New Movie Stills

Conan

One of the roles that made Arnold Schwarzenegger so famous is now being taken over by an unknown, Jason Momoa. The film is set to be released 2011, and is plotted to be about Conan and his trek across Hyboria to avenge the death of his father. Typical story, but looks like some killer horses. I remember Conan the Barbarian as a very animal packed movie, so hopefully this will be the same and hopefully more horses.

The film is directed by Marcus Nispel who directed the Pathfinder which has one of my favorite rearing scene.

Movie Review

Centurion

The grotesque and brutal film about a roman solders Centurion Quintus Dias struggles to get out from behind enemy lines, while being chased by the Picts, a nomad clan. The Picts have been taking out Roman soldiers one by one. Quintus escape puts him under the command of General Titus Flavius Virilus played by Dominique West (300, 28Days, Mona Lisa Smile) to once again go back after the Picts. The Picts are a savage bevy of people, that are expert trackers. When betrayal becomes a key character in the film it puts Quintus again back behind enemy lines, but now he is accompanied by 6 other men. The film traces these men and their journey to survive the harsh winter of the Scottish highlands and the Picts close on their tails.

Its a graphic film with lots of blood and epic battle scenes. The Roman soldiers on the run are on foot, but the Pict Warriors are on horse. The horses are all of some draft type. Very Scottish breeds, but what I really liked about the look of the horses was that they had that tether worn look. You know you have seen these films that have these beautiful Friesians and other majestic horses that we all love to see, but they look like they have gone through the grooming works. These horses are supposed to be in battle living in the woods. Most movies make the horses look so good you could lick whip cream off their neck. Not these horses they had full on winter coats and were dirty, it was very actual. In the film actress Olga Kurylenko plays Etain the betrayer and antagonist in the film. You have seen Olga in films like Hitman and she was the Bond girl in Quantum of Solace. She rides and fights in the film, however nothing too daring. She had some ample fight scenes, but on horse I was not too impressed. She rode a white draft looking horse, that probably could of been a Lipizzaner. He looked very lazy to me. The Roman soldiers of course rode the more sophisticated horses compared to the Picts. In the first battle scenes where there is a Pictish raid on the Romans, some of the actors that played roman soldiers where holding the horses in the scene while the key actors performed. I frown on stuff like that, because being in the business horse and riders are very capable of this. I can't say for sure but I'm sure there is a reason for the action.

The Film was directed by Neil Marshall who also brought you Doomsday and The Descent. The character of Centurion Quintus Dias is played by Michael Fassbender. You have seen him in films like in Inglourious Basterds as Lt. Archie Hicox, and 300. His next move is the young Magneto in X-Men: First Class.

I give it 2 1/2 hoofbeats. Go check it out!

Production Stills

Check out these new stills from the much awaited film Secretariat

Films in Production

Arthur

Harbor Mist is becoming quite the star and has been on rising career high with in the last two years. Harbor Mist formally known as Mr.T is the star of the upcoming film Secretariat and played the race filly in Dreamer and has had many supporting roles. Rex Peterson is the Clint Eastwood of Hollywood's horse trainers and is Mr. T's owner and trainer. Rex and Mr.T are now working on a new film called Arthur, which is a remake of the 1981 film starring Dudley Moore and Jill Eikenberry. The film tells the story of a drunken billionaire playboy arranged to marry a wealthy heiress. The remake will star the beautiful and talented Jennifer Garner and the hilarious Russell Brand.

Harbor Mist has been on a role this last year really kicking it into high gear. Although Harbor Mist is a kick ass horse, he's no super horse and there are times where he needs a double. What most film makers and other people don't know is that horses need doubles too. Lizard is Mr.T's double and looks identical to him. The horse even fooled the script supervisor into thinking that Lizard was the hero horse. The picture shows the two stunt riders for the two actors on Lizard running the scene. Rex and the two horses have been filming for two days and the two horses alternated through out the days.
Jennifer is a naturally talented rider Rex commented. She was able to walk, trot, and canter with much control. The one problem however was her wardrobe. She had high heels on and Morgan Le Fay gown, which made it a little difficult, but Garner is a very athletic and talented person so she handled it with much ease.

The movie is set to release next year. Its directed by Jason Winer, who has had his directing chops in some popular TV shows like Modern Family and Samantha Who.

Up Coming Films

War Horse the movie

Steven Spielberg is the top dog in Hollywood making some of the most memorable and amazing movies of all time. His movies touched me as a child all the way from ET to Indiana Jones. Spielberg is back in the studio working on his next project that just happens to be about horses. I am so excited about this film, but I'm curious to see how it pans out. There has been the typical background horses in his film and of course the beautiful sequence in the Indiana Jones the Last Crusader where Harrison Ford rides the black horse along side the tank, but he has never done a horse film.



Spielberg is planning to bring War Horse the story about a boy and his young horse who is sent off to the Calvary in world war I. War Horse is the novel by Michael Morpurgo, and was adapted into the inspiring and heartbreaking London Play by Nick Stafford.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-bni4QqSv4

The play uses remarkably true to life puppets while the actors ride and perform with them. The play will becoming to Broadway in March next year with the film following close behind it. The movie will start principle photography soon. The story follows young Albert played by unknown Jeremy Irvine who travels to France to find his beloved horse that was sold to the Calvary to fight in World War I. Its a story of friendship, bravery, and a bond between a boy and his horse.