OCTOBER, 30


MAGIC – THE GATHERING: INNOCENT WHITE

Action / Fantasy

The Cast: Jude Law, Claire Danes, Kevin Costner, Judi Dench, Geoffrey Rush. Voices of Ron Perlman, Jason Statham

The Director: Martin Campbell
The Screenwriter: David Makalaster

The Plot:

Heffer (J.Law) and Amrou (C.Danes) finally emerge from the swamps of Biledrop, onto the plains of Whytefields; home of Amrou and the White Master (K.Costner).They reach the small town of Edgegreeting where they decide to stay for a while to rest and restock. The poor locals are elated that someone will take on the master and restore justice and equality to the land.Amrou tells Heffer of how the entire land was a paradise, and every family had a luxurious life. But when the war came, every ablebodied man was drafted and their riches seized for the priests, military and rulers in the capital of Landstar Fey. Amrou was the daughter of a duelist who dabbled in the mixing of the different colors, and secretly sent away while her family were executed for color heresy.

One morning, they are awakened by a Ramosian regiment led by the White Knight Garelian (G.Rush), who announces that the Master knows that the village hides the chosen duelist and that they should give him up or face the consequences. When noone steps forward, Amrou and Heffer watches from a distance as Garelian stepsoff his horse and draws a circle of protection on the ground before he begins to chant. Amrou is suddenly terrified, only managing to whisper "Storm Herd..." before panicking and insisting that she and Heffer get as far away as they can.

Heffer, who knows little of white spells, holds her back because if they leave the hut they're in, they'll surely be spotted.

Garelian suddenly stops chanting and thunder can be heard, even though the skies are clear. After a few tense moments Winged Pegasi appear on the horizon. They fly closer and closer before landing a few hundred meters behind the Ramosians and stampede past them. At this point, the civilians are fleeing in panic only to get trampled down and the huts come crashing down.In the wake of the destruction, the Ramosians search through the debris before being ordered away by Galerian. He reasons that Heffer surely was trampled and that they should return to Landstar Fey with the news. However, Heffer and Amrou are alive, buried under rubble and enclosed by a hastily scribbled circle of protection of their own. The wounded pair emerge from the rubble and are forced to make their way to the nearest village.

Over the next few days, the pair wander the barren plains without water or food and eventually collapse. A short while later a Dromad shadow falls over them and a familiar voice (Mojo Face The Troll – V.O. R.Perlman) is heard:"Well, tie me down and call me a flickerwisp, they do let all kinds of rabble in this hole.".

Heffer wakes up from being splashed with water by a Samite Healer, who smiles knowingly and turns to tend to Amrou. He looks around the lavish tent he's been put in when Mojo Face enters. He is uncharacteristically dressed in fine silk clothes and wearing jewel encrusted rings and rushes up to the resting duo.Once Amrou wakes up, he regales them with the tale of how he managed to con an ogre into digging up and carrying the treasure to the edge of the swamp where he hired the caravan and left the ogre behind. He agrees to help them get to Landstar Fey if they accompany him to his home in the Bloodletter Mountains afterwards. He also wants to look into a shady Loxodon (elephant men) investor in Landstar known as Frankie Peanuts (V.O. J. Statham) in order to increase his wealth even more.

After a few days of travel the caravan reaches Landstar Fey and with Mojo Face posing as a trader they manage to enter the city gates. On Amrou's advice, they head for the cathedral of the city, since the church councilmen have opposed the war for almost as long as it has raged.Mojo Face heads off to find Frankie Peanuts but Heffer and Amrou are greeted by the royal court priestess and bishop Jania (J.Dench) and granted room for the night, that they may plan for their attack on the White Master.Jania relates how when she first became court priestess, the White master was intent on convincing the other masters of the danger of allowing Arzakon access to this plane.

However, suspiciously, soon after Garelian was inducted as military advisor, the masters plan changed to capturing the ley nodes for himself reasoning that the other masters won't be able to then and thus Whytefields will be safe.Jania believes that Garelian is controlling the master for his own greedy machinations. Jania tells them to get a good nights sleep while she has to attend a nightly ritual at the court to avoid suspicion.

