BEST PICTURE OSCAR PREDICTIONS (UPDATED!)

FROST/NIXON
MILK
SLUMDOG MILLIONARE
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT

Beauty and the Beast Becomes 3D in 2010

Belle, the Beast and all the dancing silverware in "Beauty and the Beast" are getting a 3-D makeover.

Producer Don Hahn and directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale -- the filmmakers behind the 1991 feature -- are using the film's original computer files to create a new Disney digital 3-D version, which will be released in 2010.

Appearing at the 3DX: 3D Film and Entertainment Technology Festival in Singapore, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group president Mark Zoradi announced the movie's 3-D transformation, which will be the 11th 3-D feature that Disney is set to release in 2009-10.

Re-rendering the film is expected to take 10 months and will be handled in-house at Walt Disney Feature Animation, headed by Sara Duran-Singer, senior vp worldwide postproduction.

"By going back to the original animation files, which have been carefully archived for 17 years, and using the separate background, effects and character animation elements, we're able to come up with a fun and unique 3-D experience for existing and new fans of the film," Hahn said.

Disney's digital 3-D lineup for 2009 includes "Jonas Brothers 3-D Concert Movie," to be released on Feb. 27; Disney/Pixar's "Up" (May 29); "G-Force," from Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films (July 24); the newly re-rendered Disney digital 3-D debut of Disney/Pixar's "Toy Story" (Oct. 2); and "A Christmas Carol," from Robert Zemeckis (Nov. 6), starring Jim Carrey in multiple roles.

In 2010, the studio will roll out a 3-D version of "Toy Story 2"; Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland," starring Johnny Depp; "Toy Story 3," from Disney/Pixar; "Rapunzel"; and, from Touchstone Pictures, "Step Up 3." [via]

Gore Verbinski to Produce The Host Remake

Universal Studios has signed a director to remake Bong Joon-ho’s 2006 Korean monster film The Host. Commercial film director Fredrik Bond will helm the project, based on a script by Smart People scribe Mark Poirier, and Gore Verbinski will produce.

Slashfilm reports, The Host follows a dysfunctional family who sets out to bring their little girl back home after a horrifying giant monster that emerges from the Han River to wreak havoc on Seoul. The Host was released on a record number of screens in South Korea and broke box-office records throughout its domestic run. By the end of its run, over 13 million people had bought tickets, making it the highest grossing South Korean film of all time. Joon-Jo talked to Sci-Fi about the idea of an American remake during the film’s original theatrical run. Here is what he said:

“Maybe three or four years down the line, if The Host [remake] comes out, and there’s a cool director who takes it on and makes it a real great film, then I’d be very happy,” Bong told SciFiWire in an interview, through a translator. “On the other hand, if it’s just crap, I think I’d be happy, too, because then people would be like, ‘Oh, yeah, Bong’s original was really good.’ So, for me, it’s a win-win situation. But Universal has a tradition of doing horror and creature films, so I anticipate that they will do a great film."

I loved The Host, the move doesn't take itself too seriously, so I look forward to see what Hollywood can do with the film.

Quantum of Solace: Why it's not that great, actually

I saw the flick on Friday and I dug it. My line of criticism was probably similar to most readers': "It was good, but no Casino Royale." Two days later, however, I've thought about it more and more and I have to say, it was a lot worse than Casino Royale.

Directed by artsy Swede Marc Forster (the guy behind Finding Neverland and Monster's Ball), the first non-British Commonwealth filmmaker to direct a Bond film and someone who clearly does not know how to direct action sequences.

If you don't believe it, watch the opening scene. Unfulfilling. And for those who've seen it already and disagree with me, stop lying to yourselves. That car chase was NOT good. Sloppy camera angles, nervous editing and an unsure organization of clips made it a jumbled mog-pog of rips and roars that ended with a boring thud. Cue the false-starting theme song by two of the best musicians out there.

Rough start to things. And everytime it got better, it took a turn for the worst. For example, the "Modern Operatic Shootout Scene" about halfway through went somewhere few Bond films ever go intelligently (metaphor) and then failed to follow it up with any kind of conflict or conclusion.

