roland emmerich

Jean-Claude Van Damme in "Universal Soldier"

UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: A Revisit Of The Luc Devereaux Saga, And Learning To Move Forward

In a sequel-heavy landscape, the age old idea that a follow up could never be as good as the original has been dispelled over and over again. It’s fairly common for the third, fourth or even fifth entry in a franchise to be somebody’s favorite. Still, after the disastrous follow up to Roland Emmerich’s Universal Soldier, one could be forgiven for assuming that any further installments wouldn’t be worth seeking out. I was one of those people. I spent quite a few years seeing DVD covers featuring the weary faces of JCVD and Dolph Lundgren leering back at me in video stores and would chuckle to myself and move on. It wasn’t until I dove headfirst into action cinema, DTV action and all things Scott Adkins (and with a healthy dose of rave reviews from film fans I trusted) that I finally gave these a look. Never in my wildest […]

MIDWAY: The Official Trailer For Roland Emmerich’s Explosive WWII Epic Hits Online Shores

Lee B. Golden III

If there’s anyone who can possibly take the helm for a sprawling war epic (one that doesn’t necessarily have to involve Earth-shattering events and overzealous alien conquests), Roland Emmerich may certainly be that guy, and he’s working at proving so with a November release set for his ensemble-cast dramatic period thriller, Midway. MIDWAY centers on the Battle of Midway, a clash between the American fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy which marked a pivotal turning point in the Pacific Theater during WWII. The film, based on the real-life events of this heroic feat, tells the story of the leaders and soldiers who used their instincts, fortitude and bravery to overcome the odds. Midway stars Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Aaron Eckhart, Nick Jonas, Etsushi Toyokawa, Tadanobu Asano, Luke Kleintank, Jun Kunimura, Darren Criss, Keean Johnson and Alexander Ludwig, with Mandy Moore, Dennis Quaid and Woody Harrelson. The film opens […]

Bona To Lead Investment In WWII Epic, MIDWAY; Roland Emmerich To Direct

Lee B. Golden III

Fresh out of Cannes Bona Film Group will lead the investment on renowned director Roland Emmerich’s new World War II epic, Midway for The Mark Gordon Company. Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, 2012, 10,000 B.C., Independence Day: Resurgence) will direct the film from a script by Wes Tooke, inspired by the true story of the Battle of Midway – a turning point in the Pacific theater of World War II in June of 1942. As the logline reads: “The story follows the real soldiers and aviators who pulled off the unbelievable to turn the tide of the war.” Bona will also release the film in China and has retained worldwide distribution rights excluding the U.S.. Bona founder, chairman and CEO Yu Dong will produce the film with Emmerich, as will MGC’s own Mark Gordon and Matt Jackson, and producer Harald Kloser. MGC’s Josh Clay Phillips will oversee on behalf of the […]

Emmerich Lines Up Sci-Fi Epic, MOONFALL With Universal

Lee B. Golden III

Director Roland Emmerich, best known for churning out uber-destructive summer blockbusters tried something a bit different with the LGBTQ drama, Stonewall. It didn’t exactly pan out as much as he’d hoped, but needless to say, fans of his usual work won’t be bored this weekend, or seemingly not much thereafter. Thus, on the eve of the weekend U.S. release of his new sci-fi action sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence, a new report at Deadline is surfacing with news of his latest directorial gig freshly landing at Universal Pictures. Moonfall is the name, based on a speculative script co-written by Harald Kloser and Spencer Cohen which reportedly cost seven figures for the studio to acquire. The film tells of a group of misfits who band together to save mankind when the moon falls out of orbit and heads on a collision course for Earth. The film will mark the seventh pairing for […]

INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE Rises Up With A New IMAX Poster

Lee B. Golden III

I remember going with a group to see the first Independence Day in 1996 that summer of its release. I caught a really bad leg cramp in the first act of the film – not fun. The film was pretty fun though, and for all we knew we would eventually see a sequel. Alas, we get Independence Day: Resurgence, and it only took 20 years to finally make happen with director Roland Emmerich at the helm once more to assist a more grand and ceremonious alien invasion of Earth. The promotional campaign has been somewhat immersive with in-movie viral videos centering viewers in the narrative that sees the return of actors Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum and actress Vivica A. Fox accompanying Jesse Usher and Liam Hemsworth for another brewing battle to the finish. For this, and much to the delight of moviegoers, the battle will extend on IMAX screens with […]

Landmarks Fall In The New Trailer For INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE

Lee B. Golden III

Director Roland Emmerich is back this year to attack the Earth once more as he did in 1996’s alien invasion blockbuster, Independence Day. A lot has happened since then as the newest trailer for his upcoming sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence, suggests, and all while jam-packed with plenty of sci-fi aerial dogfighting action with the same darn pesky aliens who won’t stop attacking us. SYNOPSIS: We always knew they were coming back. After INDEPENDENCE DAY redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction. The calamity ensues on June 24 and stars Liam […]

The Aliens Return In The New Trailer For INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE

Lee B. Golden III

20th Century Fox Well, it only took nearly 20 years but director Roland Emmerich is finally sending more aliens to threaten and wipe us out. Gee thanks Rol. Yes, it’s the new trailer for Independence Day: Resurgence, which brings back Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox and Brent Spiner to name a few with actors Liam Hemsworth and Jessie Usher leading the new fight for mankind. The film is also taking on a comic book extension which ought to help keep potential and current fans of the ID4 title pacified as we learn more about what lies ahead for the film. Until then, what we get is a might trailer that isn’t afraid to get spacy and explody and frighten the hell out of you with things falling from the sky and smoke clouds swallowing cities whole. Hey Rol, remind me not to get on your bad […]

INDEPENDENCE DAY 2 Gets A Greenlight

Lee B. Golden III

The 1996 release of director Roland Emmerich‘s summer blockbuster, Independence Day, has to be one of the most memorable movie going experiences I’ve ever shared. It had all the trimmings for the hit that it would become, with actor Will Smith headlining alongside the likes of Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman in an action adventure packed with dogfight among fighter jets and alien crafts, coupled with perfectly-timed humor and drama, and an explosive ending that would ultimately garner what many have hoped would be an immediate sequel. Well, it’s finally happening. It only took about eighteen years to make happen with plenty of stops and starts, but a new report from Deadline confirms a sequel has been officially greenlit for production to begin next May without Smith’s reprisal. A June 24, 2016 date has been clocked for the film, which has since been resigned to one movie with a potential third, […]

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STARGATE Gets A Trilogy Reboot

Lee B. Golden III

Ever have a moment in your life when you realize a mistake has just come back to haunt you? Well, for me, it was never seeing Stargate when it came out back in 1994, with Kurt Russell and James Spader…well, at least not from start to finish anyway. But indeed, the film became a huge hit racking up nearly $200 million at the box office worldwide, spawning several TV shows, games, toys and much more in the years that followed. So, fast forward 20 years later and it appears that MGM and Warner Bros. are breathing new life into the franchise once again with Roland Emmerich returning to the director’s chair to offset a new trilogy. Emmerich also co-wrote the original film with Dean Devlin who is sitting in as producer. Emmerich is still attached to direct another return to a 1990’s blockbuster franchise with the long-awaited two-part sequel to […]