EXCLUSIVE OUTLANDER CLIP AT IO9!

For all you folks who haven’t gotten a chance to see the movie (I’m talking to virtually everyone in the country, I guess) Charlie Anders at io9 has a nice little treat – an almost 3-minute clip from the movie. I think you’ll like it. Click on the screenshot to check it out.

io9 Clip

SOME EXIT POLLS AND A FEW NEW MARKETS!

First off, OUR poll (followed by results of actual polls taken at the theater):

And now, thanks to everyone who saw the movie. We hope you enjoyed it. Outlander obviously didn’t set the box office on fire but it’s hard to do so when no one knows about you. I can report that there were no posters up in certain theaters in Chicago, Seattle, Boston, Houston and San Diego. I suspect, although do not know for sure, that TWC simply didn’t provide them.

I saw the movie in San Diego on Friday night (Shoutout to Mae Lin, Amy, Karen and Cassandra!) and the audience liked it. Ooohed at the right places, laughed when they were meant to.

As you know, we have gotten some very nice reviews (I’ll be posting more) plus some pretty harsh ones. I can respect that people don’t like the film but my goodness, some of them have found the stupidest things to fault. My personal favorite is the one who disliked our choice of dates for the movie. Somehow “709 AD” just ticked him off. And then there was the bright light who thought we shouldn’t have bothered showing our hero learn “Old Norse” in order to speak with the locals because when he got there they already spoke English. It seems he didn’t understand the time-honored convention of rendering foreign languages in English for the English-speaking audience. But such is the life of a critic – they get to rain down excrement while living under umbrellas.

There has definitely been a dichotomy in the reviews. Many of those who had a negative, snarky reaction did not realize that we had based the movie on the poem Beowulf, and had actually designed it as the “sci-fi origin” of that early monster tale. They simply thought we were kitchen-sinking the idea. Like we sat around one day and said “gee, let’s have an alien creature attack Des Moines. No, too boring. How about… Norway, in the 8th century? Then we could have Vikings and stuff, and what fanboy doesn’t love Vikings?”

Didn’t happen that way.

On the other hand, those who did see what we were aiming at may have taken us to task but absolutely had a warmer spot for the movie. But the reviews that matter the most came from the real human beings who saw the movie, and they were very good. According to exit polls:

64% found the film Very good or excellent (the norm is 55%)

85% would Probably or Definitely recommend the movie to friends

59% thought it was better than expected (the norm is 50%)

70% would Probably or Definitely rent the DVD

56% would Probably or Definitely buy the DVD

I’d say those are very good reactions and heartening to us as filmmakers.

And so, if you would like to see the film, here are some new markets for next weekend

1. Mobile-Pensacola , AL

2. Knoxville, TN

3. Huntsville-Decatur, Fl

4. Greensboro-H. Point-W. Salem , NC

5. Dothan, AL

6. Cleveland , OH

7. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

There will be some holdovers, but I don’t know what they are.

Kainan Captured

Kainan on the Hunt

Crowd Waiting to Get Into Outlander. (okay, just kidding.)

OUTLANDER’S NEW FAVORITE PERSON

Title

That would be Charlie Jane Anders over at io9.com who wrote a terrific article on the film with great pics. Check it out here:

http://io9.com/5135803/the-saga-behind-viking+alien-war-movie-outlander?skyline=true&s=

We’ll be sending her a whole rack of Moorwen steaks. Yum.

Some Outlander Reviews

Before the reviews, our POLL – tell TWC you want Outlander in more theaters!

Title

I’m going to try to keep tabs on some of the nice reviews and feature them here, with quotes and links.

Ray Bennett/The Hollywood Reporter

“major league special effects, larger-than-life characters and inventive monsters.”

Hollywood Reporter

Annalee Newitz/io9

“Tonight go to see the movie that is so badass, so unapologetically fun, that the characters actually fight a battle with swords forged from the hull of a spaceship.”

io9

Tasha Robinson/The Onion

“Surprise number one: It’s smarter than it looks. Surprise number two: That doesn’t entirely ruin it as an action film.”

The Onion

Mack Guffin/Movies For Guys

“ It’s a B-movie with A-movie production values, and it’s fun.”

