After more than a decade stuck in development hell, “Artemis Fowl” now has a confirmed release date: August 9, 2019. That’s sure to come as good news to the sci-fi/fantasy series’ many fans, who number in the tens of millions. Here’s everything you need to know about the long-gestating adaptation of Eoin Colfer’s books:
Read More:‘It’: Everything You Need to Know About What Could Be the Scariest Movie in Years It’s been described as “‘Die Hard’ with fairies.”
That appealing description comes courtesy of the author himself, who’s written eight novels in the long-running series; though it’s been compared to “Harry Potter” as well, Colfer disagrees with that comparison. That could be because the books revolve around their title character, a 12-year-old criminal mastermind who kidnaps a fairy because times are tough and the Fowl family isn’t as rich as it once...
Read More:‘It’: Everything You Need to Know About What Could Be the Scariest Movie in Years It’s been described as “‘Die Hard’ with fairies.”
That appealing description comes courtesy of the author himself, who’s written eight novels in the long-running series; though it’s been compared to “Harry Potter” as well, Colfer disagrees with that comparison. That could be because the books revolve around their title character, a 12-year-old criminal mastermind who kidnaps a fairy because times are tough and the Fowl family isn’t as rich as it once...
- 9/18/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Kayti Burt May 7, 2019
Everything you need to know about the Artemis Fowl movie adaptation from Kenneth Branagh...
It’s been more than a decade since the Artemis Fowl fantasy book series about a boy billionaire genius who also happens to be a criminal mastermind was published and inspired talk of a movie.
Now, the film adaptation of Eoin Colfer’s bestselling children’s book series is finally happening. The Tracking Board reports that Kenneth Branagh, fresh off of his success with Disney’s live action Cinderella, is directing the film.
Could the Artemis Fowl film finally be happening? Yep! We even have a teaser trailer! Here's everything we know...
Artemis Fowl Movie Release Date
Artemis Fowl was originally slated for an August 2019 release date, but with Disney's acquisition of Fox, they've moved quite a few release dates announced. Artemis Fowl is among the Disney/Fox films getting a new ones.
Everything you need to know about the Artemis Fowl movie adaptation from Kenneth Branagh...
It’s been more than a decade since the Artemis Fowl fantasy book series about a boy billionaire genius who also happens to be a criminal mastermind was published and inspired talk of a movie.
Now, the film adaptation of Eoin Colfer’s bestselling children’s book series is finally happening. The Tracking Board reports that Kenneth Branagh, fresh off of his success with Disney’s live action Cinderella, is directing the film.
Could the Artemis Fowl film finally be happening? Yep! We even have a teaser trailer! Here's everything we know...
Artemis Fowl Movie Release Date
Artemis Fowl was originally slated for an August 2019 release date, but with Disney's acquisition of Fox, they've moved quite a few release dates announced. Artemis Fowl is among the Disney/Fox films getting a new ones.
- 9/2/2015
- Den of Geek
The distributor has picked up two films on offer in the market, taking Us rights to Atom Egoyan’s Remember starring Christopher Plummer and Bryan Bertino’s upcoming There Are Monsters.
Remember stars Plummer as a man who sets out across the United States to confront the former Nazi guard that murdered his family during WWII. The story is based on Benjamin August’s debut screenplay.
Im Global represents international rights and Wme Global brokered the Us deal on the Serendipity Point Films drama that also stars Martin Landau and Breaking Bad‘s Dean Norris.
Serendipity Point’s Robert Lantos produces with Ari Lantos in association with Distant Horizon, Detalle, Telefilm Canada and Egoli Tossell.
Anant Singh and Mark Musselman serve as executive producers alongside Moises Cosio, Jeff Sagansky, Mike Porter, Larry Guterman and D Matt Geller, with Jens Meurer serving as co-producer.
There Are Monsters hails from Atlas Independent and Unbroken Pictures and Embankment Films handles...
Remember stars Plummer as a man who sets out across the United States to confront the former Nazi guard that murdered his family during WWII. The story is based on Benjamin August’s debut screenplay.
