JULY, 15

MOVIES RELEASED

1-LEGEND OF THE LAST LAWMAN

Action
Directed by Robert Rodríguez
Starring Will Smith, Uma Thurman, Gene Hackman, Kevin Costner, Val Kilmer
Box Office: 139 mill.
Net Gains: 157 mill.

CMP’s Reaction: And it was! The most profitable episode of the saga. Fans of Lawman keep growing and it’s a shame if the franchise finally ends up with this third episode.

2-THE STORY OF ME

Dramedy
Directed by Tom Hanks
Starring Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Helen Hunt, Leelee Sobieski, Tom Hanks
Box Office: 39 mill.
Net Gains: 38 mill.

CMP’s Reaction: A nice little movie. The kind of film that Harry Stark loves to prove that his Studio does not only make action shows but also deep intelligent movies.

THE CRITICS CORNER

1-LEGEND OF THE LAST LAWMAN

“Some times, it takes time. But finally audiences understand the dimension of a project and surrender to the quality in it. That’s exactly what has happened with the Last Lawman’s movies. The first one was received with a certain coldness, considering it just another action show with Will Smith and Robert Rodriguez. But, after the whole three movies, we can see that there was something more inside of this story. An interesting vision of a post-apocalyptic America, a deep reflection about power and corruption and a visual tribute to the most classic westerns all together in a trilogy to be remembered as a major Robert Rodriguez’s contribution to the art of moviemaking”
-Charlie Kiggs

“While his friend Quentin Tarantino keeps getting involved in surprising projects, like the sequels of Wild Cards or now Ace Banner, too lazy to develop new concepts (’22:01’ does not count, as it was a mix of some of his previous movies), Rodriguez has decided to assume some risks making this trilogy of quality post-modern westerns. The only bad thing to say about them is that maybe there won’t be more Lawman’s movies”
-Anne Roman

“Oh, boy, I had a wonderful time watching this movie… There’s a wrong prejudice about action movies. They don’t need to be brainless. Here is an intelligent way of making an action movie that is not an insult to the moviegoers intelligence”
-Roy Winslow

2-THE STORY OF ME

“This movie is a movie about Robin Williams. I mean, he is in almost every scene, he fulfils the screen darkening the rest of the talents job, he is also probably recreating self-experiences when playing his character. Hanks has let absolute freedom to Williams to do a one-man show in this movie. And Williams is brilliant enough to carry the weight upon his shoulders offering us a lesson of acting talent”
-Lilly Stevens

“A nostalgic and moving look at the life of a comedian in his decadency. Hanks has made a very simple and effective little movie telling us the story of a man learning from the mistakes of the past and trying to face the future with dignity. I admire the simplicity used by Hanks to tell us this human story, avoiding any trick or any surprising twist but just showing us life the way it really is.”
-Jackie O. Callaghan

“A present from Hanks to his friend Robin Williams. Any actor would love to have the chance of playing a character like this. And Williams has taken advantage of the present letting us a performance to admire, enjoy and applaud.”
-Wayne Hart

AWAITING RELEASE

1-PLANETSIDE

The Cast: Liam Neeson, Sean Connery, Rachel Weisz, Ewan McGregor, Kiefer Sutherland, Ron Pearlman, Anne Hathaway, Gillian Anderson, Eric Bana, Jennifer Garner

The Director and Producer: James Cameron
The Screenwriter: Marcus Trax

The Plot: It is the year 2432 and mankind have started exploring space and have started to colonise other worlds.

To do so sleeper ships containing settlers are sent out to these remote worlds to plant the seeds of a colony, one such ship 'The Sunrider' is just about to enter the orbit of the fifth planet in system X32-Alpha9 a.k.a Apollo. As they enter orbit the stasis containers open, awaking the 10 crew of the settler ship and the 200 settlers. After waking up the crew led by Captain Neil Parker (L.Neeson) sends the ship to the surface where it will land and be used as the starting materials for a new colony, culture and possible civilisation. However while entering the atmosphere there is an unexpected reaction with the ship and an explosion starts in the interstellar engines which precede to a chain reaction and blows up the ship despite the efforts of Ship Scientist Gemma Detal (R.Weisz) and Chief Engineer Max Roscoff (E.McGregor).

