Movie! Movie!
(continued from page 1)
Final
Fantasy: The Spirits Within (Columbia). Projected release:
July, 2001.
This $75 million science-fiction adventure is based on the mega-popular
Final Fantasy video game series, so director Hironobu Sakaguchi
needs to provide some backstory for those who have day jobs and thumbs
that are used to grasp pencils and pens. This film reportedly uses
CGI rendering so advanced that its characters are of photographic
quality. Ming-Na, James Woods and Donald Sutherland are aboard as
voice actors. Design is by Yoshitaka Amano (who engineered the video
game characters) so the overall look of the film is consistent for
fans who live in the Final Fantasy universe. Those fans are
truly the ones spreading most of the buzz about this picture; my concern
is that the vast majority of moviegoers are unfamiliar with the game
and will confuse the film with some kind of softcore flick...if they
pay any attention at all. Columbia may be left with a visually striking
cult hit for a very small cult. But it's probably worth the price
of admission to see the next step in CGI. The trailer has some truly
remarkable moments when one can't tell if one is watching a CGI or
"real" actor — but can it be sustained for the entire
picture? Predicted gross: $30 million.
 |
|
DNA Productions' Jimmy
Neutron: Boy Genius will be the first Nickelodeon property
to be launched as a multi-platform franchise. © DNA Productions.
|
Jimmy
Neutron: Boy Genius (DNA Productions and O Entertainment
by way of Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures). Projected release:
One of these days, 2001. Nickelodeon is pushing this redheaded, inventive
boy genius (say what, Mr. Tartakovsky?) as one of the major
market must-haves for next Holiday season. The character originally
appeared in a 1995 short as Johnny Quasar, and some potential was
obviously seen. Look for a marketing blitz as the TV series and movie
are planned for near-simultaneous release. The film will be handled
by DNA Productions (who recently brought us the precious Olive,
the Other Reindeer), with direction by John A. Davis. Animation
is CGI. Is this Nick's answer to Dexter? I have a feeling that
Jimmy had better build a few battle robots, posthaste. Predicted
gross: $14 million.
Monkeybone
(FOX). Projected release: April 11, 2001.
This stop-motion/live-action picture was originally slated for a November
2000 release under the title Dark Town. Henry
Selick is directing, and those of us who enjoyed The Nightmare
Before Christmas and James
and the Giant Peach know that a pro is at the reins. However,
this film might be a difficult sell. We have Brendan Fraser as a cartoonist
who finds himself comatose after a car crash. Deep in the recesses
of his mind lies a mad cartoon world known as Dark Town, and there
our hero meets his crowning creation, a character called Monkeybone
(Paul Rubens). If Monkeybone can't get his creator back in his conscious
mind soon, Death (Whoopi Goldberg) takes all. This is a bit too close
to Cool World for me, and Selick does not direct like Ralph
Bakshi to begin with. Toss in complicated subplots that include
a God of Nightmares, multiple body inhabitations, organ harvesting
and other plot points I don't wish to give away, and audiences may
find themselves longing for the simple charms of Selick's earlier
efforts. Did I mention that it opens on the same day as Pokémon
3? Place your bets. Predicted gross: $16 million.
 |
|
Monsters, Inc. plans
to serve up comedy in the realm of things that go bump in the
night. © Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
Monsters,
Inc. (Disney/Pixar). Projected release:
November, 2001.
Monsters in the closet! Monsters under the bed! Monsters at the box
office! This project, which started out as The Hidden City,
will be the blockbuster of the new year. When the secret dimension
of scary monsters is breached by (gasp!) a human child, havoc ensues.
The available trailer already suggests that directors Pete Docter
and David Silverman know how to build some engaging, funny characters,
and the Pixar record has been a solid one as far as entertainment
and profits are concerned. Billy Crystal, John Goodman and Jennifer
Tilly will be among the voice cast. Just try keeping the kids out
of the theaters for this one, especially since they'll be following
you as fast as they can run. My only concerns might be possible
over-promotion and death-by-tie-ins, but none of that seemed to hurt
The Grinch a bit. Predicted gross: $128 million.
|
1 | 2 | 3