Im Global represents international rights and Wme Global brokered the Us deal on the Serendipity Point Films drama that also stars Martin Landau and Breaking Bad‘s Dean Norris.
Serendipity Point’s Robert Lantos produces with Ari Lantos in association with Distant Horizon, Detalle, Telefilm Canada and Egoli Tossell.
Anant Singh and Mark Musselman serve as executive producers alongside Moises Cosio, Jeff Sagansky, Mike Porter, Larry Guterman and D Matt Geller, with Jens Meurer serving as co-producer.
There Are Monsters hails from Atlas Independent and Unbroken Pictures and Embankment Films handles...
- 5/12/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The distributor has picked up Atom Egoyan’s drama starring Christopher Plummer as a man who sets out across the United States to confront the former Nazi guard that murdered his family during WWII.
Martin Landau and Breaking Bad‘s Dean Norris also star in the Serendipity Point Film production. The story is based on Benjamin August’s debut screenplay.
Serendipity Point’s Robert Lantos produces with Ari Lantos in association with Distant Horizon, Detalle, Telefilm Canada and Egoli Tossell.
Anant Singh and Mark Musselman serve as executive producers alongside Moises Cosio, Jeff Sagansky, Mike Porter, Larry Guterman and D Matt Geller, with Jens Meurer serving as co-producer.
Wme Global brokered the deal with A24. Im Global handles international sales.
Martin Landau and Breaking Bad‘s Dean Norris also star in the Serendipity Point Film production. The story is based on Benjamin August’s debut screenplay.
Serendipity Point’s Robert Lantos produces with Ari Lantos in association with Distant Horizon, Detalle, Telefilm Canada and Egoli Tossell.
Anant Singh and Mark Musselman serve as executive producers alongside Moises Cosio, Jeff Sagansky, Mike Porter, Larry Guterman and D Matt Geller, with Jens Meurer serving as co-producer.
Wme Global brokered the deal with A24. Im Global handles international sales.
- 5/12/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The filmmaker, set to premiere Captives in competition in Cannes, will direct Christopher Plummer in the thriller for Serendipity Point Films. Im Global will handle international sales.
Ari Lantos and Serendipity chief Robert Lantos will produce in what marks the latter’s eighth collaboration with Egoyan.
eOne will distribute Remember in Canada, Arp in France and Videovision Entertainment in South Africa.
The Serendipity Point Films thriller in association with Distant Horizon, Detalle, Telefilm Canada and Egoli Tossell will kick off in Toronto on July 14.
Benjamin August wrote the original screenplay in which, according to notes provided by the film’s representatives, “the darkest chapter of modern history collides with a contemporary mission of revenge.”
Martin Landau, Dean Norris, Bruno Ganz, Heinz Lieven and Günter Lamprecht round out the key cast.
Mark Musselman and Anant Singh serve as executive producers with Moises Cosio, Jeff Sagansky, Mike Porter, Larry Guterman and D Matt Geller.
Egoyan and Lantos...
Ari Lantos and Serendipity chief Robert Lantos will produce in what marks the latter’s eighth collaboration with Egoyan.
eOne will distribute Remember in Canada, Arp in France and Videovision Entertainment in South Africa.
The Serendipity Point Films thriller in association with Distant Horizon, Detalle, Telefilm Canada and Egoli Tossell will kick off in Toronto on July 14.
Benjamin August wrote the original screenplay in which, according to notes provided by the film’s representatives, “the darkest chapter of modern history collides with a contemporary mission of revenge.”
Martin Landau, Dean Norris, Bruno Ganz, Heinz Lieven and Günter Lamprecht round out the key cast.
Mark Musselman and Anant Singh serve as executive producers with Moises Cosio, Jeff Sagansky, Mike Porter, Larry Guterman and D Matt Geller.
Egoyan and Lantos...
- 4/30/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Taken 3
Jonny Weston ("Chasing Mavericks," "Project Almanac") has joined the cast of Olivier Megaton's "Taken 3" at 20th Century Fox. Weston will play the boyfriend of Maggie Grace's character.