Meanwhile, Mojo Face has located Frankie Peanuts in a very out-of-place lavish office in the slum district of the city and expressed interest in investing with the "Legitimate Loxodon Businessmen Association". Frankie eyes him suspiciously, asking wether Mojo Face is a clumsy infiltrator sent by Garelian or just plain stupid. But when Mojo Face hints at his wealth, Frankie becomes interested and is quick to remind Mojo Face about the newly enacted "Traveler's toll" and has his strongmen clobber the troll.

Back in the cathedral, neither Amrou nor Heffer sleep at all, instead talking about Amrou's and Heffer's similar childhoods. They were both very lonely, Amrou from being removed from her family and Heffer for safekeeping by the elders. As they bond they fail to notice Garelian's soldiers massing up outside the church and is taken by surprise and brought to the court of the white wizard.Jania and Garelian both stand behind the throne, Jania looking concerned while Garelian looking triumphant. He whispers something into the masters ear. The Master recognizes Amrou as a Kithkin and decides on the punishment he think's she too should have recieved along with her parents; Death.However, when the guards are about to take Amrou and Heffer away, tumult can be heard outside the doors and Mojo Face busts through chased by several Loxodon strongmen. The White Master orders the guards to take care of the intruders and Amrou and Heffer take the opportunity to summon their creatures and attack him. In the chaotic battle that follows Jania is nowhere to be seen but when the Master is struck down by one of Heffers lightning bolts, she appears and casts Sunlance on him rendering him unconscious.Amrou manages to redirect some of her magic against Jania and weakly asks "Why?".

Jania: "Because the weak fool didn't dare touch the ley nodes. He didn't understand that with the spell of Dominion we could make the entire world as rich and beautiful as Whytefields with only the sacrifice of a few. He wanted to only hold the nodes we already had,so as to prevent some supposed evil from gaining access to this realm.I couldn't let him squander such an opportunity now, could I? But now that Heffer has destroyed him, he controls the nodes of Whytefields and once I destroy Heffer, I will have them!"

As she is about to strike the killing blow on Amrou, Garelian joins the battle and repels Jania. After a heated battle where all three parties are stretched to their limits, Jania is killed when one of her summoned Wakestone Gargoyles is struck down by Garelian and crushes her under it's heavy frame.

Amrou and Mojo Face rushes to Heffers side while Garelian calls for healers. Amrou turns to thank him but he says that thanks are not necessary. He instead begs forgiveness for his earlier errors, defending himself with that he was merely serving the White Master, as he always had. Heffer comes to thanks to the care of a Samite healer and just then two Angelic Protectors descend towards the White Master. As they lift him up he opens his eyes and smiles knowingly at the people in front of him. He thanks Heffer for freeing him from Jania's corruption and begs forgiveness. He assures Heffer that his noble heart is the finest keeper of the Ley Nodes that Shandalar can find.He then turns to Garelian and commends him as his finest servant, now promoted to the new master of Whytefield. And finally, he turns to Amrou, and says the her ban from Whytefields is forever lifted and also says that the angels told him her parents have been watching proudly ever since she left. He hesitates for a moment, as if wanting to say something else but can't before drawing his dying breath and is carried away by the angels.

Garelian sees Amrou and Heffer off, promising to return Whytefields to the paradise it once was.When Amrou and Heffer arrive at the gates of the city they find Mojo Face on a lone Dromad with a bitter look on his face.

Heffer: "Where's the caravan?"
Mojo Face: "I don't wanna talk about it."
H: "Come on, you had tons of neat stuff there, why'd you get rid of it?"
MF: "I was feeling generous,okay?? Let's go.."
H: "Alright, to the Bloodletter Mountains then? And home, Mojo?"
MF: "Yeah, anywhere but this hole.." (muffled) "If I ever see another Loxodon I'll shove his trunk right up hi..."
Amrou (Riding ahead out the gates): "Come on guys, my other element is waiting!"

The final shot shows the trio riding out the city gates, towards the Red Master.


Stark’s Comment:
The first ‘MTG’ movie made 179 millions in box office and net gains for the Studio of 209 millions. So there’s no reason why this sequel would not be another blockbuster. Hope it is, cause the Studio has spent an astronomical amount of money on digital effects for this one.

Behind The Scenes:
This is one of the most expensive movies ever produced by CMP. The budget for special and digital effects has been superior to the one for movies like the Star Wars' trilogy or The Avengers' saga.
Jason Statham replaced Clint Eastwood in his voice only work. Eastwood refused to be in the movie saying that he just could not imagine himself being part of this kind of production.
Alongside the film a 12-issue comic book series will be released titled "How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Troll", commissioned from William Christensen of Avatar Press.The books will follow Mojo Face's youth and life in the Bloodletter mountains, including his stint in the Red Masters military.

