Filmstalker

Earth trailer online

2008-11-21T19:17:32Z

A while ago we heard about Disney making a nature documentary film. They have teamed up with The Discovery Channel and the BBC to make Earth, a film which includes great footage of all kinds of animals.

They have added in a fictitious tale about various animals that are featured. You can see the trailer inside.

]]> I don't know about you, but I loved the Planet Earth series, and so did Disney it seems. They have teamed with the makers to produce Earth. The trailer has some stunning footage, which looks familiar from the series. And to make it a bit more child friendly, they have added in a fictitious plot for some animals.

You can see the trailer below, from Cinema Blend. Makes me want to rent the TV series on Blu-ray. What do you think?

Tesco Digital film download service

2008-11-21T14:30:15Z

Way back I remember writing about Tesco looking into creating an online film download service, and just the other week it went live. They've been running an online music download service for some time, and it's doing rather well from all accounts, and the next logical step was to move to film.

I was offered the chance to review the service, and since I hadn't really looked into film download services before, I thought it would be a good opportunity. I actually have to admit that I was surprised at how easy and glitch free the whole process was, and to boot I managed to see a rather interesting film.

]]> Before we continue let me say two things. I was given a small amount to download a film in return for a review, any review. The brief was that there was no brief, be as honest and open as I like because the feedback will be taken on board as the service is still well in beta.

The second thing to remember is just as I said, this is in beta, and so there's not a catalogue filled with every film imaginable. The catalogue of films is small, but within that there's a fair mixture of films of type and age, and the promise is that the catalogue will grow and grow.

The first task was to create an account, a simple process these days on any web service, and I was quickly signed in.

Tesco Digital is presented in rather a modern style, with a mixture of dynamic and engaging content, but managing to keep things simple and practical. Despite having sections where you select headings and information appears in a smooth scrolling manner, there's still such welcome navigation as an A-Z list.

When you first sign in you see the film front page, a nice layout with the latest and most popular films being shown and the ability to watch clips from them, as well as adverts for well known films. There's a tab to select Film or TV, a search box to find the exact title, director or actor you want, and an interesting drop down for picking films by genre.

What I instantly found was missing, or just difficult to find, was a complete list of the films available. I wanted to just browse through everything and see what there was, however it didn't seem that easy. Looking back on that though I'm glad there wasn't, because I'd have been bogged down with tons of titles.

Instead I grabbed that genre drop down and selected the first I was interested in, “Action & Adventure”. When you select a genre you're immediately shown a simple A-Z list, starting at “0-9”, here that meant 10,000 BC and 300 (Filmstalker review), both surprisingly new and mainstream titles.

That's probably one of the surprises for me about this whole service, the fact that there are so many newer films on the service, and that there's a fair range of titles considering that the service is still in Beta and there aren't tons and tons of titles available just yet (at the time of writing the review anyway).

The A-Z list is easy to navigate. the first list of “0-9” opens and shows you the titles under that entry. Simply select another letter and the titles starting with that letter will be displayed. Simple. I would have liked to have seen a count next to each letter perhaps, and I'm sure as the library grows this will be rethought, otherwise the list under a single letter would be too large to navigate.

“T” under “Thriller & Mystery” brought The Bodyguard, The Da Vinci Code (Filmstalker review), The Empire of the Wolves, The Forgotten, The Good German, The Invasion, The Matrix and The Seventh Sign, all good titles, and all I'd happily watch.

I have to say the categorisation is far from perfect, I saw horror titles in thriller/mystery and such, but you can see the that they could easily cross genres. There does needs to be a little work in this area, but you tend to find the titles are in multiple categories rather than missing.

Once you find a title in the listing, which shows a cover image, the price, and gives you the option to buy right away, you can select it to see the film details. There's a trailer, summary, details on director, producer, studio and stars, as well as the certificate and date. You can get even a complete cast and crew breakdown too if you would like, something the search engine takes advantage of.

