OCTOBER, 15

TRAIL OF THE LOST EMPIRE

Adventure / Comedy

The Cast: Tom Cruise, Kate Beckinsale, Pierce Brosnan, Christopher Waltz

The Director: Gore Verbinski
The Screenwriter: Joey Stark

The Plot:

According to a legend, during World War II, the Japanese took big amounts of money, art pieces, antiques and gold from different Asian countries to finance war with it. When the Japanese realized that they would lose the war, fearing that the US Army could find these huge treasures, parts of them were hidden in secret islands. Only a few men knew the locations and, during the last days of the war, those men were killed or committed suicide, so some of the treasures are still hiding somewhere in the Far East. Or, at least, so says the legend.

Three men live obsessed with this legend, looking for a presumed stock of gold ingots said to be somewhere in an Indonesian island. Daniel Jansen (T.Cruise), a treasure hunter who heard the story from his father, a US military. Jack Prentiss (P.Brosnan), a former CIA agent that used to be a legendary operative agent and now is only a decadent heavy-drinker and womanizer. And Boris Klevinsky (C.Waltz), a charming but said-to-be a cold-blooded assassin, former member of the Stassi, the old and feared East Germany Secret Police.

Daniel, Jack and Boris have traveled all over the world looking for hints of the treasure. In fact, they know each other very well. During the years, they have allied one with the other some times and also they have spied, fought and betrayed each other recurrently in their search for the treasure.

When the movie begins, we can witness some of their come and goes. We see the three of them in Venice, where a map of the treasure is supposed to be hidden between the pages of an old Japanese poetry book at the Medici’s Library. There, Daniel and Jack decide to ally to get into the Library. Boris is following them and denounces them to local police so they have to run away in a spectacular chase by car and boat. Boris then steals the book to find out that there’s no map.

We all see how Jack and Boris meet in an old Tibetan temple where it is supposed to be the only son of one of the men that knew where the treasure is. When they are talking with him, a monk, Daniel shows up and tells the other monks that they are thieves looking to steal the gold at their temple. It all ends up in a big karate fight between the monks and the three of them and a chase in sledges through the snowy mountains of Tibet.

Then, we see Jack having a meeting with a sexy woman at a resort in Hawaii. She is supposed to be a Japanese Secret Service’s agent with information about the treasure. While Jack makes love with her, Boris and Daniel get into the bedroom to search her drawers. They find nothing. The woman sees them over Jack’s shoulders and the three of them have to run away together – Jack only covered with a sheet – through the hotel’s roof while she shoots them.

That’s the way they live…

Until one day, while Daniel is looking for another trial in Paris, a mysterious woman steps on him. She introduces herself as Alma Cartson (K.Beckinsale), daughter of one of the most famous archeologist of Great Britain. Alma tells Daniel that her father discovered where the Japanese treasure is. He told her before he died. Alma tells Daniel that she is not much of an action woman and maybe they could team up to find it. Daniel does not completely trust her but accepts.

What Daniel does not know is that Boris is spying him... What Boris does not know is that Jack is spying him… So each one follows the other in their new trip.

Daniel and Alma fly together to Indonesia and there they hire an airplane and fly to a small island lost in the middle of the Atlantic. During their trip, Alma and Daniel seem to begin feeling something for each other. According to Alma, the treasure is hidden in secret caves at that island.

Boris follows the airplane with a GPS from a boat and also sails to the island… with Jack hiding in his boat.

Once in the island, Daniel and Alma begin their search. While following them, Boris falls into a hunting trap. And soon some strange people appear to take him.

Boris has been captured by a very peculiar tribe of natives. They dress primitive clothes made with fur. They speak an unknown language. They are basically human. But all of them have peculiarities: some of them are so big, others too small, some have long legs, some have hands like claws... all kind of different and freaky variations. It’s like they have mutated according to specific needs: haunting, climbing, fighting or whatever.

Jack has seen how Boris was captured. He has followed the natives. And he knows they will kill Boris if he does not do something. So he decides to ask Daniel and Alma for help. Daniel gets so mad when Jack shows up but finally he accepts to help his old enemy. In some way, all those years of enmity have created a strange friendship between the three of them.

So Jack, Daniel and Alma assault the tribe’s village at night… just to be captured too.

A kind of ceremony is being set up by the natives to sacrifice their four prisoners when the one who seems to be the leader of them – a two meters tall hairy man – looks curious about Alma. He decides to take her to his tent. When Alma gets out of the tent, she looks confident. She tells the other three – kept in cages - that those natives agreed with the Japanese Emperor to be the guardians of the treasure and they have kept keeping it for more than 60 years. They have had no contact with people for decades. For centuries, they have adapted to the environment through a natural mutating process. And their leader wants to marry her…

‘What has really happened inside that tent?’, asks her Daniel.
‘You don’t want to know…’, answers Alma with a naughty smile.

As Alma is allowed to move freely, that night she releases the other three and they all run away from the village. They walk all night to get to the caves where the treasure is. At dawn, the natives discover they’re gone and chase them.

The four of them move inside the dangerous caves, where they survive to different dangers from a rain of stalactites to water rapids. Finally, they get to a huge chamber where the amazing treasure is kept.

