Stars: Jennifer Taylor, Julia Terranova, Emily Sweet, Justin C. Schilling, Patrick Cronen, Richard Neil, Kamen Casey | Written by Daniel West | Directed by David Benullo
Hostage House sees an ambitious realtor, who’s showing a palatial-looking home in her neighbourhood, get caught up, along with her daughter, in a hostage situation during an open house…
Who doesn’t love a good Die Hard-esque home invasion movie? Homeowners versus thieves in a battle of wits… Or maybe an adult version of Home Alone, with traps taking out crooks? Yeah Hostage House is neither of those things; no matter how much I wanted it to be. I does feature its protagonists eventually taking on the thieves but the bulk of the film plays more on the tension between captives and captors – only finally moving into anything resembling your typical home invasion movie in the final third of the film.
Which is odd...
Hostage House sees an ambitious realtor, who’s showing a palatial-looking home in her neighbourhood, get caught up, along with her daughter, in a hostage situation during an open house…
Who doesn’t love a good Die Hard-esque home invasion movie? Homeowners versus thieves in a battle of wits… Or maybe an adult version of Home Alone, with traps taking out crooks? Yeah Hostage House is neither of those things; no matter how much I wanted it to be. I does feature its protagonists eventually taking on the thieves but the bulk of the film plays more on the tension between captives and captors – only finally moving into anything resembling your typical home invasion movie in the final third of the film.
Which is odd...
- 8/5/2021
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Director Allan Ungar might have found his next big actioner in Decoy, a project with some compelling star power in Frank Grillo (The Purge: Anarchy), Andy Garcia (The Untouchables) and Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf). Written by David Benullo, the story centers on an identity thief who becomes hunted by the Nsa after he steals the identity of a wanted man. The script was featured on the 2014 Hit List which tracks well-liked, unproduced work. Ungar's last film was the raucous 80s throwback Gridlocked, which channeled the fun of buddy cop films like Lethal Weapon and The Hard Way. That film starred Dominic Purcell, Stephen Lang and Danny Glover and is available on Netflix. The Hollywood Reporter has the scoop on the film and the fact...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 9/8/2017
- Screen Anarchy
Andy Garcia, Frank Grillo and Teen Wolf star Tyler Posey are teaming up to star in Decoy, an action thriller to be directed by Allan Ungar.
13 Films is handling international sales and will introduce the film to buyers at the Toronto International Film Festival. Andrew Gunn (Sky High) and Michael Bien (Billionaire Boys Club) are on board to produce.
Written by David Benullo, the script centers on a young identity thief (Posey) who finds himself being hunted by the Nsa after he unwittingly steals the identity of a wanted man. Grillo will play the head of a task force...
13 Films is handling international sales and will introduce the film to buyers at the Toronto International Film Festival. Andrew Gunn (Sky High) and Michael Bien (Billionaire Boys Club) are on board to produce.
Written by David Benullo, the script centers on a young identity thief (Posey) who finds himself being hunted by the Nsa after he unwittingly steals the identity of a wanted man. Grillo will play the head of a task force...
- 9/7/2017
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Stars: Randy Orton, Cindy Busby, Brian Markinson, Chelsey Reist, Sean Rogerson, Jesse Hutch, Patrick Gilmore | Written by David Benullo | Directed by Roel Reiné
I reviewed the original 12 Rounds, which starred the WWE’s John Cena way back in 2009 and now, some four years later, the clumsily titled 12 Rounds 2 is set for a straight to DVD release – bypassing the cinematic release the original received – sans Cena, but with fellow WWE superstar Randy Orton in the lead role. And like it’s WWE Studios stable-mate The Marine (which also starred John Cena), this sequel bares no relation to the original film besides the “rounds” format – featuring all new characters, new situations and a new cast.
This time round (groan) Randy Orton stars as paramedic Nick Malloy, who finds himself caught in a deadly 12-round game of cat and mouse with a vigilante tied to the paramedic’s past. With little time to...
I reviewed the original 12 Rounds, which starred the WWE’s John Cena way back in 2009 and now, some four years later, the clumsily titled 12 Rounds 2 is set for a straight to DVD release – bypassing the cinematic release the original received – sans Cena, but with fellow WWE superstar Randy Orton in the lead role. And like it’s WWE Studios stable-mate The Marine (which also starred John Cena), this sequel bares no relation to the original film besides the “rounds” format – featuring all new characters, new situations and a new cast.
This time round (groan) Randy Orton stars as paramedic Nick Malloy, who finds himself caught in a deadly 12-round game of cat and mouse with a vigilante tied to the paramedic’s past. With little time to...
- 6/24/2013
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
The official trailer for the WWE Studios produced film 12 Rounds: Reloaded has arrived, and as usual – you can check it out in the rest of this report. Guess that the only reason we’re (all) actually interested in this so-called explosive thriller is Randy Orton, who stars as paramedic Nick Malloy & will apparently lead us through the ultimate game of cat and mouse. Or something like that… Let me first inform you that Roel Reiné directed the movie from a script written by David Benullo, and that, beside Orton, the pic also stars Brian Markinson, Cindy Busby, Sean Rogerson and Patrick Gilmore. Now,...
