If you haven't bought a copy of Dredd...

The theatrical release of Dredd was met with a lukewarm reception at the box office.  It didn't recoup it's $45 million budget, making only $36.4 million.  Many who have seen it were left scratching their heads.  How could such a good film pull in such poor box office numbers?  Many speculated that it was the hard boiled, unyielding nature of it's action.  Gruesome, ultra violent, in an age where more and more films water down to achieve box office acceptance (Taken 2 is the most recent, and notable example of this), Dredd took off the gloves and swung away with knuckles bared.

Mistake?...

Most certainly not.  Doing anything but what they did would have been a disservice to the source material.  What Pete Travis and Alex Garland (with the help of many others) have created is, in my opinion, the most faithful, and downright best, comic adaptation of recent memory.  Although the film is greatly self contained, with no annoying 'wait until the next film' loose ends, I would dearly love to see more of this world and the characters within it, we know there are plenty more to introduce.  Little touches like the 'Chopper' graffiti tag, and an interview here with Alex Garland http://whatculture.com/film/alex-garland-interview-dredd-3d-slo-mo-sequel-ideas-more.php gave me hope that this would happen.

Then came the box office numbers...

Shortly followed by the reviews and articles saying that a sequel now would not happen.  Dredd had one more card to play, the DVD/Blu-Ray release.  We've come a long way since the days of Shawshank Redemption and VHS.  A film that also had a disappointing box office run, only to receive several Oscar nods and become the top rental film of 1995.  I can't see Dredd getting any Oscar nominations, and piracy is rife, but I've got everything crossed that home sales can elevate Dredd from box office disappointment to cult classic, and if the stars align a sequel.

So far so good?...

In the first week of sales, Dredd has shifted over 650,000 physical copies alone.  As well as topping the digital sales chart.  If this trend continues, and doesn't prove a flash in the pan, who knows?  So if you haven't bought a copy already, what are you waiting for?!

I'll even put the links here for you...

Physical:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dredd-Blu-ray-3D-Karl-Urban/dp/B008OGHUFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359059898&sr=8-1

Digital:  https://itunes.apple.com/gb/movie/dredd/id588738013

DO IT!!

Hold off on the Nolan box set....

If you, like me, think that Christopher Nolan has the midas touch when it comes to the big screen, then this could be good news.

In the void following the release of the last of the Dark Knight Trilogy, all eyes (ears, and digital equivalent) have been on what direction Nolan will take next.  And it looks like we might not have to wait long to find out.

Interstellar, a time travelling, sic-fi epic penned by his brother Jonathan may well be next on his list.  Originally tipped to have Spielberg at the helm, rumours are rife that the recent 'indefinite' postponement of Robopocalypse may have caused Nolan to make a move on this project before Spielberg officially put his name to it.

Let's hope there's more to follow on this soon.

Ringing in the New Year....

....the wrong way!

During the latter part of 2012, I had the opportunity to watch a reasonable amount of good films including Seven Psychopaths, The Hobbit, Argo, and even Jack Reacher.  Overall, 2012 was a great year for film in my opinion, so towards the end I got a little frustrated that I didn't have more chance to blog about the films I was watching.  It was during time spent reviewing the films that I had been to see most recently, that the picture above becomes relevant.  I was idly scanning the movies listings to see if there was anything on worth watching.  Now you might argue that Underworld: Awakening (don't forget the colon), is not worth watching, but I have to admit a soft spot for the first two films of the franchise.  I'm also entertained by the way Len Wiseman parades his wife Kate Beckinsale around in his films, and fair play to the guy, who wouldn't?

So last night, I found myself watching this fourth instalment to the franchise, and I was disappointed.  With the return of Beckinsale, and the potential for Charles Dance to add a Bill Nighy style gravitas to proceedings, I was hoping for more.  I felt nothing for any of the characters, the story was throw away, and came to no real conclusion.  The final shot, panning out from the roof top where the characters are standing, with Kate spewing forth a monologue about the war not being over, was cringe worthy.  I'm sure that the intention was to leave the door open for future Underworld films, if they decide the horse hasn't been flogged enough later down the line.

Imagine my shock then, to find out that it was the most successful Underworld at the box office.  I appreciate that the first film was poorly received, and relied on a slow burning cult following to open the door for a second.  But for it to be pulling in bigger crowds 4 films down the line, I do find a surprise.  Even as an unlimited cinema card holder, this would be at the bottom of any potential watch list I might have.  It opened alongside Red Tails, Haywire, and Coriolanus, all of which I would have rather seen at the cinema, and it took more at the box office than the 3 of them combined!

I suppose the silver lining to this cloud is that there's always the chance that we'll see Kate don that infamous skin tight outfit once more.