Movies For Guys

Capone/Ain’t It Cool News

“It certainly surprised the hell out of me how much
of it worked.”

Aint It Cool News

William Goss/Cinematical

“Vikings vs. aliens… Outlander is probably the best possible version of whatever movie you’ve already made in your head from reading those first three words.”

Cinematical

Curt Holman/Creative Loafing

“Remember in Talladega Nights when Will Ferrell said that Highlander won the Oscar for “Best Movie Ever Made”? Outlander could steal that title. There can be only one.”

Creative Loafing

Guy Haley/Death Ray

“This year’s Pitch Black.”

Death Ray

Brian Orndorf/On Screen, Oh My News

“Outlander” is a fluid genre exercise that satisfies cravings for action and Norse mythology in one fell swoop.”

Oh My News

Alan Jones/Frightfest

“Unashamedly crowd-pleasing is Howard McCain’s epic science-fiction/fantasy OUTLANDER, the final film seen in Cannes. Jim Caviezel is an intergalactic astronaut who crashes his spaceship in 700 A.D. Norway and unleashes a giant alien creature on the local Viking population. Big, glossy and hugely enjoyable, it commingles fun adventure cliches with wildly unhistoric abandon, all acted with solid conviction by Caviezel, John Hurt, Perlman and Sophia Myles. There’s gore aplenty, the thrills are nonstop and the neon-etched CGI monster is pretty damn good too.”

Cary Darling/DFW.Com

“an unexpectedly enjoyable science-fiction adventure”

DFW.Com

Roger Moore/Hometown Annapolis

“The action is first-rate.”

HomeTownAnnapolis.Com

Jonathan Kiefer/News Review.Com

http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=897571

“it made me feel like I’m 10 again.”

News Review.Com

OUTLANDER – MOVIE THEATERS. FINALLY.

Title

Howdy folks. The list of theaters finally came in. Guess they had to find the ones that hadn’t been taken by Mall Cop. I’m hoping there’s something reasonably close to all of you who have asked. (That is, within a 17-hour drive) Myself, I’m off to San Diego to see it. There will be another wave of cities/theaters coming in the near future.

Also, a shout-out to Sonny Bunch of the Washington Times and Charlie Anders of io9.com. Good chatting with you both this afternoon. Hope we didn’t talk your ears off. (But you gotta know you ask a writer a question, he’s going to answer at length.

And a big HI!! to the Houston contingent, Juliann, Sophie and Robert!!

Finally, before the list, here’s the print ad with a fine quote from Guy Haley.