GASPIPE

Gangster / Drama

The Cast: Andy Garcia, Carla Gugino, Ray Liotta, Michael Madsen, James Gandolfini, Jeff Goldblum, Matt O’Leary, Chazz Palminteri

The Director: Ridley Scott
The Screenwriter: Dawson Edwards

The Plot:

From birth, Anthony Casso's (A.Garcia) mob life was preordained. Michael Casso (C.Palminteri) introduced his young son around South Brooklyn's social clubs, where "men of honor" did business by shaking pinkie-ringed hands—hands equally at home pilfering stolen goods from the Brooklyn docks or gripping the cold steel of a silenced pistol. Young Anthony (M. O’Leary) watched and listened and decided that he would devote his life to crime.

Casso would prove his talent for "earning," concocting ingenious schemes to hijack trucks, rob banks, and bring into New York vast quantities of cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. Casso also had an uncanny ability to work with the other Mafia families, and he forged unusually strong ties with the Russian mob. In 1972, at age 30, Casso became a made man, or full member, of the Lucchese family along with fellow 'soldier', Vittorio Amuso (R.Liotta). They became great friends and partners; they committed scores of crimes: including drug trafficking, burglary and murder. "Little Vic" became one of the few men able to call Casso by his hated nickname, "Gaspipe", to his face. The two men were handpicked to bump off Gambino family Boss John Gotti (M.Madsen). They failed, but the attempt alone garnered them enough recognition to get Vic and Gaspipe named Boss and Underboss respectively.

It was a great life—Casso and his new beautiful wife, Lillian (C.Gugino), had money to burn; Casso and his crew brought in so much cash that he had dozens of large safe-deposit boxes filled with bricks of hundred-dollar bills. At one point, Casso and Little Vic were getting at least half of a million dollars from other family jobs alone. Soon after the money got good, Amuso as Boss of the family, was arrested and word on the street was that new boss Casso set him up. After the arrest, Casso essentially went on the run. He still managed to get the job done, ordering about 10+ deaths during his three years as boss, but the pressure from the FBI increased daily.

The law finally caught up with him in his New Jersey safe house in 1994. Rather than stoically face the music like the old-time mafiosi he revered, Casso became the thing he most hated—a rat snitch. It broke his family's heart and made the once feared and revered mobster an object of scorn and disgust among his former friends. For it turned out that a lifetime of street smarts completely failed him in dealing with a group even more cunning and ruthless than the Mafia—the U.S. government.

Detailing Casso's feud with John Gotti and their attempts to kill each other, the "Windows Case" that led to the beginning of the end for the mob in New York, and Casso's dealings with decorated NYPD officers Lou Eppolito (J.Gandolfini) and Stephen Caracappa (J.Goldblum) —the "Mafia cops" who betrayed their NYPD badges and acted as informants and hit men for New York’s Lucchese organized crime family. In all, they had a hand in eight murders, including Gambino family capo Eddie Lino...

Gaspipe is the inside story of one man's rise and fall, mirroring the rise and fall of a way of life, a roller-coaster ride into a netherworld few outsiders have ever dared to enter.


Stark’s Comment:
You know I love mafia movies so I am enthusiastic about this one. It is the kind of quality / blockbuster production that may please both wide audiences and critics. The smell of GMA surrounds this production.

Behind The Scenes:
Ridley Scott refused the offer to direct ‘Earth 3K’ in favor of this one. He alleged that he has done a few sci-fi movies for CMP before and wanted to try something different.
Kevin Bacon also refused the offer to be in this movie cause he preferred starring the upcoming ‘The Heights’. Bacon was replaced by Jeff Goldblum.
Joshua Jackson, who worked before with Dawson Edwards in ‘The Flash’, was going to play Garcia’s son, but his character disappeared in the final draft of the screenplay.
At some point during the pre-production phase, Dawson Edwards decided to cancel this production, as he didn’t feel confident about its quality. It was Harry Stark who convinced him to go on.