Once there, Alma takes out a gun and aims it at the three of them. Then, she reveals a secret. She is not the daughter of any archeologist. She is in fact Jack’s lover. They had it all planned from the very beginning. They should make Daniel and Boris to get to the island with them just to kill them there so they could get rid of both forever.

When Jack begins to laugh, Alma also surprises him. She tells Jack that she never really loved him. She just used him to get to the island with the idea of killing him and Daniel once there. Because she is in fact Boris’ daughter.

Now Boris begins to laugh. But Alma tells him not to. She reminds Boris how he never cared about her during her childhood days. Now, she won share the treasure with him. She has fallen in love with Daniel and offers him to take the treasure together and leave Boris and Jack at the island.

And now is Daniel who begins to laugh. Until Jack and Boris tell him: ‘Forget it. Now she will use you and then betray you the same way she has done with us…’

Then Daniel laughs again: ‘I never trusted her anyway… That’s why I took the bullets out of her gun.’ Shocked, Alma pulls the trigger just to check it’s true.

At that point, the natives show up at the chamber.

They have to run away as they shoot at them arrows on fire. The problem is that there’s some kind of gas in the cave’s atmosphere and the shooting makes it to explode. So an earthquake shakes the whole cave.

The four of them get out of the cave right on time before a big explosion destroys it. Also the native have got out and keep chasing them.

The group runs to the airplane and fly away from the island before being captured. Once in the airplane, they all regret and moan for the destruction of the cave with the treasure inside.

‘What shall we do now?’, says Boris.
‘Have you ever heard the legend of the Batusi treasure?’, asks him Jack.

In that exact moment, Daniel, who is piloting the airplane, turns and say: ‘I’m afraid I have bad news for you. We are running out of gas and we are in the middle of the ocean…’
Boris blushes and says: ‘Oops. I forgot to tell you that I had sabotaged the airplane just in case…’
‘Great’, says Alma, ‘It’s so much fun being with you, guys.’

And the four of them get ready to go on with adventure….


Stark’s Comment:
This story was written by Joey when I told him I would like to have Cruise back in a CMP’s movie. It is conceived to become a box office’s hit without no bigger pretentions that entertainment. Hope it works.

Behind The Scenes:
-Tom Cruise have only been seen before in two CMP’s movies: ‘Chevrolet’ (Season 2, B.O.: 98 mill.) and ‘The Guardians’ (Season 5, B.O.: 160 mill.)
-Gore Verbinski directed and produced for CMP the three first Avengers’ movies. He abandoned the franchise before ‘The Avengers 4: Civil War’ fed up of the internal conflicts between the cast’s members.
-Christopher Waltz makes his CMP’s debut with this movie. Kate Beckinsale and Pierce Brosnan latest CMP’s works were ‘That’s The Way’ and ‘Uncommon Valour: Only The Valiant’ respectively.
-Joey Stark has stated that he has no intention of turning this movie into the beginning of a franchise.

AMEDIA

Drama / Action

The Cast: George Clooney, Olga Kurylenko, Nicholas Cage, Shia LaBeouf, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, Jeremy Renner, Sam Worthington

The Director: Chad Taylor
The Screenwriters: Chad Taylor, Dawson Edwards, Matt Kubrick
The Producer: Silver Lining Entertainment

The Plot:

George Clooney as Michael
Olga Kurylenko as Sylvia
Bradley Cooper as Axel
Shia LaBeouf as Oliver
Nicolas Cage as Benny
Jeremy Renner as Simon
Juliette Lewis as Deanna
Zoe Saldana as Lily
Leonardo DiCaprio as Carnival
Sam Worthington as Vance

*Note: Scenes taking place in New Alrdin have are shot with low-key lighting. Scenes in Diamond Falls use high-key lighting. If noted as "SV" and the entire Act IV, regular lighting is used.

Before the credits,we see a short clip that gets it's style from a 1950's orientation film. An energetic voice is heard "Hello, welcome to your film! Your movie will begin shortly, but while you all finally get your asses into your seat, we will introduce you to some things you might need to know!

Sylvia (Kurylenko) is an "actress" in the porn industry,who is currently taking time off from the film business. She lives a very public life within the city of Swan Valley(one of the fastest growing cities in the world, an entertainment-based metropolitan area that mirrors Los Angeles). Her boyfriend Benny (Cage) is an eccentric drug addict who just lost his job at a gas station for masturbating during his shift. He goes to her for support, and she gives it to him, as the two are very sexually active. They live in the slum section of the city,New Aldrin, where many drug deals and murders take place.

On the side, she frequently visits Dr. Michael Stone (Clooney), who is a therapist to many of the famous residents of Swan Valley, mainly the upper class neighborhood,Diamond Falls. One of his patients is Axel (Cooper), a former child star who has been seen on TV for nearly a decade. He is still attempting to make a big comeback, with Michael helping him out. Another patient is Simon (Renner), an everyman with a brain tumor, and a divorce pending with his wife Lily (Saldana). The fourth patient is Deanna (Lewis), a single mother of 3, who is trying to revive her love life. The doctor's son Oliver (LaBeouf) is following his father's footsteps and is making a name for himself in the business district of the Valley. He takes his professional life very seriously,and his whole life has not focused on his personal life, and is still a virgin."

