Jon Favreau is not directing 'Avengers' and Norton is not in 'Iron'

Ladies and gentlemen, today is a sad day.  The Jon Favreau, Mr. Iron Man, god among Marvel movie directors has decided he will NOT be directing the planned Avengers film to be released after the Captain America film.  Fans have been pushing for Favreau to direct the film starring the Marvel characters, Thor, Captain America, The Hulk and Iron Man.

I say again Favreau will not be directing The Avengers. It’s a shame, yes, but someone else deserves a shot at the film.  Favreau is hogging the awesome and needs to spread it among the Marvel movie directors.  It will be good for him to be on the side and maybe have his major input with the film be on Iron Man and not tackle all of the characters.

Favreau is currently working on post-production for Iron Man 2 and will be release on May 7, 2010.  No footage for Iron Man 2 has been released to the public but some was shown at the San Diego Comic Con this summer. Favreau spoke with MTV News recently at the Couples Retreat junket in Bora, Bora and said:

“They’ll have to [find a different director], because I’m not going to be available.  It’s something I’m being the executive producer on, so I’ll definitely have input and a say.”
Favreau did give some incite on where exactly the film might go and how the director and producers will deal with the diversity of characters.  Favreau said:

“It’s going to be hard, because I was so involved in creating the world of Iron Man and Iron Man is very much a tech-based hero, and then with ‘Avengers’ you’re going to be introducing some supernatural aspects because of Thor. How you mix the two of those works very well in the comic books, but it’s going to take a lot of thoughtfulness to make that all work and not blow the reality that we’ve created.”

Favreau had talked about taking the reigns of The Avengers but any speculation can be nixed.  The question at hand now is who will take the position?  Well, bare with me here but because Disney just bought Marvel could Marvel be interested in making the cross over by first having a Disney director handle the film perhaps John Lasseter or dare I say BRAD BIRD.  It’s known that he can handle a team of superheroes flawlessly with The Incredibles and is a true visionary in terms of visual storytelling.

You know that idea rules admit it!  Or perhaps another interesting choice of direction similar to the pick of Kenneth Branagh for Thor. How about Gus Van Sant directs The Avengers, epic.
Alright in other Marvel and Favreau news, Edward Norton will not be appearing in Iron Man 2. There was rumor that he would either cameo as Bruce Banner or The Hulk but Favreau also discredited those rumors.  Thanks Jon!

Chris Pine to fill role done by 'Indy,' 'Daredevil' and Jacky Boy

The man behind the next gen…new Captain Kirk in J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot could be filling the shoes of a lesser Bourne type with not nearly the amount of cool as Bond.  That man is Chris Pine and the character is none other than Jack Ryan.  Paramount Pictures, the studio that also released Star Trek is intending to add a film to the Tom Clancy series.

The series has four movies to its name so far, The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger and The Sum of All Fears.  The role of CIA agent Jack Ryan has been portrayed by Alec Baldwin (The Hunt for Red October), Harrison Ford (Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger) and Ben Affleck (The Sum of All Fears.)  Variety broke the story of Pine possibly being involved in the next film.

As of right now the only for sure news bit surrounding the Jack Ryan feature is that Hosselin Amini recently turned in his script draft for the film.  The film will not be based on any novel written by the character originator, Tom Clancy, but rather an original screenplay involving the character Jack Ryan.

I honestly have never seen any of these films so I won’t judge based upon content but from what they’ve done in terms of box office this seems like a step backwards for Pine.  He was the golden boy who revived an iconic character perfectly and held a big blockbuster on his shoulders.  This guy doesn’t need a CIA conspiracy story to stay on the radar he needs another bigger film.  If he wants to stay on the radar I say get into a superhero flick or if he’s looking for an award go drama or indie.

As of right now Pine is set to be in two projects and possibly a Star Trek sequel. He is currently filming, Unstoppable, directed by Tony Scott and co-starring Denzel Washington.  Unstoppable is being produced by Twentieth Century Fox. It was also recently announced that Pine might star in the  film, The Art of Making Money.

Out of the few films mentioned, Washington, Pine and trains (Unstoppable) is intriguing but I think both men could do better. 

The Art of Making Money seems to be the best of the films.  It's being directed by the solid D.J. Caruso (Disturbia) and is about a counterfeiter in New York.  It echoes Catch Me If You Can but I’m not so sure that’s a bad thing, could potentially be Pine’s in for Oscar? 

Star Trek? Is there any question this should happen?  The first was great, but there are so many stories to be told still. 

Finally, the Jack Ryan film could be fun for Pine and give him some more action screen time but I think he should wait on jumping on the bandwagon that captured a superhero, a space pirate and a foul mouthed cop.

Ruben Fleischer is having the best week ever

A question you might be asking is who the heck is Ruben Fleischer?  First you could say he is the director of the critically and financially acclaimed film, Zombieland. Second you could say he is one of the most sought after directors in Hollywood.  Third, he’s way more legit than you.

Fleischer was originally a music video director looking for his shot at a big feature.  Now he has a number one film under his belt and is being listed with every comedy flick known in Hollywood.
Fleischer hasn’t officially joined any projects but a few The Hollywood Reporter has circled for the director are Daddy’s Home, Neighborhood Watch, 21 Jump Street and Psycho Funky Chimp.

Woody Harrelson had said in the past that Fleischer would be working with Will Ferrell next.  Apparently that’s not far off the mark.  Fleischer might direct the Ferrell vehicle, Daddy’s Home, in which Ferrell would be a divorced guy who reaks havoc in the life of his newly remarried ex-wife and her uptight second husband. (Possibly played by Ed Helms)

Next is the proposed recreation of the popular ’80s show, 21 Jump Street in film.  It was initially set to star Jonah Hill but doesn’t currently have a director and is being produced by Sony.  This could be a really cool project because after seeing what Fleischer has done with Zombieland it is intriguing to think about Hill in the role originally filled by Johnny Depp and I think Fleischer could bring a new spin to an old idea.

Another former Ferrell vehilce, Neighborhood Watch, is another potential project for him.  I wish I could tell you why this is the worst flipping idea ever.  I wish I could tell you.  In the film a city guy moves to the suburbs and discovers an alien conspiracy, it sounds fun it’s not.

Finally the most intriguing of his projects would have to be Psycho Funky Chimp.  This was his planned project before Zombieland.  The story follows a guy who buys the rarest of all Pez dispensers, the Psycho Funky Chimp.  The purchase attracts vultures, thieves and fanboys and makes him question whether he really is ready to grow up.

Recap: Daddy’s Home, poor move on Fleischer’s part, seems too juvenile, 21 Jump Street, heck yes bring on some high school infiltration with his style, Neighborhood Watch, please god no!  Even he cannot make this script good, Psycho Funky Chimp, I’m in for some weird fun!

Trailer Review: 'Toy Story 3' reminiscent of the good and the bad

I don’t mean to be a pessimist here, but rather a skeptic because I do not want people to get let down if this sequel is not to the same level of the previous films. 

Most entertainment news sites have had nothing but positive things to say about this film so far but I can’t help but think there might be issues present.

Don’t get me wrong this trailer is beautifully done and I’m very excited.  I saw this first when I viewed the double feature of Toy Story 1/2.  I got goose bumps seeing young Andy on screen again.  It was cool to see his home movies because he was one of us when the first film came out, a kid.  Andy grows up in the movies and finally we see Andy heading off to college deciding what to do with his old toys including his pals Woody and Buzz. 