Outlander Print Ad

OUTLANDER OPENING – JANUARY 23, 2009

CHICAGO AREA – 5 RUNS

Chicago
600 North Michigan Ave. 9
AMC

Addison
Addison Cinemas & IMAX
MARCUS

South Barrington
South Barrington 30
AMC

Warrenville
Cantera 30
AMC

Woodridge
Loews Woodridge 18
AMC

PHILADELPHIA AREA – 3 RUNS

Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill 24
AMC

Pleasantville
Towne Stadium 16
TRISTA

Hamilton
Hamilton 24
AMC

SAN FRANCISCO-OAK-SAN JOSE AREA – 10 RUNS

San Francisco
San Francisco Centre 9
CINMRK

Daly City
Century 20 Daly City
CINMRK

Union City
Century 25 – Union City
CINMRK

San Leandro
Century 16 Bayfair Mall
CINMRK

Richmond
Hilltop 16
CINMRK

Fremont
Cinedome 8 Theatre – Frem
CINMRK

Santa Clara
AMC Mercado 20
AMC

San Jose
Century Capitol 16
CINMRK

San Jose
Century 25
CINMRK

Santa Rosa
3rd Street Cinema 6
THBKGS Confirmed

BOSTON AREA – 2 RUNS

Danvers
Liberty Tree Mall 20
AMC

Methuen
Methuen 20 @ The Loop
AMC

DALLAS/FT. WORTH AREA – 11 RUNS

Mesquite
Mesquite 30 Theatres
AMC

Plano
Legacy 24
CINMRK

Irving
Irving Mall 14
AMC

Irving
Hollywood MacArthur Market
WALLCE

Lancaster
Movies 14 – Lancaster
CINMRK

Grand Prairie
Movies 16 – Grand Prairie
CINMRK

Dallas
Cinemark 17 Webb Chapel
CINMRK

Dallas
Grand 24 Theatres
AMC

Burleson
Premiere Cinema 14
CSCO

Grapevine
Grapevine 30 Theatres
AMC

Hickory Creek
Hickory Creek 16
RAVE

DETROIT AREA – 5 RUNS

Sterling Heights
Forum 30 – Sterling Hts
AMC

Auburn Hills
Star Great Lake Crossing 25
AMC

Dearborn
LCE Star Fairlane Theatre
AMC

Canton
Emagine 18
ARCNGL

Dearborn
Ford Wyoming Drive In 1 – 5
MJR

ATLANTA AREA – 7 RUNS

Atlanta
Magic Johnson Theatre
AMC

Kennesaw
Barrett Commons 24 Theatre
AMC

Woodstock
Cherokee Stadium 16 Cine
CFB-GA

Lawrenceville
Colonial 18 Theatres
AMC

Decatur
Galaxy South Dekalb Funple
PHNIXA

Morrow
Southlake Pavilion 24 Theatre
AMC

Snellville
Carmike 12
CARMKE

HOUSTON AREA – 7 RUNS
Tomball
Silverado 19 IMAX
SANTIK

Houston
Gulf Pointe 30 Theatres
AMC

Houston
Studio 30 Theatres – Housto
AMC

Houston
Tinseltown 290
CINMRK

Houston
Yorktown 15
RAVE

Katy
Cinemark 19
CINMRK

Jacinto City
Tinseltown 17
CINMRK

SEATTLE-TACOMA AREA – 3 RUNS:

Seattle
Meridian
REGAL

Woodinville
Woodinville 12
AMC

Renton
Renton Village 8
AMC

TAMPA-ST. PETE, SARASOTA AREA – 3 RUNS

Tampa
Veterans Expressway 24
AMC

Tampa
Centro Ybor 20
MUVICO

St. Petersburg
Baywalk 20
MUVICO

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE – 6 RUNS

Aventura
Aventura Mall 24 Theatres
AMC

Hialeah
Cobb Hialeah 18 Theatre
BRAND

Hialeah
Hialeah 14
MUVICO

South Miami
Sunset Place 24 Theatres
AMC

Davie
Paradise 24
MUVICO

Ft. Lauderdale
Las Olas 15
ESP

SACRAMNTO-STKTN-MODESTO AREA – 1 RUN

Elk Grove
Century 16 Theatre – Laguna
CINMRK

ORLANDO-DAYTONA BCH-MELBRN AREA – 2 RUNS

Orlando
Universal Cineplex 20
AMC

Lake Buena Vista
Pleasure Island 24
AMC

BALTIMORE AREA – 1 RUN

Hanover
Egyptian 24
MUVICO

SAN DIEGO AREA – 3 RUNS

San Diego
Gaslamp All Stadium 15
READIN

San Diego
Palm Promenade 24
AMC

San Diego
Mission Valley 20
AMC

NASHVILLE AREA – 1 RUN

Franklin
Thoroughbred 20
CARMKE

KANSAS CITY AREA – 2 RUNS

Kansas City
Parkway 14
AMC

Shawnee
Westglen 18
DICKIN

SAN ANTONIO AREA 4 – RUNS

San Antonio
Huebner Oaks 24
AMC

San Antonio
Northwest 14 Theatres
SANTIK

San Antonio
Rialto Piccolo
SANTIK

San Antonio
Mayan Palace 14 – Santikos
SANTIK

MEMPHIS AREA – 5 RUNS

Memphis
Majestic Theatre 20
MALCO

Bartlett
Hollywood 20 Cinema
BRAND

Bartlett
Malco Stage Cinema 13
MALCO

Memphis
Palace 10 Cinema
BRAND

Atoka
Cine Planet 16
BRAND

Viking Funeral

OUTLANDER UPDATE – 1/19/09

Well as we get nearer to the glorious premiere, I wanted to share with you a nice review from Guy Haley of DeathRay (thanks!). I also include a page of showtimes from Kuala Lumpur. (Kuala Lumpur! I may not be able to find showtimes yet in Boston or Philly, but for all those lucky folk in KL…)

