Hello there trailer

Ah, it kills me to follow New Moon news with yet more New Moon news but I fear the angry mob may kick down my door with pitchforks and flaming torches if I do not abide. To argue my case further, let me point out this is fresh. Like, only-304-views-on-YouTube-at-the time-of-posting-this fresh. The first Twilight Saga: New Moon trailer has landed.
Watch it.
The trailer appeared a few hours ago on MTV (in conjunction with the movie awards). Let the sequel hysteria begin as already there are comments posted by viewers under the teaser trailer which read “OMG!!!! I just cryed watchin it!” Not only is this the mark of an atrocious lack of literacy amongst today’s teenagers, it also demonstrates majority of them are sad sacks of shit.
Trailer related thoughts?
It looks like director Chris Weitz has been able to keep the `feel’ created by Catherine Hardwicke in the first film and thankfully hasn’t succumbed to jazzing up the sets or costuming despite the success of Twilight and boosted budget. Big tick for consistency. I shall award another tick for incorporating the key starting scenes from the book/movie into the trailer, no doubt tweens will be left panting like the Quiltette tribe members. Fans will be giving ticks of their own for the biggest non-surprise of the trailer; Taylor Lautner (Jacob) shirtless. But seriously, what is with the special effects? Correct me if I’m wrong but I was under the impression Summit Entertainment gave them their pocket money early for this film so the effects wouldn’t reek of telemovie like the first instalment. Ignoring the dodgy stunts, the Jacob-werewolf-transformation looks so CG, I expected to see Shrek walk in to the frame. Overall I think this is a teaser trailer that lives up to its name. There’s a large portion of the audience who haven’t read the books and for them, the closing werewolf reveal will be a massive excitement stimulant. In conclusion I promise no more New Moon news for a week . . .if I can help it.

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Total Eclipse of the heart

A total eclipse of . . . .. . .the heart.
You know, it frustrates me because I’m pretty sure that’s the only decent headline I’m going to come up with in relation to the Eclipse movie and I’ve used it up already. Oh well. And so the drama continues in relation to the movies based around the Twilight books with scriptwriter Melissa Rosenberg denying Vanessa `the undresser’ Hudgens has been cast as Leah Clearwater in New Moon because she hasn’t even written the furry, female character in to the second film. In fact, she suggests they probably won’t introduce her until the third or fourth film. The next dilemma is who will direct Eclipse? You may remember a few days ago I reported that they intended to film New Moon and Eclipse back to back this year. Well, Twilight and New Moon producers Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger have come out saying they intend to have a different director for each film meaning in just a few months time . . . Chis Weitz will be on his way out. Given the strength and success of the first film under the direction of Catherine Hardwicke, there’s no shortage of filmmakers lining up for a shot at making Eclipse. The two front runners are Spanish lad Juan Antonio, director of The Orphanage and 3:10 to Yuma director James Mangold.

Best. Choices. Ever.

Both The Orphanage and 3:10 to Yuma were two of my favourite films of the year and I think the respective directors are superb! I feel super sorry for the dudes who have to decide between these two brilliant filmmakers as both would do an excellent job. Stay tuned to find who is jumping aboard the Eclipse choo-choo train. All aboard.

