Oct 15 2009 'Edge of Darkness' Trailer: Never Kidnap/Murder Mel Gibson's Children

Things you'll be glad you get to hear Mel Gibson say with a questionably Boston accent in the trailer for the new cop-investigating-his-daughter's-government-tied-murder thriller, Edge of Darkness:

- "Welcome to hell!"

- "I'm the guy with nothin' to lose!"

- "Fasten your seatbelt!"

- "You had better decide whether you're hangin' on the cross... or bangin' in the nails!"

Things you'll be disappointed Mel Gibson does not say at all, even though he obviously should:

- "Give me back my daughter!!!"

See for yourself:

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Mar 20 2009 Will Kirk Wield Color-Based, Magic-Powered Jewelry?

First rumored on IESB and now confirmed by Latino Review, news is that soon-to-be-Kirk Chris Pine has officially been offered the lead in Martin Campbell's Green Lantern adaptation. I have no information on whether or not Pine is utterly honest, fearless, and in possession of stronger willpower than any other man alive, but he does have about the same hair color as Hal Jordan, so alright.

Feb 5 2009 Martin Campbell Has the Willpower for 'Green Lantern'

Warner Bros. has come up with a really good way of hopefully making a Green Lantern movie as action packed as Casino Royale: they're getting the director of Casino Royale to do it. Good idea, Bros. From Variety:

Warner Bros. is negotiating with Martin Campbell to direct "Green Lantern," the live-action film based on the DC Comics hero.

Campbell last directed "Casino Royale" and recently wrapped the Mel Gibson starrer "Edge of Darkness," based on the 1985 BBC miniseries that Campbell helmed.

The emergence of Campbell, who also helmed two "Zorro" films and the 007 film "GoldenEye," puts "Green Lantern" at the top of DC properties being set for movie treatment by WB.

Greg Berlanti wrote the script with Marc Guggenheim and Michael Green.

This definitely has the potential to be one of the best jewelry-and-lighting-based superhero movies to date.

Sep 8 2008 De Niro Leaves 'Edge of Darkness', Presumably Now in Darkness

Here's a tip: if you're ever directing a Robert De Niro movie, do not try to get this really awesome shot where you capture De Niro, the Boston skyline, and a golf bunker all in the frame at once. I know you're thinking, "But that's an amazing shot, symbolic of how the weight of city life can pull a man down and get him stuck, like in a sand trap," but Robert De Niro hates that shot, and he will leave the production if you try to get this amazing shot. Or at least that's what I got out of this story:

Just days after he arrived in Massachusetts to begin filming scenes for Edge of Darkness, Robert De Niro has quit the film. "Sometimes things don't work out; it's called creative differences," a spokesman for the actor told Daily Variety. Earlier this week the Boston Herald reported that De Niro had been spotted filming scenes at the 15th hole of the Gannon Golf Club while director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) attempted to set up a shot that would show the actor, a sand trap and the Boston skyline in the shot.

This would have been the first team-up between Mel Gibson and Robert De Niro, your favorite actor and your favorite drunk anti-semite who was in Lethal Weapon. I guess some things are just too beautiful to live.

De Niro Leaves Sand Trap and Quits Movie [Studio Briefing]

Oct 19 2007 Martin Campbell Directing 'The Birds' Remake

There often comes a point in a director's career, particularly if they have found some recent acclaim, where it becomes apparent that they've become arrogant beyond their means.

For Kevin Smith, for instance, his point came after he was lauded for making a student-level film into a series of student-level films with increasing levels of color, celebrity, and Good Will Hunting stars. Confusing his ability to extend the popularity of a stoner and a mute with genuine talent, he attempted to move beyond the New Jersey "Askewnivese" with a movie about different people in New Jersey, and starring J.Lo and the cast of Pearl Harbor. The resulting disaster will be remembered only as "wasn't that Gigli?"

For Martin Campbell, who just enjoyed surprising praise for making Bond less prissy in Casino Royale, that time is today, when he decided he could do something better with The Birds than Alfred Hitchcock did. Why, Martin? And how?

Remaking Dolemite or a cartoon about singing chipmunks is one thing, but a certified classic by one of the most respected directors ever? It's metaphorically covered yourself in birdseed and letting the birds peck you to death, wherein the birdseed is an ill-conceived remake of a classic film by one of the most respected directors ever, and the birds' pecking comes in the form of pun-filled cricitisms saying, "Leave Remake for the 'Birds'!"

'Birds' redo calls Campbell as director [Hollywood Reporter]