OF MEN AND MONSTERS, "COWBOYS & ALIENS"!

Independence Day in the Wild, Wild, West! COWBOYS & ALIENS arrive. Images: UNIVERSAL/PARAMOUNT.

COWBOYS & ALIENS leads the battle charge into British cinemas with its full country-wide release from today, and here's some more fun links you might enjoy:

Clips via SFX magazine: Cowboys & Aliens: Clip And Featurette | SFX

Harrison Ford interview: Harrison Ford interview: "I like dressing up as somebody else" - Movies Interview - Digital Spy

Daniel Craig answers fan questions on the COWBOYS & ALIENS UK FACEBOOK page: Videos Posted by Cowboys and Aliens UK: Daniel Craig Answers Your Questions! [HQ] | Facebook

Harrison does the same: Videos Posted by Cowboys and Aliens UK: Harrison Ford answers your questions! [HQ] | Facebook

SYFY channel talks to the cast:

Interesting chat by SUPERHERO HYPE with the film's co-writer Roberto Orci: Exclusive: Cowboys & Aliens Producer/Writer Roberto Orci | Superhero Hype

Official COWBOYS & ALIENS website interviews by Jon Favrea with Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde and Harrison Ford: Cowboys & Aliens Movie Directed by Jon Favreau - The Interviews with Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde, Steven Spielberg and more.

YAHOO interview with Jon Favreau: "Iron Man" maker rustles up some "Cowboys & Aliens" - Yahoo!

"COWBOYS & ALIENS": THE LONDON PRESS CONFERENCE. PART ONE

The COWBOYS & ALIENS team come to town. L-R: Jon Favreau, Olivia Wilde, Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Roberto Orci. Images: Tim Whitby/Getty for PARAMOUNT PICTURES.

If real life extra-terrestrials came down to Earth I don’t know what they’d make of the concept of Tea and Cucumber sandwiches, but as a human it was very nice to indulge in such eating niceties at the swanky Claridges hotel in London’s West End, where the blockbuster stars and behind the scenes talents of the hit movie COWBOYS & ALIENS quickly converged for a lively and very enjoyable press conference for UK journalists (including little old me from AFICIONADO!), just prior to the film’s premiere later that evening (Thursday 11^th August) at the O2 Arena at Docklands.

Here’s the first part of our transcript from the event:

Chris Hewitt - Host/ moderator: Nice easy one to start off with. This is going down the line to everybody. Which side of this movie appealed more to you? The cowboy’s side or the alien’s side?

Jon Favreau: Well, I grew up watching science fiction so I was first exposed to the western through science fiction. I grew up with STAR WARS. I was part of that generation and of course Lucas drew a lot of inspiration from Kurosawa. And Kurosawa drew a lot in inspiration from John Ford. And Spielberg is a huge fan of John Ford as well. And I think as you start to learn more about directing you learn to appreciate the western a lot more, and this was a wonderful opportunity to get to do a large scale western which has fallen out of favour for many years. So I think we all gathered around the notion of doing a western and that seemed liked a really unique opportunity.

Daniel Craig: I can’t answer intelligently as that. (Laughs) Probably the western. Though I’m a huge science fiction fan, I think I always wanted to play a cowboy.

Olivia Wilde: I would say western as well, because it was something I didn’t think I’d have a chance to be a part of.  I felt that the western genre had died for the most part and I certainly didn’t think that there would be a part in a western that would be this interesting, this tough, that I would have a chance to do. So I’d say the western is what got me.

Icon heroes together at last: Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford.

Harrison Ford: To be fair, I don’t really care what the genre is (Big audience laugh). I did it for the money (More laughs). No, I was playing a part of the western part of the story- that is really what attracted me. Uh, but it was a particular special character that I was attracted to (in Dolarhyde). And the opportunity to work with all these wonderful people was the other main draw for me.

Roberto Orci (Screenwriter): And I liked the idea of the mix. I’m a fan of both but we all felt the challenge and the fun of doing something we hadn’t seen before and mixing them very nakedly and very openly.

Questions open up to the press audience.

Press: Daniel, I want to regress you back to the summer of 1977 and what your 9-year-old self would have thought of the prospect of sharing the screen with Mister Ford?

DC: Well, the truth of it is… I don’t known when BLADE RUNNER came out. I went to the cinema-sat in the cinema on my own, because not many people went to the cinema that I went to- I had no idea what was playing and BLADE RUNNER  came on. So I thought, I’m gonna work with that man (Says humorously). And I did. (Laugh)

Press: A couple of questions for Miss Wilde. First of all, the western question followed by a science fiction question. Can you give us an idea of the craziness of the stunt where the aliens lasso you?  How you persuaded Mister Favreau to let you do that and exactly what was involved, because I can’t believe it was easy. And on the alien’s front, I’m told that you’re a Trekkie and that you have a deep desire to play Captain Kirk.

The lovely Olivia Wilde, who plays the mysterious Ella in the film.

OW: (Slightly surprised) Oh, well… (Laughs, asks Bob Orci) Bob, are you listening? Producer of TREK over there.  (Laugh) To the first question, the stunt. That was supposed to have been done by my great stunt double. And we started off with me on a mechanical horse which they did use in SEABISCUIT, but it looked way too slow in our movie and so I ended up getting on a real horse and Jon let me do it. And I didn’t have to convince him. Our Stunt Coordinator convinced him.  And he said I was confident I could pull it off and made me very proud. And I felt safe because Daniel was riding next to me and I galloped through two eight foot cranes-we (Olivia and Daniel) galloped through-and at one point, a bungee cord attached to my waist yanked me back forty feet into the air and the danger was that I would get suck it the stirrups, so my trick was to not get caught in the stirrups and get ripped in half. It was a lot of fun and it as amazing to be floating above the set and have this unusual perspective and there was our crew looking like little ants and there was this incredible desert, mountains and canyons around us. It just made me realize how adventurous it was to lug these giant machines and cameras out into the middle of nowhere and tell a story. It was really beautiful. And for the second question, I grew up watching STAR TREK with my family often.  And my sister was a Trekkie as well. There have been some great female characters in TREK over the years, and still are. There was Captain Janeway –she did it well. She had that voice I could never compete with, but I would love to play more powerful women in science fiction. I think what Sigourney Weaver did for women in science fiction was incredible and I think she set the standard. I love the genre and I’d love to do more of it.

