The highly anticipated sequel to the smash hit movie follow up of Sex and the City has been confirmed – and supporting star Cynthia Nixon lead on today that there’s a possibility of scenes being filmed in New Zealand!

Nixon, who played Miranda the fire-headed lawyer in the series and this year’s movie, lead on that there may be a storyline involving her character and a billionaire from down under, moulded along the lines of a younger, sexier version of media czar Rupert Murdoch. While Nixon said nothing is confirmed, she was excited about the prospect of travelling to New Zealand to film scenes for the sequel.

While no dates are set and the film is still in very early pre-production, all of the four girls of SATC have confirmed their return once more. The series created a cult phenomenon from 1998 to 2004, and the movie claims its place as one of the most successful romantic comedies of all time, earning more than US$400 million world wide. It is current available to buy or rent on DVD.

Image from Flickr.

Constant reminders of the current world economic state may be hard to dodge in our media-filled lives, but that doesn’t mean scrimping on luxuries – just a change in the kind of luxuries we consume.

The entertainment industry believes that sectors like video games and DVDs will be buffered from the effects of the financial crisis that are hitting many other industries. When the film Iron Man hit DVD stores on September 30 in the US, the same week that the $700 million bailout bill was in proposition, the movie sold a record 500,000 copies on Blu-Ray for the first week. Similarly, the new James Bond film Quantum of Solace, which opens in New Zealand today, pulled in nearly US$30 million more on its opening weekend in the US in mid-November than its predecessor, Casino Royale.

While there is no question many are tightening their belts on luxuries, it seems lower-priced entertainment is taking a bit shift to replace the luxuries of the past. While parents may have taken their children on a waterskiing holiday over Christmas in previous years, the trend this year may be buying a gift in the form of a Nintendo Wii console and a few supplementing Wii Fit games to virtually ride the waters.

With options for NZ shopping online just a click away, consumers are expected to buy up larger this year on in-home entertainment. Instead of buying a new car or taking a trip, consumers are moving to a more cost-conscious way of enjoying their disposable incomes, so don’t be surprised when you find yourself with more video games and high-def entertainment than you can shake a stick at this Christmas!

Image from Flickr.

The new Batman flick The Dark Knight has opened in New Zealand cinemas today, giving Kiwis a chance to see Heath Ledger’s final performance before his untimely death earlier this year. Tickets are sold out for tonight’s screenings at many of the larger theatres (I got mine on Tuesday and even then only had two options: VIP or front row!). Did you manage to get your hands on any?

The Dark Knight has been an all-time box office smash worldwide, taking in the highest US opening day gross of $67 million USD when it went nationwide in the States last Friday. This beat out the previous leader, Spiderman 3, by $8 million. The film has grossed over $200 million worldwide in just 7 days, already breaking even over the $185 million production cost. Cinemas in the US even ran showings at 3am and 5am on the first night, to accommodate as many eager fans who couldn’t wait just hours later for the Saturday morning showings.

Meanwhile, the actor behind the mask, Christian Bale, was arrested after being accused of assaulting two of his family members in London on Sunday. Quite timely considering his movie just opened that weekend – is this scandal a true crime of domestic violence, or a crude PR stunt? Only time will tell…

Image from Flickr.

One of the biggest blockbusters has hit screens worldwide this week, but it doesn’t star any $20 million Hollywood scarlets or muscle-bound teen heartthrobs. In fact, those screens aren’t even silver – we’re talking about an in-home blockbuster: Grand Theft Auto IV.

The much hyped Playstation 3/Xbox 360 game is getting rave reviews worldwide, even being toted as “the best game ever” by many gaming magazines. After less than 48 hours on the market, first week sales predictions are looking towards US$400 million.

This would put it on par with the current entertainment record holder, the film Pirates of the Caribbean III, which eclipsed all previous records in May of 2007 with its opening weekend takings.

The current leader in video games is Halo 3, which was released in September last year and raked in US$300 million in its first week on sale.

To experience this visually stunning masterpiece, pick up a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV from video game stores and the usual outlets nationwide.

Image from Flickr.

If you’re in Auckland this week leading up to Anzac Day, pop down to the Auckland War Memorial Museum for a spectacular cinematic experience brought to you by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson.

Jackson has restored footage shot by famous war correspondent Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett for the rare film “Heroes of Gallipoli”. The twenty-minute film is being projected on the outside of the museum, and will play continuously from 7.30pm until 10.00pm until the end of the week.

Visitors to the museum are invited to watch the film and then venture inside to see collections of art and photographs by current New Zealand soldiers, look up relatives’ war records on the database, and enjoy some light refreshments at the cafe.

Peter Jackson’s terrific restoration has just been listed with UNESCO’s Memory of the World programme.

For those outside of Auckland, documentaries and other ANZAC related features will run all day Friday on Maori Television, so whip some biscuits with our Anzac biscuits recipe and relax on your day off while learning about New Zealand’s history.

Image from Flickr.

