CINEMA BUZZ by Seymore Flix - 6/15/15

Avatar 2 - What's The Holdup ?

James Cameron is taking his time with the sequel to the highest grossing film of all time - 'Avatar' ($2.8 billion -2009). Come to think of it, the second highest grossing film of all time,'Titanic' $2.2 billion - 1997) was also a Cameron film and they are 11 years apart.

Originally scheduled for release in 2016,  'Avatar 2' in now looking at a December 2017 release.  But wait! 'Avatar 3' and 'Avatar 4' are in the works and the reason 'Avatar 2' was postponed. Cameron is filming all three simultaneously and as you can imagine is very complex and time consuming. It's sure not bothering Fox Entertainment, which is bank-rolling this mega-project.  Fox's CEO, Jim Gianopulos stated, "Jim has his own pace and we are comfortable which that".  And, we might add, the two highest grossing films ever.  Even if Avatar 2 were to gross one-half of the first Avatar it would still end up the fifth highest grossing movie of all time.

James Cameron - 'At his own pace'

Cameron definitely works at his own pace and has a tendency to use the latest technologies that the industry has to offer.  If you remember, Avatar was one of the first films to use digital 3D for it debut. Can't wait to see all three sequels.  Scheduled releases: 12/17, 12/18,  and 12/19.

Top 10 All Time Highest Grossing Movies

1. Avatar $2.8 billion - 2009
2. Titanic $2.2 billion - 1997
3. The Avengers $1.6 billion - 2012
4. Furious 7 $1.5 billion - 2015
5. Avengers: Age of Altron $1.4 billion - 2015
6. Harry Potter-Deathly Hallows 2 $1.3 billion - 2011
7. Frozen $1.3 billion - 2013
8. Ironman 3 $1.2 billion - 2013
9. Transformers:Dark of the Moon $1.2 billion - 2011
10. Lord of the Rings:Return of the King $1.1 billion - 2003

No Men Allowed

Photo from 'The Gift of Fire'

Now here's a first, I think. Rechy Elias, a Jewish film-maker stipulated that her film, 'The Gift of Fire' could only be viewed by women - no men allowed in the auditorium!

To be screened at the London Israeli Film Festival last week Elias stated her religion forbade men from watching her movie.  An orthodox Jew of the Haredi sect, the film contains footage of women dancing and singing which cannot be viewed by men.

Screening of the film were cancelled by the governing board of the Festival as Odeon Theaters, where the movie was to debut, cancelled the screenings, stating "The film contains women dancing and singing, and in the Haredi beliefs this should not be viewed by men. We respect the position of the film-maker but have decided that we need to honor our policy of not restricting entry to any film based on gender."

'The Gift of Fire' is about a young woman's ordeal during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. Hmmm seems to me that Elias should think about making a film regarding her own, rather archaic, beliefs

A Tribute To Lee

Lee as Dracula

From 1958 Dracula to staring roles in everything from Bond films to Star Wars and Lord or the Rings Christopher Lee had a film career that spanned seven decades. At six foot five, Lee was an imposing figure with a deep, penetrating voice.  Always the perfect villain be it Scaramanga in the 007 'Man With The Golden Gun' or evil Count Dooku in the Star Wars 'Attack of the Clones' and 'Revenge of the Sith' or s the sinister Saruman in Lord of the Rings trilogy Lee was the embodiment of a cinema super villain who we had come to know and love over the years.

Peter Jackson, maker of the Lord of the Rings stated, "He was a scholar, singer, actor .... There will never be another Christopher Lee. He has a unique place in cinema history. An icon of cinema has passed into legend."

As Scaramanga in 007 'Golden Gun'

Tim Burton, who cast Lee in five films including Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, said "He was the last of his kind - a true legend - who I'm fortunate to have called a friend. He will continue to inspire me and I'm sure countless others."

Martin Scorsese, who cast Lee in his fantasy movie, 'Hugo' called Lee, "a great actor, wonderful friend, and real professional. I think of him every day and always will."

Lee was preparing for his latest role, at 93, in a film entitled 'The 11th' with Uma Thurman when he died.  Lee scared me when I was young watching the Dracula films. He was more sinister than Lugosi and more daunting. As time passed, however you came to admire his performances and that baritone voice wasn't as scary any longer. You knew it was your old buddy Chris Lee playing bad guy again.
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