• Steven Spielberg’s TINTIN First Movie Poster

    // Gradly // 3D, blog, Movies, Poster 1 Response

    Tintin is coming! and here is the first poster for the Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson CGI animated adaptation of Herge’s beloved characters. The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn. Empire has teased the official poster and it’s quite cool for a movie with a lot of interest. I also like the epic pirate ship/airplane background imagery that definitely indicates this is going to be quite an adventure.

    Tintin was directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by Peter Jackson with a script co-written by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish. The cast includes Jamie Bell as Tintin, Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock, Simon Pegg & Nick Frost as Thompson & Thompson, Daniel Craig as the villain Red Rackham, and Toby Jones as Silk.

    The animated movie, in the works at Weta Digital, will hit US theaters in 3D on December 23rd

  • THE HOBBIT Shooting At 48 Frames Per Second!

    // Gradly // blog, LOTR, Movies, News, Rants & Raves, Tech. 2 Responses

    James Cameron recently talked about how the future of filmmaking will be shooting films at a higher frame rate, which will up the visual presentation of the film. This is something he plans on doing with Avatar 2 and 3. He talked about how Peter Jackson was thinking of doing it for The Hobbit and now it looks like he’s actually going to move forward with it. It was recently discovered that the director is currently shooting The Hobbit at a higher frame rate of 48 frames per second. The industry standard has always been 24 frames per second, but it looks like that is all going to change.

    All of this come from The Hobbit‘s cinematographer Andrew Lesnie:

    – Being shot on 30 RED EPIC cameras
    – Using Zeiss Ultra Primes, Master Primes and Optimo zoom lenses (would expect no less)
    – Shooting at 47.96 frames per second
    – Using 3ality Digital rigs.

    So why 48 fps and not 60? Cameron had said that one of the reasons why Jackson didn’t choose the higher frame rate was because he didn’t want to select the wrong frame rate if the industry went to the alternative. So it looks like the industry is going to move forward with 48 fps, which mean Cameron will most likely be shooting Avatar 2 and 3 in 48 fps as well. The fact of the matter is “60 fps would be significantly more expensive to implement for the modest visual gains.”

  • The Hobbit Movie Begins Shooting

    // Gradly // blog, Movies, News, Rants & Raves No Responses

    The two new Hobbit movies are finally on their way. following months of delays caused by funding problems, a row over actors’ wages and surgery for its director. Filming is taking place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand, directed by Peter Jackson, who also directed the hit Lord of the Rings trilogy. Though New Zealand unions threatened to strike over wages, but Jackson fought back with a promise to take filming to Eastern Europe, which would mean “a long, dry big-budget movie drought in this country,” according to Jackson. After this, New Zealand’s government changed wage laws and passed tax breaks to ensure filming stayed in the country. The book will be presented in two films, the first set to be released in late 2012.

    Also, New Line, and MGM have released the movies official Facebook page.

    Cast Listings:

    Martin Freeman takes the title role as Bilbo Baggins and Ian McKellen returns in the role of Gandalf the Grey. The Dwarves are played by Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield), Ken Stott (Balin), Graham McTavish (Dwalin), William Kircher (Bifur)James Nesbitt (Bofur), Stephen Hunter (Bombur), Rob Kazinsky (Fili), Aidan Turner (Kili), Peter Hambleton (Gloin), John Callen (Oin), Jed Brophy (Nori), Mark Hadlow (Dori) and Adam Brown (Ori). Reprising their roles from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy are Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Andy Serkis as Gollum and Elijah Woodas Frodo. Jeffrey Thomas and Mike Mizrahi also join the cast as Dwarf Kings Thror and Thrain, respectively. Further casting announcements are expected.

    Plot Synopsis:

    The Hobbit follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

    Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum.

    Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

    [More at BBC News]

  • THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy Blu-ray Extended Edition Full Details Revealed

    // Gradly // blog, Movies, News, Rants & Raves 1 Response

    For those of you who have been waiting for The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy: Extended Edition (Blu-ray), it finally comes this summer, when a 15-disc collection hits the streets on June 28th! Yes… 15 frreakin’ discs!

    Here are the full details:

    Warner Home Video will release all three of Peter Jackson’s visual masterpieces in their extended editions on June 28 as a stunning 15-disc Blu-ray collection, The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy: Extended Edition (Blu-ray).

