Category: Films

Universal Studios is using the 20th anniversary re-release of Steven Spielbergs classic film E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL to launch a 13-month long branding initiative that includes a new Universal logo featuring E.T. According to the studio, the image of E.T. will be an integral part of Universal's identity and business activities, and will be featured in all film, television, home entertainment, theme parks, music, consumer products, publishing and online products. This corporate identity program will complement the March 2002 worldwide release of E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL.

Korea-based Shincine Films plans to have Bruce Lee star in a new martial arts film years after his death. The film, tentatively titled DRAGON WARRIOR, will incorporate Bruce Lee into a $50 million production using state-of-the-art CGI technology. Shincine recently acquired the rights to Lees image from Concord Moon, the company that controls the rights and is administered by Lees widow Linda Lee Cadwell and his daughter Shannon Lee. This venture will be privately financed by Shincine Films and will be the companys first film for the U.S. market.

Los Angeles-based film production and management company Catch 23 Entertainment has acquired the worldwide film rights to JUST A PILGRIM, the comic book created by Garth Ennis, creator of PREACHER and writer of PUNISHER. Marc Danon, Catch 23 vice president of production and acquisitions, brought JUST A PILGRIM to Catch 23. Danon, who previously handled the development of the Marvel comic book franchise at Artisan Entertainment, will oversee the project. Catch 23 will immediately begin to package and develop the property.

Disney/Pixars MONSTERS, INC. dominated the box office this weekend, taking in an astounding $63.5M, the biggest opening ever for an animated film and for a Disney film. The family-friendly features opening take was no doubt helped by Star Wars fans who wanted a first glimpse of STAR WARS: EPISODE II. A teaser trailer for the highly anticipated sequel was attached to MONSTERS, INC. A full 2-minute preview will screen with HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERERS STONE, which is scheduled to be another big opening when it hits theaters on November 16th.

The newly released feature film 13 GHOSTS is a state-of-the-art remake of the classic William Castle horror film about a family that inherits a spectacular old house from an eccentric uncle, only to find the house is inhabited by a presence that has the new occupants trapped in their dream home. They eventually realize the house is a riddle, which may contain the key to their salvation. 175 special effects shots were created by visual effects lab Cinesite for the film. "The house is a very contemporary space," says Mike Fink, Cinesite's senior visual effects supervisor on the film.

Sci-fi drama K-PAX, with primary visual effects by Centropolis Effects, LLC, landed in the number one spot this weekend, earning $17.5M in its debut. The film, which stars Kevin Spacey as a man who claims to be an alien from the planet K-Pax, was Universal Pictures sixth film this year to open at number one. Last weeks number one film FROM HELL, with primary visual effects by Digiscope and Illusion Arts, fell to third, bringing in $6.1M, a 45% drop from its debut. The Jack the Ripper saga ended its second week with $20.8M gross.

The Hughes brothers Jack the Ripper flick, FROM HELL, based on the graphic novel of the same name, took the number one spot this weekend. The thriller, with primary visual effects by Digiscope and Illusion Arts, earned $11.3M in its debut. Last weeks number one film, TRAINING DAY, with primary visual effects by Cinesite, fell to third, still managing a weekend take of $9.5M, raising its cume to $57.5M after three weeks. The Hong Kong action film IRON MONKEY, with primary visual effects by MetroLight, dropped to tenth bringing in $3.2M for a $10.8M gross.

Visual effects company Cinesite photographed and composited specially bred and trained roller pigeons for the Warner Bros. Pictures feature film TRAINING DAY, starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. In one scene, Hawke is driving down a street and sees pigeons out the window. The two birds separate and come tumbling down directly toward the camera and then catch themselves. In another scene, the camera angle is above, looking down at a street as the birds tumble down.

Hayao Miyazaki's film PRINCESS MONONOKE was the top grossing film in Japan until TITANIC was released in 1998 and broke box office records, becoming the highest grossing film in that country. This week VARIETY reported that Hayao Miyazaki's latest feature SPIRITED AWAY has set a new audience record in Japan, surpassing the mark held by TITANIC. Since its July 20, 2001 debut, SPIRITED AWAY has been seen by 16.9 million viewers, while TITANIC saw 16.8 million admissions total after its release.

Computercafe has produced more than 30 visual effects shots for the feature film MEGIDDO: OMEGA CODE 2. The visual effects and animation studio provided 3D animation, visual effects production and compositing services, including modeling and animating precise computer graphic models of a variety of modern warplanes and helicopters. The studio created the opening shot of the film's climactic battle sequence, in which a squadron of F-15 fighter jets swoop out of the sky on a bombing run. Many of the shots that Computercafe created involved air combat.

With only one new film in wide release, it was another slow weekend at U.S. movie theaters. Box office totals slumped even lower than last week, making this weekend a 52-week low. However, two limited release films made a good showing at the box office this weekend. Anime thriller VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST, debuting in just six theaters, managed to bring in a healthy $4,255 per screen. The Armegeddon-themed MEGIDDO: OMEGA CODE 2, with visual effects by Computercafe and Cinesite, did well in limited release as well, debuting in thirteenth place with $1.6M from 314 theaters.