THE ROCK STAR

Drama

The Cast: Jeff Bridges, Kate Beckinsale, Josh Hartnett, Allison Collins

The Director: Sam Mendes
The Screenwriter: Josh Collins
The Producer: Grand Island Movies

The Plot:

Chuck (J. Bridges) once had a decent successful career as a professional rock star back in the 70s and 80s, but now in a particularly sad state as an aged unattractive nobody. Not even those 'Where Are They Now' shows want to cover him because they at least want to spare him the embarrassment of watching him descend into working as a gas station attendant, a job he once told tabloids he'd be happy to have if he wasn't famous. Turns out, it's easier to say those kinds of things to make working class citizens feel good about themselves, than to actually go from being famous one era and not the next.

He works the graveyard shift at the station, fewer people to bother him. He still tries to hold on to his lost prestige, but can only make gigs playing in bars in front of a bunch of drunk people, or coming to elementary schools to persuade the students to say no to peer pressure.

He's not a bad musician, just not as lucky as he thought he was. He gave up graduating high school because someone saw talent in him and convinced him to follow the dream. He lives out his remaining days regretting all those opportunities. Not that he wouldn't have wanted to be a rock star if he went to college, but at least he could have done something else to fall back on to avoid minimum wage jobs. He tries throughout the film to get better jobs, but they just aren't interested and are more willing to give the opportunities to more experienced, educated people.

He can't stand listening to modern music, he often listens to the music of the good old days when most mainstream was actually good, not sloppy and thrown together. He has children from other mothers and he couldn't even tell you what they look like 'they probably look like me and whatever their mothers look like' he tells a younger woman, Candace (K. Beckinsale), whom he sees regularly at a nearby coffee shop. He flirts a little with her and tries to pick her up, but she feels he's a little too old for her, but he doesn't quite seem to comprehend that the 'sex, drugs and rock n roll' lifestyle is long gone in the forgotten past.

As the film progresses, the two get closer, they no longer see each other casually in the coffee shop, they hang out and he sees how troubled she is in her own personal life. He sees that she's had failed relationships herself as she cares for her young child (A. Collins) and her current 'man of the month' (J. Hartnett) is just as bad as any other man she's had. Her and this boyfriend have been in and out of relationships many times already, but this would certainly be the last time when Chuck witnesses the boyfriend treating the child terribly and hit her when Chuck defends her and beats up the boyfriend (breaking Chuck's own hand in the process, but he feels it was worth it.)

Candace confronts Chuck and wants him to stay out of her problems. She tells him she doesn't love Chuck, that she's not just going to be another face in the crowd of his little rock star fantasy world (even though they also had a passionate lovemaking scene) interesting how he couldn't seem to recall his own child's names but defended the honor of Candace's kid.

By the end of the film, he returns to his dead end job, as lonely as he started. But what happens next is a little shocker, at the gas station, he is caught in the middle of an armed robbery which he tries to fight back and succeeds to an extent when he is shot and the burglar flees the scene. Chuck is weak, but strong enough to at least return to his home while on the clock.

Chuck is sitting in a chair with his guitar resting in his lap, writing something on a piece of paper picks up his guitar and plays one last guitar song before the gunshot wound causes his death, clutching his guitar. The paper reads, "And with these last few moments of my life, I realize I died a long time ago. It just only took this long to occur to me."

The end


Stark’s Comment:
A brilliant screenplay here. I love the music chosen for the soundtrack. I don’t care much about how it will do in box office cause I really feel deep sympathy for this nice little movie.

Behind The Scenes:
‘The Rock Star’ was planned to be green lighted in Season 12 or 13. But Harry Stark liked the screenplay so much that he personally decided to make room for it this Season.
Sam Mendes offered Kate Beckinsale to use a body double in the nude scene of the movie. But it was Beckinsale who decided to play it herself.
Jeff Bridges has worked before with Josh Collins in movies like ‘Hollyweird’ and ‘Married To The Supervillain’.


EDGE OF HUMAN: Here is one of the most daring and appealing projects coming up in Season 12. Steve Connors has taken the novel ‘The Edge Of Human’, written by K. W. Jeter, the official continuation of ‘Blade Runner’, and has adapted it with very significant changes. The starring characters have been changed. The screenplay does not retake the blade runner Deckard and the replicant Rachel (played by Harrison Ford and Sean Young), as the book does, but creates brand new characters to star the story. As Connors usually does with all his books adaptations, the plot has also suffered many changes, so the movie is more inspired by than directly based on the book. Ridley Scott, director of ‘Blade Runner’ - who is releasing this week ‘Gaspipe’ -, won’t be directing this new story but he will be producing it. The director chosen by Scott is Jonathan Kasdan, son of director Lawrence Kasdan. And the lead character of the movie will be played by Ethan Hawke, who has worked before for CMP in movies like ‘The Crusades’, ‘The Bridge’, ‘Dakota North’ and ‘Schroedinger’s Litterbox’.

