http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/escape-to-the-movies/1839-The-Twilight-Saga-Eclipse
Because I didn't have too much to do this week...
Regularly-scheduled episode also scheduled to run on Friday, as well, so nobody freak out.
Escape to the Movies: "Eclipse"
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/escape-to-the-movies/1839-The-Twilight-Saga-Eclipse
Because I didn't have too much to do this week...
Regularly-scheduled episode also scheduled to run on Friday, as well, so nobody freak out.
Alice Eve = Emma Frost
Original story: http://www.deadline.com/2010/06/alice-eve-joins-x-men-first-class/
Deadline's Mike Fleming says that Fox wants actress Alice Eve for the (not especially) sought-after role of Emma Frost, aka (but probably not in the movie) "The White Queen," for Matthew Vaughn's "X-Men: First Class," which apparently no one can confirm as being either a "reboot" or a second-prequel following the disasterous "Wolverine" movie. Either way, it's a "teen years" story for the main group, with Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy as less-old versions of Magneto and Professor X.
Exactly how the "prequel" angle would work when we've already seen Magneto and Xavier as "middle aged" men coming to collect Jean Grey as a young girl in the third movie (she's presumably the same basic age as the rest of the "first class"), unless maybe their taking the opportunity to wipe EVERYTHING from "The Last Stand" completely out-of-continuity, which would actually be fine by me. (FWIW, Frost appeared sans last name via a different actress as "diamond skin girl" in the Wolverine movie.)
If the boxoffice is any indication, you probably DON'T remember Eve as "She" in "She's Out Of My League." In any case, fans can now begin The Procedure of processing this information which, in case you're wondering, goes something like this:
PHASE 1: Awareness.
PHASE 2: Excitement.
PHASE 3: Realization that there's almost no chance she'll wear The Costume, thus negating two out of three reasons anyone gives a shit about this character being in the X-Men movies.
PHASE 4: "So is Wolverine in this one or not?"
Deadline's Mike Fleming says that Fox wants actress Alice Eve for the (not especially) sought-after role of Emma Frost, aka (but probably not in the movie) "The White Queen," for Matthew Vaughn's "X-Men: First Class," which apparently no one can confirm as being either a "reboot" or a second-prequel following the disasterous "Wolverine" movie. Either way, it's a "teen years" story for the main group, with Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy as less-old versions of Magneto and Professor X.
Exactly how the "prequel" angle would work when we've already seen Magneto and Xavier as "middle aged" men coming to collect Jean Grey as a young girl in the third movie (she's presumably the same basic age as the rest of the "first class"), unless maybe their taking the opportunity to wipe EVERYTHING from "The Last Stand" completely out-of-continuity, which would actually be fine by me. (FWIW, Frost appeared sans last name via a different actress as "diamond skin girl" in the Wolverine movie.)
If the boxoffice is any indication, you probably DON'T remember Eve as "She" in "She's Out Of My League." In any case, fans can now begin The Procedure of processing this information which, in case you're wondering, goes something like this:
PHASE 1: Awareness.
PHASE 2: Excitement.
PHASE 3: Realization that there's almost no chance she'll wear The Costume, thus negating two out of three reasons anyone gives a shit about this character being in the X-Men movies.
PHASE 4: "So is Wolverine in this one or not?"
Regarding political posts
So... evidently, quite a few folks take offense to me using the word "Teabagger" to refer to the "Tea Party." Well, y'know what I take offense to? As an American who happens to be living about 15 to 20 minutes from where the ACTUAL "Tea Party" took place? I take offense to one of the defining moments in American and indeed World history - an act of disobedience against actual tyranny by actual freedom fighters - being co-opted by a "movement" that can't even be bothered to form a coherent ideology outside of "irrationally infuriated."
So, yeah... I'll probably keep on using that particular word here and there - just like I'll keep calling liberal walking-jokes like MoveOn.org, Code Pink and Cindy Sheehan (remember her?) "nutters" and worse. Because it puts a sharp point on things, and gets a "rise" out of people. I make dismissive, bad-taste jokes about things that are comical to me... it's kind of my "thing."
BUT...
It also occurs to me that, fairly or not, the preponderance of similar-style mockery in the current political world means that my meaning may be taken more "broadly" than I intend it. So I should probably put this on the record:
I don't hate "conservatives." Or "liberals" for that matter. And I'm not an especially big "devotee" of President Obama at this particular point. In fact, I think that Obama - or at least the initial "Obama Phenomenon" - has to shoulder some of the blame for the "Tea" business: Nothing in politics comes into being without bringing an opposite-number with it, and Obama proving that you can build a functional coalition on vauge emotional appeals to "hope and change" meant that you can ALSO build one on vauge emotional appeals to "fear and anger," and hence, well... you get the idea.