The ship fragments in a blinding light killing many of the settlers in the process and upon landing the now buring wreck the remaining settlers and crew find themselves numbering at 54, some only children. As they have no way to contact Earth or any other colony or ships and the next settler ship isn't due for 50 years all they can do is survive and they start to set up a simple base of operations from which to expand and set up a community.
However things are not easy, many supplies have been lost and in the population two factions form to vie for leadership of the colony in directing its growth.

Captain Parker leads the one group while Torias Meas (K.Sutherland), a settler with an unknown past, leads the others. As the colony grows Torias becomes increasing distant from affairs until he leaves the colony with a small group of followers to set up a second community. But soon he is back when winter sets in and on this alien world it is harsh. His community didn't produce enough food and he is back to get some even if he has to resort to violence.
In the end violence does break out and it is human vs human on this alien world far from Earth.

Neil Parker (Captain/leader of a faction): Liam Neeson Gemma Detal (Science officer): Rachel Weisz Max Roscoff (Engineer): Ewan McGregor Torias Meas (Settler/leader of a faction): Keifer Sutherland Lance Seyran (Second to Torias): Ron Pearlman Katie Swanson (Settler): Anne Hathaway Patrick Mast (Doctor): Sean ConneryDorothy Elan (Settler): Gillian Anderson Michael Elan (Settler/Advisor to Neil): Eric Bana Dana Olisam (Settler/Lover of Torias): Jennifer Garner

The Comment: Mega-expensive, mega-cast, mega-ambitious. Cameron looks for a major success with one of the main productions of the Season.


2-ACE BANNER: RETURN TO FURY

The Cast: Jason Statham, Christopher Walken, Kurt Russell, Teri Hatcher

The Director: Quentin Tarantino
The Screenwriter and Producer: Matt Kubrick

The Plot: After the betrayal during the last mission of one of its top agents which led to him being killed by the old Ace Banner, the agency must reform and with it comes new changes, a new boss (K.Russell), new staff and a brand new Ace Banner. When the face of an agent becomes to well known, that person is retired and a new person must be hired and trained. Jack Strode (J.Statham) is just that person. The only problem is his attitude and lack of discipline.

The new Ace Banner with the help of the agency must discover who funded the island prison seen in the previous movie and for what purposes. Their general might be dead but the private army has now gone underground.

It is soon discovered that a multi millionaire (C.Walken) living in the states is funding them. The only way to get close to him is through his wife (T.Hatcher), who wants to escape from him and his dangerous way of life. And the new Ace Banner will be the man to contact her… in all senses.

In flashbacks we learn exactly why Jack Strode was chosen. He was a top squad leader in the police force and we see the training he went through to become Ace Banner.
At the same time, we follow his investigations to get close to the millionaire and unmask his evil plans of controlling US’ finances and government.

The Comment: Tarantino’s violence show. After the slight disappointment of ’22:01’, Tarantino returns to the unexpected: the third episode of a dead franchise looking for resurrection. He likes so much doing things no other director would dare to do. Risky release.


MAKING OF… PLANETSIDE
By Marcus Trax

Planet Side, the latest film from cult director James Cameron, sees a return to science fiction for him. The filiming was essentially split into three areas: the outside environment of the planet for where the pactific ocean was used, Canada and Mexico.
The colony where most of the story takes place was built on set in an expansive backstage area. The issue of the colony is that as the film progress it changes, so freedom had to be given for how this colony would actually grow up and form.
The third area is the ship, a high tech beast where internal sets were constructed with the utmost care.
Blue-screen was heavily avoided during shooting to maintain a gritty and real air about the film and as the story focuses around human struggle and our motivations CGI was not the most dominating factor, realism was.
On the actors and actresses there have been rumours of ego bruising and difficult working conditions. This is a lie, spread by the rumour mill. Though we do not mind the advertising! James has a good working relationship with everyone on set, and the filming of scenes was at point just plain funny. Especially when Gillian Anderson had to crawl through a service duct and got stuck!The only way to see the outcome of the filming however is to see the film, so do so and reach Planet Side.