THE BLACKSMITH’S SWORD: Talents to add to the cast of this classic pirates adventure: Eric Bana, who has succesfully starred this Season ‘Bullet Witch 0’, will be the blacksmith of the title; Kenneth Branagh, last time seen in CMP in ‘Flashman and the Mountain of Light’, will be playing a swordsman; and Clive Owen, not seen in CMP since ‘1066’, will play the leader of the mean pirates.

YOGI BEAR: Past week we announced the voice only cast of this movie. This week it’s the turn for the stars to be seen in it: GMA Nominee Seth Rogen will be no other than Ranger Smith; John C. McGinley makes his debut in CMP playing a zoo owner; and the family that gets involved in Yogi’s adventures will be formed by Elle Fanning (‘The Green Children’), Jason Lee (‘Check, Please’) and Rebecca Romijn (‘Human Axis’).

THE HEIGHTS: Kevin Bacon and Demi Moore have two kids in this movie and they are played by Dakota Blue Richards, seen before in CMP in ‘Bedtime Stories’, and Chase Ellison, seen in ‘Dare To Be Perfect’ and ‘Hawkeye. The Prey’. James Wan has directed this thriller written by Matt Kubrick.

THE MISTAKEN: Finally, it is confirmed that Brad Pitt will not only star but also direct and produce this drama that denounces the judicial system. His wife in the movie is going to be played by the always interesting Diane Lane, seen before in two CMP’s movies, ‘Smoke Signals’ and ‘Things I Forgot To Tell You’. Josh Collins is the author of the screenplay.

DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON: Cameron Diaz already has a mate to co-star with her this comic adaptation written by Joey Stark and directed by McG. It is no other than GMA Nominee Halle Berry, who will play the police officer Misty Knight. Halle Berry’s last work for CMP was the acclaimed cops drama ‘Fallen Kings’.

UNDER THE GUN: This third movie of the Chinese Dragon Trilogy resurrects for CMP a sexy star some of us have been missing for long. The Italian star Monica Bellucci joins this franchise, playing Robert De Niro’s – who returns to this saga again as a mob boss – daughter. Bellucci’s career in CMP include ‘Bullit’, ‘The Toymaker’ and the musical ‘Nine’.

THE HOUSE OF SPIRITS: Another talent returning from the first Sonja Blue’s movie in this sequel. Michael Clarke Duncan, last time seen in ‘Hawkey. The Prey’, will be again an evil demon.

RIDERS ON THE STORM: Green light for a most peculiar story written by Chad Taylor. A story about losers with an interesting starring couple: Will Patton, who has never before worked in a CMP’s movie, and Mickey Rourke, seen this Season in ‘Tracks Of Blood’. This movie will mean the first full length feature directed for CMP by Darren Aronofsky, whose only previous work for the Studio was one of the stories included in ‘Tales Of The Unexpected’.

24 HOURS TO LIVE: And another indie-spirit production green lighted this week. Dawson Edwards and Spike Lee team up again after the acclaimed ‘Fallen Kings’ in this movie about how three very different characters live their last 24 hours. A black talents cast will be set up for the movie including Don Cheadle (‘Cathedral’, ‘South East’, ‘Chrysalis: Pennies From Hell’) and Edwards’ fetish actor Derek Luke, who has worked with Edwards before in ‘The Killing Run’, ‘The Flash’ and ‘Fallen Kings’.


JOSH COLLINS – ‘THE ROCK STAR’

Josh Collins, one of the most prolific and versatile writers in CMP, releases this week the drama 'The Rock Star', directed by Sam Mendes and starred by Jeff Bridges and Kate Beckinsale, under the label of Grand Island Movies. The movie tells in a nostalgic way the story of the decadence of a forgotten rock idol. Even before its release, some critics have been already talking of an award winning movie here.

1.You have said that 'The Wrestler' was an inspiration for you when writing 'The Rock Star'. What were you looking for when writing this screenplay?

