Well folks here is the final report from Longshot from WORLD CON in Baltimore. Basically it's a run down on various films, information, trailers, etc... Great job covering World Con, Longshot!!! Here ya go....
Hello everyone! This is The Longshot back at home after a great WorldCon. There were some highs and lows, but overall, I enjoyed myself. Here is the last update:
I told you before about the highlights from the coming attractions on Thursday. I was doing that from memory and made some errors and had some omissions. This time I wrote down everything and will leave nothing out.
The first thing they showed was a short (15 min) "50's documentary" style film on how to make a great studio that wasn't "boring". It was Universal studios and many stars were used. Lets see: Stallone, MJ Fox, Spielberg, the Zucker Brothers, Demi Moore, Angela Lansbury, John Singleton, Heavy D, James Cromwell, Traci Lords, and the list goes on. All sorts of funny jokes throught. Stallone had subtitles. Ceramic deer were placed everywhere to improve the look of the place. A running joke of everyone getting Segrams wine coolers was funny. I have no idea who made this, but I want a copy. Any ideas Harry? The guy who was doing the presentation hinted that it might be Parker & Stone...
That was the only new thing this time, the rest was shown before:
The Making of Virus: Nothing I didn't already know. Could do well when it comes out in late Jan...
Farscape: This is the big mistake I made. I called this "Outworld" last time. That's what I get when I'm trying to do things from memory and this was at the beginning. It is obviously in the early stages, so we will not see this for a while. Henson has plans for lots of cool aliens. I have no idea if there will be any live action characters. This looks cool, tho...
Brats of the Lost Nebula: Same as last report.
Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists: I have a little more info on this one. It is being made in India(!) right now. It does not have a distributor. The guy said he has seen some artwork on this and it looks damn good. Expect it sometime next year.
Very Bad Things Trailer: I saw this one already.
Making of Blade/Blade trailer: Still looks good, even tho I like the way vampires die in Vampires better. I think I like the lo tech method better. The guy said that Snipes is a big comic book fan and wants to make a film for Black Panther (A Marvel Super Hero who just got a new book). We'll see.....
Disney trailers - A Bugs Life, Enemy of the State, Mighty Joe Young, My Favorite Martian: Martian was the only one I haven't seen. Get the same feeling with this as I did for the one for Flubber. Very much a FX film. Doesn't interest me....
Apt Pupil Trailer: Very creepy. Not sure what it is exactly about from the trailer. Unlike most trailers, did not get cheers from crowd. They might have been too freaked out by it.
Vampires Trailer/Clips: The trailer said it will be in theaters in October. The guy said Halloween. If you want to see it before then, the guy said that John Carpenter will be at Comicon in SD and at DragonCon in Atlanta screening the film. The clips shown: Griffith wading through a party of young people, killing everyone in his path. Crow talking to a priest about the rules. A vampire being dragged out to the sunlight. Female vampire biting a neck in a truck. and "How do you like your steak?" :^)
Making of The Matrix: The guy kept describing this as "a live-action anime". To me, it looked like they want to do this more Hong Kong style. Lots of guns, lots of martial arts, and apparrantly, lots of FX. Summer 99 is the date on this one...
Pleasantville Trailer: Yes, those images are from the trailer. I don't think the trailer doesn't give away too much. I think they did need to display some of the effects to sell it to the crowd. I don't think the plot itself would drag them in. The run for best film of the year will be tough....
Rush Hour Trailer: It does give me the impression that it is more a Chris Tucker film than a Jackie Chan film, which is unfortunate. Chan got the bigger cheers. I'll still see it, tho...,
Urban Legend Trailer: looks like "I know what you did when you screamed" to me. This uses urban legends instead of horror movie rules, but seems pretty much the same. Robert Englund, being his creepy self as a college professor, is a good thing.....
Wrongfully Accused Trailer: Another Zucker/Abrams/Zucker style spoof on "The Fugitive" mainly. Don't know who is exactly making this one, but Lestle Nielson is in it and I would bet one of the guys above it making it. Jokes seemed alright, but the habit is to put all the good ones in the trailer.....
Home Fries Trailer: Drew Barrymore works at a fast food resturant at the drive thru line. She is pregnant and the father is married. Guy (Who seems to be an Army helicopter pilot) notices her and decides to work at the resturant to get her attentions. Probably complications along the way before everything is happily ever after. Doesn't interest me...
Practical Magic Trailer: Seen it before. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock are witches who are unlucky in love: their men keep dying on them. It look cute. I like the outfit that Nicole is in.... :^)
The Avengers Trailer: I don't care what the others have said about this. I want to see this. Maybe it is just a fanboy pic, but I still want to see it....
What Dreams May Come Trailer: The guy had no end of praise for this film. He has apperently seen it and he was blown away. He thinks that this is the best film of the year. Personally, it is hard to beat out Saving Private Ryan and this will have to be one hell of a film. I have to say that it looks damn good. I like the idea of heaven being whatever you make it. Those who don't know the plot, Robin Williams is killed in a car accident and goes to heaven. Everything is perfect there, except that his wife, played by Annabelle Sciorra, isn't with him. He then goes on a quest to see his wife, with the help of an angel played by Cuba Gooding Jr. His travels takes him through purgatory and hell. It looks visually stunning. I can't wait.
Free Enterprise Trailer: This looks to be the ultimate Fanboy movie. Guys like Harry and I will love a movie like this. It seems to have all the references. Say what you will about Bill Shatner's acting ability, at least he is not afraid of making fun of himself. In one scene, the guys are talking to him about his "Julius Caesar Musical" that he wants to do. He says he will play all the parts. The guys point out that if he plays both Caesar and Brutus, he will have to stab himself in the back. He says, "I've done it before." Can't wait for this one.
Afterwards, there was a little Q+A:
He said that Soldier will take place in the same universe as Blade Runner. There will be a lot of references.
Iron Giant is slated for a "Holiday '99" release.
Interesting enough, he said that Paramount purposely didn't give him any Star Trek footage to show. What this means, I don't know.
He says that John Woo is definatly doing the MI2 film.
The Longshot signing off...
