28 replies to this topic

[SecretAgentFan]

 

Yes, it´s the first teaser for the BLADE RUNNER SEQUEL!!!

 

[S K Y F A L L]

John Wick Chapter 2

Alien Covenant

Dunkirk

Justice League

Murder on the Orient Express

Star Wars VIII

Pitch Perfect 3

The Six Billion Dollar Man

[SecretAgentFan]

My enthusiasm for "BLADE RUNNER 2049" seems to have sparked a fire here.

[Dustin]

I'm in two minds about the sequel to BLADE RUNNER. On the one hand I regard the original as a particularly strong and influential work. But looking closer on it I think much of its iconic status results more than anything else from blind luck. Dick's novel isn't his strongest work IMO - and he wilfully neglects its potential in a chapter that isn't part of the film for good reason. Conversely, there is no air of 'future noir' in the book, all that was added by the script and the set design and Scott's decision to film the book with the atmosphere of The Maltese Falcon. Even the thing it's most famous for, Roy's speech, was a spur-of-the-moment change of Hauer's text. Finally, I have my doubts how much more there is left to say about Deckard, about the whole world of BLADE RUNNER, after the final frames of any version of the film. 

 

Then again I'm of course intrigued. I don't think any film can be 'damaged' as such by its sequel. Even in the worst case one can always pretend it doesn't exist.

 

Of the other films on that list I'm most interested in MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS and THE SIX BILLION DOLLAR MAN, the latter more because I've read a pretty nifty version of the theme in Eschbach's book DER LETZTE SEINER ART (no English translation as far as I know, but a French one, Le Dernier de son espèce) 

[SecretAgentFan]

I agree: BLADE RUNNER does not need a sequel - and yet, I am very happy that Scott himself is behind this, choosing Villeneuve - for me, one of the most exciting directors currently working - to helm a new story that takes into account the time that has passed.  I suspect Deckard will not be in the center of the film, but it already was nice to see Ford in this first teaser.

 

I only read the story "Do androids dream of electric sheep" last year for the first time and enjoyed it a lot.  I do like Dick´s work in general, by the way, so that was no surprise for me.  Since BLADE RUNNER is one of my big teenage favourites (the year of 1982 brought so many fantastic genre classics) I do admit, of course, that nostalgia is a very big factor for my excitement surrounding the sequel.  I know, that kind of excitement rarely holds whenever a sequel actually is made.  But still, this one intrigues me alone from those very few shots in the teaser.  I love how slow moving it is, how long the shots are held, and how the atmosphere is built.

 

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, of course, will be interesting for me as well, being a Kenneth Branagh fan - although I wonder how that story can be done in a way that a remake truly brings something new to the table.

 

Thanks for mentioning the Eschbach novel - will have to check that out!

[Simon]

I didn't even know there was an up and coming Billion Dollar Man until this thread.

 

Now duly informed, I am curious as to what direction they can go in bearing in mind all the other effects enhanced cyborg and super hero movies.  Aside from the undoubted background element to the film that will show the accident and ensuing surgery, what can possibly be done that Terminator and Robocop haven't already?

 

Not to sound negative, just to air curiosity.

[tdalton]

In order of release (most anticipated in bold):

 

• Live by Night
• The Founder
• Rings
• The Lego Batman Movie
• Logan
• Kong: Skull Island
• Ghost in the Shell
• Alien: Covenant
• The Mummy
• Cars 3
• War for the Planet of the Apes
• Stephen King's The Dark Tower
• Stephen King's IT
• Bladerunner 2049
• Friday the 13th
• Untitled Cloverfield Project
• Saw: Legacy
• Justice League
• Star Wars: Episode VIII

[thecasinoroyale]

I can't sit through 'Blade Runner' without getting bored, and I've tried twice now.

