Euro-AICN: With news on Bond, and reviews of Brotherhood of the Wolves, and Captain Corelli`s Mandolin

Well Edgard is off travelling the world right now, soooo Father Geek is depending on all of you Euro-geeks to send me the continental film news direct so I can post it up for the world to see. This week's a little slim, sooooo fill my E-box folks...

I have a little tidbit of rumour/news I thought you might be very interested in, especially after your post regarding Lee Tamahori directing Bond 20. You may or may not be alarmed at this. MTV news/Carson Daly has reported that Mariah Carey is attached to Bond 20. This has also been reported on DarkHorizons. Whether this means a starring role or not is unclear -- possibly what would amount to a cameo may have been written into the script specifically for her. According to swirling internet rumours, MGM has been courting Carey since Tomorrow Never Dies to appear in a Bond film, but she has never committed.

It should be noted that her name appeared on preliminary IMDB cast lists for both Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough. With her film career burgeoning, though, she may have finally accepted. Her involvement may be conditional on the success of her first starring picture, Glitter (Aug. 31), and her first dramatic role, WiseGirls (with Mira Sorvino and Melora Walters next spring). MGM wants to see if she has a screen presence and if her fans will plant their butts in theater seats to see her.

We can only hope that, if she indeed does appear in the film, she is an improvement on Denise Richards, the only person I have ever heard use two syllables to pronounce the word "ass."

Joshua

Then we have the following review...

Captain Corelli`s Mandolin Review by Vintop

In a nutshell: Shakespeare In Love director plays Spielberg with his take on WW2. Penelope Cruz Halle-Berrys her top. And the movie could be renamed Captain Corelli`s ManDULLin.

BEWARE POSSIBLE SPOILERS...

Back in 1999,many fans were shocked when WW2 masterpiece Saving Private Ryan lost the Oscar to Shakespeare In Love. This year, Shakespeare`s director John Madden is back with his take on WW2, the wartime melodrama Captain Corelli`s Mandolin starring Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz and Christian Bale. I was curious to see what Spielberg`s Oscar 1999 rival had done with such material and I left the theater totally unimpressed. In my opinion (which others don`t have to share), CCM failed both as war movie and melodrama.

Short synopsis: Italian army led by Captain Corelli (Cage) occupies Greek island where beautiful Pelagia (Cruz) lives. She`s engaged to would-be guerilla fighter Mandros(Bale) but starts falling in love with goofball Corelli. Than the Germans come and sunny days are over.

First problem with CCM is that it`s dull. For more than 2 hours nothing is going on aside Cage`s dumb antics which should woo Cruz in his bed. He does embarrassing things like serenading, all with annoyingly fake Italian accent, and other immature behavior that becomes an American Pie-ager itching to get laid for the first time but doesn`t become an officer north of 40. What was supposed to be charming about him fell flat with me. He`s a major pain in the ass and his clowning around spoils the feeling of tension between Greeks and Italian occupators which starts to built since Italian arrival on the island.

Second problem is that there isn't enough war for a war movie. Thanks to clown Corelli, Italian occuaption looks silly and unintimidating so creation of local guerilla seems forced and illogical. A big battle against Germans takes place later in the movie. It`s the highlight which , unfortunately, doesn`t manage to turn the movie`s " postcards from the seaside " image into real war drama.

Third, there`s no chemistry between Cage and Cruz to carry the melodrama. They are as sparkless as it gets in their star-crossed lovers roles which is a bad news for a flick counting heavily on their sexy fireworks to do repeat biz at the box office. C&C didn`t click at all and even Cruz fleshing her skin failed to ignate Cage`s fire. Plus, Bale is much younger and more handsome than Cage and no fool to boot so her falling for Cage seemed quite unconvincing to me.

CCM is also a fake accent movie. There is fake Greek and there is fake Italian while Penelope Cruz keeps her trade-mark Spanish accent intact. And she`s playing a Greek girl!

It wouldn`t be fair not to mention that movie-goers who like this movie think it has Oscar potential, especially Penelope Cruz. So, see it and be the judge!

Vintop

Now here's 10 excellant reasons to watch France's wonderful historical phantasy BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLVES...

First time writer, long time reader, and thank God, I've been home for the summer. Last Friday night, after seeing the so-so Planet of the Apes, my parents, who belong to this film society in L.A. said they heard on the society's tape that there would be a screening of Brotherhood of the Wolf at the USA Films Screening Room in Beverly Hills. They had no idea what it was and to be honest, after seeing the trailer online, I didn't know much other than that. But now I have seen the kickass movie of 2001, the film which exerts its excrement upon the Tomb Raiders and Swordfishes of the world, a French film with distinctly Asian roots, while remaining true to its identity. Harry, this film simply kicks the shit out of any film I've seen in a long time.

However, I'm going to keep this review brief and bereft of spoilers because I feel part of the film's magic is in its element of surprise. Outside of Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel, the actors are mostly unknown to U.S. audiences. The fusion of kungfu and sheer horror have never been combined quite like this and it's simply better not to know much going in.

Still, here are the ten reasons you should go see this film:

* 10) The first five minutes-between a beastly attack and a wicked fight with wooden canes, it's more reasoned and boneshaking action than all the summer films combined.

* 9) The Indian, Manni- I have no idea where they found this guy, but he's Jet Li with all the mythology of an ancient Native American.

* 8) The Beast-a terrifying creation that could easily rank with the best of Stan Winston

* 7) The Love Story- believe it or not, the love story between the rich governess and the lead character in the film, a medical examiner/warrior (just another reason to see the film) is moving.

* 6) Monica Bellucci- For those who dig mysterious women who recieve commands by the unknown, just wait till you get a load of her. Plus, she is as usual, hot.

* 5) The weapons- Segmented swords which separate, fans with razor tipped edges, etc.

* 4) Guys with claws, excluding everyone's favorite Canadian- It's already been too long since X-Men, but these two clawed bastards are a healthy divergence.

* 3) Did I mention how badass that Indian Manni was?

* 2) Spectacular cinematography, edited Woo-style, but as elegant as Leconte's Girl on the Bridge, except it's in color.

* 1) Have you been going to the movies this summer?

Call me Marcellus Wallace the III

Annnnnnd here is another bit on the new BOND...

Daniel Dykes from Bond 20 @ CommanderBond.Net : http://www.commanderbond.net/?cat=bond20 here! Just thought I'd fill you in.

Neil Purvis and Robert Wade have in fact written the first draft of the Bond 20 Script and submitted it to the producers. They were hired again after The World Is Not Enough !

Well, that's it for today, remember while Edgard's on vacation throughout August you need to send all your Euro-scoops to Father Geek here at World Geek Headquarters in Austin, Texas!!!