Another possible feature that would add to the usability would be making these names linkable, and a quick click could bring you to all the films that this director has made. In the meantime it's a read only list.

I browsed through a number of personal favourite categories and found a few titles, some I couldn't afford with my voucher, and I made a choice. I simply added the film to the checkout and went through a normal purchasing process, much like you would with Amazon and similar online retailers. There's even a “Save for Later” option, which I have tested and stores your titles even if you come back to it later, days later in fact.

However there was one issue I found with the payment option. Tesco Digital offer a system where you can add money to your own ewallet rather than paying for each purchase by credit or debit card, and that's where the funds had been placed to allow me to purchase a film.

Initially I had chosen a film that was some sixty-seven pence more than the amount that was in the ewallet, and try as I might I could not use the money from the ewallet and then pay for the balance using a card, it was one or the other. Of course I could go and load up my ewallet with more money, but with the smallest option being five pounds, this seemed like a bit of an overkill.

So I went back to a film I'd passed by, a cheaper film, I chose The Empire of Wolves with Jean Reno, just because it was a bit different, and a bit of a surprise to see on a major download service, and went through the checkout process. For Empire of the Wolves I paid £6.97, and with bigger titles sitting at £10.97, that's not too bad to own the film.

Once it was bought I was asked if I had installed the Tesco Download Manager, I deliberately had not, and I'd even not read any of the instructions on how to use the service. A "no" selection began the download and install process which was surprisingly quick and easy and didn't require a reboot on my Windows XP machine.

Once the Tesco Download Manager (TDM) was installed another quick click completed the process and added the film to the now installed TDM download queue and it was off.

The download started at 11:26 and I walked away to do some real world things while this downloaded. I returned at 12:13 with the download showing exactly 25% and started browsing, including browsing the Tesco Digital site, and running my multi-system chat client.

At 13:54 I decided to run a little test and killed the internet connection in my home. The TDM showed an error and offered the "retry" option. When I started the connection up again the TDM did not autostart, but selecting the retry continued from where it stopped, 75%. That was a relief, it did look like "retry" would begin again from the start, especially as the amount downloaded had disappeared from the window.

The download completed at 14:44 with 1,627,880Kbs or 1.55Gb on a connection that runs around 7Mbs.

I checked the film straight away and all was fine, two hours and two minutes long with a bitrate of 6,218kbps, and a very good picture, even when presented full screen on a high resolution monitor, which meant running at well over 200% picture size, and the audio was clear and strong.

Oh, and like all films on the Tesco Digital film download service, it's in Windows Media Player format, WMV files to be exact. This is the usual issue of Windows Media Player offering the required security to ensure you can't do what you like with the film and pirate it like mad.

I did a couple of extra tests with the film. First I tried burning through Windows Media Player to a disc, that failed to work, then I tried playing on the XBox 360 through my Media Center which turned up a whole load of complications with my local Windows Media Center set-up was seemingly corrupt when I tried to connect the two devices but fine when running the software.

Finally I tried TVersity on the 360 and the Playstation 3, neither worked, although browsing on a PC through the web interface allowed the file to play.

Checking the help files it seems that the service doesn't yet offer the ability to transfer the film to any other device or computer.

Before I just do a quick bullet point list of the pros and cons of the service that I found, let me just say that this service is in Beta, and seems to be far from a major download service. However it's getting closer and there are some great features there. More importantly it was easy to find and download a film I wanted and then to watch it.

A quick round up of the pros:

* Simple to buy
* Good interface
* Easy to navigate
* Checks to see if you have installed the correct software when buying and automatically installs if needed
* Quite quickly the film was ready to play direct from TDM during download - probably about 10-15 seconds into the download

Then a look at the cons:

* Browsing titles is lengthy, need a full list, selectable credits, related titles, feeds for new arrivals
* Ewallet may not work for the casual purchaser and mixing payment methods would be good
* Install of Tesco Download Manager installs to default directory without choice Tesco\Downloader, but makes install really simple
* TDM sets download directory to MyMusic\Tesco - but this can be changed after install through the preferences
* Can't play through TVersity to the Playstation 3 or XBox 360, saying this it may work on Windows Media Center, if my system hadn't been corrupted by the Microsoft upgrade

Tesco Digital Film service is surprisingly inviting for me, and I'm someone who doesn't like watching films on anything but the carefully calibrated cinema set-up I have at home. The service is quick and easy, and it works. Not only that but even in this early Beta stage, there's a wide range of films available, from old to new, from mainstream to foreign.

