Appropriately for a movie about one of the Wonders of the World, The Great Wall is huge. Directed by House of Flying Daggers and Hero filmmaker Zhang Yimou, it is the most expensive Chinese movie of all time. But if you’re expecting a lofty historical epic about the 13,000-mile wall’s construction, well, expect again. In these exclusive images, you can see the vibrancy and imagination in Zhang’s vision. Believe it or not, The Great Wall is actually a monster movie — and these shots show the fantasia-soaked pageantry that many remember from Zhang’s most widely-seen spectacle, especially in the West, the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which he directed himself. Read More...
The third major novel by Neil Gaiman, Stardust, seemed destined from the start for cinematic treatment; it brimmed with magical portals to other worlds, falling stars that take the form of iridescent women, and evil, heinous witches. In 2007, a film adaptation arrived, and the result was a splendidly ethereal adventure that didn’t get bogged down by some of the heavier fantasy tropes. Sure, everyone speaks with that rather difficult-to-place British accent, but Stardust took a gamble with a slightly lighter, comedic touch — and won. Read More...
Adaptations are everywhere, and with streaming services like Netflix and Amazon continuing to expand their programming lineup, the need for interesting and established material is pretty high. Well, Hollywood, we've got some options—and by "some," we mean 50 books and series that have either yet to be acquired or whose development appears to be stalled. Each of these would make for a great film, an addicting series, or some other prestige-y thing. Read More...