Act I:Welcome to Swan Valley

The credits roll and we open to a black screen.We open up to a POV shot from Benny.He wakes up with a violent headache(the screen starts to shake and an annoying buzzing sound is heard.)He picks up a cushion from his couch and throws it across the room. He lets out a loud scream, which causes the bathroom door to sling open. A nude Sylvia walks out,asking what the problem is. The camera shifts down to her breasts then back to her face. He tells her he has a stifling headache, and then the screen starts to spin around in circles and presumably go to black.

N.A.:Sylvia is on her knees, with a robe on, attempting to wake up Benny. A knock comes on the door. She looks around and spots a pile of empty prescription pill bottles and starts to panic and hides them all under the couch. She opens the door slightly and finds Michael at the door. He informs her that she has missed three sessions, his phone calls have went unanswered, and he that he is worried about her. She tells him that everything is okay and thanks him for his concern. He takes a glimpse inside and spots Benny on the floor. She notices and closes the door more, and all he can see is her face. He tells her the next date for their session and she tells him she'll be there.

S.V.:Michael then gets in his car and drives away. He goes to his office in downtown Swan Valley. There waiting for him is Deanna. The two look at each other with an obvious sexual attraction. With Deanna coming in the past few months, she's figured out that Michael is quite promiscuous. She flirts with him, but will not give up anything to him, which makes him angry. She tells him that the kids have gotten her stress and she feels lonely in the world. He comforts her with kind words, although deep inside, he has building feelings for her.

Simon sits at home, helping Lily pack.He knows that his feelings are still there for her, but he has decided not to tell her about the tumor,as it might seem like an act of desperation to try to keep her to stay. He sits in the quiet room, on the floor, speaking aloud about the good memories the two had together. She acts like she is listening but is texting Axel at this time. He finishes up a story about the time he proposed, which makes her pause and look up at him. He then turns back and see's the phone in her hand. His smiles turns to a scowl and she becomes scared.

D.F.:Axel sits in his car, with his phone in one hand and cup of coffee in the other, leaving the wheel untouched. He reads a message from Lily telling him she has to go. He seems annoyed, when he looks up and notices Benny in the middle of the road. Causing him to stomp on the breaks and spill his coffee. He greets him and lets him in the car, as he seems lost. It is obvious that Benny is on a sleeping pill, making him loopy. They drive down the road, and share small talk,when Benny looks up and pulls out a knife. He raises his voice and asks why is he kidnapping him. Axel freaks out and hits the breaks again. He tells him he should get out, and Benny comes to terms that he is in Diamond Falls and not New Aldrin. The screen begins to spin again, then cuts to black.

Oliver stares down papers across his desk and lets out a big sigh. He sits in the dark, as no one else is at the office. Then his father walks in, and sitting in a chair opposite the desk. Michael pulls out a blunt of marijuana and then lights it up. He asks his son how life is going, and he tells him good. He tells him how the business is really on the upside and his salary just keeps getting higher. He also tells him about how he met a girl a few days ago. He is not sure what love is, but whatever it is, he might finally know what it feels like. He tells his dad he met her on the bus. She was sitting next to a creepy guy named Barry,so he offered her the seat next to him and she accepted. They had a lengthy conversation and became friends. Her name was Sylvia.

Act II:Dark Places

D.F. Axel is sitting alone in a dark apartment trying to figure out what to do next. He hasn't had a acting job in months and his agent has been pissing him off. He needs a comeback, he needs a role anything. But his idiot agent can't give him anything. Fuck he thinks to himself. Finally his cell phone rings he looks at it, it's his cousin Max. He answers it and he says he has something a quick way for some money. He tells him to meet him at his place at nine. Axel says alright, shuts off the cellphone and tosses it aside. He rubs his eyes and lays on the bed.

Benny wakes up in a daze he doesn't understand where the heck he is or how he got here. It seems like he should know and can't remember what he took. He is in a dumpster and he can't see straight. He seems a little woozy. Slowly Benny tries to pull himself together and starts wandering down the street. He isn't paying much attention and he stumbles out into the middle of the road and gets slammed by a car. His arms flail in the air and he crumples behind the car as the driver slams on it's brakes. When he slowly starts to come to he finds he is being wheeled to surgery he starts screaming in loudly as the nurses try to keep him calm. They wheel him into the emergency room so the doctor can figure out what is wrong and how to fix him. They list off his injuries, broken back, broken ribs, broken arm, internal injuries. The only thing Benny can think of is his wife.

Oliver and Sylvia meet at a small resteraunt it is really nice family owned. She smiles prettily at him and Oliver can feel his heart just melt. He can't believe his luck. They have a long conversation about their life. Sylvia lies about hers about her job. and decides to make up a story about her being a lonely housewife who isn't shown much affection. She sweet talks to him making him feel good. Oliver shows her some sympathy and reaches his hand out placing it in hers. She smiles in prettily. Oliver tells her all about his job and all the things he does. Sylvia also hides her other secrets she flashes back to the molestation she suffered at her father. There is a tracking shot of feet walking down a dark hallway it follows them to a doorway and we hear a knocking sound. The person opens the door and peeks in and says "Sylvia,sweetie, you awake?" The person steps inside and closes the door behind him. As we hear footsteps in the room the camera begins to pull back from the door. Sylvia shakes off the flashback tearing up a little she says she has to go and quickly leaves the table apologizing.

