Neil Blomkamp’s District 9 started as nothing more than a short film titled Live From Johannesburg. Then it became it’s own major motion picture. It dominated the box office and was even nominated for Best Picture. Now it seems that we are going to get another Sci-Fi epic that started out as nothing more than a short film on YouTube turned into something much more after 20th Century purchased the rights to a short titled Archetype.

Archetype is about a combat robot named RL7 that has glitches in its programming — those glitches turn out to be memories. Check it out.

There is a lot of potential for a movie here. The whole idea of a robot having issues due to memories of a lost life has been done before. But this has a much more gritty look and feel to it, and the graphics are pretty sick. Initially, I found it interesting how much RL7 is convinced of its memories. But then there a was a profile of Dr. Patrick Stevens shown, leading me to think there’s a person in the suit. They left that pretty open. It felt like an audition for a motion picture. Where 20th Century will take the full story is anyone’s guess. But with this short being so awesome, there is a good chance the movie will be awesome as well. The short was released online in late January, so it didn’t take the studio too long to see the potential of a feature length film in this.

The creator of Archetype is Aaron Sims. He has worked on many of Hollywood’s biggest movies over the last few years, mainly in the art department. He’s worked on such films as Rise of The Planet of The Apes, Transformers: Dark of The Moon and Clash of The Titans to name a few.

There really is no other information on this film right now, other than the fact that it’s going to being made. But I think this movie will be worth watching. Watching the District 9 short didn’t leave me with much hope that the movie would be any good, but after that first trailer came out, I was proven wrong. Archetype leaves me with a ton of hope; not only that the movie will be kick-ass, but that it will be deep and have real feeling to it. Which can be hard to come by in the Sci-Fi genre. When ever it comes out in the theater… I’ll be there opening night.

What Did You Think Of The Short?

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JWingface

Prometheus is the Alien prequel that Ridley Scott has been working on for quite some time. The plot for the film was developed in 1979 and is being labeled a prequel, however it really has no direct relation to the film Alien. The plot revolves around a group of scientists and entrepreneurs that explore the civilization of an advanced extra terrestrial race to discover more about the origin of our humanity. The fact this is the first Sci-Fi film Ridley Scott has directed since he solidified the genre with Blade Runner in 1982 makes it look really juicy.

Up until a couple days ago, all we had for the film was a very creepy teaser that didn’t reveal any character details or plot points. Recently Ridley Scott was speaking in Hungary and finally went into some details on the film along with one of the key characters called “Weyland” played by Guy Pearce.

The Prometheus is owned by an entrepreneur called Peter Weyland,

and is played by Guy Pearce. That’s the connection between the two

films, and nothing more. Prometheus is a new film, a new world, and

is full of new ideas. And of course new monsters as well.

Here is a fake TED video featuring Peter Weyland speaking to a large audience that was released earlier this week.

So from both watching the video and reading Mr. Scott’s comments, we can gather two thing. One, that Prometheus is the name of the ship the scientists use to travel to whatever planet for their discoveries and inevitable doom. And two, that Mr. Weyland is a very forward, ambitious man with money, big ideas, and he wants to change the world… if you’ll indulge him. From observing his characteristics as the cocky-rich douche, I can almost guarantee that he is going to die in this film.

The futuristic TED video doesn’t make me want to see the movie any more than I already do. It’s honestly kind of lame. But it’s a decent start to the Prometheus viral campaign. When the subject matter is exploring where humanity came from, “who are we?” and “why are we here?”, there is such a wide range of viral possibilities that could be used. We could be subject to all sorts of marketing for this film and might not even know it because the questions this movie will explore are already in the news with some frequency.

The movie is not set to release until June, so there is plenty of time for 20th Century to release more on other characters and reveal some plot points, even though this movie has been in lock-down since it started production. This introduction seems to be part of a very large viral effort to provide a base of familiarity with the world, and characters of Prometheus.

Prometheus releases in the U.S. on June 8th, and features Guy Pearce, Noomi Rapace,  Micheal Fassbender, Charlize Theron and Idris Elba.

What Did You Think Of This Tease?

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JWingface 

This kind of behind the scenes material is usually left for the bonus features on a DVD/Blu-ray. I like how the movie studios are trying to wet the appetites of expected audiences by releasing these type of bonus features online before the film debuts. Peter Jackson and his The Hobbit videos have done it best. It gives viewers a sense of the magic in filmmaking and the players involved in making it. It gives the audience inside access, and it’s something we don’t have to watch Entertainment Tonight to get. I personally believe this type of production access is the wave of the future, where audiences can see how things are shaping up on a daily or weekly basis — nothing too revealing or spoilerish, just interviews with the production team and glimpses at the phases of production.

Enjoy listening to Mendes talk about his involvement with Skyfall.

The film also stars Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney, Berenice Malohe, and Naomie Harris.

Skyfall hits theaters November 9th, 2012.

What Did You Think Of The Short?

