DAN’S MOVIE DIGEST 186

Famke Janssen (right) has been cast in this supernatural thriller forwriter-director Eric Red, about a young woman who is granted early releasefor manslaughter (killing her husband in self-defence) on condition she weara special ankle bracelet track her whereabouts.

Unfortunately, after returning to her home, she soon finds that the ghost ofher dead husband is intent on revenge…

AVATARJames Cameron return to directing is upon us. The director hasn’t had atheatrical release since 1997’s Titanic, but will be back in summer 2009with Avatar, a sci-fi action epic.

The cast is now known to include: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, SigourneyWeaver, Peter Mensah, Joel David Moore and C.C.H Pounder.

Cameron will use cutting-edge 3D technology to create real-time digitalenvironments and motion-capture, allowing him to effectively direct imaginedpeople and worlds immediately before final computer rendering is done.

BAD BOYS IIIDirector Michael Bay spoke to ‘MTV’ recently about Transformers and droppeda hint that a third Bad Boys film could happen, saying: “I don’t know. WillSmith’s people called. They’re fun to work with, those guys.”

THE DARK IS RISINGGregory Smith (Everwood) and Christopher Eccleston (Heroes, right) have joined thecast of this book adaptation about a boy who discovers he is an immortalwarrior. THE DARK KNIGHTThe cast for the Batman Begins sequel is shaping up. Heath Ledge is onboardas The Joker and now Aaron Eckhart is confirmed as Harvey Dent (who willapparently become Two-Face in a probably third movie). THE HOBBITIt seems the rumour that Sam Raimi (Spider-Man) has been offered the chanceto direct The Hobbit by ‘New Line Cinema’ co-chairman Robert Shaye ispossibly true.

Shaye himself insists the Lord Of The Rings prequel will be released in2009.

INDIANA JONES 4Rumours have surfaced that actor Shia LeBeouf is set to play Indiana Jones’son in the fourth movie, perhaps prompted by LeBeouf’s involvement inTransformers, which is being produced by Indy 4’s Steven Spielberg.

RAMBO 4Sylvester Stallone (right) has apparently abandoned the working title of Rambo IV:Pearl Of The Cobra. Instead, he intends to rename the film John Rambo, insimilar style to his recently Rocky Balboa.

In related news, ex-Coronation Street actor Matthew Marsden has apparentlywon himself a role. Marsden’s Hollywood career includes Black Hawk Down,DOA: Dead Or Alive and Resident Evil: Extinction.

All figures are weekend box-office gross:

• 1. Ghost Rider ($52.0m)
• 2. Bridge to Terabithia ($28.5m)
• 3. Norbit ($19.9m)
• 4. Music and Lyrics ($15.9m)
• 5. Daddy’s Little Girls ($13.1m)
• 6. Breach ($12.3m)
• 7. Hannibal Rising ($6.26m)
• 8. Because I Said So ($6.05m)
• 9. Night at the Museum ($4.87m) (total to date: $239m)
• 10. The Messengers ($4.34m)

UK TOP 10 (CINEMA)

• 1. Hot Fuzz (£5.91m)
• 2. Charlotte’s Web (£1.89m)
• 3. Music and Lyrics (£1.46m)
• 4. Epic Movie (£0.89m)
• 5. Arthur and the Invisibles (£0.67m)
• 6. Blood Diamond (£0.54m)
• 7. Notes on the Scandal (£0.50m)
• 8. Hannibal Rising (£0.47m)
• 9. Because I Said So (£0.40m)
• 10. Dreamgirls (£0.30m)

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

• 23rd February 2007: The Good Shepherd, The Number 23 (right), Bamako, School for Scoundrels, Letters for Iwo Jima
• 2nd March 2007: Ghost Rider, Freedom Writers, A Guidde To Recognising Your Saints
• 9th March 2007: Ten Dead Men, Becoming Jane, Gone, The Good German, Inland Empire, Outlaw, Norbit
• 16th March 2007: Molly’s Way, Stomp the Yard, Eden, Zodiac
• 23rd March 2007: Catch a Fire, Bridge to Terabithia, Shooter, Amazing Grace, The Gigolos, Fast Food Nation, Catch and Release
• 30th March 2007: The Namesake, Frank Miller’s 300, Ten Canoes, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2007), Meet the Robinsons, Mr Bean’s Holiday

Page Content copyright © Dan Owen, 2007.