From there it’s not apparent what happens but the toys end up in a daycare center and go through all sorts of torture.  Buzz is nearly swallowed by a young child and Potato Head and the Mrs. look like amputees when the kids are finished with them.  It’s a very funny scene and it looks fantastic on screen, there is a lot of color to it, which will be perfect in 3D.

The toys decide to break out from the daycare center.  Buzz attempts his daring escape similar to the way he first flew in Toy Story and suffers the equivalent to a concussion for a toy.  The others have to reset Buzz and accidentally reset the space ranger to a Spanish setting.  Not only does Buzz think he is Spanish and suave but he’s back to believing he’s a space ranger.

Hamm said it best, “Oh yes, return of the astronut.”

Okay I have literally no comments about the first minute and forty five seconds.  The home movies are brilliant and very sentimental which is fitting because of how these characters make people feel.  The story of Andy going to college is not too cheesy and provides a good conflict to keep the plot moving as far as I can tell.

However, once we hit that mark of 1:45, the plot seems very similar to the past Story’s.  The idea of busting out has been a subplot that has been done to death in the Toy Story franchise.  Woody and Buzz had to bust out of Sid’s house, Woody had to get out of Al’s apartment and now they’re busting out again with the slogan: No Toy Gets Left Behind. It all seems very similar.  Now you can take this as a positive and say “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” but I say that Pixar has way more originality than exploring the simple escape plot.

The other issue, which I see as recycling of the past is the Spanish Buzz subplot.  Have we not already explored Buzz enough?  There are so many other fascinating characters that haven’t been fully explored and should be.   However, Pixar takes the easy way out by going back to Buzz being a bit cuckoo like when he first arrived.  It was done in Toy Story with Woody and his constant bickering over whether or not he was a toy or a space ranger.  Then, we saw it in Toy Story 2 where he literally had to battle his old self as a wannabe space ranger. 

I would not be surprised to see a gimmick where Woody and Buzz act out that iconic scene in which Woody tells Buzz he is a toy and Buzz answer back in Spanish with, “And you are a sad, strange little man, you have my pity.”  Will I laugh?  Heck yes!  That’s funny stuff but I’ll feel cheated after all these years because Pixar couldn’t come up with a plot not involving Buzz so centrally.

What gives me faith in this movie using more than these overused ideas is the fact that there have been a lot of new characters cast in recent months that could be a huge part in the film.  However, I think it’s more than likely they’re all in the daycare scene and that’s their only part in the adventure.  Either way I promise you readers that I am very excited for this film and I’m so glad they released such an early trailer but I can’t help but be skeptical on the plot thus far.

In quick casting news Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords) will be voicing a character in the new film and Blake Clark will be taking on the Slinky Dog voice which was originally done by Jim Varney but Varney died shortly after the release of Toy Story 2.

Finally for all of those still wanting to see Toy Story1/2 one final time on the big screen.  The double feature will be in release for another 2 weeks until it is replaced by the release of The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D.

Toy Story 3 will be released on June 18, 2010 and The Nightmare Before Christmas has been re-released in 3D in select cities.

Singer may re-join the "X-Men"

Bryan Singer just might collaborate with our favorite mutants (besides my family) again. Singer has certainly not signed on for any specific X-Men feature but there are plenty for the man who created the first two films.

Those films include X-Men: First Class currently being produced by X-Men, X2 and X-Men:The Last Stand producer Lauren Schuler Donner and written by Josh Schwartz (Chuck.)

Next up for grabs would be the proposed sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The sequel is set to star Hugh Jackman in the iconic role and possibly take place in Japan. Finally is the spin-off for Ryan Reynold’s character, Deadpool and maybe even the continuation of the current X-Men franchise with X-Men 4.

Singer has not officially signed on to any of these pictures and has plenty of projects he’s currently in development on. Included on Singer’s current slate are Exacalibur, Battlestar Galactica and Jack the Giant Killer.


According to The Hollywood Reporter Singer spoke up at the Pusan International Film Festival in South Korea and said:

“I’m still looking to possibly returning to the ‘X-Men’ franchise. I’ve been talking to Fox about it. I love Hugh Jackman. I love the cast.”

From Singer’s comments alone one could assume a number of things. First off the projects he more than likely won’t take on would probably be X-Men: First Class because he would have to drop the reigns of Jack because First Class is set to shoot in the spring. Also the second I would say should be dropped is Deadpool, from his comments he intends to work with Jackman again and his part in the spin-off would probably be cameo at most. Deadpool is also a character he hasn’t been particualrly familiar with in his films but it certainly would be neat to see Singer’s spin on the “merc with a mouth.”

So that leaves the rumored X-Men 4 or Wolverine 2, I would love to see Wolverine 2 by Singer but more exciting would be to see the whole gang together again. The reason it is more than likely the sequel to Wolverine would have to be his comment about working with Hugh Jackman, because again I would think Jackman’s claws are in Wolverine’s court and any part of a full X-Men film would be cameo at best.

Finally one cannot forget that maybe Singer might change his mind again and take out the ‘Man of Steel’ for another journey. As of right now it appears Supes is out of Singer’s hands. Perhaps Warner Brother will rethink such stupidity because the problem with Superman Returns wasn’t a bad story or most certainly direction but rather he wasn’t marketed well and he doesn’t really fit into this America anymore. Either way hopefully neither Warner Bros. or Fox drop by the ball on this because I want another Singer superhero film.

Box Office Results: October 9th - 11th

Okay, I fail. I epically, horrifically fail as an entertainment reporter because this should have been done Sunday evening and is probably the single easiest story to post but here it is…late.


I am honestly not surprised by the box office results of the week but a trifle upset. Couples Retreat on the surface looks like a fun comedy with great comedy actors but I’m sorry in my world Vince Vaughn has overstayed his welcome and shame on Jason Bateman for being in a film with him.

Well, in the end it worked out for all involved because the film took in a very solid $34.2 million. Luckily something remained in the Top 3 deserving of such an honor, that film is Zombieland which I was able to watch this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Other surprises on the box office chart include Toy Story 1/2’s drop in the box office but apparently it was enough to have Disney extend the double features release.

Finally, comes the most exciting and impressive budget receipt for the weekend. Paranormal Activity the realistic limited released horror film raked in $7.9 million for the weekend. As of right now the winner for the weekend will be Where the Wild Things Are which will not be a surprise to anyone.

1.) Couples Retreat - $34.2 million
2.) Zombieland - $14.8 million
3.) Cloudy With a Chance for Meatballs - $11.5 million
4.) Toy Story/Toy Story 2 - $7.9 million
5.) Paranormal Activity - $7.7 million
6.) Surrogates - $4.2 million
7.) The Invention of Lying - $3.3 million
8.) Whip It - $2.8 million
9.) Capitalism: A Love Story - $2.6 million
10.) Fame - $2.5 million

Movie Review: "The Informant"

I have loved the movies I have seen lately and you might notice that all my latest reviews are incredibly positive. I consider myself a good judge of character in terms of movies but sometimes I am mistaken, case in point, Hancock.

However, The Informant was not one of those misses, it was everything I expected but also some I didn’t. The film itself follows the character, Mark Whitacre an Archer Daniels Midland employee who became an informant to the FBI on the companies work in price fixing with other international organizations. I really don’t want to say much more in terms of plot because if I give away even a little bit more it would be too much.