However, next year is bringing some treats I'm eager for:

Assassins Creed
Cars 3
Murder On The Orient Express
Logan
Ghost In The Shell
Dunkirk
Star Wars Episode VIII

[SecretAgentFan]

BLADE RUNNER 2049

 

LOGAN

 

STAR WARS EPISODE VIII

 

SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING

 

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL. 2

 

DUNKIRK

 

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE

 

WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES

 

THE DARK TOWER

 

IT

 

ALIEN: COVENANT

 

KONG: SKULL ISLAND

 

THE FOUNDER

 

 

also - release date in Germany in 2017:  LA-LA-LAND

[Dustin]

LA-LA LAND and THE MUMMY intrigue me.


As for THE SIX BILLION DOLLAR MAN and how it can hope to stand against the abundance of super-humans in all conceivable variations: as far I seem to remember (after 40 years since reading it) Martin Caidin's original novel "Cyborg", which introduced Steve Austin, was a somewhat darker and more serious vision than the latter tv series. Eschbach's approach to the theme comes from the same direction and delivered a unique variation that could, in my opinion, add an impressive touch. I'm actually surprised that his book, up to now, apparently hasn't been tackled by a big tv producer since it wouldn't necessarily call for a lot of expensive CGI and location shooting. And it has the added advantage of an open end, so either Eschbach or a producer could spin it into further entries. But this just as an aside.

[sharpshooter]

I'm a franchise geek, so I'm all about Justice League, Wonder Woman and Star Wars Episode VIII. I've lost my Spider-Man passion, but I'll check that out as well at some stage. The Mummy and Alien Covenant also interest me.

[Hockey Mask]

War for the Planet of the Apes is the only movie coming out in 2017.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Looking forward to Bond25.

 

Oh, wait....

[S K Y F A L L]

[SecretAgentFan]

Now that´s a fantastic trailer, IMHO:

 

[Dustin]

This looks splendid. I was sceptic about the shift to the 80s setting but this looks quite fine. Wasn't aware it's going to keep to the kids' part and then do the adult storyline in a sequel.

[The Dove]

I LOVE this trailer for IT!! Looks absolutely terrifying, something the rather flimsy 1990 TV mini-series failed to achieve in my book. Bill Skarsgard looks like he may give Tim Curry a run for his money as Pennywise..

[Dustin]

What just happened to me: somewhere I picked up news - well, for me - that Michael Fassbender is going to star in Alfredson's adaptation of THE SNOWMAN, a Harry Hole thriller by Jo Nesbø. I wondered whether there was a trailer already as the film is going to premiere in October. And yes, YouTube came up with some 120 seconds titled THE SNOWMAN trailer. I watched it and wondered why it looked like outtakes of a rather conventional serial killer flick. But what I really could not for the life of me grasp was how they apparently had altered Fassbender's appearance to the point of making him utterly unrecognisable.

I watched the thing several times but the footage didn't change, nor did it really sell the film very well.

Finally, a look at the comments solved the mystery. This was a trailer for the book not for the film. When exactly did they start shooting trailers for books?

[SecretAgentFan]

Right, that trend started at least a few years ago.

 

But as far as I know the Fassbender-movie did not get a trailer yet, so there´s still hope for a good adaptation.  I remember reading something about it in a previous Empire magazine issue, and there was a picture of him, I think, looking very much like himself, wearing a parka (which seems to be an important part of the character).

[SecretAgentFan]

Different.  And fun.

 

Sorry, I really had to laugh at that "YEEEEEES!"

 

[Dustin]

Oh I loved that!

[Professor Pi]

Was already looking forward to third Thor, but this ramps it up so much more!  Now my major reason to see Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is to see this trailer on the big screen.

 

Too see the fantastical visuals counterpointed with the banal mundane of "we're friends from work!" was brilliant.  Genius!  "YES!!!"

[Eskyfall]

Not yet sold on Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It looks interesting, I'm just afraid it will be a carbon copy of Empire as The Force Awakens was of the original.

[SecretAgentFan]

I understand why people don´t want the new trilogy to emulate the successful predecessors.

 

Then again, when the prequels offered something different, they were called out for not being like the original trilogy...

 

I guess, one should look at "Star Wars" as a story that does repeat itself, going in circles, because that´s how life works: people seldomly learn from their mistakes, so they are doomed to experience the fallout again and again.

