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Archive | August, 2022

Grunting at the Screen (333)

20 Aug

“Digital Transformation is ongoing.”

Polaris, it sounds mad, it’s been hanging around a while.

Directed by Kristen Carthew.

it is the far future (for a change) and earth has descended into a new ice age,

Sumi is a girl whose been raised by a polar bear. Um. OK.

A savage tribe separate her from her mother-bear and she has to fight to get back to her.

We’ve found a review.

it has almost no dialogue so the visuals are of vital importance.

It punches way above its budgetary weight.

I kinda think the reviewer liked it but they were so busy telling us about its grit and poetry they neglected to say.

Just heard about “Site” From Writer-Director Jason Eric Perlman;

Man discovers a covert government experiment site.

The film currently in production in North Carolina

no release date.

How did I miss this one?

Wifelike, written and directed James Bird

a detective hunts down criminals who trade artificial humans on the black market.

is released in select US theatres + on VOD from August 12th, 2022

The Lair (Grunting 307) has a release.

it is released in theatres, on digital and VOD from October 28.

So what’s on at this year’s Fantasia Festival?

Vesper (Grunting 317) Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper of course

TANG AND ME directed by Takahiro Miki.

WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD Director Natalia Sinelnikova’s

Relax, I’m From the Future, Director Luke Higginson

Alienoid (Grunting 300) Director Choi Dong-hoon

The Witch: Part 2. The Other One Director. Park Hoon-jung

Fantasia Festival ran from July 14 – August 3

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,

Cool… the “Black Panther” seems largely absent? Just saying.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever opens November 11th.

I know you’ve been chomping at the bit for another random Chinese SF movie update, don’t lie, I can see it in your eye. First up is Fatal Girl, AKA Revenge Girl

It is the future, if you couldn’t guess, artificial intelligence is highly developed (wait, you did say ‘the future’?) a secret organisation has created a brain chip to awaken abilities in human beings.

(Actually this might be a series.)

Top Secret

we know nothing about this one.

Warriors of Future (Grunting 254) or whatever it is called has a new trailer.

Looking good, it has the most advanced effects to come out of a Chinese facility. Should do, took seven years! Now for all of that hopefully it has a story to match.

It also has a release date. It opened the Hong Kong International Film Festival on August 15 then be released in China from August 25.

We found a review of The Artifice Girl (Grunting 332) they like it.

They call it a contained plot with a strong story. although it is a small film it has big ideas and it is nuanced (their word not mine.)

It is not the most visual of films but the ideas and the interplay between technology and morality charges it.

It is distinguished by lacking the visual ticks of big budget SF.

No Schedule.

Control from James Mark, not to be confused with “The Control” previously mentioned.

Locked down in a mysterious room Eileen must complete a series of tasks given by an anonymous voice.

Opens in select US theatres from September 23rd, and on VOD from September 27th.

Borderlands, I’m still interested. I don’t know why. I like the aesthetic; Mad Max on an alien planet.

I have hope for the director, Eli Roth.

I do admit it is more a matter of hope than good sense. Borderlands is certainly a franchise movie in the making, born from gam, directed by someone whose output has been shaky lately.

But I think or rather hope that the combination of a subject matter and director will give us something fun and perhaps special.

Roth has delivered some dull movies, including the risible Death Wish reboot. On the other hand, this is Roth’s first Science Fiction film, also his first Game to film adaptation, but we’ll try to forget that.

Perhaps we hope Roth will bring some of his horror movie edge to the material, as for sensibility I hope he will look towards Fury Road rather than any game movie. I hope for something a little odd and more than a little extreme.

So the return of Adult Animation.

We know that Genndy Tartakovsy is stepping forward with Fixed, but this is just the first of a two picture deal he has with Sony Pictures Animation. So far there is no word on what else he had going on there. something called “Black Knight”.

Meanwhile there are pictures that have been sitting in turnaround for decades that will start going now that the wind has changed.

I think primarily of David Fincher’s long gestating film, The Goon, a mixture of 1930s crime and horror. Fincher had that one and another, Black Hole (not related to the Disney movie, but an animation of the Charles Burns graphic novel. ) Black Hole passed on to Rick Famuyiwa, but he hasn’t done anything with it so who knows.