I promise you though that this story is solid to its core. The plot is always moving even when interrupted by Whitacre’s (Matt Damon) inner monolgue. There are so many emotions present in this film and in a viewers mind as they watch that it is nearly indescribable. The audience views characters as heroes, crooks, idiots and geniuses sometimes within a few scenes of each other. The plot is beautifully thought out and though it becomes difficult to follow at points, you will more than likely catch on eventually.

In terms of acting, it is some of the most top notch acting seen this fall. Damon is looking better than ever even though he had to put on a few pounds for the role. It is amazing to think that he is the same guy to bring Jason Bourne to life. This role further proves how versatile Damon is as an actor. Also featured in the film is Scott Bakulka as Brian Shephard, FBI agent. Bakulka who is most well known for his character in Quantum Leap is at his best and makes an audience question why Bakulka has not been used before in film. He portrays the intrigue, frustration and overall power an FBI agent has over people perfectly. Along for the ride with Bakulka is Joel McHale as FBI agent Robert Herndon. McHale (Community) really steps up to the plate for this big movie role and knocks it out of the park. His acting style is not utilized so much in dialogue but rather in nonverbals. McHale brings a power to each sarcastic look, dissappointed head shake and general body language used. Finally, last but not least is Melanie Lynskey as Whitacre’s wife, Ginger. She plays the committed wife to a T and is the perfect awkward ying to Damon’s yang. You sense that she would truly follow this foolish guy into the fire any day of the week just like the real Ginger Whitacre.

Also there are a few great comedy actors that take some semi-serious turns in The Informant. Those actors are as follows: Patton Oswalt, Tony Hale, Clancy Brown, Paul F. Thompkins and Andrew Daly.

Next, I have to commend the amazing production designer who made a nineties baby realize how dorky his parents looked nearly twenty years ago. I remember when the first trailer premiered that people were calling it that ’70s movie with Damon. How weird it is that the film in fact takes place within the 90s and 00s. With each ridiculous neck tie, cubicle space, plane and hotel room, Doug J. Meerdink nails every bit of the production design.

To forget the music would be a failure for me as both a film reviewer and music lover because Marvin Hamlisch is a true genius with The Informant. Each musical piece fits the setting and emotion around. Hamlisch accomplishes what many music composers cannot seem to pull off even through an entire film. Hamlisch also creates a sense of irony with the music used in the film with is sarcastic playing of “spy” music as Whitacre is simply a civillian spy in a simple business situation. It’s pitch pefect.

Okay finally the one and only Steven “Oceans” Soderbergh has created his best film in my opinion to date and I am a huge fan of the remake of Oceans Eleven. He has a great grasp on the story of Whitacre and his exploits. This really seemed like a personal project for him and his chance to get the real story of Mark Whitacre on screen. Will Whitacre appreciate Soderbergh’s film is not known but let it be known Steven, I loved The Informant and cannot wait to see your follow up film.

If you’re looking for a film similar to The Informant coming out soon, I suggest watching the trailer for the film, The Men Who Stare at Goats starring a Damon and Soderbergh friend, George Clooney.

The Informant is now playing at the Rivoli and The Men Who Stare at Goats will be released Nov. 6.

The Informant review will be up today with two other news stories, look out for them.

Toy Story 3 Official Trailer

I'm hungry for a good movie: 'Zombieland' Movie Review

I start this review by saying this, I have never used the Lord’s name in veign more so than in Zombieland. The reason was, it blew my mind! There was so much fantastic violence and quirky, dark comedy to the movie, I still can’t fully comprehend what I witnessed.


Zombieland follows an unlikely crew of misfits as they travel through the United States, which is now overrun with flesh eating, oozing monsters. The characters in the film go by the names of their cities so as to not get to close to one another in case one of them becomes a zombie. The four city named non-zombiefied civillians are Columbus, a young college kid with no human connections, no family and a list of rules to fend off zombies, Tallahassee, a zombie killing machine who has a tragic past and wants to make no connection with any of these youngsters, oh and did I mention his ultimate goal in Zombieland is to hunt down a specific classic Hostess snack, Wichita, a wise, strong and cool woman who goes for the bad boys but might make an exception, and finally Little Rock, Wichita’s sister and partner in crime who is just as smart and wily as her big sister.

I don’t know where to begin with what I liked about this film from beginning to end it was a laugh riot and most intense movie experience I’ve experienced. Dare I say it may have even rivaled Inglourious Basterds for my favorite movie as of late.

This is a visual film, and that is putting it lightly. With every zombie, the make up is brilliantly done, so realistic, the use of Columbus’ rules in surviving Zombieland are brilliantly inserted in the film. Finally the most amazing part of Zombieland is the often overused slow motion. However, there is nothing corny or cheeseball about the use of the slow motion, it fits with every scene it’s used in and adds yet another level of awe. It is one of the most disturbing, disgusting and brilliantly shot films ever.

Not only is the direction and visual of the film beautiful with it comes brilliant acting from the cast. All four of them, Jesse Eisenberg (Columbus), Woody Harrelson (Tallahassee), Emma Stone (Wichita), Abigail Breslin (Little Rock) give some of the best performances of their careers. Looking at the idea of this film, you think that all is needed is a few kids and older middle aged type to have some fun blasting some zombies. However, there is more to it than that they all have to act comedy, drama, action, heroism and romance sometimes all in the same scene.

I would have to say the best performances come from Stone and Harrelson because they are so bad a—. Eisenberg does a really great job in his role as well but there’s something too Michael Cera about him. Honestly, I think I like his style more than Cera’s but because Cera was around before him it’s hard to forget. Breslin also puts in a great performance, proving that she has certainly gotten better with age.

Finally is the cameo…Yes, you may have heard about it. You may know who it is. I won’t say but believe me folks it lives up to all of the expectations one might have. It is certainly a tad random, but the movie has that feeling to it sometime so it’s not a surprise to see this person up on screen.

Overall this movie was pleasing to the eyes, even though it made the stomach queasy. It was made for only $ 23.6 million but it looks like a $100 million picture, they really got a lot of bang for their buck on this one. The direction by Ruben Fleischer is unbelievable he truly has a grasp of the genre and can handle directing both comedy and horror perfectly. The praise really must go to the writers, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, they created a screenplay that was so entertaining and genius in explaining what many people see as a joke but made Zombieland real and the most intense thrill ride moviegoers might go on this season.

The film was released October 2 and is currently playing at the Imperial Theatres in Hastings.

http://www.dtmovies.com/showtimes.aspx?tid=153

Me, Zac Efron and Orson Welles: 'Me and Orson Welles' Trailer Review

I like Zac Efron. There I said it. Yup, I like him in it all, Hairspray, 17 Again and even High School Musical. The guy is entertaining. I have even said if given the right role Efron could be the next Johnny Depp or Tom Cruise.


Efron been involved in the planning stages of remakes such as Teen Wolf and Footloose. I'm not sold on the idea of Efron taking on remakes, I think his place is sinking his teeth into a solid original script.

Now I know that is a bold statement but I stick to it especially after seeing the new trailer for Me and Orson Welles. However, it's not strictly Efron's movie, the film so far belongs to Christian McKay as the famous director, Orson Welles.

I am really excited about the film because the conflict between Efron's character as an actor in Welles' play and Welles will be epic and in contrast of one another. The fight between a young actor and the pumpous director will be one of the main reasons I'll be along for this trip through the theatre.

