Newsbites: Commandments! Poole! Kubrick!

Newsbites: Commandments! Poole! Kubrick! August 24, 2007

Time for a few more quickies.

1. Remember that animated version of The Ten Commandments? Variety reports that it is the first in a series of Bible cartoons:

Promenade Pictures — the family-oriented banner headed by former studio topper Frank Yablans — has set the release of its first project, a CG-animated version of “The Ten Commandments.”

Promenade announced Thursday it will open “Commandments,” the first of a 12-pic “Epic Stories of the Bible” series, on Oct. 26 at 500-800 playdates.

Promenade, which has stayed under the radar prior to the announcement, said it’s positioned to distribute four to six pics a year from its own slate, acquisitions and service deals with independents. Promenade pics will carry budgets in the $5 million-$20 million range.

Each film in the “Epic Stories of the Bible” series will be produced by Promenade along with partners Huhu Studios of New Zealand and Singapore-based iVL Animation, owned by ST Electronics. . . .

2. Cinematical says Luke Wilson and Jessica Walter are currently shooting Henry Poole Is Here, a film about “a depressed and terminally-ill man whose life is changed by a miracle — seeing a stain on the wall that looks like the face of Christ.”

3. DVD Active says the upcoming Stanley Kubrick boxed set will include the first-ever North American release of the uncut version of Eyes Wide Shut (1999). What on earth took them so long.

4. The Globe and Mail says movies like Superbad are encouraging more public displays of affection between regular guys:

McKenzie Smith and Josh Parsons love each other.

The 15-year-old Toronto boys admitted as much after leaving a recent showing of the film Superbad, a hit comedy two other Canadian friends started writing when they were just 13. . . .

Swearing to stay friends forever is usually the domain of teenage girls, who promise weekly phone calls and undying devotion.

Adolescent boys, on the other hand, are notoriously tight-lipped about their feelings, especially when it comes to their same-sex friends.

But Superbad may have tapped into a shift in the male dynamic, an era when “bromance” is proudly put on display and men feel comfortable giving each other hugs even if they haven’t just won the big game.

After seeing the movie, McKenzie and Josh said they saw themselves in the characters Seth and Evan, and recognized many of the problems they worked through in their own lives.

“I’m Seth and he’s Evan,” McKenzie said.

They even have a friend, Graham, whom they regard as the movie’s notorious party nerd, McLovin.

The two boys have even said “I love you,” albeit in a manly, nonchalant manner, they joke.

Their willingness to discuss their relationship openly, and to prioritize their bond, is something that contradicts academic studies that have historically found a lack of real connection among adolescent male friends. . . .

5. The Globe and Mail says a new survey found that more than half of all Canadians may be opposed to a ban on smoking in films.


Browse Our Archives

Follow Us!