DAN’S MOVIE DIGEST 182

‘The Hollywood Reporter’ says Gareth Carrivick is directing the movie, whichwill be a ‘Picturehouse’ release in association with ‘BBC Films’ and ‘HBOFilms’.

The Jamie Mathieson script follows three social outcasts (two geeks and acynic) as they attempt to navigate a time-travel conundrum in the middle ofa British pub. Faris plays a girl from the future that sets the adventure inmotion.

THE HOBBIT’MyMovies.net’ caught up with Elijah Wood (Frodo in Lord of the Rings) andasked him about his thoughts on the wrangling behind The Hobbit.

Wood: “If [Peter] ultimately doesn’t come back because of what ‘New Line’has done I think it would be a great tragedy.”

“I think it’s ultimately quite foolish for ‘New Line’ to move forwardassuming they can create an equally wonderful film without Peter… and Ithink for that for fans that’s tragic. For a long time I never kind ofimagined that these movies would ever be made, so if they do get made Ithink they should be made by Peter.”

In related news, unconfirmed rumours suggest ‘New Line’ have courted SamRaimi (Spider-Man) to tackle The Hobbit.

STARSHIP TROOPERS III’Moviehole’ confirm that a third Starship Troopers movie is on the way,again starring original star Casper Van Dien.

The original writer, Ed Neumeier (RoboCop) is also back, saying: “-Lookslike – fingers crossed — ‘Sony’ is moving forward.”

“Plans are afoot to shoot next year. Casper Van Dien will be back as ColonelJohn Rico. There’ll be a new bug or two. Also draft riots. Religion makes acomeback. And the Federation has a new weapon.”

Neumeier will also direct.

All figures are weekend box-office gross, including Sunday estimates(at the time of posting):

• 1. Happy Feet ($37.0m) (total to date: $99.3m)
• 2. Casino Royale (2006) ($30.8m) (total to date: $94.1m)
• 3. Deja Vu ($20.6m)
• 4. Deck the Halls ($12.0m)
• 5. Borat ($10.3m)
• 6. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause ($9.93m)
• 7. Flushed Away ($5.76m)
• 8. Stranger Than Fiction ($5.73m)
• 9. Bobby ($4.86m)
• 10. The Fountain ($3.77m)

UK TOP 10 (CINEMA)

• 1. Casino Royale (2006) (£8.54m)
• 2. Borat (£1.47m)
• 3. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (£1.27m)
• 4. Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny (£0.92m)
• 5. Jackass Number Two (£0.73m)
• 6. Dhoom 2 (£0.41m)
• 7. The Prestige (£0.32m)
• 8. El Labertino del Fauno (£0.29m)
• 9. Step Up (£0.16m)
• 10. Saw III (£0.10m)

Legendary director Robert Altman has died at the age of 81, due tocomplications following cancer. He leaves behind a legacy of classic filmssuch as: M*A*S*H, Gosford Park, Short Cuts, The Player and Nashville.

In his career he was nominated 5 times for Academy Awards and won numeroustimes at the Cannes Film Festival.

He is survived by his wife Kathryn Reed Altman; six children, ChristineWestphal, Michael Altman, Stephen Altman, Connie Corriere, Robert ReedAltman and Matthew Altman; twelve grandchildren and fivegreat-grandchildren.

All the following are U.K. release dates, and are subject to change.

• 1st December 2006: The Nativity Story, Shortbus, Flushed Away, Deck the Halls, London to Brighton, Stranger Than Fiction, Big Nothing
• 8th December 2006: The Heart of the Game, Happy Feet, The Covenant, The Holiday, Frostbite
• 15th December 2006: Eragon, Gone, Grounded, The Upside of Anger, Deep Water, Dead Man’s Cards, Black Christmas
• 22nd December 2006: Zoom, Flags of Our Fathers, Deja Vu
• 29th December 2006: Night at the Museum (26th), It’s a Boy Girl Thing

Page Content copyright © Dan Owen, 2006.