For those of you who have missed my numerous subtle (and less than subtle) hints, I recently started a new film blog called 7 Films, 7 Days, in which I plan to post a film review for each day of the week for as long as I can stand it. You can find the blog here, and follow the associated Twitter stream here.

Consequently, any film-related news will henceforth be blogged about (and tweeted) through the 7 Films alter-ego, leaving Ebonics and Irony focused on my other interests, chiefly fiction writing and music. The film blog gives me something to work towards, but more importantly helps to overcome my writer’s block.

The next couple of chapters for Horns Of The Apocalypse are on the way, although I’m ditching the World Cup setting in favour of a more generic “ooh aren’t all massive sporting events a load of old bawbags” tip. I might even start using this as a ‘proper’ blog, too. You lucky lot.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Keep watching this space for the next phase in my no doubt riveting adventures.

Blog image sourced from wanderingone‘s Flickr stream.

Here’s a new trailer for Tron Legacy, highlighting the disappearance of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), the protagonist of the original Tron film. Flynn’s son Sam (Garrett Hedlund of Troy and Eragon fame) receives a clue as to his father’s whereabouts and goes in search of the man he hasn’t seen in 25 years. What awaits him is beyond anything he could have imagined.

I must admit, I wasn’t too sure about this film when it was announced. However, if the visual style and atmosphere of the trailer is anything to go by, Tron Legacy looks set to be one of the most impressive and epic sci-fi blockbusters of recent times. Looking like the kind of film done a disservice when viewed on a small screen, it may well be worth shelling out a few quid extra to see it in 3-D at an IMAX.

Here’s an interesting little teaser for a forthcoming zombie apocalypse animation called A.D., from writer Haylar Garcia and director Ben Hibon.

I’m a somewhat vocal critic of the zombie genre; appealing though it may be, the sheer volume of terrible films, movies and games featuring some form of the walking dead has led me to develop an involuntary shudder whenever anyone mentions a brand new title (or plain old re-hash) in the works.

That said, I like the animation and overall style of this clip, and would be interested to see some more. Director Hibon is responsible for the frankly rather excellent Codehunters, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi animated short released in 2006.

Source: BoingBoing.

If you’re not especially smitten with fine art and architecture, you’d almost be forgiven for overlooking The Third & The Seventh.

At a whacking 10 minutes plus, you might think it a bit of an investment to sit through what is admittedly a very pretty montage of architectural shots overlaid with a gentle, haunting instrumental melody.

But what’s truly amazing about this piece is that it is the work of just one man, Alex Roman, and that it was created almost entirely using computer generated imagery. With very few exceptions, everything in the short film was skilfully crafted using Autodesk 3ds Max, V-Ray, Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere.

Source: The Third & The Seventh at Vimeo.

Well, here it is. The first proper look at both Whiplash and War Machine. I think it’s safe to say that Iron Man 2 will deliver more of the slick, explosion-heavy popcorn fodder that the original brought by the bucketload.

I just hope they don’t pull a Spider-Man 3 / Batman & Robin and leave most of the characters undeveloped. With so much genuine acting talent on display here, it would be a shame if Iron Man 2 didn’t kick the comic adaptation genre into a much-needed higher gear.

Well here it is, then. A brand new trailer for Tim Burton‘s upcoming update of the old classic, and it looks – for lack of a better adjective – rather timburtony. The usual suspects are here – Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter – alongside a strong and suitably kooky cast including Crispin Glover, Alan Rickman and Stephen Fry.

Relative newcomer Mia Wasikowska plays the title role of Alice, who returns to Wonderland many years after her original adventure. She finds the place overrun by the army of the Red Queen (Bonham Carter) and the vile Jabberwock (Rickman).

The animated style of the film includes many characters wearing exaggerated masks of the actor providing their voice; none more obviously than the Red Queen, whose grossly oversized head compared to her diminutive frame gives the despot a somewhat ridiculous appearance to go along with her irritating manner.

I’m still not sure about this film. I mean, the trailer shows the full cast you might expect from any faithful revisit to Wonderland, and the cast is as exceptional as we’ve come to expect from your average Burton fare. But as recent experience has shown us, even a great premise and decent cast can leave you feeling short changed (Sweeney Todd, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

The film is out in March 2010.

Disney have released the first promotional poster for Tron Legacy, directed by newcomer Joseph Kosinski. The film stars Garrett Hedlund, mostly known for his supporting roles in films such as Troy and Eragon.

The main character is the son of the original Tron protagonist (Jeff Bridges reprising his role), who mysteriously disappears near the start of the sequel. This prompts a return to the cyber-world of the first movie, which has grown more spectacular – and dangerous – than ever before.

Tron Legacy will be released near the tail end of 2010.

I’ll be honest: I was fully expecting Mickey Rourke‘s Whiplash to skirt the wrong side of the ‘campy villain’ line in the forthcoming Iron Man 2. Previous images of his costume helped diminish my cynicism somewhat, and the above poster has completely blown it out of the water.

It’s stuff like this that helps me to remember that for every Animal Factory there is a Sin City, and for every Stormbreaker there is a The Wrestler. This film should, by rights, be an absolute blinder.

Source: Cinematical.

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George Romero’s original The Crazies was a characteristically allegorical piece regarding a small town struck down with a highly infectious biological weapon that sends ordinarily peaceful folk into a psychotic, murderous rage. The focus was divided between the actions of a zealous military force attempting to control the outbreak, and a number of survivors who were trying to get out of the town alive. It received middling reviews and did poorly at the box office.

Despite this, Breck Eisner – formerly attached to the cancelled Creature From The Black Lagoon remake – is now directing a remake of Romero’s 1973 effort. Judging from the trailer, The Crazies will rely heavily on jumpy horror clichés, and it wouldn’t really surprise me if they left behind a most of the socio-political commentary of the original.

That said, I like Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell, and the trailer’s got a lot of atmosphere. It’s got the potential to be a decent enough action-horror flick, so I’ll file this under ‘watch’ for now.

The Crazies will be unleashed in February 2010.

Sasha Grey (a name I’m guessing more men than women will recognise) continues her foray into bona fide acting with Smash Cut, a manic comedy-horror from cult Canadian director Lee Demarbre.

The film stars several luminaries of the slasher/exploitation genre, and with a plot that centres on a horror movie director whose severed limb ‘props’ are a little too realistic (ooh, meta!), I think it’s safe to say that Ms. Grey will have to wait a little longer for those oscar nominations to start rolling in.

Source: GeekTyrant.