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.....to a theatre near you!

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Written by Jeff Walters


Alien 4

Alien Resurrection

Cast - Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon, Brad Dourif, Dan Hedaya.
Director - Jean Pierre-Jeunet
Story -

Set on a large starship heading for Earth. 200 years after the events in the last film, and the galaxy has become a different place. A team of bounty hunters have been hired to kidnap people in cryosleep and take them aboard a giant starship. Scientists onboard use the bodies to grow the Alien creatures inside and keep the specimens locked up. In a bold experiment, they create a clone of Ripley and remove the alien queen from inside her. The clone, complete with Ripley's memories, tries assessing her humanity as the experiment has merged some of the alien DNA with her own, giving her a sixth sense about the creatures.

Trouble strikes when the aliens break out of their captivity and overrun the ship, causing the scientists to panic and set the ship's course for Earth hoping the military will stop it. Ripley teams up with a group of bounty hunters, scientists and military men to reach the mercenaries shuttle which is on the other side of the alien-infested starship, and somehow destroy it before it reaches Earth.

The Word on the Street -

I've read three reviews of a private test-screening of Aliens 4. Even though the movie contained only 90% of it's special effects, all three reviewers had nothing but overwhelming praise for the movie. They claim it is not only as good as the first two Alien movies - but better. Apparently the acting is terrific and the reviewers went as far as to say Sigourney's performance was Oscar worthy.

Director Jean Pierre-Jeunet was also mentioned in the same sentence as Oscar. These outstanding reviews mean even more when you take into account that the FX weren't done and that the test-screening was NOT advertised as Alien 4 (in fact the audience only found out they were going to see Alien Resurrection when the words came up on the screen)......in other words the reviews are not by bias diehard Aliens fans! There are rumours that the movies release date will be moved up to capitalise on the current buzz.

RELEASE DATES: USA - November 21st 1997, UK - 1997, Australia - January 1st 1998


Starship Troopers

Starship Troopers

Cast - Casper Van Diem, Michael Ironside, Clancy Brown, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Patrick Muldon.
Director - Paul Verhoeven
Story -

Based on the novel by Robert Heinlein. Shows the lives of a group of young men and women soldiers fighting in a huge galactic war against giant alien insects whose plan is to wipe out every human so their species will survive.

The Word on the Street -

There has been a lot of Starship Troopers vs Alien 4 talk going around and the feeling is now that ST doesn't have a chance. It has a budget of around $100 million and no big names (could be a good or bad thing). Needless to say it has got a lot of people worried. The fact that is extremely viloent could discourage people and a lot of features that made the Starship Troopers novel so interesting have also been ditched. I think it will break even at the box office (due to the hype), but it'll have to be VERY good to make a impact, now that Alien Resurrection appears to be a certain hit. A sequel to Starship Troopers is already planned, so it can't be *that* bad....whoa...forgot how many Police Academy movies there was for a second.

RELEASE DATES: USA - November 7th 1997, UK - November 28th 1997, Australia - Sept. 4th 1997


Tommorow Never Dies

Tommorow Never Dies

Cast - Pierce Brosnan, Jonathon Pryce, Teri Hatcher, Nina Young, Michelle Yeoh.
Director - Roger Spottiswoode
Story -

Media magnate Elliot Carver (Jonathon Pryce), greedy to increase the ratings feels that war equals ratings and so hatches a plan manipulate the media and begin World War III. Guess who has to stop him? Bond is helped by a Chinese agent to stop the madman, and seeks help from the mogul's wife who Bond once shared intimate relations with.

The Word on the Street -

Things aren't looking promising on the Bond set. Hatcher is pissed after her character was cut to three scenes. Jonathon Pryce also feels that his character has been ruined by the script-writers. Apparently the director has brought in some new script writing blood in order to solve some of the problems. There is talk that the movie could be delayed till early 1998.

