christensen already worked in another one of Jack Hammer’s epic sagas, ‘The Great War Series’. Christensen, who will probably work in another CMP’s movie during next Season, had been away from the Studio since Steven Spielberg’s hit in Season 7, ‘Atlantis’.SILENT HILL: THE RETURN: Once solved the main casting problems, it can be announced that Ray Winstone is also working in this sequel. Winstone has previously worked in other CMP’s sequels like ‘The Dark Tower: The Drawing Of The Three’ and ‘Preacher: All American Family’.
OUT PARTYING: It has taken 13 Seasons to CMP to make a teen comedy. And it has been Trent
Nielsen the one to decide trying luck with this traditional genre. In fact, this comedy will mean Nielsen’s debut as movie director. The cast of young talents will be formed by CMP’s debutantes. Among them, you can count on Dave Franco, James Franco’s younger brother and star of the tv series ‘Scrubs’, and Briana Evigan, the sexy young star from ‘Step Up 2’.JUSTICE LEAGUE: And the big news is kept for the last. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it has been finally greenlighted one of the most hyped CMP’s project ever. Now that The Avengers seem to be gone forever, here comes the Justice League. Chad Taylor is the author of the screenplay and Christopher Nolan is ready to shoot this mega-project that will reunite a new crew of superheroes ready to save the world. Nolan has previously directed for CMP ‘Hot Iron’, ‘The Law’, ‘Monolith’ and ‘Human Axis’.
JOEY STARK – THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM
After a few Seasons writing action movies like ‘Deep Silence 2’, ‘Tracks Of Blood’ or the megahit ‘Silver Sable and the Wild Pack’, Joey Stark returns to more adult and intimate stories with this week’s release, the romantic ‘The Impossible Dream’.
1.It’s hard to imagine you writing a love story?
Why? Well, I know I have been a bit too focused on superheroines movies lately, but remember that
I used to be a serious writer of adult movies once. I had the feeling I needed to go back to more adult issues. And I hide a sweet sentimental guy inside of me. I like love stories and romantic comedies and I am so happy to take a chance at the genre.2.No more superheorines for you?
Well, next Season we’ll see the third Silver Sable’s movie. And ‘Daughters Of The Dragon’ worked so well at box office that I know some time in the future my brother Harry will demand a sequel. But I think that will be all. I feel in the mood for more adult stories at this point of my career. At least for a while. I am working really hard on an extremely ambitious project: the adaptation of the Michael Chabon’s novel ‘The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier and Clay’. It’s a huge project and really difficult. I have already written quite a few drafts. I want it to be perfect. In so many ways, I expect it to be my master piece.
3.Chad Taylor has resurrected one of your most famous sagas, ‘The Heirs’. How do you feel about it?
Mad. He has done it without my permission…!!! *Laughs* Just kidding. I was so surprised when Harry told me about it. Taylor has had a great idea to retake the story. In fact, I read his screenplay
and I liked so much his ideas that now we are working together in it and the movie may be released as a co-written work by Taylor and me.4.The CMP’s artsy Season is reaching its end. What are your conclusions about how things have turned out this Season?
It’s been a hard Season. Box office’s numbers have dropped in general for all CMP’s releases, not only the artsy ones. But still the Studio is making nice profits, so Harry has nothing to worry about. Personally, I think it has been a most interesting Season. Most of the Studio’s screenwriters have shown their most creative and intellectual side with daring proposals. It’s great. That’s what CMP is about, isn’t it? Creativity. And it has been a Season full of creativity and talent.
5.Which CMP’s authors are you specially following lately?
We have some new and very interesting writers that are trying new things. But we also have the veterans that keep producing an amazing amount of new and brilliant ideas. CMP is so challenging. You see what all these guys' writting and you are just scared you cannot stay at the same creative level. How many movies has the Studio released? Near 400? And how many great stories are there? Something like 300? It’s amazing. It’s such a creative achievement. And the best thing is that, after nearly 400 movies, I am still curious about what will come out next from the mind of all these talented guys.
