I knew it was only a matter of time before we dragged this sci-fi, sword-swinging, pissing contest back into the mainstream, cgi-laden, money hungry, modern cinematic abyss and now it has happened.
"Iron Man" co-writers Art Marcum and Matt Holloway have signed up with Summit Entertainment to write a revision/ re imagining/ remake/ rehash of the 1986 sci-fi cult classic, "Highlander."
Yes, "Highlander," where, for some reason they cast an unknown New Yorker as an Irishman, a well-known Scott as an Egyptian and Clancy Brown as a melodramatic freak.
The Hollywood Reporter (does anyone even read that rag anymore?) says that Summit Entertainment purchased the rights to remake the flick from Davis/Panzer Prods and Peter Davis, one of the original producers of the 1986 film, has agreed to come on board to help produce the new film.
We'll keep an eye on this and report back when news of casting starts happening.
As always, stay tuned.
Friday, May 23
There can be only one...again
Thursday, May 22
Working at Mouseschwitz
You’d hear that it sucks to work for Disney. They’re Nazis in Mickey hats. But I’d thought, “How bad could it be?” By the time I got fired, half of me was relieved.
Los Angeles Magazine article on life as a character at Disneyland.
Movie Trailers: Opening This Weekend.
Memorial Day weekend is one of the biggest holidays for movies and this year we get to see the return of the bad-ass, flawed, fedora, leather jacket and bull whip-wearing anti-hero archaeologist from our (my) childhood: An homage to a bygone era long before I was born, where cliffhanger matinées ruled the bijou and Hollywood was more focused on entertaining audiences than just separating them from their wallets.
This is the weekend (starting today, of course) that Hollywood dusts off and shines up a little bit of its long-tarnished golden age and brings back some of that charm that has been lost for the past few decades.
This weekend, dear readers marks the triumphant return of Indiana Jones.
As long-time readers of Media Morgue know, I have been pretty critical of the steps taken to bring this to the big screen. From numerous script re-writes and frustrated directors, to cast editions (and more importantly casting omissions) title decisions and blabbermouth bit-part extras, this has been a long road to home. So now that it's finally here, Its safe to say that I'm more than just a little excited (and nervous) at the possibilities.
I can remember walking into my local flea-bag, one screen, sticky-floored theater, leaning into the squeaking, velvet-lined, uncomfortable as-all-Hell seat and being transported away, watching the intrepid hero frantically outrun a tribe of dart-blowing natives in some Amazonian jungle. To me Indiana Jones epitomizes the stereotypical action hero. Someone you wanted to be (and I have a few bullwhip scars to proove it) or at the very least have as your next door neighbor. So to have Lucas and Speilberg (Lucasberg?) crack open the dusty books one more time for our reluctant, square-jawed explorer, I am mixed with both excitement and trepidation.
My first thought when hearing about bringing back Dr. Jones one more time was, "Oh god, please don't screw this one up, fellas." For far too long my dreams and aspirations of what I consider entertainment has been dashed upon the rocks of mediocrity. Far too many times have I hoped for something fantastic, only to be supremely disappointed by the images flickering on the screen ("Speed Racer," is but the latest glaring example of this). So it is with a certain, justifiable amount of paranoia that I approach what I consider to be one of my most cherished childhood memories.
But from what I can tell from the trailer and from the early reviews I have been feeverishly devouring as soon as they are posted online, is that this film delivers.I have a feeling that Lucasberg (I'm coining that name from now on) are playing to audience members nostalgia for the previous films, but frankly as long as it delivers the way it looks to in the trailer, I'm OK with it.
Look, Indy is not for everyone. Some people think that its too comic book. That its too far-fetched. But that is precisely why it works. Of course its comic book! But its done in a way that actually relies on story, character development and pacing that Lucasberg historically know a thing or two about. Its camp. Its adventure. And its pure, unabashed, cinematic fun.
Will this film be bigger than Iron Man? I dont know. All I DO know is that all you have to do is play John Williams theme and I'll be there, a box of red vines and large Sprite in hand, sitting in a darkened theater, impatiently waiting to be transported one last time.
I may even wear my fedora in the theater just to annoy the people behind me.
Wednesday, May 21
Fansites and their Power over Hollywood
Thanks to the power of the internet, television and movie producers no longer need to spend as much money on market research as they used to. They can instead use fan websites (fansites) and online message boards to detect the general consensus about a film or program.
