Official ‘Solomon Kane’ Trailer Released
There have been a couple of versions of the trailer to director Michael J. Bassett’s Solomon Kane floating around, but I’ve patiently waited for the official English version before posting. At last it is here.
After the jump, check out the trailer for what looks like an awesome action-fantasy film.
Produced by Davis Films, Solomon Kane is the first of a trilogy of films based on novels by Conan the Barbarian author Robert E. Howard.
The film stars James Purefoy (Rome, The Philanthropist) as Solomon Kane, a 16th Century warrior who has renounced violence after learning his brutal past has damned him to hell, but whose unavoidable path is as a hero to rid the world of evil.
Additional cast include Jason Flemyng (Clash of the Titans / Stardust), Pete Postlethwaite (Clash of the Titans / Aeon Flux /The Omen), Rachel Hurd-Wood (An American Haunting / Peter Pan) and the more well known Max von Sydow (Minority Report / Rush Hour 3 /Judge Dredd).
This movie may very well be what Van Helsing should have been, a believable and dark action-fantasy film. As can be seen from the trailer, it is also bursting with Lord of the Rings elements.
As yet Solomon Kane doesn’t have a US distributor. On one hand I’m amazed by that fact, especially after seeing the trailer, but on the other after watching Jamin Winans’ Ink struggle to get distributorship I’m also not surprised.
Nonetheless, Solomon Kane is getting a birth at the Toronto Film Festival this Wednesday and Thursday. If the trailer is indicative of the film (and judging by AICN’s review of it I’m guessing it is), and if the IMDB 9.5 rating from 68 voters is any indication, then hopefully it won’t be long until a US distributor realizes the potential and snaps it up.
Either way, December 31, 2009 in Russia is where the action begins.
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September 12th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Just a point of clarification: the producers/director have openly stated that the film has not been recut since Cannes. Of course it wouldn’t get universal praise from the same critics who boo’d “The Fountain”
I’m really not surprised that this is having difficulty getting U.S. distribution. The religious subtext, the general violence, and the themes of the film don’t gel all too well with today’s political climate. There have been very few serious, R-rated fantasy films…the movie’s not kid-friendly, and that’s another problem. I’m sure, if it does get released, we’ll be seeing a lot of film critics calling foul, and telling us the movie “takes itself too seriously.”
All I know, is that however it’s coming out, I WILL see it.
September 12th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Thanks for the point of clarification Taran, though I have to say after hours of searching I’ve failed to find anything to confirm the film hasn’t been re-cut. That said, I’ve found plenty of news sites reporting that it has been cut, but none with any links to anything official confirming same.
If I was a betting man I’d be betting that it hasn’t been, that you’re right, and that the news sites are all regurgitating misinformation.
The only “fact” I can confirm is that the film was screened in Cannes in May whilst in February director Michael J. Bassett stated that all the final editing work was done.
If something changed since then yes, I’d be surprised.
I sent a tweet off to Michael J. Bassett asking if he could confirm with 100% certainty that nothing has changed since Cannes. I’d like a definitive “no it hasn’t been re-cut” statement and there’s no more definitive source than, well, the source.
In the meantime, if you can point me to any links to confirm your point of clarification I’d appreciate that.
In the meantime I’ve removed the point from the article. Unless it’s fact, I don’t want it in there, so thanks for raising it.
September 12th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Michael J. Bassett kindly responded via Twitter. All reports about the re-cut are false. Here’s his nice and straight to the point reply:
http://twitter.com/michaeljbassett/status/3946423471
Thanks again Taran.
September 13th, 2009 at 12:04 am
You know the more R-Rated films that come out that take its stories seriously is the more I’ll go to the theaters
October 1st, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I hear ya Teague…..it’s gotten pretty pathetic. I can hardly remember the last time I went to the theater and actually saw an R-rated movie. At least home theater systems are cheaper to put together now. I can see the day when a movie is released and you just pay to have a digital stream to your set (that is of course if you don’t want to buy the DVD). I’m all for it. Going to the theater and dealing with morons who are there because there’s nothing better to do is tiresome and expensive.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Just saw the trailer and the movie seems awesome and i would love to see it. Hope it hit theaters in the US, so everyone can get the chance to view a pretty cool movie. Also great cast and amazing scenes.