JF: (To Olivia) Do you mind if we paint you green? (Jon imitates Captain Kirk) “What is kiss?” (Laughs) The episode I saw of STAR TREK there was a green woman saying, “What is kiss, Captain Kirk?” “Let me show you.” (Laughs)

Press:  A question for Daniel on influences from the past. When a stranger arrives in a western town you immediately think of Clint Eastwood. Do you go with that or try to fight it?

DC: You go with it. You wouldn’t try and fight that. I don’t really know what the question is. If you’re asking me whether or not I watched Clint Eastwood for this movie, yes I did. I watched everything else as well. Lots of John Wayne, BUTCH AND SUNDANCE… I’m reeling off lots of westerns now. But yes, I kinda stole everything I could, but nothing specific.

CH: Jon and Roberto, I gather Steven Spielberg gave you a starter pack of westerns. What was in that pack?

JF: Well, the first thing was that when I, with Steven and Bob and Alex (Kurtzman (co-writer) sat in Steven’s conference room for the first time which, for those of you who haven’t been there, is a very intimidating place-small, and there’s the actual sled from CITIZEN KANE which says “Rosebud” hanging above your head. So if it’s not intimidating when you have the most important and powerful director in the world you’re looking at the most powerful and important prop in the world, too. There’s not a l to look at intimidating to look at other than Bob’s eyes, so we shared a lot of looks. We had the meeting-it went very well- and at the end Steven said to us, “I have a restored print of THE SEARCHERS and do you guys want to take a look at it with me?” And I said, I think that we could schedule that (laugh), and he screened it for us and talked us through THE SEARCHERS giving a very interesting perspective on it. Our start gift was an iPad- this new fangled contraption at the time- with classic westerns filled with movies from STAGECOACH to UNFORGIVEN. And it was great pre-production every night we’d watch another western. It was a bit of Directing School as well as a fun movie experience.

CH: Roberto, did that starter pack help shape the script in any way?

RO: Absolutely, we had to go back to school in a way. We wanted to make sure that we treated the western seriously –that part of what interested us was the challenge of making it not a joke but making it a genuine piece for real story and real emotion, and so the westerns have that. It was a pleasure to go back to school in that way.

Press: For Harrison Ford. You’re character starts off as quite feared, almost as if he was the villain. Was that more fun to play than the hero?

HF: I don’t know if it was any more fun. I just played an interesting character in the telling of the story overall. Uh... it was fun. I didn’t know where it was going as I read along in the script but I was pleased by what I read and thought it was something different for me to do.

Press. For the whole panel. Have you got a favourite western film of all time and/ or a favourite sci-fi film of all time?

JF: I guess you call it a western-THE SEVEN SAMURAI I consider a western structurally and as far as the characters. It’s one of those films where every time you watch it you see something new in it.

DC: LITTLE BIG MAN is probably my favourite western. ALIEN.

OW: I’d say BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDAY KID and ALIEN.

HF: I’m gonna opt out on this (Audience laughs).  I don’t uh…I don’t watch movies! (Audience laughs a lot)

RO: I’m gonna say THE FRISCO KID and STAR WARS. (Audience laughs).

HF: That’s why! (More laughs)

PRESS: Daniel, this was a physically more demanding role. Was it more so than BOND? Did you pick up more bruises and grazes from this than playing 007?

DC: It was just different. I don’t get to ride many horses on BOND, so that was really the main distinction. No more than usual (on the injuries). There was a more I can do this in the horse riding-I’m getting better at it, but I’m no expert on it. A lot of what you see in the film is brilliant doubles and stuntmen. Funnily enough, I picked up more bruises at the studio when we got back to LA than when we were out on the filming. I think everything is made out of some fiberglass, which can sprain and bruise you like the real thing.

PRESS: Mister Ford, I gather you that you weren’t too keen on the project when you first heard about it. What would you say changed your mind? And was it because the title sounded a bit jokey- a romp- rather than a more serious western, and an alien movie?

HF: Well I didn’t really know what I was reading. I was impatient with it a bit and until I talked to finish the script I became more interested in the character. And speaking to Jon about what tone he was looking for with the film that I was reassured. But you can read the same words and imagine different music. His intention to be committed seriously to the western rather than tongue-in-cheek pop mish-mash was what reassured me. That and just getting to know his… uh…what work he had already done. The first meeting I had with Jon he showed me a lot of graphics that had been developed showing the look and feel of the thing. But he also made it clear to me that there was... that he was committed to the characters and the relationships of the characters, which is what makes my part work in the film.

CH to JF: You talk about the tone. It does have this very serious, straight down the middle, serious western tone, which I found fascinating. Talk about the decision to stick with that.

The multi-talented film-maker Jon Favreau.

