Reelz Channel Home Page

Saturday, July 4

Radcliffe Says Last Harry Potter Films Do the Books "Justice"

Against precedent, the Harry Potter film franchise has managed to keep fans of the wildly popular novel series by J.K. Rowling content, despite the many editorial necessities inherent in scaling down the lengthy books into movie-sized installments. Though actor Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry in the series, is on the record complaining that the latest film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, isn't "dark" enough for him, Radcliffe said that the tonal switch is essential to the overall arc of the films:

I don't think we're holding back, I'm giving my all on the set as I've been brought up to do. But it's true that this is very much a lead-in to the seventh installment, it's setting up the final events, and that's why it might be a harder film to come to grips with. So that's why there are moments where we can be freer, we can have more jokes and a bit more fun with it. You don't always have to think about an immediate danger. Voldemort's not the main source of fear or evil; that's another character.

The decision to cut the seventh and final movie into two installments may have been prompted by financial considerations, but Radcliffe says that it was essential in order to honor the original story:

I'm very happy that the seventh book is being made as two films because I was worried they would have to cut important scenes.... The problem with doing that with the final book is that there is nothing that doesn't relate to the main story or drive it forward. There's not much you could cut. So we've given ourselves the room and opportunity to do it justice.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince also stars Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore.

Next Showing: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens July 15

Posted 7/4/2009 by BrentJS

Related: Daniel Radcliffe | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Brandon Routh's Superman Contract Expires

Despite having survived his own death in the now-famous Superman (vol. 2, #75) back in 1992, Superman's future looks bleak. At least, that is, his future as a film star does.

The under-performance of the relaunch film, Superman Returns, has led many to question whether the Man of Steel will return for a sequel. The 2006 film by director Bryan Singer cost an estimated $270 million to produce, but only took in $200 million at the domestic box office. International ticket sales of $191 million helped the film make a profit, but it was a major disappointment to the studio, especially in the wake of the $1 billion that The Dark Knight earned worldwide.

In addition to the poor box-office numbers, Returns has been criticized by fans for having a plodding plot, borrowing too heavily from the 1978 Richard Donner-directed Superman, and for straying too far from the mythology established in the comic books. Actor Brandon Routh, who played the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent in Returns recently echoed those complaints by admitting that Returns suffered from a lack of action. Routh said that his Superman contract has expired, but that he is definitely interested in revisiting the role.

• 

  Superman Returns - Trailer

Posted 7/4/2009 by BrentJS

Related: Brandon Routh | Bryan Singer | Richard Donner | Superman | Superman Returns

No Schooling Necessary for Harry Potter

Actress Emma Watson, famous for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series of films, recently revealed that she would be taking a break from acting to attend college and that she may never return to the craft. However, her co-star, Daniel Radcliffe, who plays "the boy who lived," doesn't feel the same need to hit the books:

I didn't want to go [to university], it's as simple as that. I think most people go to establish their identity and what they want to do career-wise. I know what I want to do, more or less. Other people go to meet people from different backgrounds and that happens naturally on a film set. That's not to say I'm going to stop learning. I read a lot. I still have English lessons once a week, without the pressure of exams or essays. I have my own teacher and we basically chat about books and poems. In an ideal world that should be the way everyone learns. I don't fancy university in truth. I know exactly what I want to do — touch wood anyway.

There are still three Harry Potter movies yet to come. Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince, originally scheduled to be released November '08, debuts July 15th, while Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I comes out in November 2010 with Part II following in July 2011. David Yates, who directed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, directs the remaining three films.

• 

  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Trailer 4

  Daniel Radcliffe & Emma Watson Star - Releasing July 15, 2009

Posted 7/4/2009 by BrentJS

Related: Daniel Radcliffe | Emma Watson | David Yates | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Friday, July 3

Breaking Dawn Movie to Shoot After Eclipse?

According to PerezHilton.com, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn is slated to start production when filming for the third movie wraps. This news comes from an interview with Alice actress Ashley Greene, in which she said "We're going to start right after Eclipse."

With Eclipse due for release in June 2010, we could well see Breaking Dawn before the end of Summer 2011. Talk about cashing in on the saga's success — Summit is rolling these movies out faster than the books sold on release day.

Posted 7/3/2009 by Jenny

Related: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn | Ashley Greene

TwiCon Fan Correspondent Voting To Be Restored Soon

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the voting for our TwiCon Fan Correspondent has been down for most of the day. The problem originates with our poll vendor. Here's what they're reporting:

A fire occurred at Fisher Plaza in downtown Seattle just after midnight on Friday morning. The blown transformer knocked out power to the entire building, which is home to the our servers. We're hard at work to restore service following this unexpected event.

Our current estimate for re-establishing functionality is 5pm PST, July 3rd.

So, we're hopeful that voting will be up and running soon. The good news is that you have until July 17 to cast at least one vote for your favorite.

Posted 7/3/2009 by reelz

Related: TwiCon Coverage | Twilight | The Twilight Saga: New Moon | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn

Thursday, July 2

Peter Facinelli's Favorite Movie

You probably know Peter Facinelli best as Carlisle Cullen from Twilight, but he's been in a lot more than just that. Facinelli has been working in Hollywood for more than a decade and has a lot of respect for his craft. You can see how that plays out in his favorite movie below:

Check back every Thursday, or on Reelz Channel television, for more of My Favorite Movie.

Posted 7/2/2009 by reelz

Related: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid | Twilight | The Twilight Saga: New Moon | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn

Inglourious Basterds Primed for Sequel

The latest movie from director Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds, hasn't even hit theaters yet and there's already talk of a sequel – or a prequel – on its way. Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Co. and longtime producer of Tarantino's films, said that Tarantino has enough Basterds backstory for a whole series of movies:

We could do two movies, three movies. I was begging for the movies, but Quentin wanted to do the TV series, Bob wanted to do the TV series, so it was like two against one, you know?

And then Quentin turns it into one movie. Go figure.

When asked if superstar actor Brad Pitt would be interested in reprising the role of Lt. Aldo Raine, Weinstein said:

Brad wants to do Inglourious II. We all want to do it. And the movie hasn't even come out yet!

Inglourious Basterds also stars Mike Myers, Diane Kruger, B.J. Novak, Julie Dreyfus and Eli Roth.

Next Showing: Inglourious Basterds debuts August 21, 2009

• 

  Inglourious Basterds - Trailer

  Written & Directed by Quentin Tarantino - Releasing Aug. 21, 2009

Posted 7/2/2009 by BrentJS

Related: Brad Pitt | Harvey Weinstein | Quentin Tarantino | Pulp Fiction | Eli Roth