Thursday, July 26, 2007

What's hot at Comic-Con?

I, of course, wouldn't know, since I'm stuck in a cubicle here on the East Coast rather than geeking it up in sunny San Diego. Here however, is what Variety says will rule the day at the mecca of movie-mania.

1. Indiana Jones 4
What else could possibly be No. 1.? I don't care how much Geritol it takes to get the job done, I'll still be there on day one for this one. Apparently Shia LaBeouf is playing some kind of sidekick to Han Solo, not his son, as I originally thought.
Opens: May 22, 2008

2. Star Trek 11
Is it OK to admit I simply never cared much at all for Star Trek? It cleary has virtues that escape me, since more than a few people seem to be devoted to it. "Lost" mastermind J.J. Abrams has promised big casting news at his Comic-Con appearance this afternoon, so stay tuned to this one. Shooting starts in November.

3. Watchmen
On a slightly unrelated note, "300" comes out on DVD next week, and I'll be buying a copy. On an even more unrelated note, my boss, about once a week or so, has a tendency to just yell out "Spartans!" at the most random of moments. Shooting for Zack Snyder's take on this rather famous graphic novel begins in September, and Jackie Earle Haley and many more people are already on board.

4. The Dark Knight
If this is ranked in term of buzz, how in the world is this sequel not at No. 2? In Nolan's next take, the Caped crusader (Christian Bale) is set to take on at least two big baddies, the Joker (Heath Ledger, believe it or not) and Two-Face (Aaron Eckhart, huzzah!) We all know what happens when you add a third villain, so here's hoping they stop there.

5. Beowulf
There's a new trailer for this one out, which you can watch here. This one is, of course based on the epic poem and stars Ray Winstone as Beowulf, Crispin Glover as Grendel and Angeline Jolie (wtf?) as Grendel's mum. I can't see any possible way this will be anything but cool when it opens Nov. 16.

6. Iron Man
The cast alone makes this one worth watching, but I have serious doubts that Jon Favreau is ready to take this on. Robert Downey is our hero Tony Stark, and Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard (huzzah!) also factor in somehow. If you're somehow lucky enough to be in SD for this, Favreau and Downey will be premiering some new footage Saturday.

7. The Incredible Hulk
Am I the only person in the world who really liked Ang Lee's "Hulk" movie? Apparently so, because now they've come up with a new director and, of course, a new Hulk. I liked Eric Bana just fine, but Edward Norton should just have tons of fun with this. It opens June 13, 2008.

8. I am Legend
The great, somewhat-new Jazzy Jeff record, "Return of the Magnificent," has a great running joke about Will Smith (maybe you've heard of him.) As it culminates, Jazzy, tired of constantly being asked if he's seen Mr. Smith lately, finally calls up his old pal and asks him, "does anyone ever ask you if you've seen Jazzy Jeff lately?" Mr. Smith, gamely in on the joke, says "no, but sometimes they ask me if I've seen Carlton." I spit up my coffee the first time I heard that. I know it has nothing to do with this movie, which is apparently a new adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel about a viral plague that turns the world's population into brain-dead savages. Who ya gonna call? Will Smith, of course. Opens: Dec. 14, 2008

9. The Golden Compass
Were this my list, this one would be at No. 3, just barely behind "The Dark Knight." This first installment in Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy (which will be on my reading list directly after Harry Potter) stars Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman, and from everything I've seen so far should just kick royal ass when it finally comes out this Christmas. Opens: Dec. 7, 2007

10. The Mist
Stephen King and Frank Darabont together again? I'm definitely there. This time it's based on King's novella about an eerie cloud filled with otherworldy creatures that envelops a New England town. In my mind, I'm already there. Opens: Nov. 21, 2007

R.I.P. Ulrich Muhe

I'm ashamed to say I have never seen "The Lives of Others" (which has just been added to my Netflix queue), but this is certainly sad news all the same.

German actor Ulrich Muhe, the movie's star, has died at age 54 of stomach cancer. He had been offered several movie roles after playing the Stasi officer at the center of "The Lives of Others" but had been too ill to take any of them on.

Rest in peace indeed, Mr. Muhe.

The last word on "Gilmore Girls"

It just pains me to see how bitter Amy Sherman Palladino has become about her divorce from "Gilmore Girls." She just sounds like petulant 4-year-old every time she opens her mouth, as she did recently on the TV critics press tour, where she was plugging her midseason Fox sitcom "The Return of Jezebel James" (which I will definitely be tuning in for come January or so.)

Asked about the "Gilmore Girls" finale, she said "I didn't watch it. I just got very drunk that night and sat in a corner. I couldn't watch it because it wasn't going to be my ending and had in my head forever. You know, go with God. I love all those people; I love that cast. I'm friends with Lauren (Graham)."

Fair enough, I guess, but she did have two interesting things to say about the future and what might have been. Asked about the possibility of a "Gilmore" TV movie, she said "We've talked about maybe sometime doing a little song and dance together. I'm not ruling it out."

And, even better, she revealed what would have been the final line if she had been around to write her own "Gilmore Girls" finale: "You're adopted."