N.A.: It's night time now and Axel meets Max at his apartment. He hands him ski masks and a gun. Axel knows he is getting way in over his head now but Max promises him that no one will not be harmed. Axel asks what the fuck is going on. Max explains that they are going to see this small time drug dealer. He has $10,000 in cash on him. This money can help them. They can split it up. He tries to explain how quick and easy it will be. Axel puts on his mask and finally agrees even though he knows this isn't good....not good at all. But they finally end up driving to the house, dirty place with a broken down car and other kinds of useless crap in the yard. They bust inside the house through the front yard. A baby starts crying from inside the house somewhere as they start shouting. But Max can't keep his cool and starts shaking yelling at the man and woman. He realizes they made a mistake. This isn't the right place. All of a sudden A gun shot rings out, it's someone else in the house who comes from a back room. Max fires wildly and accidently shoots the woman through the chest and she falls over. The other shooter hits Max, the bullet slamming into his skull spraying the wall behind him with blood and gore. Axel starts screaming "FUCK FUCK!!!" He runs out of the house as police sirens scream somewhere in the night. They are coming closer. Axel realizing Max has the keys and runs for his life

Act III: One

S.V.: Simon gives a small chuckle and wipes some sweat from his forehead, then takes a deep breath. While Lily puts her phone down on the bed she tries to crack a smile, but fear won't let her. Simon walks slowly into the bedroom, and asks her "Just who the hell are you talking to?!" His voice raises with every word, he asks her again and again. Knocking a lamp over, he asks her who is so important that she absolutely has to message but can't respond to the memories of their relationship. The memories of their love. Lily lets out a whisper..."A friend." She then sees the of sadness on his face overcome his rage. She grabs her bag, and begins walking towards the front door. "Lily!" he calls out before she turns the doorknob. She stops, and listens. "When you're tired of the lies, and the truth is the only thing you want to hear...I swear to you, that I will always be here." She turns around smiles and walks out the door, leaving Simon more hurt than the tumor could ever do. It doesn't take long before he rushes out the door after her. Lily is already in her car, and backing out of the driveway. Before she pulls off, Simon stands in front of the car. She rolls down the window and yells for him to move or she'll hit him. She yells that some things aren't meant to last forever. "You are all I need and I'll NEVER let go! I'm yours. Just you and me, until the end. Some things don't last forever, but we are not those things. We are one."

Act IV: Civilization

Michael stares in the mirror, considering his options. He can keep his professional career in front of him or can pursue a relationship with Deanna. Simon is stuck standing in front of Lily’s car, with tears nearly running from his eyes, and his hands stamped down on the hood. Oliver is in his car, chasing through the city to find Sylvia. Benny is returning home from the hospital, all wrapped up.

N.A.: Oliver finally spots Sylvia’s car. At the cemetery. Oliver sits in his car and notices her kneeling at her father’s grave in tears. He gets out of the car and comforts her. He wraps his arms around her and she sinks into his hug. Mirroring his father, he uses the correct words, making her feel good about herself. They get in his car, both happy. She thanks him for being there for her and then takes his hand. He smiles and then she climbs over into his seat, with her legs straddling him. Their lips meet and it progresses from there. They rip off each other’s clothes and start to go at it, with the little room they have. She is a pro, and he is a rookie at this. He lets out a big moan, which makes her happy,and the scene gets even steamier.

Benny returns home, happy to see his wife. He is ready to apologize for his ways and seek forgiveness. But when he walks in, with flowers in hand, the house is empty. He is disappointed and then gets in his car, frustrated. His neighbor (DiCaprio) approaches his window and asks why he looks mad. He tells him that she mumbled something about a cemetery and drove off earlier. Benny knew that she would periodically think about her father, so thanks his neighbor and speeds off.

He gets to the cemetery and see’s Sylvia’s empty car. He keeps driving around, and spots a dark area where a car is parked. We then see inside of Oliver’s car where they are still making love. As she sits on him like a cowgirl, Oliver drops his head back and starts to moan as if he is about to hit his climax. Then glass. Glass shatters everywhere. Benny is standing at the driver’s side window with a crowbar in hand. He opens the door and pulls Oliver out, leaving Sylvia behind. Benny looks down at Oliver’s partner and chuckles, then raises the crowbar over his head. Oliver screams in fear. Then the clock in the car changes to 4:28.

A car pulls up beside Axel as he runs away from the house. In the car is a charming man (DiCaprio), who asks if he needs are ride. Axel feels like he is joking but then tells him yes and the man actually lets him in the car. They drive around until they get to Axel’s house, and the man already knew where it was.

Axel thanks him and lets him out, but when he walks in the house, two men are standing there. They inform him that they’ve found out about his plans to rob them and that now he will have to pay. Axel charges them and a brawl ensues. He takes them both on for a few minutes but then, one of them pulls out a gun and points it to Axel’s temple. Then we zoom in on his watch and it reads 4:28.

We see Lily sitting in her car, staring into Simon’s eyes, when her phone rings. The voice on the other line (DiCaprio) tells her about Simon’s tumor. She drops the phone in disbelief and looks questioned at Simon. “You couldn’t tell me that? You couldn’t tell me that you may not even be alive in a year! You couldn’t tell me that you have a life-threatening brain tumor, yet you can get mad at me for texting someone else?!?” She pulls her foot back to accelerate, but before she can, the clock hits 4:28.