Both films have a similarity to each other and I know 'The Wrestler' will be referenced to a lot during the receptions. Just as 'Lyra' kept being referenced to 'Juno' I think Rourke did fantastic with the Wrestler, but if you think about the kind of life he's had, the role was autobiographical. Bridges on the other hand had a chance to research and create. When writing the screenplay, I admit I was looking for a CMP's version of The Wrestler, and thought that musicians, actors, athletes lead similar lives. Being once on top, making bad career choices and tumbling down to the bottom looking for a way back up. Famous people are like that no matter what career, they spend so many years being adored by the public that they can't stand not feeling important when they aren't being paid attention to. I wanted to tell a story of a guy whose been there, done that, hurt other lives in the process and wants to make amends by helping a stranger's life. He's not really looking for one more shot on top by selling himself out by doing 'rock star dating reality shows' like some famous names, he just is living simple.

2.I can imagine that the soundtrack of the movie will be important. What songs have you chosen for this movie?

haha well like the Wrestler, there's that Bruce Springsteen song about being a one trick pony that might just end up in the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OSvJvSwmd4
There's an Eddie Vedder song 'Guaranteed' that I like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3SxCph5I1Q
And there's also a familiar Rush song called 'Limelight' that sums up the price of fame to the T.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mwiURyX2B4
Bob Dylan's Forever Young
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khXa9MhpSvE

and that's just a few songs. I'll have to get back to ya on that one for a full soundtrack.

3.I have the feeling that you are writing lately another kind of dramas. As some critic wrote, less hyper-dramatic than your usual ones...

I noticed I've been doing that lately too. I've been realizing that hyper-drama isn't the only way to make a successful drama. Perhaps it was still new when Hollyweird, Blink and Velcro did it. Then it became just as annoyingly repetetive as the weekly superhero, game adaptation and slasher. You can tell I like drama films, but I would like to reach out and grab at other genres to not seem so predictable, but it always seems like my dramas are the ones that usually get remembered. However I have been having some success with family-friendly films as well.

4.There's a strong GMA buzz around 'Fireflies In The Jelly-Jars'. What are your hopes about it?

Is there? haha thank you. What I like is the unpredictability of the GMAs. They used to think highly of my past dramas. Lately voters are looking for a lot more creativity. Only in the GMAs could classics like Devil Trigger be considered for awards when Oscars would totally underlook it. I was hoping 'Fireflies' would be a sign of the things to come for my future dramas. So long to the hyper-dramatic, or at least allowing them to take a break. As for the young star Abigail, a so-long to kid roles and a chance for her to take on more challenging and serious roles. Even in Hollywood, she is doing just that as she grows older. I want to wish the cast, Abigail and Daniel in particular, good luck for acting awards. If Fireflies happens to snag a few GMAs, I would be happy, but I have to remain modest and say it won't matter if it gets awards or not. I say that while secretly saying on the inside how much I yearn for it to get as many awards as possible.

5.As one of the most active CMP's authors and probably the favorite for adult audiences, what do you think of CMP's releases in general? Do you think the Studio should look more for quality than just making money or are CMP's releases well balanced between blockbusters' candidates and more artsy movies?

I don't see a problem with CMP releasing blockbusters and the occassional artsy-award bait style films. The blockbusters make the cash and give us further chances to continue with this great studio. The artsy ones may not be the most successful in the box office, but they display a lot more creativity and talent from the writers. There is the occassional hit when originality meets blockbuster like Devil Trigger or Woodland Creatures and when that happens, an angel gets its wings. Hollywood is full of rehashed ideas, sequels and remakes. It's nice to be involved in CMP and see that there are creative minds still out there. Hollywood is in trouble if a dozen unestablished screenwriters can come up with better ideas than they can. It's fine to recognize quality pieces, but too many of them at a time might be a bad season (unfortunately those turn up more net losses) so the blockbusters are needed just as much as a quality film. Just like too many blockbuster superhero/video game adaptations at a time are bad for the studio and won't showcase talented writers who have new ideas. So yes, balancing the two is ideal for the studio.



THE GREAT WAR SERIES

Fifth and last DVD Box Set released to celebrate CMP’s 300 releases. It’s the turn for one of the most acclaimed CMP’s sagas: the Great War Series. This trilogy tells the story of all the members of the british Armstrong family throughout World War I.