JAMES BRADLEY – WEST FLASHMAN
Each new Flashman’s movie is a great event… at least for me. You know how much I enjoy writing these stories. They have everything I like in a movie: a fast pace, adventure, sense of humor, a sexy touch and a great anti-heroic lead character.
For this fourth movie of the saga, I have taken plot elements from two of George McDonald Fraser’s books: ‘Flash For Freedom’ and ‘Flashman and the Red Skins’. As usual, I have introduced some changes to adapt it all to a movie.
The main change is that Anne, the character played by Catherine Z. Jones seen before in ‘The Misadventures Of Harry Flashman’ and ‘Flashman’s Travels’, is back. That character is almost my
own creation. The latest mistress of Flashy’s father before he died only appeared in the initial pages of the first Flashman’s book. But I think that the chemistry between Rupert Everett and Catherine is so great that I decided to turn her into a major character in the movies – dismissing Flashy’s wife, who is a main character in the books but not in my movies. In fact, I missed Catherine in ‘Flashman and the Mountain Of Light’ and that’s why I took her back for this one. So her character is my own personal creation. I think that the relationship between Flashy and Anne works great in the stories: they have a great love / hate relationship full of betrayals and sex… and that’s what Flashman is mostly about after all.So Flashy goes west… It’s a complete new scenario after travelling across Asia and Africa in the previous movies. In fact, the movie laughs at the stereotypes of western. That’s why I decided I wanted an American director for this fourth movie and Frank Darabont looked more than talented enough to take care of this complex project.
New characters show up in Flashy’s life. Captain Spring is a great one. A rude drunk rogue that makes a funny contrast with Flashy’s educated manners. I love the way he speaks, always using Latin quotes. And Nick Nolte looked perfect to play it. Also, I like the episode about the slave running away. Legend will say that this Flashy’s adventure inspired the classic ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’. The funny truth is that the slave had to rescue Flashy more than Flashy was rescuing him and, at the end, Djimon’s character ends up fed up of Flashy’s cowardness.
Also, historical characters show up, as usual. After Flashy’s affair with Queen Victoria in the previous movie, we’ll see here a young Abe Lincoln, impressed – and fouled – by Flashy’s fake
bravery. It’s the only historical character in the plot I have cast with a major star. Jude Law looked great as a young Lincoln.Well, besides my enthusiasm about these movies, I know every saga ends up becoming repetitive and losing strength. So I can announce that there will be only one more Flashman’s movie after this. Five looks enough. I don’t want audiences to get tired of my dear Flashy. I will begin working on the fifth screenplay soon. I would like to recover in it characters from previous movies, like the White Rajah played by Ewan McGregor or the effeminate British Colonel played by Kenneth Branagh. And, of course, I would like Flashy meeting again with Anna. I’ll see…
In the meantime, enjoy this new adventure and don’t be hard on judging Flashy. He just does the best he can… to survive.
ANIMATION IN CMP
The relationship between animated movies and CMP has never been an easy one. Harry Stark has publicly admitted that he never feels sure with animated productions. During its first Seasons, CMP created an Animation Division, encouraged by the success of the Robotech’s movies. Michael Bay, director and/or producer of those movies, was appointed as head of that Division. Then, a couple of fiascos – ‘Happy Hamsters’ and ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ – discouraged Harry Stark and the CMP’s Animation Division was closed. Since then, Stark has never trusted much in animation. But that’s an unfair prejudice. The truth is that only one animated production has ever flopped in CMP and the Studio has had some of its biggest hits with animated movies. Don’t forget that still two animated movies stay in the alltimes box office’s top 6 (‘The Ice Princess’ and ‘Game Boy: Warlands’). This week, we take a look at the unstable romance between animation and CMP.
ROBOTECH 1, 2, 3
2D Animation
Seasons 1, 2, 4
Michael Bay, Tony Scott / Matt Kubrick
B.O.: 127, 121, 85 mill. / N.G.: 127, 131, 74 mill.
It has been the only CMP’s animated saga. Based on a sci-fi anime, Michael Bay was responsible of it, although the second movie was directed by Tony Scott. It was a surprising success and caused the creation of the CMP’s Animation Division. Kubrick announced three more movies for the saga but they finally were not done.
