Hey guys. As you can see I’ve renamed the “Around The Web” feature to “Quick Thoughts”, since that’s really what these daily posts are going to be… my quick thoughts on the various movie news items floating around the web that I didn’t think needed their own posts.
 | INDIANA JONES 4 ON TOP OF INTERNATIONAL BOX OFFICE AGAIN – After falling out of the top spot for a couple of weeks the man in the hat is back on top after opening in Japan. The film has now made over $650 million world wide. Can you even imagine how much it would have made by now if the movie was… you know… good? |
 | GET SMART DESTROYS LOVE GURU AT BOX OFFICE – Well most of us predicted that Get Smart would out perform The Love Guru… after all the trailers for Mike Myers new film looked beyond horrible to say the least, but I don’t think many people thought it would more than DOUBLE what Guru would make, or that Guru would make under $15 million opening weekend. OUCH! So where does Mike Myers go from here? |
 | SPIDER-MAN 4 IN 2011 – Sony is now talking about Spider-Man 4 hitting theaters in 2011 which raises 2 questions. 1) Considering they don’t have a script, a director or a cast yet… why are they even talking about this? 2) Does anyone want a Spider-Man 4 so soon? I mean come on… after that train wreck called Spider-Man 3? |
 | FANDANGO BUYS MOVIES.COM – As if we didn’t all see this coming from a mile away. Disney sells the site which marks the end of their failed (and stupid) attempt to branch out into areas well beyond its core competencies. To be fair, they aren’t the only ones. In an attempt to develop their own online distribution models the other studios have taken total financial beatings too. |
 | JESSICA BIEL COMEDY “NAILED” SHUTS DOWN FOR FOURTH TIME – OUCH! With just 2 days of shooting to go, production of the new Jessica Biel and Jake Gyllenhaal flick has been shut down because of money issues. Seems the crew missed a pay check and the union order them not to show up to work. I don’t blame them. This is the fourth shut down due to money troubles for the movie. It’sa tough business man… it’s crazy how much money even these indie films need to get finished. I’m all for anything that has the words “Jessica Biel” and “Nailed” in the same sentence. |
 | BEAUTIFUL LOSERS WINS AT CINEVEGAS – When we attended the SXSW festival earlier this year, one of the films I was really looking forward to seeing was Beautiful Losers. Sadly I got sick the last couple of days and missed it, but Doug saw it and said it was just fantastic. It’s nice to see this little film getting some props. Can’t wait to see it for myself. |
 | UMA THURMAN JUMPING TO TV FOR NEW BRITISH SHOW – Well this is a bit surprising. Thurman has signed on for a new BBC drama they’re calling “My Zinc Bed”. I remember how surprised I was when Steve Carell, who had a ready-to-explode” film career going, signed up for the US version of “The Office”, but this shocks me even more when you consider how established Thurman is… and it’s not like she’s washed up yet. Will we see more movies stars, still in their prime, making the jump to TV soon? |
 | TEASER POSTER FOR DISNEY FILM “BOLT” – Meh, it’s a teaser poster that shows a lightning bolt. Whooppie. Oh wait… at the top it says “John Travolta” and “Miley Cyrus”. Well damn… you just KNOW it’s going to be quality then! (Please note sarcasm) |
 | BUNCH OF IMAGES FROM “EAGLE EYE” – This movie looks damn sweet to me, and I’ve got to say I’m liking Shia LaBeouf more and more every time I see him. This kid is the next Tom Hanks (I didn’t think he was a good fit for Indy 4, but that was more the character than the actor). If you don’t know what Eagle Eye is: “Shia LaBeouf reteams with “Disturbia” director D.J. Caruso playing a young slacker whose overachieving twin brother has died mysteriously. When the young man returns home, both he and a single mother find they have been framed as terrorists. Forced to become members of a cell that has plans to carry out a political assassination, they must work together to extricate themselves. |
 | DARK KNIGHT IMAX TICKETS ALREADY ON SALE – For those of you who just can’t wait to get your hands on them, the IMAX showings of The Dark Knight in 18 theaters are already on sale. There is a lot of speculation going on about how much money this film will make. The answer is an ass load… but will it make as much as Iron Man? Hmmmm… not sure about that. The non-family friendly tone may hurt it that way. But who cares… it’s still going to be amazing and make truck loads. |
 | BORING GREEN HORNET LOGO UNVEILED – This is the first movie I’ve seen coming down the pipe that has Seth Rogen attached to it that I’m dreading. This is so wrong on so many levels… Seth Rogen writing and staring in The Green Hornet? Dumb. What’s even more dumb is releasing a boring ass logo 2 years in advance. If you’ve got nothing to show us, and it’s still 2 years away… then don’t show us anything. |
 | CHRiSTIAN BALE NOT ROBIN HOOD AFTER ALL – There were several reports going around that Christian Bale was going to re-team with his 3:10 To Yuma co-star Russell Crowe for the new film Nottingham. Crowe is going to be the lead character (The Sheriff) and Bale was supposedly going to be Robin Hood. Well, that seems to have been just a rumor. Too bad. The chemistry between Bale and Crowe in Yuma was just amazing (If you haven’t seen 3:10 To Yuma yet, get your ass in gear and go rent it… it’s bloody fantastic. |
 | ROKU NETFLIX SET TOP BOX REVIEWED – It is the future we’ve been talking about for the last couple of years. A simple little box you attach to an ethernet cable and to your TV, and BOOM, you have streaming access to movies on Netflix right on your TV instantly. The only downside most reviewers are sighting right now is that selection is a little limited at the moment… but that selection will grow. I’m going to get one of these right away and try it out… I’ll let you know what I think about it once I do. |