Click to continue reading Trailer & Poster For 12 Rounds: Reloaded, Starring Randy Orton! on www.filmofilia.com...
Click to continue reading Trailer & Poster For 12 Rounds: Reloaded, Starring Randy Orton! on www.filmofilia.com...
- 5/9/2013
- by Jeanne Standal
- Filmofilia
Ra.One
Stars: Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Armaan Verma | Written by David Benullo, Shahrukh Khan | Directed by Anubhav Sinha
India has dipped its toes in the superhero genre before but never on such a grand scale. Ra.One is the most expensive Hindi film made to date, and while it’s quite enjoyable, and will do well (it’s already breaking box office records in India), for all the ambition and effort, I expected more.
The plot is simple enough, though not entirely original. The villain of a video game (designed with artificial intelligence, by Shekhar) comes to life to kill Prateek, Shekhar’s son, after he boasts about being able to defeat Ra.One, the most powerful villain ever created. The only way to save him, and the world, is to bring the hero of the game, G.One, to life as well, who is modeled on...
Stars: Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Armaan Verma | Written by David Benullo, Shahrukh Khan | Directed by Anubhav Sinha
India has dipped its toes in the superhero genre before but never on such a grand scale. Ra.One is the most expensive Hindi film made to date, and while it’s quite enjoyable, and will do well (it’s already breaking box office records in India), for all the ambition and effort, I expected more.
The plot is simple enough, though not entirely original. The villain of a video game (designed with artificial intelligence, by Shekhar) comes to life to kill Prateek, Shekhar’s son, after he boasts about being able to defeat Ra.One, the most powerful villain ever created. The only way to save him, and the world, is to bring the hero of the game, G.One, to life as well, who is modeled on...
- 10/30/2011
- by Maahin
- Nerdly
The shooting and most of the post-production work of Shahrukh Khan’s Ra One, according to very reliable sources, is now complete.
The superhero film, made on a very high budget, is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. Written by David Benullo and directed by Anubhav Sinha (Cash, Dus) Ra One is produced by Gauri Khan under the Red Chillies Entertainment banner.
Source say, both the actor and the director watched the Read More...
The superhero film, made on a very high budget, is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. Written by David Benullo and directed by Anubhav Sinha (Cash, Dus) Ra One is produced by Gauri Khan under the Red Chillies Entertainment banner.
Source say, both the actor and the director watched the Read More...
- 4/27/2011
- by Indicine Team
- indicine
by Colleen Wanglund, MoreHorror.com
Hallowed Ground (2007) was written and directed by David Benullo and it stars Jaimie Alexander as Liz Chambers, a young woman who ends up stranded in the small town of Hope due to car trouble. It seems as though Liz’s arrival in Hope was foretold a century before by a mad preacher who killed his “enemies” and placed them in a cornfield as scarecrows. Liz is an important part of the prophecy that foretells of the preacher’s rebirth. Now an entire town is looking for Liz so she can bring about the return of their preacher.
Okay, religious zealots and a cornfield….where have I seen that before? Oh right! It was already done with Stephen King’s Children Of The Corn (1984) which was re-made in 2009 after countless sequels—but I digress. So we’ve established that it’s been done before. Maybe go...
Hallowed Ground (2007) was written and directed by David Benullo and it stars Jaimie Alexander as Liz Chambers, a young woman who ends up stranded in the small town of Hope due to car trouble. It seems as though Liz’s arrival in Hope was foretold a century before by a mad preacher who killed his “enemies” and placed them in a cornfield as scarecrows. Liz is an important part of the prophecy that foretells of the preacher’s rebirth. Now an entire town is looking for Liz so she can bring about the return of their preacher.
Okay, religious zealots and a cornfield….where have I seen that before? Oh right! It was already done with Stephen King’s Children Of The Corn (1984) which was re-made in 2009 after countless sequels—but I digress. So we’ve established that it’s been done before. Maybe go...
- 3/5/2011
- by admin
- MoreHorror
There is a lot of confusion about the contribution and role of David Benullo, a Hollywood screenwriter, in Shah Rulh Khan's under-production Anubhav Sinha directed Ra.One.There were rumours that not satisfied with the original script (by Srk himself, Anubhav and Mushtaq) Shah Rukh Khan had handed over the entire work to David, to get that Hollywoodish touch to the superhero flick. However, that is not the case. What is true is that David Benullo did visit the various sites (in Mumbai) which would be part of the backdrop of Ra.One to visualize it. Actually, Benullo is writing the superhero part of the collaborative script by Srk, Sinha and Sheikh and they are working as a team. The much awaited Ra.One is expected to release sometimes during the first quarter of 2011. ...