Frankly, I'm fairly "situational" when it comes to ideology - which I suppose falls under "relativism" but my ego keeps telling me to call "thinking on my feet." There's a copy of Atlas Shrugged within walking distance of my desk here, and it's on the same shelf as "Dude, Where's My Country?" During my daytime commute, the car-radio is almost always tuned to an overwhelmingly-conservative local talk station, and if this were any other night but Friday I'd be typing this with MSNBC on in the background (Rachel Maddow runs the best show on Cable, hands down.) I'm happy to talk, debate, converse and be friends with conservatives, liberals, libertarians, socialists, whatever.
My disdain for the "Tea Partiers" - and thus use of "Teabaggers" - is NOT a disdain for rational Republicans, conservatives, libertarians, etc. I don't even necessarily have anything specifically against individual people who turn up at the damn rallies... at least not in theory, after all I don't know ALL of them. My GENUINE disdain lies for the self-proclaimed "public faces" and "leadership" of this thing. Mrs. Palin, Mr. Beck, the various D-list celebrity hangers-on and the "real" politicians who've signed on either out of a cynical short-term power grab or because they actually buy it (not sure which is worse.) THOSE are my "Teabaggers" and, no, under the circumstances, I don't feel particularly bad about giving them a risque nickname.
So, yeah... I'll probably keep on using that particular word here and there - just like I'll keep calling liberal walking-jokes like MoveOn.org, Code Pink and Cindy Sheehan (remember her?) "nutters" and worse. Because it puts a sharp point on things, and gets a "rise" out of people. I make dismissive, bad-taste jokes about things that are comical to me... it's kind of my "thing."
BUT...
It also occurs to me that, fairly or not, the preponderance of similar-style mockery in the current political world means that my meaning may be taken more "broadly" than I intend it. So I should probably put this on the record:
I don't hate "conservatives." Or "liberals" for that matter. And I'm not an especially big "devotee" of President Obama at this particular point. In fact, I think that Obama - or at least the initial "Obama Phenomenon" - has to shoulder some of the blame for the "Tea" business: Nothing in politics comes into being without bringing an opposite-number with it, and Obama proving that you can build a functional coalition on vauge emotional appeals to "hope and change" meant that you can ALSO build one on vauge emotional appeals to "fear and anger," and hence, well... you get the idea.
Frankly, I'm fairly "situational" when it comes to ideology - which I suppose falls under "relativism" but my ego keeps telling me to call "thinking on my feet." There's a copy of Atlas Shrugged within walking distance of my desk here, and it's on the same shelf as "Dude, Where's My Country?" During my daytime commute, the car-radio is almost always tuned to an overwhelmingly-conservative local talk station, and if this were any other night but Friday I'd be typing this with MSNBC on in the background (Rachel Maddow runs the best show on Cable, hands down.) I'm happy to talk, debate, converse and be friends with conservatives, liberals, libertarians, socialists, whatever.
My disdain for the "Tea Partiers" - and thus use of "Teabaggers" - is NOT a disdain for rational Republicans, conservatives, libertarians, etc. I don't even necessarily have anything specifically against individual people who turn up at the damn rallies... at least not in theory, after all I don't know ALL of them. My GENUINE disdain lies for the self-proclaimed "public faces" and "leadership" of this thing. Mrs. Palin, Mr. Beck, the various D-list celebrity hangers-on and the "real" politicians who've signed on either out of a cynical short-term power grab or because they actually buy it (not sure which is worse.) THOSE are my "Teabaggers" and, no, under the circumstances, I don't feel particularly bad about giving them a risque nickname.
Escape to the Movies: "Knight and Day"
Easiest prediction anyone will make this week
Do the math, i.e. the now-resigned General Stanley McChrystal: No four-star U.S. Army General is going to give the kind of interview he did to Rolling freakin' Stone and NOT expect to get shitcanned for it. If you're TRYING to lose your job in spectacular fashion, openly mocking your boss is a good way to do it.
So, then: Within the next few months (after "staying out of the spotlight) for a bit, General McChrystal will be on the Teabagger circuit as a "martyr" to Obama's "disregard for the military" or whatnot, and he'll probably be a Senatorial (Presidential?) candidate not long after that. Just you watch.
So, then: Within the next few months (after "staying out of the spotlight) for a bit, General McChrystal will be on the Teabagger circuit as a "martyr" to Obama's "disregard for the military" or whatnot, and he'll probably be a Senatorial (Presidential?) candidate not long after that. Just you watch.