RELEASE DATES: USA - December 19th 1997, UK - December 12th 1997, Australia - December 26th 1997


Titanic

Titanic

Cast - Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Paxton, Billy Zane, Suzy Amis, Gloria Stuart, Kathy Bates.
Director - James Cameron
Story -

An explorer of the Titanic wreck uncovers a painting of a young woman wearing a priceless French diamond necklace. He is soon contacted by the woman, who is now elderly, and they must go to the wreck to save the jewel from fortune hunters. Along the way, she remembers her time aboard the ill-fated ship. In her 20's she was a beautiful daughter in a rich family and was arranged to marry a wealthy businessman whom she didn't love. On the trip she meets a rebellious young American named Jack whom she falls for, but her husband-to-be finds out and plans to kill him. Panic soon strikes as the ship hits an iceberg and begins sinking. As the evacuation begins, it is realised that only half the passengers will escape alive, so Jack and Rose must stay on the ship as long as possible or die in the freezing waters of the Atlantic.

The Word on the Street -

The famous ocean-liner may not be the only thing that will sink when this movie hits theatres. It's starting budget of 120 million dollars balloned to between 210 and 320 million, meaning this movie (most expensive ever) will need a staggering reception at the box-office JUST TO BREAK EVEN!! On the plus side, test screenings have apparently gone very well, with viewers loving the romantic story and strong characters (though there were numerous complaints about the film's length). Titanic has a talented young cast and one of the most bankable directors (James Cameron) in Hollywood, but even with the terrific test-screening results, he has to be worried.

RELEASE DATES: USA - December 19th 1997, UK - 1997, Australia - December 18th 1997


Scream - The Sequel

Scream - The Sequel

Cast - Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, Liev Schrieber, David Arquette, Jada Pinkett, Jerry O'Connell, Laurie Metcalf, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elise Neal.
Director - Wes Craven
Story -

A movie has been made about the events in the first film and is released while Sidney is attending college. Almost immediately the killings begin again, and Sidney belives Cotton Weary, the wrongly accussed murderer of her mother, is the killer.

The Word on the Street -

Sequel to the incredibly successful hit Scream (which cost 14 million bucks to make and raked in almost 100 million). Word is that there will be a third movie as well. If you remember from the start of Scream, Drew Barrymore came to an early nastly end - Scream 2 will see Jada Pinkett ('The Nutty Professor') as the unlucky 'heroine-in-distress' for the opening sequence. There is talk that in Scream 3, none other than Alicia Silverstone will get the cut....so to speak....in the first few minutes. The 'movie within the movie' which has Tori Spelling as Sydney, will be entitled 'Stab' and be based on Gale's novel about the first film's events.

RELEASE DATES: USA - December 12th 1997, UK - 1998, Australia - February 1998


Mimic

Mimic

Cast - Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, Alexander Goodwin, Giancarlo Giannini, F. Murray Abraham.
Director - Guillermo Del Toro
Story -

When a deadly epidemic threatened to wipe out an entire generation of our children, a team of brilliant scientists found a way to stop it by genetically altering nature. But now three years later, nature is striking back and the cure they created has begun to take on a life of its own..... 6-foot Cockroaches.

The Word on the Street -

Sounds kinda like a weak Aliens rip-off, but the buzz about this film is VERY good. Apparently critics who have seen the test-screenings have stated that it is one of the scariest films ever made. Should be good, even if it's plot does sound a bit like a 50's B Grade.

RELEASE DATES: USA - August 22nd 1997, UK - 1997, Australia - September 1997


Hard Rain

Hard Rain

Cast - Christian Slater, Morgan Freeman, Randy Quaid, Minnie Driver, Ed Asner.
Director - Stephen Sommers
Story -

A town is forced to evacuate when torrential rains bring rising flood waters, but the locals are not aware of a planned $3 million dollar armored car heist. The car breaks down and when the driver named Tom (Morgan Freeman) radios for help, he is surrounded by a suspicious group who fire at the vehicle. Tom flees through the flooded areas with the money while the group leader, Jim (Christian Slater), is determined to retrieve the money and pursues.

