Sound Colour Vibration (Music | Art | Film | Technology | Science | Culture)

In today’s Yellow Bricks, we are sticking to last week’s article by staying in film. In volume 4 of Yellow Bricks, we have set out to include a detailed break down of films we feel are potential blockbuster hits of high artistic merit for next year. With the ending quarter of 2011 seeing the arrival of many trailers for films to be released in 2012, we are beginning a new phase at SCV with much more coverage of newly released films in the independent and non independent realms. With our series Movement Nu, we have created a vehicle to open up the vaults on many past productions that have shaped the way we love film. Movement Nu will see new article entries in 2012, we are very pleased with what we have already shaping for all of you out here reading. Yellow Bricks Volume 4 is a collection of 3 features that have caught our attention for 2012. We would have included a 4th addition into this list with the new Quentin Tarantino flick Django Unchained but a trailer has yet to release, so we decided to hold off on that for a later article.

-Erik Otis

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit

When Peter Jackson, one of New Zealand’s most well known modern film directors, emerged out of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy between the years of 2001 and 2003, critical acclaim was immediately garnished in all areas of the films. The cinematography, computer graphics, illustrations by long time Tolkien illustrators Alan Lee and John Howe along with the beautiful natural landscapes of New Zealand where all of the films were shot gave the Trilogy one of the most proper settings for a fantasy fiction plot of this magnitude. These films embody a turning point in cinematic history. With the success of the theater and home release versions, the Tolkien legend continues yet again with the prequel story for The Lord of the Rings in The Hobbit. Shot to be released in two parts, this highly anticipated epic will see the light of day in the later portions of 2012 and 2013. With many of the characters back from the Trilogy, there is high expectations on the direction and authenticity this film will carry out. There is always the questions that arise from films adapted from books, questions that underline the original vision and story line as the J. R. R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel of the same title played out. Like any release this earlier in promotion stages, one can only hope for the best.

Warner Brothers is the company handling this project and they released a trailer for the The Hobbit this week to a highly anticipated crowd of fans from the Trilogy and the classic essence of the literature that has spawned such an epic set of movies. The really interesting aspect to this film to us here at Sound Colour Vibration is the inclusion of Mexican director, producer, screenwriter, novelist and designer Guillermo del Toro. His releases have been pushing the envelope for decades. The fact that he has taken seat in the ranks of those pushing the buttons means this film will surely show different shades and directions of film making that the Trilogy never touched upon. What that will be the final product is anyone’s guess, but the trailer looks beautiful and one can only imagine how dark this film will really go considering the books unfolding menacing story. According to many press releases and statements from himself, Guillermo del Toro will have a large hand on the final direction of The Hobbit. The following press statement about The Hobbit is from Warner Bros. Pictures, ““The Hobbit” follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum. In Cinemas December 2012

Official Trailer

Prometheus

Prometheus

Moving to 20th Century Fox, we now want to dive into the Ridley Scott film that is coming out in 2012 called Prometheus. As most of you know, Ridley Scott is the man responsible for classic films such as 1979′s Alien, 2000′s Gladiator, 2007′s American Gangster, 2010′s Robin Hood along with many more notable releases. Prometheus is a film that follows the same lineage of sci-fi alien horror that became electrifying to audiences in the 80′s. This movement has pioneered countless films that include the waking and demoralizing reality of a battle fought with few humans and so much risk and devastation involved. This movement that was boldly started with his very own Alien film in the late 70′s is now full circle and there is no better person to carry out the true vision of a film like Prometheus than director Ridley Scott. Prometheus shows small hints of the same world Alien’s comes from but serves as a very different story and vehicle for the modern technology and devices the film industry has provided for film makers now.

In an interview with UK’s Independent released in September of last year, director Ridley Scott talks about how dark and ethereal this film will be to audiences who dive in.  “The film will be really tough, really nasty. It’s the dark side of the moon. We are talking about gods and engineers. Engineers of space. And were the aliens designed as a form of biological warfare? Or biology that would go in and clean up a planet?” When I started to read further into the futuristic plot line and the visual possibilities with the landscapes, tools and characters mentioned, I became instantly hooked to find out more. Initially, this was supposed to be the prequel to the Alien saga, but this did not materialize and only fragments of that appear in Prometheus. Finally seeing a trailer has only confirmed how good I feel this movie is going to be. With the direction of one of Hollywood’s best, a deeply intriguing plot to work around, the visual schematics only few have conceptualized let along used and intricate character plot relationships that should push the limits of sci-fo horror and give new meaning to this genre. Starring Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Kate Dickie, and Logan Marshall-Green, Prometheus is the type of film I have been waiting for years to come out on the big screen. Check out the official trailer below.

Official Trailer

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises

Finding ourselves back in the Warner Bros Pictures lot, we now dive into the highly anticipated follow up to end the Christopher Nolan directed Batman film trilogy. Beginning with 2005′s Batman Begins, continued with 2008′s out of this world The Dark Knight, this series is now concluding with The Dark Knight Rises. Set to launch in June of 2012, I can’t even explain how excited I was when sent the official HD trailer for The Dark Knight Rises. Shot all over the world, this DC comics film looks to be the best visual addition in the extensive Batman catalog. One can only hope the story line, acting and overall sequence of the film stands up to the standard of the past two Batman films released under Christopher Nolan’s direction. Reportedly, much of The Dark Knight Rises was shot using special IMAX cameras to enhance visual possibilities and post editing manipulation. With a budget in the $250 million range, director Christopher Nolan and his crew have been expected to release the most brilliant Batman to date. With the introduction of first time big screen DC characters in villains Selina Kyle and the infamous Bane, this is going to move up a notch in sinister and evil wrong doings that one of the worlds most beloved comic characters has to defend the world from. With an all star cast of Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman, one can only expect a collectively stellar acting performance for the film on top of the high level of technology they have reported utilizing for this production.

Set in Gotham City 8 years after the devastating events in The Dark Knight, Batman’s introduction back into the crime fighting force is met with the highest degree of risk as Bane proves to be one of his toughest adversaries. This is another high budget movie that goes far and beyond to show why high production art is just as important as anything the film festivals are plugging away at. Thank you for taking part in our Yellow Bricks series.

Official Trailer