The film is directed by Richard Linklater and follows a troupe of actors in 1936 as they present a stage production of Julius Caesar with Welles directing. Welles directed the stage play five years before making Citizen Kane, his most well regarded film. Efron plays a young actor cast in the play, who claims his life is completely changed in a weeklong experience with the production.

Me and Orson Welles has had issues finding distribution and has received good reviews so far but the final verdict on the story of Orson and friends will come when it premieres Nov. 25.

Who you going to call? Ivan Reitman!

According to Bloody Disgusting It is official the one and only director of the original  Ghostbusters film and the less exciting sequel, Ivan Reitman, is involved in the long-awaited sequel, Ghostbusters 3.

It is not known what Reitman’s involvement will be in the project for he has not signed on as director or producer, but he will in some way be involved.  Reitman’s past credits as a director include along with the Ghostbusters films, Stripes, Meatballs and Kindergarten Cop.  He is also a producer extraordinaire with 59 credits to his name.

As of right now most everyone from the first two films is signed on for the sequel including the four Ghostbusters themselves, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson.

According to SlashFilm Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg (The Office) have a script turned in and the script follows the ‘Busters as they “reopen” their ghost removal service and hire new younger crew members.  The old Ghostbusters will be mentors to the new poltergeist pulverizers.

The film does not have a release date set but IMDB lists it as a 2012 release.

'Juno' and Maeby writing HBO show 'Stitch N'Bitch'

Alright, well I promised the boss lady that I would branch out with my news story so here is an attempt.  Ellen Page (Juno), Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development) and Sean Tillmann (Whip It) are planning on writing and executive producing a series for HBO.  The show fittingly titled for these indie three is Stitch N’Bitch.

There is not much known about the project but sources say that it will explore the lives of some of the most demented and disturbing people known to man.

HIPSTERS

The Hollywood Reporter said that the show will feature a single camera shoot and document the lives of two hipster girls.  The two relocate from Brooklyn to Los Angeles planning to become artists.
As of right now Page and Shawkat are not currently signed on to star in the series.  However, if they were to both sign on I would be more interested in the show.  I think the two are some of the strongest young female talent out there today and really could do something with this only slightly intriguing plot.

This show is intriguing for the same reason Bored to Death is.  It features relative unknowns to the mainstream similar to Jason Schwartzmann’s (Funny People) new show, Bored to Death, also starring Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover) and Ted Danson (Becker).  I wish I had HBO…

This could be a great opportunity for the two budding actresses and actor to step forward as creative talents and prove they’ve got more than just indie acting under their hoodie sleeves.  Good luck Maeby, Juno and the other guy.

Darrell Hammond officially leaves 'SNL'

Darrel Hammond, Saturday Night Live cast member for 14 seasons has taken his final bow for the weekend sketch show and will not be reappearing.  Hammond has officially announced his retirement from SNL.

He apparently has said that he retired last year but his retirement is official today according to a post by Extra.  Hammond, 53-year-old will no longer be featured in the shows iconic opening credits but could appear in certain sketches on a “case-by-case basis.”

Hammond is most well known for his appearances as Sean Connery (“That’s not what your mother said last night!”), Donald Trump (“You’re fired”), Vice President Dick Cheney and the one and only President Bill Clinton.

Clinton had to be Hammond’s best impression all the way from the accent to that politicians thumb, as he spoke.  Hammond was one of the better impressionists of the show but never was fully appreciated unless you’ve been a fan for a long time.  He was older, but really brought a lot of class to the show and I will miss seeing his talent.

Darrel Hammond joined the show in ‘94 and is the longest running cast member.

I’m concerned his retirement is the final bow needed for Lorne Michaels, producer, to revamp the show with as much young talent as possible.  With the firing of Michaela Watkins and the hiring of younger Jenny Slate this furthers my theory.  As much as I love Samberg, Wiig, Hader and Sudeikis there was something about the classic comedians up there that made a more diverse and intriguing show.

We shall see how the show continues without Hammond and hopefully it sticks to the the same idea and that is to always remember the funny!

Venom: Why won't the black goo die?

Venom has been in development for some time after the release of the travesty that is Spider-Man 3, but news of the film getting a director and writer has surfaced.  Gary Ross (currently writing Spider-Man 4) could be writing the Venom spin-off and even directing.  Ross is an interesting fit for the franchise in terms of screenwriting with his credits including Big, Dave and Lassie. However he has had a shot at a very visually stimulating film, Pleasantville as a director.

The film was originally set to be written by Paul Wernick and Rhett Rheese, who scribed the recent film, Zombieland, and before them Jacob Estes was entrusted to write the Spidey villain’s story.
There are no casting plans as of right now.  Originally the character was played by Topher Grace (That ’70s Show.)  It can be assumed that Grace will not be recast in the spin-off so as to seperate Venom’s film from the critical flop Spider-Man 3.

To say that Spider-Man 3 was a bad movie is an understatement, to say that it was a disaster, an understatement, that movie was an attack on a child’s heart.  A child who loved to watch the Saturday morning cartoon and awaited the moment when Eddie Brock would become Venom.

I recall my experience at a late screening the night before it came out (work at a movie theatre the perks are amazing).  I indulged the corny action flicks and cheese ball dialogue.  I thought the whole time, just wait, Venom will be here soon, and he came and went.  Along with an emo Peter Parker waltzing down New York’s streets like Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. 

Honestly the character of Venom was good, not great, not everything he was in comic and cartoon lore.  I don’t blame Topher Grace, because I liked his performance but there was something that was just missing in the big black glob.

Spider-Man 4 is set for release on May 6 2011 and Venom currently does not have a release date.

Polanski: Behind bars and not so desired

Roman Polanski has been no stranger to the news lately after he was taken into custody in Zurich, Switzerland.

It is now known that Polanski will not be released by Switzerland. 30 years ago, Polanski awaited sentencing in Los Angeles after he was convicted of six felonies involving the drugging and raping of a 13-year-old girl. Polanski could no longer wait for his sentencing and fled. He was living in exile in Europe but recently was arrested because of extradition requests by the United States.

The reason for Switzerland’s holding of Polanski is that he presents a “high risk of flight.” Switzerland will hold Polanski while they await for the U.S. government to request extradition.

In reality Polanski should be happy because he’s safe in his cell for now, because if and when he gets back to the United States everything will be even more exciting than before. He will more than likely go through multiple trials and interviews before any of this situation is solved.

Polanski has tried to have the charges against him dropped but the U.S. said he must surrender. The woman involved who is now older has said on multiple accounts that she wants this all to be put behind her. She does not want her family or others close to her be affected by what this ‘70s director did years ago.

Polanski’s case also had another breakthrough as Marcia Clark, Los Angeles District Attorney lied to the director of a documentary about Polanski, “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired.” This falsity could very well hurt any chance Polanski has to be proven innocent on all counts.

The case is an interesting one much like Polanski’s life, but it’s certain to go even deeper much like Polanski’s brilliant, often disturbing films.

Tarantino might be looking 'pretty' or Western

Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds” has grossed $117,023,832 and already has some Oscar buzz surrounding the film. So what should a successful director like Tarantino be doing? I have a feeling a trip to Disney World may not be in Quentin’s future.

