Universal Release First Trailer For Peter Jackson's "Mad Max Steampunk" Movie "Mortal Engines"

Universal Pictures has released the first trailer for Peter Jackson's kind of "Mad Max Steampunk" new movie co-written adaptation of Phillip Reeves' post-apocalyptic, steampunk novel "Mortal Engines", and it looks pretty incredible!



The story happen in a future that follows the “Sixty Minutes War,” which ravaged the Earth, causing cataclysmic events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Nicholas Quirke attached engines, gears, and wheels to the city of London making it mobile and able to consume other cities. The technology spread and the world now exist in a state of “municipal Darwinism.”







Here’s the synopsis released by Universal: “Thousands of years after civilization was destroyed by a cataclysmic event, humankind has adapted and a new way of living has evolved. Gigantic moving cities now roam the Earth, ruthlessly preying upon smaller traction towns. Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan)—who hails from a Lower Tier of the great traction city of London—finds himself fighting for his own survival after he encounters the dangerous fugitive Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar). Two opposites, whose paths should never have crossed, forge an unlikely alliance that is destined to change the course of the future.



Mortal Engines is the startling, new epic adventure directed by Oscar-winning visual-effects artist Christian Rivers (King Kong). Joining Rivers are The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies three-time Academy Award-winning filmmakers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who have penned the screenplay. The Universal and MRC adaptation is from the award-winning book series by Philip Reeve, published in 2001 by Scholastic.



The film is produced by Zane Weiner (The Hobbit trilogy), Amanda Walker (The Hobbit trilogy) and Deborah Forte (Goosebumps), andWalsh and Jackson. Ken Kamins (The Hobbit trilogy) joins Boyens as executive producer. Universal will distribute the film worldwide.”




Pictures and video: copyright Universal

Peter Jackson's Hobbit "The Desolation of Smaug" New Trailer

It's next month that will be released the part two of Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy - The Desolation of Smaug - and a new trailer has been released. Below, you have both the trailer one and the new one. Boy, i'm really waiting for this movie and by the way, it's the great Benedict Cumberbatch who is doing the voice of the Dragon, as well as others characters!








Picture and videos: copyright Warner Bros

The Hobbit "The Desolation of Smaug" First Trailer !

The first teaser trailer for The Hobbit sequel - "The Desolation of Smaug" has been released! And it looks great! Definitely watch it in full screen mode!

All about The Adventures of Tintin, released October 26

The hugely awaited "Adventures of Tintin" movie directed by Steven Spielberg will be released October 26 in Europe, November 10 in Asia and December 21 in the U.S. As i told you in my previous post it's an understatement to say that millions of Tintin fans - mostly in Europe as the stories are less known in the U.S - are extremely curious to see how this first movie will be faithful to the comic book stories and Hergé universe.

We already knew that the movie will be a mix of the Secret of the Unicorn and The Crab with the Golden Claws stories but it seems that Spielberg also did some changes. It might be minor changes which will not change the global spirit of each story and the first reviews of the movie are excellent but we'll have to check this when the movie will be released.



Anyway, in the meantime i have plenty of new clips of the Adventures of Tintin - including interviews and making-of - and let's begin by the third trailer.




But i have better for you as they released five different clips of the movie. Here they are!
















The next video is not from the official movie but it's a great piece of animation created by James Curran. James is a brilliant animator and he did this short animation which is not the official credits from the movie. But it should have been as he wonderfully gives tribute to each album of the Tintin series in less than 1.12 minute! Don't miss it!

The Adventures of Tintin from James Curran on Vimeo.

Next, four videos showing the making-of of The Adventures of Tintin and the magic of Spielberg and Weta Studios wizards. Plenty of shots showing Spielberg!













Here are three other videos with, in the order, interviews of Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Jamie Bell and Andy Serkis - playing Tintin and Captain Haddock.














And last but not least, for iPhone, iPad and Android phones owners there is even a game inspired by the movie to be released anytime soon by Gameloft. Here is the trailer.