JF: Well, the movie's called COWBOYS & ALIENS and we thought long and hard if that should be the title that we keep. That was the title of the graphic novel. And it certainly made me curious when I read the script. The script had been developed a long time. I think they tried for a while to make it into a comedy. I have a comedy background and the first rule is that the more ridiculous the premise the more serious you have to play it in otherwise its a joke on a joke. And I think there’s something refreshing when I speak to the British Press. There’s an expression that you have here- “It does what its says on the tin”- and I think there’s a certain integrity to that. And there’s an irony intrinsic to the title that we try to support by presenting both genres with a pretty straight face and let the juxtaposition of them create the absurdity and the comedy. But the characters should never know that they are making people laugh, or if the situation’s absurd they should be playing it to the hilt of their reality. And I think you’re going to see it a lot more-it’s been a part of the comic book culture for a while, this specific tone, where you let the irony of the situation play the comedy. You’ll see a wave of it in films coming soon, something called ABE LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES. These are real titles and hopefully they play them dead on otherwise I’m gonna be really upset. If you play ABE LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER for laughs you’re gonna have big problems: you’ll last about five minutes. The challenge is actually to make something emotionally compelling that comments on both genres by combining the two and what I’m most proud of  (with COWBOYS & ALIENS) is that these are real characters, with real stakes and we seem to be able to honour the traditions of both genres that we respect greatly while combining the two. Its been done in music for a long time with mash-ups, and even with cuisine oddly. And so it’s a way to bring a new voice of a generation, to something you respect, and most importantly do something original. After doing the two IRON MAN films I really wanted to try my hand at something different and if you look at the films coming out of Hollywood this summer there are a lot of things that are remakes and superheroes-there are not a lot of chances being taken and I figured at this point in my career there was an opportunity to do something I felt passionate about, even if it was a little off-beat and risky, and so we’re seeing a group of people up here who worked on something that they believed in and that was a bit different. And that was part of the appeal of the whole thing.

PRESS: Leading on from that question. We are seeing a raft of movies that do have their origins in things like multi media and comic books. Is that because we now have a generation in Hollywood that grew up with those rather than perhaps looked down on it as a format to start with?

JF: I think its really about marketing to be honest with you. As online theft is becoming more predominant you don’t have a DVD market that is worthwhile anymore and everything is about being in the theatre. And in the theatre the people who come out are teenagers mostly. And so everything is geared towards content that’s going to appeal to the youth audience. It’s always been the case but now it’s especially the case. And there’s a tremendous amount of competition for the few months where people are out of school. And you have a few weeks around the holidays as well. And so young people respond to branded content more than to movie stars or than to directors. It becomes about products that they already have relationships with. Like superheroes, like toys, like board games, sequels. And it’s an event to go the movies for young people. They do it communally. So you’re seeing...there’s still a rich product coming out of the entertainment industry but its being spread out across the Internet. The independent film world, I think, is slowly being replaced by what’s on television-you’ve seen a lot of rich wonderful content. Following, I might add, the BBC model, of less episodes and more complete storylines, and so you’re seeing shows like MAD MEN, GAME OF THRONES, THE WIRE, BREAKING BAD. It’s a real golden age for adults but that R rated content now exists more on the small screen so its very difficult to take a chance if you’re going to use the big canvas of a mainstream film, especially foe something like a western. And that’s why we really appreciated the opportunity not just to do this but to be 2-D on film and in anamorphic. To do something to introduce young viewers to the western that we really respect. It's part of our heritage. So for us its fun to do something a lot of people want to see but its fun to challenge ourselves and try to buck the trend in many ways. And every time I’ve taken a chance it’s always paid off in one way or another, from the time I did SWINGERS all the way to now. I feel like this was a big challenge and I’m really happy I took it on.  I’m very proud of what we have here and I’m happy to share it with these people tonight at the 02.

To be continued...

CLASSIC RAIDERS: BAR FIGHT!

Within the fiery interior of Marion Ravenwood's bar in frosty Nepal, Indiana Jones life is under threat once more -this time from one of Toht's "Mean Mongolians" (as played by Indy Classic Trilogy action veteran, the late Pat Roach), in another classic scene from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, celebrating it's Thirtieth Anniversary this year (with the Blu-rays arriving in late 2012).

AFICIONADO REVIEW: "COWBOYS & ALIENS"

Lonergan (Daniel Craig) and Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) escape a colossal alien explosion in COWBOYS & ALIENS. Images: PARAMOUNT/UNIVERSAL.

Note: this review contains mild spoilers.

The previous, all too few mixings of sci-fi and fantasy into the equally intriguing and atmospheric environs of the real-life period of the American West haven’t exactly hit the mark of success with worldwide audiences, the most recent example being THE WILD, WILD WEST TV series conversion, which swiftly proved to be the film that Will Smith doesn’t like to showcase on his box office success film career CV these days!, but multi-talented director Jon Favreau and his equally fine company of actors and behind the scenes dream-makers have far greater luck on their side in their own new endeavor- the enjoyable COWBOYS & ALIENS- which mixes the two worlds of low tech Humanity against high tech alien horror in a cinematic way that, for the most part, provides a good sense of fun and notable excitement.

The highly anticipated big screen combo of hero icon heavyweights Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford is already enough to guarantee the film a quite sizable quota of world cinema audiences firmly planting their butts on seats to see it this July and August, but, beyond their notable inclusion and what was likely a fun pitch made by the writers towards the studios about the project, what about the movies all-important story and characters? Well, if you’re in the right frame of mood, COWBOYS & ALIENS, despite a few clunky moments of pacing here and there, works for the majority of its two hours running time and is diverting, crowd pleasing enough adventure fare. Kudos must also go to its original comic creator, Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, in that its translation to the big screen, albeit described by the filmmakers as being loosely based on the graphic novel, works as well as it does. And isn’t it amazing, after all these years post STAR WARS and ALIEN, that such a great idea like this for a film hasn’t been done before for the big screen?

Alien alarm bells ring for the captured Lonergan.

Ultimately, C & A’s plot just about manages to hold up to successful scrutiny, although I think the aliens of the title, and their reasons for being on Earth, could perhaps, like the film in general, have been further developed. One plus to them is that there’s an interesting twist/revelation which sees the creatures as being not too removed from the Human cowboys with regards to some of their personal motivations. In certain facets the film could also be seen as being like a kind of prequel to Steven Spielberg’s Executive Produced FALLING SKIES TV series, too, what with its similar type of hand held invasion scenes, gritty action and kidnapping of people (in this case children) by an alien race, whose early goals for the planet have to be determined by the brave Human resistors. Perhaps they’ll be more development of COWBOYS 1873 arrived aliens if the film makes enough money at the box office to warrant a sequel-you never know!