The movies, written by Jack Hammer and directed by Peter Weir, became unexpectedly successful and were instantly considered as CMP’s classics. The mix of adventure, romance and period recreation trapped audiences and seduced movie critics turning The Great War Series into an unforgettable trilogy that still remains as an unique experience for the Studio.


The 4 DVDs Box

-The 3 movies, including in all of them never seen before sequences personally supervised by Peter Weir.

-New audio comments for the 3 movies by Peter Weir and Jack Hammer.

-‘Memories of a War’: a documentary about WWI. Narrated by Jeremy Irons.

-Making Of: including interviews with Peter Weir, Jack Hammer, Colin Farrel, Jeremy Irons, Claire Danes and Christian Bale.

The Movies

DARKENING SKIES
Season 3
Peter Weir / Jack Hammer
Colin Farrel, Christian Bale, Hayden Christensen, Claire Danes, Jeremy Irons
B.O.: 206 mill. / N.G.: 238 mill.
It was a time in CMP when everybody was talking about the new Star Wars trilogy produced by the Studio. Nobody could imagine that this classic production would become as successful as the most famous sci-fi franchise ever. This first movie broke records at box office taking everyone by surprise.
GMA Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (C.Danes), Most Wanted Sequel, Best Screenplay. The movie got 5 nominations but, surprisingly, it did not win any award.

STORM BREAKS
Season 4
Peter Weir / Jack Hammer
Colin farrel, Christian Bale, Claire Danes, Hayden Christensen, Jeremy Irons, Adrien Brody
B.O.: 188 mill. / N.G.: 205 mill.
The second movie of the saga was almost as successful as the first one. Two major events were introduced in the storyline: the love story between Danes and Brody and the death of Colin Farrel.
GMA: Six nominations: Picture, Director, Actor (C.Farrel), Screenplay, Supporting Actress (C.Danes), Marketing. Two wins: Picture and Director. The saga finally triumphed at the GMA.

FINAL THUNDER
Season 5
Peter Weir / Jack Hammer
B.O.: 74 mill / N.G.: 512 mill.
Christian Bale, Claire Danes, Hayden Christensen, Jeremy Irons, Adrien Brody
Although still successful, this third episode didn’t repeat the amazing box office’s numbers of the previous ones. The absence of Colin Farrel probably disappointed audiences. Anyway, it was a more than honorable ending for the saga.
GMA: The movie won at its only nomination: Best Marketing.


CLAIRE DANES

Here is probably the most successful star in CMP. Ten works for the Studio. She's been part of some of the most successful CMP’s franchises. 4 times nominated at the GMA and two of them winner. 4 of her movies have been ‘100 millions’, one of them have been a ‘200 millions’ and 4 of them have made net gains superiors to ‘200 millions’. Probably, no other star can present such an amazing sheet of services. This week, CMP releases her tenth movie for the Studio and also the DVD Box Set with her most acclaimed work. We take a look this week at Claire’s spectacular career in CMP.

THE GREAT WAR SERIES
Peter Weir / Jack Hammer
Seasons 3, 4, 5
B.O.: 206, 188, 74 / N.G.: 238, 205, 51
Claire played the unforgettable Anne Armstrong, a romantic character that went through all the events of World War I with bravery and lived an epic love story with Adrien Brody.
She was nominated as Best Supporting Actress both in Seasons 3 and 4 for her work in this saga. As a curiosity, she is the only talent to have been nominated for playing the same character in two different movies.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
Peter Jackson / Marcus Trax
Season 4, 5
B.O.: 194, 100 / N.G.: 231, 67
Claire combined her work in ‘The Great War Series’ movies with this other franchise. She played here a completely different character, an adventurer barbarian that joined Bruce Willis and Nicholas Cage in their adventures. Danes kept adding megahits to her CMP’s filmography.

CAROUSEL
Season 4
Sam Mendes / Ted Froats
B.O.: 84 mill. / N.G.: 62 mill.
But she still found time on those days to star this remake of the classical musical by Rodgers & Hammerstein. Claire proved there that she could also sing and dance. This movie still is the most awarded production ever at the GMA with five statues.
Season 4’s GMA edition was undoubtedly Claire’s edition. She was nominated in three categories for two different movies. And thanks to Carousel she won two awards: Best Starring Couple, together with Jim Carrey, and Best Actress.