The Word on the Street -

Was named 'The Flood', but renamed by the producers because the title implied a disaster movie......a tag they want to avoid after the utter failure of Volcano showed that audiences are starting to get sick of that genre. Word on the film is average/good. Should be worth watching, but nothing new or memorable.

RELEASE DATES: USA - September 1997, UK - 1997, Australia - 1997


The Day of the Jackal

The Day of the Jackal

Cast - Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Diane Venora, Sidney Poitier, Marthilda May.
Director - Michael Caton-Jones
Story -

Remake of the 1973 political thriller 'The Day of the Jackal' based on the novel by Fredrick Forsyth. 'The Jackal' (Bruce Willis) is the most infamous assassin-for-hire in the world, and the US authorities panic when they learn that The Jackal has made a $70 million dollar deal with Russian terrorists to assassinate the Director of the FBI. The only man who can stop him is imprisoned IRA operative Delcan Mulqueen (Richard Gere) who will receive a full pardon for finding and stopping the dangerous killer.

The Word on the Street -

There are no real rumours about this film yet, besides that it is a 'loose' remake of the orginal movie. There is a minor rumour that Patrick Stewart makes a cameo appearance.

RELEASE DATES: USA - November 14th 1997, UK - 1998, Australia - 1998


Jackie Brown

Cast - Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Bridget Fonda, Robert De Niro, Robert Forster, Michael Keaton.
Director - Quentin Tarantino
Story -

Based on the Elmore Leonard novel 'Rum Punch'. A hooker and a smart-talking bail bondsman forge a partnership as they hurry to reach an ex-arms dealer's stash of money before the law, and a gang of criminals gets to it or them first.

The Word on the Street -

Absolutely NO gossip here. But the fact it's a Quentin Tarantino project is gossip enough for most. With a cast this good (Samuel L. Jackson - how can you go wrong with him?) and QT's unusual cinematic talent - this should be very interesting.

RELEASE DATES: USA - December 25th 1997, UK - 1997, Australia - 1997


Sphere

Cast - Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson, Sharon Stone, Peter Coyote, Liev Schrieber, Queen Latifah.
Director -Barry Levinson
Story -

Based on the novel by Michael Crichton. On the sea floor of the South Pacific lies a 300-year old spaceship. Four scientists are rushed to the scene and descend under the sea to investigate this vessel. Inside they come across an alien sphere and some hints to a complex riddle. Soon, something begins transmitting messages to the people, messages which are becoming increasingly hostile. Various undersea phenomena appear and soon the crew begins to perish one at a time.

The Word on the Street -

Though 'Sphere' has never been called a great book, it is an enjoyable one. There has been some problems in the movie's production, which in turned delayed it's release.....everything seems to be running smoothly now though. The movie has some big names, but you have to admit it's a strange mix of actors.....Hoffman, Jackson and Stone in the same film?

RELEASE DATES: USA - Late 1997, UK - Early 1998, Australia - Early 1998


The Peacemaker

Cast - George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Gary Werntz, Holt McCallany, Joan Copeland, Carlos Gomez.
Director - Mimi Leder
Story -

Terrorists with nuclear weapons threaten to destroy the United Nations Building and it's up to George Clooney and Nicole Kidman to save the day.....that's all I got.

The Word on the Street -

This film was apparently finished ages ago, but as this is Dreamworks first film - they seem to be waiting for the perfect time for release. Both actors (Clooney & Kidman) could do with a hit as their recent films haven't exactly set the world alight.

RELEASE DATES: U.S.A - September 26th 1997, UK - 1997, Australia - 1997


Phantoms

Cast - Peter O'Toole, Rose McGowan, Joana Going, Ben Affleck.
Director - Joe Chappelle
Story -

Based on the novel by master horror-writer Dean Koontz. Jennifer Paige and her sister Lisa return to there small town SnowField, CA. They discover that all 500 people living there have disapeared or have been brutaly killed. Scared out of there minds they call the police from the next county. From then on scientists, military men, police officers, the media are all being stalked by an unscene ancient creature named "the ancient enemy". The fate of the world hangs in the balance but can they kill something that strikes at the speed of light and can seem to be everywhere at once!

