ITV

Category: International

  • Judi Dench bids goodbye to Bond films with Skyfall

    Judi Dench bids goodbye to Bond films with Skyfall

    MUMBAI: With the death of M in Skyfall, Judi Dench‘s appearance in a James Bond film seems to have ended.
    As the head of MI6, M, Dench has been the Bond matriarch:

    The strong-willed, no-nonsense mainstay of feminine authority in a film franchise that has, more often than not, featured slightly more superficial womanly traits.

    Skyfall is Dench‘s seventh Bond film, an unimpeachable reign that has encompassed both the Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan eras of the British spy. For a number of reasons, Skyfall is her most notable Bond film.
    "It‘s very nice to be out from behind the desk," Dench has reportedly said in a recent interview. "It‘s extremely nice to get a go in the field, as it were, and get a bit of the action. It made me feel very grown-up. It‘s not just the fellas who are spinning about and shooting guns – I get a go," she added.

    As soon as Dench entered the world of Bond, she made it clear she was a force to be reckoned with – certainly not one that some gun-toting playboy would push around. Introducing herself to Bond in 1995‘s Goldeneye, the bourbon-drinking M promptly informs Brosnan‘s Bond that she isn‘t a ‘bean-counter‘, as Bond admits to thinking.

    So over seven films and 17 years, the 77-year-old Dench, has, like other legendary stage actors from Alec Guinness (Star Wars) to Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings), become best known to many for a blockbuster movie franchise.

    Dench inherited the role of M from Robert Brown, who played the character from 1983‘s Octopussy through 1989‘s License to Kill. Bernard Lee whom Dench calls a hero of hers, initiated Ian Fleming‘s secret service head, playing him for 11 films.

  • Skyfall reigns for third consecutive week

    Skyfall reigns for third consecutive week

    MUMBAI: Seizing the No. 1 box office spot offshore for the third consecutive round, Skyfall, with a weekend tally of $89 million from 12,850 locations in 80 markets, is now on its way to becoming the biggest-grossing James Bond title ever released in the foreign theatrical circuit.

    Since its overseas opening on 26 October, Daniel Craig‘s third Bond outing has collected $428.6 million, just $3.6 million away from the $432.2 total foreign gross of the existing franchise record holder 2006‘s Casino Royale that also starred Craig.

    The film is expected to overtake Casino Royale on Monday, said Sony, which has collected $367.4 million of the total overseas take while co-distributor MGM has taken in $61.2 via various licensees.

    The film‘s weekend feature was dominated by the UK that contributed $18.2 million from 1,786 sites in Skyfall‘s third round there. In Germany, the second round tally was $15.1 million at 1,338 situations for a market total of $44 million. France came up with $8.2 million in the third stanza at 825 sites, for a market total of $42.5 million.

    The 22 previous Bond titles that started from Dr No, the first that generated $43.4 million overseas to 2008‘s Quantum of Solace that amassed $407.7 million, have tallied total foreign revenues of $3.277 billion.

  • Mark Wahlberg to play lead in Transformer 4

    Mark Wahlberg to play lead in Transformer 4

    MUMBAI: Academy award nominee Mark Wahlberg has been roped in to play the main lead in Michael Bay‘s next Tranformers 4. He replaces Shia LaBeouf who played the main lead in the last three films.
    “Mark is awesome. We had a blast working on ‘Pain And Gain‘ and I‘m so fired up to be back working with him. An actor of his calibre is the perfect guy to re-invigorate the franchise and carry on the legacy of ‘Transformers‘,” said Bay in a statement.
    Wahlberg and Bay are reuniting after their upcoming Pain And Gain.
    Transformers 4, the latest in the popular sci-fi action series, will hit theatres on 27 June 2014.
    The film will go on the floors in spring 2013.
    To be produced by Paramount Pictures, the movie will be distributed in India by Viacom18 Motion Pictures.
    Bay‘s first “Transformers” film was a box office sensation in 2007, as it earned over $700 million worldwide.
    Second instalment titled “Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen” (2009), grossed more than $830 million worldwide.
    And in 2011 came third movie in the franchise. Titled “Transformers: Dark Of The Moon”, it grossed over a billion dollars.

  • Superman voted best sci-fi character

    Superman voted best sci-fi character

    MUMBAI: After beating Doctor Who and a host of Star Wars creations, Superman has been voted the greatest ever sci-fi character on screen.
    The Man Of Steel, memorably portrayed on screen by the late Christopher Reeve, topped a list of well-known names in a poll that was compiled by the makers of board game Stratego.
    “Superman is the archetypal hero, and clearly as popular now as he was when he first appeared in comic books over 70 years ago,” Katherine Pierce, game‘s marketing manager, has reportedly said.
    Seconding in the race was Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford in the original trio of Star Wars movies, while another star of the films, the Jedi master Yoda, came in third.
    The highest-ranked female character in the list included Ripley played by Sigourney Weaver from the Alien movies.
    The best placing from the popular long-running Star Trek series was Captain Kirk (William Shatner) at number seven, in the poll of 2,000 people.

  • Javier Bardem receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

    Javier Bardem receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

    MUMBAI: Javier Bardem, who plays the villain in the latest James Bond film Skyfall, has become the latest celebrity to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
    The Spaniard who is married to Penelope Cruz was joined by his James Bond director Sam Mendes as well as cast mates Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe at the ceremony.
    According to sources, Bardem‘s acceptance speech was full of humour and he even poked fun at his broken nose, that was the result of a bar fight several years ago.
    Bardem enthused, “Javier Bardem Day. That‘s so cool. And what‘s that like? Does everyone have to walk with a broken nose around Hollywood Boulevard?”.
    The actor follows in the footsteps of his wife of more than two years Penelope who received her Hollywood star in April last year.
    The 38-year-old actress was presented with her honour from her Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides co-star Johnny Depp. Javier‘s star is located in front of the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.

