LikeNet.ca: A great way for movies to market themselves

I discovered this great webpage, LikeNet.ca, that basically pays users to like certain Facebook pages. I think this would be a great way for Hollywood to market their films and create word of mouth among people. I know a lot of films have Facebook pages with enormous followings, but this may be a great way for smaller films to create a little buzz and show some recognition on the world wide web. Anyways, here's a link to LikeNet's parent company for you to take a look for yourselves:
http://www.softcorp.ca">SoftCorp Media Victoria | Web Design, Social Media and More

The Cameraman: Buster Keaton – Silent Cinema’s Most Sophisticated Filmmaker

                Pulitzer Prize winning novelist and screenwriter James Agee calls the silent period of the Twenties “Comedy’s Golden Era.” Indeed it is difficult to argue with Agee, as he cites some of film history’s greatest comedic figures, such as Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin. Buster Keaton, however, is a filmmaker that absorbs himself within the actual medium of film to an infinitely greater degree than his contemporaries. As seen in The Cameraman (1928), a film Keaton starred in and unofficially co-directed he places a greater importance on cinematographic properties such as the mise-en-scene and camera movement than his fellow filmmakers. Keaton also weaves his slapstick and sight gags into the narrative of the film to create complex and thematic works. Keaton is, in fact, the most sophisticated overall filmmaker working in the genre of silent comedy.

                

This Summer's Gonna Belong to the Cowboys and the Aliens

Another trailer for this summer's Cowboys & Aliens has just debuted. I love the way this film is being marketed. Every trailer just teases the concept and piques curiosity without giving away much of the story. I doubt we've even seen any footage past the second act of the film. Anyways, I'll be first in line for this one and you should take a look at the trailer after the jump.

Thoughts on the Rise of the Planet of the Apes Trailer

Caesar, the CGI star of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, was created by the folks at Weta Workshop.

The first trailer for this summer's reimagining of the Planet of the Apes story, entitled Rise of the Planet of the Apes, hit the web early this morning. I was looking forward to this trailer. I think this film is the summer's real wild card. It's hard to say how well this film is going to do. That being said, there was a lot in the trailer that I enjoyed. Visually, it looks stunning. The special effects are being done by Weta Workshop. That's the special effects house that worked on The Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong, and Avatar. Using the same motion capture technology used on Avatar, Weta created the film's apes differently than past iterations in the franchise. The performance capture technology applies a real physical performance completely to a digital creation. Although the makeup work in these films has always been topnotch, even in Tim Burton's remake, I feel like this digital work looks fantastic. It will be the first time the apes look photo-realistic. It's no wonder that the name Weta is featured so prominently in the trailer.

Sidney Lumet has Passed Away

Acclaimed director Sidney Lumet has passed away. He died this morning from lymphoma at the age of 86. Lumet is widely recognized as one of the greatest directors in cinema, having directed such classics as 12 Angry Men, Network and Dog Day Afternoon, among others. His last film was 2007's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Although his film have been nominated for Academy Awards many times, he never won an Oscar. In 2005, he was given an honorary Oscar. He was one of the finest filmmakers to have graced the world of cinema and he will be greatly missed.

Crazy, Stupid, Love starring Steve Carell

Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling star in Crazy, Stupid, Love

I don't normally get excited for new comedies, but this trailer for Crazy, Stupid, Love has done just that. It looks like a great balance of comedy and drama, and plays to Steve Carell's strengths. He's funniest when playing it straight. I hope this film turns out as well as Date Night did last year.

Anyway, here's the trailer:

3D Movies

"Jake Sully, this 3D movie is giving me a headache."
"Outstanding."