David S. Goyer Movies
Filmmaker David S. Goyer is a master of the dark, brooding brand of off-kilter sci-fi that defined the 1990s before spilling over into the new millennium with such efforts as Blade II. Starting out as a screenwriter, Goyer showed a remarkable talent for bringing comic-book characters to life on the big screen, eventually leading him to the director's chair. He was an active writer from his earliest days, but boredom came fast and furious for the accelerated high-school English student; nevertheless, he soon turned his restlessness to his advantage by striking a deal with teachers to produce one original piece of writing per week in lieu of the general classroom workload. Though Goyer's original intentions to attend Michigan State University and become a homicide investigator were quickly put to rest when his teachers staged a creative intervention, the wake-up call soon proved effective, and he was off to study screenwriting at U.S.C. Film School. A shaky first semester soon gave way to a better understanding of his skills and increasing confidence, though upon graduation in 1988, Goyer's job prospects were bleak due to a writer's strike in Hollywood. A few months after graduation, one of Goyer's scripts was made into the Jean-Claude Van Damme film Death Warrant -- a stroke of luck that allowed the ambitious young writer the opportunity to spend some time on a real Hollywood film set and learn the ropes of moviemaking.Goyer subsequently churned out scripts for such lowbrow fare as Demonic Toys and Arcade, but his dark and quirky sensibilities were soon tapped when the writer was asked to pen screenplays for both The Crow: City of Angels and Dark City. Though The Crow: City of Angels died a painful death at the box office, Dark City offered a complex and compelling sci-fi-flavored tale of memory loss and one man's quest to discover his past -- in addition to gaining positive critical notice, it also gained a notable cult following. In Goyer's own words, his most transitional script was that of the 1998 Stephen Norrington film Blade. Starring Wesley Snipes as the eponymous comic-book vampire slayer, the film proved an unchallenged hit -- quickly elevating its writer to A-list status. In addition to penning the screenplay for the decidedly more low-key drama Zigzag, Goyer also opted to make his directorial debut with the film. By the time the third film in the Blade franchise was set to go before the camera, Goyer was confident enough in his directorial skills to step up to the plate and follow in the footsteps of Norrington and Blade II director Guillermo del Toro by helming Blade: Trinity. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2011
Vertigo Comics' heralded comic book Y: The Last Man is headed to the big screen from Disturbia's production team of director D.J. Caruso and writer Carl Ellsworth for New Line Cinema. The plot features a lone male survivor in a world where all the male mammals are wiped out by a plague. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- 2011
Batman Begins screenwriter David S. Goyer directs this X-Men spin-off exploring the origins of the formidable Marvel super-villain who was once liberated from Auschwitz by future mutant leader Charles Xavier. Ushered along with his parents into the most notorious concentration camp of the Nazi era, Magneto gradually discovers that he has the ability to telekinetically manipulate metal. Later freed from the Auschwitz by the very man who would eventually become his nemesis, Magneto sets out on a vengeful quest to perfect his powers by tracking down and killing the Nazi war criminals who tormented him as a young child. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2011
Director/screenwriter/producer David Goyer teams with scribe Justin Marks for this unique take on the superhero genre that finds the Green Arrow stripped of his formidable powers and placed in a prison alongside the very same criminals he helped to put there. When his true identity is revealed to the public, the former superhero hatches a plan to escape the penitentiary, but in order to do so he'll need more than a little help from the same men he had once devoted his entire existence to capturing. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Saw franchise mainstay Darren Lynn Bousman directs this remake of the David Cronenberg classic concerning an underground group of telekinetic "scanners" who plot to take over the world. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2011
A cop involved in a murder investigation is awakened to the truth of a secret war involving an alien race that he finds himself to be a part of in The Unforgettable, a Warner Bros. Pictures adaptation of the video game Condemned: Criminal Origins. Helming is to be handled by The Cell's Tarsem Singh, straight from his critically acclaimed indie picture The Fall. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- 2010