MAKING OF… ACE BANNER: RETURN TO FURY
By Matt Kubrick

Another movie that had people here at the offices scratching their heads about the changes but that is also exactly what got the movie greenlighted. See The second movie was a huge failure. It wasn't Hugh Jackman's fault I didn't want him replaced because of that. Ace Banner 2 didn't turn out exactly how it was scripted. It was turned into some big overbloated campy action movie and it died a horrible death at the box office. After that the franchise was pretty much dead and CMP wasn't to thrilled at doing another sequel. But I didn't want to let it die so I had to come up with some ideas on how to keep the franchise alive. First thing I thought about was I had to make things more interesting so I decided I was going to produce it myself and I actually teamed up with Quentin Tarantino, we had just previously worked on Wild Cards 2 and we wrote the screenplay. The first choice in mind was Jason Stratham! I loved him in the Transporter movies and Crank as well as Snatch and we pitched it to the studio then boom. Ace Banner 3 was greenlighted. Now the studio added another of my favourite actors Kurt Russel playing the new boss at the agency and we have Christopher Walken and Terri Hatcher playing his wife. This is going to be great seeing how it plays out on screen. See you at the movies!

THE STAR PROFILE – SEAN CONNERY

Who said retirement? Although he announced he wanted to quit acting, Connery has become a regular presence in CMP’s movies. He gives that touch of class to any production… So, if a bigger-than-life character is needed, who can be better than him? He is so involved in CMP that we could even see him presenting the last edition of the GMA together with… him. Long live to Connery!

CMP’S FILMOGRAPHY

THE CRUSADES (Paul Verhoeven, B.O.: 199 mill.): First epic character for Connery in the first GMA’s Best Picture Winner. The beginning of a pattern for Connery in CMP: a supporting role with a strong presence in the story. His first ‘elder wise man’ was an essential factor of the success of this CMP’s classic.


TALES OF THE JEDI (Peter Jackson, B.O.: 12 mill.): Yes, he was there. A wise Jedi. And the most unexpected CMP’s flop ever. An embarrassing production that everyone – probably Connery included – wants to forget in CMP.

THE BRIDGE (Wolfgang Petersen, B.O.: 11 mill.): Not much better. From the Crusades to the Stars to the Vikings time, Connery followed the pattern playing another wise warrior in Marcus Trax’s debut as screenwriter for CMP. And the result was another flop.

PAPERBACK STORY (Woody Allen, B.O.: 59 mill.): A twist for Connery. No more epic characters but a selfish Nobel Prize winner writer in this comedy written by James Bradley. Connery looked great as the adored literature star… and he enjoyed seducing both Scarlett Johansson and Susan Sarandon. A nice recovery from the previous flops.

PLANETSIDE (James Cameron, awaiting release): Back to the epics. Connery joins an ambitious project that may take him back to the top of box office.

…and, according to rumours, more surprises can be expected from him this running Season.

MOVIES IN DEVELOPMENT

THE SHRINKING MAN: Harold Ramis (‘Ultraman’s Revenge’) is directing this sci-fi comedy that will mean the return to CMP of two female stars after quite a while. The shrinking Ben Stiller’s heart will be split between Sarah Jessica Parker (‘Singles’) and Reese Witherspoon (‘The Women Club’, ‘Cursed Neverland’).

HOLLYWEIRD: While Paris Hilton calls for boycott, two more talents join the cast of Joshua Collins’ comedy: Abigail Breslin (‘Syndrome: Paradise Lost’) and Jeff Bridges, working again together with John Cusack after the bad experience of ‘Outer Eye’.

PARODY OF ARTS: Katie Holmes won’t be in the third episode of Trax’s Star Wars trilogy, as her character died in the second one. But, maybe as a consolation prize, she will be seen in this David Mamet’s new project.

STAR WARS: BALANCE OF THE FORCE: The complexity of the screenplay, including major battles, numerous locations and the need of more CGI than ever, has risen the budget of the movie to make it the new most expensive CMP’s production ever (at least, until we know how much will Jackson expend in the sequel of Dungeons & Dragons).

THE GREAT WAR SERIES: FINAL THUNDER: Here is the third and last episode of the acclaimed – and successful – Jack Hammer’s WWI saga. Everything is ready to start shooting what will try to be another major success as the two previous movies were.