- 7/19/2010
- Filmicafe
There is a lot of confusion about the contribution and role of David Benullo, a Hollywood screenwriter, in Shah Rulh Khan's under-production Anubhav Sinha directed Ra.One. There were rumours that not satisfied with the original script (by Srk himself, Anubhav and Mushtaq) Shah Rukh Khan had handed over the entire work to David, to get that Hollywoodish touch to the superhero flick. However, that is not the case. What is true is that David Benullo did visit the various...
- 7/19/2010
- GlamSham
Shah Rukh Khan, the Badshah of bollywood who roped in reputed rap singer Akon to sing a number in his upcoming home production .Ra 1., has decided to cast the Senegalese singer in one of the important roles in the film. In fact, Shah Rukh Khan and Akon discussed the final contours of his character at the recently hosted party at Marriott. Presently, Akon is in Mumbai on Srk.s invitation and has been staying in the city as his valued guest. Sources say that it was in this connection that Shah Rukh arranged a big bash at Marriott to honor the guest.The major part of the shoot for this film will take place in Miami, USA, as Shah Rukh plays a Us based scientist Shekhar in the film. Director Anubhav Sinha has planned the flick on a big scale and special effects team has been hired from Hollywood. As...
- 3/9/2010
- Stardust Scoop of the Day
Shah Rukh Khan, the Badshah of bollywood who roped in reputed rap singer Akon to sing a number in his upcoming home production .Ra 1., has decided to cast the Senegalese singer in one of the important roles in the film. In fact, Shah Rukh Khan and Akon discussed the final contours of his character at the recently hosted party at Marriott. Presently, Akon is in Mumbai on Srk.s invitation and has been staying in the city as his valued guest. Sources say that it was in this connection that Shah Rukh arranged a big bash at Marriott to honor the guest.The major part of the shoot for this film will take place in Miami, USA, as Shah Rukh plays a Us based scientist Shekhar in the film. Director Anubhav Sinha has planned the flick on a big scale and special effects team has been hired from Hollywood. As...
- 3/9/2010
- Stardust Bollywood
Nevada (Us), Feb 28 – American singer-songwriter Akon is reportedly appearing in Bollywood big-budget action film “Ra.One”, starring megastar Shahrukh Khan.
Akon, 36, and Filmfare winner Shahrukh reportedly recently met in Los Angeles (USA). Akon, besides one song, will reportedly also form part of the cast. Directed by Anubhav Sinha (Tum Bin), science-fiction superhero hi-tech film “Ra.One” is written by David Benullo (Shadow Man), cinematography by Ueli Steiger (The Maiden Heist), and music by Vishal-Shekhar. Besides Shahrukh,.
Akon, 36, and Filmfare winner Shahrukh reportedly recently met in Los Angeles (USA). Akon, besides one song, will reportedly also form part of the cast. Directed by Anubhav Sinha (Tum Bin), science-fiction superhero hi-tech film “Ra.One” is written by David Benullo (Shadow Man), cinematography by Ueli Steiger (The Maiden Heist), and music by Vishal-Shekhar. Besides Shahrukh,.
- 2/28/2010
- by News
- RealBollywood.com
Nevada, Feb 27- American singer-songwriter Akon is reportedly appearing in Bollywood big-budget action film “Ra.One”, starring megastar Shahrukh Khan. Akon, besides singing one song, will reportedly also form part of the cast.
Directed by Anubhav Sinha, science-fiction superhero hi-tech film “Ra.One” is written by David Benullo, cinematography by Ueli Steiger and music by Vishal-Shekhar.
Besides Shahrukh, it also stars Kareena Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi. Shahrukh reportedly plays a Miami software engineer Shekhar in the film, who as a video-game hero takes on his self-created techno-monster “Ra.One”.
Shooting locations include Miami, and Shahrukh’s.
Directed by Anubhav Sinha, science-fiction superhero hi-tech film “Ra.One” is written by David Benullo, cinematography by Ueli Steiger and music by Vishal-Shekhar.
Besides Shahrukh, it also stars Kareena Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi. Shahrukh reportedly plays a Miami software engineer Shekhar in the film, who as a video-game hero takes on his self-created techno-monster “Ra.One”.
Shooting locations include Miami, and Shahrukh’s.
- 2/27/2010
- by News
- RealBollywood.com
Jackie Chan reportedly will spread his wings in Bollywood. According to Mid-Day, the Hong Kong-born actor has been approached to play in upcoming action entitled "Ra. One". If the deal is sealed, he will star opposite famous Indian star Shahrukh Khan.
"They are hoping Jackie agrees to be part of the film. The production house has sent him a detailed script with the action scenes and a brief synopsis of his character," a source claimed. As for the role that is offered to Jackie, reports suggested that he may play a scientist who helps Shahrukh fight off the bad guys.
This Bollywood financed production will be set in Miami and use Hollywood crew. Anubhav Sinha will serve behind the cameras while David Benullo ("Shadow Man") will provide the script and Ueli Steiger ("The Maiden Heist") will be responsible of the cinematography. In addition to Shahrukh Khan, this superhero thriller has...