The Internet has given everybody in America a voice. For some reason, everybody decides to use that voice to bitch about movies.
-Holden from "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back"
Fansites have become valuable and unwitting tools for the Hollywood machine. They act as an accurate barometer for the relative health of a project and can deliver an oftentimes frighteningly unbiased opinion with complete anonymity. As a result, their usefulness to the creators of content increases, which creates a symbiotic relationship that helps both creator and critic to increase in popularity. Take for example "Aint It Cool News:" once derided by Hollywood to be nothing more than a bunch of over-opinionated morons. But now, because of their popularity, they are carefully manipulated pawns at the disposal of online marketing departments everywhere. (they're still over-opinionated morons, but now they are over-opinionated morons with power.)
Jennifer over at "Connect with your Teens through Pop Culture and Technology" attended a program at the Paley Center for Media about fan websites. In attendance were a mix of more notable webmasters who discussed their niche and how it has changed the face of modern entertainment.
Read more about Jenniffer's visit at her own site.
Tuesday, May 20
Update: Two Face Image Removed
Well it looks like that image of Harvey Dent, AKA Two-Face was indeed the actual picture from the upcoming Dark Knight film, as Media Morgue has just received an official cease and desist demand to remove the image.
Back when we posted the pic, I said that there was no way that Warner Brothers could attempt to put the genie back into the bottle now that the image has been posted online. However I clearly underestimated the sheer brute-strength power of the Warner Brothers Legal Stormtroopers. Right now, any web search appears to be completely devoid of the offending makeup work.
You can still find it if you dig around, but we'd like to stay in Warner Bros good graces, so we humbly oblige to the esteemed litigators and expunge any reference we may have had with the alleged offensive image.
Monday, May 19
Thar be Pirates on the Horizon!
Just because Johnny Depp isn't wearing the tricorn hat and staggering around the screen for Disney, doesn't mean that there aren't more pirate stories to be told.
Variety reports that Dreamworks has given the greenlight to a story about legendary pirate Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, with the script being penned by "Amistad" and "Gladiator" writer David Franzoni.
Blackbeard is considered to be the archetypal image of the seafaring pirate. He would weave pieces of smoldering cannon fuse into his long beard and hair to make him look more intimidating to his enemies. He would strap as many swords, guns and knives onto his belts as possible and despite stories of plundering merchant ships of their gold, jewels liquor and weapons, there is no reports of him actually killing anyone.
Variety says that the story of Blackbeard is going to have some good heads behind it as well:
Barry Josephson ("Enchanted") is producing alongside motivational speaker and former Philadelphia 76ers prexy/co-owner Pat Croce, who wrote "Pirate Soul," a book that chronicled the golden era of piracy, which spanned 1690-1730.
Croce also owns a pirate museum in Key West Florida.
Being somewhat of a fan of 18th century naval warfare (OK, I'm a geek on a grand scale, I know) I'm really looking forward to seeing what they can do to re-create the Queen Anne's Revenge (Teach's ship) in all its glory.
Its too early to speculate on director or cast yet, but as soon we find something, we'll post it here.
Weekend Box Office Recap
No surprises this weekend. "Prince Caspian" took the number one spot and cleared $56 million in its first week.
"Iron Man" still runs strong at second place. 17 days old at the box office and it still clears $31 million. The film has grossed over $222 million domestically since its debut.
"What Happens in Vegas..." seems to have the largest per-screen average of any film in the top 20. It cleared a very impressive $4,255 per screen. Those are solid numbers that theater owners and studios alike love to see. Which means that you can expect a lot more zany, romantic comedies coming out of the studios soon. Studios will over-produce whatever people want to see, so when people say that Hollywood produces crap, I blame you all.
And then there's poor "Speed Racer,"who continues to disappoint with its acid-trip action and half-assed characters. The Wachowski's latest flop had the largest drop of any film in the top ten, dropping almost 59% in its second week. To place lower than expected is one thing, but to place lower than an Ashton Kutcher movie...wow.
Here's the top 10 for the weekend.