Conceived as a cinematic sequel to author H.G. Wells' landmark science fiction tale, director/screenwriter David Goyer's film follows the British nephew of the original Invisible Man as he discovers his uncle's top-secret invisibility formula and is recruited by British intelligence agency MI5 to assist allied operations during World War II. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2010
A battlefield turns even deadlier when a vampire bat spurs a plague of bloodthirsty undead that only one man and his trusted team of warriors can combat in this big-screen translation of the novel by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and co-writer Christopher Golden. David Goyer (Blade: Trinity) directs from a screenplay adapted from the authors themselves. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Blade II and Batman Begins scribe David S. Goyer writes and directs this supernatural thriller about a 19-year-old girl (Odette Yustman) haunted by a "dybbuk" (a malevolent wandering soul of Jewish folklore) that was once a young boy ruthlessly slaughtered in Auschwitz. Casey Beldon (Yustman) was just a young girl when her mother vanished out of her life. And though Casey has never forgiven her mother for abandoning their family, she begins to understand why when a tortured ghost begins stalking her by day, and horrific nightmares make her scared of falling asleep at night. Hoping that her spiritual advisor, Rabbi Sendak (Gary Oldman), possesses the power to make these awful visions stop, Casey enlists his aid and gradually uncovers a family curse that stretches all the way back to Nazi Germany. An entity with the ability to possess anyone or anything that it comes into contact with is stalking Casey from another plane of reality, and it's gaining strength with each new possession. Now, as the curse is unleashed, the frightened girl realizes that her only chance for survival is to close a door that was pried open by someone who was never born, and prevent the force from crossing over into the physical world. Though her sympathetic boyfriend (Cam Gigandet) and best friend (Meagan Good) do everything they can to help, Casey is ultimately left to face this otherworldly horror on her own. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Odette Yustman, Gary Oldman, (more)
The producers of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight team with some of the most respected anime artists in Japan to explore Bruce Wayne's transition from tormented crime fighter to heroic icon of a crumbling metropolis. Separated into six distinct chapters but intended to be viewed as a whole, this stylized look at immortal DC Comics superhero is the result of a collaboration between Shojiro Nishimi (Tekkonkinkreet), Yasuhiro Aoki (Steamboy), Futoshi Higashide (Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack), Toshiyuki Kubooka (The Secret of Blue Water), and Hiroshi Morioka (Chronicle of the Wings). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Conroy, Gary Dourdan, (more)
Following up his blockbuster action hit Mr. and Mrs. Smith, director Doug Liman turns to an entirely new genre -- sci-fi -- for this tale of an underground world of teleporters. Based on the novel by Steven Gould, Jumper concerns David (Hayden Christensen), a young man who quite literally wills himself away from his grim family life by teleporting to another place with the power of his mind. Years later, David is using his powers to raid bank vaults, seduce girls in London, lunch on the pyramids, and surf in Fiji. But he soon discovers that he is not the only one bestowed with this unique gift, and all is not well in the world of jumpers. There are people out there, such as Roland (Samuel L. Jackson), who view jumpers as a threat to all humankind, and have made it their mission in life to eliminate them. After jumping back to Michigan to get reacquainted with his long lost love, Millie (Rachel Bilson), David makes the acquaintance of experienced jumper Griffin (Jamie Bell). Informed by Griffin of a secret between jumpers and a shadowy group that seeks to destroy them, the pair soon finds themselves facing off against a legion of murderous opponents who won't stop fighting until every last jumper has been eliminated. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hayden Christensen, Jamie Bell, (more)
Christopher Nolan steps back into the director's chair for this sequel to Batman Begins, which finds the titular superhero coming face to face with his greatest nemesis -- the dreaded Joker. Christian Bale returns to the role of Batman, Maggie Gyllenhaal takes over the role of Rachel Dawes (played by Katie Holmes in Batman Begins), and Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger dons the ghoulishly gleeful Joker makeup previously worn by Jack Nicholson and Cesar Romero. Just as it begins to appear as if Batman, Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman), and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) are making headway in their tireless battle against the criminal element, a maniacal, wisecracking fiend plunges the streets of Gotham City into complete chaos. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, (more)