 

As for the new teaser - I loved it.  But, of course, it could not generate the emotional response of the teasers for TFA because now Star Wars is an ongoing franchise again, something to be expected instead of something that had ended and lay dormant for decades.  Oh, and there is no Han Solo anymore, so that´s a big minus for me.

 

But I am looking forward very much to a film that finally focusses on Luke Skywalker and the great Mark Hamill again.  And with Rian Johnson at the helm one can expect a great script and exciting fresh imagery.  If you haven´t seen his previous films before - do yourself a favor and check them out.  Also his astounding work on "Breaking Bad".

[sharpshooter]

The trailer didn't show much but it got me excited, which is the point of a teaser.

I think Luke found out a dark secret about the Jedi which shook him to his core - that they strayed from their original path. This also could have led to Ben Solo turning to the dark side and massacring Luke's students, which adds to his torment. I think the Jedi will eventually be reformed by Luke, but only after he's inspired again by Rey.

The prospect of seeing Luke training Rey, and Snoke training Ben as a contrast is also exciting to me.

[Professor Pi]

A friend pointed out an interesting fact to me about the 'balance of the Force' prophecy.  At the beginning of Episode I, there are two Sith--Palpatine and Darth Maul--and countless Jedi, i.e. imbalance.  By the end of Episode III, there is The Emperor and Darth Vader on the dark side, and Obi-Wan and Yoda as the two remaining Jedi.  In other words, each side has two so there is balance.  When Obi Wan dies, Luke must become the next Jedi.

 

Now we have Snoke and Kylo Ren (after slaughtering Luke's younglings) versus just Luke.  So for balance, Rey must become a Jedi.  Unless Luke is the last jedi (Rian Johnson says he is).  Maybe Luke hopes that no Jedi equals no Sith, and that is what brings peace to the galaxy--lack of conflict.  Kind of like how Vision says the strength of the Avengers invites challenge in Age of Ultron.  The good is integrally responsible for the bad.

 

Here's hoping The Last Jedi changes the actual foundation of Star Wars mythology like Empire Strikes Back did. 

[Tiin007]

I understand why people don´t want the new trilogy to emulate the successful predecessors.

 

Then again, when the prequels offered something different, they were called out for not being like the original trilogy...

 

This is perhaps the biggest problem with audience reaction to these films. It's really a lose-lose situation. 

 

I, for one, really enjoyed the prequels, even though I now see many of their flaws. 

 

Yet I am consistently baffled as to fans' willingness to defend the original trilogy beyond all reason while simultaneously ripping apart the prequels for every minor nitpick (including things which the OT was equally guilty of). Yes, the prequels had a few bumps in the road and could have used some polishing. But why is ROTJ immune to such exacting criticism? 

 

A friend pointed out an interesting fact to me about the 'balance of the Force' prophecy.  At the beginning of Episode I, there are two Sith--Palpatine and Darth Maul--and countless Jedi, i.e. imbalance.  By the end of Episode III, there is The Emperor and Darth Vader on the dark side, and Obi-Wan and Yoda as the two remaining Jedi.  In other words, each side has two so there is balance.  When Obi Wan dies, Luke must become the next Jedi.

 

Now we have Snoke and Kylo Ren (after slaughtering Luke's younglings) versus just Luke.  So for balance, Rey must become a Jedi.  Unless Luke is the last jedi (Rian Johnson says he is).  Maybe Luke hopes that no Jedi equals no Sith, and that is what brings peace to the galaxy--lack of conflict. 

 

I think the series needs to explicitly define "balance of the force." For years, fans have been debating its meaning ad nauseum, when it was most likely just a neat expression Lucas coined without any real attempt at laying out its meaning.  

[Johnboy007]

Haven't seen Wonder Woman, so looking forward to that!

 

Also:

Thor 3

Spider-Man: Homecoming -- I might actually like a Spider-Man movie for a change!

Star Wars VIII

 

I am intrigued by the Blade Runner sequel and Justice League, but I am not really holding out much hope for either of them.

 

Finally: It's a been a really long time!

[sharpshooter]

I thought Wonder Woman was fantastic.