Revenge of Stan Bush
Singer-songwriter Stan Bush has, for the better part of the last decade, been experiencing one of the most improbable late-career rebirths in recent rock history. A quintessential stylist of 80s "power ballad" metal, he was mostly known for composing moderately-noteworthy tracks that wound up used in B-movies like "Bloodsport" and (more recently) on "Sailor Moon."
All that changed with the overdue re-release in the U.S. of the original "Transformers" movie, reaquainting fans with the "You've Got The Touch" and "Dare" - two tracks he recorded for the movie which have gone on to become ironic cult-classics in their own right. Since then, Bush's "second win" career has primarily involved performing said songs at Transformers conventions and composing NEW songs also related to the aforementioned intergalatic robot war. At least two such songs were offered (by Bush) to the producers of the Michael Bay Transformers movies... and rejected, presumably as part of Bay etc's resistance to all things that are awesome.
In any case, Bush is evidently planning to ride this train as far as it'll take him. The video game "Transformers: Battle For Cybertron" - handily described as a giant bucket of interactive 80s Transformers fan-service - is out this week, and KOTAKU already has a video up of the game's ending credits. Playing over said credits? Yet ANOTHER new Stan Bush song about Transformers. Give it a look: http://kotaku.com/5570343/transformers-credits-are-a-joy-for-old+timers
In other news, "Transformers 3" is still on a track to suck about a year from now.
All that changed with the overdue re-release in the U.S. of the original "Transformers" movie, reaquainting fans with the "You've Got The Touch" and "Dare" - two tracks he recorded for the movie which have gone on to become ironic cult-classics in their own right. Since then, Bush's "second win" career has primarily involved performing said songs at Transformers conventions and composing NEW songs also related to the aforementioned intergalatic robot war. At least two such songs were offered (by Bush) to the producers of the Michael Bay Transformers movies... and rejected, presumably as part of Bay etc's resistance to all things that are awesome.
In any case, Bush is evidently planning to ride this train as far as it'll take him. The video game "Transformers: Battle For Cybertron" - handily described as a giant bucket of interactive 80s Transformers fan-service - is out this week, and KOTAKU already has a video up of the game's ending credits. Playing over said credits? Yet ANOTHER new Stan Bush song about Transformers. Give it a look: http://kotaku.com/5570343/transformers-credits-are-a-joy-for-old+timers
In other news, "Transformers 3" is still on a track to suck about a year from now.
green daze
(Hat-tip to Chud: http://chud.com/articles/articles/24159/1/GREEN-HORNET-LOOKS-LIKE-AN-ACTION-MOVIE/Page1.html)
Since about 1989, you could count on one thing above all else in "new" superhero movies: The first trailer would try as hard as it could to stress how similar this "new" movie was to a Batman movie: Tragedy. Angst. Darkness. Resolve. Pounding Danny Elfman score. Hero-says-his-own-name. BAM! Title. Coming Soon.
With that in mind, this (otherwise pretty rote) first trailer for Michel Gondry's "Green Hornet" movie - with Seth Rogen as the titular hero - perhaps marks the beginning of a new era: Batman? Batman WHO? "The Green Hornet" wants you to know that he's more like - and I mean A LOT more like... Iron Man.
Here's my principal "nerd" question about this franchise: The two characters being "owned" by different companies would make direct reference impossible, but will they be making any allusion to Britt Reid (aka Green Hornet) being the Lone Ranger's great-great (great?) grand-nephew? Yeah, that's actually true. Go look it up.
Since about 1989, you could count on one thing above all else in "new" superhero movies: The first trailer would try as hard as it could to stress how similar this "new" movie was to a Batman movie: Tragedy. Angst. Darkness. Resolve. Pounding Danny Elfman score. Hero-says-his-own-name. BAM! Title. Coming Soon.
With that in mind, this (otherwise pretty rote) first trailer for Michel Gondry's "Green Hornet" movie - with Seth Rogen as the titular hero - perhaps marks the beginning of a new era: Batman? Batman WHO? "The Green Hornet" wants you to know that he's more like - and I mean A LOT more like... Iron Man.
Here's my principal "nerd" question about this franchise: The two characters being "owned" by different companies would make direct reference impossible, but will they be making any allusion to Britt Reid (aka Green Hornet) being the Lone Ranger's great-great (great?) grand-nephew? Yeah, that's actually true. Go look it up.
The Phantom
I'm sitting here torturing myself via Syfy's two-movie-length modernized "reboot" of "The Phantom," which is about as terrible as one would expect. It also (so far) features possibly the worst example of hero-costume "realism" I've ever seen. They've basically got him wearing somebody's idea of a "movement friendly" bomb-disposal suit - which looks about as bad as you'd imagine.