Despite the intriguing inter-mixing concept and the most bloodthirsty creatures to have faced the American West since Gwangi, I still don’t quite know how the film really needed five writers to work on a script which ultimately proves to be functional rather than spectacular, accompanied with dialogue that’s mostly work-man like and acceptable rather than superior. Though credit to them for some of the occasionally noteworthy and ingenious new spins on the western and sci-fi/horror genre that occur throughout the film, and in their conceiving of the obligatory stunning action set-pieces showing man versus creature, experienced film and TV veterans, and well-known geeks of all things sci-fi and fantasy, Damon Lindelof, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman do a solid but ultimately not revolutionary job here in bringing the ambitious tale to life. From looking at the final movie I certainly felt the script needed a bit more of a fine tune-up in certain areas before filming. Perhaps a set in stone release date by the studios made such a thing impossible?

A new visitor arrives in Absolution!

Bringing the final script to life, Favreau clearly works hard and imbues his enthusiasm into the project, resulting in a yarn that’s certainly a more enjoyable showcase for his talents than his previous IRON MAN 2 sequel would turn out to be, which I found a bit of a mess in its middle section. Here he also pays his dues and respects to the western genre with some neat referencing to many established classics, like THE SEARCHERS and some of the Sergio Leone/Clint Eastwood Spaghetti tales, and keeps the movie as believable as possible as the alien terror plot line begins to lock hold of it. A strong behind the scenes team supports him in his goals, including cinematographer Matthew Libatique, whilst British Special effects maestro Roger Guyett and legendary RAIDERS Stunt-man Terry Leonard add extra bangs for your buck support as Second Unit Directors with some well staged action and effects sequences (the cgi/model effects, as usual from George Lucas’s ILM, now spread across San Francisco and Singapore, are nothing short of outstanding and exciting in places), whilst Harry Gregson-Williams provides a memorable main Western theme for the adventure.

Alien hunting: Lonergan, Dolarhyde and Ella (Olivia Wilde)

As for the costly film’s star powered lead duo, Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, their casting is inspired and their performances ultimately rise above the scripted material. With his modern day world-weary looks, which still bear the occasional twinkle in the eyes, Craig remains the closest modern-day actor we have that’s the equivalent in coolness to Steve McQueen, bringing edginess and mystery to Jake Lonergan in the films early start and the expected heroism needed by its finale, in a part which, ultimately, I couldn’t really see the equally talented Robert Downey Jr.-the projects original lead choice- in at all. Craig makes the mostly silent, stereotypical Western figure of the man-with-no-name stranger an intriguing proposition once more for cinema audiences, and in the action scenes, he’s magnificent and brutally physical (skillfully re-reminding us as to why he’s such a terrific choice for James Bond in this new age of complex, flawed and fascinating heroes!), especially in the beginning, as the amnesiac form of Lonergan emerges, wandering lost in the harsh desert climes, and during the first spectacular night time attack by the aliens on the town: the moment where he fires his wrist clamped alien weapon will surely become an iconic modern cinema scene (and also be the kind of cool toy that kids of all ages would surely want to have-I can see them all running around the school playgrounds and pretending to have them on their arms facing off against invisible monsters this summer/Christmas. In general, the lack of any merchandise for this film astounds me- a shame as I can further picture in my mind kids playing with COWBOYS & ALIENS figures and accessories, especially if the movie had been made in the early to mid-seventies. Perhaps this dearth is due to Daniel Craig’s ultimately snobbish hatred of anything commercial that bears his likeness (C’mon, Daniel, back in the seventies you must have played with STAR WARS figures bearing Harrison Ford’s Han Solo face on them!). 

He's still got it! Harrison Ford impresses as Dolarhyde.

And talking of that other big star, Ford, presumably considering himself to have better luck this time in his encounters with aliens, both dramatically and action-wise, than he had in his screen-time with those pesky Crystal Skull-ians in the now likely final INDIANA JONES film, once again relishes the rare chance, for the first half of the film, to portray a baddie, this time a battle-hardened and embittered Cattle Rancher whose business empire just about keeps the small, far-off the Beaton track town of Absolution alive. An almost Ebenezer Scrooge-type with a western hat and a Colt-45, and possessing the great name of Woodrow Dolarhyde, the actors memorable first scene has him torturing one of his hands whom he thinks has been drunkenly responsible for blowing up his prized cattle, when, in actual fact, the boss should really be looking up to the skies for the real culprits…

With his constant scowl, stick in the mud mentality and despicable sway, this role of Dolarhyde would surely have been the kind of acting challenge taken up by Gene Hackman, who made great work within this type of genre for THE QUICK AND THE DEAD and UNFORGIVEN, had he not retired. In any case, Ford is totally watchable and consistently good throughout the film. Smelling the potential of a successful movie, despite early script rawness, Ford certainly makes the most of things, working well with the younger cast as their characters are soon forced into an uneasy alliance against the aliens and have to work out a way to defeat them and rescue the captured townsfolk.

Now entering the next stage of his career as a fine character actor, Ford’s instincts in noteworthy projects remain strong, and, though he may not want to make pictures like COWBOYS & ALIENS all the time, he’s smart enough to know that he has to make the occasional movie of this scale to keep his profile and box office command visible-fans still expect, and want, to see Ford, the modern day equivalent of Glenn Ford of Gary Cooper, in films/projects this big and exciting. Films that people will actually watch for a long time to come. COWBOYS & ALIENS certainly fits all these beneficial criteria for both the actor and for us.

