Opens July 13, 2018

Remake of The Towering Inferno?

Kind of. Actually seeing this news got me in the mood to re-watch Towering Inferno tonight. Still a solid disaster flick.

That plot synopsis is ridiculously silly.

I guess it's not enough to have to save his family in a burning skyscraper. He has to be framed and on the run as well.

What does being "on the run" even matter when you're racing to rescue people from a burning building?

Doesn't matter how good (or bad) it turns out ... the Chinese connection pretty much guarantees it makes a boatload of money, even if it doesn't do well in the US.

South Korea did a variation on "The Towering Inferno" recently called "The Tower". Formulaic and cheesy to the extreme, but I enjoyed it in a mindless popcorn way. Dwayne Johnson's presence should ensure that this new movie is at least on a level with that one. I've found something to enjoy in most of his movies.

The Tower definitely had spectacle on its side, but man, those characters were such frustrating and predictable 70's Hollywood disaster-movie cliches. Haeundae suffered the same problem, but it was a smash hit over there, too, so I guess if you want Korean takes on Hollywood genre films, you have to take simplistic characterizations as part of the bargain.

As for Skyscraper, I'd like to think setting it in China will put that country's dreadful building standards in the spotlight again by making it a major story point, but I've little doubt their draconian censors will make sure the fire is started by some "foreign element" of one kind or other.

This is being directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, who directed Dodgeball, We're the Millers, Central Intelligence and those Terry Tate Office Linebacker ads. Pretty sure they're going for ridiculous.

I'd take a Dodgeball version of Towering Inferno.

Neve Campbell joins the cast: http://deadline.com/2017/06/neve-cam...on-1202118429/

Will be released July 13, 2018 still.


Johnson is crazy busy. He's currently filming Rampage right now in Atlanta and I assume once that wraps, he moves on to this movie right away.

Enough already. Do Black Adam.

This movie sounds like absolute shit.

Although I do like Neve Campbell.

Filmed in China to cater the Chinese movie-going public which has accounted for over 30% of a Hollywood film's international gross revenue.

The movie synopsis sounds more like a direct to DVD release than a summer tent pole flick. After Baywatch flopped I wonder if he's just grabbing as many projects as possible to stay in the spotlight.

And cashing fat checks.

He loves to work and it's not like his star is fading. I think Baywatch was just a rare miss for him. It's a comedy and those in general are so hit or miss with the public. We're not going to start seeing Dwayne Johnson on Lionsgate Premiere DTV releases anytime soon.

He has a hit HBO TV series, Jumanji, Rampage, and this coming out in the next 12+ months. Plus, the Fast and Furious movies are still doing well and his character is getting a spinoff. And a laundry list of movies in development.

He grabbed this project way before Baywatch was even released. Mere coincidence.

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I'm in, if this is the theme song.

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Wait...what, did not notice it is a teaser and says Sunday at the end, so I am guessing it is one of the Super Bowl movie ads, works for me.

Dammit his movies seem to always end up entertaining, even if you go in not really wanting to see them.

I wonder who can jump further... The Rock or Lara Croft?

As likeable as the Dwayne/Rock is, he sure doesn't seem to know how to pick quality projects to join.
Although if someone threw that kind of money at me to make a dumb movie, I'd sure take it.

Johnson's career decision making flow-chart:

1) Will they pay my quote?

2) If yes, make the movie. If no, make the movie anyway.

Super Bowl trailer:

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Didn't realize Johnson's character was missing a leg.

That last stunt sequence looks crazy.

Digging this remake of Die Hard. I mean isn’t that what this is?