For the movie news week that was we capture both the highs and the lows in one neat little package. Enjoy!
Best: Kevin Smith tries his hand at horror
Kevin Smith recently revealed that his long in gestation horror movie project may have found funding. While in London promoting his new book Shooting the Shit with Kevin Smith, he spoke about this interesting new project.
The film titled Red State was written three years ago but had difficulty finding funding due to the highly political and unconventional content (I’m sure his uneven track record had nothing to do with it). Smith has regularly talked about the project giving cryptic plot details that merely served to heighten interest.
According to the man himself the movie is “not a very traditional horror movie in the sense that people have been asking me, ‘Is it a slasher movie? Is it like the Japanese horror flicks?’ It’d be much easier to just show it to them when I’m done and be like, ‘This is what I meant.’ At which point I’m sure there’ll be people saying, ‘This ain’t a horror movie!’ But to me, it is.”
Smith has now revealed to Denofgeek.com that:
“I got a call at 2am last night. I think we’ve got the money for Red State.”
When the man is firing on all cylinders he can create some truly entertaining movies and seems to have the perfect fanboy sensibilities to make an excellent horror film.
Worst: Independence Day 2 is closer than you think
While promoting his latest filmic creation 2012, Roland Emmerich has revealed that there are indeed plans for an Independence Day sequel. Emmerich spoke to Latino Review and told them that they already have a story "a very really good great story, a very cool one".
Apparently the only thing holding the movie back is Will Smith’s pay cheque, not the fact that the original is almost thirteen years old and really doesn’t need a sequel. Emmerich said he is keen on making the sequel and so is Smith, although his high fee may endanger his involvement as the movie studio is concerned over the budget.
With or without Smith this may just be the most unnecessary sequel of all time. The first film was an enjoyable but forgettable lowest common denominator sci-fi that is best known for the ridiculous “pc virus infects alien technology and saves humanity” resolution. It did not need a sequel all those years ago, it doesn’t need one now.
How Emmerich is still making films is beyond me. Doesn’t anyone remember Godzilla?