Tuesday 19 August 2008

Random matters...

Having seen some Watchmen footage at the weekend, it seems safe to say that director Zach Synder evidently has the best interests of the comic and its fans at heart. However, things aren't all hunky dory in Watchmenland.

"A judge has denied a Warner Bros. motion to dismiss 20th Century Fox’s lawsuit over Warners’ right to make a film based on the graphic novel Watchmen" writes Variety. "Ruling is potentially a huge victory for Fox, which could wind up as a profit participant in the film, and could cost Warners millions considering the film’s box office prospects. However, Fox’s legal team says it isn’t looking for monetary compensation and instead wants to prevent the big-budget film from being released altogether."

Yikes! I can't imagine this won't be sorted because the idea of Synder's film not being released does not bare thinking about.

The Coens' Burn After Reading will open Venice next week — boy am I looking forward to seeing it — and they've already announced their next project. Entitled A Serious Man, it will star Tony-nominated actor Michael Stuhlbarg and Spin City's Richard Kind as brothers in the period black comedy.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

When are you leaving for Venice then?

Mark Salisbury said...

Next week.

Gerard said...

So glad to read A Serious Man is finally happening. They've been talking about that one for yonks.

(As a tangential aside, just saw [REC] after ordering the R2 DVD. Loved.)

Mark Salisbury said...

It's the scariest film I've seen in a long, long while. My DVD is meant to be in the post.

Unknown said...

unbelievable. stop WATCHMEN from being released??? that's just dumb.

but wait... maybe this is all just a clever ruse to distract people from the harry potter bumping! yes! that's it! fox WILL stop watchmen from being released and then (after a lengthy legal battle that will last until... oh, MAY 2009) two months before HP roars into theaters, WM will triumph as the early summer blockbuster and stay in theaters right up until HP kicks in.

of course, fox will get a big kickback from the WB lot - that goes without saying - and profits will SOAR!

unfortunately, this makes for a very bleek fall/winter with no HUGE huge movies coming out. i mean, there's the new 007, that teenage vampire movie "twilight", rocknrolla, the day the earth stoot still, and (of course) the spirit... but NOTHING that will fire up the boxoffice like potter or the watchmen.

with fox coming out with **cough**hits**cough** like max payne, city of ember and australia in the 4th quarter, it's no wonder they're on a tear to stop watchmen.

Gerard said...

Am I correct in guessing that Total Film quote on the cover is from your review?

Mark Salisbury said...

Yep. The only one without a name. Miffed? Me?

Kev Levell said...

I really hope Watchmen does get released... Small minded people with too much power!