Zack Snyders Guardians of Gahoole Lands Voice Cast

Snyder's first fully animated 3-D feature will star Sam Neill, Geoffrey Rush, Hugo Weaving, Helen Mirren, Jim Sturgess, David Wenham, and Emilie de Ravin among others.

FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!

Snyder Snags Some Voices

Animal Logic is pushing through with a 3D animated feature entitled Guardians of Ga'hoole, and the latest news is that they've snagged their cast. According to the Heat Vision Blog, Guardians of Ga'hoole is set to be a big-budget fantasy about a young owl who grows up with father's stories about a band of warriors who fight for owls everywhere. Helmed by Zack Snyder, the animated film will now feature the voices of Sam Neill, Hugo Weaving, Geoffrey Rush, and David Wenham as the leads, along with the talents of Abbie Cornish, Emilie de Ravin, Helen Mirren, Jim Sturgess, Miriam Margolyes, Emily Barclay, Jay Laga'aia, and Ryan Kwantan. The release date is currently set for December 2010.   Source: Heat Vision Blog

NEWS/RUMORS (Nov 18-19th)

Justin Theroux (Tropic Thunder, Iron Mn 2) is writing a new draft of Space Invaders (not the video game). The original spec by Mike Lisbe and Nate Reger is about an astronaut who goes into space to catch his girlfriend in the act of cheating on him with a fellow astronaut. Comedian Will Arnett is attached to star in the romantic comedy.


Nikki Finke from Deadline Hollywood, who reported on casting for Marvel Studio's Thor is bck with another interesting rumor. While I've taken most of the casting talk for Spider-Man 4 as gossip but if Nikki is reporting on it there is must be heat behind it. She says that Anne Hathaway (Get Smart, Devil Wears Prada) is up for a leading feamle role in the film. Which could mean she's auditioned for Felicia Hardy.


Sam Neill (Daybreakers), Helen Mirren (Red), Abbie Cornish (Sucker Punch), Emily Barclay and Emilie de Ravin will lend their voices for Zack Snyder's animated film Guardians of Ga'Hoole. They will join Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of The Caribbean), Hugo Weaving (Matrix, Wolfman), David Wenham (300), Jim Sturgess (50 Dead Men Walking) and Ryan Kwanten (True Blood). Hugh Jackman (X-Men) was also attached at one point but his name has been removed from the recent press release.


Empire has released the UK quad poster for Daybreakers, which is much more impressive than the previous two posters.

Full Voice Cast Announced For Zack Snyders Guardians of GaHoole

We've been hearing rumors for the last year, but Warner Bros./Village Roadshow Pictures have finally begun to confirm some of the voice cast of Zack Snyder's animated adaptation of the popular children's book series Guardians of Ga'Hoole. Sam Neill, Geoffrey Rush, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham will lead the voice cast of Animal Logic's 3D animated feature, which will also feature the voices of  Emily Barclay, Abbie Cornish, Emilie de Ravin, Ryan Kwanten, Jay Laga'aia, Miriam Margolyes, Helen Mirren and Jim Sturgess. Hugh Jackman had been rumored to be part of the production but appears to be MIA. The animated film is an adaptation of the 14 book bestselling kids series by author Kathryn Lasky and illustrator Richard Cowdry (the film is based on the first three books in the series). The producers have described the tone as more "Harry Potter" "than Happy Feet." The story follows a young barn owl named ...

Could Marvel & Miramax Team Up?

The one thing that worries people about the Disney and Marvel deal is, what happens to the violent/adult characters? Miramax is the answer to that question. The studio that helped produce: The Crow, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Gangs of New York, Equilibrium and Scream, just to name a few. I could see Disney buying the rights back for characters such as Punisher and Blade. I doubt the rights would be as expensive as say for Spider-Man or X-Men. I can't see Marvel Studios being able to also handle the adult content. Miramax could be studio able to tackle the films.



PUNISHER: War Zone for all it's problems with story, dialog and acting, ended up to deliver the action the Thomas Jane film couldn't. With a solid script and accomplished action director the series could end up becoming something great. I know they aren't a popular choice but Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank, Gamer) could give the series the energy it needs. The pair would understand the Punisher Max series and how to make an entertaining action movie. Ray Stevenson is the best Frank Castle and should return for at least one more film.



BLADE: The character that started the whole comicbook film craze, needs to be respected. So let's hope for the return of Wesley Snipes and a decent director. As much as I enjoy his writing, David S. Goyer's directing is awful. I'd love him to write a new script because that's what he does best. Ryan Renyolds' Hannibal King could return but with Reynolds playing leads in both Green Lantern and Deadpool, it's unlikely. It would be nice to have Stephen Norrington return. If not, having someone from Guillermo del Toro's group of directors would be ok with me.

Casting Thoughts



David Wenham (300) as Jack Russell aka Werewolf By Night



Michelle Ryan (Jekyll, Bionic Woman) as Lilth




MOON KNIGHT:Soldier of fortune Marc Spector becomes the vigilante Moon Knight after an encounter with the Egyptian god of vengeance and moon deity. The character is known for his 3 identities: Marc Spector mercenary, New York millionaire Steven Grant and Manhattan cab driver Jake Lockley.



James McAvoy (Wanted) as Marc Spector aka Moon Knight

Jon Hamm Joins Zack Snyders Sucker Punch

Jon Hamm, star of the acclaimed cable series Mad Men, has joined the cast of Zack Snyders action fantasy flick Sucker Punch, which Snyder describes as Alice in Wonderland with machine guns. Hamm joins Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Jena Malone, Abbie Cornish and Carla Gugino in the 1950s-set tale of a girl (Browning) confined to a mental institution by her stepfather, who intends to have her lobotomized in five days. She and her friends enter an alternate reality where they begin planning an escape. Although details for Hamm's character are being kept under lock and key, the name is known: High Roller. Hamm is currently shooting Season 3 of Mad Men, whose Sunday premiere attracted 2.8 million viewers, a series high. In September, he will head to Boston to shoot The Town, a crime thriller being directed by Ben Affleck. Snyder is currently in production on the animated film Guardians of GaHoole, which is due out next year and features the voices of Hugh Jackman, Hugo Weaving, Ryan Kwanten, Jim Sturgess, Geoffrey Rush, Rachael Taylor, David Wenham and Emily de Ravin. Zack and Debra Snyder are producing Punch through their Cruel & Unusual banner, with filming slated to being early fall.

Gugino Back With Snyder for Sucker Punch

Carla Gugino is reuniting with Zack Snyder, landing a role in the filmmakers upcoming action flick Sucker Punch, which has been described as Alice in Wonderland with machine guns. Gugino previously worked with Snyder on the big budget adaptation of Alan Moores graphic novel Watchmen, where she played Sally Jupiter aka Silk Spectre. Gugino joins Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Jena Malone, and Abbie Cornish in the 1950s-set tale of a girl (Browning) confined to a mental institution by her evil stepfather, who intends to have her lobotomized in five days. She and her friends enter an alternate reality where they begin planning an escape. Gugino will play a nurse in the insane asylum who becomes a madam at a brothel in the film's alternate reality. Snyder penned the screenplay with up-and-coming scribe Steve Shibuya. Snyder is currently in production on the animated film Guardians of Ga'Hoole, which is due out next year and features the voices of Hugh Jackman, Hugo Weaving, Ryan Kwanten, Jim Sturgess, Geoffrey Rush, Rachael Taylor, David Wenham and Emily de Ravin. Zack and Debra Snyder are producing Punch through their Cruel & Unusual banner, with filming slated to being early fall.

Movie Review: Public Enemies

Seen on: June 29, 2009

The players: Director: Michael Mann, Writers: Michael Mann, Ronan Bennett, Ann Biderman, Cast: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, David Wenham, Billy Crudup

Facts of interest: Based on the book by Bryan Burrough.

The plot: The film tells the story of American bank robber John Dillinger (Johnny Depp), who kept the FBI pretty busy during the Great Depression.

Our thoughts: Michael Mann’s latest gangster drama “Public Enemies” is both intriguing and dull. The film works just fine as a big-budget production highlighting John Dillinger’s spectacular escapes, wild shoot-outs with the FBI and fast-paced robberies, but as an examination of the man’s character and the key players around him, it clearly fails.

"Australia" Review: A disaster of blockbuster proportions

AUSTRALIA
by Steve Ramos, Writer

---

'Australia is a disaster of blockbuster proportions

 

Amazing how a film stuffed with romance, action and wartime history only leads to utter frustration. More cinematic soup than epic moviemaking, director/co-writer Baz Luhrmann may claim something for every taste in his sprawling adventure Australia but he fails at each attempted genre.

"Australia," arguably the biggest movie of the holiday season, is also a film of missed opportunities, few laughs, insufficient romance and clumsy action. For Luhrmann, director of the wonderful musical "Moulin Rouge!" and the romantic and hip "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet," Australia is the type of costly, creative misstep that derails careers.

 

English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) travels to Australia in 1939 and partners with a horseman and cattle rancher nicknamed "The Drover" (Hugh Jackman). Together, they will work together to save the ranch she inherited from her late husband by driving her cattle to the port city of Darwin and selling the beef to the Australian Army. Standing in Ashleys way are local cattle baron King Carney (Bryan Brown) and his assistant Neil Fletcher (David Wenham). Carney wants to buy Ashleys ranch and will do anything to prevent her from completing her drive to Darwin.

 

As if Australia wasnt already overflowing with borrowed themes from past movies, Red River, It Happened One Night and another bloated epic, Pearl Harbor come to mind, Luhrmann tosses political themes about Australias aboriginal people, their mistreatment at the hands of the government and a history lesson about the stolen generation, Aboriginal children, many of mixed race, taken from their parents and put into orphanages. All this social drama is placed on the tiny shoulders of Nullah (Brandon Walters), a young Aboriginal boy who works on Ashleys ranch and becomes a son to her.

 

Walters, all smiles and good intentions, supplies the narration for Australia, moments of Aboriginal magic as well as Luhrmanns most aggressive attempts at teary melodrama. As Nullah, Walters does all hes asked to do, accepting more responsibility than any first-time actor deserves. While Australia failings are not his fault, he will be the films poster child.

 

As Drover, as rugged as any movie cowboy, Hugh Jackman does everything possible to salvage the movie. He's funny, bare-chest handsome and most of all keeps a straight face throughout all the over-the-top drama. In his best scene, Jackman makes a Clark Gable- inspired entrance, joining Ashley at a fancy ball. Theres a sparkle behind Jackmans bedroom eyes; a knowing look and I wonder if he ever realized how much of a mess Australia would turn out to be.

 

Nicole Kidman is less successful as a romantic lead. Granted, she looks great in her period wardrobe and is perfectly stuffy as the English aristocrat caught off guard by Australias rough edges. She also shrieks well in moments of danger. Yet, when it comes time to show strength and courage, Kidman misses a beat. Its unfortunate because Kidman brought sparkle to Luhrmanns best movie, Moulin Rouge! Perhaps, Kidmans long legs and alabaster complexion are best suited for straight comedy or straight drama. Playing a romantic heroine, an emotional character that generates tears, requires skills shes yet to develop.

 

Granted, there are some good sequences in Australia, especially a scene where Nullah and his mother hide from the sheriff in a water tower on Ashleys ranch. Catherine Martins costumes are beautiful and cinematographer Mandy Walker makes stunning use of the Australian landscape. Luhrmann, along with three other screenwriters, do a satisfactory job tying up all the loose ends by the films finish including the mystery behind the death of Ashleys husband, the fate of her ranch and the fate of Nullah. Still, by the climactic Japanese bombing of the port city of Darwin, the movie has already lost its dramatic footing and emotional connection with audiences.

 

Australia sputters. In fact, once Ashley and Drover lead the cattle drive to a stretch of desert known as "Never Never Land, the film skips a beat as if an entire sequence had been removed.

"Australia" DVD review. Truly, this is one of the best films of 2008.

Vibrant and adventurous, the film quickly gets off the mark with a prestigious cattle farmer being murdered. This is told by the very talented Brandon Walters as Nullah, an Aborigine youth who states that his grandfather King George (David Gulpilil) is thought to have committed said act.

Still, with murder in the picture, the film manages to get off to a cheery and lighthearted start. We meet English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) who journeys to Australia finding her loved one slain at their Faraway Downs cattle station.

At the station, she quickly realizes that her husbands first in command, a sinister Neil Fletcher (David Wenham) is abusing the locals and driving unbranded cattle over to competitor King Carney (Bryan Brown). Ashley fires Fletcher after witnessing him beating Nullah, however Fletcher takes all of his drovers with, leaving Ashley desperately in need of a knight in shining armor.

Taking over the reins of Faraway Downs, she has a massive task at hand with needing to move cattle to the port of Darwin. Now we meet Drover (Hugh Jackman), a hard-drinking, literally punch-drunk man who despises authority and works on his own terms.

Romance develops between Drover and Lady Ashley through their trying, long journey and unspooling visually when the duo makes their grand entrance at Darwin. Carney is none-too-happy to see Ashley succeed in getting her cattle to Darwin but is even more upset after learning that Fletcher, who is engaged to marry his daughter, has in fact set up King George.

Convincing Drover to join her at a ball, she leaves the rest of the female onlookers in disgust as she openly flirts with her employee. Reliving the magic of bygone films, Luhrmann colorfully captures the couple who are falling in love, elegantly dressed and cheerfully flying through the steamy streets.

As their romance blossoms as does Faraway Downs, Fletcher rises to the top of the opposition, doing all he can to gain Lady Ashleys land, and the shadow of war descends on Darwin. Bombed to smithereens, Darwin provides an extremely effective end point of the film, one emotionally charged and extremely hard to represent.