According to a conference call with Variety, Tarantino is planning to put on hold the second sequel to his “Kill Bill” franchise. Tarantino plans to instead shoot a ‘20s/’30s ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’ type of gangster or a Western picture.

Tarantino last week had said he wanted to film “Kill Bill 3” but now his intent has changed after holding a press conference for “Inglourious Basterds” at the Morelia Film Festival. There he decided that he would like to do a different film in between “Basterds” and “Kill Bill 3.”

Tarantino is well known for his gangster pictures like “Pulp Fiction” and “Reservoir Dogs.” However, he has never taken on a period gangster picture like the one previously mentioned. As much as I’d be interested to see what Tarantino could do with a Western, I cannot help but want to see him take on the ‘20s/’30s crime period. It was recently fictionally documented in Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies,” but there are so many more stories to be told and it is no surprise that Tarantino is interested in the Pretty Boy Floyd character, who got very little screen time in Mann’s film.

Another reason I really do not want Tarantino to take on a Western is the fact that my favorite directors of all time are handling that department. The Coen Brothers are at work on a remake of “True Grit” originally starring John Wayne as ‘Rooster Cogburn. There has not been very much news about this remake besides the rumored casting of Jeff Bridges as Cogburn.

For now all of this is simply rumor and no matter what film Tarantino chooses to do it is a long way out. In the words of “Basterds” Col. Hans. Landa, “I love rumors! Facts can be so misleading, where rumors, true or false, are often revealing.”

'Toy Story' times two equals 3D

Many reviewers through the years have talked about “Toy Story” like it was their own. “Toy Story” was a film for anyone who wanted to revert to a child like state, but our generation was currently in that state. “Toy Story” is our movie, the children of the nineties. There was not a little kid out there not quoting the movie or singing along with Randy Newman when “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” came on the radio.

“Toy Story” was our “Jaws,” our “Star Wars.”

Well, guess what all you little kiddies out there we can relive those childhood movie moments. “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” premiered last weekend at the Rivoli Theatre as a double feature in 3D.

“Toy Story” explores the ‘secret life of toys.’ A young boy named Andy owns the toys. Andy loves his toys especially Woody, a hand me down cowboy doll, until a hip new space action figure named Buzz Lightyear arrives. Woody tries to get rid of Buzz but fails and Woody is disowned by Andy’s other toys. Buzz and Woody eventually must work together to get out of a few difficult situations including escaping a toy destroying child’s home.

Luckily I was able to see the films on Friday and it had been awhile since I had such an enjoyable movie watching experience. Lately I do not sit down for a ‘PG’ or ‘PG-13’ film and would rather watch a bloody, action ‘R.’ However; “Toy Story” truly has stood the test of time. Many animated features nowadays are forgettable but “Toy Story” was so original and creative that there is no question in my mind why most critics perceive it as a classic.

The 3D visual of my favorite toys coming to life again really was something spectacular. The 3D glasses and imagery did not create a gimmick like that of an amusement park. You will not see Sid’s maniacal smile in your face, but you will see things you’ve never seen before. Pixar gives you the ability to see deeper into Andy’s Room, Sid’s House or even Pizza Planet. The “Toy Story” double feature was a total immersive experience.

I have read and perhaps you have too that the 3D in “Toy Story” was not nearly as impressive as that of its sequel. I disagree with that, the only issues with the first film are the fact that the original is just that, the original and “Toy Story” was a learning experience for Pixar. Don’t be fooled by the naysayers, each film looks beautiful up on the big screen again.

“Toy Story” looked great, “Toy Story 2” because it had gone through innovations in animation looks amazing. “Toy Story 2” is a continuation of “Toy Story” that follows Buzz and other toys as they set out to rescue Woody from a creepy collector named Al. During their escapades Woody questions if Andy will love him forever and the toys must face off with both Al and Buzz’s enemy Emperor Zurg.

The opening with Buzz Lightyear is one of the best openings of all time with its science fiction references and intense near miss action sequences and then the humorous finale. As a moviegoer you quickly realize it may have old familiar faces but this film is all it’s own.

I said I wouldn’t call out too many details but it’s impossible for me not to mention my favorite voice actor in “Toy Story 2,” Kelsey Grammer. Grammer as “The Prospector” is one of the most brilliant casting decisions ever made for a Pixar film, he pulls off the loveable old man perfectly and when the character takes a turn for the worst Grammer is at his best. “Toy Story 2” is viewed as one of the best sequels of all time and I cannot deny that because it uses all the elements that made “Toy Story” so great in the first place. With its use of humor, compelling characters and a story that switches from drama to comedy so easily you forget the characters are animated.

For anyone concerned that the story or original animation has been changed can rest easy because the full story of Buzz and Woody is intact and funnier than ever. It was interesting to watch this children’s movie again and catch onto to the adult humor. I never knew why Mr. Potato Head took his mouth off and tapped it to his bottom as a six year old; now as a nineteen year old the old business insult makes perfect sense.

It is also interesting to think that my siblings today are watching films like “Coraline” which I interpret as inappropriate for children but when thinking about the horrors in Sid’s Room it makes me retract my grievances.

In between the two films is an intermission featuring the characters of the films, trivia, clips and more. One of the most interesting and disturbing clips I saw was the test footage for “Toy Story” with Woody as a ventriloquist dummy and Buzz as a pint-sized version of himself named “Tempas from Morph.”

The most intriguing part of the double feature besides the films has to be the new trailer that is currently only being shown in theatres. The trailer is wonderful and gave me goose bumps seeing the toys back, looking better than ever and a grown up version of a familiar someone, who could it be? I guess you’ll have to find out. If that is not enough incentive to sit down and watch another stirring adventure of Andy’s toys then maybe the casting of Michael Keaton (“Cars”), Whoopi Goldberg (“Lion King”), Ned Beatty (“Rudy”) and Timothy Dalton (“License to Kill”) is.

I wish I could say more but I don’t want to spoil it for you but I have high hopes for the third “Toy Story” film and I believe Pixar will not let me down and the millions other willing to pay opening day, June 18, 2010. Until then my fellow moviegoers, to infinity and beyond!

Michael Bay is more than meets the eye, with no ‘Pain’, no ‘Gain’

Michael Bay had said before the release of “Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen” that he wanted to direct a smaller more personal “Pulp Fiction” type film. Apparently that is no longer the case, Bay is meeting with Hasbro, the company that holds "Tranformers" rights, in Rhode Island to incorporate new characters into the multi-million dollar franchise. Bay is also working on a script with Ehren Kruger, who wrote the latest installment of the series, and Steven Spielberg,.

The film is set to release on July 1, 2011. Paramount and DreamWorks will produce it like the previous two films.

The release date was mentioned in March but Bay was not sure he would be willing to direct the robots again so quickly. Seemingly he intends to leave behind “Pain and Gain.” “Pain and Gain” was to be a “kidnapping and extortion thriller about a pair of idiot bodybuilders,” according to IMDB Pro. Bay intends to follow the third “Transformers” film with “Pain and Gain” as of right now.

There is also development surrounding “I Am Number 4” and “Bad Boys 3.” “I Am Number 4” has three writers attached and follows “nine alien teens that come to Earth after their planet is destroyed by an enemy species. But soon discover that their enemy is now after them on Earth,” according to IMDB Pro.