Grace, Liam Neeson, and Famke Janssen are set to reprise their roles while Forest Whitaker has also joined the cast. Luc Besson will produce the film which begins production next week. [Source: Variety]
Bremen Town Musicians
Neve Campbell ("Scream") has scored a voice role in Lawrence Guterman's CG animated feature "Bremen Town Musicians". This reimagining of the Russian folk tale and Brothers Grimm story about an incompetent wizard's search across space and time for the greatest musical troupe in creation.
Campbell will portray Princess Lielle, who is betrothed to the narcissistic Duke Henri (Jeffrey Wright), trapped in a gilded cage and dreaming of freedom from a life she never wanted. [Source: Heat Vision]
Condemned
Johnny Messner, Ronen Rubinstein, Shawn Christensen, Jon Abrahams...
Jonny Weston ("Chasing Mavericks," "Project Almanac") has joined the cast of Olivier Megaton's "Taken 3" at 20th Century Fox. Weston will play the boyfriend of Maggie Grace's character.
Grace, Liam Neeson, and Famke Janssen are set to reprise their roles while Forest Whitaker has also joined the cast. Luc Besson will produce the film which begins production next week. [Source: Variety]
Bremen Town Musicians
Neve Campbell ("Scream") has scored a voice role in Lawrence Guterman's CG animated feature "Bremen Town Musicians". This reimagining of the Russian folk tale and Brothers Grimm story about an incompetent wizard's search across space and time for the greatest musical troupe in creation.
Campbell will portray Princess Lielle, who is betrothed to the narcissistic Duke Henri (Jeffrey Wright), trapped in a gilded cage and dreaming of freedom from a life she never wanted. [Source: Heat Vision]
Condemned
Johnny Messner, Ronen Rubinstein, Shawn Christensen, Jon Abrahams...
- 4/1/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Neve Campbell has joined Jeffrey Wright and Alan Cumming as the voice stars of Bremen Town Musicians, the animated reimagining of the Russian folk tale and Brothers Grimm story being directed by Cats & Dogs director Lawrence Guterman. D. Matt Geller (Night Witches) and Igor Dobrovolsky of Luxor Entertainment are producing. Exclusive: Alan Cumming Joins Animated 'Bremen Town Musicians' Guterman is taking the animal-centric folk tale and reimagining it as a bent comic romance. The story is set in motion when the king of Bremen demands his incompetent wizard search across space and time for the greatest musical troupe
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- 3/31/2014
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
• Patrick Wilson continues to surprise. After guest starring in one of Girls’ most talked about episodes and appearing in the modestly budgeted box office smash The Conjuring, Wilson is set to go the superhero route. He’s reportedly signed on to appear in Marvel’s Ant-Man for director Edgar Wright. There are no details on his role yet. Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas are starring in the film about a biochemist who discovers a formula that allows him to shrink to the size of an ant. Disney has already set a July 31, 2015, release. [Deadline]
• Twilight alum Ashley Greene will play Priscilla Presley in Shangra-La Suite.
• Twilight alum Ashley Greene will play Priscilla Presley in Shangra-La Suite.
- 2/28/2014
- by Lindsey Bahr
- EW - Inside Movies
Ant-Man
Patrick Wilson is in negotiations to star in Edgar Wright's upcoming "Ant-Man" film for Marvel Studios. Wilson has reportedly scored the last major role in the film, but details of that role are unknown. Michael Douglas, Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily and Michael Pena co-star in the project which is scheduled to begin shooting in April. [Source: Deadline]
Howard Hughes Biopic
The legendary Candice Bergen has scored the role of Howard Hughes' secretary in Warren Beatty's currently in production Howard Hughes biopic.
The likes of Lily Collins, Matthew Broderick and Annette Bening are rumored for the project as well though those aren't confirmed. [Source: Showbiz 411]
After the Storm
Berenice Bejo, Laurent Lafitte, Gregory Gadebois and Sergio Castellitto have joined the Italy-set psychological thriller "After The Storm," an adaptation of the Arthur Dreyfus' novel "Belle famille."
Bejo plays a mother who can't accept the accidental death of her five-year old son and instinctively hides his body.
