Thor synopsis

Marvel Studios and Paramount pictures have released an extended synopsis of their next major comic book adaptation Thor.  The Kenneth Branagh directed film is due for release in May 2011. 

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the epic adventure, “Thor,” which spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It’s while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true here when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

It remains to be seen whether audiences will take to the film in the same way they have recent superhero movies.  Thor is certainly not as recognisable a character as say Spiderman, and the Norse mythology material is a little more out there.  For those of you with a long memory, the plot also has vague echoes of the risible eighties adaptation of Masters of the Universe. 

James Cameron talks Screenwriting and Avatar

Last months the Writers Guild of America had a special screening of Avatar, following which writer/director James Cameron took to the stage for a seventy minute question and answer. The WGA have now put the talk online here, and it's definitely worth a listen.  Regardless of how you film about Avatar's plot and dioalogue, Cameron has some interesting comments about his creative process and the mechanics of preparing a blockbuster screenplay

Tron Legacy

Here, finally, is the long awaited trailer for this winter's Tron sequel, Tron Legacy.

Whilst not giving too much of the plot away the trailer gives us a look at the updated CGI used for the film, which looks to do a good job of updating the effects for a modern audience whilst keeping the feel of the original

Grisbys Go Broke - One final John Hughes movie?

Before his early death last year, John Hughes' output in the previous decade or so had been sporadic at best.  After 1991's misfire, Curly Sue, Hughes turned his back on directing and for the remainder of his career popped up as an executive producer or, occasionally, writer on films such as Maid in Manhattan and Mr Woodstock.

Apparently following his death, Hughes' family found a number of unproduced screenplays and treatments in his home, and it is one of these, Grisbys Go Broke, that Paramount Pictures is reportedly circling, at least according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Little is known about the script, other than it is a comedy centring on a rich family who are forced to move to the suburbs after suffering a financial catastrophe. 

Whilst this certainly seems like the sort of high concept idea that fuelled many of Hughe's eighties classics, there seems something slightly distasteful about cashing in on the writer-director's death, particularly with a screenplay that he presumable did not feel was strong enough to submit for production when he was alive.

Midnight Run 2

When a number of new Robert De Niro projects was announced recently, one that raised many peoples eyebrows was a sequel to eighties' comedy Midnight Run.  Whilst De Niro has, to say the least, a patchy record when it comes to comedy, Midnight Run was considered one of his successes.  The film featured De Niro as a bounty hunter tasked with bringing Charles Grodin's mob accountant safely from New York to LA.

Deadline Hollywood reports that plans for the sequel are now gathering pace, with screenwriter Tim Dowling (Role Models) hired to prepare the first draft of the script.  Whilst De Niro will return, the script is not expected to feature a role for Grodin.  Little is known about the plot, other than it will feature De Niro tasked with 'having to bring in a new fugitive

The Razzies

Every year, the day before Oscar night, a slightly less well-heeled event also takes place in Hollywood.   The Golden Raspberries, or Razzies, 'honour' what they consider to be the worst films of the year.  The big loser this year was Transformers 2, which went home with three awards.  Sandra Bullock, winner of worst actress for All About Steve, gamely turned up to accept her award in person.  Bullock of course went on to win the Oscar the following night for her much better received turn in The Blind Side.

The full list of this years winners, together with the special awards to celebrate the worst films of the decade, were as follows

Worst Picture of 2009:

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

Worst Actress of 2009:

Sandra Bullock

ALL ABOUT STEVE

Worst Actor(s) of 2009:

All Three Jonas Brothers

JONAS BROTHERS: THE 3-D CONCERT EXPERIENCE

Worst Screen Couple:

Sandra Bullock & Bradley Cooper

ALL ABOUT STEVE

Worst Supporting Actress:

Sienna Miller

G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA

Worst Supporting Actor:

Billy Ray Cyrus

HANNAH MONTANA: THE MOVIE

Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel

(Combined Category for 2009):

Land of The Lost

Worst Director:

Michael Bay

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN

Worst Screenplay:

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

WRITTEN BY EHREN KRUGER; ROBERTO ORCI &  ALEX KURTZMAN

Worst Picture of the Decade:

Battlefield Earth

Worst Actor of the Decade:

Eddie Murphy

Worst Actress of the decade

Paris Hilton

Iron Man 2 New Trailer

Here's the new trailer for Iron Man 2, which premièred on Jimmy Kimmell live after the Oscars. The new trailer gives some clues as to the plot of the movie, together with longer looks at the characters played by Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell.

The only possible concern are the number of plot strands and characters which appear to be jostling for screen time, but hopefully this will be more Dark Knight than Spiderman 3.