The NZFF: Preliminary Ramble

By now all of Auckland's self-respecting film geeks will probably have in their hands the programme for the 2012 New Zealand International Film Festival and be keenly scrutinising it with a mix of awe and excitement at the cinematic treats that await them from July 19 - August 5. A few notes:

• The launch last night at Rialto was maybe the most packed one I've ever attended. A choice of two films were screened: Searching for Sugar Man, Monsieur Lazhar. Couldn't stay for them, but have heard some positive words about Sugar Man.
• Nearly all films at this year's festival will screen in the DCP format (RIP 35mm). In his speech NZFF director Bill Gosden mentioned this year is a turning point for the fest.
• Nice to see a good selection of Cannes hits playing: Beasts of the Southern Wild, Holy Motors, Reality, Amour, Moonrise Kingdom.
• If the Incredibly Strange section feels a bit slight, it's 'cos several films were yanked, beyond programmer Ant Timpson's control, at the last minute. Still... The Cabin in the Woods at the CIVIC!
• Peter Jackson will be attending the West of Memphis screening, along with Damien Echols! There's only 1 screening for this so get your tickets early to avoid missing out.
• Auckland Art Gallery has come on board as a venue, but where art thou Academy Cinemas?
• No Cosmopolis?
• Film most excited about: The Imposter. I've deliberately tried to read as little about it as possible. Gonna go into this one blind. Have not even seen the trailer.
• Most gutted about missing: West of Memphis, Holy Motors, The Shining, Killer Joe.
• So far on my schedule: a meagre 12 films. Not a reflection on the festival itself, but just me having to fit around more commitments than usual this year.

Trailer: Taken 2

When Taken came out in 2008, it kinda took everyone by surprise: we watched in jaw-dropping awe as Liam Neeson, pushing 60, was kicking ass like nobody's business. Meanwhile the film destroyed the box office, reaping over $200 mill worldwide. Now 60, Neeson's going to be doing it all over the again, punching throats and taking down more Albanian baddies in the Olivier Megaton-directed, Istanbul-set Taken 2. Sure, the attempts to stretch the franchise strains credibility (now it's ex-wifey Famke Janssen who gets 'napped!), but the action looks solid and Neeson game for another round of don't-mess-with-the-retired-CIA-op.

New Fatso Ads

We have some fancy new TV ads. One is 30 seconds, the other is 1 min and goes into a bit more detail of how fatso works. Check 'em out!

Movie Simpsons

Here's a tumblr with a simple but neat, perfectly geeky idea: side-by-side gif comparisons of shots from The Simpsons with the original shot from the movie they are parodying. Hope to see more soon!

Recut Trailer: Mrs. Doubtfire

Now that you mention it..

Trailer: The Bourne Legacy

If you're concerned of the lack of Jason Bourne/Matt Damon in The Bourne Legacy, I think after watching this trailer you'll find there's no real reason to be. Looks like actor Jeremy Renner, and writer/director Tony Gilroy (who's written all the Bourne films to date) will really bring it in this new entry. Renner, following breakout action roles in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and The Avengers, looks perfectly at home snapping limbs, leaping from great heights and getting chased on motorbikes, while Gilroy doesn't seem to have held back on the furious, hair-raising action that's made the franchise so successful.