Tesco Digital Film is well worth having a look at, and with the Tesco brand name behind it you're sure to get competitive prices and more and more big titles.

Try the Tesco Digital Film service for yourself.

Brolin says Jonah Hex is a joke

2008-11-21T11:38:36Z

Brolin has been talking about the film he's been rumoured to be attached to, Jonah Hex, and from what he's saying he either doesn't think he's going to be in the film, doesn't want to be chosen for it, or he doesn't believe it's going to be made, for he's having a real go at it and Hex fans will be wondering what's going on.

Of course the project isn't smelling that good anyway with the news that the two writers/directors are off the project, although they were kind enough to leave their script behind.

]]> With the film in this kind of flux you really do have to wonder what's going on if the man who's said to be the lead is saying things like:

“When I first read it, I thought, "Oh my God, it's awful!" And then I had a moment a week later, and I thought, "Why is it awful?" Maybe the thing to do is to do the most awful movie I can find.”

Now that doesn't sound good, okay he is talking about the first time he read the script, but still.

“It's so tongue-in-cheek. It's so ridiculous. But once I started putting people in my mind and saying, "What if I put [John] Malkovich in this role? Then what does this movie become? Now let's put this producer and director on it and think about how it plays out." Then it becomes fun. Now I love that movie. If you have a great filmmaker come in, then suddenly, these gags and characters become interesting.”

Well that's great, so when MTV asked him about what was happening now the directors were off he said:

“I don't know. It's all up in the air.”

Well then that previous comment is straight in the bin surely, and we're back to the awful and terrible comments aren't we?

It just doesn't sound like Josh Brolin has his heart in Jonah Hex, and perhaps he or the studio had something to do with the writers/directors leaving the project? He's hinting at the fact that it might be taking a “jokey” approach to the material, something that I don't imagine either Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine wanted Jonah Hex to go that way do you?

Bourne franchise to continue

2008-11-21T11:04:47Z

Not just with one more film either, it seems that Universal are securing the future of Bourne to make more and more and more Bourne films until we're so dizzy and confused we'll throw up.

The announcement has come today that Universal have bought the rights to the Bourne character and all novels. Not only that but Universal thinks Robert Ludlum is hot property and goes further than Bourne.

]]> They've bought the right to have first say on adapting any of Robert Ludlum's other characters in print (Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com), any of them. Well apart from the few already in various stages of development - The Osterman Weekend , The Sigma Protocol, The Matarese Circle with Denzel Washington and directed by David Cronenberg, and apparently The Chancellor Manuscript with Leonardo DiCaprio.

That's got to have been one hell of a deal that the family estate will be living off for a very long time to come, especially if they do start making other Ludlum character films. What's good for the Ludlum name though is that they have retained approval over screenplay's, directors and actors, which might limit the quick raid on his work.

However the really important piece in the story from Variety through Empire is that we're going to see more Bourne films, and not just the one either. With the rights to the character and all the novels bought, they've secured themselves a cosy little Bond fighting franchise here that could go on and on.

At some point though they'll have to consider what they're going to do if Matt Damon walks away from the series.

For now the fourth film is continuing, and we see Damon and Paul Greengrass returning for more of the same. However what's going to happen after that? Do you think Damon would want to continue or would Universal start swapping actors and directors just like Bond?

Spielberg's Oldboy not a remake

2008-11-21T10:16:46Z

Oh we hear this a lot, we really do, but apparently Oldboy will not be a remake. Really, and right from the lips of Will Smith who's on board with Steven Spielberg for the film.

