Lovely Bones with Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz

The Lovely Bones Movie with Peter JacksonBased on the best selling book by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones is the story of a 14-year-old girl from suburban Pennsylvania who is murdered by her neighbor. She tells the story from Heaven, showing the lives of the people around her and how they have changed all while attempting to get someone to find her lost body.

The Lovely Bones is directly by Peter Jackson (who also wrote the screenplay) and stars Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon and Michael Imperioli of Sopranos Fame.

There was some shuffling of actors before the filming of the movie began. Mark Wahlberg replaced Ryan Gosling just days before shooting of the movie began. In preparation for the role, Gosling had gained 20 pounds and grew out a beard. However, he vacated the role due to creative differences. Wahlberg, who had just completed shooting The Happening, another movie shot in Pennsylvania, became available just in time to accept Gosling’s role. Helen Hunt was reportedly considered for the role of Abigail Salmon. Instead, Rachel Weisz accepted the role, and was the first actor cast in the movie.

The movie is scheduled for release on 13 March 2009 but this can change as production progresses.

May 4, 2008 | Filed Under Upcoming Movies | 4 Comments 
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Manoj Night Shyamalan’s The Happening

The Happening MovieManoj Night Shyamalan’s The Happening is a paranoid thriller about a family on the run from a natural crisis that presents a large-scale threat to humanity. This movie stars Mark Wahlberg and John Leguizamo. Apparently, Shyamalan wrote the screenplay for The Happening with Mark Wahlberg in mind for the lead role.

Since The Sixth Sense in 1999, Manoj Night Shyamalan has been under a lot of pressure to churn out blockbuster after blockbuster and you get the feeling that the pressure is affecting his work or maybe Sixth Sense was a flash in the pan. I would not be surprised if The Happening went down the same path as some of his recent movies.

You can also sense how desperate he is for a winner by the tag line of the new movie - “We’ve Sensed It. We’ve Seen The Signs. Now… It’s Happening”. Translation: “Remember those movies I made earlier? I hope so”

I would love to be wrong and I really hope the movie does well. Shyamalan is a good movie maker but I think he has used his formula too many times and every movie has been worse than the one before it.

Godspeed, Manoj.

You can see the trailer for The Happening here.

April 13, 2008 | Filed Under Upcoming Movies | Leave a Comment 
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Mark Wahlberg is Max Payne!

Mark Wahlberg as Max PayneAnother movie based on a video game, you might start to think that this movie blog is only about movies based on video games. Trust me, this is just a coincidence :)

Mark Wahlberg is here to break the jinx even before the Prince Of Persia movie is released. The movie is slated for release on 17th October 2008. The Max Payne movie is directed by John Moore and joining Mark Wahlberg is the movie will be Mila Kunis as Mona Sax, Chris O’Donnell as Jason Colvin and Beau Bridges (rumored) as BB Hensley.

The story goes like this - Mark Wahlberg is a DEA agent whose family is killed as a part of a conspiracy and Mila Kunis plays Mona Sax who is out to avenger her sister’s death. They both come together when they are hunted by the police, the mob and a ruthless corporation.

April 11, 2008 | Filed Under Movies Based on Videogames, Upcoming Movies | 7 Comments 
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