Death Ray Review

Showtimes in Kuala Lumpur

Ship Underwater

Moorwen and Priest

Moorwen on Fire

Scary Moorwen

And what the heck – how about a few more pics? May as well get them out there:

Scary Moorwen

Ship Underwater

Moorwen and Priest

Moorwen on Fire

Outlander Update 1/13/09

Official US Outlander Poster

Well, finally in from TWC is the official US Outlander poster. Thoughts?

In response to other questions, TWC tells me we will get specific theater info on Tuesday, four days before it opens. Thoughts?

No official trailer yet from TWC. Thoughts?

AD has posted that he will get out Canada info as soon as available, as will I.

If I didn’t mention this before (and yes, I’m too lazy to look back a page), the UK premiere is now April 24th. The very good folks at Momentum, the UK distributor, think that will ultimately be a better date for the film.

Also, nice posting from our friends at Film Rant: http://screenrant.com/outlander-exclusive-movie-pic-release-news-vic-4919/

Plus, here’s a nice piece of concept art you all might like.

Concept Art for Cave Set

And finally – a shoutout to Inga. I’d love you to see the movie but I don’t know when (or even if) it will get to NYC. That’s all up to TWC.

Oh hell, here’s another one, even prettier. It’s the Moorwen Planet, just as it’s getting nuked.

Moorwen Planet

OUTLANDER UPDATE 1/6/09

Our POLL First

First off, Happy New Year, to all. Second, I apologize for not writing for a while. 2008 was truly a hell of a year, emphasis on ‘hell’. Plus, there hasn’t been much to put out there, as anyone with even a passing acquaintance with the Weinstein Company’s travails can understand.

However, I finally have something good to report, so here goes. As you probably know, the release date for Outlander is January 23rd. So, despite reports that we were going straight to DVD, that is not the case

Further, I have the cities, straight from TWC, where it will open first. They are as follows:

San Francisco, CA
Chicago, IL
Philadelphia, PA
Washington D.C.
Dallas, TX
Atlanta, GA
Boston, MA
Houston, TX
Seattle, WA
Miami, FL
San Diego, CA
Detroit, MI
Sacramento, CA
Orlando, FL
Tampa, FL

Finally, after too many years to count, the movie will be out there. So do what you can, oh ye faithful – email your buds in those cities, make some noise. If we do well, we might even get the recalcitrant folks at TWC to roll it out further.

And one last thing: go see it yourself and have a good time. I hope you enjoy it.

PS – here are a few set photos (courtesy of Michael Tompkins)

Good-Bye to the Kings

John Hurt, from deleted scene

Shooting from the barge, in Newfoundland

Where there's smoke.... there's a grip

Tracking Vikings as they track the monster

DEFAMER ON OUTLANDER! (… and a bit on the making of…)

As reported above, there is yet to be an official DVD release so there’s still room for the Weinstein Company to give Outlander a decent theatrical release.

A bit more on the tendency for TWC to dump product here, at Defamer.

http://tinyurl.com/6chau3

We’ve also gotten over 230,000 youtube hits on the various trailers, which doesn’t take into account other sites, such as our pals at solsector, which puts total hits very close to half a million.

http://outlander.solsector.net/

Below are models of the Viking village, Herot, as well as the inside of Shield Hall, complete with its supporting tree. Yes, those are shields in a semi-circle. That’s for the Shield Dance. Hopefully you’ll get a chance to see it. These were designed by Oscar-winner Dan Hennah.

DVD RELEASE

Unlike this lovely prosthetic whale, we’re not dead yet. It looks like the whole DVD release in November may just be a screw-up or the e-sites simply taking advance orders. My understanding is that there is NO actual DVD release date set yet. More to come…

UPDATE  8/27/08:  TWC has informed us there is definitely no official release date for the DVD.  They will be reaching out to the two etailers (movies unlimited and amazon) and will hopefully have that erroneous information removed.