Patrick Wilson is in negotiations to star in Edgar Wright's upcoming "Ant-Man" film for Marvel Studios. Wilson has reportedly scored the last major role in the film, but details of that role are unknown. Michael Douglas, Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily and Michael Pena co-star in the project which is scheduled to begin shooting in April. [Source: Deadline]
Howard Hughes Biopic
The legendary Candice Bergen has scored the role of Howard Hughes' secretary in Warren Beatty's currently in production Howard Hughes biopic.
The likes of Lily Collins, Matthew Broderick and Annette Bening are rumored for the project as well though those aren't confirmed. [Source: Showbiz 411]
After the Storm
Berenice Bejo, Laurent Lafitte, Gregory Gadebois and Sergio Castellitto have joined the Italy-set psychological thriller "After The Storm," an adaptation of the Arthur Dreyfus' novel "Belle famille."
Bejo plays a mother who can't accept the accidental death of her five-year old son and instinctively hides his body.
- 2/28/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Alan Cumming has joined the voice cast of Bremen Town Musicians, the animated reimagining of the Russian folk tale and Brothers Grimm story from Cats & Dogs director Lawrence Guterman. Story: Oscars: 'Frozen,' 'Croods' Animators Reveal the Secrets Behind Their Breakout Characters D. Matt Geller (Night Witches) and Igor Dobrovoslky of Luxor Entertainment are producing the feature, which already has Jeffrey Wright on board as the piece’s villain. Guterman’s take on the folk tale begins in 1713 with the King of Bremen demanding his incompetent wizard search across space and time for the greatest musical troupe ever to perform at his
read more...
read more...
- 2/27/2014
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bremen Town Musicians
Jeffrey Wright will voice the villain in Lawrence Guterman's animated feature "Bremen Town Musicians," a reimagining of the Russian folktale and Brothers Grimm story which Luxor Entertainment is producing.
The comic romance is set in 1713, with the King of Bremen demanding that his incompetent wizard search across space and time for the greatest musical troupe ever to perform at his daughter's wedding. Wright plays the narcissistic, power-hungry future son-in-law to the King. [Source: Heat Vision]
Zipper
Richard Dreyfuss has scored a leading role opposite Patrick Wilson and Lena Headey in Mora Stephens' indie drama "Zipper". Darren Aronofsky is producing and filming is underway in Louisiana.
Wilson plays a successful family man who risks losing everything due to his inability to fight off his obsessive temptation for other women. Dreyfuss will portray the role of political kingmaker. [Source: Variety]
Gracepoint
Sarah-Jane Potts will replace Georgina Rylance as the attractive hotel owner...
Jeffrey Wright will voice the villain in Lawrence Guterman's animated feature "Bremen Town Musicians," a reimagining of the Russian folktale and Brothers Grimm story which Luxor Entertainment is producing.
The comic romance is set in 1713, with the King of Bremen demanding that his incompetent wizard search across space and time for the greatest musical troupe ever to perform at his daughter's wedding. Wright plays the narcissistic, power-hungry future son-in-law to the King. [Source: Heat Vision]
Zipper
Richard Dreyfuss has scored a leading role opposite Patrick Wilson and Lena Headey in Mora Stephens' indie drama "Zipper". Darren Aronofsky is producing and filming is underway in Louisiana.
Wilson plays a successful family man who risks losing everything due to his inability to fight off his obsessive temptation for other women. Dreyfuss will portray the role of political kingmaker. [Source: Variety]
Gracepoint
Sarah-Jane Potts will replace Georgina Rylance as the attractive hotel owner...
- 2/13/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Jeffrey Wright will voice one of the lead roles in Bremen Town Musicians, the animated reimagining of the Russian folktale and Brothers Grimm story from Cats & Dogs director Lawrence Guterman. The bent comic romance is set in 1713, with the King of Bremen demanding that his incompetent wizard search across space and time for the greatest musical troupe ever to perform at his daughter's wedding. The rest of the plot is being kept under wraps. Wright will voice the role of the film's antagonist Duke Henri, the narcissistic, power-hungry future son-in-law to the King of Bremen who
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read more...