Instead it appears that the film will be taken directly from the original source manga (read comics) that inspired the story for Oldboy on the big screen. Now while that may not be as powerful and risky as the original, it is apparently equally compelling once the story gets going.

]]> The blurb from Amazon for Oldboy (Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com) issue 1 goes like this:

“Ten years ago, they took him. He doesn't know who. For ten years he has been confined in a private prison. He doesn't know why. For ten years his only contact with the outside world has been a television set and the voice of his jailers. In time, he lost himself... changed... transformed himself into something else... something hard... something lethal. Suddenly one day, his incarceration ends, again without explanation. He is sedated, stuffed inside a trunk, and dumped in a park. When he awakes, he is free to reclaim what's left of his life... and what's left is revenge.”

...with the second issue revealing a little more:

“Deciding that he must know the truth, the man who calls himself "Yamashita" follows a trail of clues that lead him back to the mysterious building where he was imprisoned and kept incommunicado for ten years. There, with the help of violence and a brutal imagination, he will try to find answers to the questions that haunt him. However, he will discover that his opponent will not yield to him so easily, and that his ordeal is far from finished.”

I shan't go into any more issue blurbs as they start to reveal a little much about the story, but the idea is there.

Film School Rejects through /Film have the comment from Will Smith about the project, and he reveals that it's not a remake, probably much like Karate Kid won't be.

“We’re looking at that right now. Not the film though, it’s the original source material...There’s the original comics of ‘Oldboy’ that they made the first film from. And that’s what we’re working from, not an adaptation of the film…”

Well to be fair they are looking to the original comic books, so that does make a big difference. However I've not read them so I'm not sure how far away from the source they go, I believe a slightly different direction in the area that would have made the film nigh on impossible to market in America.

What do you think of that then? Is this giving you hope? Is there a chance this could turn out to be a good film that won't harm our love of the original Oldboy (Filmstalker review)? Will Spielberg and Smith still turn out something dark and gritty and very non-Hollywood, or will the source material give them the leeway to adapt it and make it easier on Western audiences?

McConaughey not Magnum P.I.

2008-11-21T09:45:51Z

A little while ago we heard the rumour that Matthew McConaughey was going to be, along with Captain America, Magnum P.I., well that seems to be debunked now, along with the idea that we're going to see a Magnum P.I. Film.

In fact the way the producer Brian Grazer is talking about it, I'm wondering if we'll even get to see something resembling Magnum P.I. at all.

]]> Brian Grazer has killed the rumour that Matthew McConaughey has been offered the part of Magnum P.I. quite plainly and without confusion by saying:

“No.”

That's what he said to MTV Movies Blog through Aceshowbiz (who don't have a source link). Of course we've seen these sort of denials before where producers and studios quite plainly say no way and then a few months we hear the truth (Karate Kid remake with the Smith family anyone?)

So, if we're to take his word for it, McConaughey is not taking the lead. What's more interesting is what Grazer says about his hopes for casting the film version of which he reveals the script is written.

“I think the idea for 'Magnum P.I.' is to find a counterpoint...To not try and find the new Tom Selleck but to find someone that is just so different that you go, oh my God! That guy is Magnum?!?...You have to find the actor that adds through his own personality something to the title.”

So they're going to cast someone that doesn't hold the characteristics of the original character then? Actually what he's saying sounds like they're going much further away from the original than that.

Here's the plot for the original series. Magnum has come back from the Vietnam war with his Navy Seal buddies Theodore "TC" Calvin and Orville "Rick" Wright, and they've made lives for themselves in Hawaii. TC as a helicopter tour guide, Rick as a club owner. Magnum though, he had a little mid life crisis and became a private investigator, finding himself hired on retainer to look after the security at the estate of the very rich author Robin Masters.

While he does the job he carries out his investigative good deeds for others and keeps Jonathan Quayle Higgins III at bay, the English ex-Sergeant Major and his two lovely dogs who runs the entire estate.