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @matthewdeery 

UPDATE: We now have a 1080p HD embed of the trailer that you can view right away after the break…

Fanboys have been drying off their sweaty palms all morning in anticipation for first full The Dark Knight Rises trailer. A teaser released on July 18th gave us only a slight glimpse of the third installment of Christopher Nolan’s beloved Batman trilogy. The new trailer gives a solid look at how Gotham has held up over the last eight years and where it might be headed.

The trailer gives us plenty of contemplate and even more to salivate over. The gut reaction when it’s over is one of relief and anticipation, but also disappointment that it is still seven months away. Nolan and Warner Bros. are following the same structure as The Dark Knight when it comes to releasing promotional material and a recently launched viral campaign. With the prologue currently showing in front of select IMAX screenings of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, we can expect this trailer will be the last look at this movie for a while. The prologue will most likely not be released online as it would defeat the purpose of showing it in true IMAX theaters only.

As for this trailer, it definitely shines a light on Bane’s capabilities and a propensity for remote-trigger explosives. Voice complaints aside, he’s going to make for one terrifying villain. And just to briefly acknowledge those complaints about his voice, just remember this movie is made with purpose and integrity. Surely he is aware of the situation and Warner Bros. will be running in circles trying to correct it. But as of right now, I personally have no quarrel with this voice. I could hardly understand most of what Sherlock Holmes was saying in Game of Shadows and I enjoyed it perfectly fine.

One line of dialogue I heard perfectly well, and can’t get out of my head, is Bane’s message to Batman: “When Gotham is in ashes, you have my permission to die.” Shit just got real:

Via Apple.com for the official HD release, or the HD YouTube embed below:

As for breaking down this trailer, there is plenty to consider. So, here are some thoughts on what might be happening. Obviously, this is highly speculative and comes from my core as a Batman and Chris Nolan fan. Considering all that we’ve seen at this point, there is plenty to consider when trying to unwrap the plot. Yet, there are still so many questions. Will Batman die? Will John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) be a re-imagining of Robin? Is Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard) actually Talia Al’ Ghul? But hey, this is why we enjoy Chris Nolan’s movies. They are entertaining and allow us to deliberate for months.

I understand that it’s typical of Nolan to cut anything in a non-sequential way, with a lot of misdirection, but below is how I feel the trailer might fit into the big picture. And it should be noted there are dozens of things to pick up on from the trailer, but these are just some initial thoughts worth sharing.

National Anthem, Bane climbing a ladder, Bane walking through a corridor and Bane pulling the trigger + explosion… This may be all part of the same scene. In my opinion, this will be Gotham’s first interaction with the masked man. A true entrance if ever we’ve seen one. I don’t think he wants to kill all the fans, but rather wants them to first-hand witness his wrath, along with the television audience. His goal is more about getting Gotham to fear him enough to follow him.

The plate of dinner… A reveal of Bruce on a cane. He doesn’t make it easy for you, but it’s clearly Bruce in the reflection. Based on the following dialogue, “You were as precious to me as you were to your mother and father. I swore to them I’d protect you. And I haven’t,” What if that is dinner set by Alfred and there’s a note that says that he’s gone to protect him? And Nolan actually has the balls to put Alfred military background to use and have him try to stop the madness himself.

“The mayor’s gonna dump him in the spring”… Obviously at Wayne Manor and includes a shot of ailing Bruce watching from an above balcony. He’s likely hosting an event to honor Harvey Dent (notice the Harvey Dent pictures stage right and left) and remind the people that Dent was their hero. But this is a private event and there are a lot of smiles being put on to cover their true emotions during peace time. This could be early in the film as an establishing point that it’s been 8 years and we are at peace.

Selina Kyle dance… We’re getting a great statement about the class warfare plot line this movie will take. Selina Kyle is coming from a lower class and sneaking her way into this wealthy masquerade in an attempt to get into Bruce’s ear and threaten him. I think she’s rogue, and uninvolved with Bane’s big plan. But she might buy into it momentarily. She might find out Bruce is Batman and have new respect for him, mirroring Rachel. I don’t think the kidnappings are for some Scarecrow trial of the rich as some has speculated, but I do think that Bane’s mercenaries will hold hostage Gotham’s richest in an effort to make them look weak and pitiful.

“What does it mean? Rise”… Bruce is in some kind of an underground well prison. A lot of theories have been thrown around about this, but here’s mine. Bane injures Batman enough to hold him prisoner and has his mercenaries (the men jumping into the well) drop Bruce off in that prison. Bruce finds out that it’s where Bane is from and another prisoner tells him how Bane came to be and how he was fueled by fear in that place. The shot of Catwoman in the prologue suggests to me that she got caught by police and then did a sexy Catwoman escape. I don’t think these two prisons are connected.

Marion Cotillard… Taking off the mask with a sly smile definitely feels like Chris Nolan winking to the fanboys that she is in fact covering up her real identity as Talia Al’ Ghul, daughter of Ra’s Al Ghul.

