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.

Read more...

Vanessa Hudgens is a dog (but this time on-screen)

Ashley Greene aka Alice Cullen in Twilight let slip in an interview with MTV today that Disney starlet Vanessa Hudgens has auditioned for the role of Leah Clearwater in New Moon. If the High School Musical skank gets the role that means she’ll be hanging around for Eclipse and Breaking Dawn films as well. Noooooo! I don’t know if I can handle watching Hudgens play this character for three films, especially when she’s a schmuck actor to begin with. Leah Clearwater is supposed to be Native American by the way and she is the only female werewolf in the Quilette pack. Whether Hudgens has actually got the part, no one really knows but the internet is buzzing with this juicy piece of casting gossip. One site even labelled the character of Leah Clearwater as a ‘cheerleading werewolf’. Hmmm . . . I think they’re getting confused with the type of characters Hudgens usually plays because I’ve read that series of books three times and am pretty damn sure there’s no mention of Leah Clearwater as a cheerleader. I bet Stephenie Meyer would love to throw that character detail in there if it would mean a boost in popularity for the film adaptations, however, if Hudgens gets this role I’m going to be seriously concerned about the quality and authenticity of New Moon and following sequels.

Read more...

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.

Read more...