"They are hoping Jackie agrees to be part of the film. The production house has sent him a detailed script with the action scenes and a brief synopsis of his character," a source claimed. As for the role that is offered to Jackie, reports suggested that he may play a scientist who helps Shahrukh fight off the bad guys.
This Bollywood financed production will be set in Miami and use Hollywood crew. Anubhav Sinha will serve behind the cameras while David Benullo ("Shadow Man") will provide the script and Ueli Steiger ("The Maiden Heist") will be responsible of the cinematography. In addition to Shahrukh Khan, this superhero thriller has...
- 1/30/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
According to the industry film tracking website TrackingB.com, Stuart Gordon ("Re-animator", "Stuck") is attached to direct the film adaptation of William Hope Hodgson's ground-breaking horror novel House on the Borderlands. Adapted by David Benullo ("Hallowed Ground"), the supernatural thriller focuses on a family that relocates to a relative's rural home only to discover it guards the border between our dimension and another which is inhabited by a race of hostile creatures. No other info is available at this time. Look for more as it comes!...
- 7/25/2009
- www.ohmygore.com/
According to TrackingB.com, "Re-Animator" director Stuart Gordon's next film won't be the oft-rumored "Thing on the Doorstep." Instead it's a project called "The House on the Borderland," an adaptation of William Hope Hodgson's novel published in 1908, from a screenplay by David Benullo. The novel was apparently an inspiration to H.P. Lovecraft. The basic storyline: In 1877, two gentlemen, Messrs Tonnison and Berreggnog, head into Ireland to spend a week fishing in the village of Kraighten. While there, they discover in the ruins of a very curious house a diary of the man who had once owned it. Its torn pages seem to hint at an evil beyond anything that existed on this side of the curtains of impossibility..
- 7/20/2009
- ESplatter.com
Industry site TrackingB.com may have a lead on Stuart Gordon's next film. And, sadly, it isn't The Thing on the Doorstep . The site says the Re-Animator director is in line to direct The House on the Borderland , an adaptation of the novel by William Hope Hodgson. Published in 1908, the novel was also adapted by DC Comics with art by Richard Corben. David Benullo penned the screen adaptation for Gordon which tells of a man who discovers his home rests on an inter-dimensional gateway populated by pig-like beasts. The story is told through passages in a discovered diary. Hodgson's novel is said to have inspired H.P. Lovecraft.
- 7/17/2009
- shocktillyoudrop.com
Shahrukh Khan has roped in a Hollywood writer to script his upcoming superhero film, to be directed by Anubhav Sinha, who has previously directed movies like Tum Bin, Dus and Cash.
Srk has signed on David Benullo, who has previously scripted Hollywood films like ‘Cupid and Shadow Man’ and ‘Hallowed Ground’.
Why has Srk gone Hollywood? Does Bollywood lack quality writers? Well according to a source close to Srk’s Red Chillies Entertainment, Ra 1 isn’t a typical Bollywood masala entertainer and the film needs to be treated differently. Loads of special effects will be used, along with lots of action sequences. Srk wanted someone who could Read More...
Srk has signed on David Benullo, who has previously scripted Hollywood films like ‘Cupid and Shadow Man’ and ‘Hallowed Ground’.
Why has Srk gone Hollywood? Does Bollywood lack quality writers? Well according to a source close to Srk’s Red Chillies Entertainment, Ra 1 isn’t a typical Bollywood masala entertainer and the film needs to be treated differently. Loads of special effects will be used, along with lots of action sequences. Srk wanted someone who could Read More...
- 6/19/2009
- by Indicine Team
- indicine
Now Shah Rukh Khan will try his punches on Amitabh Bachchan! If media reports are to be believed, King Khan's new home production Happy New Year will have some heavy-duty action scenes between the two Bollywood Titans. The Farah Khan-directed action romance is slated for 2010 release. Meanwhile, after Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan, Srk will be playing a superhero in David Benullo's directed Ra-1....
- 6/18/2009
- GlamSham
Shah Rukh Khan has got Hollywood writer David Benullo for his next production, Ra.1, which is being directed by Anubhav Sinha.
Ra.1 is an SFX film, Benullo has written the screenplay for Around the World in 80 Days and the script for Hallowed Ground, Cupid and Shadow Man, which had won the International Fantasy Film Award in 2006.
An industry insider said, “Since Ra.1 is not a run-of-the-mill film, it requires a unique treatment. It’s has loads of special effects, which is why it will be made differently from the usual commercial Hindi films. Srk wanted a writer who would do justice to the film. Which is why he got David Benullo to work on the script.”
“The writer has already started work on the film when he was he was in India recently. He was working from the Red Chillies office. He had several discussions with Srk when he was recuperating after his shoulder surgery,...
Ra.1 is an SFX film, Benullo has written the screenplay for Around the World in 80 Days and the script for Hallowed Ground, Cupid and Shadow Man, which had won the International Fantasy Film Award in 2006.