Picture and videos : copyright Paramount, Columbia, Moulinsart and Gameloft

Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson at San Diego Comic Con

The San Diego Comic Con has began and thousands of fans are rushing over there, hoping to be able to watch the special screenings of upcoming productions. Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson were also there to discuss their upcoming "The Adventures of Tintin", and if you are as interested as i am by this highly awaited movie, then you should watch the video below in which Spielberg and Jackson explain their technical choices for the making of Tintin!




Video: metallifemag

First Look at Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" Dwarves

You probably know that Peter Jackson's new upcoming movie is called The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. No, it's not a sequel of Lord of the Rings although you'll still be in the same world - the Hobbit world that is. In this new adventure Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, journeys to the Lonely Mountain accompanied by a group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure taken from them by the dragon Smaug.

Time Magazine just posted these five exclusive pictures, the first one of the Hobbit dwarves, beloved by Tolkien fans. Have a look at the pics below, and then jump to the Time website to discover who is who.









Pictures: copyright James Fisher / Warner Bros. Pictures

Universal Hollywood King Kong 360 3D Video !

One of the most awaited attraction of the year is opening tomorrow at Universal Hollywood: King Kong is back in the beloved Universal Tram Tour, and in 3D thanks to a brand "360 degrees" 3D movie directed by Peter Jackson.



You will find below the first available video of the ride as well as the official making-of with interview of Peter Jackson and Universal Studios Creatives. No need to say that if you want to keep the surprise you should avoid to watch the two first videos which shows the ride itself. Of course, the tram is supposed to move in all direction and guests will see this in 3D which is not the case here... The show looks great, a bit short - but it's always too short when it's good, isn't it?

Here is the first video, filmed during the ride by DaytimeHijacker.



This next video from DreadCentral will show you Peter Jackson introducing the attraction at the Grand Opening yesterday as well as more shots of the ride itself!



Here is another one showing the full ride.



Want to know how it was done? Here is the official making-of!





Video: copyright Universal Studios

New King Kong attraction coming at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2010

Marc Graser from Variety announced that Universal Studios will host in 2010 a brand new King Kong high-tech attraction on the backlot tram tour.

So, Universal Studios is finally bringing back the famous King Kong attraction, and the new one will be inspired by Peter Jackson version, and in 3D! Here is Mark's article:

King Kong may have been a casualty of the devastating fire that destroyed part of Universal Studios' backlot in Hollywood last year, but the big ape's being resurrected in 2010 as a signature attraction for the theme park.

New version will be based on Peter Jackson's redo from 2005 and use high-tech wizardry to re-create elements from the film for riders of the park's backlot tram tour.

Guests will wear 3-D glasses as they travel through Skull Island and encounter a swarm of monstrous bats before winding up in the middle of a fight between King Kong and a 35-foot-tall dinosaur.

Kong, which will utilize what U calls "the world's largest Surround Digital projection system," will be introduced in summer 2010. Expect a major promotional push around the attraction's return to boost ticket sales.

The previous attraction, introduced in 1986, was loosely based on the 1976 pic that mostly took place in New York City. That Kong had been one of the backlot tour's biggest draws until last year's fire.

"King Kong has been an integral part of Universal Studios Hollywood for decades and, after last year's fire, we knew he had to be resurrected for our studio tour guests," said Larry Kurzweil, prexy and chief operating officer of Universal Studios Hollywood. "Not only are we reintroducing King Kong, but we've completely reimagined the experience and will incorporate this legendary icon into a truly innovative studio tour attraction."

King Kong is the latest in a series of enhancements to U's Hollywood park.

Company recently overhauled its trams with high-definition flatscreen monitors and digital playback systems that feature commentary from Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and Stephen Sommers on filmmaking.

Studio tours will also resume this summer through a rebuilt Courthouse Square, Brownstone Street and an enhanced New York Street, as well as a new cityscape setting built since the blaze.

Text: copyright Marc Grazer and Variety.com

Picture: copyright Universal