Escape to the Movies: "Toy Story 3"
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/escape-to-the-movies/1809-Toy-Story-3
"Intermission" picks up where last week left off: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/moviebob/7707-Please-Film-These-Games
Why doesn't this work in Vegas?
Generally speaking, I'm bad with predictions. Except this time I wasn't.
See, back in April when I did "Game OverThinker" episode 34, "Waggle War," I made a mostly-kidding joke about how funny it'd be if - because the "OMG-it's-a-sidescroller!" trailer for the new Metroid had just come out - when the E3 show came around Sony and Microsoft's big motion-control unveilings got undercut by a bunch of 2D retro Nintendo games. At the time, it was the most unlikely prospect I could think of. Here's the episode, the revelant bit come in at 7:40...
http://screwattack.com/videos/Episode-34-Waggle-War
So... fast-forward to this year's E3 show, and what happened? Well, Sony and MS hacked everyone off with shows mostly devoted to their new motion controllers and pimping ESPN partnerships (Microsoft) and 3D TVs (Sony.) Nintendo's show, on the other hand? Well... 2D sidescroller revamps for Metroid, Kirby and Donkey Kong Country; plus the next Zelda going with an ultra-colorful retro art scheme and along with what look to be ports of EVERY noteworthy franchise they've got (and then some) for the talk-of-show 3DS... it's "flagship" game is the return of KID ICARUS. So, basically, E3 2010 was "won" by a game lineup from about 1998.
Why can't I ever do this when there's money on the line?
See, back in April when I did "Game OverThinker" episode 34, "Waggle War," I made a mostly-kidding joke about how funny it'd be if - because the "OMG-it's-a-sidescroller!" trailer for the new Metroid had just come out - when the E3 show came around Sony and Microsoft's big motion-control unveilings got undercut by a bunch of 2D retro Nintendo games. At the time, it was the most unlikely prospect I could think of. Here's the episode, the revelant bit come in at 7:40...
http://screwattack.com/videos/Episode-34-Waggle-War
So... fast-forward to this year's E3 show, and what happened? Well, Sony and MS hacked everyone off with shows mostly devoted to their new motion controllers and pimping ESPN partnerships (Microsoft) and 3D TVs (Sony.) Nintendo's show, on the other hand? Well... 2D sidescroller revamps for Metroid, Kirby and Donkey Kong Country; plus the next Zelda going with an ultra-colorful retro art scheme and along with what look to be ports of EVERY noteworthy franchise they've got (and then some) for the talk-of-show 3DS... it's "flagship" game is the return of KID ICARUS. So, basically, E3 2010 was "won" by a game lineup from about 1998.
Why can't I ever do this when there's money on the line?
I'll see you at SGC!
Nice to finally be able to make this "officially public." I'll be in Texas the weekend of July 4th for the ScrewAttack Gaming Convention (in my capacity as The Game OverThinker), and I hope to see some fans and well-wishers there, too ;)
More details of this will likely follow. Details on the Convention itself can be found HERE: http://sgconvention.com/
More details of this will likely follow. Details on the Convention itself can be found HERE: http://sgconvention.com/
Plastic
To help us all through monday, here's a slideshow of Megan Fox performing softcore sex-acts on a mannequin of herself for Interview Magazine. Really.
(EMBED CHANGED TO LINK BECAUSE IT MIGHT LOOK NSFW AT A DISTANCE)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiPTa1wod_0&feature=player_embedded#at=11
Now... I know "mannequin parts" are kind of a schlocky mock-surrealist photography staple, but there aren't really too many ways to interpret the "point" of this that don't add up to some sort of either ironic or dark commentary on Fox's onscreen persona and/or her "relationship" with the same, right? This is either "this woman IS a mannequin" or "this woman is used as a mannequin."
So the operative question would be... is she a REALLY good sport, or does she not "get it?"
(EMBED CHANGED TO LINK BECAUSE IT MIGHT LOOK NSFW AT A DISTANCE)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiPTa1wod_0&feature=player_embedded#at=11
Now... I know "mannequin parts" are kind of a schlocky mock-surrealist photography staple, but there aren't really too many ways to interpret the "point" of this that don't add up to some sort of either ironic or dark commentary on Fox's onscreen persona and/or her "relationship" with the same, right? This is either "this woman IS a mannequin" or "this woman is used as a mannequin."
So the operative question would be... is she a REALLY good sport, or does she not "get it?"
Escape to the Movies: "The A-Team"
...Which, for some reason, I neglected to post (here, anyway) on Friday:
"Intermission" is this week titled, "Don't Film There Games!"
