Screenhead

Just in case you are one of the people out there who really wanted a Point Break sequel, I really hate to do this to you, but I’m going to have to ruin your entire day.  There is now virtually no chance of anyone seeing a Point Break sequel.

Originally, there were some stirrings that put this as a direct to video sequel, especially considering that none of the original principal actors had been contacted about the sequel.  That’s right–not Keanu, not poor ailing Patrick Swayze, not even Lori Petty.  No one from the original.  so that really didn’t bode well for this going back to the box office, but there was at least still a possibility of a direct to video sequel.

Until today.

An announcement from “good as official sources” says that the Point Break sequel is now officially dead.    The entire production has fallen apart, as evidenced by the repeated pushing back of the start date.  They couldn’t even manage to get this lead balloon off the ground in the first place, so it’s probably for the best that they may wish to kill this canard off before we had to waste time with it in stores.

Again, sorry Point Break fans…no sequel for you.

Keanu Reeves is attached to star in the next adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s tale about a doctor who scientifically develops an evil self. Jekyll joins the long list of adaptations of the classic story. 

The storyline is being kept under wraps.  Justin Haythe, writer of Revolutionary Road, is penning the script and Nicolas Winding Refn is in negotiations to direct the film.

You know, going in to see The Day the Earth Stood Still, now out on DVD, I confess that I was a bit concerned.  Fifties-era science fiction getting a remake sounds like little more than a true sign of Hollywood’s deep desperation.  And putting Keanu Reeves in at the lead, who isn’t exactly one of Hollywood’s best, left me even colder.  So with all that working against it—a tired premise, a relatively obscure canon piece as foundation, a soap carving for a lead actor—you can just about imagine my shock when I discovered that the whole would actually be somewhat watchable, if just a smidge on the preachy side.

Basically, in the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still, Keanu Reeves appears as Klaatu, part of a group of races who’ve decided that humanity has become untenable on the planet Earth, and is thus risking the destruction of several million species.  Thus, Klaatu has been dispatched to gather up representatives OF these several million species and tell humanity metaphorically where to stick it as the races Klaatu represents launches a full-on destructive sweep in the form of a massive cloud of nanotech.

Granted, the ending is less than satisfactory—anyone else remember Escape From L.A.?  Yeah, it’s a lot like that, except nowhere NEAR as much fun.  And yes, the whole couldn’t be much more preachy if Al Gore were playing Klaatu instead of Keanu Reeves;  though it would be awesome to see this, there’s just no way the average human being could take exposure to that level of condescension and not set the theatre on fire, possibly taking him or her with it..

Frankly, I’m getting sick and tired of being preached at about how my “carbon footprint” is too big or I’m a huge polluter because I still drive a CAR or how the fact that I use electric lights is going to kill the polar bears.  I especially hate it coming from celebrities with their own jets.  Like somehow my car puts out more carbon and does more pollution than your eighty-foot Lear jet.  Yeah, okay, call me when your feasibility upgrades arrive.

But anyway, this aside, the resulting film is really not that bad.  Yes, it’s preachy.  In many places it lacks coherence.  Keanu couldn’t be much more wooden in his portrayal of Klaatu—some say he looks bored and distracted, and frankly, I see it.

But it’s not unwatchable.  It’s a beautiful movie that looks great and watches at least fairly well.  Sure, I wouldn’t have paid the extortionate prices the theatres often charge to see it there, but would I watch it on DVD?  Sure.  There’s no reason not to give this one a spin, especially if you’re any kind of sci-fi buff.  Of course, it really doesn’t hold a candle to the original, which actually almost managed to completely omit the great classic line Klaatu barada nikto, and if that’s not a dark sign I don’t know what is.

But there’s one thing that remains clear—this movie looks good, and it’s actually watchable.  It’s a good rental, but not one to keep.

For those of you who happen to be limited Keanu Reeves fans, you’re going to be pretty surprised by the knowledge that he was in a whole lot more than Bill And Ted back in the eighties.  One of the “whole lot more” is a movie featured in Lions Gate’s recent The Lost Collection called The Night Before, a movie that’ll show you what can happen when you start at the end and work your way backward.

Basically,  Winston, vice-president of the Astronomy club and all-around doofus extraordinaire,  wakes up late one night—or possibly very, very early one morning—in an alley with a semi truck about to run him over, and a series of unpleasant events both behind him already and about to happen.  His father’s red convertible Mustang has been stolen, he’s sold his prom date (a cheerleader / teen model who’s lost a bet)  for fifteen hundred dollars…and after a hilarious turn at a microphone in a sleazy night club / bar, a guy named Tito wants him dead at sunrise.  Worse yet, the girl’s father is a police detective with a whole cabinet full of guns back at the house.  Thus, it’s left to Winston to get the girl and get out alive before sunrise comes and either Tito or his prom date’s father comes to get him.

