Volume 11: The Fiery Rage of Nicolas Cage
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Dir: Neveldine/Taylor – Planned release date: February 17, 2012
The original Ghost Rider is widely considered to be one of the worst comic book movies in recent memory, despite the fact it made a lot of money. Directed by Mark Steven Johnson—who also brought us the illustrious likes of Daredevil and When in Rome—many people would have been thrilled if the franchise simply disappeared into the darkness, never to be seen again. Why is it, then, that there has been much buzz surrounding next year’s sequel? Two names: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. Over the past couple years, the duo have become heroes of cinematic trash, as you can probably tell from the, uh… colorful introduction at the beginning of this video. On their resume you can find both of the Crank films, as well as the not-well-received Gamer. Now they’re looking to bring their frenetic, unpolished sensibilities to a franchise in desperate need of a good name. Apparently, all we’ve been looking for was Nicolas Cage peeing fire.
And to be honest, this trailer is all kinds of awesome. The CGI animation of the eponymous hero is—if you’ll allow such crude speak—friggin’ sweet, and the action sequences have the type of Neveldine/Taylor immediacy and style that effortlessly gets your heart pumping. Whether or not the movie is good has yet to be determined—it’s not that Neveldine and Taylor have a flawless track record—but it looks like the exact kind of down-and-dirty superhero movie that can provide a breath of fresh air. It won’t be The Dark Knight, but it’s not trying to be. Neveldine and Taylor know exactly what kind of films they make, and they have no interest in unnecessary pretension. The dude is a flaming skeleton who rides a motorcycle. Do you need anything else?
Trespass
Dir: Joel Schumacher – Planned release date: October 14
You know what’s always a good sign? When a film’s off-screen drama has generated more buzz than the movie itself. Just before filming began on Joel Schumacher’s Trespass, Nicolas Cage walked away from the production. At first it was reported that he wanted to play the villain instead, but some speculated that maybe he just wasn’t a fan of the film to begin with. And for him to think such things, it must be terrible. However, he eventually returned and Trespass was, in fact, able to get made. However, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be any good. This kind of home invasion story has been told before, and Schumacher hasn’t exactly been on a hot streak of late. (His last film was the horrid Twelve, and he hasn’t made a well-received movie since 2003’s Phone Booth.) Plus, some parts of the trailer are just weird.
What this movie does have, however, is Nicolas Cage starring as a run-of-the-mill family man who decides to start fighting back against the kidnappers. This can only mean that we’ll get a few good “crazy Cage” scenes, which can make any movie worthwhile. Sharp-eyed film fans may have also noticed the always-unsettling face of Ben Mendelsohn, who gave a memorably haunting performance in last year’s Animal Kingdom. With him as the villain and Cage as our hero, Trespass seems like it could become the most unforgettable crazy-off in recent memory. Just forget the fact that Nicole Kidman is likely spending the whole movie wishing she was somewhere else.
Paranormal Activity 3
Dir: Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost – Planned release date: October 21
Well, this definitely looks like another Paranormal Activity film. This time, we go all the way back to 1988, when the protagonists of the previous two films were but wee girls being haunted by a demon. Were we ever so young? My big question about the film is as follows: don’t we kind of know how this ends? I mean, they both survive, right? If anything, this movie might just hint at how the sisters were “infected” by the demon or whatever, and then it should be over. Logically, any real plot details are being kept secret, but the Paranormal Activity series has never really been about the plot. It’s about how well the filmmakers can orchestrate a good scare. The first was pretty ingenious, and the second had some good moments, but I worry that it all may become too mechanical. (I’m one of the people that thought the sequel was already too mechanical at times.)
Perhaps the old-school VHS look of the third installment will allow the series to throw a few curveballs, and I truly hope it keeps going strong. Mostly because I am a fan of new directors Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost, who made the enthralling documentary Catfish last year. (By the way, they aren’t helping the case that their film was real by directing this. But hey, this is pretty easy money.) However, I do wonder why the series insists on sticking to the same mythology of the first two films when the possibilities of what you can do with the “found footage” format are plentiful. This is a series that has the potential to go on forever if it expands its horizons, but by sticking solely to the same family I think the series is limiting its longevity. Of course, there’s no telling what they do with Paranormal Activity 4. And oh lord, it’s coming. There’s nothing any of us can do to stop it.
Immortals
Dir: Tarsem Singh – Planned release date: November 11
Hey, did you like 300? Then is Immortals the perfect movie for you! If you’ve been waiting all this time for the next stylized swords-and-sandals and blood-and-guts epic, then at long last your hunger may be fulfilled. When the proclamation that Immortals is from “the producers of 300” arrives in the trailer, the obvious audience response is along the lines of “no kidding.” However, the scale of this baby looks to be about 1000 times larger, and it seems far less transfixed by the idea of something happening in slow motion. Yes, director Tarsem Singh will occasionally utilize slow motion, but unlike Zack Snyder he will not only use slow motion.
In fact, Tarsem has built up something of a cult following over the years. While his first two films (The Cell and The Fall) were polarizing, they have enough supporters that Immortals might have something to it beyond its fleeting ultraviolent pleasures. Some of the shots in here are certainly awesome to look at, and based on the word of mouth the final film does not hold back on the bloodshed. The cast is also a plus, featuring future Superman Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans, John Hurt and Mickey Rourke. I would be lying if I told you I was leaping around in anticipation for this film, but I think it has the potential to be surprisingly great. And when we’re in the midst of Oscar bait season, a little mythical blood and guts might be something we need.
Underworld: Awakening
Dir: Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein – Planned release date: January 20, 2012
So they’re still making these things, huh? Cool! Another Underworld movie for me to not pay any attention to! Just another incredibly blue installment in America’s favorite January franchise, Underworld: Awakening looks like little more than the typical video game-like hooey that has come three times before. Plus, it’s in 3-D, meaning all their weapons will come right at you! I mean, it’s going to be cold outside in January. Might as well get under a roof and watch two hours of white noise starring Kate Beckinsdale. The popcorn’s good, too. Heck, grab a soda. Then once the credits roll, you can venture back out into the cold, wholly forgetting the story that came before. But boy, that chair was comfy. And the film was very well-projected!
Programming note: Trailer Trash will be taking next week off, but will return to the regular schedule after that.
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