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/moviebob/7681-Dont-Film-These-Games
"Intermission" is this week titled, "Don't Film There Games!"
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/moviebob/7681-Dont-Film-These-Games
The best there is at what they do
As if on cue, here's the brilliant bastards at "Penny Arcade" with a note-perfect takedown of of the "Mortal Kombat: Rebirth" phenomenon: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/6/11/
"Y is kind of a tricky letter." Heh.
"Y is kind of a tricky letter." Heh.
This is also more like it
Finally, we have some on-set footage of actors and sets for "Thor"... unfortunately, it's from "Entertainment Tonight," so the "interview" is more interested in Chris Hemsworth's appearance on "Dancing With The Stars." Though it IS mildly amusing to watch Hemsworth and Portman doing what appears to be either a really good impression of actors who hooked-up while making a movie OR a really bad impression of actors who didn't hook-up while making a movie.
In any case, we've got our first look at Anthony Hopkins as Odin and - at about 3:56 - Idris Elba as Heimdall. Hopkins looks about like you'd expect, but Heimdall.... holy SHIT! Dig that crazy Kirby-esque armor, complete with the bright red and gold finish and the HUGE horns (wings?) on the helmet. Set rumors have been saying that Thor's "Asgard" stuff is shockingly faithful to the 60s to 80s comic designs, and this seems to agree with that. Crom... does this means Loki is going to have the gold/green outfit and the big curled horns? I hope so...
Here's what REALLY intrigues me, though (Iron Man 2 SPOILER WARNING): Right near the start, we see Thor in what I guess are his "street clothes" (or maybe it's a rehersal?) beating up some uniformed guards (soldiers?) in what looks like a temporary military installation. Other "Earth" scenes seem to be set in an American desert locale. Remember Nick Fury complaining about his "trouble in the Southwest" in Iron Man 2? Is THIS what he was talking about? Are those military-looking guys S.H.I.E.L.D.? Is that part of the story here, S.H.I.E.L.D. trying to contain or "cover up" Asgardians or whatnot on Earth?
This is really happening.
In any case, we've got our first look at Anthony Hopkins as Odin and - at about 3:56 - Idris Elba as Heimdall. Hopkins looks about like you'd expect, but Heimdall.... holy SHIT! Dig that crazy Kirby-esque armor, complete with the bright red and gold finish and the HUGE horns (wings?) on the helmet. Set rumors have been saying that Thor's "Asgard" stuff is shockingly faithful to the 60s to 80s comic designs, and this seems to agree with that. Crom... does this means Loki is going to have the gold/green outfit and the big curled horns? I hope so...
Here's what REALLY intrigues me, though (Iron Man 2 SPOILER WARNING): Right near the start, we see Thor in what I guess are his "street clothes" (or maybe it's a rehersal?) beating up some uniformed guards (soldiers?) in what looks like a temporary military installation. Other "Earth" scenes seem to be set in an American desert locale. Remember Nick Fury complaining about his "trouble in the Southwest" in Iron Man 2? Is THIS what he was talking about? Are those military-looking guys S.H.I.E.L.D.? Is that part of the story here, S.H.I.E.L.D. trying to contain or "cover up" Asgardians or whatnot on Earth?
This is really happening.
Now this is more like it...
Fresh from the runup to E3 comes this week's SECOND big video on the subject of Mortal Kombat reboots, in this case a "back to formula" 3D-graphics/2D-gameplay entry very likely inspired by the success of "Street Fighter IV."
Contained therein: Magic powers, fantastical realms, transdimensional ninjas who look like transdimensional ninjas doing things you'd expect transdimensional ninjas to do and colors found in locations other than a scrap metal yard. What a novel idea...
Mortal Kombat Video Game, E3 2010: Debut Trailer Game Trailers & Videos GameTrailers.com
Yeah, THAT would all look soooo much better if they were all in jeans and hoodies...
Contained therein: Magic powers, fantastical realms, transdimensional ninjas who look like transdimensional ninjas doing things you'd expect transdimensional ninjas to do and colors found in locations other than a scrap metal yard. What a novel idea...
Mortal Kombat Video Game, E3 2010: Debut Trailer Game Trailers & Videos GameTrailers.com
Yeah, THAT would all look soooo much better if they were all in jeans and hoodies...
Mortal Kombat reboot pitch is gritty, also shitty
Yes, I've seen this. You can stop asking now, alright?