So if not someone who fits the previous mould, who are they going to go for? Someone short, weedy and not attractive? At least not with a big moustache.

At this rate it sounds like they'll be changing the entire story.

Pine talks sexy Star Trek

2008-11-21T09:04:02Z

We have a couple of stars saying the wrong thing about the respective films that they are appearing in today, and here's Chris Pine talking about Star Trek and putting a little bit of an inadvertent damper on the whole event.

He's really selling this to current fans with his comments. Sarcasm aside it's becoming more and more clear that this is Star Trek really for the next generation, and Pine is underlining that.

]]> “It's trying to be sexed up for a new generation that really isn't used to seeing Star Trek...It's a whole new beast.”

Now that isn't so bad on its own, but when he's been talking over at the GQ Men of the Year party through Yahoo News about the sex scenes, I'm beginning to wonder.

While talking about the moment that Uhuru takes off her top in the trailer, Chris Pine, who plays young sexy Kirk, said:

“It'll become famous”

Oh, okay. Well I know the context is the GQ party which is about sex and airbrushed sexy people trying to live up to their faked photos, but come on, isn't there something a little more interesting to say about Star Trek?

After seeing the trailer the other day it is at the back of my head if this is Star Trek for the MTV generation, flashing CGI and sexy people flashing their chests.

Still, from what we've heard there is the Star Trek in there, it just depends if they've managed to capture enough of it. Entertaining it will be, Star Trek, I reserve judgement. However I think the stars could be selling it a little better.

The Wrestler trailer surprises

2008-11-21T08:49:10Z

I have to admit I've been rather sceptical about The Wrestler, although on paper it has an interesting set of ingredients, Darren Aronofsky, Mickey Rourke, Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei, but the idea of a has been wrestler making one last attempt at a comeback wasn't really grabbing me.

This trailer has though. It's done something totally different, and through the music and glimpses of Rourke's emotional performance, it actually got to me.

]]> These days of course I'm feeling emotional at the drop of a hat, but there's something special about this trailer that makes it stand out from the rest, and surprisingly that's Mickey Rourke himself.

I think I may just be hooked. Then there's Evan Rachel Wood, and the delectable Marisa Tomei who also has bags of talent to add to the captivating looks, and I'm wondering if this could be a big hit for all concerned.

See The Wrestler trailer for yourself.

A Bunch of Amateurs trailer online

2008-11-21T08:43:38Z

The trailer for the new Burt Reynolds comedy has arrived online, yes Burt Reynolds comedy. No, don't hit the next button just yet, listen to what I have to say. There are some funny moments and it's rather self depreciating too, something that really does work in comedy with a big star.

There's the moments where he's mistaken for Sean Connery and Harrison Ford, in what I'm sure is a running gag, and amongst a few standard comic moments, there's the amusing sexaholic moments too.

]]> A Bunch of Amateurs is about an ageing action hero who just can't cut the mustard on his action hero roles any more, and so when he gets the offer to play King Lear in England he thinks this is his ticket back to the big time, so he and his over inflated ego, head to England.

Another good moment is the signing of the autograph for the stewardess, her comeback line is rather good.

However when he gets there he finds that the theatre is a small, run down place in a country village, run by an amateur theatre group desperate to save their hallowed building. They've banded together and hired the only talent they could afford, hoping that the press will come and the news coverage will save their theatre. However they first have to keep the talent, and then get the production off the ground.

It's been a long time since the spark of Smokey and the Bandit and The Cannonball Run, and I wonder if it can return here, but even if it doesn't for Burt Reynolds, there's the great British talents of Imelda Staunton, Dereck Jacobi, Charles Durning and Samantha Bond.

The film is written by a group of television writers, and one name that those who watch British television, and a comedy programme called Have I Got News For You, might recognise, Ian Hislop.