- 2/12/2014
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lawrence Guterman, who directed Cats & Dogs, and producer D. Matt Geller are teaming up to create a re-imagined version of the Brothers Grimm tale Bremen Town Musicians for Luxor Entertainment. Luxor, run by CEO Igor Dobrovolsky, is a company best known as a major exhibitor and distributor in the Russian market. While Luxor has also produced some local productions, it sees Bremen as a flagship animation project designed for a global stage. The folk tale, which is hugely popular in Eastern Europe, centers on a cat, a dog, a donkey and a rooster who are past their prime
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- 11/18/2013
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Larry Guterman, who might be best known for directing the 2001 kid-friendly comedy Cats and Dogs, has come aboard to helm the live-action family comedy Dog’s Best Friend for Gold Circle Films. Based on a spec by Ben August brought in by exec Brad Kessell, the project is described as a “dogmance” involving a “free-spirited” dog and his commitment-phobic master, who together break up a dognapping ring. The project has been described as I Love You Man but with one side being a dog. Newbie scriibe August wrote the spec while living in Vietnam teaching English.
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- 12/10/2011
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Capitalizing on the sequel release, Cats & Dogs hits on Blu-Ray, and the family-friendly lark looks better than ever… to children of the right ages.
Putting together a fairly form-standard spy adventure, only pitting the secret organizations of cats and dogs against one another, the film’s talking (and otherwise CGI cutesified) animals hooked younger audiences. Helping to kick off a wave of animal-centric CGI entities, Cats & Dogs fuses so many stereotypes of child appeal that it was one of the safest bets Hollywood managed in the last decade.
They’re cunning. They’re stealthy. They’re waging a top-secret, ultra-high-tech struggle for global domination right under our noses. They’re…Cats & Dogs! Witness this epic “tail” of what happens when an eccentric professor (Jeff Goldblum) makes a discovery that could tip the age-old balance of pet power.
Now an inexperienced young beagle pup (voiced by Tobey Maguire) will undertake the...
Putting together a fairly form-standard spy adventure, only pitting the secret organizations of cats and dogs against one another, the film’s talking (and otherwise CGI cutesified) animals hooked younger audiences. Helping to kick off a wave of animal-centric CGI entities, Cats & Dogs fuses so many stereotypes of child appeal that it was one of the safest bets Hollywood managed in the last decade.
They’re cunning. They’re stealthy. They’re waging a top-secret, ultra-high-tech struggle for global domination right under our noses. They’re…Cats & Dogs! Witness this epic “tail” of what happens when an eccentric professor (Jeff Goldblum) makes a discovery that could tip the age-old balance of pet power.
Now an inexperienced young beagle pup (voiced by Tobey Maguire) will undertake the...
- 7/30/2010
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
The talking animal film isn’t the proudest subgenre of the children’s entertainment world, but gosh darn if it doesn’t have the tenacity of a cockroach with a knack for smalltalk. Critics can universally deride them for lacking any substance for kids or their parents, but the studios continue marching them down death row where we, the critically minded, tear them to pieces – only to see them reconstitute a few months later as a sequel or a whole new franchise. Call it a hydra or call it a zombie Jesus, the point is the same: this genre won’t die, so sit back, relax, and hope your kid grows tired of cat and dog slapstick accented by computer-generated mouth movements.
Cats & Dogs imagines the world of pets to be fraught with clandestine operations whilst people walk about unaware. The feline and canine war has raged for as long...
Cats & Dogs imagines the world of pets to be fraught with clandestine operations whilst people walk about unaware. The feline and canine war has raged for as long...
- 7/23/2010
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
I made another visit to The Numbers website today, and I've come back with another interesting list, this time of the biggest financial failures of all time, in terms of absolute money lost.