It’s the time of year when Hollywood celebrates the making of good movies, awarding Oscar statuettes to top movie stars and film makers.

The lights of Tinseltown have been somewhat dimmer in recent years, with political and economic turbulence hitting the US and ongoing strife in Iraq. In fact, the Oscars 2008 were almost a non-event thanks to the cinematic nightmare of the Writers Guild strikes – which caused actors to threaten a total boycott of the event. Now settled, the strikes are already fading into distant memory as the red carpet is rolled out in preparation for glitz and glam, Hollywood style, to recognise the best movies of 2007.

Best Picture Oscar nominations

2008 nominations have failed to draw cinema crowds – together they total the second-lowest box office total in 20 years…

• Atonement – Set in 1935, telling the story of sisters Briony and Cecilia Tallis who are caught up in a series of tragic misunderstandings and mistakes.
• Juno – A smart, opinionated 16-year-old falls pregnant and decides to give up her baby for adoption, only to find herself in a complicated situation with her child’s adoptive parents.
• Michael Clayton – An attorney at a corporate law firm experiences a breakdown that threatens an important deal. When ‘fixer’ Michael Clayton is called in to tidy the situation, he finds himself forced to make difficult ethical decisions.
• No Country For Old Men – Another winning film from the Coen brothers, telling the tale of a man who witnesses a drug deal gone wrong – sparking a chase by a murderous sociopath.
• There Will Be Blood – Set in the early 20th century, this film follows the path of a cruel oil prospector who will stop at nothing to gain power and wealth.

Find a full list of Oscar nominees online, including Best Actor and Best Actress nominees, or head to your nearest movie cinema for a peak at nominated films.

Image from Flickr.

All the doomsayers would have us believe the New Zealand film industry is dead, and that even if it wasn’t, there’s been barely a peep since the outstanding success of Lord of the Rings. But Peter Jackson’s success might just have overshadowed the success of subsequent (and previously released) New Zealand movies, or at least left some VERY BIG shoes to fill.

When Statistics New Zealand asked about Kiwis’ film watching habits, they found that just over 800,000 of us had been to the movies in the four weeks prior to the survey. The movie-going habit was split evenly between men and women, but was most popular with those in the 15-24 age group.

How many of these people went to a New Zealand film? My guess: Not many.

But we should be watching homegrown films, not because they’re New Zealand made, but because they’re good. Really good. Here are some of the classics and some of the new in Kiwi movies:

• Sione’s Wedding: a New Zealand film that’ll make you laugh, with familiar voices from TV’s Bro’Town.
• Eagle vs Shark: and another one that’ll have you laughing out loud, this time from the talented duo, Flight of the Conchords.
• Black Sheep: and a third funny New Zealand film (see, we can do comedy). Get ready for the wrath of 40 million sheep.
• Lord of the Rings: as well as its special effects excellence and intelligent interpretation of an epic tale, this film makes it to the list for the status it achieved and the niche it singlehandedly carved for NZ movies on the international stage.
• Heavenly Creatures: another one from Peter Jackson, exploring the world of fantasy through the true story of two schoolgirls who plot to kill.
• The Piano: not exactly a light ‘n fluffy one, but this atmospheric film has a riveting plot and a stellar cast that shines very bright (Sam Neill, Holly Hunter, Anna Paquin and Harvey Keitel).
• The World’s Fastest Indian: this will inspire you, even if motorbike movies aren’t really your thing. A Kiwi entrepreneur setting and achieving his goals makes for great viewing. Oh, and the talent of Anthony Hopkins helps too.
• Whale Rider: one young girl dared to confront the past, change the present and determine the future. Keisha Castle-Hughes is perfect in this role.
• The Tattooist: a Kiwi thriller telling the tale of American tattoo artist Jake Sawyer who wanders the world exploring ethnic themes in his tattoo designs, until he unwittingly unleashes a powerful evil spirit.

And there are plenty more where these New Zealand movies came from!

Last night I was lucky enough to witness a battle between an eagle and a shark.

Alright, they were people dressed up in animal costumes, but all the same, it was even more entertaining than it sounds. I’m talking, of course, about the newly released Eagle vs Shark. This off-beat tale, from film maker Taika Waititi, takes us into the lives of a couple of misfits who turn out to be a perfect fit for one another.

It was refreshing to see a romantic comedy that was actually funny. Both Lily (Loren Horsley) and Jarrod (Jermaine Clement, of Flight of the Conchords fame) were likeable and believeable as quirky outsiders living on the fringes of society. With touches of bittersweetness, Eagle vs Shark was hilarious for the most part, featuring countless laugh-out-loud moments throughout. My pick for best scene must go to the game-off between Eagle and Shark, who fight to the death (in cyberspace), in front of a crowd of partygoers dressed as animals. Classic stuff. Watch for the horse boy.

This is a must-see movie, so get out there and support the Kiwi film industry!

For more New Zealanders on the big screen, visit our New Zealand movies category.