Warner Bros. plans Gremlins Reboot

In Hollywood’s on-going quest to remake every good idea ever previously captured on film it seemed inevitable that Gremlins would eventually be next in the firing line. The 1984 homage to b-movie magic was produced by Steven Spielberg and told the story of the small American town beset by an army of mischievous monsters after a young boy gets an exotic new pet.

The enduring popularity of the original film and it’s zany sequel Gremlins 2 : The New Batch lead to persistent rumour a couple of years ago of a 3D revival. Especially after original Director Joe Dante started experimenting with 3D for his latest film The Hole.

Now after a few years of inactivity fresh rumours are starting to circulate that the much beloved comedy-horror franchise may finally be rebooted. The perceived stumbling block in the past has always been the issue of Spielberg’s costly involvement, which the studio sees as crucial. It seems that Warners may finally be ready to make that deal.

It remains to be seen whether the new film would feature any of the original cast or be a clear cut rebooting. But Gremlins star Zach Galligan previously told us he’d be more than happy to reprise his role as Mogwai owning Billy for a third Gremlins adventure.

Full interview below:

The Last Stand Review

The Plot:

Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a former LA cop enjoying semi-retirement as the Sherriff in an uneventful border town. But when the ruthless leader of a drug cartel escapes federal custody on the run for Mexico, the only thing standing in the way of his army of henchmen is Arnie and a small band of inexperienced deputies.

The Good:

After abandoning Hollywood superstardom to rule California as the Governator, the big screen return of Arnold Schwarzenegger is a long awaited delight for action fans. Although at 65 he is understandably no longer the god like specimen of physical perfection they will fondly remember. However Arnie has a charismatic aura and iconic status that somehow still transcends a diminishing physique and any conventional assessments of acting prowess.

The Expendables 2 proved that Arnie can still apply his distinctive voice to a familiar one liner with joyous results. The Last Stand takes advantage of that, particularly during its more explosive later stages. However, it may surprise people to see Schwarzenegger attempt to deliver a more vulnerable and subtle performance for much of the film. Abandoning efforts to maintain his familiar aura of invincible invulnerability makes Schwarzenegger’s performance a little more plausible and gives him fresh territory to explore as an aging underdog.

Korean Director Jee-Woon Kim of ‘The Good The Bad and The Weird’ acclaim brings flashes of his stylish action madness to The Last Stand. Trash talking old ladies and dispatching bad guys with a flare gun are among the film’s more absurd and gleefully silly delights. Once the real fighting starts the film massively changes gear, shifting into full throttle fun.

The Bad:

The Last Stand openly acknowledges that Arnie is far from the herculean hero of his youth, but it is still difficult to avoid noticing just how much impact the pressures of life and politics have had on him.

It is also impossible to avoid comparing the film overall to the type of films Schwarzenegger was making in his prime. Spectacular action blockbusters like Total Recall or Terminator 2 pushed the boundaries of special effects and helped define the action movie genre. Schwarzenegger films were unique, memorable and unexpected. Sadly while The Last Stand is not without its own merits, it simply isn’t any of those things. Beyond Schwarzenegger’s enduring charisma and the tantalising allure of his big screen return there’s nothing truly special on show.

The film’s stifling attempts to be genuinely dramatic for much of its opening hour rob it of the kind of consistent joy that more self-aware humour could have brought. Although some will argue that Schwarzenegger’s efforts to deliver a real performance in the face of an obvious temptation to simply deliver a fan pleasing caricature of himself should be commended.

The film’s supporting cast is fairly full of familiar faces like Forrest Whitaker, Jamie Alexander, Luis Guzman and Johnny Knoxville. Sadly predictable performances and a limp script largely reduce the film’s background characters to either plot devices or by the number comedic relief. Bad Guys Eduardo Noriega and Peter Stormare are also a little lackluster, lacking genuine menace or humour.

The Ugly Truth:

While not quite the unequivocally triumphant return some fans may have dreamed of, The Last Stand does begin Arnold Schwarzenegger’s big screen rehabilitation with flashes of greatness, particularly once the bullets and one liners start flying. If you enter the cinema with more modest expectations you’ll leave with a bigger smile on your face. Either way, The Sheriff is back in town.

Red Carpet Interviews with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Johnny Knoxville and Jamie Alexander at the London Premiere below:

Hansel and Gretel Premiere Pictures

Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton walked the red carpet in LA for the premiere long delayed supernatural action adventure Hansel and Gretel : Witch Hunters. The project had long been stuck in post production but finally arrives in cinemas worldwide, hoping that the rising star power of Avengers and Bourne Legacy star Renner will be enough to carry it to the top of the January box office.

Full gallery of pictures below:

National Television Award 2013 Winners List

Last night the stars of the small screen walked the red carpet for the 18th annual National Television Awards at the The O2 Arena in London. Stars like Martin Freeman, Colin Morgan and Hugh Bonneville  were in attendance for  the ceremony with all awards voted for by the viewing public.

Predictably it was a good night for Downton Abbey, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of  Here! and Strictly Come Dancing. Coronation Street took top prizes for the soaps, including a best performance win for Alan Halsall. Meanwhile Mrs Brown’s Boys beat out international competition in the best comedy category.

Full official List of this years winners below:

Comedy panel show

Winner: QI

Daytime

Winner: This Morning

Drama

Winner: Downton Abbey

Drama performance female

Winner: Miranda Hart (Call The Midwife)

Drama performance male

Winner: Colin Morgan (Merlin)

Documentary series

Winner: Frozen Planet

Entertainment programme

Winner: I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Entertainment presenter

Winner: Ant and Dec

Factual entertainment

Winner: Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs

Newcomer

Winner: David Witts (EastEnders)

Serial drama

Winner: Coronation Street

Serial drama performance

Winner: Alan Halsall (Coronation Street)

Situation comedy

Winner: Mrs Brown’s Boys

Talent Show

Winner: Strictly Come Dancing

Jaimie Alexander Reveals Thor Love Triangle

 

Beautiful star Jaimie Alexander walked the red carpet in London for her new Arnold Schwarzenegger action film The Last Stand and spoke about what fans can also expect from Marvel sequel Thor The Dark World.

She revealed that the second adventure for god like superhero Thor will not only explore more of Thor’s homeworld  Asgard but will also develop the romance between Thor and her character Lady Sif.

Although Natalie Portman as scientist Jane Foster enjoyed the majority of Thor’s attention in the first film it looks like she could be getting some competition this time from Alexander’s beautiful warrior. With Thor banished to earth for much of the first film, Jamie had relatively little screen time with Chris Hemsworth and their romantic connection was only vaguely suggested.

Fans of the original comic and the Marvel franchise will no doubt be curious to see how this new love triangle spices up the new sequel.

Video Interview below with Jaimie Alexander on The Last Stand red carpet: