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Live From Comic-Con: Paramount Presentation
by Scott Mantz
After some time in the doldrums, Paramount has had a stellar year at the box office, thanks to hits like Blades of Glory, Disturbia, Shrek the Third and Transformers. Granted, they were all produced under the DreamWorks banner, but still...
With their heads held high, Paramount made the "trek" (pun intended) to the center of the pop culture universe, the San Diego Comic Con, to unveil their impressive slate of upcoming genre films.
Here are the highlights of what they "beamed" down (there I go with those puns again!)...
BEOWULF
Directed by Robert Zemeckis, using the same computer-animated technique he utilized with The Polar Express (which, depending on your taste, is either a good thing or a bad thing). Using the most modern technology available today, Beowulf tells the oldest story in the English language. The fantasy adventure comes out on November 16 in 2-D, 3-D and Imax.
The trailer debuted at Comic Con, and it looks amazing. It was short (less than 2 minutes), featuring a voiceover from Angelina Jolie. It looks cool, even if it does look like what we've seen in the Lord of the Rings movies.
CLOVERFIELD
You probably saw that vague Blair Witch-like trailer online - at least, before they yanked it. JJ Abrams produced, and all we see in the trailer is a group of hip New Yorkers partying, until an explosion sends the city (and the head of the Statue of Liberty) into chaos. It's a thrilling moment, especially in this post 9/11 world. Abrams walked out for about 30 seconds to talk about the movie - and said very little. What he did say was that "Cloverfield" is NOT the real title. He also described it as a monster movie in the vein of Godzilla, but much more fun and badass. At a later date, he will reveal the real title, and the movie opens January 18 2008.
DRILLBIT TAYLOR
Produced by Judd Apatow (who directed Knocked Up). He sent a taped message with director Steve Brill. Owen Wilson plays a bodyguard for high school nerds who keep getting bullied around. It's a typical Owen Wilson comedy by way of TVs "Freaks and Geeks." Looks OK, opens in March of 2008.
IRON MAN
The main panel isn't until Saturday (with the rest of Marvel's stuff), but director Jon Favreau (who lost a LOT of weight), did a quick Q&A to tease the audience. He also showed some clips. This movie is going to KICK ASS! Robert Downey Jr. is perfect as Tony Stark, whose injury turns him into Iron Man. It looks action-packed, very funny and the Black Sabbath version of Iron Man played over the clips.
INDIANA JONES 4
Live message on location from director Steven Spielberg, who talked about making this new one for the fans. He's so happy about it. He then introduced Harrison Ford, who was dressed up as Indy. He looks fit and trim at 65, and he talked about how excited he was to be back in Indy's sweaty clothes. Ford then introduced sidekicks Ray Winstone, Shia LaBeouf...and (big news here!) Karen Allen (pictured above), who returns as Indy's love interest from the first movie (that came out in 1981) - she looks great too! Wow, this is gonna be incredible! Really chilling to see Ford and Spielberg together again!
STAR TREK
JJ Abrams came back to talk about the new Star Trek, which he is directing. Filming starts in November. He said that Shatner will not be in the 11th film, which will look back on the early days of the original crew and how Kirk and Spock first met. But he did introduce Zachary Quinto (TVs "Heroes"), who will play the young Spock. I can totally see this! He said that Leonard Nimoy (the original Spock) gave his blessing. Abrams then teased the audience with more casting news: that Nimoy will play the older Spock looking back at his early days. The young Kirk still has to be cast, which shoots down rumors that Matt Damon will play him (darn, that would have been good!).
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