    One of the most magical, intensely spectacular epic adventures in motion picture history comes alive when these extended editions explode onto Blu-ray with unsurpassed high definition picture and sound. Sound + Vision Magazine ranked the 2010 release of the Trilogy as #5 in their Top 10 Blu-rays of the Year, noting that it was one of only two releases to earn five stars for sound and calling it “breathtaking.” Now fans can see and hear the extended trilogy at home the way it was meant to be seen, on Blu-ray Hi-Def. Based on the length of each extended edition feature film and in order to present each film in the highest possible picture quality, each film is presented on 2 Blu-ray Discs.

    The Lord of the Rings franchise’s popularity continues unabated, with pre-sales response soaring. The official Facebook page (facebook.com/lordoftheringstrilogy) has reached more than 4 million friends and boasts an average 1M comments per post. The page includes updated insider information, Trivia Tuesdays, Caption This! posts, clips, trailers, sweepstakes, promotions photo galleries and more. Also featured, a new application that will allow fans to generate their very own ‘Elvish’ name, to be available soon.

    This highly anticipated Extended Edition (Blu-ray) set will be released in English 6.1 DTS-HD MA audio and includes a new transfer ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring which was remastered from the original 2k digital files. The set boasts more than 26 hours of additional content, highlighted by the rare behind-the-scenes documentaries created by Costa Botes, the filmmaker given unprecedented access to the set of each production by Peter Jackson. Costa Botes was able to capture raw and riveting behind-the-scenes film footage. His unique approach to storytelling – allowing the footage to speak for itself – results in an intimate and candid backstage pass to the challenges, preparations and camaraderie that went into shooting one of the greatest cinematic adventures of all time. The feature-length documentaries, with more than four and a half hours of footage, focus on a number of complexities and circumstances that tested the filmmakers, cast and crew during the shoot, as well as a look at some of the comical antics and personal moments on the set. The Costa Botes documentaries accompany acclaimed special features by Michael Pellerin from the original extended cut releases to make this the most comprehensive The Lord of the Rings compilation ever. (All three DVDs were honored with Saturn Award wins for Best DVD in their release years – 2002, 2003 & 2004, plus multiple trade awards).

    The Oscar®-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy, revered as one of the most thrilling epic adventures in motion picture history and one of the highest grossing adventure film franchises to ever be created, was born with the release of The Fellowship of the Ring™, followed by The Two Towers™ and The Return of the King™. Now they are offered on Blu-ray with more than 2 hours of extended scenes that were carefully selected under the supervision of director Peter Jackson.

    Out of the 30 total Academy Award nominations received, The Lord of the Rings movies won a record 17 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and 8 others for the third film. Based on the best-selling novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, Jackson’s movie trilogy is an epic journey of men, hobbits, elves, dwarves and the rest of Middle-earth’s creatures and cultures. The films chronicle the struggle of good versus evil with fantastic special effects and a strong emotional center; capturing the enduring fellowship and ultimate sacrifice while enhancing the chaos and destruction of Middle-earth.

    The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy: Extended Edition (Blu-ray) will be packaged in multi-disc elite packaging inside a premium rigid slipcase and will retail for $119.98 SRP. Orders are due May 24, 2011.

    Additionally, Warner Bros. Consumer Products has teamed up with top licensees Games Workshop Ltd., Tonner Doll Company, Inc., Sideshow Collectibles, NECA, The Noble Collection, WETA, Pez Candy, Funko, LLC, Bioworld Merchandising Inc. and WMS Gaming to create an array of merchandise support for The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, including apparel and accessories, novelties and collectibles, stationery and paper goods, toys and games.

    The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is an intense Action RPG video game based on the renowned works of J.R.R. Tolkien and will launch in 2011 on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games for Windows® in 2011. Evolving the RPG genre through innovative online, interdependent co-op play for up to three players who form their own Fellowship, this game breaks new ground as the first The Lord of the Rings video game to embrace the gritty and brutal reality of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Exploring previously unseen lands, storylines and characters as well as those familiar from past feature films, gamers experience expansive co-op gameplay and upgradeable weapons, character customization and development, skills and special abilities. Gamers must play together or perish as they work to defeat Sauron’s forces in the North. Learn more at www.warinthenorth.com