1 (new) The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian $56,573,000
2 (1) Iron Man $31,200,000
3 (2) What Happens in Vegas... $13,850,000
4 (3) Speed Racer $7,645,000
5 (5) Baby Mama $4,593,005
6 (4) Made of Honor $4,500,000
7 (6) Forgetting Sarah Marshall $2,537,585
8 (7) Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay $1,800,000
9 (8) The Forbidden Kingdom $1,000,000
10 (13) The Visitor $687,000
Sunday, May 18
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” Dark Wit of Fantastical Fantasy
Genres: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
Running Time: 2 hr. 20 min.
Release Date: May 16th, 2008 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG for epic battle action and violence.
Distributors: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Directed by: Andrew Adamson
JJ Rating: B+
The Kings and Queens of Narnia go back for another adventure that has them fight for the freedoms of the Narnia that’s been lost by a tyrannical people. They do so with the help of Prince Caspian the nephew of the tyrant. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
I liked The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe just like I like Prince Caspian (which is how I’ll refer to the movie, incase you’re wondering). The 2 hour and 20 minute movie was good without a moment of slow, for it paced itself perfectly. This need to always compare a movie to another movie when it’s not that obvious, other than when a critic points it out, is a waste of written word. It’s like people were going to like it but oh no it was too much like Lord of the Rings. Yeah right. These are the people that don’t even care for The Chronicles of Narnia as a whole. And they do so because they just don’t like it. They needn’t lie so boldly.
The actors had good chemistry. I liked the ‘children’. Anna Peppewell (Susan), William Moseley (Peter), Skandar Keynes (Edmund) and Georgie Henley (Lucy). They were perfectly picked for each of the characters the first go around and for this go around it is no different. I enjoyed Moseley’s determined to do right Peter with major sprinkling of ego in there that was as subtle as a bright light to ones face in the dead of night. His fight scenes were pretty cool…without having to be overly nitpicky and comparing it to something that was already done. I find that unfair in this instance. Pepperwell’s Susan was more firm and used the bow arrow far more this time and with deadly accuracy. Keynes’s Edmund was less of the dark brooding brother and more of the steadfast moral right that kept Peter inline with brotherly care. His scene with the opposing King was one of my favorite parts. Henley’s Lucy was no longer as small as before and not really as mature as the rest, but she had a good heart and a sweetness to her hopeful willing that Aslan would return.
The new comers were Peter Dinklage as Trumpkin, Ben Barnes as Prince Caspian and Eddie Izzard as Reepicheep. Dinklage was awesome with his facial expressions that were helpful to the funnier moments in the film. Barnes was equally headstrong and proved to be a good driving force against Moseley’s Peter. His flirting with Susan was simply a cinematic marvel and a throw back to the movies of the past. It was oddly refreshing to watch two characters flirt with actions more so than words and to do so throughout the film to add up to merely…well I won’t say, but it was one of my favorite things about Prince Caspian that showed love without exploiting sex. Izzard was a great addition and humor was with his character, his small and full of fight character.
Is it too much fighting? It is how sequels work, I’ve seen. The second one is a bit darker than the first. The characters that are important were already introduced and now it’s time to show more of the ‘showdown’ aspect. More fighting and more action and less character development that was so heavily done in the first installment. So there is a right amount of fighting. There is no blood, though, if that matters to those parents out there. This character development complaint is dumb. I mean if you don’t like the film just say it. Don’t find something that is supposedly logical enough to complain about and make that a core reason you don’t like it. It’s so flimsy and poor moviegoer thinking.
There is one scene that parents may not want their kids to see, but it’s nothing a bit of hand over eye wouldn’t fix. When you go to fight the enemy and it doesn’t necessarily work out the way you’d want and you have to leave, sometimes not everyone is fast enough and that scene is heartbreaking and sad when one sees Peter’s face. It happens to be one of my favorite parts of the film, showing what has to be sacrificed and the burden of being a leader.
I believe Prince Caspian is a well balanced film for a second installment of an ongoing book to film franchise. If you liked the first one then you will no doubt like the second one. I sort of like the second one more than the first, in some ways. I think it is a maturing aspect to it like that of the Harry Potter films. It is a film that has everything I enjoy. The reason it’s not ranked higher in grade is because it’s not something I really like, as in I won’t buy it. But I give credit where credit is due and Prince Caspian is a dark and witty fantastical fantasy that entertained just like movies should; just like Prince Caspian did and will do as it most likely will settle into a classic coolness of cinematic historical value.