A severely beaten teenager, trapped in a walking purgatory between life and death, must help authorities to the location of his broken body before it's too late in this remake of the 2002 Swedish thriller Den Osynlige. Graduating senior Nick Powell (Justin Chatwin) has plans to attend a prestigious writing workshop in London, despite the protests of his widowed mother (Marcia Gay Harden). In the days before his departure, he gets into a cafeteria brawl with a delinquent classmate, Annie Newton (Margarita Levieva), while defending his friend from her extortion attempts. Annie and her crew track Nick down on the night he's planning to leave, mistakenly thinking he ratted her out to the police regarding a smash-and-grab burglary committed the night before. When the subsequent beating goes too far, the assailants dump the body in the woods in a panicked attempt to dispose of it. Only, Nick isn't dead -- he's walking invisible among his classmates, friends, and family, desperately trying to alert them that he's still alive. Robbed of the traditional forms of communication, Nick must figure out supernatural methods of manipulating his environment -- and he soon realizes the very girl who attacked him may be the only one who has the power to save him. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Justin Chatwin, Margarita Levieva, (more)
When a motorcycle-riding stuntman offers his soul to Mephistopheles in order to save the life of the one he loves most, he is forced to play host to a powerful supernatural entity whose flaming skull visage strikes fear into the heart of his enemies in this feature-film version of the long-running comic series. By day, Johnny Blaze (actor and comic-book devotee Nicolas Cage) is one of the world's best-known stuntmen, but when the sun goes down and he is in the presence of evil, the death-defying daredevil bursts into flames to become the indestructible, motorcycle-riding antihero known to the world as the Ghost Rider. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, (more)
Everyone loves a good, two-fanged fright flick, and from the silent screen to the 21st Century, vampire films have drawn moviegoers to theaters in droves. Much like the immortal monsters that stalk the night in search of precious blood, it seems that our fascination with these strange and seductive creatures will never die. In this ocumentary, interviews with a wide array of filmmakers, actors, special-effects artists, writers, and critics combine with a hearty collection of memorable film clips to explore the evil and eroticism that abounds in vampiric cinema. Vampires director John Carpenter, Underworld director Len Wiseman, and The Lost Boys director Joel Schumacher all weigh in on what inspired them to craft films featuring vampires, while Kristanna Loken and Stuart Townsend reveal what it was like to assume the persona of a creature that so many viewers fear, yet embrace at the same time. Additional interviews with Stan Winston and Greg Nicotero highlight how creative vampires can be tons of ghoulish fun, while writers Marv Wolfman and David Goyer discuss understanding their motivations and critics Leonard Maltin and Harry Knowls explain just why these monsters are so compelling to watch up on the big screen. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Carpenter, Len Wiseman, (more)
The weekly, 60-minute Blade: The Series was inspired by the popular Blade action-movie trilogy, which in turn was based on a Marvel Comics character introduced in the 1970s. Rap star Sticky Fingaz, billed under his (sort of) real name, Kirk "Sticky" Jones, starred as Blade, a half-human, half-vampire immortal warrior engaged in an endless battle against demonic and supernatural villains on behalf of humanity (Wesley Snipes was, of course, seen as Blade in the original films). Neil Jackson co-starred as Blade's perennial nemesis, Marcus Van Sciver, a handsome, charismatic vampire bent on world domination, while Nelson Lee was seen as Blade's weapons-savvy, wise-ass sidekick, Shen. New to the franchise was the character of Krista Starr (Jill Wagner), who teamed up with Blade to avenge her twin brother's death at the hands of Marcus Van Sciver, who in addition to his nocturnal bloodsucking also held court over a well-organized cartel of fellow vampires. Boasting a pilot scripted by executive producer David S. Goyer and comic-book veteran Geoff Johns, Blade: The Series premiered June 28, 2006, as the first scripted live-action series on cable's Spike TV channel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones, Jill Wagner, (more)