Being more than a little thick, my original response when my similarly "Gilmore" obsessed co-worker Renee Martinez told me about this was "well, she can't mean Rory, can she?" Of course not. I can only assume this line would have been spoken by either Emily or Richard to Lorelei. Maybe someday we'll find out for sure.

Midnight madness: "The Simpsons Movie"

Having been a "Simpsons" devotee since way back on "The Tracey Ullman Show," there was no way I could pass up a midnight showing of "The Simpsons Movie" tonight, even though I have to be up bright and early for work Friday. Assuming I make it, I'll post something early Friday morning, but in the meantime enjoy this short clip of Homer's monologue on "The Tonight Show," which I haven't bothered to stay up for even once since Johnny left. Peace out.

16 comments:

jeremy said...

I hope Watchmen carries some of the meat from the books and not just the style. We know Snyder can do style, I guess we'll just have to wait and see if he can do substance--cuz Moore has more than a few ideas flying around in those comics.

Chalupa said...

Hot Fuzz also comes out this week. Did you see Pathfinder? Wanted to see that but missed it. I'll have to add it to my netflix queue

Reel Fanatic said...

He does indeed ... Alan Moore is such a crank, though! .. He has yet to say one good thing about any of the movies made from his graphic novels, so I hope he finally gets one so good even he can't complain about it

Sachin said...

I do wonder how the Watchmen film will turn out. It is such a great graphic novel but it would be very hard to adapt. Unless, they can find a way to preserve the mood and only show a few essential plots. I didn't enjoy V for Vendetta because I had loved the story and was annoyed at the attempt to extrapolate the story to blend in with current political situations. Felt wrong. Also, the Matrix like fight sequence felt out of place in the film.

Reel Fanatic said...

I've heard a lot of similar complaints about V, Sachin, but I appreciated how they tried to make it more contemporary without (I thought) losing the spirit of the graphic novel

Anonymous said...

You're list of things to keep an eye on for Comic-Con is pretty much identical to mine and I must say, now that I've seen that Beowulf trailer, I'm pretty psyched.

I was very upset at reading the news of Muhe's death yesterday. To think I just discovered him and now he's gone. Very sad news.

Terence Towles Canote said...

I can't argue with Variety placing Indiana Jones 4 at #1, although I think I would've put Watchmen and Dark Knight ahead of Star Trek 11 (I love the original series, but a lot of the movies have left me cold). Of course, I am willing to bet Moore will hate the Watchmen movie, no matter how good it is!

Of course, I am looking forward to The Golden Compass. The trailer looks great.

Lorraine said...

Must admit to being more than a little curious about the new Indiana Jones film. I heart that series (except for the 2nd one because everyone knows it sucked).

Seriously? "You're adopted?" See, now my first thought when I read that was "oh, how hilariously funny", thinking it would have been Lorelie to Rory at the end of one of their classic banter things. The idea that it could have been serious and be from Richard or Emily to Lorelie? Ya think?

Reel Fanatic said...

It would certainly be a trip if it were a serious comment by Richard or Emily, wouldn't it? I've been thinking about it some, and they never mentioned any details about the birth of Lorelai (which isn't proof that's what ASP intended, but it is curious) ... It certainly means she would have left longtime fans with a serious head-scratching moment!

Chris Marie Green/Crystal Green said...

Hey!
I'm at the Con this week and if anyone's interested, I'm blogging about the panels I attend every night. There's a lot I'm missing, as the lines are ridiculous and there's no way to skip around to different events in a timely manner. Basically, it'll be all about camping out in one room for most of the day.

Anyway, here's my link:
http://crystal-green.blogspot.com/

Today I went to the Paramount panel (with Indiana Jones and Iron Man and Cloverfield tidbits) and LOST, which was awesome.

Reel Fanatic said...

Thanks for letting me know, Crystal .. I'm jealous, of course, but I'll definitely stop by more than once to find out what you learned there

Anonymous said...

I'm chalking up ASP's remark to a playful joke. It can't possibly be the real "final" line.

Anonymous said...

It sounded like a joke when I first read it.
Plus...even if it was serious...of course it couldn't be Rory...
As for Lorelai being the adopted one...hmm...can't imagine...but who else is there right?

Eric said...

It seems there have been a godzillion versions of Beowulf made lately. I watched an old netflix version because...Franky I did not want to bother reading the poem.
Batman looks cool
Never liked the hulk
I am Legend...Yeah that is a movie that could be updated. A futuristic Charlton Heston and his 1975 Mustang is getting a bit dusty.
A show I would Really love to see remade. Them
Probably my favorite of the whole genre

Chris Marie Green/Crystal Green said...

Thanks, RF!!! And you, too, Eric. :) Tomorrow will be TV day at the Con for me, with HEROES, Joss Whedon, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, and hopefully a preview for THE BIONIC WOMAN. Today I only attended the HALLOWEEN remake and Stephen King's THE MIST panel....

Reel Fanatic said...

Im shamelessly addicted to anything with Joss's name on it, Crystal, so I'll definitely be checking in soon to find out all about that!