Arthur and the Vengeance of Maltazard - Poster for sequel to Luc Besson's Arthur and the Invisibles

Arthur et la vengeance de Maltazard - Arthur answers a distress call from Princess Selenia, who is menaced by the nefarious Maltazard.

Directed by Luc Besson and starring Madonna, Freddie Highmore, Mia Farrow, Snoop Dogg, and David Bowie.

Besson shot Maltazard back-to-back with Arthur and the Two Worlds War, which is expected to hit theaters in 2010.

Home / Forum / Guestbook

Sherlock Holmes in Liverpool - Elementary Lad!

My neck of the woods and I missed them! Oh well the Echo got some photos and had this to say.

Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law posed for the cameras during a night out on the tiles in Liverpool.

The movie A-listers dined out with friends and cast members at top city restaurant 60 Hope Street.

The award-winning actors were in town to film Guy Ritchie’s adaption of Sherlock Holmes.

The pair chose a window seat in the Hope Street restaurant and could be seen chatting from the street.

They then posed for photographs, with Cold Mountain and Talented Mr Ripley star Law, sporting a moustache for his role as Dr John Watson, telling the ECHO he was enjoying his time in Liverpool.

They signed autographs for fans before heading off for their hotels at 10.15pm.

Earlier yesterday the pair were hard at work filming the supersleuth blockbuster at the city’s disused docks.

Director Ritchie, 40, who was today getting divorced from Madonna, took his two sons to work.

Eight-year-old Rocco joined his dad on location at Liverpool’s Clarence Dock yesterday.

His younger son David, three, who Ritchie and Madonna adopted, joined them on set later.

Ritchie chatted to the boys and texted on his phone while he took a break from directing.

The family was spotted going in to Liverpool’s swanky Malmaison hotel on Wednesday, while Downey Jnr was seen checking into the Radisson, in Old Hall Street, and Law was seen working out in the hotel’s Ark gym.

Iron Man actor Downey Jr, 43, who plays the part of Holmes, arrived on set shortly after 9.30am in a sport utility vehicle.

London-born Law, who plays Watson and had a minor role in the Casebook of Sherlock Holmes TV series, followed along Waterloo Road minutes later in an Audi with blacked-out windows.

He was taken to a Winnebago trailer for make-up and costumes.

The area was full of security, while crew and a cast of actors and extras wearing bowler hats and smoking jackets were on set.

Filming in Liverpool began on Wednesday and was expected to continue for four days.

Some shots were delayed during the first day as Liverpool was lashed with heavy winds and rain.

Jude, 43, had a two-piece tweed suit underneath his heavy overcoat and wore a beanie hat between takes.

Onlookers said Law stood shivering in the cold weather.

The movie is due to be released next year and will show Holmes using physical prowess and intellect to solve mysteries.

The film also stars Wedding Crashers actress Rachel McAdams in the female lead and Mark Strong, from RocknRolla, as the villain.
HOME / FORUM.

Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes to be start of a Franchise.

This was pretty much a given but now Warner Bros. have mentioned to Reuters that they hope Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes movie will become a lucrative new franchise.

Robert Downey Jr said one reason he was chosen for the role may have been his involvement in action movie "Iron Man," which earned over $570 million in global ticket sales this year, and he promised his Holmes would be the best screen portrayal ever.

"In case you aren't aware I had a hell of a summer, and it's made me much more viable to play a lead role than I might have (been) in the past," Downey Jr. told reporters in London, where shooting on "Sherlock Holmes" is about to begin.

When asked what he could bring to a character portrayed countless times on film and television, he joked: "Clearly I'm going to do it better than it's ever been done.

"The more I read about it the more overwhelmed I was by the weight of it and the amount of people who will be watching to see if it's gotten right."

Director Guy Ritchie said "Sherlock Holmes" was his biggest movie "by a long shot" in terms of budget.

Producer Joel Silver would not name the figure, but he called the budget "healthy" and said plans had not been affected by recent turmoil on the financial markets.

"What we've done is hopefully launched a franchise of Sherlock Holmes stories," he said.

Warner Bros. may be hoping the series can replace Harry Potter, which has three films left to go and could end in 2011. The franchise based on J.K. Rowling's boy wizard tales has grossed $4.5 billion at worldwide box offices so far.

The new Sherlock Holmes film is based on an original story by Lionel Wigram inspired by the Arthur Conan Doyle books.

"I really knew Sherlock Holmes from tapes -- I wasn't a very good reader," said Ritchie. "What I had imagined in my mind was not exactly what I'd seen previously manifested on film.

"I am a fan of many of the previous productions of Sherlock Holmes. I just think we can have a different take and I'd like to think a better take."

He added: "We're trying to be as authentic as we can to what we see as the original Sherlock Holmes. We are also specifically keen on keeping it authentic to Conan Doyle."

The director said he had never considered involving his wife Madonna in the new movie, and originally thought Downey Jr. may be too old for Holmes.

As well as bringing more action sequences to the story, the dynamic between Holmes and loyal assistant Dr. Watson looks set to differ from what audiences are used to with the casting of heartthrob Jude Law in the part.

Silver was aware that the announcement of Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes project came soon after another film based on the 19th century detective was unveiled starring Sacha Baron Cohen in the lead and Will Ferrell as Watson.

He said the movies would be released at different times -- Sherlock Holmes has a tentative release date of 2010 -- and Ritchie joked: "We've done as much as we can to sabotage Sacha Baron Cohen."

What do you think to all this. The fact Ritchie says he isn't one to read is a bit worrying when doing such a literary classic.

HOME / FORUM.

Filth and Wisdom - Poster and Trailer for Madonna's Directorial debut...Oh dear!

Madonna’s directorial debut, Filth and Wisdom, is a hilariously sexy tale of three roommates who must delve into mischievous and naughty behavior in pursuit of bigger and brighter futures. A Ukrainian immigrant, A.K. (Eugene Hutz), finances his dreams of ‘trans-continental superstardom’ with his band, Gogol Bordello, by turning tricks as a role-playing cross dresser. As A.K. literally whips the privileged of London into shape, he also secretly pines for the object of his affection, Holly (Holly Weston), an aspiring ballerina looking for her big break while moonlighting as a slippery stripper. Meanwhile, Juliette (Vicky Mclure) steals medicine from her pharmaceutical job in hopes of quenching her dreams of helping Africa’s youth. FILTH AND WISDOM is every bit as erotic and playful as it is poignant and touching, revealing the universal struggles we all face in our pursuits of happiness.

HOME / FORUM.