Also most welcome is the fact that Ford is still pretty sprightly for a man of his age and, in action on and off his trusty horse, certainly shows the odd touch of his former Indiana Jones self here and there, surely much to the audiences delight. Dolarhyde has a bit of the embittered curmudgeon about him, but he soon proves a good and loyal man to have your back in battle. Together, Ford and Craig in their roles have great chemistry - though a few more scenes of them as a duo would have been much appreciated. Craig also pays welcome homage to Ford and Indy for a couple of scenes of his own, especially with regards to his hat, that are also good fun, with a kind of ingenuity and character invention that the film could, and should, have had more of…

Olivia Wilde as the mysterious Ella.

A fine, if a little underused, supporting cast backs up our heroes in the midst of the chaos. Olivia Wilde continues to build on the success she’s had as an actress with the likes of her prior work in the TV series HOUSE, and her excellent performance as Quorra in TRON: LEGACY where she completely outshone its lead star, Garrett Hedlund , and successfully held her own against a major heavy weight like Jeff Bridges. In COWBOYS she makes the most she can from the script and the camera (which really likes her), adding as much mystery and beauty that she can to the mysterious figure of Ella, and her soon to be revealed connection to Jake Lonnergan and his important backstory linked to the aliens. Female audiences will get their obligatory thrill at seeing a shirtless Daniel Craig at one point, but those hoping that he and the lovely Miss Wilde will get it on and have some lust in the dust will be disappointed-there’s just the briefest of wet clothed flirtation/audience titillation before the next phase of the plot-the action showdown- kicks in.

Dolarhyde and Doc (Sam Rockwell) observe the drama.

Additionally, Sam Rockwell brings crowd-pleasing depth to what is an essentially underwritten role as Bartender turned resistance fighter, Doc (though one fun scene between him and Ford, seen in early trailers, is surprisingly not in the finished film). THE SHIELD’s TV breakout Walton Goggins is also fun as a shady character, Hunt, whose allegiances go whichever side the wind is more favourable. Other fine character acting support is less developed and more stereotyped as the film goes on, though the ever reliable Keith Carradine (as Sheriff Taggart), Clancy Brown (as town priest Meacham) and Adam Beach (as Dolarhyde’s American Indian colleague Nat Colorado) always bring integrity to whatever roles they inhabit, and certainly possess the required American West period battered and every line tells a story look about their withered faces…

Oh, and there’s a cute dog in it, too. Aw, bless…

Representing Humanity’s gruesome opponents, its getting more and more difficult to create scary and unique monsters, but these hybrid ALIEN/PREDATOR’ish creatures have a good look about them, and there’s some fun build-up moments and audience chills, as Favreau uses all the tricks of the trade, and some good “steals” from past film-masters like Ridley Scott and buddy Steven Spielberg, to build tension in bringing the nasty alien beasties to CGI reality. Their half hour into the film first appearance is nothing short of superb and well realized in the best WAR OF THE WORLDS tradition, as alien lasso protuberances bear down from the sky to pluck up the innocent townsfolk of Absolution (as well as the not too innocent figure of Dolarhyde’s two pieces short of a full loaf son, Percy, played by LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE’s Paul Dano).

Daniel Craig and director Jon Favreau enjoy a little on location target practice choreography.

With our players making their way to an explosive final confrontation in the Arizona desert, which satisfyingly wraps things up but also leaves a few plot threads dangling for a possible future continuation, my ultimate summary on COWBOYS & ALIENS: well, okay, I can’t say that its as fully developed as I’d hoped it would be, but the core central idea of the film proves strong, it has a beginning, a middle and an end (which really means a lot these days, believe me!), and the cast are great. Despite some poor criticisms from my American press counter-parts, the film ultimately makes no pretensions about what it is and what its overall intentions are: namely, to provide family audiences with an enjoyable Summer blockbuster that’s a cut above the norm and full of thrills, spills, creepy horror (the effective scenes showing the Zombie-fied towns peoples may scare the little ones a bit!) and fast-paced, gritty action. In all these respects, COWBOYS & ALIENS, possibly the start of a whole new intriguing era of sub-genre mixing, delivers the goods.

COWBOYS & ALIENS is now playing in the US and in the UK from August 17th.

AFICIONADO RATING: 8.5 out of 10

"COWBOYS & ALIENS": WHEN BLOCKBUSTER STARS MEET!

Here's the terrific cover of Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford together for the brand new COWBOYS & ALIENS themed issue of ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY magazine, out now on news-stands in the US. The film receives its world premiere at the San Diego COMIC CON this weekend, and we wish everybody on the cast and crew of the film all the best of success for what looks set to be a box-office dazzler!

Check out some more coverage on the film here: Jon Favreau: The Cowboys & Aliens Interviews: The Last Draft

The cast talk about the making of the film, first reactions to the script, and the project's unique blend of western and sci-fi: Harrison Ford's 1st reaction to Cowboys script? 'I don't get it.' | Blastr

CLASSIC RAIDERS: COMES A HORSEMAN!

Telling Marion and Sallah, "I'm making it up as I go!", nothing, not even overwhelming Nazi forces and firepower, can stop Indiana Jones from commandeering a horse and going in pursuit of the truck carrying the Ark of the Covenant.

Ballsy, and then some!

INDY TURNS 30! THE "SHORTLIST' CELEBRATION...

Indy goes Warhol on the cover of the UK SHORTLIST magazine!

The latest edition of the free UK men's lifestyle magazine SHORTLIST has a great cover and special, picture packed feature celebrating the birth of Indiana Jones and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK's Thirtieth Anniversary.

Check it out on their online site here: Indy turns 30 / Films / ShortList Magazine

"CLOSE ENCOUNTERS" WAS NEVER LIKE THIS! "COWBOYS & ALIENS" ARRIVE!

Starring in this cool retro poster art, Daniel Craig leads the charge against alien aggressors in the upcoming COWBOYS & ALIENS. Images: PARAMOUNT UK.