The thing that really makes The Night Before work, aside from an excellently written script, is the work of Keanu Reeves.  I hadn’t expected Keanu to do much of anything after watching him “dude” his way through Bill And Ted, and snarl his way through The Matrix.  But in The Night Before, Keanu manages to bring multiple levels to his character Winston, driving him alternately between a callow, scared little boy and a drug-addled wild man.  Even better, Winston even manages to grow as a character during his tenure, becoming steadily more self-reliant from his prom night spent on the streets of what I’m guessing is Los Angeles from the sheer amount of time they spend talking about “Marina Del Rey” and the Pacific Coast Highway.

And, as if actual character development in a movie—a downright rarity any more—weren’t good enough for you, maybe you’ll be enthused by the bit of action and crime drama they slipped into the proceedings besides.  That’s reason enough to get even the most skeptical parties interested.  Sure got ME interested.

Oh, and here’s an extra special note for you—if you happen to be fond of car chases there will be a fairly extensive one toward the end that’s just a hoot.  In fact, the entirety of the ending will be an absolute hoot in its own right and in many ways, right out of left field.  You’ll get to see the end result of all that character development I talked about, and it’s downright welcome.  Seriously, this one was a HOOT.   And on further note, those who enjoy George Clinton funk will find some on the soundtrack.

I actually had quite the time watching The Night Before, and there’s no reason that any comedy fans out there, eighties movie aficionados, and Keanu Reeves buffs will come away from this without having a similarly good time.

20^th Century Fox and Keanu Reeves are taking on another sci-fi movie after the success of The Day the Earth Stood Still. Together they will work on the adaptaion of a top line,  live-action big screen feature film of the Japanese animation TV series “Cowboy Bebop.”

Reeves is set for the role of Spike Spiegel, an adventurous bounty hunter traveling through space in 2071.

The story centers on the adventures of a group of bounty hunters traveling on their spaceship, the Bebop. Peter Craig has been signed on to write the screenplay.

The popular television series first aired on Tokyo TV and Wowow in 1998. Then, came to the states and aired as part of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim programming block.

Variety reports that The Day the Earth Stood Still star Keanu Reeves will star in epic period film 47 Ronin for Universal Pictures.

The film is based on the true story of a band of samurai swordsmen who avenged the death of their master in 18^th century Japan. The movie will tell a stylized version of the story that will mix fantasy elements and gritty battle scenes.

Reeves is attached to play one of the swordsmen. The script is being written by Chris Morgan (Wanted) and a director is yet to be hired for the project.

Universal Pictures is working with Keanu Reeves to star in 47 Ronin. The project is an epic period based on the true tale of a band of samurai swordsmen who avenged the death of their master in 18th century Japan.

Chris Morgan, who co-wrote Wanted and penned the upcoming Fast and Furious.  I guess, though, there won’t be any guns or cars in the film – just swords.

In 47 Ronin, Reeves play one of the swordsmen; the group and their master are revered in Japan for their revenge attack on Dec. 14, 1702.

According to Variety, the story will be told in a stylized version that mixes fantasy elements of the sort seen in The Lord of the Rings with gritty battle scenes similar to those in films such as Gladiator.

Once the director is hired the plan is to begin shooting next year.

Following word that David Fincher was teaming up with Keanu Reeves for a new project, Slashfilm is reporting that the feature is Steven Knight’s The Untitled Chef Project.

The script has been written by the aforementioned Knight and was featured on the 2007 Black List and is now set up at Paramount.

It follows a Michelin-level chef trying to make a comeback from major personal issues. He gathers his old friends and forms his ‘dream team’, but ends up falling in love.

Here is the International poster for The Day the Earth Stood Still, which opens in United States December 12th; but overseas it opens November 12th.

The film stars Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Jadan Smith, John Cleese and Kathy Bates. The Day the Earth Stood Still is a remake from the original 1951 classic sci-fi movie of the same title.

Check out how the title is written, “ERDE” must mean Earth.

Update: It has been confirmed that the production team isn’t reshooting, but are simply taking “special effects pick up shots.”

Original: IESB reports that the production team for The Day the Earth Stood Still is back at work in Downey, California conducting reshoots. Their source suggests that the reshoots are “rather extensive” and will go on for a full week. It is being speculated that these reshoots are being done for the recently announced IMAX release of the film.

The site also reports that Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly have been called back to redo their scenes as well.

The Day the Earth Stood Still is set for release on December 12.