News Bits

I’ve got a couple of pieces of news for you fellow space cadets today.  1st is that the sequel to Independence Day finally has an official title: Independence Day: Resurgence.  This is the first of two sequels to the 1996 blockbuster smash starring Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldblum.  According to Variety, what we know of the plot is that the nations of Earth have come together after the events of the first film to collaborate on a massive defense program to help defend the planet from any further invasions.  The planet comes under attack from the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force.  Seeing as how the film is still a year off from release, I still find it baffling that ID4 would get a sequel at all.  Now, I’ve read a couple of the books that were released after the film, but they really weren’t that good.  The confirmed cast at this point is Sela Ward, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Judd Hirsch, Liam Hemsworth, and Vivica A. Fox.  Not returning for the sequel is Will Smith, who apparently demanded too much money to reprise his role.  That’s a shame, because he was the lead in the first movie, and it made him a major star.  Roland Emmerich is attached to direct, as he directed the original film.  Say what you will about Emmerich, he knows how to destroy the world.  Independence Day, 2012, and The Day After Tomorrow are some prime examples of how he destroys the world.  He’s really good at it.  Lord knows what would happen if he and Michael Bay were to team up on a movie together.  I think it would rip a hole in the fabric of reality.  But as it is, Fox Studios released the title reveal for Resurgence:

Here’s the link to the Variety article I mentioned: Fox Titles Independence Day Sequel

The second piece of news comes as a major shocker:  In a tragic turn of events, a plane being piloted by famed film composer James Horner crashed in a remote area  60 miles north of Santa Barbara.  According to The Hollywood Reporter, Horner’s death has been confirmed by his assistant Sylvia Patrycja.  This is a major loss not only to the film industry, but also the music industry and his fans including me.  James Horner has crafted some of the most memorable music in film.  Some of his most notable soundtracks include Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Aliens, Braveheart, Cocoon, and The Rocketeer.  His music helped tell stories and elevated movies to something extraordinary.  A talented individual, James Horner had over 150 credits to his name, making him one of the most accomplished film composers ever.  You may not recognize his name or his face, but you will remember his music.  The music which gave voice to so many excellent films.  He was a frequent collaborator with director James Cameron on Aliens, Titanic, and Avatar.  Of all the composers that I truly respected, James Horner is right up there with John Williams and the late Jerry Goldsmith.  His passing is going to leave a lot of holes in people’s hearts including mine.  His music has touched millions in ways that I can’t even begin to describe.  Only a handful can say that they’ve had a career as prolific as James Horner.  The Hollywood Reporter article can be found James Horner Dead.  I don’t know if they will read this, but my thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Mr. Horner in this difficult time.

R.I.P. James Horner

August 14, 1953 – June 22, 2015(Age 61)

 

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