  • Brazilian company floats unique plan to promote home made films abroad

    Brazilian company floats unique plan to promote home made films abroad

    MUMBAI: A Brazilian company Cinema of Brazil has come out with a unique plan to promote the films made in Brazil abroad. The company that promotes Brazilian films across the world, has come up with a competition named Distributors World Cup to give incentive to international distributors.
    André Sturm, the president of Cinema of Brazil, said that the competition is an important way to encourage the distribution of Brazilian cinematography in other countries. “There‘s nothing better than bringing the companies that distribute our films in for a closer look at Brazilian culture,” he said.
    During the first phase, which is open to enrollment until 17 December, the contest will give away a trip to Rio de Janeiro‘s 2013 Carnival. The more Brazilian films a company has in its catalogue, the more points the company will get in the general ranking.
    The second phase will begin next year when Cinema of Brazil will award the three winning companies with trips to watch their home country compete in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, held to be held all over the country. The two first companies ranked will also receive $30,000 to be used towards distributing Brazilian films.
    The competition is also supported by Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency).

  • Warner Bros’ next Superman flick in 3D

    Warner Bros’ next Superman flick in 3D

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros. has confirmed that its Superman film Man of Steel will be converted to 3D while in the post-production stage.
    There‘s been speculation for months that Warner would convert the film to 3D, thereby increasing the tent pole‘s earning potential.
    Starring Henry Cavill in the title role and directed by Zack Snyder, Man of Steel is scheduled to open all over on 14 June. The film also stars Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Michael Shannon as General Zod.
    Man of Steel producer Christopher Nolan has resisted working in 3D. Snyder, on the other hand, has worked in the 3D format in Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga‘Hoole.
    Scripted by David S Goyer, Man of Steel aims to reboot the marquee superhero franchise for Warners.

  • Dominic Cooper to star with Aaron Paul in Need for Speed

    Dominic Cooper to star with Aaron Paul in Need for Speed

    MUMBAI: Dominic Cooper, better known for his role in Mamma Mia, is in talks to star alongside Aaron Paul and Imogen Poots in Dreamworks‘ Need for Speed.
    The 34-year-old star is in negotiations to appear in the forthcoming motoring film based on the Electronic Arts video game of the same name, it is reported.
    Cooper is up to play the role of Dino, a former NASCAR driver, who also modifies supercars for wealthy clients while Paul plays an underground racing driver who has diversified into running a garage which modifies luxury cars to boost their power.
    However, he is framed for the murder of his friend who dies during a race. After coming out of prison, he swears revenge on those responsible for his friend‘s death and his wrongful imprisonment.
    The film will go on the floors next year and will release in February, 2014.

  • American Film Market sees 6% growth

    American Film Market sees 6% growth

    MUMBAI: The 2012 American Film Market (AFM) has seen an increase in buyers of six per cent to 1,616 versus 1,523 a year ago and 35 more buying companies than 2011, an increase of five per cent.
    AFM saw 753 buying companies from more than 60 countries this year. The conferences, which launched in 2011, spoke to large audiences of more than 700 in attendance each day. Exhibiting companies at AFM were on par with last year at 357.

    AFM MD Jonathan Wolf said, “The healthy growth in new buying companies is the most important metric for us. It shows that the global marketplace for independent film is continuing to expand.”
    Regions with more buyers at the market included Asia (up 14 per cent) and Latin/South America (up 17 per cent). Among individual countries, Japan and Korea had the largest increase for buying companies, with Korea (up 26 per cent) and Japan up (23 per cent).

    Attendance among exhibitor-affiliated participants (including their executives, producers, talent and guests) concluded at 3,069.
    Industry attendees, the non-buyers/sellers that include Attorneys, Bankers, Directors, Festival Programmers, Film Commissioners, Filmmakers, Financiers, Government Officials, Post Production Facilities, Press, Producers, Studio Facilities, Trade Associations, Writers and IFTA Guests finished at 3,063. Overall, the market drew more than 7,749 people in attendance to date.
    Additional AFM highlights included:

    • 442 films screened

    • 82 world premieres

    • 327 market premieres

    • Films from more than 30 countries

    • More than 650 screenings

    The five-day AFM Conference Series showcasing sessions on financing, production, marketing, distribution and pitching, featured global industry leaders including Nigel Sinclair, Bahman Naraghi, Alison Thompson, Michael Werner, Roger Corman, Lloyd Kaufman, Tatiana Kelly, Ry Russo-Young and many others.

    Additionally, the Industry Conversations Series – intimate, interactive and informative discussions with visionaries, trendsetters and experts in the film industry – delivered many prominent speakers, including Directors Sacha Gervasi, Victor Levin and Josh Stolberg; Producer Bonnie Curtis, Jonathan Silverman, Pamela Adlon, “Harry Potter” franchise Executive Producer Michael Barnathan, Participant Media’s Courtney Sexton and Filmmaker Eddie Schmidt.

  • Nicolas Cage joins cast of The Expendables 3

    Nicolas Cage joins cast of The Expendables 3

    MUMBAI: While Nicolas Cage has joined the cast of The Expendables 3, producer Avi Lerner is reported to be in talks to sign up Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes and Mickey Rourke.
    The 48-year-old actor is set to join Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis in the third installment of the fast-paced flick.
    ‘We are preparing the film with the same passion and commitment as the previous two. We have confirmed Nicolas Cage, a master actor who gives a veneer intellectual group. Hopefully we can realize to Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes and Mickey Rourke,” wrote Stallone on his Facebook page.
    ‘‘That is the great mission of the producer. We will continue with the same narrative scheme, the agility and the frenzy, which are inherent to the saga,” he added.