| 28 August |
| New Spider Rip | ||||||||
Polityk does it again - here is a new rip of the movie Spider (2002).
This rip contains David Cronenberg's commentary as a second audio track and there is also the 
bonus material.Please support Cronenberg's work and treat this as a preview material only, before buying it. Spider (2002): CD1, CD2 Bonus: In the Beginning - How Spider came to be Caught in Spider's Web - The Cast Weaving the Web - The Making of Spider Trailer | ||||||||
| 27 August |
| New Videodrome DVD | ||||||||
The Cronendrome website gives us some
early images and reviews
for the new Videodrome DVD that is released the coming Tuesday.
More info about the new DVD on August 12. | ||||||||
| A History of Violence Rumors | ||||||||
According to an article on Hollywoodreporter
from the beginning of the month,
Ed Harris and William Hurt are in negotiations to join the cast of David
Cronenberg's new movie, A History of
Violence. Supposedly, Viggo Mortensen is already confirmed as the lead, playing the
character of Tom McKenna.
According to IMDB, Maria Bello is also in the cast, and the budget of the movie is estimated to be $32m (this is extremely unlikely, for a Cronenberg movie). More info about the movie on April 17. | ||||||||
| The Brown Bunny Opens in the US | ||||||||
The Brown Bunny (2003), the
controversial movie by Vincent Gallo (Buffalo
'66) finally opens in the USA today.
The movie was first shown in the Cannes Film Festival in May 2003 and was criticized as "the worst film ever admitted into the competition of the Cannes film festival". The 2-hours movie was re-edited and is now 93 minutes long, although the sex scenes remain intact. The movie has provoked outrage because it features a graphic 10-minute scene in which actress Chloe Sevigny performs fellatio on Gallo (her real-life former lover), which - according to Sevigny herself - was not simulated. Sevigny repeatedly defends the movie and the infamous scene in particular, and says it's being unfairly attacked. | ||||||||
| Spielberg and Cruise Set to Film Biggest Budget Film Ever | ||||||||
|
From IMDB:
Steven Spielberg's upcoming movie War 
of the Worlds (2005) is poised to make history in Hollywood as the most expensive film ever made,
surpassing Titanic's $198 million budget. Spielberg and Cruise will pocket a fifth of
the box office profit.
A source says, "No expense will be spared. Spielberg wants to make it the film of the decade". The film is based on HG Wells' classic story about Martian invaders. Orson Welles' 1938 radio adaptation caused panic in America when the tale convinced listeners Earth was being invaded. The movie is set to be released in the USA in July 2005. | ||||||||
| 24 August |
| The Polar Express | ||||||||
Robert Zemeckis' new movie,
The Polar Express (2004)
will premiere in the US on November 10. It will also be shown on IMAX in 3D.
In this major project, with a budget of $150m, Tom Hanks is said to play 20 roles. The movie uses a new technology that uses CGI based on live-action photography. Official Site / Trailer 
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| 21 August |
| Soundtracks Recommendations | ||||||||
For a change, here are some recommendations for excellent soundtracks that I highly recommend.
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| 19 August |
| Legendary Composer Elmer Bernstein Dies at 82 | ||||||||
"Music is the soul of life, and each soul sings a different song"- Elmer Bernstein (June 2004) This is a very sad month to the world of cinema music. Legendary composer Elmer Bernstein, who composed music to more than 250 movies and TV shows during the last 50 years, died Wednesday in his sleep at his home in Ojai, California. He was 82. Bernstein is survived by his wife, Eve, as well as two daughters, two sons, and five grandchildren. Bernstein was nominated for 14 Academy Awards (he won only one, for Thoroughly Modern Millie): The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), The Magnificent Seven (1960), Summer and Smoke (1961), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), Walk on the Wild Side (1962), Return of the Seven (1966), Hawaii (1966) (2 nominations), Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), True Grit (1969), Gold (1974), Trading Places (1983), The Age of Innocence (1993), Far from Heaven (2002). Some of his other scores include: The Ten Commandments (1956), God's Little Acre (1958), Some Came Running (1958), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) , The Great Escape (1963), Cast a Giant Shadow (1966), Animal House (1978), Airplane! (1980), Heavy Metal (1981), An American Werewolf in London (1981), Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), Michael Jackson's Thriller (1983), Ghost Busters (1984), Spies Like Us (1985), Three Amigos! (1986), My Left Foot (1989), The Field (1990), The Grifters (1990), Oscar (1991), the great adaptation and arrangement of Bernard Herrmann's music for Cape Fear (1991), The Babe (1992), Mad Dog and Glory (1993), The Good Son (1993), Canadian Bacon (1995), Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) The Rainmaker (1997), Wild Wild West (1999), Bringing Out the Dead (1999), Keeping the Faith (2000) and many more. Exactly 4 weeks ago, when Jerry Goldsmith died, I wrote that I consider him to be one of the "giant" composers, together with Elmer Bernstein (and other great talents as Ennio Morricone and John Williams). It's very sad to lose two legends in less than a month and I only wish health and many more years of composing for the other "giants". Thanks you, Elmer, for your talent and half a decade of great music. Rest in peace. Official Site / Filmtracks / Amazon / D'Lynn Waldrom page 
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| 12 August |
| Videodrome - Criterion Collection | ||||||||
Videodrome - Criterion Collection DVD is released on 31 August 2004.
This 2-disc Special Edition includes: by director David Cronenberg, actors James Woods and Deborah Harry, and director of photography Mark Irwin. The short film (6 min) starring Les Carlson, written and directed by David Cronenberg in 2000 as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Toronto Film Festival. A new half-hour documentary featurette about the creation of Videodrome's landmark video and prosthetic makeup effects. The complete and unedited faux Japanese AV feature seen in Videodrome. A 26-minute roundtable discussion between filmmakers David Cronenberg, John Carpenter, John Landis and Mick Garris. You can pre-order this DVD at Amazon for $28. | ||||||||
| 9 August |
| James Cameron Keeps Making Documentaries | ||||||||
Seems like James Cameron can't let go of making documentaries.
After Expedition: Bismarck and Ghosts of the Abyss you'd expect him to
finally make the True Lies sequel. Instead, he insists on continuing making yet another
documentary.
Aliens of the Deep is a 3D documentary in which Cameron teams up with NASA scientists to explore the mid-ocean ridge, a submerged chain of mountains that band the earth and are home to some of the planet's most unique life forms. As always Mike Cameron (James's brother) is responsible for making and operating the ROV (Remote Operating Vehicle). The movie will premiere in the US on 14 January 2005. More info on Walden Media site. I wish Cameron would go and do what he knows best - making action movies like no one else can. Come on, James, it's been over 7 years since Titanic. Give us what we want. | ||||||||
| 3 August |
| Online Interview with Cronenberg | ||||||||
Ryerson University in Canada features a
2-hours interview (lecture)
with David Cronenberg in front of students, which is part of the Kodak Lecture Series.
The interview was made on 7 November 2003. Interviewer: Canadian director Bruce McDonald. Here are the direct links:
Windows Media:RealVideo: (Thanks to Hans Heydebreck from The Operating Theatre) | ||||||||
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)
DK's rating: 6/10
DVD |
CD1,
CD2
Moonstruck (1987)
DK's rating: 7/10
DVD |
OST |
CD1,
CD2
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
DK's rating: 7.5/10
DVD |
CD1,
CD2
DK's Recommendation
The Butterfly Effect (2004)
DK's rating: 7/10
DVD |
OST |
CD1,
CD2
House of Sand and Fog (2003)
DK's rating: 7/10
DVD |
OST |
CD1,
CD2
Bad Santa (2003)