Finally, Megan Fox will also be returning to the sequel. Fox and Bay have had their differences in the past few months, but she will be back to fight alien robots, according to Bay’s post on his official forum. Bay has not dropped the feud between the two though as he posts:

Megan Fox, welcome back. I promise no alien robots will harm you in any way during the production of this motion picture. Please consult your Physician when working under my direction because some side effects can occur, such as mild dizziness, intense nausea, suicidal tendencies, depression, minor chest hair growth, random internal hemorrhaging and inability to sleep. As some directors may be hazardous to your health, please consult your Doctor to determine if this is right for you.

Megan Fox can currently be seen in the Twentieth Century Fox film, “Jennifer’s Body,” and will next star alongside Josh Brolin in the Legendary Pictures and DC Comics produced “Jonah Hex.”

Thank you to SlashFilm.com for breaking this story.

Movies about filmmaking, keep 'em comin'

As an entertainment reporter mainly focused on film, I love every aspect of the art. From the pre-production, production, to the final product it's a fascinating process to me, but what is more fun is when the act of film or television takes on the art with a funnier and surprising side to it.



Being a younger writer I would like to take on a more contemporary look at the world of films about film making with some recent films and television shows as well as some modern classics in my mind. I would like to take a look at several films including, "Tropic Thunder," "What Just Happened," "Get Shorty," "Ed Wood," "Barton Fink," the television show "Entourage" and the classic film "Singin' in the Rain." At the end I will give you a few other examples that you might want to add to your mental library.



Let's first explore the brilliance that is "Tropic Thunder." The film is about the production of a Vietnam war epic with the help of a has-been comedian with a drug problem, an action juggernaut with a brain the size of his latest box office intake, a thespian who takes method acting to the next level (that's putting it lightly), a young hip-hop star wanting to break into films, and the young lucky kid who got his first big role in a movie. On top of that it's got caricatures of famous directors, producers, and crew members. The reason the movie is so great is the attacks done upon the film business are so crisp and brilliant that they make Ari Gold of "Entourage" blush.



Ben Stiller directs the film with great ease and makes you want to see him actually take on a big budget war flick. He has never performed better as Tugg Speedman, action star who is losing his touch ala Steven Seagal or Jean Claude Van Dam. However, the actor that owns the film is Robert Downey Jr. in the role of method actor Kirk Lazarus who takes Stanislavski's teachings to far when he puts on black face and becomes Sergeant Lincoln Osiris. His portrayal of this true artist mocks any actor who might have taken a role to far just to reach for that Oscar gold. There are many other performances that stand out in this film including Tom Cruise, Jack Black, Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte and Danny McBride. This film has no limits on what they attack, ridicule and in the end greatly honor. It is a truly hilarious film that grows to be better each time I view it and I can always pick up on something new.



The next film I'd like to take a look at is "What Just Happened" it is an obscure film that I had heard of but never saw it in theatres. I was able to check it out on Netflix and found a gem of a film, simple but interesting. It is directed by Barry Levinson and follows Robert De Niro as a movie producer named Ben. He is encountered with a crap shoot of a film that ends with the violent murder of a dog and is a starring vehicle for the real Sean Penn. It is originally destroyed in early audience screenings with "F you's!" and flipping of the bird. It is obvious to Ben that something needs to happen and fast with the film so he takes his British overly artsy director and forces him to cut his "baby" to be more family friendly and less dark. During this tale Ben runs into marriage problems with his wife (Robin Wright Penn), issues with future scripts and a crazed bearded Bruce Willis who refuses to shave the animal that lives on his face. Ironic that Phoenix would eventually revolt against the establishment in the same way. He takes it as an attack on his artistic choice and has a hissy fit bordering on childish behavior. This was not a well reviewed film, but sometimes reviewers can't look deeper into the brilliance of this story with the real life actors and situations. The brilliance is not so apparent like that of "Tropic Thunder" with action packed scenes and perfectly executed caricatures. It is this simple approach that makes the film fun and intriguing as one man struggles through marriage and counseling while a Brit director tricks the establishment and gives a big middle finger to Ben with the newly cut final scene for his film. The movie has elements recognizable in "Entourage" with the use of actual celebrities, but instead of taking it on from an actors point of view it goes for the balls of the producer.



Mobsters, movies and money. That is the focus of the next selection, "Get Shorty" which takes on the movie business with a hint of mobster and a lot of laughs. This movie like many others in this time period has a lot of twist and turns that are similar to the films they parody. The film has an all star cast le by John Travolta and Gene Hackman and follows a film enthusiast mobster who is looking to change his scene to the land of glitz and glamour. "Tropic Thunder" is to war movies as "What Just Happened" is to simple indie films and "Get Shorty" is to mobster movies. To give you a synopsis of all that goes down in this film would pretty much destroy my brain so I'll just tell you "Get Shorty" takes you on a trip that will have you confused if you blink for just a moment. It explores all elements of the film industry from pre-production with Gene Hackman's Harry Zimm, acting with Danny Devito's portrayal of famous actor Martin Weir and financial efforts with Travolta's Chili Palmer and his mob ties. This film is great because it is the filmmaking equivalent of "Pulp Fiction" which I was misled by with people playing famous celebrities of course I now know that was for the Jack Rabbit Slim's scene. The movie uses comedy as an ally too, much like the previously mentioned films. There are some great scenes in the movie within the realm of comedy as well as crime. It is a great film overall, but certainly leaves you hanging just like any good crime film would in Hollywood.

Hey everybody sorry i didnt post last night but i promise to later

Hey make sure to check out the Blog later tonight for a full editorial on movies about making movies.

The laid back world of comedy

The new laid back "dude" seems to need an arsenal of pot, beer, and nudie mags to be all he can be, but where did this change take place?

I recently saw the films, "Observe and Report" and "I Love You, Man." Quick review for you, "Observe and Report" is a violent romp of painfully unfunny scenes and made me want to see Kevin James ("Paul Blart: Mall Cop") with his "Hello Kitty" band-aids and porno 'stache.

As for "I Love You, Man," it might have been my mindset, but this was probably the greatest comedy I had seen since "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." The story of a man who needs a good guy friend, connected with me on a level many comedies have never even touched. The awkward humor of the always brilliant Paul Rudd ("Anchorman") made the film. Jason Segel ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall") was great as well and a gem of a comedy actor hidden by all the Saturday Night Live leftovers. "I Love You, Man" is a great film and makes you realize what counts in life and will make you piss your pants with laughter, well it made me.

However, my issue with these two films is within the context of the story. That is the persona of the laid back character. He is the dude who likes to chill, watch T.V., and shred on his guitar. On top of these simple entertaining material objects there are drugs and alcohol, the sex is for personal time in the LA-Z-BOY.

It has become apparent to me that the laid back guy needs drugs such as marijuana first of all, then if that's not enough cocaine, Ecstasy, or even to go as far as heroine. It seems very lazy screenwriting to just give this person a seriously personal drug issue to show that he is a "cool" guy and is able to just "go with the flow."

I never imagined I would defend the film "Observe and Report," but the character who originally uses illegal substances turns out to be the bad guy, but not before transforming a normal individual like Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen) into a drug maniac who doesn't turn away from this "laid back baddie" until he witnesses him robbing a jewelry store. It is wrong to give these views of people as laid back or "cool" individuals when they are abusing drugs and alcohol.

This is especially noted when I saw the film "I Love You, Man" where Jason Segel plays a very cool character who can figure people out with just a quick glance, but there is an instant where in his bachelor pad you catch glance of a bong and I didn't lose respect for the character so much as I lost respect for the comedy genre as of late.