I should also preface the list with some additional information. The Numbers website based their figures on the fact that the studio only received 50 percent of the box office revenue, which is probably a fairly close estimation. In reality, studios do spend a lot of money on marketing, which is not reflected in the production budget. Moreover, studios do not receive 100 percent of the the box office revenue. It is my recollection that studios generally receive around 80 percent of the revenue for the first week or two, and the percentage decreases the longer a movie stays in the theater. This is why budget theaters exist: They can charge much less for ticket prices because they only have...
I should also preface the list with some additional information. The Numbers website based their figures on the fact that the studio only received 50 percent of the box office revenue, which is probably a fairly close estimation. In reality, studios do spend a lot of money on marketing, which is not reflected in the production budget. Moreover, studios do not receive 100 percent of the the box office revenue. It is my recollection that studios generally receive around 80 percent of the revenue for the first week or two, and the percentage decreases the longer a movie stays in the theater. This is why budget theaters exist: They can charge much less for ticket prices because they only have...
- 6/30/2010
- by Dustin Rowles
We take a look at Cats & Dogs sequel The Revenge Of Kitty Galore in our latest blockbuster preview…
What Is It?
A sequel to 2001's Cats & Dogs, The Revenge Of Kitty Galore is a family comedy about fluffy pets at war. Featuring celebrity voice talent from Nick Nolte, Joe Pantoliano and Bette Midler, it's a kind of a anthropomorphic Look Who's Talking with added jet-powered canines, nefarious cats and exploding squirrels.
Of the human players, Kitty Galore stars Chris O'Donnell (who must surely remember his role as Robin in Batman Forever with the same shudder we all experience when we think about it), 30 Rocks's Jack McBrayer and an appearance from 007 himself, Roger Moore.
The story revolves around the evil Kitty Galore of the title, a hairless Sphynx cat and former spy who plans to take over the world, forcing the rest of the film's cats and dogs to team up and foil her dastardly plans.
What Is It?
A sequel to 2001's Cats & Dogs, The Revenge Of Kitty Galore is a family comedy about fluffy pets at war. Featuring celebrity voice talent from Nick Nolte, Joe Pantoliano and Bette Midler, it's a kind of a anthropomorphic Look Who's Talking with added jet-powered canines, nefarious cats and exploding squirrels.
Of the human players, Kitty Galore stars Chris O'Donnell (who must surely remember his role as Robin in Batman Forever with the same shudder we all experience when we think about it), 30 Rocks's Jack McBrayer and an appearance from 007 himself, Roger Moore.
The story revolves around the evil Kitty Galore of the title, a hairless Sphynx cat and former spy who plans to take over the world, forcing the rest of the film's cats and dogs to team up and foil her dastardly plans.
- 6/3/2010
- Den of Geek
The Dukes Of Hazzard and Son Of The Mask are leading the nominations at this year's Razzies, which celebrates the worst films of 2005. The Golden Raspberry Award Foundation's 26th annual Razzie winners are traditionally announced the night before the Oscars, on March 3, at the Ivar Theatre in Hollywood, California. Funnyman Jamie Kennedy's turn in the sequel to the Jim Carrey 1994 hit movie has picked up eight nominations, including Worst Director for Lawrence Guterman, Worst Actor for Kennedy and Worst Picture. Following close behind is remake The Dukes Of Hazzard, with Jessica Simpson up for Worst Supporting Actress and Worst Screen Couple for her 'Daisy Dukes' hotpants. Other nominated films include Jenny McCarthy's Dirty Love with six nods; and Bewitched and Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo with five each. Paris Hilton's big screen debut in House Of Wax has also been nominated for Worst Supporting Actress. Meanwhile, last year's most high-profile couple, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, are up for Worst Actor and Worst Supporting Actress respectively. Cruise has been nominated twice in a new category, entitled Most Tiresome Tabloid Targets, for his public displays of affection with Holmes and his war on psychiatry.
- 1/31/2006
- WENN
Going where Jim Carrey and his rubber face profitably went before him, Jamie Kennedy tries The Mask on for size only to find out that's it's a painfully ill-fitting proposition.
Loud, mean-spirited and generally obnoxious, Son of the Mask makes the boisterous 1994 original look downright demure and refined.
Director Lawrence Guterman, of Cats and Dogs fame, and his crack visual effects team are so busy showing off how far digital technology has advanced in the past decade that no one ever bothers to stop for a second to check if there are any workable characters or a story that makes any sense.
The result is a garish mess of a movie that spins wildly out of control early on and never looks back.
Squarely aimed at kids (presumably those with ADD), the New Line release may initially draw Kennedy's WB Network and Malibu's Most Wanted fan base, but its overall boxoffice will unlikely come anywhere close to the $120 million nabbed by the original.
Where the first Mask transformed Carrey's timid bank clerk, the new edition centers on Kennedy's Tim Avery, an aspiring cartoonist whose name references Tex Avery, the famed animator whose classic, energetic work inspired the first Mask film and has been cannibalized here.
A reluctant new dad, Tim has no idea what he's in for. Not only was his son conceived while Tim was in full Mask mode -- meaning it's only a matter of time before the baby exhibits some very unusual behavior -- but also the cursed item is being sought by the relentless Loki (Alan Cumming), the mischievous son of Norse god Odin (Bob Hoskins).
To further amp up the ensuing chaos, the pooch also gets its snout into the mask, turning Tim's household in a whirling dervish of computer-generated mayhem.
Failing to recapture the style and manic but focused energy of the original, Guterman's direction and Lance Khazei's script instead flail around in a dozen directions at once, with grating results.
Not quite blessed with the facial elasticity of his predecessor, Kennedy makes do with his best mugging until the special effects take over, and Cumming, Hoskins and the rest of the cast essentially follow his lead.
And those effects, supervised by James E. Price, are pretty spectacular, if a little disturbing. The centerpiece -- a fully digitized, photorealistic havoc-wreaking baby -- could conceivably induce terrifying nightmares weeks after initial exposure.
Son of the Mask
New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema presents a Radar Pictures production in association with Dark Horse Entertainment
A Lawrence Guterman film
Credits:
Director: Lawrence Guterman
Screenwriter: Lance Khazei
Producers: Erica Huggins, Scott Kroopf
Executive producers: Toby Emmerich, Kent Alterman, Michele Weiss, Beau Marks, Mike Richardson
Director of photography: Greg Gardiner
Production designer: Leslie Dilley
Editors: Malcolm Campbell, Debra Neil Fisher
Costume designer: Mary E. Vogt
Visual effects supervisor: James E. Price
Music: Randy Edelman
Cast:
Tim Avery: Jamie Kennedy
Loki: Alan Cumming
Odin: Bob Hoskins
Tonya: Traylor Howard
Daniel Moss: Steven Wright
Jorge: Kal Penn
Dr. Neuman: Ben Stein
Alvey: Liam and Ryan Falconer
MPAA rating: PG
Running time -- 86 minutes...
Loud, mean-spirited and generally obnoxious, Son of the Mask makes the boisterous 1994 original look downright demure and refined.
Director Lawrence Guterman, of Cats and Dogs fame, and his crack visual effects team are so busy showing off how far digital technology has advanced in the past decade that no one ever bothers to stop for a second to check if there are any workable characters or a story that makes any sense.
The result is a garish mess of a movie that spins wildly out of control early on and never looks back.
Squarely aimed at kids (presumably those with ADD), the New Line release may initially draw Kennedy's WB Network and Malibu's Most Wanted fan base, but its overall boxoffice will unlikely come anywhere close to the $120 million nabbed by the original.
Where the first Mask transformed Carrey's timid bank clerk, the new edition centers on Kennedy's Tim Avery, an aspiring cartoonist whose name references Tex Avery, the famed animator whose classic, energetic work inspired the first Mask film and has been cannibalized here.
A reluctant new dad, Tim has no idea what he's in for. Not only was his son conceived while Tim was in full Mask mode -- meaning it's only a matter of time before the baby exhibits some very unusual behavior -- but also the cursed item is being sought by the relentless Loki (Alan Cumming), the mischievous son of Norse god Odin (Bob Hoskins).
To further amp up the ensuing chaos, the pooch also gets its snout into the mask, turning Tim's household in a whirling dervish of computer-generated mayhem.
Failing to recapture the style and manic but focused energy of the original, Guterman's direction and Lance Khazei's script instead flail around in a dozen directions at once, with grating results.
Not quite blessed with the facial elasticity of his predecessor, Kennedy makes do with his best mugging until the special effects take over, and Cumming, Hoskins and the rest of the cast essentially follow his lead.
And those effects, supervised by James E. Price, are pretty spectacular, if a little disturbing. The centerpiece -- a fully digitized, photorealistic havoc-wreaking baby -- could conceivably induce terrifying nightmares weeks after initial exposure.
Son of the Mask
New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema presents a Radar Pictures production in association with Dark Horse Entertainment
A Lawrence Guterman film
Credits:
Director: Lawrence Guterman
Screenwriter: Lance Khazei
Producers: Erica Huggins, Scott Kroopf
Executive producers: Toby Emmerich, Kent Alterman, Michele Weiss, Beau Marks, Mike Richardson
Director of photography: Greg Gardiner
Production designer: Leslie Dilley
Editors: Malcolm Campbell, Debra Neil Fisher
Costume designer: Mary E. Vogt
Visual effects supervisor: James E. Price
Music: Randy Edelman
Cast:
Tim Avery: Jamie Kennedy
Loki: Alan Cumming
Odin: Bob Hoskins
Tonya: Traylor Howard
Daniel Moss: Steven Wright
Jorge: Kal Penn
Dr. Neuman: Ben Stein
Alvey: Liam and Ryan Falconer
MPAA rating: PG
Running time -- 86 minutes...
In separate deals, director Lawrence Guterman has attached writers Collin Friesen and Keith Mitchell to projects he is developing as part of his newly formed shingle Orange Grove Entertainment. Guterman's film Son of the Mask, a New Line Cinema release, opens Friday. Orange Grove, which Guterman will run with producing partner Holly Rawlinson, is developing material, mostly with a fantasy bent, as possible directing vehicles for Guterman. He will act as producer on all. "With studios doing fewer and fewer films, you need to have your own material to get any traction," said Rawlinson, who was vp entertainment and licensing at Mattel.
- 2/17/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bob Hoskins is becoming a god. The British actor will play Odin, king of the Norse gods, in New Line Cinema's Son of the Mask. Mask carries on with the premise of a character-altering mask that was established in the 1994 hit starring Jim Carrey. This time around, it follows an aspiring cartoonist (Jamie Kennedy) who is not ready for fatherhood but finds himself raising a baby endowed with the powers of the mask of Loki, the god of mischief. Loki is played by Alan Cumming. Currently shooting, Mask is being directed by Larry Guterman from a script by Lance Khazei, Rob McKittrick and the team of Tom Gammill and Max Pross. The production is being overseen at New Line by production execs Kent Alterman, Michelle Weiss and Janis Chaskin. Hoskins, whose career spans three decades, is probably best known for playing Eddie Valiant in 1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit? His other credits include Brazil, Super Mario Bros., Maid in Manhattan and the upcoming Vanity Fair and Stay. He is finishing shooting Beyond the Sea. He is repped by CAA.
- 1/15/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Traylor Howard, who last appeared on the big screen in the comedy Me, Myself & Irene, has landed the female lead role opposite Jamie Kennedy in the New Line Cinema comedy Son of the Mask. Howard will play Kennedy's wife in the film, which carries on with the premise of a character-altering mask that was established in the 1994 hit starring Jim Carrey. This time around, it follows an aspiring cartoonist (Kennedy) who is not ready for fatherhood but finds himself raising a baby endowed with the powers of the mask of Loki. Scheduled for a summer production start, Mask is being directed by Larry Guterman from a script by Lance Khazei, Rob McKittrick and the team of Tom Gammill and Max Pross. The production is being overseen at New Line by production execs Kent Alterman, Michelle Weiss and Janis Chaskin. Howard most recently appeared in the CBS comedy Bram & Alice. In addition to Irene, she has appeared on the big screen in the comedy Dirty Work. She is repped by UTA and manager John Carrabino.
- 10/30/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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