The Comic-Con teaser package for Scott Stewart's humankind-is-in-deep-shit-with-God actioner Legion has arrived online, and it's not exactly pulling its punches.
This extended, redband (that's 18's and over; sorry kiddywinks) slice of the film delivers a stonking five minutes of footage, about ninety percent of which is action, which certainly explains what got its Comic Con audience so excited a few weeks back. You can see the trailer below or on MySpace if you can punch in a date longer than 18 years ago with good conscience.
The plot goes that God has had it with humanity, so sends down his legion of angels to bring about the Apocalypse, led naturally enough by the Archangel Gabriel (Kevin Durand). Only the Archangel Michael (Bettany) has the angel equivalent of cojones to go against God's will, so he drops to earth, hacks off his wings, and locates the not-quite born Second Coming, who is currently residing in the womb of Mojave desert diner waitress Charlie (Adrianne Palicki). There, they hole up along with diner regulars Charles S Dutton, Dennis Quaid, Tyrese Gibson and some people who'll probably die in creative ways to stave off the attack.
By the very nature of its story, first thing this taste of Legion brings to mind is Gregory Widen's much underrated The Prophecy (the one where Christopher Walken can perch on chairs, among other freaky and inventive touches), but with elements of the traditional siege movie: see Rio Bravo, and its John Carpenter variations Assault On Precinct 13 and Prince Of Darkness, or even the Tales From The Crypt movie Demon Night. The shots of the deserted playground with Palicki's voiceover, meanwhile, feel like a nod of respect to the 'No fate but what we make' elements of the Terminator series.
There's underling ghouls copping it aplenty in all manner of exciting ways, plagues, Doug Jones getting even longer and thinner than he usually is, and a sweary nan.
Does it look like being the next Seventh Seal? Of course not: it looks like bloody good fun in the spirit of Constantine, or something like what we're hoping for from Preacher. Count us in, and to hear more about the movie, check out Empire's newly added complete Comic Con interviews with Bettany, Stewart and Gibson (along with loads of others).
Makes me feel nostalgic. Reminds me of mid-nineties trips to Blockbuster on a Friday night and renting random straight-to-video horror movies from the bottom shelf. ... Read More
When I saw the Legion panel at Comic Con, i didn't really know what to expect, but i personally thought that it looks like the plot of Dogma turned into a action/horror movie.
When you mention Preacher though, i definitely think that it's in the same vein as Legion. Hopefully Legion will bring some of the dark humor and witty dialogue that is found in the Preacher books. ... Read More
this is a comedy, isn't it? I certainly laughed all the way through the trailer. For crying out loud Empire, stop salivating over tripe like this. You always do this, don't you - you know it's going to be garbage but you still make excuses for it in advance, even if the best you can say is that it looks like 'bloody good fun'. ... Read More
looks like total style over substance, an untentionally hilarious spoof of psuedo religious, psuedo phillosophical action arse kickers. how could anyone make a film like this and then not turn a brighter shade of pink upon watching the trailer what the fuck is wrong with film makers these days do they even watch any films, is there some kind of special fast track internship for retards going on in Hollywood at the moment? ... Read More
This to me looks like its going to be very different. I read the script and it's brilliant, it really is, and January can't come soon enough the Legion, Jonah Hex and Green Arrow scripts are three of the best i've ever read, up there with the Dark Knight. Trust me, this movie will rock. and its great to see an actor like Bettany doing this type of role. ... Read More
Not sure. It looks like someone has decided to amp up the ideas from the last couple of seasons of Supernatural. The old lady footage is laughable instead of creepy, it's an SFX cop-out to have Michael remove his wings and what's with stealing the Matrix gimmick/effect when the agents possessed a human vessel!? The poster suggested great promise but this trailer now has me thinking that the jury is out until having seen it ... ... Read More
First, if it's so "red band" why did they censor the cop saying "fuck", and second,
Is it me, or does Bettany say "it's fine Barbie doesn't believe in you either"
Weird accent much? ... Read More
There isn't enough B-movie type films being made like this!! Pure, unadulterated fun! Hopefully!
Not too happy that an Empire journalist par excellence spell Demon Knight without the K though, but that's not the point is it.... ... Read More