An industry insider said, “Since Ra.1 is not a run-of-the-mill film, it requires a unique treatment. It’s has loads of special effects, which is why it will be made differently from the usual commercial Hindi films. Srk wanted a writer who would do justice to the film. Which is why he got David Benullo to work on the script.”
“The writer has already started work on the film when he was he was in India recently. He was working from the Red Chillies office. He had several discussions with Srk when he was recuperating after his shoulder surgery,...
- 3/27/2009
- by mihirkula
- India.com
After his recent trip to the Golden Globes and Slumdog’s success, Srk is trying to go global too! The recent chain of events have been quite an inspiration for many and that includes Srk.
King Khan has got Hollywood writer David Benullo for his next production, Ra.1, to be directed by Anubhav Sinha. Ra.1 is an SFX film and is expected to release early next year.
Benullo has written the screenplay for films like ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ and the script for ‘Hallowed Ground’, ‘Cupid and Shadow Man’, which won the International Fantasy Film Award in 2006.
An.
King Khan has got Hollywood writer David Benullo for his next production, Ra.1, to be directed by Anubhav Sinha. Ra.1 is an SFX film and is expected to release early next year.
Benullo has written the screenplay for films like ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ and the script for ‘Hallowed Ground’, ‘Cupid and Shadow Man’, which won the International Fantasy Film Award in 2006.
An.
- 3/20/2009
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Take a look at the latest movie poster for the upcoming Sci-Fi film ” Never Cry Werewolf ” by director David Benullo and starring Nina Dobrev ( Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen ), Kevin Sorbo ( Bitch Slap ) and Peter Stebbings. Synopsis: When 16-year-old Loren (Nina Dobrev) and her family greet a new neighbor – a good-looking single guy and his dog – she senses something mysterious and dangerous about him. Her suspicions become further aroused when some of the locals begin disappearing one by one. As Loren becomes obsessed with her neighbor’s behavior, she is unaware that he is monitoring her just as closely – like a hungry wolf stalks its prey at night. With the help of local [...]...
- 7/26/2008
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
Why the latest Jackie Chan movie is called "Around the World in 80 Days" is a mystery. Better to call it "Lau Xing and the Jade Buddha". Any resemblance between Jules Verne's marvelous science fiction novel or Mike Todd's enjoyable 1956 movie is pure happenstance. This is simply a Jackie Chan movie pitched to youngsters who enjoy slapstick fights and goofy caricatures. When Verne's hero, stalwart British sporting gentleman Phileas Fogg, gets turned into a second banana to his French valet played by Chan, and Indian Princess Aouda and her dramatic rescue by Fogg get replaced by a French hat-check girl, you know the filmmakers have pretty much chucked old Jules out the window.
Which would be all right if the all-David writing team of David Titcher, David Benullo and David Goldstein sticks to any coherent story or director Frank Coraci ("The Waterboy") establishes a consistent tone. Instead, the film meanders between lackluster fights and overly broad comedy, some embarrassingly bad. This "Around the World" will have a tough time appealing to general audiences because the comedy is juvenile and the action largely uninspired.
In this incarnation, Fogg (British TV comedy vet Steve Coogan) is a turn-of-the-century inventor of "future retro" gadgets. Fogg makes a bet that he can circumnavigate the world in 80 days with the head of the Royal Academy of Science (Jim Broadbent). This serves as mere backdrop to the story of Lau Xing (Chan), who burgles the Bank of England to re-acquire a jade Buddha stolen from his village by a gang of bandits led by General Fang (actress-singer Karen Joy Morris).
Lau hitches a ride with Fogg, figuring this will be his quickest way home. That Fogg, supposedly one of the brainiest men in Britain, would believe Chan to be a French valet is fairly consistent with the lackadaisical style of the screenplay. Another addition to the group picked up in Paris is Monique (pert Cecile de France), who figures a world tour will help her nascent artistic career.
Throughout the feeble adventures, the script lacks the connective tissue that explain how a character stranded in China suddenly materializes in San Francisco or how, having missed a boat in New York, the intrepid heroes suddenly wind up on that very same boat sailing for England. Similarly, characters change from imbecile to clever depending on a particular sequence's needs. The key problem is this: If you are going to rewrite one of the most imaginative adventure novelists ever, you cannot substitute such lame situations and tedious characters as the three Davids do.
Todd coined the expression "cameo" to describe the more than 40 brief appearances by stars and celebrities of the day in his "Around the World". Here the success of these cameos is in inverse relationship to the amount of screen time affording the celebrity. Richard Branson turning up as a guy tending a hot-air balloon is worth a chuckle. Arnold Schwarzenegger as a Turkish prince in an extended and unnecessary sequence is borderline grotesque. Seldom has an actor looked more in need of a career change.
