ShoWest 2008 Report 1

Life on the road with the Dempster!

It was a rollicking four days for Sheldon and I at ShoWest 2008. Looking to compile video footage for our new show "Film Fanatics", we were also on hand to soak in hours of cinematic goodness. For those not familiar with the annual convention, let me set the stage a bit. ShoWest is thrown by the National Association of Theater Owners (or, as they preferred to be called-NATO). Essentially, the con is a showcase for all the latest in movie theater hardware. Theater furnishing, sound and projection equipment, marquees, the latest in snack bar goodies etc. More importantly though, ShoWest is a big time movie buzz generator. Every year, the studios head out to Sin City--Bally's and Paris Hotel-- in an effort to spread the word on their upcoming film slates. Included in the festivities; Celebs galore, product reels, promotional goodie bags, and advance screenings of upcoming films. So as you can see, ShoWest is quite a bit different from all the other film related events out there. It isn't really like Sundance or Comic-Con because it's more geared towards movie theater personnel rather than casual movie goers and press types. Still, if you're a big time movie geek, ShoWest is not to be missed. And the movie geeks were in full force during the course of the four day convention--writers from iesb.net, collider.com, comingsoon.net, firstshowing.net, and flickchicks.com were all on hand. There's a lot to cover so let's jump right in.

3-D! THE WAVE OF THE CINEMATIC FUTURE?

With the escalating popularity of home theaters, film makers are trying to come up with new and exciting ways to beef up the theatrical experience. Leading the charge? 3-D and Imax. Not that 3-D is new technology. Actually, the third eye has been part of the movie business for many years dating back to titles like Creature From the Black Lagoon and House of Wax. The current 3-D, however, is an entirely new experience. With the recent success of the Hannah Montana concert film–it grossed a whopping $31 million in it's opening weekend alone–and U2 3-D, expect a barrage of 3-D titles in the near future. 3-D has been a topic of discussion at ShoWest in the past. Back in 2005, I was witness to an unforgettable panel discussion comprised of George Lucas, James Cameron, Robert Rodriguez, and Robert Zemeckis. These gifted film makers called 3-D the wave of the cinematic future and they had amazing footage–including digitally transferred scenes from Star Wars, Titanic, and Lord of the Rings–to back up their claim. Since, we've seen a growing number of 3-D efforts brought to the screen (i.e. Superman Returns and Beowulf–both presented in Imax 3-D, Chicken Little, and Meet the Robinsons just to name a few). Expect several more titles in the third dimension in the next several months. Here's a look at some noteworthy 3-D films that were represented at the convention.

MONSTERS VS. ALIENS

Before the Monsters Vs. Aliens presentation began, Jeffrey Katzenberg hit the stage and talked a bit about the enormously popular 3-D process. To give the audience a little taste of the technology, he brought along a special clip from Dreamworks' upcoming Kung Fu Panda (a film which we would see in it's entirety later on during the convention). The twist? The clip was digitally transferred into the 3-D format (Kung Fu Panda will not be released in 3-D). In the short clip, Kung Fu Panda's chief nemesis, a tiger named Tai Lung, busts our of his high security prison. The clip was fast paced and extremely cool, and it merely wet our appetites for what was to come.

From Dreamworks Pictures and producer Jeffrey Katzenberg comes Monsters Vs. Aliens in 3-D, a computer animated feature about an epic battle between...well....Monsters and Aliens. Directed by Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon, this sci-fi/comedy features an all star roster of comedic vocal talent including Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Stephen Colbert, Will Arnett, and Kiefer Sutherland. Monsters Vs. Aliens is still in the thick of production and wont be released until 2009, but Dreamworks was good enough to give us a little taste. In the eight minute clip, the president of the United States (voiced by a hilarious Stephen Colbert) leads a military squad to an alien visitation site. Before long, all hell breaks lose. The clip was overflowing with hilariously playful jabs at E.T., Close Encounters, and Beverly Hills Cop. Visually, Monsters Vs. Aliens is incredibly striking. Computer animation has advanced in a big way and this sequence was breathtaking in a way I wasn't prepared for. Of course the awe inspiring 3-D process and the perfectly deafening sound system ensured that this was a perfect presentation. Monsters Vs. Aliens in 3-D opens in March of 2009.