- 2006
The Dialogue: Learning From the Masters -- David Goyer features an interview with the screenwriter responsible for such films as Dark City, Blade, and Batman Begins. He discusses various aspects of his craft. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David S. Goyer
CBS' spin on ABC's Lost for the 2005-2006 TV season was the weekly, hour-long sci-fi effort Threshold. The crash-landing of an alien spacecraft in the Atlantic Ocean prompted the government to engage the services of a crack team of specialists, who were obliged to investigate the incident and explore its possible ramifications -- all in secret, of course, lest the populace get panicky. It soon developed that the spacecraft was the vanguard for an extraterrestrial invasion -- and more ominously, the aliens' presence caused the team members to experience bizarre physical and biological reactions (it seemed that exposure to the aliens' signal had the power to reconfigure one's DNA!). The investigative team was led by über-intellectual risk analyst Dr. Molly Anne Caffrey (Carla Gugino), and consisted of sardonic, witty, fiercely independent forensic microbiologist Nigel Fenway (Brent Spiner of Star Trek fame); former "special-ops" troubleshooter Cavennaugh (Brian Van Holt); politically ambitious Deputy National Security Advisor J.T. Baylock (Charles S. Dutton); pugnacious party-animal math and language expert Arthur Ramsey (Peter Dinklage); and timid, neurotic astronautical engineer Lucas Pegg (Rob Benedict). Created by Bragi F. Schut, Threshold was first telecast on September 16, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carla Gugino, Brian Van Holt, (more)
The origins of the Caped Crusader of Gotham City are finally brought to the big screen in this new adaptation of the perennially popular comic-book series. The young Bruce Wayne (Gus Lewis) leads a privileged life as the son of wealthy, philanthropist parents, both of whom stress their commitment to improving the lives of the citizens of crime-ridden Gotham City. After his mother and father are murdered by a mugger, however, Wayne grows into an impudent young man (Christian Bale), full of rage and bent on retribution until encouraged by his childhood sweetheart, Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), to search for answers beyond his own personal vendettas. Wayne eventually finds discipline in the Far East under the tutelage of Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), a member of the mysterious League of Shadows who guides him in the study of martial arts -- and the ways in which an ordinary man can hone his senses to an almost superhuman acuity. After seven years away from Gotham, Wayne returns, determined to bring peace and safety back to the city. With the help of his faithful manservant, Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine), and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), a scientist at his late father's corporation, Wayne develops a secret identity as Batman, a masked fighter for justice. But when a shady psychiatrist (Cillian Murphy) joins forces with the criminal underworld, Wayne realizes that putting an end to their nefarious plans will be very difficult indeed. Batman Begins also features Gary Oldman as Lt. James Gordon and Tom Wilkinson as the crime boss Carmine Falcone. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, (more)
Wesley Snipes returns as legendary vampire hunter Blade in this, the third film inspired by the popular Marvel Comics character. A fearless warrior immune to vampires, Blade (Snipes) has become a hated enemy of the bloodsucking community, and as they gather in their desert compound, a group of vampires is plotting to eliminate Blade once and for all by turning the mortal community against him. The vampires have concocted a misinformation campaign that paints a picture of Blade as a ruthless murderer and has sent the FBI on the vampire hunter's trail, led by the relentless agent Cumberland (James Remar). At the same time, the vampires have brought their founding father, Dracula, back to his undead state, renaming him Drake (Dominic Purcell) and investing him with special powers that allow him to walk unharmed in daylight. After a dangerous encounter with Cumberland, Blade and his ally, Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), form an uneasy alliance with a scruffy team of human vampire slayers, the Nighstalkers, led by Hannibal King (Ryan Reynolds), and Whistler's daughter, Abigail (Jessica Biel. While Sommerfield (Natasha Lyonne), a biologist working with the Nightstalkers, researches a scientific answer to the vampire problem, Blade and his comrades take a more hands-on approach against Drake and his minions, including Danica Talos (Parker Posey), Asher (Callum Keith Rennie), and Grimwood (Triple H). Blade: Trinity was directed by David Goyer, who also wrote the screenplay for this film, as well as the first two movies in the series. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, (more)