Michael sits in his office with Deanna. They still share some talk and he asks about her dead husband. She pulls a picture out of her purse. On it is a picture of her, her kids, and her husband (DiCaprio) at a carnival. She then tells him that he had a heart attack at that carnival, and that’s when she lost him. Michael smiles and looks at the picture. He looks at her, then down to the picture, then back to her. She looks up and see’s him looking at her, and smiles. He then leans in for kiss, but she backs up. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing? You’re my therapist, not lover.Get away from me!” she yells and pushes him away. She begins to pick her purse up to leave, but then the clock in his office hits 4:28.

We see inside of a helicopter. The pilot (DiCaprio) talks to someone else, telling the other person(who he calls Vance) that’s it’s almost time. We see a montage of a man (Worthington) planting in bomb into three separate buildings in New Aldrin,Diamond Falls, and downtown Swan Valley, respectively. That same man is sitting in the passenger seat of the helicopter. We cut back to Michael’s office, where everything is still frozen and zoom into a picture sitting on his desk of Michael, Oliver, and Vance, revealing that he is Oliver’s brother and Michael’s oldest son. He looks down at the clock and see’s it change to 4:28. He presses a button, and we see the buildings explode.

We go through a montage of each setting, where they feel and hear the bombs in the distance. The pilot’s then speaks through a voiceover “It wasn’t going to be this way but it needed to happen. I’m saddened to be the one to do this, but it was my calling. I used to be a normal man with a normal life. I had a beautiful wife and splendid kids. But then they called me. They needed me. And so I did what they told me to do, and faked a heart attack, so they could put me under treatment. They took me away from that carnival. They were disguised as ambulance. I underwent multiple tests on how to make my mind intelligently superior. They offered me to destroy one the country’s best cities. In return, I would get what I’ve always wanted. To be the leader. They said if I pulled it off, I would get to run them and their government. I’ve always wanted to be the one to tell people who to look up to. It was my dream. “

Michael tackles Deanna, protecting her from shattering glass. Lily is shocked by the sonic boom that she presses the gas and moves forward. Simon thinks quickly and leaps up, rolling over the hood. Sylvia reaches over the car and picks up a gun. While Benny lifts up the crowbar, she shoots him in the chest, as debris comes flying their way. Axel takes multiple shots in the chest, and falls dead, as the boom startles the shooter. Meanwhile, Michael knows. He knew the picture of her husband looked familiar. He would hang out with his son, as a teen. He hadn’t contacted Vance in nearly 15 years. He had no clue what he was up to.

He tells Deanna to stand up, take his hand and run. She does and they flee through the halls of the building, while riots build outside. They exit the building, and spot the helicopter in the air. Simon knows too. Vance was his best friend as a kid. Something was wrong. He falls into the passenger’s seat and tells her to drive. They drive towards the helicopter. With blood spilling from Benny’s body, Sylvia gets in the passenger’s seat and Oliver in the driver’s. He sees the helicopter and pulls away and drives to his father’s office. “My stupid brother.” He whispers.

They all meet at one central point. Michael, Deanna, Simon, Lily, Oliver and Sylvia huddle up as the helicopter begins to land. Vance walks out and everyone starts yelling at him. The pilot follows, with a smile on his face.

“Oh, you foolish people, quiet down. It is not his fault. He merely helped me. You see, Vance here knew who the best and most dangerous people were in this city. And it was each and every one of you. So if I could stop you from being a distraction, I could go on with my plans. Vance is the leader of Amedia. A civilization that thrives on making humanity better, not worse like this scum you call Swan Valley. So I got you all mad at each other, so you wouldn’t focus on the helicopter in the sky. You wouldn’t focus on the dangers ahead. And so know Vance has chosen me as his replacement, which is why I had to do this. And Deanna, I’m sorry, but this job really gets my heart beating, more than your body ever did. This world does not need Swan Valley. It does not need you people. It needs Amedia. Accept your fate and get out of our way. You can call me Carnival.” The pilot says.

Vance shakes his head in agreement, but then turns around and stabs Carnival in the neck. “I’m sorry friend, this has made me notice what I had to. What was right. And you were wrong.” He walks over to Michael and Oliver and hugs them both as blood begins to spread around Carnival’s dead body and the camera zooms out.


Stark’s Comment:
Ambitious and strange. Those are the two words that come to my mind about this movie. It is one of those times when I feel that we can be facing either a possible megahit or a possible painful flop.

Behind The Scenes:
-This is the first movie co-written by three screenwriters in CMP’s history.
-Chad Taylor has written Acts I and IV, Kubrick wrote Act II and Edwards wrote Act III.
-Chad Taylor makes his debut as director with this film. It is also the first project developed by his new independent production company ‘Silver Lining Entertainment’.
-Taylor presented this project to CMP under the genre label of ‘Action / Adventure’. The Studio considered it didn’t completely fit with the story and decided to change it for ‘Drama / Action’.

THE FANTASTIC ISLAND

Action / Adventure / 3D

The Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Jennifer Garner, Nathan Gamble, Madeline Carroll

The Director: Alfonso Cuaron
The Screenwriter: Josh Collins

The Plot:

The Fantastic Island tells the tale of a mysterious island. Legend says it's an island in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle. The Bermuda Triangle is known for unexplained disappearances of ships and air crafts in the past. One bold scientist (J. Goldblum) wishes to investigate the strange disappearances. He has a protégée (J. Garner) to take over his studies after he is long gone. But he wants to make one more big discovery before he passes the torch. At first he is reluctant to take his protegee on the adventure with him, fearing it's too risky. But like usual, she ends up going with him because she is also a pilot.