There is breaking news on The Goon. I has been announced as a Netflix feature. And this is interesting. The director is Patrick Osborne, who collaborated with Fincher and Tim Miller on the “Three Robots: Exit Strategies,” episode in “Love, Death & Robots,” Season 3.

I consider this a spin-off from the series. I expect more directors of series episodes to get feature film slots.

Tim Miller has been talking about Terminator; Dark Fate, he’s regretting making it, but he has suggested the future could be in a CG feature, and that he could make it. I think that is unlikely but it does indicate Miller is ready to enter the Adult Animation feature arena.

Meanwhile William Gibson’s “Hinterlands” has been in turnaround as an animated feature, it may well be revived. It’s not beyond imagination.

Laika Studios is making two Adult Animated features: ‘Wildwood” and “The Night Gardener”.

Robert Rodríguez wanted to revive the Heavy Metal movie. Like Miller and Fincher he does not have to give in. He can always strip off the IP and go forward with the material. He already owns an FX and animation facility in Texas. There has never been a better time.

There are also several independent animators who have been making their passion projects for years.

We’ve seen a couple of hem emerge this year but there are many others in progress. It is possible that finance may come forward to complete these projects. The media scene is full of hungry streamers that need to be fed.

Talking of which, Heavy Metal has finally made its move. I have lost count of the ownership changes of Heavy Metal but in short, the comic/magazine and its media properties are now in the hands of someone who wants to take advantage of what it has.

They were talking about releasing visual media for years but now they have got together.

First up the emphasis will be on live-action. For some reason (I sense a sharp pivot if adult animation does prove to be as lucrative as apparent).

They are pushing a big line-up of shows inspired by Heavy Metal content leading off with the flagship story Taarna.

We had a look at the other forthcoming projects, which mostly looked live action.

“Cold Dead War” is the official sequel to Heavy Metal Movie segment ‘B-17.’ But notably it was first a comic written by film director George Romero. After the battle of Midway a freak occurrence reanimates dead soldiers on the island.

“Dark Wing”, based on a comic by Matthew Medney; a planet transformed into a starship searches space for a new solar system to settle in. (Um, does it wander space?)

“Arena Mode” based on a comic by Blake Northcott;

it is the future again, the most popular sport is Arena Mode; combat between enhanced warriors. Matthew Moxon fights in the arena for the million-dollar prize; yet he has no enhancements.

“Adrienne James” based on another comic by Matthew Medney.

high adventure among the stars, the hunt for the E-Ra-Du ; long-lost treasure of the Elders.

They say they have 150 projects (not a patch on the 7000 characters Marvel has, but hey.)

Anyway, one of their projects definitely is an animated series and that is Moon Lake; based on a comic by Dan Fogler. It is variation on the Arabian Nights format, a man is captive on the moon and tells Aliens entertaining stories to stop them from attacking earth.

There is currently no schedule for any of the Heavy Metal projects.

So Marvel Marches on; Kevin Feige has announced phase 5 and 6. He’s a bit ambitious.

What stands out is in 2025 he intends to put out two Avengers movies; Avengers The Kang Dynasty and Avengers; Secret Wars.

That’s high risk.

In the comics industry that’s like doing two crossover events at once.

I won’t even predict how that will go, 2025 is a long time from now.

OK, some spoilers from here on in.

Now I’m not one to speculate (what?) but I have been trying to discern what Marvel is doing with the Multiverse thing.

In Dr Strange Multiverse of Madness they mention an Evil Strange causing incursions between universes. This indicates something like the “Everything Ends” storyline. In this narrative the Multiverse is ending two universes at a time as they crash into each other (incursions) the kicker was the only way to prevent was to destroy one of the colliding earths, together with its population. The presence of the illuminati and the incursions are signposts towards “Everything Ends”. In the comic series the Beyonders were responsible for the death of the Multiverse. In the MCU the indications are that Kang will be responsible. Perhaps.

With Secret Wars all of earths villains and heroes are abducted to an artificial world to be pitted against each other in the titular “Secret Wars”. Here’s the kicker, the abductor is the Beyonder. It is perfectly possible that Kang is the front man for one or more Beyonders. Beyonders are immensely powerful beings, literally beyond anything experienced in our universe. Very tough to defeat. In the Secret Wars series only Doctor Doom to beat one of them; Fantastic Four has been scheduled for phase 6, which could put Doom in the frame.