HAPPY HAMSTERS
Digital Animation
Season 3
Robert Zemeckis / Marcus Trax
B.O.: 24 mill. / N.G.: 4 mill.
In the middle of the Robotech’s fever, CMP bet for this animated comedy about hamsters long before ‘G-Force’ made them succeed in box office. The poor box office was a big disappointment and red alerts about animated movies started to flash at CMP’s offices.
CALVIN& HOBBES
2D Animation
Season 4
B.O.: 6 mill. / N.L.: 33 mill.
James L. Brooks / Matt Kubrick
Kubrick adapted the popular comic strip and Brooks, producer of ‘The Simpsons’, took control of direction. It looked as a sure bet. And it surprisingly became one of CMP’s biggest disasters. This unexpected mega-flop made Stark to close the Animation Division and lose his interest in animation for long.
GAME BOY
Live Action / Digital Animation
Seasons 5, 6
Robert Zemeckis / John Daws
B.O.: 211, 265 mill. / N.G.: 242, 206 mill.
Not exactly animated movies, these top budget productions mixed a live action character, played by Daniel Radcliff, with a digitally created universe where iconic console games characters showed up with the voices of big stars like Will Smith, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom or Christian Bale. And it worked. The movies became a tremendous success. In fact, they beat the most popular CMP’s franchise of the moment: Marcus Trax’s Star Wars new trilogy. In a time when making more than 200 millions in box office was not something usual in CMP, the ‘Game Boy’ movies overcame that landmark easily. For long, ‘Game Boy: Warlands’ stayed as the top 1 box office’s movie in CMP. Now, a third movie coming up has been recently announced by John Daws.
THE ICE PRINCESS
Digital Animation
Season 8
Andrew Adamson / Matt Kubrick
B.O.: 316 mill. / N.G.: 320 mill.
…and then came ‘The Ice Princess’. Harry Stark never believed in this movie. It was released without any hype at all. It had the shortest cast possible (only two stars’ voices in it: Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow) and CMP’s executives where crossing fingers begging that it would be only a slight flop and not another ‘Calvin and Hobbes’. And it suddenly became the biggest hit ever in CMP’s history against any prediction. Together with ‘Silver Sable and the Wild Pack’, still is the only movie to have made more than 300 millions in box office and remains as the fourth most profitable production in CMP’s History. That tremendous success took everyone at CMP by surprise and, obviously, re-animated Stark’s trust in animated movies.
BIRD OF A FEATHER
Digital Animation
Season 9
Chris Columbus / Josh Collins
B.O.: 126 mill. / N.G.: 167 mill.
No matter previous successes, Stark still was reluctant to produce animated movies. ‘Bird Of A Feather’ was a nice comedy about a bird (voice of Matthew Broderick) helping a girl (voice of Drew Barrymore) to succeed in Broadway. A family and less epic movie than ‘The Ice Princess’. And again, being released without too much hype, it became a big hit. Finally, animated movies were back to stay in CMP.
HE-MAN AND MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE
3D Animation
Season 10
Andrew Adamson / Matt Kubrick
B.O.: 130 mill. / N.G.: 114 mill.
The creative team of ‘The Ice Princess’ (Adamson and Kubrick) reunited again for another epic animated production. After the wonderful results of both ‘The Ice Princess’ and ‘Bird Of A Feather’, Harry Stark was ready to bet strongly again for a new animated feature. And to take some risks: this was the first 3D movie ever produced by CMP (and the only one so far). Again, audiences responded enthusiastically to this proposal and it became a box office’s hit.
WILD CARDS: ORIGIN
2D Animation
Season 10
Matt Kubrick / Matt Kubrick
Only On DVD
As you can see, Kubrick has always been one of the main supporters of animation in CMP. This 60 minutes animated feature written and directed by him has never been seen on screens. It was an extra included in the special Wild Cards’ DVD Box Set released by the Studio. It told the origins of all the legendary Wild Cards’ saga. It’s a nice rarity only for collectors and fans of the saga.