They have uninvited guests stowaway on the plane and make themselves seen after the scientists have taken off. They are Goldblum's grandchildren (N. Gamble, M. Carroll) and it's too late to turn the plane around before the group reaches the Bermuda Triangle. Strange things start happening to the plane and it ends up crash landing on an island. They are unable to radio for help, but at least they come out of the crash unscathed.

Throughout the film while trying to figure out ways to get off the island or summon help, they all get separated: the kids and the scientists. But that turns out to be the least of their worries. The island is civilized by several kinds of creatures thought to be extinct, mythical or made up. Creatures such as the Sasquatch (Bigfoot), An Allosaurus Dinosaur, Saber Toothed Tigers, Wolly Mammoths, Dodo Birds, A fire breathing dragon, The Megalodon Shark, Minotaurs, Fauns, Cerberus, Centaurs and many more.

The scientists and kids have their run-ins with the aforementioned creatures and more as they struggle to find each other and get off this insane island alive. Once they do find each other and build a small boat to get away from the island, they have one huge intense fight with the Megalodon Shark before they manage to outwit it and escape with their lives in tact and they had one flare left from the plane to shoot up in the air and soon be rescued.


Stark’s Comment:
A perfect product of entertainment for all the family. It should work very well in box office without major problem.

Behind The Scenes:
-This is the first live action movie shot in 3D in CMP’s history. The only previous 3D CMP’s movie was the animated feature ‘He-Man and Masters Of The Universe’.
-Collins presented this movie as a kind of sequel-non-sequel of the megahit ‘The Fantastic Mansion’. In fact, the only things the two movies have in common are Alfonso Cuaron behind the cameras and Goldblum and Garner in the cast.
-Cuaron has directed before four movies for CMP (‘The Fantastic Mansion’, ‘Zoids’, ‘The Blacksmith’s Sword’ and ‘Zoids: Eve’). The four of them have made more than 100 millions in box office.


SON OF THE BRIDE: Christopher Plummer and legendary actress Lauren Bacall play Ben Stiller’s parents in this dramedy written by James Bradley and being directed by Stiller himself. Plummer has been seen before in CMP in movies like ‘Nick Fury’, ‘The Avengers 4: Civil War’ and ‘Secret Sins’. This will be the first CMP’s work for Bacall. Her character suffers Alzheimer disease and that becomes a legal obstacle when Plummer decides he wants to marry her after decades living together.

NEW WORLD 2: HEROES OF THE REBELLION: The Scott Brothers (Ridley directing, Tony producing) return with the second installment of this John Daws’ trilogy set in a futuristic world. The first movie was a slight disappointment for the Studio. It made 74 millions in box office, way below expectations. CMP expects to definitely launch this saga with this sequel. Gerard Butler and Keira Knightley return as the starring couple.

IT’S JUST NOT WORKING OUT: Josh Collins tries luck with romantic comedy. GMA Winner Cameron Diaz and Jason Bateman play two old friends both unlucky in love until they realize who their true love really is. James L. Brooks is directing the movie. Brooks already directed a romantic comedy titled ‘Singles’ back in CMP’s very first Season. He had disappeared from CMP’s world since his animated movie ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ became one of the Studio’s biggest box office’s disasters ever in Season 4.

JUSTICE LEAGUE 2: Some talents seen before in previous CMP’s superheroes movies will return in this one playing the same characters again. Simon Baker repeats his character from ‘The Flash’ movies, Josh Brolin repeats his character from ‘Wonder Woman’ and GMA Nominee Marion Cotillard plays again Circe, her character in ‘Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia’. Cotillard replaces Morena Baccarin, who was initially considered by Taylor to play Circe before Cotillard showed up in Edwards’ movie.

OTTO RAHN: GMA Nominee Franka Potente, seen past Season in the blockbuster ‘Invasion’, is playing here the woman that Rahn marries trying to hide his homosexuality. GMA Winner Kevin Spacey will also make a brief appearance in the movie characterized as no other than the Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS. Spacey had not been since in CMP since his work in Season 11’s ‘Robots Of Dawn’. Werner Herzog is directing this movie being produced by Steven Spielberg.

FANTASY WORLD: What needs a CMP’s movie to be fully considered a CMP’s fantasy movie? Yes: it needs Ron Perlman in it! In this David Zucker’s parody of fantasy adventure movies, the inevitable Ron Perlman – seen in so many sagas from the Studio, from ‘Star Wars’ to ‘Magic – The Gathering’, among many others - will laugh at his usual presence in this kind of movies in CMP playing the villain of the story. And don’t miss the peculiar cameo that will show up after the ending credits of the movie…

THE PLEDGES: Tyrese Gibson, already seen this Season in ‘Turn Of A Friendly Card’, joins the cast of this new movie being directed by the Hughes Brothers. Model and actor Mehcad Brooks, seen in movies like ‘In the Valley of Elah’, will make here his CMP’s debut. And also making her debut in CMP, we’ll see Jada Pinkett Smith making a cameo. Dawson Edwards has written this story starred by Derek Luke and Rob Brown.