Of course it could all go in a very different direction.

With regard to The Fantastic Four Feige has said there will be no origin story; everyone knows who the Fantastic is. This gives latitude

By the way, the elephant in the room. We are still talking spoilers. What was notable was an absence. In The Multiverse of Madness people got all excited over the presence of Patrick Stewart’s Professor X. Yet there has been no MCU X-Men movie announced.

This is consistent with Kevin Feige’s statements that X -Men was far in future plans.

Ever since Disney bought Fox collective fandom has been thrashing itself into unconsciousness over the prospect of an MCU movie and possible MCU/Avengers crossover.

That has been kicked into the long grass. I am cool with it, if no-one else is.

It actually makes me feel quite curious; just what has Feige got in story for Th X-Men? Another curious thing, the villain of the Next Guardian of the Galaxy movie is the High Evolutionary; traditionally an X Men villain. Hme.

Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan’s epic of the atomic age already has a trailer.

“Now I am become death, shatterer if words” Said Christopher.

“Oppenheimer” arrives in theatres on July 21, 2023 with a 100-day theatrical window (just thought I’d mention that…again).

Mariko Minoguchi’ is to write and direct “Element”; a team of scientists tries to ensure earths supply of water does not disappear.

Minoguchi co-wrote the script to ] “The Colony,” (Grunting 269) AKA “Haven; Above Sky” AKA Tides.

She said she wanted to write a German SF movie with big emotions and images that was an impressive cinematic experience.

This one is shooting in English.

Reading between the lines I think she is going for “blockbuster”, albeit one with a brain.

No Schedule.

We’re hearing about L.O.L.A; Andrew Legge is the director.

The script is by Legge and Angeli Macfarlane, from a story by Legge, Henrietta Ashworth and Jessica Ashworth,

it is the 1940s, two sisters build a machine that can intercept broadcasts from the future. They want to use it to help them in the war against the Nazis however the sisters fall out.

the director is describing it as a Science Fiction musical.

Hme.

It has had a screening at the Locarno Film Festival, and we’ve seen a review courtesy of Indiewire.

The verdict is good.

First, it is a found-footage film. But that should not detract from it. It is constructed of 1940s newsreel footage woven into pseudo-documentary. And it is all in Black and white.

The reviewer praised the swift pacing, although it is not the deepest narrative.

They say it is entertaining, and throws out a lot of ideas, they compare it to other conceptual Time-travel films like “Primer” and “Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes.”

No schedule.

Oh dear; another NFT project; Retrogression. I fear we will see many more of these.

It is the dystopian future. The Dark Army polices factories on the island of Omega.

Actor Anthony Hayes is trying to raise money for this project by selling NFTs of the Dark Army.

But check this. They are aiming at making a trilogy of big-budget SF movies.

Now we’re not saying NFTs cannot finance film projects, there has already been one distributed; Zero Contact but the notion of financing a major trilogy raised the eyebrows.

It recalls two issues; the huge multimedia projects based on untested IP which have mentioned before, and the shaky proposition that NFTs can finance major projects. Well it is untested so perhaps we will be surprised.

Understandably there is no schedule.

Neptune Frost (Grunting 298) has a UK release

It will be released in cinemas on November 4 in the UK and Ireland.

You may have heard that Batgirl will not get a release. yawn. Not interested that much, diving deeper we see this is a part of the new Warner brothers strategy for HBO Max where a lot of made for streaming films are being taken off the service or not debuting at all. Few blogs are reporting it but this is the move they are making prior to merging HMO Max with Discovery +.

It now makes sense.

This is the shakeout.

six years ago an industry survey suggested there were a limited amount of streaming services a viewer would subscribe to.

The pandemic put an end to that thinking and streamers bloomed.

But most people think the pandemic is done, they have neither the time nor the funds to support multiple streaming platforms.

Some of them have to go. The merger of Discovery and Warner Brothers means there will be one less. It is not just films that will be dropped, excess personnel are destined to go,

And this is just the beginning. We have passed the period of high growth and are into the fight for survival.

Strawberry Mansion (Grunting 309) is getting a release. Sorry, you say? I don’t blame you; it first got publicity in 2021 and only now is trundling to release;

it is the near future and even people’s dreams have been commercialised. By night the advertisers slip into dreams and sell their dubious wares to an audience that cannot resist.

