Tag: Steven Spielberg

Who is the BFF in The BFG?

BFGPosterBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

I’m willing to bet that in North America, those who grew up on CBC’s The Friendly Giant (which had its roots in radio) will get what The BFG is all about. In this film, although the concept is different and written by Roald Dahl who most likely had little awareness of this television show, to have a gentle grandfatherly figure recount tales of yore would really add to this product more. If only some of those ideas could have been put into this film, then just maybe, it would draw those who probably have not read Dahl’s work — but at least heard of the children’s television program — into checking out this film.

The lead, The BFG (Big Friendly Giant), is nicely cast. Mark Rylance has this air of gentleness and his performance must have been motion captured for computer rendering. This modern version certainly pays tribute to the design featured in the animated 1989 film, and while I have not looked at the original books in ages, I certainly took note of the elephantine ears presented in that version. This movie certainly respects the roots and plays with the story somewhat to make it “current” to its timeline. The sets are gorgeous to look at.

Continue reading “Who is the BFF in The BFG?”

Indiana Jones Returning for a Fifth Film Says Disney

“Indiana Jones is one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history, and we can’t wait to bring him back to the screen in 2019,” said Disney Chairman Alan Horn.

IndianaJonescloseup1Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg will be returning together to the big screen on July 19, 2019, in an as-yet-untitled fifth Indiana Jones film reported The Walt Disney Company. The latest installment in the franchise will see Harrison Ford step into his role as the adventurous archaeology professor Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones, 11 years after 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Spielberg who is returning as director first worked together with Ford in 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark. The original film saw Indiana chase after Nazis in order to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant. The film introduced the characters of trusted ally Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), museum curator Dr. Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott), and love interest Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen). Elliott passed away in 1992. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull saw the introduction of the son of Indiana Jones, Mutt Williams played by Shia LaBeouf (Fury, Transformers). It is not known at this time if Davies, Allen and LaBeouf will reprise their roles in this latest outing.

Franchise veterans Kathleen Kennedy (Jurassic Park, Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens) and Frank Marshall (Back To the Future, The Bourne Identity) will produce.

Continue reading “Indiana Jones Returning for a Fifth Film Says Disney”

The Mind Games Behind Jurassic World, A Movie Review

Jurassic World Movie PosterJurassic World shows that nobody has learned from the mistakes made 22 years ago. After the “initial incident” of dinosaurs gone wild, the species known as Homo sapiens still think of themselves as homo superior. And in this sequel’s case, courting the prehistoric world and continuing to engage genetic engineering are a bad idea. Although John Hammond has long since passed, the people who have taken over (namely Simon Masrani) have finally managed to convert the island of Isla Nublar into a resort that resembles Disney World.

InGen is the corporation who is in charge and their ingenious idea to hybridise dinosaurs in order to create new species is not without scrutiny. Owen (Chris Pratt), a dinosaur wrangler, knows that can lead to trouble. When he has problems of his own in dictating the rules of who is the king, not even the handful of raptors he’s managed to train are above rebelling.

Continue reading “The Mind Games Behind Jurassic World, A Movie Review”