This has been all the rage this week, mostly thanks to it showing up without any indication as to what it was "selling." Now we know: It's a "professional fan-film" made by a guy trying to sell a "reboot" pitch to the rights holders. With professional-looking shorts getting easier to produce, we'll probably end up seeing a lot more of these for "genre" franchises.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_MqZn7E-mk
Honestly... I think it looks like crap. Not that the other "Kombat" movies were any great shakes, and the guy certainly has the technical chops for spot-on recreating the Saw/Hostel "house style" to saying nothing of the ability to aquire the aid of Jeri Ryan and Michael Jai White.
But the "angle" he's pitching, a "realistic" gritty revamp of the series with the various supernatural Kombatants reworked as psychos with skin conditions or body-mod fetishes? BLEGH. No, thank you.
Y'know... we're coming up on the 35th Anniversary of "Jaws" next week. Whole books have been written making the case that, even though they stand up as great films in their own right, "Jaws" and "Star Wars" ultimately had a negative impact on moviemaking by creating the blockbuster mentality. I dunno how much truth there's ever been in that thesis, but I'm starting to feel like one day I'll be feeling something similar about Christopher Nolan's "Batman" movies... loving them as films but HATING the impact they're having on genre film, i.e. making this kind of grim-and-gritty, "realistic," suck-the-weird-out-of-everything reimagining the order of the day.
To hell with "grounded," and fuck "realism." I can't wait to see the "realistic" version of Superman, where instead of Krypton he's from Canada or something, and instead of flying he's just a pretty good helicopter pilot.
This has been all the rage this week, mostly thanks to it showing up without any indication as to what it was "selling." Now we know: It's a "professional fan-film" made by a guy trying to sell a "reboot" pitch to the rights holders. With professional-looking shorts getting easier to produce, we'll probably end up seeing a lot more of these for "genre" franchises.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_MqZn7E-mk
Honestly... I think it looks like crap. Not that the other "Kombat" movies were any great shakes, and the guy certainly has the technical chops for spot-on recreating the Saw/Hostel "house style" to saying nothing of the ability to aquire the aid of Jeri Ryan and Michael Jai White.
But the "angle" he's pitching, a "realistic" gritty revamp of the series with the various supernatural Kombatants reworked as psychos with skin conditions or body-mod fetishes? BLEGH. No, thank you.
Y'know... we're coming up on the 35th Anniversary of "Jaws" next week. Whole books have been written making the case that, even though they stand up as great films in their own right, "Jaws" and "Star Wars" ultimately had a negative impact on moviemaking by creating the blockbuster mentality. I dunno how much truth there's ever been in that thesis, but I'm starting to feel like one day I'll be feeling something similar about Christopher Nolan's "Batman" movies... loving them as films but HATING the impact they're having on genre film, i.e. making this kind of grim-and-gritty, "realistic," suck-the-weird-out-of-everything reimagining the order of the day.
To hell with "grounded," and fuck "realism." I can't wait to see the "realistic" version of Superman, where instead of Krypton he's from Canada or something, and instead of flying he's just a pretty good helicopter pilot.
A Dictionary Of Political Ideologies... as-translated by Americans
CONSERVATIVE: "The Government should be as small an uninvolved in everyday life as possible. Umm... except in matters of art, expression and personal morality - particularly as it pertains to sex - THERE it should be as involved as possible. Oh, and that part of Government that's The Army? That can be as big and involved as it wants, because tanks are wicked-awesome."
LIBERAL: "The Government should be as big an involved in everyday life as possible. Umm... Except in matters of art, expression and personal morality - particularly as it pertains to sex - THERE it should have nothing to say whatsoever. Oh, and that part of Government that's The Army? That part can take a hike, because guns are mean and scary."
LIBERTARIAN: "The Government should be small, period. If that smallness means some of us 'don't make it?' Well, that's too bad, but I'm not giving up my freedom for their security."
OBJECTIVIST: "The Government should be small, period. If that smallness means some of us 'don't make it?' Heh! I shall take fetishistic joy in witnessing the fall of the inferior."
SOCIALIST: "The economic castes of human society are unjust and corrupt, and must be equalized... to the degree that "equalization" will allow me to still have a decent apartment."
COMMUNIST: "I am a Socialist (see above) and I am also desperately needy for attention. Pay attention to me! Pay attention to me!"
ANARCHIST: "I am trying to pursue a sexual relationship with a woman who calls herself an Anarchist."
LIBERAL: "The Government should be as big an involved in everyday life as possible. Umm... Except in matters of art, expression and personal morality - particularly as it pertains to sex - THERE it should have nothing to say whatsoever. Oh, and that part of Government that's The Army? That part can take a hike, because guns are mean and scary."
LIBERTARIAN: "The Government should be small, period. If that smallness means some of us 'don't make it?' Well, that's too bad, but I'm not giving up my freedom for their security."