Rumored and anticipated for years, the two biggest icons of the slasher genre finally meet in Freddy Vs. Jason, the eighth entry in the Nightmare on Elm Street saga and the 11th film in the Friday the 13th series, though with Jason X taking place in the future, it should be noted that the events of this film take place after the ninth film Jason Goes to Hell. And it is hell where Freddy Kreuger (Robert Englund) and Jason Voorhees (Ken Kirzinger, donning the hockey mask for the first time in a controversial snub against series veteran Kane Hodder) finally become acquainted. Banished there for eternity, Freddy devises a plan to manipulate Jason into continuing his work, hacking up the teenagers of Elm Street. All goes well at first until Jason realizes he's been duped by "the dream master" and is none too pleased. Coaxed by surviving teenagers Will (Jason Ritter), Lori (Monica Keena), and Kia (Destiny's Child's Kelly Rowland), Jason and Freddy descend upon Crystal Lake for a mano a mano battle royal. Helmed by Hong Kong director Ronny Yu (Bride of Chucky, The Bride With the White Hair), Freddy Vs. Jason features the director of the first Friday film, Sean S. Cunningham serving as producer. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Englund, Ken Kirzinger, (more)
Four years after scoring a box-office touchdown with Blade (1998), actor Wesley Snipes returns to portray the Marvel Comics character again in this sequel that teams him with Mexican horror director Guillermo del Toro. A half-vampire, half-human hybrid, Blade (Snipes) is a merciless vampire hunter bent on destroying the bloodsuckers that feed on humanity. The keys to Blade's success are a serum that allows him to resist the urge for blood and an array of inventive, deadly weapons, both of which were once supplied by his mentor, Whistler (Kris Kristofferson). Since Whistler's death, Blade has relocated to Prague and recruited the pot-smoking slacker Scud (Norman Reedus) to take the place of his father figure, but then he discovers that Whistler's not dead after all: He's been infected with the vampire virus. Reunited with Whistler, Blade is dealt an even bigger surprise: His greatest enemy, vampire leader Damaskinos (Thomas Kretschmann), wants to make peace with him. It seems that the vampires are facing a greater threat than Blade and hope to persuade him to fight the Reapers, a mutated super-race of vampires on a rampage of murder, indiscriminately killing both humans and their fellow bloodsuckers while sucking their victims dry. Blade agrees to a truce and joins the Bloodpack, an elite squad of commandos originally formed to fight Blade himself. Soon, the vampire soldiers discover that the virus responsible for creating their enemies is spreading rapidly and can be traced back to a mysterious "Patient Zero." Blade 2 (2002) co-stars Ron Perlman, Leonor Varela, Donnie Yen, and Matt Schulze. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, (more)
Zigzag is the directorial debut of screenwriter David S. Goyer (Blade, Blade 2). Based on the well-received debut novel by Landon J. Napoleon, the film tells the story of an autistic teenager, Louis "Zigzag" Fletcher (Sam Jones III). Zigzag is a sensitive and thoughtful boy who retreats into his own mind to escape the harshness of his inner-city life, particularly the abuse of his father (Wesley Snipes). His only friend is Singer (John Leguizamo), his compassionate Big Brother, who gives Louis his nickname, and tells the boy he's imbued with special powers. He's trying to get Zigzag removed from his father's home, and also to teach him to survive. Singer has testicular cancer, and is concerned that he won't always be around when the boy needs him. Zigzag works as a dishwasher in a restaurant owned by the Toad (Oliver Platt), an amusingly caustic Southerner. After Zigzag's father demands 200 dollars for rent, the boy sees Toad opening his office safe, and commits the combination to memory. Later, he takes 9,000 dollars from the safe. When he attempts to give his father the rent, his father takes all the money. When Singer finds out what Zigzag has done, he goes to desperate lengths to get the money back, so he can return it to Toad before Zigzag gets into trouble. As Singer's plan goes awry, this brings the pair into contact with a sleazy loan shark (Luke Goss, who was also in Blade 2) and a kindhearted prostitute (Natasha Lyonne). The film's soundtrack was composed by Grant Lee Phillips. Zigzag was shown at the 2002 SXSW Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Jones III, John Leguizamo, (more)