FACTION 12: Very bad news for this production. CMP has decided to temporarily postpone this production. The reason? First, its similarities with the upcoming ‘Planetside’, as the Studio considers that a lapse of time between both movies is recommended. Second, star and producer Nicholas Cage has to join the shooting of the new Dungeons & Dragons movie, so CMP has asked him to wait for this one. It is not known by now yet if ‘Faction 12’ will be finally produced and released this Season or the next one.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: THE SHATTERED ORB: So Nicholas Cage leaves Faction 12 by the moment and begins the shooting of this one. A complex production that will be shot in various locations around the world.

VORHEES: THE BLOODY YEARS: Change of title for this one. And some names announced for the cast. An appealing decision: Michael Pitt will play the young and tormented Jason Vorhees. Jaimie Lee Curtis will return as his mother. And Elijah Wood, recently seen in ‘Wild Cards: Ace In The Hole’, will try to survive to the evil of both.

AN AMERICAN STROLL: Writer James Bradley returns after a while. Once again, he comes back with a peculiar story. This time, his usual eccentric characters will be wandering around an almost desert village in deep America. The movie has been described as a ‘choral story’ with plenty of characters.

THREE WOODEN CROSSES: Billy Bob Thornton is going not only to star but also to direct another ‘deep America’ story. Based on Randy Travis’ classic country song, and with a strong religious content, Thornton will make his debut behind the cameras for CMP after working in the flops ‘Hot Iron’ and ‘The Cure’.

RUMOURS AND GOSSIPS

Will there be a sequel of ‘Nathan Zachary and Drake’s Gold’ or not? The rumours about Jake Hammer leaving his plan of writing new Zachary’s adventures took CMP by surprise, as the movie was supposed to be the beginning of a long franchise. It is true that the first adventure wasn’t a major blockbuster, but it was profitable enough to give it a try to a sequel. After all, other profitable franchises - such as Lawman, Wild Cards or Space Quest, among others – also begun with a disappointment and then turned into major hits. Sources from the Studio have confirmed that they have no official news about the future of Nathan Zachary.

Marcus Trax has proved to be a prolific and versatile writer. Both in his double side of big blockbusters and little dramas’ author, he is becoming more and more active lately. CMP is so happy with the long list of projects coming from him that have been received lately.

Uncertain consequences for some sequels the Studio wanted very much to produce. John Daws’ retirement announcement has sent to limbo CMP’s dream of developing sequels for two of this Season’s major hits: ‘Game Boy’ and ‘Lieutenant USA and His Warm Steel Gang’.

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN… OR HELL

HEAVEN

MIDNIGHT MOVIES: Innovation is the defining word for Kubrick’s company. First, MM released the first direct to DVD movie from CMP. Now, they have been the first ones to commercialize DVD’s box sets with CMP’s movies. Also, they have taken control of franchises such as Wild Cards and Vorhees. Things look good for Kubrick and his Company.

ROBERT RODRIGUEZ: Confirmed. He has shut so many big mouths. The great box office of the latest Lawman’s movie is the definitive confirmation of his talent… of which some people at CMP doubted.

HELL

DANIEL RADCLIFFE: John Daws made him a CMP’s star. First, he wrote for him the great lead character of ‘South East’… and Radcliffe won the GMA for Best Actor. Then, he offered him the chance of starring a major blockbuster such as ‘Game Boy’. And now, what will be Radcliffe’s future in CMP after the retirement of his mentor?

GREAT WAR SERIES: So here is, third episode coming. And the big fear gets bigger: will the saga survive to Colin Farell’s death in the last episode? Will be Christian Bale and Hayden Christensen capable of keeping the audience’s interest? A hell of a questions…

INSIDE CMP

Season 5 keeps going so nicely for CMP. A few movies have already gone over the 100 millions landmark and the main bets of the Season (Planetside, Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragons) are still to come. So, if nothing unexpected happens, this could become the most successful Season for the Studio ever.

Episodes 2 and 3 of ‘Space Quest’ and ‘Uncommon Valour’ were shot simultaneously to lower costs. And it seemed to be a good experience for the Studio as Harry Stark has allowed Peter Jackson to start shooting some scenes for a third ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ movie simultaneously with the second movie. The third movie would be released next Season.

Same thing for ‘Syndrome’. Matt Kubrick has confirmed that he will personally direct two sequels of his zombies saga and they will be shot simultaneously in order to release them during Season 6.