It's time to load those pistols, saddle up your fastest horse and get ready for action Way Out West as the dream film-making trio of Jon Favreau, Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard gather their imaginations and predilections for all things cool in concepts and movies and team up with the equally iconic on-screen pairing of youth and experience-Daniel Craig (swapping his James Bond using Walther PPK for the most futuristic and alien tech device yet!) and Box Office Champ and film legend Harrison Ford (who keeps a similar character defining hat to the likes he wore for INDIANA JONES, but changes his bull-whip for a rifle instead)- for the ultimate tale of heroism against the unfamiliar. The "unfamiliar" being a hidden agenda carrying horde of alien menaces from beyond our planet, whose bio-technological ships and advanced weaponry hurtle through the western frontier of Arizona in search of Human prey in the epic motion picture COWBOYS & ALIENS, based on the acclaimed graphic novel written by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, and hitting the big screens of the US from 29th July and in the UK from 19th August.

A savage attack on the residents of the town called Absolution!

Harrison Ford plays mean old Col. Woodrow Dolarhyde. He always gets his man! Or Alien!

The lovely Olivia Wilde as heroine Ella. 

With a terrific ensemble cast who look tailor made for the cross-genre dramatic and physical conflicts, including the lovely Olivia Wilde (enjoying the crest of the wave of acting success with her super performance in TRON: LEGACY, as well as regular popular appearances in the hit NBC UNIVERSAL series HOUSE) as the mysterious Ella, who may also have a past connection with love interest Craig (playing the amnesiac fugitive soon on a quest of re-discovery, Jake Lonergan), plus the always consistently excellent Keith Carradine as Sheriff Taggart, the deep voiced, perfect for gritty westerns face of Clancy Brown as Meacham, and the always quirky Sam Rockwell as Ford's associate, Doc, this is one tale of alien invasion and excitement that's guaranteed to deliver all the hotly anticipated thrills, spills and blockbuster entertainment you can hope for, against a realistic and uncliched 19th century western back drop that keep its own highly successful dramatic and visual ingredient, plus its all-important integrity- intact amongst the spectacular fireworks!

Fight back-a daytime air/ground battle ensues...

Head over to the official web site at: Cowboys & Aliens Movie | Official Site for the Cowboys & Aliens Film | In Theaters July 29, 2011

Check out our earlier blogs on the exciting movie here:

STAR WARS AFICIONADO MAGAZINE: "COWBOYS & ALIENS" IS ALMOST HERE...
STAR WARS AFICIONADO MAGAZINE: FORD AND CRAIG: "COWBOYS AND ALIENS" PREVIEW
STAR WARS AFICIONADO MAGAZINE: FIRST LOOK: "COWBOYS & ALIENS"

What will Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) bring to the fight against the not from this Earth menace?

Check out this great behind the scenes interviews/footage here and clips here: Cowboys & Aliens: Clip And Featurette | Sci-Fi News | SFX

A tense moment for Jake Lonergan and Col. Woodrow Dolarhyde, here: Ford and Craig beat each other up in 1st Cowboys & Aliens clip | Blastr

Harrison Ford, playing the determined Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde in the film, and director Jon Favreau share their enthusiasm and sense of humour for the making of the epic film in this series of seven enjoyable interview clips, which can be found here: Jon Favreau: "If I Die, You Die": The Cowboys & Aliens Interviews: Harrison Ford

The terrific 2011 worldwide release poster for COWBOYS & ALIENS.

Look out for our review in the not too distant future...

CLASSIC RAIDERS: SPIELBERG'S ACTING CLASS!

At ELSTREE STUDIOS, Steven Spielberg has a fun time with Harrison Ford emoting the look he wants from Indiana Jones's discovery of the speared cadaver of rival archeologist Forrestal, in one of the classic early scenes of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

CLASSIC RAIDERS: TROUBLE IN CAIRO!

Indy (Harrison Ford) and Marion (Karen Allen) get into trouble once again-this time on the market streets of Cairo (actually shot in Tunisia)- when they are unexpectedly attacked by Nazi sympathisers in this classic scene of memorable comedy and action from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

FORD AND CRAIG: "COWBOYS AND ALIENS" PREVIEW

Working over-time to make sure the film gets some great advance buzz, the COWBOYS AND ALIENS publicity team should be congratulated for their fine achievements in this months EMPIRE UK film magazine, which has sensational coverage of the upcoming hit movie, with lots of great photos spreads. Its definitely worth seeking out. Let's hope the film really, really does live up to the hype and isn't the mild disappointment that director Jon Favreau's IRON MAN 2 was last Summer!

Here's the link to full details of the magazine: Empire Magazine | Latest Issue - Buy or Subscribe Today | Empire

BACK FOR A "LAST CRUSADE"!

"On some adventures, one Jones isn't enough!"

It may have taken quite a long gestation period to reach the worlds cinema screens (including early ideas such as being a ghost story set within a haunted castle, as well as an intriguing aborted screenplay along the way, written by HARRY POTTER director/GREMLINS creator Chris Columbus, called THE MONKEY KING), but INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, the originally planned conclusion to the Indiana Jones Trilogy which had been first thought up by Lucas in the early 1970's and finally brought into development with friend Spielberg after a lazy day on the beach building sandcastles in Hawaii in 1977 (both of whom enjoying some much deserved in-hiding downtime, wanting to escape the stresses of their then just released film-making endeavours), hit the cinemas screens in the early summer of 1989, and proved to be a record breaker amongst a veritable crowded sea of other blockbusters (including the Bond actioner LICENCE TO KILL, GHOSTBUSTERS II, STAR TREK V and the ultimate box office champ that year: BATMAN, starring Jack Nicholson as the evil Joker and Michael Keaton in the title role as the dark avenger of the chaos stricken Gotham City).