OBJECTIVIST: "The Government should be small, period. If that smallness means some of us 'don't make it?' Heh! I shall take fetishistic joy in witnessing the fall of the inferior."
SOCIALIST: "The economic castes of human society are unjust and corrupt, and must be equalized... to the degree that "equalization" will allow me to still have a decent apartment."
COMMUNIST: "I am a Socialist (see above) and I am also desperately needy for attention. Pay attention to me! Pay attention to me!"
ANARCHIST: "I am trying to pursue a sexual relationship with a woman who calls herself an Anarchist."
Get Him To The Greek
If there's ONE reason to see "Get Him To The Greek," it's to be dumbstruck by just how strong Puff Daddy's (or whatever it is now) comedy chops are. Seriously. Granted, he's doing self-parody, but it's a very particular sort that also calls for him to play a slow-burning nutcase. However you feel about him (I've never been a fan, myself) it's a remarkable turn, considering he steals whole scenes out from under professional comedians.
The movie itself is a mixed bag. It's funny, because Jonah Hill and Russell Brand are funny, but it's too schizophrenic to hold together as anything other than a series of sketches - though it tries to "excuse" this scattershot storytelling by leaning heavily on the device of Brand's Aldous Snow being an unstable drug addict.
Snow, we're expected to recall, was the "wild card" supporting player in Jason Segel's "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" - a pop-musician who was the subject of a "fan-crush" by Jonah Hill's schlubby hotel employee. "Greek" is meant to be a reprise of this chemistry, blown up to feature status. Hill is technically playing an entirely DIFFERENT character this time, but mostly for reasons of plot - otherwise it's the same idea: He's an overeager music geek with a particular appreciation for Aldous Snow, trying to rise through the ranks of junior music executive at Diddy's label. He pitches an anniversary concert to mark the public return of Snow, who's descended into a walking joke after a disasterous concept album and a bad breakup. He (Hill) ultimately gets sadled with the responsibility of shepherding the famous-erratic singer from London to L.A.
So, "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" meets "Cheech & Chong," is the idea, and there've certainly been worse ones. Oddly, what ultimately derails it is it's connection to "Sarah Marshall." It's trying hard to work as a buddy picture, which means it has to be "affecting" at times and develop Snow as a well-rounded character - which it pulls off, and Brand has an impressive range - but since Snow was concieved as a broad satire it's undercut every time we see or hear him performing one of his songs, which are obviously spoofs. Twice we're treated to sincere scenes in which Snow is "ressurected" onstage by the joy of performing and the affection of his fans, and both times the effect is blown because he's singing jokey tunes about venereal disease and British snackfood double-entendres.
The movie itself is a mixed bag. It's funny, because Jonah Hill and Russell Brand are funny, but it's too schizophrenic to hold together as anything other than a series of sketches - though it tries to "excuse" this scattershot storytelling by leaning heavily on the device of Brand's Aldous Snow being an unstable drug addict.
Snow, we're expected to recall, was the "wild card" supporting player in Jason Segel's "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" - a pop-musician who was the subject of a "fan-crush" by Jonah Hill's schlubby hotel employee. "Greek" is meant to be a reprise of this chemistry, blown up to feature status. Hill is technically playing an entirely DIFFERENT character this time, but mostly for reasons of plot - otherwise it's the same idea: He's an overeager music geek with a particular appreciation for Aldous Snow, trying to rise through the ranks of junior music executive at Diddy's label. He pitches an anniversary concert to mark the public return of Snow, who's descended into a walking joke after a disasterous concept album and a bad breakup. He (Hill) ultimately gets sadled with the responsibility of shepherding the famous-erratic singer from London to L.A.
So, "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" meets "Cheech & Chong," is the idea, and there've certainly been worse ones. Oddly, what ultimately derails it is it's connection to "Sarah Marshall." It's trying hard to work as a buddy picture, which means it has to be "affecting" at times and develop Snow as a well-rounded character - which it pulls off, and Brand has an impressive range - but since Snow was concieved as a broad satire it's undercut every time we see or hear him performing one of his songs, which are obviously spoofs. Twice we're treated to sincere scenes in which Snow is "ressurected" onstage by the joy of performing and the affection of his fans, and both times the effect is blown because he's singing jokey tunes about venereal disease and British snackfood double-entendres.
Escape to the Movies: "Splice"
Short version: GO SEE IT.