FLY ME TO THE MOON

Summit Entertainment treated ShoWest attendees to a trailer for their upcoming film Fly Me to the Moon, as well as about ten minutes from the unfinished project. This computer animated feature tells the tale of three young flies whose dreams of space flight ultimately take them aboard the first famed flight to the moon back in the late 60's. I hadn't really heard a whole lot about this movie, but after getting a look at the footage, I have to tell you. I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest of it. What's really interesting about the project, is that it's historically accurate. Obviously, there wasn't a trio of stowaway flies on the space flight, but technically speaking, the film makers have taken their time in recreating this monumental moment in history. The story of these cute little flies will appeal to the little ones in the audience, but at the same time, Fly Me to the Moon is an educational experience. Young viewers may not even be aware that they're re-living one of the most groundbreaking events in history. It's essentially Ron Howard's Apollo 13, only animated and with three flies on the mission. The 3-D process is perfectly suited for this project. There aren't a lot of gimmicks here. The technology simply brings the audience into the action. I can't wait to see the finished project. Fly Me to the Moon opens on Aug. 22nd.

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH

The dreaded studio embargo prohibits me from actually reviewing this film–which we did see in it's entirety–so I will honor New Line Cinema's wishes. I can give you a brief synopsis of the film. This updating of the Jules Verne classic features the forever goofy Brendan Fraser as Trevor, a scientist convinced that Jules Verne's popular piece of literature is based in truth. Along with his young nephew (Josh Hutcherson) and a beautiful mountain guide (Anita Briem), he sets out to prove that it is true. Before long, this trio of adventurers finds themselves in a most extraordinary predicament and they must use Verne's novel as an instructional if they're going to make it out alive. Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D is the first live action 3-D film to be shot and released in this exciting digital process. The film was directed by Visual effects man Eric Brevig. The film presentation was sharp and vibrant thanks to a dual digital projection system, but truth be told, there were a few moments in the picture where the 3-D effects blurred a bit–particularly in the heavy action sequences. Still, this 3-D process is much more effective than the 3-D process of twenty years ago.

XPAND 3-D

During the course of the hectic four day convention, Sheldon and I had the opportunity to take part in an Xpand presentation. Xpand is another company getting in on the 3-D action. The demonstration was in a small screening facility, but it was still pretty impressive. What really kicked ass about this particular presentation is that we were shown clips from older films that have been impressively transferred into the 3-D format. Included; a montage of clips from Star Wars and Revenge of the Sith. The highlight for me came in the form a series of clips from George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead. It's one of my all time favorite films, and in the third dimension, it was even cooler. You haven't seen a zombie get it's head blown off until you've seen it in 3-D. A great presentation.

So as you can plainly see, 3-D is coming back in a big way. On the horizon, we have James Cameron's highly anticipated Avatar to look forward to. True, 3-D isn't a process for every movie, but for some–including big time tent pole releases–it's the perfect way to bring an exciting sense of awe inspiring grandeur to the theatrical movie going experience. Throw Imax into the mix, and you have a night at the movies that can't be duplicated in the home theater.

There's plenty more to come from ShoWest 2008 including the Warner Brothers Presentation (i.e. The Dark Knight, Speed Racer, Get Smart, Star Wars: The Clone Wars etc.) and the Universal Pictures Presentation (The Incredible Hulk, Hellboy II, Wanted, etc.). Also, a look at 21, Kung Fu Panda, Hamlet 2, Redbelt, Then She Found Me, and What Happens in Vegas. Stay tuned!