After the dark and disturbing imagery of 1983's THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, Lucas and Spielberg were determined to do something a litlte more fun and light heartededly entertaining than before, mixed with the usual mcguffin (this time the Holy Grail) and the clever action scenes, as well as giving things story wise a bit more depth as a conclusion. Star Harrison Ford, too, was worried that the character of Indiana Jones was becoming one dimensional and wanted to end the series on a high with more characterisation and additional facets to the iconic role so as to make the film more satisfying as a project for both him to work on and for the audiences waching it. The result of the trios efforts saw in the highly successful introduction of Indy's father, originally planned as a Yoda like professor who stayed away from the action, but whom soon became an integral part of the films success, fully integrated into its story and its character relationships, and metamorphosed into the Henry Jones we know and loved, as played by ex-James Bond himself, Sean Connery. And, despite some early reticence from Lucas about the actor taking the role, Spielberg was ultimately right when he said, "Who else could and should play Indy's father than 007?" The resulting combination/chemistry of Ford and Connery together would prove the vital masterstroke that holds the film together. The pair work beautifully on screen, with a wonderful camaraderie and great comic and dramatic timing-you can also sense that the two actors are having a great time here and presumably added much of their own input to the films success, and providing it, backed up with a great John Williams score and an interesting script from the late Jeffrey Boam (who had a double win that year with his screenplay for another summer hit: LETHAL WEAPON 2), apparently with additional dialogue from popular UK screen writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, which showed a clear sense of heart and familial recognition that could affect, enthuse and entertain audiences worldwide (backed up with a fun opening set-up/chase introducing us to a young version of Indiana Jones, well played by the late River Phoenix). Plus there were the usual great action highlights (the tank versus Indy on horse sequence is absolutely fantastic-a triumph of plotting and choreography which brings to life a very satisfying character orientated adrenaline scene- as is the Venice speedboat chase), a yummy blonde Indy-babe, the German spy Elsa Schneider played by the equally yummy ex-Bond girl Alison Doody, and other enjoyable villains-once more the Nazis (though a little bit more lampooned and cliched now in comparison to their mostly tough and intimidating roles in RAIDERS, but a special note to Michael Byrne who is excellent and thoroughly rotten as General Vogel, alongside Julian Glover's ambitious and slimy US businessman Walter Donovan (and look out for a little cameo from the actors real-life wife, Isla Blair (as Mrs Donovan, and listed in the movies credits as being played by "Mrs Glover"!). Finally, to the delight of long term fans since RAIDERS, there's also the return of our other friends: Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliot) and Sallah (John Rhys Davies), though, like the Nazis they're fighting against, it seems that there characters would also be amped up for more comic effect.

Here's one of the original trailers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYNTV61FeAs



The Tank action sequence looked thrilling on the big screen in 1989.

 I remember that seeing the final INDY film was even more of a thrill for me this time, as I was witnessing it on the biggest screen in London at the newly re-opened and re-furnished EMPIRE, Leicester Square theatre in the heart of London's West End. I saw it the opening weekend of the films release (plus a few more times after that with family and friends) where it was also the opening weekend for the new cinema, and which, I think, had also played host to another special Royal premiere, too, just like the one for TEMPLE OF DOOM. I clearly remember walking into the new EMPIRE and thinking, "This is how all cinemas should be!", and loved the re-design: the plush seating and a loud and eye filling laser light show and deafening, proper THX sound system designed specifically to rattle you in your seat before the film had even started! The audience of the Saturday mid afternoon show proceeded to love every minute of THE LAST CRUSADE, and so did I, and, as our old friends Indy, Marcus, Henry and Sallah rode off into the sunset at the end of their own crusade, I knew that this was indeed going to be the last film of the series and I had a little lump in my throat as the final credits rolled...

And then, almost twenty years later, Ford and the gang proved me wrong!

THE LAST CRUSADE, showing tonight on BBC 1, completes the series being shown on the channel and BBC HD.

INDY'S DARKEST HOURS AT "THE TEMPLE OF DOOM"

The Bridge too far! Indiana Jones fights for survival in INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM.

"I'm not gonna have anything nice to say about this place when I get back!"  - Willie Scott.

Time has sadly not been kind to INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM. Critics have often
stated that it didn't live up to the success or sequel promise of RAIDERS, and both Lucas and Spielberg themselves have kinda regretted making it over time, citing it as too dark and intense in places (indicative of the dark times they too were then having in their personal lives and relationships), but I personally like it a lot. Remember that little dark and intense film called THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK that followed STAR WARS. Nothing wrong with that one, eh? This was just following in the same vein. Granted, it doesn't have the first films verve, but there are some terrific moments of action and comedy worthy of merit (many of which were originally derived for RAIDERS but had to be eliminated for time and money reasons, leading them to be held over for this sequel), and it does have some adrenaline ride moments like the action in and outside the Club Obi-Wan, and, later, in the minefield chase, and the baddies, a different foe from the Nazis, really are nasty and scary. Plus, there's spooky voodoo like possession (even Indy gets captured in this one!), dark caves, human sacrifices and lots of heroics not only from our Fedora hatted adventurer, but also his likable companion Short Round (Ke Huy Quan). Plus Kate Capshaw, Mrs Spielberg to you and me!, is a fine, if loud, Indy babe! And how can we not mention that great musical number at the films beginning, which would make the legendary choreographer Busby Berkeley proud!

Night club singer Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) and the dancing girls- a part of the opening musical number that didn't make the final cut of INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM.

I remember seeing this film twice at the cinema, first at the local ODEON Streatham (where I first saw STAR WARS in January 1978) with my family (and we all thoroughly enjoyed seeing Indy again!), and then with some school friends at the Streatham ABC a few months later. I also remember there was a big premiere at the London West End EMPIRE Leicester Square with the cast and crew, and I think it was a Royal Premiere (with Princess Diana), but I wasn't aware of it until after the fact.