It appears in select UK cinemas and on VOD from September 16th, 2022.

Getting word about “Molli & Max In The Future”, they are calling it a “Science Fiction romcom”. Oh dear. But the publicity picture is even more worrying showing the couple against a distinctly urban Science Fiction background.

so what do they say?

director is Michael Lukk Litwak. Principal photography is done, the film is in post-production, no schedule.

it is set one billion years in the future; (!) Max believes people can change while Molli thinks they don’t. set over ten years, six planets four dimensions and a space cult.

Where, I was afraid it might be a cyberpunk romcom.

OK, nothing to worry about.

“Love, Death + Robots” will get a fourth season, which is fine, now where are my “Love, Death + Robots presents” feature films? It is the natural way forwards. Or maybe some of the shorts can be expanded into full series. Why not? Every success is a franchise now.

OK, got, this headline from Slash film “Chad Stahleski Wants To Make The Ghost Of Tsushima Movie In Japanese, With A Japanese Cast”

Yo boy.

Sure I’ll watch it in a double bill with Taika Waititi’s Akira, the one with the all Asian cast…

What?

Anyway, I wish him the best. Whether he can get it financed we will see (maybe he should launch an indiegogo…)

Personally I think he has a thirty percent chance of getting it done. Who would such a film be for? Where would he shoot (do you know filming in japan is tremendously expensive?)

Ghost Of Tsushima (Grunting -309) ; It is the 13th century, the Mongol hoards stand ready sweep over Japan.

Only samurai Jin Sakai (and a presumably a few others) stand between them and disaster.

Chad Stahleski, of course is known for the John Wick franchise, in fact he’s the ‘other’ John Wick director. What I mean is that one of the co-directors has been also known as director of Atomic Blond, Hobbs and Shaw, Deadpool 2 and lately Bullet Train. Chad Stahleski is the other one. He’s been linked to a bunch of projects but so are has stuck to more John Wick movies.

So I have no fear that that The Ghost Of Tsushima will haunt us any time soon.

Stahleski has been talking to the press and he is aware of the difficulty of making a Japanese GOT adaptation. He is even willing to take a budget cut. I’m not sure it can be achieved at any budget. He could film in Indonesia with an imported Japanese cast. Why not? Garth Evans has been successful making films in Indonesia. There is a strong local film industry for behind the scenes talent, and the locals can be extras.

They’d probably have to have a streamer as a strategic partner; Netflix, Amazon or Apple to guarantee distribution before filming. The cachet of having a John Wick director will make sure some people turn up on week one but it has to be really good make box office. Maybe they will forgo theatrical release at all. It is doable, but just about.

By the way, the news came days after the release of Bullet Train and nobody said jack about that. Film blogs are irony free.

Ghost Of Tsushima may have to wait because Chad Stahelski is also working on Shibumi; an adaptation of author Trevanian’s novel.

Matthew Orton will write the script;

a conflict between an assassin and the “mother company” a consortium of energy corporations that control the world.

Hme. Not getting any John Wick vibes at all…

No schedule of course

Wifelike now has some reviews and the results are mixed.

The film carries its influences on its sleeves; Stepford Wives, Blade Runner. It has lots of ideas. It seems to prioritise plot of character and some say it is politically questionable; there are just two human women cast.

It is a low budget movie, and it shows.

The mystery element telegraphs its solution and drags.

And it kind of begs a sequel to wrap things up.

Hme.

Good grief, Boss Level (Grunting -242) has been released.

Ex special forces soldier is forced to relive one day over and over until he figures out who killed him.

The amount of time it took to get a limited theatrical release suggested it would be buried (like a lot of SF release). In fact it went to Hulu which suggested it would never have a home release.

But no, it is out on disk and the DVD has… oh no extras.

We get any reviews?

Indeed, and it was rather well liked. Well you can make up your own mind.

Blank (Grunting 259) A writer gets trapped with an unstable android in a fully automatic retreat.

It has a release date, catch it in select US theatres + on VOD starting September 23rd, 2022

The Alternate — Directed by Alrik Bursell; Jake, a videographer, discovers a portal to another dimension in which he has everything he has always wanted; now that could never go wrong…