“Happens In Vegas” Just Married II
Genres: Comedy
Running Time: 1 hr. 38 min.
Release Date: May 9th, 2008 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sexual and crude content, and language, including a drug reference.
Distributors: 20th Century Fox Distribution
Directed by: Tom Vaughan
JJ Rating: C+
Random two people meet up in Vegas and have a great night and then morning came. They didn’t have such a great morning and with a disagreement, a quarter and a check the movie has them off into the marriage weirdness that is quirky and odd in a meh kind of way. Happens in Vegas.
It is very much like I was watching a Just Married II, with the addition (un-uniquely) of a million dollars, than a movie that was called Happens in Vegas. Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz are hot apart as well as hot together and they work. Their chemistry rocks and their anger rocks and them being together in a film just rocks. The story stinks, though. There were funny moments when they were getting each other back because they had to live together for six months to make their marriage work.
I have a problem with movies like this because they seemingly always have friends that are just rotten. I have had rotten friends before and it’s just not worth having. It would be nice if a movie can come along that will actually have friends that are that; friends. This need to be so vile and devil like to ‘win’ the day is just lame.
I saw this movie last weekend but it was so much like Just Married I was not at all motivated to write a review. I’m still unmotivated as you have read through this, but I try. I won’t buy it. It was alright but, as I stated, the story stunk because they just rehashed an idea that wasn’t even that old. I can’t bare to think of what crap we are up for if this is something that wins the box office for the movies that open. And according to what I saw it still raked in more money. People have short term memory loss or something.
Just Married II ….Happens in Vegas, I mean, is a movie I don’t really want to see again. I don’t want to own it. I would recommend it if you have nothing better to do and you want to snicker and you have money for gas and the ticket. Otherwise just watch Just Married and you’ll see a better movie instead. I mean you can rent it from that red box or Netflix or On Demand and it would be far cheaper.
Bill O'Reilly's Producer
You may have already seen the video clip we showed Tuesday of Bill O'Reilly losing his cool when he was required to improvise without the aid of a teleprompter. Even though its from several years back, thanks to the power of the internet, it surfaced and became viral very quickly. And let's face it: with a guy like O'Reilly, everyone enjoys seeing a good on-camera meltdown.
But now, here's the un-sung hero of that clip: The producer's side of the story that always seems to get left on the cutting room floor. Yet thanks again to the internet this clip has also gone viral and is being circulated around like a plague.
Extra points are awarded to the guys at Barely Political for using "troglydite homunculus" in a sentence.
Sunday Morning Blasphemy: Sympathy for the Devil
Thanks to Uncle Scoopy over at OtherCrap.com for this video compilation of some memorable moments of the devil in modern cinema.
Originally submitted by ClaraDarko on YouTube, the clip includes the following devils:
Robert DeNiro in Angel Heart
Al Pacino in The Devil's Advocate
Peter Stormare in Constantine
Viggo Mortensen in The Prophecy
Gabriel Byrne in End of Days
and Jack Nicholson in The Witches of Eastwick
Although there are a couple of notable omissions (like Rosalinda Celentano in The Passion of the Christ) its not a bad little compilation.
Saturday, May 17
New Doc on Steroids: "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*"
From the producers of "Farenheit 911" and "Bowling for Columbine" comes this award-winning film by director Chris Bell.
From the Press kit:
In America, we define ourselves in the superlative: we are the biggest, strongest, fastest country in the world. We reward speed, size and above all else: winning – at sport, at business and at war. Metaphorically we are a nation on steroids. Is it any wonder that so many of our heroes are on performance enhancing drugs?
From the producers of Bowling For Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 comes a new film that unflinchingly explores our win-at-all-cost culture through the lens of a personal journey. Blending comedy and pathos, BIGGER, STRONGER, FASTER* is a collision of pop culture and first-person narrative, with a diverse cast including US Congressmen, professional athletes, medical experts and everyday gym rats.
At its heart, this is the story of director Christopher Bell and his two brothers, who grew up idolizing muscular giants like Hulk Hogan, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and who went on to become members of the steroid-subculture in an effort to realize their American dream. When you discover that your heroes have all broken the rules, do you follow the rules, or do you follow your heroes?
This film will open officially May 30th, but only in select cities. Magnolia Pictures has the list of play dates for different locations.
Here's the trailer:
