Monday, September 21, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Friday, December 12, 2008
Keanu Reeves in 47 Ronin
By Peter Martin,Cinematical
December 9,2008
Do you want to see a visitor from another planet wielding a sword? Keanu Reeves, who plays the alien Klaatu in The Day the Earth Stood Still (opening on Friday), will play a samurai swordsman in 47 Ronin, an epic action tale of 18th century vengeance, according to Variety.
Described as mixing elements of The Lord of the Rings (fantasy) and Gladiator ("gritty battle scenes"), the film aims to tell a stylized version of a true story that took place at the beginning of the 18th century in Japan. A group of samurai became ronin (samurai without lord or master) after their master was forced to commit ritual suicide because, after repeated insults to his honor, he assaulted a court official. The 47 ronin eventually avenged the death of their master, even though they knew that they, in turn, would be required to commit suicide. Traditionally, the tale of the 47 ronin has been held up as an example of honor and other noble qualities. The story itself has been told numerous times in movies and television, and it's also served as loose inspiration for many other projects, such as John Frankenheimer's terrific Ronin (1998), with Robert DeNiro.
Keanu's 47 Ronin is being scripted by Chris Morgan, who co-wrote Wanted. Morgan is also the writer of the upcoming Fast & Furious and previously did The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Sakura: Blue-Eyed Samurai, about a 19th century woman training to be a samurai, so he has a track record of projects set in Japan, for whatever that's worth. 47 Ronin intends to start production next year, but a director must be selected first. Whoever else comes on board, this is being pitched as a very, very loose interpretation of the classic tale.
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Friday, October 31, 2008
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Street Kings review
I like dirty cop movies (mainly Narc and Copland).Street Kings is a movie where corrupt cops are the center of the story.The main character of the plot is Tom Ludlow,a struggling,loyal cop who has experienced a personal drama,something that continues to influence his life.He has done questionable things,but there's still some sense of morality,justice in him.People close to him are not who they seem to be,and he is trapped in a situation,where his life is ,eventually,at stake.It is a power struggle,and he's the victim of it,along with other people.The dark,violent side of L.A,of L.A.P.D is present throughout the movie.There many twists,in a plot where the role of each character is constantly at question.The final twist is the most shocking one.The perfomances are good (Keanu Reeves is really good).Although you may predict some of the plot delevopments,and although the movie sometimes slows down,Street Kings is a good movie.
David Ayer,who directed Street Kings,is the writer of Training Day (2001),Dark Blue (2003) and U-571 (2000).He co-wrote S.W.A.T (2003) and The Fast and the Furious (2001).He directed,wrote and produced Harsh Times (2006).
For my previous post about Street Kings,click on the Street Kings label
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Street Kings
Tom Ludlow (Keanu Reeves) is a Los Angeles cop who has spent his life never having had to reach across the abyss from his world to the other. Ludlow's life, however, becomes cheerless, dark and deadly, after the death of his beloved wife. Ludlow is pressed into action when he is framed for the murder of a fellow officer by those close to him. Deeper and more profound themes are interwoven in this story of a man's struggle for meaning in a world that is increasingly controlled by outside forces.
The screenplay of Street Kings is written by noted authors James Ellroy (The Black Dahlia,L.A Confidential) and John Ridley; the film is directed by David Ayer. The film stars Keanu Reeves, Hugh Laurie and Forest Whitaker. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters (U.S.A) onApril 11,2008.
Production info:In 2004, it was announced that Spike Lee would be directing the film for a 2005 release. In 2005, it was announced that Oliver Stone was in talks to direct the film,but Stone later denied this. Training Day writer David Ayer took over the project.
OnFebruary 5,2008, it was announced that Fox Searchlight changed the film's title from The Night Watchman to Street Kings.
