“From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ epic sci-fi action adventure Pacific Rim.

When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes-a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)-who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse.

Oscar® nominee Guillermo del Toro is directing Pacific Rim from a script by Travis Beacham. Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and Mary Parent are producing, with Callum Greene serving as executive producer.”

Sounds very intriguing and only a man with such command over his visuals like Del Toro can pull it off. Expect more on the film as time passes.

Deadline has the quote from one of the thick headed executives behind the decision and this is how he reasons it:

“We’re going to do a conscientious 3D job because we’ve seen how it can better box office internationally.”

One one level, that argument makes sense. 3D movies are big out here and they make a lot of money compared to other films, but that never is a guarantee. I feel the move is being made after “The Avengers” made a killing outside of the US but that was an event film everyone in the world has been waiting decades for – not a sequel to a good but not great film that no one asked for. You know what else was 3D this year but tanked at the box-office? Both ‘John Carter’ and ‘Wrath of the Titans’. It’s the film they pay for, not the extra dimension. So what is the real reason behind the move?

Could it be that the film sucks? Possibly, but I doubt it. At worst, it’ll be a mediocre dumb blockbuster and summer is the only time films like that do well. It could be that Paramount is rethinking strategies after ‘Battleship’ disappointed in the US and was based on a Hasbro toy as well, but that was an entirely different film. Could it be that they’re afraid of a packed summer that could cannibalise their business? Sure, the movie was set to release a week before the new Spider-Man releases and soon after the ‘Dark Knight Rises’ could cut in, but if that is the case, they could have easily moved it to September or October. Why the move to March of next year?

The billboards and posters of the movie are plastered all over Grand Cinemas, VOX Cinemas and Reel Cinemas all over UAE and they’ve spent quite a bit on marketing it at the Superbowl and behind other films, so all that momentum will be going to waste in a stupid decision. But it has been made, and there’s little we can do about it.

Except, we can all go watch it in 2D when it releases – purposely ditching the 3D version because of which they made us wait that long.

Anyone with me?

The fire engulfing Gotham City is beautiful to see and it does re-use artwork from previous posters, but somehow the shot of Batman standing there looks odd compared to the rest of the poster. There’s something off about how he’s positioned and integrated into the image, but the tagline is effective and once again hints at a not-so-good end to the story.

Thoughts?

The images come from EW who also have an interview with Neeson who says this about where ‘Taken 2′ falls:

“The action is supposed to take place about a year or a year and a half after the first story. It’s a very clever sequel with the usual thrills and spills, but the ante is upped quite a bit in this one.” … “I’ve taken a job over in Istanbul looking after a sheik who is there, and afterward I discover that my wife’s going through a very bad time with her new husband. So I suggest she and my daughter come over for a few days and hang out with me in this amazing city. And then… [laughs] all this s—t happens, of course.” … “I’m taken — let’s put it that way. They kidnap him to humiliate him, torture him, and ultimately bring him back to the village in Albania where the boys from the original film came from. With the help of my daughter… she wants to help me escape from where these bad guys have me.”

Sounds good, and I’m on board. What do you expect from the sequel?

Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Directed by Sam Mendes, the film will star Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney, Berenice Malohe and Naomie Harris. It’ll hit cinemas here before US, so cheers for that.

Thoughts?

Pretty standard teaser poster material considering the movie hasn’t been shot yet, but then you notice the legs closely and there’s some odd about them and I think that’s what makes these guys so hilarious – finding subtle comedy in even the smallest of things.

What do you think?