Also, the film's director Vincenzo Natali gets interviewed in this week's "Intermisson": http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/moviebob/7636-Nice-Splice
Also, the film's director Vincenzo Natali gets interviewed in this week's "Intermisson": http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/moviebob/7636-Nice-Splice
Thor (still) look like Thor
Following AICN's debut of the "official design" for Captain America's movie-look, Collider has the same basic thing for "Thor." This is slightly less "big" of a deal, since we've already more or less seen a set pic, but this is the first full-body look: http://www.collider.com/2010/06/02/thor-chris-hemsworth-new-images-concept-art/
Can I just say how INCREDIBLY glad I am that he's NOT just wearing the damn black tank-top thing from "Ultimates?" That he has a big, flowing red CAPE? That Mjolnir looks EXACTLY like it's supposed to? Yeah, I know, capes are silly and impractical; I saw "The Incredibles," too. Know what else is impractical? Every single solitary thing any superhero has ever been depicted doing. Ever. Practicality doesn't belong anywhere nearer to the superhero subgenre than it already is.
That said, the image is way over photoshopped, especially since the earlier production still plainly showed more naturalistic fabrics and armor are in the "real" film. But my main concern is that I can immediately look at this and say "Oh, it's The Mighty Thor." It definately jibes with everything I've heard from people with real access, i.e. that the level of fidelity in this to some of the more "offbeat" elements of Marvel's Asgard is going to take people by surprise. (I've seen at least one thing that, if real, is up there with Spider-Man in terms of literal page to screen translation.) I seriously can't wait to see this guy standing next to Iron Man and Captain America. And Hulk, hopefully.
This is really happening.
Can I just say how INCREDIBLY glad I am that he's NOT just wearing the damn black tank-top thing from "Ultimates?" That he has a big, flowing red CAPE? That Mjolnir looks EXACTLY like it's supposed to? Yeah, I know, capes are silly and impractical; I saw "The Incredibles," too. Know what else is impractical? Every single solitary thing any superhero has ever been depicted doing. Ever. Practicality doesn't belong anywhere nearer to the superhero subgenre than it already is.
That said, the image is way over photoshopped, especially since the earlier production still plainly showed more naturalistic fabrics and armor are in the "real" film. But my main concern is that I can immediately look at this and say "Oh, it's The Mighty Thor." It definately jibes with everything I've heard from people with real access, i.e. that the level of fidelity in this to some of the more "offbeat" elements of Marvel's Asgard is going to take people by surprise. (I've seen at least one thing that, if real, is up there with Spider-Man in terms of literal page to screen translation.) I seriously can't wait to see this guy standing next to Iron Man and Captain America. And Hulk, hopefully.
This is really happening.
Captain America looks like Captain America
AICN has the first officially-confirmed images of Captain America's uniform - not live shots but renders of what Chris Evans will look like in the final product: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/45326
I put my two immediate favorites below.
Bob approves.
Naturally, I miss even the suggestion of the wings on the mask/helmet for iconography's sake, and I've always thought the "Ultimates" extra stars on the shoulders made it look too much like a football jersey, but those are quibbles. This is a lot better than anyone could've reasonably expected it to look.
I put my two immediate favorites below.
Bob approves.
Naturally, I miss even the suggestion of the wings on the mask/helmet for iconography's sake, and I've always thought the "Ultimates" extra stars on the shoulders made it look too much like a football jersey, but those are quibbles. This is a lot better than anyone could've reasonably expected it to look.
Captain America uniform seen
Little late on this (long weekend,) but Mike Sampson at JoBlo scooped... well, the planet, as these things go... by posting a description (no photo) of Captain America's movie costume. Read his report, plus see some pretty accurate (according to Sampson) fan art mockups, HERE: http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=32378
From Sampson's description, it sounds like they're using the "Ultimates" version of the WWII-era outfit ("present day" Ultimate Cap pretty-much looks like regular Cap) i.e. the "cap-colored" fatigues, but with the "Reborn"-style helmet/mask. Sounds manageable. Given this, I'd posit a 70-80% chance he'll wind up wearing a more "familiar" outfit in "Avengers."
What I'd like to know is if he'll also have "Ultimate Cap's" triangle-shield the whole time, or the round one. (In "Ultimates" he doesn't get the round one until unfreezing.)
From Sampson's description, it sounds like they're using the "Ultimates" version of the WWII-era outfit ("present day" Ultimate Cap pretty-much looks like regular Cap) i.e. the "cap-colored" fatigues, but with the "Reborn"-style helmet/mask. Sounds manageable. Given this, I'd posit a 70-80% chance he'll wind up wearing a more "familiar" outfit in "Avengers."
What I'd like to know is if he'll also have "Ultimate Cap's" triangle-shield the whole time, or the round one. (In "Ultimates" he doesn't get the round one until unfreezing.)