The movie contains one inventive sequence: A fight breaks out at an Impressionists exhibition. As Chan defends himself against a horde of Chinese assassins amid paint buckets, a canvas behind him gets pummeled and spattered until -- voila! -- it becomes an Impressionist painting. Alas, this kind of wit swiftly evaporates. Mostly, the film traffics in cheap sets -- an Indian sequence created in Thailand compares unfavorably with the sets in Bob Hope/Bing Crosby road pictures -- to seriously awful acting from usually decent performers such as Broadbent and Ewen Bremner.
De France has plenty of charm and at times makes you forget the awful dialogue and lame bits. Coogan plays a British twit who falls somewhere between Hugh Grant and Peter Cook. Chan works hard, but this is one of his least inspired performances.
Production values overall are poor. The constant swing between real and fake sets establishes no tone for the comedy. The music begins with a theme reminiscent of John Williams' "Star Wars" and concludes with the Walt Disney Co. inserting "It's a Small World" by the Baha Men over the end titles. Ouch! Visual effects by Rhythm & Hues and Jim Henson's Creature Shop are uneven.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media
Credits:
Director: Frank Coraci
Screenwriters: David Titcher, David Benullo, David Goldstein
Based on the novel by: Jules Verne
Producers: Hal Lieberman, Bill Badalato
Executive producers: Jackie Chan, Willie Chan
Solon So, Alex Schwartz, Phyllis Alia
Director of photography: Phil Meheux
Production designer: Perry Andelin Blake
Music: Trevor Jones
Co-producers: Henning Molfenter, Thierry Potok
Costume designer: Anna Sheppard
Editor: Tom Lewis
Cast:
Passepartot/Lau Xing: Jackie Chan
Phileas Fogg: Steve Coogan
Lord Kelvin: Jim Broadbent
Prince Hapi: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Monique La Roche: Cecile de France
Inspector Fox: Ewen Bremner
General Fang: Karen Joy Morris
Hobo: Rob Schneider
Queen Victoria: Kathy Bates
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 120 minutes...
Which would be all right if the all-David writing team of David Titcher, David Benullo and David Goldstein sticks to any coherent story or director Frank Coraci ("The Waterboy") establishes a consistent tone. Instead, the film meanders between lackluster fights and overly broad comedy, some embarrassingly bad. This "Around the World" will have a tough time appealing to general audiences because the comedy is juvenile and the action largely uninspired.
In this incarnation, Fogg (British TV comedy vet Steve Coogan) is a turn-of-the-century inventor of "future retro" gadgets. Fogg makes a bet that he can circumnavigate the world in 80 days with the head of the Royal Academy of Science (Jim Broadbent). This serves as mere backdrop to the story of Lau Xing (Chan), who burgles the Bank of England to re-acquire a jade Buddha stolen from his village by a gang of bandits led by General Fang (actress-singer Karen Joy Morris).
Lau hitches a ride with Fogg, figuring this will be his quickest way home. That Fogg, supposedly one of the brainiest men in Britain, would believe Chan to be a French valet is fairly consistent with the lackadaisical style of the screenplay. Another addition to the group picked up in Paris is Monique (pert Cecile de France), who figures a world tour will help her nascent artistic career.
Throughout the feeble adventures, the script lacks the connective tissue that explain how a character stranded in China suddenly materializes in San Francisco or how, having missed a boat in New York, the intrepid heroes suddenly wind up on that very same boat sailing for England. Similarly, characters change from imbecile to clever depending on a particular sequence's needs. The key problem is this: If you are going to rewrite one of the most imaginative adventure novelists ever, you cannot substitute such lame situations and tedious characters as the three Davids do.
Todd coined the expression "cameo" to describe the more than 40 brief appearances by stars and celebrities of the day in his "Around the World". Here the success of these cameos is in inverse relationship to the amount of screen time affording the celebrity. Richard Branson turning up as a guy tending a hot-air balloon is worth a chuckle. Arnold Schwarzenegger as a Turkish prince in an extended and unnecessary sequence is borderline grotesque. Seldom has an actor looked more in need of a career change.
The movie contains one inventive sequence: A fight breaks out at an Impressionists exhibition. As Chan defends himself against a horde of Chinese assassins amid paint buckets, a canvas behind him gets pummeled and spattered until -- voila! -- it becomes an Impressionist painting. Alas, this kind of wit swiftly evaporates. Mostly, the film traffics in cheap sets -- an Indian sequence created in Thailand compares unfavorably with the sets in Bob Hope/Bing Crosby road pictures -- to seriously awful acting from usually decent performers such as Broadbent and Ewen Bremner.
De France has plenty of charm and at times makes you forget the awful dialogue and lame bits. Coogan plays a British twit who falls somewhere between Hugh Grant and Peter Cook. Chan works hard, but this is one of his least inspired performances.