Here's the films original trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4zD6Nm_ce4

TEMPLE, the first Lucas Prequel, is being shown in the UK in glorious full HD widescreen on the BBC tonight, though most likely it will be the edited version of the movie which I despise (on its original release, the scene where Mola Ram removes the heart from one of his sacrificial victims, a part of said victims burning, and Short Round's whipping from the young Maharajah were ordered cut from the film by the then very nervous people at the British Board of Film Censors, so as to get a family audience viewing certificate (all of these scenes, however, remain intact in the US versions on DVD and laserdisc)). These same cuts have continued over the years with subsequent releases in different formats in the UK, and no doubt the eventual UK release on Blu-ray will suffer the same fate unless the movies certificate is upped to a 15 level, which we doubt that LUCASFILM/PARAMOUNT will want to do, as it may disrupt family audience sales of their box sets. To be honest, though, looking back at those TEMPLE scenes they now seem pretty tame to me: the violence and gore I've seen in some of today's modern family viewing is often far worse!

UPDATE: 13/1/2010. Once again, and as expected, the cut UK version of the film was shown.

BACK ON UK TV: "RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK"

"Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?" Indy descends into trouble in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

On BBC 1 and HD today at 9pm, and then the other two to follow each week. I'll be intrigued to see which version of RAIDERS is shown: the original as has been seen on the UK's SKY MOVIES over the last year, or two years ago BBC HD copy, which had a new cgi overlay background sequence during one scene in the truck chase (image below):

Old version 1981

New version for the so far unreleased INDY Blu-rays? With thanks to ORIGINALTRILOGY.COM

I'll never forget seeing RAIDERS for the first time in 1981. I was eleven years old, and I knew nothing about the film apart from seeing some stills in STARBURST magazine (I didn't even know it was set in the 1930's). Me, mum, my brother and his wife (my dad didn't want to come-he regretted it afterwards!) went to the weekend sneak preview midnight screening, the week before its proper release in UK cinemas, at the lovable flea-pit cinema the Streatham ABC, in the days when you didn't book online or phone for tickets, you just went and hoped you got in there! We did, the cinema was jam packed, and we were all blown away by how exciting the film was- and as the opening scene unfolded we were all impressed by Harrison Ford, superb in a role that was meant for him! My love of STAR WARS got me in trouble, though: when I saw William Hootkins in the film, I remember turning round to my mum and saying, "It's Porkins!", to which I got an aggressive "sshhh" from the angry adult above me!

Great days and happy memories!

UPDATE 6/1/2011: The new version of RAIDERS was shown.

RETURNING TO "THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL"

Always in trouble, Indiana Jones is older but never any wiser! Image: LUCASFILM/PARAMOUNT



The UK's BBC 1 channel (and HD) sees in the New Year's Day at 5.35 pm with a healthy dollop of fun and action with Harrison Ford, who, if adventure had a name, continues to be known as Indiana Jones, as he and his new "family", wayward youth Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf) and still feisty after all these years Marion Ravenwood (a fine return for Karen Allen), enter the legendary Kingdom of the Crystal Skull to unearth its possibly alien secrets, followed by a fine Russian villainess, Irina Spalko (the chameleon-like actress Cate Blanchett) and her army of dedicated soldiers, determined to conquer the world with the secrets they can steal. 

Harrison Ford, despite criticisms of his advancing years, has aged well as the iconic hero and carries the film well-looking good at a time of life when most people can barely climb on board a bus! Perhaps the adventure overall could have had a little bit more depth towards the end story and character-wise, and Indy himself could have have had perhaps one more major action sequence in which to shine, but I feel that KINGDOM is a much under-rated film and far better than most people give it credit. Ultimately, though, none of the Indy sequels, despite all their great and highly memorable moments of drama, action and comedy, have ultimately topped or fully matched the strong story or break neck, pitched to perfection pace of the original RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK-that film is still the best and remains unbeatable as one of the all defining action movies ever- but KINGDOM certainly holds up well alongside an Indy sequel like THE LAST CRUSADE in many places and, if there is no new film on the horizon next year for our archaeologist hero, proves to be an acceptable and generally satisfying conclusion to it all.

Remember this original trailer, and how the world was excited to see Indy return after such a long absence from our screens?:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5bvLbl-Ul0

FIRST LOOK: "COWBOYS & ALIENS"



Indiana Jones and 007 together! It can only be COWBOYS & ALIENS! Image: copyright DREAMWORKS/PARAMOUNT


Harrison Ford + Daniel Craig + fighting aliens = Mega Blockbuster Summer Entertainment!!!

The first trailer, and its a goodie!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBKU9WU_wLo


UPDATE- 15/4/2010. Exciting new trailer: Cowboys and Aliens - Movie Trailers - iTunes

INDIANA JONES: AN ANNIVERSARY OF ADVENTURE!



Fans who want to keep up with the Jones's will no doubt enjoy today's all day showing of Indy's feature film adventures on SKY MOVIES ACTION/ADVENTURE in the UK. We can't confirm this but it looks like the screenings, which will be shown in HD, will not be the same HD prints as the ones recently shown on the BBC (of which RAIDERS had a new cgi background effects shot added) - the latter were apparently the versions to have been released on Blu-ray before Spielberg apparently changed his mind and asked for more extensive cleaning up be done to them.

With the thirtieth anniversary of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and Indiana Jones next year, lets hope that there are some major league celebrations upcoming planned by LUCASFILM and PARAMOUNT. How about a limited theatrical run of all four films in plush digital screenings at the cinema, or at least RAIDERS, and not just in the US but worldwide, and then release the Blu-rays? How about some kind of cast and crew signings. And OFFICIALPIX, open up your INDY shop again for a limited time to celebrate (with some new images, too!). Perhaps a revised and updated release of the Rinzler making of book with some more publicity on it may be nice to see.

With the recent news that the main cast have been told the apparently "crazy and exciting" story, what's going on with INDY 5? And, with the success of THE CLONE WARS, how about an Indy animated series?

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