Will Bruce Wayne, Batman or both die in The Dark Knight Rises?… The trailer certainly suggests, along with the poster, that we may see the end of this character in more ways than one. One thing is for sure, Bane beats him down enough to give him permission to die.

What Do You Think? Has Christopher Nolan Made A Third Movie Better Than The Rest?

It’s no secret, that here at the The Movie Mash, we are big fans of Christopher Nolan. Barrett and Mike each have The Dark Knight, The Prestige, and Inception among their top ten movies of all-time — I have Batman Begins amongst my ten favorites. Nolan is a cinematic genius, and has yet to fail as a blockbuster filmmaker. Many montages have been made showcasing the director’s work, but I think this latest rendition is definitely one of the best. Hit the jump to watch it.

Kees van Dijkhuizen is the man behind the video. He has worked this year on creating a video montage of his favorite directors which include: (my personal favorite) David Fincher, Tim Burton, Ridley Scott, Wes Anderson, Pixar, and more. After creating the previous entries, van Dijkhuizen said he got, “hundreds, literally hundreds of requests” to mash up the work of Nolan. Well, why wouldn’t there be hundreds of requests? Nolan is a visionary with strengths in structruing breathtaking beauty in all his shots — especially his landscapes. We all want to see a man with van Dijkhuizen’s editing talents praise our favorite snippets from Nolan’s films. Without further ado…

What Did You Think Of The Video?

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @matthewdeery

For those living under a rock, tomorrow marks the day so many First-Person-Shooter fans have been waiting for — November 8th, 2011, the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. The day marks the debut of the 8th Call of Duty gaming chapter, and the third version set in the modern era. Any FPS gamer on the planet knows Call of Duty is one of the most prestigious and most played franchises in the genre, and with that kind of noterity comes big fish. While a similar hailed shooter came out weeks ago titled Battlefield 3, it’s marketing campaign didn’t feature two prominent Hollywood fixtures. Hit the jump to see Sam Worthington play the role of “the vet” and Jonah Hill play “the noob” as they stage some real game action to promote the game.

Enjoy the video.

My my, hasn’t Jonah Hill slimmed down a bit? He actually looks good playing the role of an action hero — that is, when he isn’t fumbling around like an idiot like he was in the beginning of the trailer. I love this marketing angle — get big names to promote the game, which especially enhances the idea of online gameplay. Any one of us could matchup with the likes of Dwight Howard or Worthington while testing our skills online — it is unlikely, but you get the idea.

What Did You Think? Are You One Of The Many To Buy Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3?

If you haven’t seen X-Men: First Class, you really are missing out — it is without a doubt the best X-Men film to date. If you are one of the few who still have not seen it, don’t go pass go, i.e. the jump, to see this behind the scenes featurette. The video isn’t really anything special, but I really loved this film, and the extra peek at this cameo is worth the view for any fan.

This Hugh Jackman cameo as Wolverine is one of the best I’ve seen in a movie, and that is another reason why I thought this short video was worthwhile — especially considering his awesome and very brief lines. Check it out.

What Did You Think Of The Cameo?

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @matthewdeery

The question posed above might not be serious, but the video after the jump has your answer. Star Wars might not have worked with a black guy voicing C-3PO, but it would have been a whole lot funnier — that is clearly shown after watching the ghetto droid talk back to Uncle Owen. Hit the jump to see.

Ready to do some laughing?

What Did You Think Of A Black C-3PO?

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @matthewdeery

Game of Thrones second season seems like it should be coming out now, because in reality, “winter is coming” right around October’s end. We all know that will come more quickly than we would like in Minnesota. However, HBO wants to tease us normal folk who only dream of fantasy land by reminding us, Game of Thrones will be back next season. Unfortunately, no actual footage from the second season is available yet, but hit the jump for a cheap quick thrill to chill the bones of the fantasy lovers longing for the return of Westeros.

Check out the teaser.

Are You Excited For Game Of Thrones Season 2?

To keep the readers entertained over the weekend, I thought I would pass along some cool videos I encountered while trolling Twitter. The first is a fun Star Wars short where stars like Emma Stone, Ken Jeong, Seth Rogen, and Aziz Ansari reenact our favorite scenes from a galaxy far, far away to raise cancer awareness. The second video should make any FPS — first person shooter — fan feel at home. Imagine watching a Jason Bourne-like figure destroying the suited opposition to escape an office with a high value confidential object. Seriously, hit the jump and watch these videos.

First we can start with the comedy in a Star Wars setting.

Don’t miss this. I had a great time watching this short video. The action is well staged, the camerawork and editing are superb, and it features plenty of elements that make a good chase — like a legion of suited minions on the chase, high flying jumps, and an amazing payoff at the end. The short was produced by and the music is from an indie band called Biting Elbows. Check them out if you like the video.

What Did You Think Of The Videos?

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @matthewdeery