Showing posts with label life on mars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life on mars. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Movie Minesweeper - The Fingers On The Button Round Edition

I'm in a real hurry. This will have to be quick

- Pics from I Sell the Dead are up at Aint it Cool.

- Cartoon Brew have some details of, and a clip from, Pingwings - the holy grail of British kids' TV. There's a must-buy DVD if ever there was one.

- Collider think an I am Legend trailer is to roll out with Ocean's 13.

- That thing about Shia LaBeouf and Neil Gaiman's Death really wasn't news, you know. We've known since September 2005 that Shia was eyeing the role, I was just reminding you all. He's mentioned it several times in the meantime. The new news was the bit about shooting taking place later this year, and in the UK. And it would be really big news if I could tell you will be playing Didi/Death. But I can't.

- Dennis Iliadis is to direct the remake of Last House on the Left. That probably doesn't tell us anything.

- Some Iron Man on-set footage aired on ET and found its way online.

- Thomas Schlamme is to direct the American Life on Mars remake.

- Iranian officials have declared the jury prize for Persepolis 'Islamophobic'.

- A stage version of All About My Mother is to premiere at The Old Vic later this year. The theatre is also planning a Stephen Fry-penned version of Cinderella for Christmas.

Friday, April 13, 2007

More Sense And Another Dose Of Sensibility

Filming is now underway on the BBC's latest Jane Austen adaptation, Sense and Sensibilty. The director is John Alexander, previously responsible for episodes of Teachers, Life on Mars and Holby City as well as Bondmaker, a docudramatic biopic (four words for the price of two - bargain!) about the life of Ian Fleming. I wouldn't get too excited about his involvement.

The scriptwriter, however, is much more appealing - it's the rather brilliant Andrew Davies who did a phenomenally good job with Pride and Prejudice.

The cast for Sense includes David Morrissey, The League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss, Janet McTeer - who was incredible in Tideland - and the newcomers Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield as Elinor and Marianne. Expect much fanfare when the three-parter rolls out on BBC and PBS next year.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Ashes To Ashes Is Now Official

I didn't see last night's last-ever Life on Mars (last ever, that is, until the US remake runs into four seasons at least) and indeed, I haven't seen a single episode but I was picking up a strong Vanilla Sky vibe from the 'clue sheet' in last week's Radio Times. Vanilla Sky with The Sweeney instead of old Bob Dylan record covers.

Of course - spoiler alert - I was absolutely correct and the finale walked a very familiar path by all accounts.

The BBC have now officially announced the sequel, Ashes to Ashes, that was rumoured for quite some time. Here's their description, in it's entirety:

DCI Gene Hunt is back but he's no longer the self-styled "Sheriff of Manchester".

Flanked by his faithful sidekicks, Ray Carling and Chris Skelton, and drawn to the action and intrigue of the London Met, Gene turns his attentions to taking on the "southern nancy" criminal scum.

However, Gene does not expect to be thrown together with sexy, intelligent, DCI Alex Drake.

Single mother to daughter Molly, Alex has rapidly risen through the ranks of the Met and, in the modern world of 2008, skilfully uses psychological profiling to capture suspects.

When Alex and her daughter are kidnapped she makes a daring attempt at escape, resulting in a horrific accident.

Alex suddenly finds herself in 1981 interacting with familiar characters, not just from her own life-time, but also from the detailed reports logged by none other than Sam Tyler, which Alex has previously spent months pouring over.

Alex is ripped from her current world of sexual equality and respect in 2008 and finds herself opposite an arrogant fellow DCI in a Two Tone, New Romantic Eighties London with a soundtrack of Adam Ant, Roxy Music and The Human League ringing in her ears.

Alex finds some of Gene's team has dispersed yet others, loyal as ever, are still in tow.

Now a technological whizz-kid in the squad's surveillance team, DC Chris Skelton has clearly moved with the times, along with a tight-permed DS Ray Carling who's keen to experience London's nightlife.

Frustrated by each other's stubbornness, the friction between Alex and Gene heats up. However, as the two titans collide, it becomes apparent there is more than just a professional tension emerging.

The series' executive producer promises "a touch of Moonlighting teamed with a measure of Miami Vice".

Alex is yet to be cast. Any suggestions?


Interesting to see they've basically decided to simply restart the whole 'am I nuts, in a coma or back in time?' plot all over again. Of course, this time round the viewer will have all sorts of info the characters won't. Interesting, sure, but I think series creator Matthew Graham owes both Alejandro Amenebar and Cameron Crowe some sincere thanks.