Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
Held at Caesar’s Palace, CinemaCon is the official convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners. The movie studios conduct presentations to get their exhibition partners excited about the products they will soon have to offer them.
WARNER BROS. PICTURES
The presentation started with a funny clip from the Going in Style remake with Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Alan Arkin.
Director Christopher Nolan introduced Dunkirk. He spoke about the expanded use of IMAX cameras, how important the story was for the British, and only being interested in theatrical exhibition. The prologue was shown to give a sense of the film’s feel and it is captivating.
Annabelle: Creation had a lot of loud noises from the trailer. Stephen King’s It looked spooky, maybe to spooky for me as horror isn’t my thing. Unforgettable with Katherine Heigl and Rosario Dawson is another crazy, scorned woman story. Everything, Everything is from a young adult novel about a girl who can’t go outside but then wants to when she he meets a boy.
Ed Helms and Owen Wilson are the title characters in the comedy Bastards, set for a 12/22. The House with Amy Poehler and Will Farrell looks funny as the two play parents that have to raise money for daughter’s college tuition.
Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur with Charlie Humman is coming in May, but not sure the story. Another Blade Runner 2049 featurette has me very intrigued on how they are going to continue the story. Geostorm is another disaster actioner with Gerard Butler.
Set for December 2018, Aquaman star Jason Moma introduced a clip featuring concept art. Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins and co-star Chris Pine were on hand. They showed a good action scene as Wonder Woman fights Nazis. There was also a cute, romance-building scene where they talk about sleeping next to each on a boat. It showed there would be nice, character stuff. So with no Gal Gadot on hand for that, not a surprise she didn’t join the Justice League presentation with the rest of the cast and director Zack Snyder. The trailer looked familiar but had some extra bits.
20TH CENTURY FOX
The studio kicked things off with a bang with an impressive dance routine and performers wearing LED lights. They then talked about Captain Underpants, the final film in their deal with Dreamworks. From Fox Animation comes Ferdinand, voiced by John Cena and based on the classic children’s book.
Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn presented a clip from Snatched, which looks funny. Jennifer Lawrence stars in Red Sparrow playing a Russian assassin. Kate Winslet and Idris Elba star in the survival love story The Mountain Between Us.
In the sequels category, War for the Planet of the Apes showed a new trailer and an extended clip. Kingman: The Golden Circle looked funny and continued to deliver over-the-top action. Alien: Covenant is the next chapter in the franchise. While not a sequel, Kenneth Branagh directs and stars in the remake of Murder on the Orient Express.
Hugh Jackman was on hand for his project he has been working for quite a while, The Greatest Showman, a musical based on the life of P.T. Barnum. Michelle Williams plays his wife and a sneak peek was screened.