Production values overall are poor. The constant swing between real and fake sets establishes no tone for the comedy. The music begins with a theme reminiscent of John Williams' "Star Wars" and concludes with the Walt Disney Co. inserting "It's a Small World" by the Baha Men over the end titles. Ouch! Visual effects by Rhythm & Hues and Jim Henson's Creature Shop are uneven.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media
Credits:
Director: Frank Coraci
Screenwriters: David Titcher, David Benullo, David Goldstein
Based on the novel by: Jules Verne
Producers: Hal Lieberman, Bill Badalato
Executive producers: Jackie Chan, Willie Chan
Solon So, Alex Schwartz, Phyllis Alia
Director of photography: Phil Meheux
Production designer: Perry Andelin Blake
Music: Trevor Jones
Co-producers: Henning Molfenter, Thierry Potok
Costume designer: Anna Sheppard
Editor: Tom Lewis
Cast:
Passepartot/Lau Xing: Jackie Chan
Phileas Fogg: Steve Coogan
Lord Kelvin: Jim Broadbent
Prince Hapi: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Monique La Roche: Cecile de France
Inspector Fox: Ewen Bremner
General Fang: Karen Joy Morris
Hobo: Rob Schneider
Queen Victoria: Kathy Bates
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 120 minutes...
Why the latest Jackie Chan movie is called "Around the World in 80 Days" is a mystery. Better to call it "Lau Xing and the Jade Buddha". Any resemblance between Jules Verne's marvelous science fiction novel or Mike Todd's enjoyable 1956 movie is pure happenstance. This is simply a Jackie Chan movie pitched to youngsters who enjoy slapstick fights and goofy caricatures. When Verne's hero, stalwart British sporting gentleman Phileas Fogg, gets turned into a second banana to his French valet played by Chan, and Indian Princess Aouda and her dramatic rescue by Fogg get replaced by a French hat-check girl, you know the filmmakers have pretty much chucked old Jules out the window.
Which would be all right if the all-David writing team of David Titcher, David Benullo and David Goldstein sticks to any coherent story or director Frank Coraci ("The Waterboy") establishes a consistent tone. Instead, the film meanders between lackluster fights and overly broad comedy, some embarrassingly bad. This "Around the World" will have a tough time appealing to general audiences because the comedy is juvenile and the action largely uninspired.
In this incarnation, Fogg (British TV comedy vet Steve Coogan) is a turn-of-the-century inventor of "future retro" gadgets. Fogg makes a bet that he can circumnavigate the world in 80 days with the head of the Royal Academy of Science (Jim Broadbent). This serves as mere backdrop to the story of Lau Xing (Chan), who burgles the Bank of England to re-acquire a jade Buddha stolen from his village by a gang of bandits led by General Fang (actress-singer Karen Joy Morris).
Lau hitches a ride with Fogg, figuring this will be his quickest way home. That Fogg, supposedly one of the brainiest men in Britain, would believe Chan to be a French valet is fairly consistent with the lackadaisical style of the screenplay. Another addition to the group picked up in Paris is Monique (pert Cecile de France), who figures a world tour will help her nascent artistic career.
Throughout the feeble adventures, the script lacks the connective tissue that explain how a character stranded in China suddenly materializes in San Francisco or how, having missed a boat in New York, the intrepid heroes suddenly wind up on that very same boat sailing for England. Similarly, characters change from imbecile to clever depending on a particular sequence's needs. The key problem is this: If you are going to rewrite one of the most imaginative adventure novelists ever, you cannot substitute such lame situations and tedious characters as the three Davids do.
Todd coined the expression "cameo" to describe the more than 40 brief appearances by stars and celebrities of the day in his "Around the World". Here the success of these cameos is in inverse relationship to the amount of screen time affording the celebrity. Richard Branson turning up as a guy tending a hot-air balloon is worth a chuckle. Arnold Schwarzenegger as a Turkish prince in an extended and unnecessary sequence is borderline grotesque. Seldom has an actor looked more in need of a career change.
The movie contains one inventive sequence: A fight breaks out at an Impressionists exhibition. As Chan defends himself against a horde of Chinese assassins amid paint buckets, a canvas behind him gets pummeled and spattered until -- voila! -- it becomes an Impressionist painting. Alas, this kind of wit swiftly evaporates. Mostly, the film traffics in cheap sets -- an Indian sequence created in Thailand compares unfavorably with the sets in Bob Hope/Bing Crosby road pictures -- to seriously awful acting from usually decent performers such as Broadbent and Ewen Bremner.
De France has plenty of charm and at times makes you forget the awful dialogue and lame bits. Coogan plays a British twit who falls somewhere between Hugh Grant and Peter Cook. Chan works hard, but this is one of his least inspired performances.