YOGI BEAR
Live Action / Digital Animation
Season 11
B.O.: 75 mill. / N.G.: 80 mill.
Harold Ramis / Chad Taylor
Chad Taylor tried luck in animation with this nice version of the classic Hannah-Barbera’s character ala Scooby Doo’s movies. It wasn’t a huge success but still worked nicely in box office. At this moment, CMP has turned into a regular date to release one animated production per Season.
KARATE KAT
Digital Animation
Season 12
Awaiting release
Collins has counted on an animation genius like Andrew Stanton for his second adventure in the genre after ‘Bird Of A Feather’. The movie is based on a traditional conception for animation (a peculiar animal starring the story) and oriented to family and children. It looks as a sure bet. After all, the last (and only!) time that a CMP’s animated movie flopped was back in Season 4. So the bad reputation of the genre in CMP is totally unjustified.
‘The Impossible Dream’ brings a few novelties to CMP’s world. It is the first directional job for the Studio for the two Golden Moon Awards winner Jodie Foster. And it also shows a different kind of starring couple: Michelle Pfeiffer and Emile Hirsh. The three of them were photographed together during the premiere of the movie in LA.
Edward Norton, relief. Norton has been the big absence in the recent release of ‘The Avengers 4:
Civil War’. But he does not look sad for it. After being an essential part of the franchise playing Hulk in its second and third installment, he decided to stay aside of this new episode. ‘I was tired of fighting with Harry Stark and the production team. At the end, everything was ‘what superhero will be seen more on screen?’ I simply lost the interest. No more Hulk for me, thank you’, he has stated in a recent interview. Ego problems took him away from the saga. Everybody knows about his duels with Robert Downey Jr. Now, Norton prefers to look at the future and he is already involved in the pre-production of a new CMP’s production coming up next Season. So bye, bye, Mr. Big Green Man.And now that The Avengers seem to be gone forever… welcome ‘Justice League’! Yes, Chad Taylor’s project has been waiting for months to be finally greenlighted. Harry Stark wanted to release first the last Avengers movie before launching
this new mega franchise. Stark expects it to become the new main superheroes franchise of the Studio and he wanted to avoid a competition between Avengers and Justice League. Now that it seems like Matt Kubrick’s saga is over, all the efforts of the people at CMP will be turning ‘Justing League’ in a franchise as successful as The Avengers. It’s all about money, after all.A new franchise is born, another one ends. After the very disappointing box office of ‘Nathan Zachary and the Pilfered Prototype’, Jack Hammer has announced that it has been the last flight for Nathan Zachary. Although Hammer had planned to write three more movies based on the ‘Crimson Skies’ games, the poor numbers made by the movie has taken him to change his mind. For what I know, Harry Stark had offered Hammer the chance of making a third movie in the future, trying to revitalize the saga. But it seems like Hammer prefers to concentrate on other projects than taking the risk of returning to a saga that audiences have not supported enough.
And a rectification. A few weeks ago I wrote that James Bradley was writing a sequel for ‘The Funeral Drum’. Well, forget about it. It wasn’t that I was bad informed, it is that Bradley has changed his mind. He is writing a new cops movie but it won’t finally be any sequel. The characters in it will be brand new ones. Rumors say that Bradley had to change his mind when Sean Penn told him that he was not interested in playing the same character again.We don’t know much about Max Arilius yet. His only two screenplays have been the two Silent Hill’s movies, the second one being released next week. So it has surprised me to know that, after that, Arilius was planning to write a highly romantic love story. But, according to my sources, Harry Stark wasn’t satisfied with the first draft of screenplay sent by Arilius so CMP’s President asked him to re-write it. Since then, nobody at CMP has ever heard again about this love story and nobody knows which way Arilius will go after his return to Silent Hill.
Past week, I announced that the upcoming GMA Gala will be a different one, as all the stars presenting awards will be past GMA winners. Now I know something more. The location chosen for the Gala is Madrid, Spain. Yes, Harry Stark’s family hometown. So the golden statues fly again to Europe after having previously visited London, Paris and Venice. No doubt Harry will feel at home this time.
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