THREE WOODEN CROSSES
Season 5
Billy Bob Thornton / Ted Froats
B.O.: 16 mill. / N.L.: 5 mill.
Her agenda kept busy. In Season 5, Claire not only starred the third episode of The Great War Series, but also this low budget production based on a classic country song. She played a good hearted teacher, one of the three wooden crosses. The movie is the only flop in Claire’s career.

MAGIC – THE GATHERING: SINISTER BLACK
Season 9
Martin Campbell / David Makalaster
B.O.: 179 mill. / N.G.: 209 mill.
After those busy 4 and 5 Seasons, Claire suddenly disappeared from CMP. She didn’t return until four Seasons later, co-starring with Jude Law this new fantasy franchise. And the movie meant her return to box office’s success.

HAWKEYE. THE PREY
Season 10
Louis Leterrier / David Makalaster
B.O.: 96 mill. / N.G.: 74 mill.
Makalaster called her again for this superheroe movie. Claire played the brave and sexy Black Widow. The movie wasn’t as successful as expected but still made a very nice box office.
As a curiosity, Claire also worked in ‘The Avengers 3’ playing this same character, the Black Widow, but her work disappeared in the editing room. Rumour has it about her presence as the Black Widow in the upcoming ‘The Avengers 4’.

MAGIC – THE GATHERING: INNOCENT WHITE
Season 11
Martin Campbell / David Makalaster
Awaiting release
Claire goes on with her new franchise. Another box office’s hit is expected to join her list of blockbusters. With something like other four or five movies planned for this franchise, it seems like Claire is back to stay in CMP for long.


CMP organized a very peculiar premiere for 'The Rock Star'. It didn’t take place at a movie theatre but at Los Angeles’ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After showing the movie, a party took place with the assistance of some of the musicians included in the soundtrack. Here we have the starring couple of the film, Jeff Bridges and Kate Beckinsale, posing at the entrance of the party.



Ok, I have to start again with the inevitable superheroes section. It has been officially confirmed by CMP’s Press Office that Edward Norton has decided not to play again Hulk in ‘The Avengers 4’. After the internal problems during the shooting of the last Avengers’ movie, Norton has decided to definitely leave the franchise. What the Studio is considering now is not replacing him. The character is only seen in the movie in his ‘big green version’, so probably Hulk will be digitally generated and no actor will be needed to replace Norton. What can’t be confirmed yet is if Gore Verbinski will finally accept to direct the movie or not, as he has made contradictory statements about it during the past months.

Another official confirmation: ‘Justice League’ is suffering delays. The new superheroes mega-franchise won’t see the light for sure during Season 12. The official reason is that CMP does not want this movie to compete with ‘The Avengers 4’. The strategy is to release it after that one so it can be presented with the needed hype as the new main superheroes franchise from the Studio. But there’s an unofficial reason that the guys at CMP do not confess: the Studio is having problems to convince Christopher Bale to play Batman in the movie.

Cameron Diaz has always been considered an unlucky and mistreated star in CMP. Although she put her voice to the movie that has been the alltimes box office Top 1 for a long time, ‘The Ice Princess’, no offer was made to her to be in a CMP’s movie after that. But now it seems like her luck has changed. She is not only going to star the upcoming ‘Daughters Of The Dragon’ but I’ve been told that there’s a few other projects for her in CMP’s waiting list. So it seems like finally Cameron is here to stay.

I wrote a few weeks ago that Steven Spielberg was looking for something different and special to direct again a CMP’s movie. Well, he finally got it. Spielberg and Joey Stark, who have worked together in the Dr. Jones’ movies, team up again for a most ambitious project: taking to the big screen the adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winner book ‘The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay’, by Michael Chabon. The book tells the story of two young comic authors during the Golden Age of Comics. Stark is working so hard in the screenplay of what is expected to be a ‘bigger than life’ movie that will pay tribute to the superheroes’ creators. Sounds more than suitable for CMP, the home of superheroes movies.

Some talents win a GMA and then they are forgotten by CMP’s authors (somebody said Shia Lebouf here?). But some others take so much advantage of winning an award. Brad Pitt is the best example of that second category. Since he won the Best Actor GMA for ‘Ugly’, he has become a non-stop worker for CMP, developing also a career as producer and now as director too with ‘The Mistaken’. But, for what I know, another talent who has been so favored for winning the Best Actor GMA is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. After his debut with ‘Weigh Anchor’ and winning the award, I have been told that work offers for more CMP’s movies are piling up in his agent’s desk.