Comingsoon.net released a publicity image for the Superman Returns film. I've mirrored it here for convenience.
A North Dakota state-financed movie filmed in the Badlands is being released on DVD. Wooly Boys is being released by Lions Gate Entertainment. The state-owned Bank of North Dakota loaned $3.9 million for the production, and about a number of private investors also have stakes in the film, which stars Peter Fonda and Kris Kristofferson. The story follows a sheep rancher who reconnects with his big-city grandson. Filmed in 2000, it was promoted at several film festivals, including the Cannes International Film Festival in France.
Story taken from: Grand Forks Herald
Flushed with the success of last year's The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson appears poised to embark on another high-minded religious epic. His subject on this occasion, according to a swirl of reports in the US, is the life and times of Pope John Paul II.
Read more at the Guardian Film website.
The Manitoba provincial government is spending $1.8 million to rescue the Prairie Production Centre, a floundering sound stage in downtown Winnipeg. The privately owned facility was built six years ago to attract more film and television productions to the province, but it has been mired in debt. Last year, the centre tried to get a grant from the city, but there was a catch: it had to pay $125,000 in unpaid taxes first. The Prairie Production Centre is co-owned by the Crocus Investment Fund and Shelter Canadian Properties. The opposition Conservatives say the project is not viable and enough money has been thrown it. The province loaned the centre $1.5 million before it opened, and the federal government has also contributed.
Story taken from: CBC Winnipeg
Both CTV and the Globe and Mail have stories of how Sarah Polley and Don McKellar lambasted the federal government for doing next to nothing to support or promote Canadian culture. Polley is working with the Commons Heritage Committee as it conducts an in-depth review of how the federal government funds Canada's feature film industry.
An article over on ZDNet's IT Facts states that according to Parks Associates, approximately 30 million US households have a broadband connection, 50 million have either digital cable or direct broadcast satellite (DBS) television service, 18+ million households have a data networking solution, and 75% of US households have a DVD player. Read more on the ZDNet's IT Facts blog.
Boston.com has a good article on the upcoming movie version of the Dallas TV series. Two of the complications I imagined are also identified by the screenwriter for the film, Robert Harling. First, who should be JR Ewing? One of the most memorable TV villains ever, this role has to be handled carefully if the movie has any chance of working. Secondly, the story and plot! "What's been so fascinating and challenging about 'Dallas' is it's a serial format, so they told a story over the course of 26 hours or whatever," Harling said.
You can read more of the article on the Boston.com website. There are also a rumour floating around about Catherine Zeta-Jones starring in the film. The BBC News website covers that story.
BBC News has a story about the death of Pope John Paul II and the surge of interest in the US in DVD releases about his life. The surge in demand coincided with a growth in spiritual titles in recent years. Titles like Left Behind and Mel Gibson's The Passion Of The Christ, which has already sold over 20 million copies, have had huge success.
Slashdot has posted a story about MJ Simpson, who has 'been studying and documenting the life and career of Douglas Adams for more than 20 years', and has written a very in-depth review and plot analysis of the Hitchhiker's movie.
As well as the full review that contains SPOILERS , he has also published a shortened spoiler-free version, as well as a list of things from the radio plays, records, books and TV series that have not been included in the movie.
BBC News is running a story about two Arabic actors who are starring in a Hollywood film about the Crusades and say it will improve Western understanding of Muslim world.
Kingdom of Heaven, directed by Ridley Scott, depicts a 12th century Muslim-Christian battle for Jerusalem during the Third Crusade. The film, scheduled for a May 6 release, stars Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, and Jeremy Irons. Two trailers, the theatrical and one exclusive online trailer for the film are available from the official site.
Not sure how I missed hearing about this earlier but the classic Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom DVD sets were recently announced. A pair of 3-DVD sets, The African Wild and Wild Cats were released here in Canada on April 5th, 2005 and are retailing for $17-18. Very nice!
Premiering on network television in 1963 and in production for 27 years, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom pioneered the modern nature show format by combining education with entertainment. Viewers joined hosts Marlin Perkins, Jim Fowler and Peter Gros as they risked life and limb to examine wild animals in their natural habitats. Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom became a cultural icon for the Baby Boomer generation as families gathered each Sunday evening to share a new adventure. The series was honored with 41 major awards, including four Emmy Awards and an endorsement by the National PTA as recommended family viewing.
Check out www.wildkingdom.com for more information.
The Matrix Online is a new videogame where hundreds of thousands of players can jack in to the Matrix world to take an active role in continuing the saga of The Matrix movie trilogy. Developed by Monolith Productions in conjunction with the Wachowski Brothers, creators of The Matrix trilogy, the game is a re-creation of the virtual world of the Matrix, employing cutting-edge 3-D graphics, networking and server technology. Gameplay in The Matrix Online is based on intricate and exciting “wire-fu” combat, an extensive mission structure, social interaction and a completely customizable skill and ability system. The Matrix Online’s story continues where the third film ended with Zion and the Machines in an uneasy truce. For more information, check out the official game site or check out the IGN MXOVault site.