Even the final fight between good (Craig's Bond) and evil (Mathieu Amalric's under-used Dominic Greene) had a perfect setting (burning building), perfect weapons (axes and muscles) and ridiculously predictable result. Sure it is obvious Bond will win, but Green never stood a chance. He's a slimy financial giant who not once, throughout the entire film, shows superior intelligence or physical ability to anyone else. Bambi could probably kick his ass.

And I'm done. There wasn't a lot of heart in this thing and I hope Forster goes back to trying, and failing, to win Oscars and leaves the Bond movies to the Brits (I'm looking at you Martin Campbell).

Marc Forster Goes From Bond To Zombies

Variety reports Marc Forster, director of this week’s opening Quantum of Solace has been selected by Paramount to direct the upcoming zombie flick World War Z.

World War Z is the 2006 best-selling novel written by Max Brooks about a future global war against zombies. It is written in the form of interviews featuring multiple survivor perspectives from all over the world recounting their individual struggles throughout the war.

The novel began its translation to the big screen early last year when it was announced that Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B Productions, would be partnering with Paramount to produce the film. J. Michael Straczynski, who wrote the recent Changeling, was selected to write the screenplay. [via]

World War Z is expected to release sometime in 2010 and there’s no word yet whether or not Brad Pitt will be acting in it.

New Watchmen Trailer Arrives

Watch the trailer in High Definition on Yahoo: 480p, 720p, 1080p. Watchmen hits theaters on March 6th 2009.

Pixar's "Up" 2nd Teaser Trailer

High Definition Trailer from Apple.com

From the Academy Award®-nominated team of director Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.”) and co-director Bob Peterson comes UP, a comedic adventure taking off (and lifting spirits) in summer 2009.

Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life. UP takes audiences on a thrilling journey where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains and jungle creatures. When seeking adventure next summer—look UP.

Pixar’s Up hits theaters on May 29th 2009.

Steven Spielberg and Will Smith to Remake Oldboy? WTF!

Slashfilm reports Steven Spielberg and Will Smith are in talks to collaborate on a remake of Chan Wook-Park’s Oldboy.

Spielberg has been looking for an opportunity to work with Smith for a few years now, and this just might be the project. DreamWorks is in the process of securing the remake rights, and Spielberg is on the search for a screenwriter to develop the project. The project was originally set up with Fast and Furious director Justin Lin. In the 2003 South Korean film, a man named Dae-Su is locked in a hotel room for 15 years without knowing why or who is holding him captive. He is suddenly released, given money, clothes and a cellphone and is sent on journey for revenge. The film won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

Oldboy is one of my favorite films of all time. I knew a American remake would be inevitable. I'm glad Spielberg is possibly attached instead of Fast and Furious director Justin Lin, but WHY Will Smith. WHY. I really hope they don't screw this up.

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James Cameron's Avatar To Arrive In Imax 3-D

Variety reports James Cameron's new epic will get special Imax 3-D treatment.

Imax Corp. and 20th Century Fox have pacted to release James Cameron's Christmas 2009 tentpole "Avatar" on Imax 3-D screens at the same that it opens in conventional 3-D theaters.

Fox said deal allows "Avatar" to be released in all available theatrical formats.

"Our goal with 'Avatar' is to revolutionize live-action 3-D moviemaking, and I have no doubt that it will look and sound incredible in Imax 3-D," Cameron said in endorsing the move.

Cameron and Jon Landau's Lightstorm Entertainment are producing the big-budget tentpole, which unspools in theaters Dec. 19.

Fox prexy of distribution Bruce Snyder said showing "Avator" in Imax theaters gives the consumer the entire spectrum of choice.

This summer, many people saw Warner Bros.' "The Dark Knight" both in regular theaters and in Imax locations.

Next year brings a multitude of 3-D releases, in addition to "Avatar," although there still aren't enough digital 3-D screens in conventional theaters to sustain that amount of product.

The Dark Knight in Imax was breathtaking so I can't even grasp the immersive experience when 3-D is added. I hope Cameron can finish the film in time, but I will gladly wait until he is completely done with the landmark epic.