Astro Boy teaser trailer online

2008-11-21T08:40:07Z

Astro Boy has a teaser. The iconic character from Japan during the 1950's who also appeared on television in the 1960's, has arrived in the modern day with Hollywood CGI, and this short teaser suggests drama and action. Of course that's a tiny glimpse of the film itself, but it's looking interesting, especially since the character appears to be able to do just about anything.

There's also a great line up of talent on board for the voices, including Donald Sutherland, Bill Nighy, Kristen Bell, Freddie Highmore, Matt Lucas, Eugene Levy, Nathan Lane and Nicolas Cage.

]]> The story of Astro Boy is set in the future, in a city called Metro City (wouldn't you think we'd create cooler names for cities in the future?) where a brilliant scientist creates a robot with amazing powers in the image of the son that he lost.

Now here's the surprising bit for such a CGI film. The boy is unable to allieve the grieving scientists pain and replace the boy that he has so tragically lost, his creator rejects him, and so Astro Boy heads off on his own journey of acceptance, eager to find something to fulfil himself in life.

His journey brings betrayal, challenges, and his chance at redemption. What else could you want in a story?

The film is directed by David Bowers of Flushed Away and written by Timothy Harris who also wrote Space Jam, Kindergarten Cop, My Stepmother is an Alien, Twins - and now we're talking - Brewster's Millions and Trading Places.

Here's the all too short teaser, and this really is a teaser, for you to see.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs trailer online

2008-11-21T08:35:03Z

I love how the Ice Age trailers keep a theme going, and although the films themselves aren't fighting for the top spot in CGI, they keep the heart of the films continuing. The trailer for Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs isn't that different, and carries on that theme wonderfully.

With the added element of love of course, love and the faithful old nut.

]]> Carlos Saldanha helms this one again, and recognisable names are back, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary and Ray Romano, so all the elements are there. If you like the Ice Age series (and my wife does) then you'll no doubt love Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

The plot isn't yet revealed, but I sense that the clue is in the title and some of the pre-release pictures which feature some dinosaurs, see, the clue was in the title.

This trailer compliments the teaser that we saw previously which does feature an aforementioned...dinosaur.

Stalked: Captain Marvel, Wolfman, Linda Trest, Timothy Olyphant

2008-11-21T06:00:00Z

Captain Marvel has a director.

Wolfman isn't coming until Autumn next year.

Brad Pitt is getting involved with a fake FBI agent.

And Timothy Olyphant is stuck with The Crazies.

]]> Peter Segal is to direct the film version of Captain Marvel. Having previously brought us Get Smart, he has signed a deal with Warner Bros which includes the comic book film. Captain Marvel centres on Billy Batson, a teenager who transforms into a superhero when he shouts Shazam. The news is from Variety.

We are going to have to wait a bit longer for Wolfman. The horror remake starring Benicio del Toro, was originally to be released in April next year. But now we won't see it until Autumn next year. No reason has been given for the change in dates. The news is from Cinema Blend.

Brad Pitt's production company has acquired the rights to Linda Trest's story. Plan B will make the film, which tells the story of a local journalist who blows the cover of a man pretending to be an FBI agent. The agent was supposed to be there to deal with the town's drug problem, but he turned out to be a fake. The news is from Cinematical.

Timothy Olyphant is to star in the remake of George A. Romero's The Crazies. Jo Blo say he will play the small town sheriff who has a town full of crazed people to deal with, following a biological warfare spill.

Killer Inside Me director swaps

2008-11-20T17:27:37Z

Not only has the director been swapped again for the big screen adaptation of The Killer Inside Me from Jim Thompson's novel (Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com), which I enjoyed reading, but there's a new name associated with the casting, and I think it's a better choice for the lead than Casey Affleck.

I don't really want to go into the plot just yet because the film version may change slightly and make the non-novel reveal into a big plot twist. So on with the casting and director story.

]]> The word is that Elias Koteas has joined The Killer Inside Me, according to Bloody Disgusting, and joins Casey Affleck and Jessica Alba. I so hope that Koteas is going to be playing Deputy Sheriff Lou Ford, or the film equivalent of the novel's lead anyway, because judging by his previous performances he could really get that character.