I will not deny I liked "Pineapple Express" and loved "Tropic Thunder" which both have substance abuse and couldn't help, but laugh when Jack Black was tied to a tree trying to get over his addiction. However, the humor has gone to far when it is just thrown in for a quick drug joke for the heck of it. The bong added nothing to the character Segel plays and I was slightly upset that these directors and writers think we are all gonna fall for the "pot equals cool" message.

I'm not saying stop the stoner comedy, but have a reason for it. The fact is James Franco in "Pineapple Express" needed to use substances to portray the character right and if you wanted to see a substance abused has-been comedian, Jack Black played it best. A security card doesn't need to shoot up to rob a mall, and a classy "dude" doesn't need pot to party.

Semester Two: Article Three - The “Millionaire” in my mind

The “Millionaire” in my mind

Patrick White/HC Media

Thursday, February 19, 2009

I was scouring the Internet looking for an entertainment story to put my two cents into. Then, light bulb!

I remembered that the Academy Awards were premiering this Sunday. Forgetting the Oscars is a travesty to movie geeks everywhere. First of all, readers, I was a fan of “The Dark Knight,” but this is not a story where I will whine and demand a recount.

The fact is folks, Oscar killed the Batman.

Oh well.

However, this is a praise for the films and actors that were nominated and my belief that 2008 into early 2009 was one of the best years for movies.

I’m going to kick it off with the Best Supporting Actress nominees: Amy Adams, Penelope Cruz, Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson and Marisa Tomei.

This pick is going to have to be Henson for her portrayal of the adoptive mother of Brad Pitt’s “Benjamin Button.” Henson brings to the screen the classic motherly love that no one has done since Sally Field in “Forrest Gump.”

Next up, Best Supporting Actor, the nominees are: Heath Ledger, Robert Downey Jr., Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Josh Brolin and Michael Shannon.

I can’t deny my true Bat-fan roots, Ledger wins it hands- down in my book.

His chilling portrayal of the Clown Prince of Gotham blows Nicholson’s Joker out of the water like an exploding ferry. On the other hand, Downey Jr. cannot be forgotten as the hilarious Kirk Lazarus in “Tropic Thunder.”

Lazarus was a role truly offensive and always hilarious.

I’m now going to jump over to the Pixar-loving category Best Animated Feature Film.

I’ve whined about the over-hyped robot and my love for that dim-witted panda on my radio show before, but the fact is “Wall-E” has got it in the bag.

Many have compared this film to a Charlie Chaplin classic, but I can’t help think it’s more Woody Allen.

“Wall-E’s” neurotic tendencies are the robotic reincarnation of the beloved Allen and Eve’s free spirit is the machine equivalent of Diane Keaton in “Annie Hall”.

Oh, and don’t even get me started on “Bolt”, or as I call it, “Toy Story 2” with animals.

Let’s delve back into the acting categories as we take a look at the Best Actress nominees: Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Melissa Leo, Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet.

As an entertainment reporter, I fail.

I have yet to see any of these actresses in their films.

However, based on past experience, watching the Oscars and seeing their performances in other films I would choose Winslet.

For too long Oscar has shut her out.

Her performance in “Enternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” was spot on, “Titanic” was breathtaking and in the little known film “Finding Neverland,” she embodied class.

So, as someone who has not seen the films, I simply must beg and plead with Oscar and demand she gets her golden man.

I’m going to interrupt my acting build and jump into the Best Original Screenplay category. The nominees are: “Frozen River,” “Happy-Go-Lucky,” “In Bruges,” “Milk,” and “Wall-E.”

This is actually one of the tougher categories to choose from, but I’m going with “Milk”.

I loved this film.

It was the perfect script for a time on Proposition 8 and the prejudice that is still consuming the homosexual community. It would be a travesty if this film did not win and if it did, it might be a step in the right direction.

Okay, here comes the big one, the one that is causing the most conversation around the Murphy’s dinner table and could make me lose my chance of winning that iPod in the award- guessing contest.

Who will be the Best Actor winner?

Will it be Mickey Rourke, Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Frank Langella or Richard Jenkins? It is between Rourke and Penn, that is obvious.

The two have gone back and forth Rourke wins, Penn wins, Rourke, Penn and so on. My winner has to be Rourke.

As much as I love Penn’s performance in “Milk,” it’s all about that has been-wrestler.

Rourke put himself through so much pain and agony that it wasn’t even acting anymore, he truly became that character and that is what one has to do to be the best in the field, embody every moment of that person: blood, sweat and tears. What film will take the final three prizes: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture?

It will be, no questions asked, “Slumdog Millionaire.”

“Millionaire” was truly the greatest film I had seen all year and, in levels of hope and beauty, probably in five years.

It deserves all these coveted awards from its screenplay by Simon Beaufoy, to its golden director Danny Boyle all the way to the final masterpiece, that is this film.

I may have loved the inspirational tale of Harvey Milk, or the love story of Benjamin Button, but no picture made me realize why I love to write about film, like “Slumdog Millionaire” did.

So now, as I finish my list of favorites for the year in the top categories, I say to the host of India’s “Who wants to be a Millionaire.”

Yes, I’ll go with A. Slumdog Millionaire, final answer.

Semester Two: Opinion Two - There is nothing comical about them

There is nothing comical about them

Patrick White/It’s Showtime

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Zap! Boom! Bang! Those exclamations might seem commonplace to the average comic reader, but how about KaChing!

These former colorful tales of daring heroes who face dastardly villains have been turned into box office and ratings gold by movie and television studios. With nearly 200 costumed crusaders gracing our silver screens, that makes for a large chunk of change for nearly every movie studio on planet Earth, maybe even Krypton.

Zap! Boom! Bang! Those exclamations might seem commonplace to the average comic reader, but how about KaChing!

These former colorful tales of daring heroes who face dastardly villains have been turned into box office and ratings gold by movie and television studios. With nearly 200 costumed crusaders gracing our silver screens, that makes for a large chunk of change for nearly every movie studio on planet Earth, maybe even Krypton.

According to most, the first comic book to be adapted was “Batman.” It was originally turned into a 1960s television show and later a feature film starring Adam West. So, how is it we have jumped from the world of corny one-liners and ridiculous bat gadgets to the dark, brooding, caped crusader and potential Oscar nominations? The world of graphic novel adaptations is an interesting one. They give us journeys of human spiders, aliens and regular guys in bat suits.

However, this genre may have reached its peak in super stories. Studios are looking to the lesser-known graphic novels, because apparently the originals aren’t enough to clutter our theaters.

Some of those lesser-known graphic novels include “Madman,” “Black Hole” and my personal favorite, “Button Man.” These aren’t the only ones though; in fact just today I noticed that another studio had picked up the rights to some “X-Men” copycat.

On top of these barely known comic book heroes there are also the secondary heroes from companies like DC and Marvel. There are already plans to make nearly every comic book character they have created into a Hollywood movie icon. All the way from Ant Man to X-Men, the comic book characters are getting a makeover. For some of the studios that own certain comic book franchises they are now mashing the characters of hundreds of comic stories in an estimated two to three hour film.

Case in point: “Justice League” and “The Avengers.” DC Comics and Marvel plan to release movies based on these super teams, because as “Spider-Man 3” or “X-Men: The Last Stand” have told us, more characters means better story, I mean more money. Like my previous column about 3-D compared to 2-D, too many studios are substituting story for visuals. In the case of these “super friends” they may be sacrificing a story line for multiple characters and crazy battle sequences.