FAREWELL TO ARMS: Italian actor Francesco Scianna will try luck in Hollywood in this Martin Scorsese’s version of Hemingway’s classic. Also, Mexican star Gael Garcia Bernal, seen before in CMP in ‘United I Stand’ and ‘Stanley & Livingstone’, has joined the cast of the movie.

HOUSTATLANTAVEGAS: Behind this impossible title hides the new comedy directed by Todd Philips. Following his most famous movies, like ‘Road Trip’ or ‘The Hangover’, this story written by Dawson Edwards is also a wild road movie. Adam Brody - who succeeded past Season in CMP with his debut work ‘Sunshine On Lonely Street – and Emma Stone (‘Psycho: Bloodline’, ‘The Miracle Men’, ‘Out Partying’) are the starring couple. Grand Island Movies is producing the movie.

MEGA MAN: French star Jean Reno (‘The Hooligan’, ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’, ‘To Catch A Thief’) plays here Dr. Light, the scientist that builds Mega Man, the heroic robot played by Taylor Lautner in this Renny Harlin’s action movie written by Josh Collins.


CHAD TAYLOR - 'AMEDIA'

Chad Taylor releases this week what seems to be his most creatively ambitious project ever, ‘Amedia’. It is the first CMP’s movie ever co-written by three screenwriters. And it is also the first movie produced by the bran new Taylor’s independent company ‘Silver Lining Entertainment’. We have talked with him about this peculiar project and some other of his upcoming releases.

1.Why did you decide that 'Amedia' should be co-written by Edwards, Kubrick and you?

I’m always for doing something different, and I wanted to make a story where I didn’t decide everything. Dawson and Matt have creative minds, and I figured they would fit the story well. I think it really helped having them.

2.It must not be easy, three writers working in the same story. What can you tell us about the writing process?

Well, I wanted to make this a story that could go anywhere. I start it off, and let others work away, so I can finish it. It was the most fun I’ve had thus far…letting their imagination be expressed with the characters I created.

3.The movie also means your debut as director. Why did you choose this story for your first directional job?

Amedia was one of those original stories, that you just feel deep down inside that it’s yours. You know it. I had The Beatles and John & Tommie, both of which I could’ve directed, but both I thought could be better off with a veteran, or someone else who has a vision for the movie. On this one, I felt like the whole movie was in my control. And I like that feeling!

4.'Justice League 2' is on its way. How do you feel about this saga? Do you plan to keep on going with it for many films?

I honestly only see about 2 or 3 more films on the horizon. This is a big hassle, but very fun. I feel like I want it to continue, but with some things, you’ve just got to work and then move on, and that’s what I’ll do with this.

5.It seems like you are planning to create a stable working team with Martin Scorsese. Why have you decided to begin that joint experience with another adaptation of 'A Farewell To Arms'?

Martin and I have became good friends over the last few months, prepping not just one, but a few films. Farewell is a piece of literature that I’ve always loved. Kind of depressing, yet always moving. I feel Hemingway hasn’t been represented much in recent media. James was signed first and we used him to audition with the actresses. The chemistry between him and Carey brought a smile to my face as soon as they looked into each other’s eyes. This will be one beautiful movie.


KATE BECKINSALE

Ten previous works for CMP. Nine of them have made net gains. Three of them made more than 100 millions in box office. Two GMA’s nominations. Eight different CMP’s authors have wanted her in their movies. Kate Beckinsale is another one of the big names in the Studio’s history. She has tried all kind of movie genres – superhero movies, action, drama, comedy… - and her prestige has kept rising from one work to the next. This week Kate is releasing her eleventh CMP’s movie and we take a look at her successful CMP’s career.


CAPTAIN AMERICA
Season 1
Brett Ratner / Joey Stark
B.O.: 198 mill. / N.G.: 176 mill.
Kate joined the first superhero’s franchise ever in CMP’s history, long before superheroes movies became a regular thing in the Studio. She was Captain America’s girl in this movie starred by the missed Heath Ledger. The movie became a blockbuster and the beginning of a trilogy.

INDIGO PROPHECY
Season 2
Brian Kelley / Brian Kelley
B.O.: 45 mill. / N.G.: 12 mill.
Kelley wrote very few movies for CMP before his sudden retirement. This was also directed by him. It was a video game adaptation starred by Matt Damon. Kate and Damon not only shared some big action sequences in it but also some steamy ones. Box office wasn’t as good as expected for this top budget production.

CAPTAIN AMERICA VS SUPERMAN
Season 3
Tim Burton / Joey Stark
B.O.: 134 mill. / N.G.: 134 mill.
Due to some creative differences between Brett Ratner (director), Bryan Singer (producer) and Joey Stark (screenwriter), Tim Burton took control of the Captain America’s franchise. This second installment was the best of the three movies. Nicholas Cage played in it Superman for the first time and audiences kept supporting the saga.