For me Affleck is far too young for the role, but I fear he's the lead already, especially considering that Alba is on board, presumably as the love interest.

Anyway, they also have the news that the director has been changed again, this time to Michael Winterbottom, and what that says to me is that the production is stepping up a few notches. Previously we heard that the original announcement of Marc Rocco was incorrect and the producer was trying to get a retraction from Variety for the story, in fact he was talking to John Curran.

Regardless, Michael Winterbottom is now on the case and there's an interesting line up of names beneath him now.

One thing is very clear, Jessica Alba is trying to beef up her acting resume and trying to do more than just prance around in penguin pants. Oh I miss Dark Angel, I really do. Can't they make a film version of that?

Mum & Dad horror trailer online

2008-11-20T16:52:39Z

Mum & Dad, the British horror from writer and director Steven Sheil, has arrived online and it's looking pretty unnerving. While it doesn't give away too much story or much horror, it does certainly make you feel very uncomfortable and give you the feeling that some seriously bad things are about to happen.

The film is apparently very good, very scary and a cracker for the horror fans, and the trailer is right here.

]]> The story for Mum & Dad, according to the official blurb, goes something like this:

“Mum and Dad, and their 'adopted' children, Birdie & Elbie, work at the airport. The family live off whatever they scavenge from cargo holds, offices and hotels - including a steady stream of transient workers who populate the airport's soulless hub. When Lena, a young Polish office cleaner, is befriended by Birdie, she gets drawn into a nightmarish world of torture, murder and perversity. Imprisoned in a suburban House of Horrors and designated a 'Mummy's Girl', Lena's only options appear to be to become part of the family - and join them in their insanity - or die.”

Oh which option would you choose? The story sounds pretty interesting, and when you see the trailer after knowing that then you get a bit more from it.

I think the characters and set-up could be a little clearer in the trailer, but some of the shots and the line deliveries look really good. See what you think, one for the horror fans for sure.

Provided by Filmtrailer.com

Izzard making Riches film

2008-11-20T16:27:41Z

Good television shows get cancelled in the U.S., that's just the way it happens, in fact that seems to be the norm rather than the exception. There's a good television show that starts up, gets some crazy scheduling thing going on (like mid season breaks and simple day and time changes) and then it disappears and gets cancelled – big surprise, no one knows when it's on!

That's what happened to the critically acclaimed show The Riches starring Minnie Driver and Eddie Izzard. It was doing really well, then it went quiet for five months and was suddenly cancelled. Now it could be coming to the big screen, courtesy of Izzard.

]]> Eddie Izzard reveals that he's been in talks to develop a film version of The Riches and the writers are heading off to create a story. Not only that but the plan is to film it on the cheap, here's what he said to the BBC:

“We'll shoot it guerilla-style...using gorillas to to actually shoot it. We're going to give them cameras...No, we're going to just get in there and maybe not have permission to do things, but just film it. People will be going, 'who are they? who are they?”

It's not yet clear who is actually moving from the cancelled show to the big screen, but it seems like Izzard will be. I do hope that Minnie Driver will be too because they made a great couple on screen.

The BBC remind us that The New York Daily News said:

“Individually, they're impressive. Together, feeding off each other's energy, they're incendiary...”

...and that was the kind of praise being heaped on them and the show, but still it got cancelled.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with a film, which will have to cover the opening scenario already shown in the first series. That is where a travelling family assume the identity of a rich suburban couple who they find dead in a car crash.

They struggle day by day to pretend to be them, getting themselves further and further into the lie and finding it harder and harder to get out.

Izzard also reveals that they are going to try and raise the money for the production through the Internet, whether that means with the fans or other advertising I'm not entirely sure. Perhaps the film will be heading to the internet for broadcast.

What do you think? Is there room for a film version? Would it work? If it does make it to filming, I think Izzard's idea of the style would suit it really well, perhaps even going hand-held and almost like a documentary?