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Jacob Back, yes, Back

It’s official. The pitchforks and flaming torches can be lowered as Taylor I’m-going-to-be-so-hot-in-four-years-time Lautner (pictured above) is coming back as Jacob Black for the Twilight sequel New Moon. Some of you may remember a passionate rant titled ‘More disturbing than a Hancock sequel’ which I posted on this blog last month after news broke that the devil reincarnate aka Stephenie Meyer and the new director Chris Weitz were trying to replace Lautner for an older looking actor. Thank-freaking-halleluiah because Weitz finally grew some balls and announced that 16-year-old Lautner will be back as Black for New Moon. For those unfamiliar with the novels you don’t deserve to live. Nah, just joking but it’s important to note Jacob Black and his Quilette bros step forward as central figures in the second book/film. Because Black changes dramatically in New Moon (physically) Lautner is now busy trying to gain 19 pounds of muscle before shooting starts in just eight weeks time. Director Weitz said in a statement that Lautner was “emotionally right” for the role and obviously they’re just making him get shapely for the physical aspects. I’m glad the right thing was done by Lautner here who definitely deserves this role for the reasons I outlined last month. Ohhh I can just imagine Stephenie Meyer: all read in the face, jumping up and down while stamping her foot because she didn’t get her way with Michael Copon as Jacob Black. Sucked in Meyer. That’s what you get for not letting the directors who have paid to adapt your novel have creative licence and it’s about time someone pulled your dirty Mormon finger out of the pie.
Okay, that was nasty. I’m probably going to end up married to a Mormon as one of his seven wives thanks to that last comment but I really had to get it off my chest. Moving on, exciting New Moon updates start now as Summit Entertainment has already tagged a November 20, 2009 release date for the film in the US. Probably early December release for us Aussies. Hot damn that’s soon! Thank heaven they’re not going to make fans wait a few years between each movie (cough cough that means you Harry Potter execs). New Moon is being filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada. The most exciting part about all this is the Eclipse sequel is being filmed straight after New Moon, back-to-back, so you can expect a quick release date for that puppy as well. I have to admit, I was sceptical when Weitz signed on as new director after Catherine Hardwicke. To give credit where credit is due this lad has certainly got the Twilight train in motion. I’m pumped! Although probably not as pumped as Taylor Lautner will be in eight weeks but still . . . .

PS. No news yet on whether Prince Caspian aka Ben Barnes has been cast in his `dream' role of Aro yet for New Moon.

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Twolight

I went and saw Twilight again today and despite what you may say, it’s not because I’m a crazy, obsessive fan. Okay, I am a crazy, obsessive fan but basically I missed so much of the movie last night due to the screaming kiddies I wanted to watch it again. For me it boded better the second time. I still stand by my previous statement-it was great but had its flaws. My rating is 3 1/2 stars out of 5 for the reasons I outlined in my previous post. I forget to mention how much I dug Emmet and Jasper! Particularly Jasper, I don’t really cared about the actor who played him just the on screen character. I loved the whole baseball match where he swings the bat and stuff mmmm. Also, for those people bagging out the dodgy special effects in the film . . . I agree. They do look like something straight out of a tv movie but what every one must remember is Twilight was made on a budget of only $30 million. Technically that’s the same amount of money indie flicks are made with. I’m amazed at how far they got with such a shit amount of money considering you have to pay actors, directors, producers, special effects peeps, equipment hire and try and scrape enough change together to run a decent promotional campaign in the lead up to release. When you think films like Will Smith’s I Am Legend had a budget of $180 million (which is still quite small for a Hollywood blockbuster) it really puts things in to perspective. It’s all good though because in the US alone Twilight grossed over $22 million in its opening weekend and once you tally in a global theater run profits will probably be in the $300 million mark. It looks good for the sequels, the next which is called New Moon and according to entertainment media around the world is to be directed by Chris Weitz (pictured below). Yes, unfortunately Summit Entertainment confirmed Catherine Hardwicke is moving on to other projects and is being replaced for the next film. But who is Chris Weitz you ask? He's behind such films as The Golden Compass, About A Boy and the American Pie franchise. He was also nominated for an Oscar for best adapted screenplay for his work on the About A Boy script. He has written screenplays for other flicks such as Antz and the Nutty Professor II. Apparently the lad is in final negotiations with Summit to jump on the New Moon bandbagon. Personally I’m a bit worried about this choice. I don’t like any of his films and in my eyes his only saving grace is the fact he was one of the producers on Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, American Dreamz and In Good Company. I think he’ll be able to handle a big budget and the pressures of a film with a massive fanbase better than Hardwicke. For arguments sake lets say I’m undecided about the worth of Weitz in relation to New Moon . . .only time will tell.

Did anyone else notice author Stephenie Meyer’s (above) delicious cameo in the film? She’s sitting at the Carver bar with her laptop and gets delivered the veggie plate by the waitress who calls her Stephenie. I’m 99% sure its her. The camera then pans to Bella who has just walked in to the café to have lunch with her dad.

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