Blog Archives
The Doctor is In
(Monorail scene in Jurassic World. Image from Now You Know Facts Online)
Dr. Ian Malcom’s clever book placements in Jurassic World were no coincidence.
The actor, who co-starred in 1993’s Jurassic Park and 1997’s The Lost World: Jurassic Park, will appear in Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s next Jurassic World film.
–Rebecca Ford, The Hollywood Reporter
Jeff Goldblum’s return sparks a few thoughts:
- Given the late casting, was Jeff Golblum supposed to be in the Jurassic World sequel from the inception of this new trilogy’s story development? Or was this late casting news intended to keep plot details as secret as possible, on a literal need-to-know basis for the public?
- The storytelling gate has been opened, if only slightly, to begin to gradually weave the original cast back to the Jurassic universe before a dramatic Act III entrance in the third film of this trilogy.
- The story and character arc for Dr. Ian Malcolm must be quite good to entice Jeff Goldblum to return 20 years later.
Without context or plot details (or seeing the film, quite frankly), it’s difficult to make a final, definitive judgement on this casting move. Having said that, welcoming Jeff Goldblum to the Jurassic World sequel is very exciting. From 10,000 feet, this decision seems like a great bridge not only from the original film (and The Lost World) to this new sequel, but also in bringing back the tone and wit of Jurassic Park that was noticeably absent in Jurassic World.
Otherwise, this forthcoming sequel may feel a bit chaotic…aside from all of the dinosaurs.
P.S. I wonder what Ellie Sattler’s book title would be?
By the Hammer of Thor’s Lore (& YouTube)
Movie trailers (which now include the subset “teaser trailers”) have evolved into an art form.
It’s true.
There’s an argument to be made that the trailer (or collection of trailers) for certain films is quite literally better than the film itself. I know what you’re thinking: 2 1/2 minutes is better than a couple hours of entertainment?
Well, men think so.
Anyways, this is why the release of a movie trailer online and through various social media channels has become such a grand event for movie fans. Sure, there are still special previews during major television events, like the Super Bowl or March Madness. However, given the immediacy, widespread access and viral marketing dynamic of the internet (ie- YouTube), movie production companies continue to take full advantage of this unrivaled digital communicative infrastructure.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the first teaser trailer for Thor: Ragnarok that will premiere in theaters this November.
12.5 million+ voluntary views and counting on Marvel’s YouTube channel in less than 24 hours.
And this ever-increasing metric is just for the teaser trailer…in April.
Still…Life?
What is it about mannequins that bring us all to life?
Well, it’s partly the movie Mannequin where the mannequin literally came to life…but there’s something else there too, I think.
Late Late Show host James Corden is the latest person to explore this strange (yet hilarious and heart-warming) relationship humans seem to have with mannequins that inevitably leads to telling jokes, singing and dancing in the form of a revamped trailer to the 1987 classic Mannequin.
James Corden definitely figured out how to spice up the magic of a mannequin.
I____I (A Director Framing That Perfect Shot)
When a movie becomes more than a movie to us, that’s when a movie transforms into that movie.
We love films for countless reasons that are equally objective and subjective. Whether it’s the story, cast, settings, director, subject or that it simply arrived at seemingly the perfect time during our life for some reason or another, we never forget our favorite movies. Part of this admiration typically includes an unforgettable shot(s) by the director. These visionary moments, either revolutionary or an example of a trademark directorial style, speak to us in profound ways.
True story.
Thankfully, YouTube exists and serves as a prime medium for creating and sharing content that speaks to us in myriad fashions. For this blog post, YouTube user The Solomon Society has gifted viewers with a video deftly titled, “The Most Beautiful Shots In Movie History.” I would add some different shots (and delete a few), but the video below is off to a good start.
When one shot can capture the magic of an entire movie, that’s typically when people declare (personally and publicly) we need to see that movie.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 