Film: November 2006 Archives

Check out a couple of the posters for the next Iwo film!

The Warner Bros website has been updated for this movie, check it out here, and see the rest of the onesheets! They're under the downloads section. I noticed that I can't view the site correctly in linux, probably something with Flash. Just listening to the music on the website definitely makes me want to see the film more. Also make sure you check out the official trailer in the videos section. A couple of my shots made it into that one! The film looks very good. I can't wait, and it comes out around the same time as Charlotte's Web!

Make sure you stock up for the holiday season with some plush Charlotte's Web toys from FAO Schwartz!

When Paramount Studios approached us to create the official plush character line for the movie Charlotte's Web we were thrilled. We love the classic book by E.B. White, and the opportunity to take the characters from the pages of the book and turn them into three-dimensional stuffed animals was a real challenge.

We partnered with one of our favorite creators of plush animals and worked closely with Paramount to develop this special collection that's worthy of both the book and the movie. We're proud of the results and hope you enjoy the special details on these handmade creations, such as the lifelike features of each animal, and the airbrushed details.

Choose from Wilbur, Charlotte, Templeton, Bitsy the Cow, Ike the Horse, Samuel the Sheep, and Gussy Goose. Or, better yet, bring home the whole crowd.

I don't think I'll be picking any of them up, but if you have kids, it could be a cool stocking stuffer. Less than a month left before the film comes out!

Some interesting Rob Cohen news from the Latino Times.

The big headline is that I am NOT using clips from the film; I am creating an entirely photo-realistic Bruce Lee with new, advanced digital technlogy. Digital Domain who did "XXX" and "Stealth" with me are on it big time. We are in the vfx development stage.

This will be the first digital actor and I am very excited about the challenge.

We do have the rights to Bruce's films but the lines are all I am going to use. The Lee Family is also involved with me and Dreamworks.

I am doing this to further honor Bruce. It was one thing to make "Dragon" but this will be the Man himself, alive for those of us that didn't get enough and the new generations who should know what he was all about.

Sincere regards,

Rob. Cohen

Yes, Digital Domain is working on it, and from what I've seen, he looks amazing.. Remember What DD did with Vin Diesel in xXx? The scenes of Vin jumping the motorcycle over the fence and similar scenes where you do see him? That's a digital Vin head. I recall attending a Siggraph presentation a couple of years ago where the DD artists described their technique of creating the digital Vin head, and comped his head over the stunt motorcycle guys helmet. Some tricky paintwork, as well as some really well done digital head fakery. The before and afters and description of the technique got a big applause. They did it, IIRC, using a combination of subsurface scattering and painted texture maps. Overall very cool stuff. Well, that was four years ago, and technology and technique have advanced and changed.. So imagine Bruce Lee, really there, full face, and articulate, with all his mannerisms. There are a ton of Bruce Lee fans, so getting everything right is going to be tough. I hope they pull it off really well. It's going to be a big challenge to jump the zombie divide.. Square got right into the uncanny valley with Final Fantasy, here's hoping that DD can pull it out. It's one thing to make a great turntable photorealistic head, it's another to make it move and fool the mind's eye.

Letters from Iwo Jima, the companion piece to Flags of our Fathers, has had a release date change. Instead of February 2007, it's moved to December 20th, 2006! I'm thinking that it's a limited release for Awards consideration, as Variety reports that it will only open in LA and NY and possibly San Francisco for right now.

I can't wait for this next piece, as I've heard that it's a significantly more emotional movie than Flags. Most of our work was more invisible in this film, more so than Flags! And it's entirely in Japanese, with English subtitling. It's an ambitious film! We'll see how the public reacts.

Last night I took advantage of one of the local screenings for Children of Men, an Alfonso Cuarón film with some great actors including Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine. I saw the trailer a couple months ago on Apple.com, and it piqued me enough to try and see it. At the moment it's not out in the US, but the Academy is running screenings for its members.

I'll leave the summary of the film to IMDB:

In 2027, as humankind faces the likelihood of its own extinction, a disillusioned government agent agrees to help transport and protect a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea where her child's birth may help scientists to save the future of mankind.

The film as a whole is breathtaking, and grabs you from the initial scenes of Theo (Clive Owen) grabbing a coffee at a local shop to the climax of the film in the refugee camp. The film progresses smoothly from start to finish, with a number of amazing battle sequences and emotionally crippling moments that you feel. The colors and environments within the film truly draw you into their world, one of hopelessness and weakness. Every part of the film felt real to the characters within it, and you can see their hopelessness and desperation. I cannot give higher marks for this film.. It's one of the best of this year.

The guys and gals over at DNeg and Framestore have done some great vfx work within the film. Most the obvious effects work were animated billboards and newspapers, but there several scenes of blood, debris and explosions that were added in post that were noticeable. Despite this, it does not detract from the film, and I urge you to see it when it comes stateside! You can read more User Reviews at IMDB. Warning, they may contain spoilers! I find it's better to go into a film no knowing anything.