The fact is Hollywood, that we like our heroes lonely. If they were fighting together there is a level of teenage added to the equation. “I can’t join with you, I work alone!” Come on Batman get over yourself. Now if you were paying attention you would have noticed that I brought up the new adaptation of “Watchmen” which, you guessed it, stars multiple characters. So, why do I believe this would work and any other incarnation of team of heroes would not?

First of all I don’t know that it will work, but the source material is so strong that it already has great potential. The problem is that though it isn’t hundreds of different stories it is still a very large graphic novel. Some have suggested it should be made into a mini-series not a film, because in general films of this content don’t usually go over three hours and that isn’t near enough time to cover the complexity of this story. So, I think the film has great potential but could be another fantastic flop or super smash.

In general I enjoy these films and was particularly happy with “The Dark Knight” and its success. On the other hand, a final message to Hollywood: just because the Bat can fly does not mean the Lantern will glow, the Norse god will thunder, or even that the Ant Man will shrink to success.

Semester Two: Opinion One - If you ask me, I would say 2-D

If you ask me, I would say 2-D

Patrick White/Cool Like a Clue Piece

Thursday, February 05, 2009

The world of red and blue is making a comeback. At least that’s what some think, and no, I’m not talking about politics. Yes that’s right, 3D is about to re-warp our televisions, movie theatres and computers.

James Cameron, film director said, “Soon audiences will associate 3D with the highest level of visual content in the market and seek out that premium experience.” My question to Mr. Cameron: What happens when you substitute writing or story lines for visual content? 3D is slowly taking over the media of America one television set and movie theatre at a time. When looking to last Sunday’s Super Bowl and this Monday’s episode of Chuck, it appears 3D has already entered mainstream television. The Super Bowl contained a 3D preview of the film, Monsters vs. Aliens, and a commercial for Sobe beverages. I’ll be honest with you, I did not view this segment of the Bowl with the 3D glasses. So, it was very awkward watching a triple blue and red lined visual. Which brings me to why I think 3D television might be a little too ahead of its time. People without the glasses are given a blurry version of their favorite television show. This isn’t a huge problem for movie theatres because the glasses are given and required, but for those in their own home, it becomes a problem.

As someone who wears glasses, I’d rather wear contacts, and I hope in no near future do we have 3D contacts.

The complaint I have is that people don’t enjoy wearing glasses and people who have never worn them dislike them even more. If television were to continue on this 3D journey they would most certainly lose part of their audience. 3D television becomes a hassle for the everyday viewer in retrieving the 3D glasses and wearing them during the show. There also is that other element of color which turns the show into a blue and red mess.

The solution is to lose the red and blue and make the glasses transparent so the audience can view the show the way the creator wanted it to be viewed.

Already, with the show “Chuck”, audiences have seen 3D in action and the show’s ratings actually did bump up. However, that might have been more so because of the relentless promos and ads for the show than the 3D element.

Even though the ratings did get better, many people have been disappointed in the quality of the video itself. So, it is possible that if another show were to premiere with 3D elements, it could fall even flatter due to word of mouth.

Now, when it comes to the movie theatres, there are plans to release many new movies in 2009 from studios such as Disney, Dreamworks, New Line and Twentieth Century Fox. It seems more and more studios are looking to the power of 3D to boost their revenues and open to a larger market. I am, for the most part, fine with 3D films even though I think it’s a tad tacky and a market that usually produces films starring fish or used for amusement park rides.

My main issue with 3D films of the future include the digitalized versions of classics. Exhibit A: “Star Wars.” George Lucas’ own classic science fiction adventure is making its jump to the3D world with help from Lucas himself. Now, as a member of the universe of nerd, I know the dents Lucas has put in his own franchise. I believe that recreating the films in 3D is just the baseball bat to the windshield of the franchise.

It’s bad enough that he digitally inserted Hayden Christensen into one of the final scenes of his franchise and feels the need to remove actors voices because they were cast differently in his prequels. Now, sure, “Star Wars” is a sci-fi adventure and fits with the element of 3D film, but where is the line drawn? Will we one day be seeing Humphrey Bogart’s face smack dab in front of our noses as he says goodbye to Ilsa in “Casablanca” or Jack Nicholson in “Cuckoo’s Nest” sitting amongst audience members and asylum patients? What I say to that is, I’m sorry Hollywood, but I like my movies with only two dimensions.

Semester Two: Article One - Hastings Community Theatre does its part to “go green”

Hastings Community Theatre does its part to “go green”

Patrick White/HC Media

Thursday, February 05, 2009

A man in a white shirt is pelted with a glass of water, a girl with a passion for the pigskin rips into an unsuspecting date, as a boy in burlap wallows in his loneliness. Then come those two infamous words that no date wants to hear.

“Check Please” is a one-act play that dramatizes the last ditch relationship tactic of blind dating. Within the one act the audience is introduced to 14 people in 13 scenes.

All these characters have very different personalities including a Tim Allen enthusiast, a football fanatic, an out of place child, a mime and many more. The one act is directed by Chris Scott, Hastings College Alum and current Assistant Director of Forensics for HC.

Scott is making his directorial debut within the Hastings Community Theatre with “Check Please.” Scott has had plenty of directing experience before “Check Please.” He has directed at Kansas, Ohio and here on campus. Scott has plans to continue directing.

“I’m still a fairly young director but, it’s what I want to do, so I’m happy to be doing it for the experience it offers,” Scott said.

Scott’s show will be one of two entertainment events for the theatre’s fundraiser titled, “A Local Affair.” Scott isn’t the only familiar face behind this tour de force of comedy included in the cast is James Duin, Jillian Haller, Jessica Brock and Robert (Bob) Gilmore.

“These people aren’t there to get paid, they’re there to have fun, and love being on stage and love sharing that,” Scott said.

The passion for the stage came from different sources for these collegiate actresses.

Jillian Haller said, “My mother is the President of the Arts League and directs the community show so she always instilled a love of the arts so I did what she did, I suppose.”

“I started doing theatre in high school,” Brock said, “I loved that it gave me an opportunity to be someone outside of myself and look at life from different points of view.”

This group of actors has graced the stage along with high school students, alumni and other Hastings community members.

Though the one act should be an entertaining affair, there will also be a social hour, cash bar, in-house raffle, a performance of musical selections and all funds benefit the Hastings Community Theatre and their plans to “go green.”

“From what I understand, all of the profits from our production go to energy efficient windows; it will pick up the appearance of the theatre and will save them money to put toward other restorations,” Haller said.

This is just one step for a theatre on a new road of renovation in their hopes of “going green.”

In terms of theatres though, Hastings is just one of many that is taking on this mission. This new idea was brought forth by the Green Theatre Initiative with one of their taglines being, “Going green keeps theaters ahead of the curve.”

“If you can go green, it’s a win-win situation. Now that everybody is going green, it’s a really great time to capitalize on it,” Scott said. The fundraisers will be Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.

Those interested in “A Local Affair” can contact the theatre at (402) 463-1500, the tickets will be $20 for adults and $15 for students who have their student IDs.

Scott said, “The show is super funny, it’s about something everyone can identify with and the money you pay for your admission goes toward a great cause, and more than that going to the theatre itself, the community theatre is something that I feel is important.”