HITMAN: THICKER BLOOD
Season 4
Tony Scott / John Daws
B.O.: 93 mill. / N.G.: 73 mill.
The very popular Hitman’s saga needed a new female lead star after Keira Knightley’s character died in a terrible way in the second installment of it. And Kate was the chosen one to play Keira’s sister, a woman looking for revenge against Hitman / Colin Farrell that ended up falling in love with him. This way, Kate became attached to two of the most popular CMP’s franchises of the time.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: DESTINY
Season 4
Tim Burton / Joey Stark
B.O.: 75 mill. / N.G.: 69 mill.
The end of the Captain America’s trilogy wasn’t as successful as expected. It was probably the first superhero movie ever in which the superhero died at the end. Yes, Heath Ledger died in the arms of Kate… just before he also died in real life. Captain America resurrected in ‘The Avengers’ with the face of Adam Baldwin but Kate was never seen beside him ever again.

THE LOLLIPOP MAN
Season 6
Shawn Levy / Marcus Trax
B.O.: 108 mill. / N.G.: 131 mill.
Kate decided to try luck with comedy. Ben Stiller was a lollipop man and she was a teacher that befriends with him. This movie oriented to children was a surprising success and it meant the third ‘100’ in Kate’s career.

HITMAN: SHADOW OF A LEGEND
Season 8
Tony Scott / John Daws
B.O.: 82 mill. / N.G.: 58 mill.
And then tragedy kept chasing Kate’s characters again. After witnessing the death of her beloved Captain America, she also had to witness the death of her also beloved Hitman in this last installment of this saga… But Kate’s career survived to those two dramatic events.

THE ROCK STAR
Season 11
Sam Mendes / Josh Collins
B.O.: 12 mill. / N.L.: 17 mill.
The only box office’s flop in Kate’s career in CMP. But this sentimental drama about the relationship between a decadent rock guitarist (Jeff Bridges) and a mistreated woman (Kate) became what probably is her biggest triumph in CMP in terms of prestige. Kate got two GMA’s nominations: Best Actress and Best Starring Couple. Critics surrendered to the beauty of this sad story and finally ‘The Rock Star’ won the Best Picture GMA of the Season.

COEN & WARSHINSKI
Season 13
David Schwimmer / Steve Connors
B.O.: 36 mill. / N.G.: 2 mill.
It was Ben Stiller, her co-star in ‘The Lollipop Man’, who personally chose her to work with him again in this comedy about a weird disco stars duo. Kate played a reporter from ‘Rolling Stones’ magazine that writes an article about them that resurrects their career. Stiller and Ferrell, two of the most successful comedians in CMP, weren’t lucky this time and the movie hardly avoided net losses.

THAT’S THE WAY
Season 14
Cameron Crowe / Trent Nielsen
B.O.: 36 mill. / N.G.: 14 mill.
After so many leading roles, Kate accepted to play a minor role in this family drama as Tim Robbins’ ex-wife and Billy Cudrup’s new love. She said that she liked the story so much when she read the screenplay that she wanted to be in it, no matter the importance of her character in the story. This low budget movie worked nicely in box office.

TRAIL OF THE LOST EMPIRE
Season 15
Gore Verbinski / Joey Stark
Awaiting release
Joey Stark meets Kate again after the Captain America’s movies. Kate bets again for a top budget production that might easily mean the fourth ‘100’ in her CMP’s curriculum. Whatever happens, it is evident that many CMP’s authors like Kate so we will probably keep seeing her in CMP’s world for long.


This section often shows pictures of some of the beautiful actresses working in CMP’s movies. But this week we are turning our eyes on the boys. Here is an artsy picture of three of the big stars showing up in this week’s release ‘Amedia’. An outstanding trio of aces: Mr. DiCaprio, Mr. Clooney and Mr. Cage.



The controversy keeps growing. Some movie critics have reacted strongly to the negative reviews that ‘Superman: Last Son’ got in this blog. And you can find at the internet dozens of forums where fans defend the movie and claim against the blog’s reviewers. Never before there has been such a controversy around critics’ reviews. Just as an example, here is a quote of Ted Barnes’ review about the movie and the controversy at ‘Variety’:

‘It seems like the team of critics at CMP’s blog deliberately decided to boycott the movie. ‘Superman: Last Son’ is a brilliant update of the most iconic superhero ever and those pretended wise writers just decided to tear it to pieces with no mercy. Why? No idea. But I was so surprised that presumed experts did not appreciate the effort made by Mangold and Edwards to explore new territories for the character instead of staying attached to the clichés. Personally, I just hope that ‘Superman: Last Son’ wins the next Best Picture GMA to shut up their big mouths.’


And to go on with this juicy controversy, I have asked his opinion to the main guru of CMP’s movies at this blog, the reputed critic Charlie Kiggs. This is his more calmed opinion:

‘A Superman movie will always have to face two big difficulties. The first one is that Superman is not just ‘another superhero’. I agree with what one of the reviews said: if we are talking about Superman, the level of demand rises. You always expect something unique and almost perfect if we are talking about Superman and it is almost impossible to meet expectations. The second one is that there is already a great Superman movie – Richard Donner’s – and comparisons are inevitable. It is like if you make a movie about Batman. You will never beat ‘The Dark Knight’. Making a Superman movie – like making a Star Wars movie – is a most difficult challenge. It is easier to make a movie about Silver Sable, Wonder Woman, The Flash or even The Avengers because there are no previous movies about them. With Superman, you will always be the victim of comparisons… Once said so, I can agree with some of the things the CMP’s reviewers wrote and I disagree with others, as it always happens with any movie review.’