The Word on the Street -

Not too much talk on this film as it has no big names, but it is one of Koontz's best books and therefore should be worth a look.

RELEASE DATES: USA - October 24th 1997, UK - 1997, Australia - 1997


Money Talks

Money Talks

Cast - Charlie Sheen, Chris Tucker, Heather Locklear.
Story -

A petty con artist is wrongly accussed of a police murder and becomes famous overnight. Now everyone wants him (dead or alive) and his only saviour is an obnoxious TV newsman.

The Word on the Street -

No-one in Hollywood needs a break more than Charlie Sheen. His career on the slide, Sheen is hoping this film will reverse the slide. His co-star Chris Tucker, on the other hand, is on the way up. Test screenings have been very positive, but there is not much publicity around the movie.

RELEASE DATES: USA - August 22nd 1997, UK - 1997, Australia - 1997


The Edge

Cast - Alec Baldwin, Anthony Hopkins, Elle MacPherson.
Story -

A self-taught millionaire, his young wife and a photographer travel to the Alaskan wilderness for a photo shoot of the woman. Both men soon become stranded in the wilderness and they must work together and stop their feuding if they are to survive.

The Word on the Street -

Alec Baldwin is another actor with a point to prove. Working with Anthony Hopkins on this film is a plus as he (Hopkins) has a way of making his co-stars look better (though even he'd have trouble making his other co-star Elle 'Personality Vacuum' MacPherson look more than an attractive tree stump) . The trailer for this film is good, but it looks like it could be overwhelmed by the competetion when released.

RELEASE DATES: USA - September 26th 1997, UK - 1997, Australia - 1997


Kiss The Girls

Cast - Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Cary Elwes
Story -

Based on the book by James Patterson. A forensic psychologist(Freeman) is on the trail of two serial killers

The Word on the Street -

Supposed to be a 'Seven' type movie with Freeman chasing down two demented killers. Besides the first few names, the cast is considered to be on the weak side.

RELEASE DATES: USA - October 3rd 1997, UK - 1997, Australia - 1997


Seven Years in Tibet

Cast - Brad Pitt.
Story -

About a German man who goes to Tibet and meets with the young Dalai Lama and learns from him.

The Word on the Street -

Gotta a few people worried, mainly because Brad Pitt's character was recently discovered as becoming a Nazi after the film's events.....probably should have listened a *little* more closely to what the Dali Lama taught him. Brad Pitt with a German accent should be interesting, though I have to admit he pulled off an Irish accent quite well in The Devil's Own earlier this year.

RELEASE DATES: USA - October 8th 1997, UK - 1997, Australia - 1997


Boogie Nights

Cast - Marky Mark, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds.
Story -

A spoof about the porn industry, but is done in a 'Pulp Fiction' kind of style with gangster overtones. Focuses on a studio and it's boss who wants to make porn films that actually have a story to them, and so goes searching for some good stars.

The Word on the Street -

A diverse cast and quirky plotline makes this film one to look out for. Test screenings have apparently gone very well, with many claiming Reynolds acting is Oscar worthy. Reynold's co-stars also have some talent, Marky Mark surprised the hell out of me with his chilling performance in 'Fear' and Julianne Moore can act, though you wouldn't really have thought so if you saw Lost World.

RELEASE DATES: USA - October 10th 1997, UK - 1997, Australia - 1997


The Postman

Cast - Kevin Costner, Olivia Williams.
Story -

In a post-atomic war future, a survivor discovers a satchel of letters and becomes a postman which gives a sense of hope to the other survivors.

The Word on the Street -

Costner, whilst not yet a has-been, is in need of a hit. Though this movie sounds kinda like 'Waterworld' on land, it sounds more involved and most importantly.....cheaper. It's going to be released in a crowd of block-busters and could get stomped....I personally think it would be best to delat till early '98.

RELEASE DATES: USA - December 12th 1997, UK - 1998, Australia - 1998


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