Django Unchained: Tarantino’s newest film has a title

Yep.  It is official.  Mr. Tarantino officially has a finished script and it has a title.  Word came out several months ago that QT was working on a new script that would pay homage to the old spaghetti westerns such as the likes of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

Then it became official when Tarantino premiered his complete film Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair at the New Beverly Cinema.  It would have Christoph Walz, made famous by his award winning portrayal of Hans Landa in the film Inglorious Basterds.

Those wondering about the title can rest assure that there is a reason for the title.  QT like to pay homage to the films that molded him as a young writer and filmmaker.  Obviously the title is in reference to the Sergio Corbucci’s spaghetti western “Django” about a gunslinger who rescues women from bandits while towing a large coffin behind him.  Tarantino has also said that Takashi Miike Sukiyaki Western Django was another influence on the film.  I do highly suggest checking out both films as they have had a small cult following that will surely gain more views based on Tarantino putting out a new film.

I for one am somewhat excited about this film and the premise.  Walz plays a German bounty hunter who helps a freed slave liberate his wife from a violent plantation owner.  From small amount of tidbits that have come out, this film deals with racism in a very different way and it is 100% popcorn revenge flick.  Uma Thurman has also stated that Tarantino has called this a “Southern”, kind of a play on the Western genre, so this makes some sense.  It has also come out that Franco Mero, the star of Django is in this film as well, so there might be a small amount of the story that pays homage to that film specifically.

It starts shooting in the fall and as a fan of his complete body of work, I am quite giddy to read everything about this film as it becomes available.  In the mean time, I’m going to watch Django as soon as I can get my film nerd hands on it.

Man of Steel: I’m excited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m Excited about the upcoming film from the team of Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, David Goyer and Zach Snyder.  Needless to say, the moment Warner Brothers put this film in the hands of this crew, I knew that there was little to worry about after almost a decade plus of worrying if they could ever put up a viable, quality Superman film again.

Don’t get me wrong.  I am not speaking from the heart and soul of the boy who grew up watching the Superman movies, wearing the red cape towel my mother made me and running around the living room.  Not the boy who would spend all of his allowance buying Superman comic books.  I’m coming from the cold filmmakers heart.

I think the story of Superman on the silver screen is far above more interesting than the actual films.  Start with Donner being replaced mid-movie with another director months before Superman II was to be released.  The Salkind’s destroying the legacy with 3 and 4, making Christopher Reeve look more like a laughing stock than anything else.  The ten plus years of scripts coming out.  This guy directing.  Tim Burton directing.  Then Superman Returns and this time he returns to a horrible plot, script, direction and the only saving grace was the new actor had a striking resemblance to Reeve.

Now Warner Brothers is working against the clock.  The rights of the films leaves WB/DC comics in 2012 and reverts back to Siegel and Shuster families.  That means anyone can make the movie if they’re willing to pay the cost.  However, they have turned to one of the greatest writing/directing teams that has come in a long time.  Christopher Nolan, film auteur will helm the production side and his brother Jonathan will team with Batman Begins/The Dark Knight/The Dark Knight Rises writer David Goyer.  Then the big bomb comes out.  Zach Snyder of 300 and Watchman fame gets to helm it as director.

Some love the choice.  Many hate it.  To those that hate it:

ARE YOU INSANE, STUPID, RETARDED OR A FINE COMBINATION OF BOTH!!!

Alright, that was harsh, but lets be honest.  The Film world on the interwebs is filled with fat, overweight fanboys with more time than real lives on their hands.  So many are coming and attacking WB for the decision of selecting Snyder.  So consider this more of a defense on the part of Nolan, WB and Snyder.

• Mr. Snyder has proven time and time again that when he works with in a canon or established world that he will rarely stray from it.  Watchmen was an almost page for page remake of the comic book.  Same with 300.  Same with Dawn of the Dead.  Let’s face it.  The man honors the work done previously by great men.  He adds his own flair and yes, sometimes it is a little overboard.
• Nolan has re-invented the Superhero genre.  The Dark Knight surpassed the genre and worked as a critical look at film noir and thriller.  So what if Sam Spade wears a rubber suit and the antagonist is a clown.  They were alive which not many films can and probably will do again.
• WB is dedicated to making sure this works.  They have failed so many more times than succeeded with the Man of Steel.  IE:  Look at Superman Returns.  The Returns was as a emo-goth Superman.
• Snyder is making intelligent casting decisions with Nolan.  Look at the roles.  These are good actors.

So maybe it might be smart to not think of this as a failure.  Instead I’m getting more and more excited about this film.  Yes, I have been on record as saying that The Dark Knight has ruined superhero films forever.  Take that as good and bad.  It is a very real truth.

In the mean time, I will write about this until it is on screen.  I will review it with a fine tooth comb.  I will have faith that Snyder knows and understands the amount of preasure with this film like the others that have come before it.  I have a feeling that this will be a success.

James