Production values overall are poor. The constant swing between real and fake sets establishes no tone for the comedy. The music begins with a theme reminiscent of John Williams' "Star Wars" and concludes with the Walt Disney Co. inserting "It's a Small World" by the Baha Men over the end titles. Ouch! Visual effects by Rhythm & Hues and Jim Henson's Creature Shop are uneven.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media
Credits:
Director: Frank Coraci
Screenwriters: David Titcher, David Benullo, David Goldstein
Based on the novel by: Jules Verne
Producers: Hal Lieberman, Bill Badalato
Executive producers: Jackie Chan, Willie Chan
Solon So, Alex Schwartz, Phyllis Alia
Director of photography: Phil Meheux
Production designer: Perry Andelin Blake
Music: Trevor Jones
Co-producers: Henning Molfenter, Thierry Potok
Costume designer: Anna Sheppard
Editor: Tom Lewis
Cast:
Passepartot/Lau Xing: Jackie Chan
Phileas Fogg: Steve Coogan
Lord Kelvin: Jim Broadbent
Prince Hapi: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Monique La Roche: Cecile de France
Inspector Fox: Ewen Bremner
General Fang: Karen Joy Morris
Hobo: Rob Schneider
Queen Victoria: Kathy Bates
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 120 minutes...
Which would be all right if the all-David writing team of David Titcher, David Benullo and David Goldstein sticks to any coherent story or director Frank Coraci ("The Waterboy") establishes a consistent tone. Instead, the film meanders between lackluster fights and overly broad comedy, some embarrassingly bad. This "Around the World" will have a tough time appealing to general audiences because the comedy is juvenile and the action largely uninspired.
In this incarnation, Fogg (British TV comedy vet Steve Coogan) is a turn-of-the-century inventor of "future retro" gadgets. Fogg makes a bet that he can circumnavigate the world in 80 days with the head of the Royal Academy of Science (Jim Broadbent). This serves as mere backdrop to the story of Lau Xing (Chan), who burgles the Bank of England to re-acquire a jade Buddha stolen from his village by a gang of bandits led by General Fang (actress-singer Karen Joy Morris).
Lau hitches a ride with Fogg, figuring this will be his quickest way home. That Fogg, supposedly one of the brainiest men in Britain, would believe Chan to be a French valet is fairly consistent with the lackadaisical style of the screenplay. Another addition to the group picked up in Paris is Monique (pert Cecile de France), who figures a world tour will help her nascent artistic career.
Throughout the feeble adventures, the script lacks the connective tissue that explain how a character stranded in China suddenly materializes in San Francisco or how, having missed a boat in New York, the intrepid heroes suddenly wind up on that very same boat sailing for England. Similarly, characters change from imbecile to clever depending on a particular sequence's needs. The key problem is this: If you are going to rewrite one of the most imaginative adventure novelists ever, you cannot substitute such lame situations and tedious characters as the three Davids do.
Todd coined the expression "cameo" to describe the more than 40 brief appearances by stars and celebrities of the day in his "Around the World". Here the success of these cameos is in inverse relationship to the amount of screen time affording the celebrity. Richard Branson turning up as a guy tending a hot-air balloon is worth a chuckle. Arnold Schwarzenegger as a Turkish prince in an extended and unnecessary sequence is borderline grotesque. Seldom has an actor looked more in need of a career change.
The movie contains one inventive sequence: A fight breaks out at an Impressionists exhibition. As Chan defends himself against a horde of Chinese assassins amid paint buckets, a canvas behind him gets pummeled and spattered until -- voila! -- it becomes an Impressionist painting. Alas, this kind of wit swiftly evaporates. Mostly, the film traffics in cheap sets -- an Indian sequence created in Thailand compares unfavorably with the sets in Bob Hope/Bing Crosby road pictures -- to seriously awful acting from usually decent performers such as Broadbent and Ewen Bremner.
De France has plenty of charm and at times makes you forget the awful dialogue and lame bits. Coogan plays a British twit who falls somewhere between Hugh Grant and Peter Cook. Chan works hard, but this is one of his least inspired performances.
Production values overall are poor. The constant swing between real and fake sets establishes no tone for the comedy. The music begins with a theme reminiscent of John Williams' "Star Wars" and concludes with the Walt Disney Co. inserting "It's a Small World" by the Baha Men over the end titles. Ouch! Visual effects by Rhythm & Hues and Jim Henson's Creature Shop are uneven.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media
Credits:
Director: Frank Coraci
Screenwriters: David Titcher, David Benullo, David Goldstein
Based on the novel by: Jules Verne
Producers: Hal Lieberman, Bill Badalato
Executive producers: Jackie Chan, Willie Chan
Solon So, Alex Schwartz, Phyllis Alia
Director of photography: Phil Meheux
Production designer: Perry Andelin Blake
Music: Trevor Jones
Co-producers: Henning Molfenter, Thierry Potok
Costume designer: Anna Sheppard
Editor: Tom Lewis
Cast:
Passepartot/Lau Xing: Jackie Chan
Phileas Fogg: Steve Coogan
Lord Kelvin: Jim Broadbent
Prince Hapi: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Monique La Roche: Cecile de France
Inspector Fox: Ewen Bremner
General Fang: Karen Joy Morris
Hobo: Rob Schneider
Queen Victoria: Kathy Bates
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 120 minutes...
- 6/16/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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