 | HOSTEL 3 MOVING AHEAD WITHOUT ELI ROTH – To me this is good news for a couple of reasons. First of all, I think Roth has a creative mind with a lot of potential, and sticking around in the same old franchise will hurt that creativity (see George Lucas). Secondly, Hostel 2 was a giant bag of shit beyond all reason. Horrible movie, and so I’m glad Roth isn’t there for the third. Thirdly, another Hostel film (probably straight to DVD) has the potential to be a fun little (even if forgettable) horror flick, so why not? |
 | STALLONE AND SCHWARZENEGGER TOGETHER AT LAST – IN A BOLLYWOOD MOVIE – Some people are still pretty slow to accept just how huge the Bollywood film industry is. Well, people are going to notice now. According to this report, the long awaited on screen appearances of Stallone and Schwarzenegger is happening, but not in a Hollywood film… but a Bollywood film. Probably just as well… the window for the teaming of these two cinematic giants being relevant has long since closed. Apparently Arnold’s role is going to be a small one too. |
 | TRANSFORMERS 2 CHARACTER GUIDE – A guys has put together a nice little character guide for the upcoming Transformers sequel. Listen, you all know how much I loved the first Transformers. It was amazing. However, I’ve got to admit I’m quickly losing faith in this new movie. I looks like instead of building on all the good things in the first film, Bay has chosen to build on all the bad things. This movie is looking more and more stupid with each new bit of information and press release. I hope I’m wrong… but I’ve got a very bad feeling about this movie. |
So there you have it, my quick thoughts on some of today’s news items? Got any thoughts on any of these?
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I thought Sly was in Last Action Hero at the movie premier, when all the celebs were out. Oh well, forgettable movies are tough to remember.
Yeah Doug I think it was at a video store and the Cameo was a cardboard Standee. Chukle Chukle. That script was tight!
I gotta call Shanagens on Transformers 2 , being called T2,,,,,
T2, is reserved for Terminator 2. !!
Maybe I’m remembering this wrong, but didn’t Sly have a brief cameo in “Last Action Hero”?
On the topic of Thurman’s move to a British Television show…
John, maybe you SHOULD watch some of the stuff that’s on the Beeb… it’s actually a great deal different than most of the crap on TV over here.
For example, the new incarnation of Doctor Who. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to say it’s one of the best pieces of scifi ever done. I like the new BSG and all, but it doesn’t even hold a candle to Who. Several of the episodes from the new Who are actually cinema quality.
John,
Hey man… you know I love you and all, but…
I really, really think you and Doug need to relax a little with all the Transformers sequel worry and doubt. I mean, how can you already be losing faith in a film that pretty much the entire world knows next to nothing about. So far, all we really know for certain is that they(TPTB) are saying there are going to be about twice as many robots in it, there will be quite a bit more robot interaction and fighting, Soundwave is gonna’ be in it, most of the main players from the first film will be back and we’ll find up what they’ve been up to since then, and that there are going to be a few new human faces on board as well. Other than all that, there really haven’t been that many leaks on this one(other than a few spy photos from on set, which have given almost nothing crucial to the plot away). Pretty much all the rumors currently flying around are just that, rumors. All the stuff concerning who the fallen is, and whether Jetfire is really in it… Rumors!
Dude… seriously… relax a little. You’re starting to sound a little like some of the people who were bashing on the first film before ever seeing it and who ended up loving it(Cough~Cough~ The designs weren’t boxy enough~Cough~Cough). Bay did a bang up job on the first one… I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one. Besides, didn’t bay himself say that he was going to take extra precautions to make sure that any of the crucial plot points didn’t get leaked out on this one?
Before I go, I do want to say that I agree with everything that Andrew said. I also think that the first film benefited greatly from the human interactions. A two and a half hour movie that had nothing but giant alien robots threatening to beat the hell out of each other and then proceeding to make good on those threats sounds like a great video game, but not much of a movie. The human elements in the first film gave us something to relate to, a point of reference. I may be in the minority here, but I actually liked all the human characters from the first one and I’m actually curious to see what they’ve been up to in the meantime.
My opinion (since we all have them) is Indy 4 was too much of an Indiana Jones movie of the 80s and not adapted to 2008. It did NOTHING different, and while the Indiana Jones formula was refreshing and new in the 80s, in 2008 you had seen it many times in schlock like the Mummy series, National Treasure, etc.
This movie followed the EXACT formula of previous Indiana Jones:
1. Open on Paramount Logo, fade to similar shaped object
2. Elaborate capture-and-escape opening sequence
3. Introduce side character with past relationship with Indy (girlfriend, sidekick, father, son)
4. Indy solves archaeological puzzle to take group to next exotic location to find religious artifact.
5. Elaborate chase sequence involving characters jumping from one vehicle to another
6. Action sequence involving thousands of deadly critters
7. Indy and friends captured by enemy, loses valuable artifact
8. Indy watches as enemies misuse artifact, killing themselves in the process.
9. Happy bonding moment with relationship character.
Although one difference to the formula is this movie relied too much on visual effects and green screen work while previous ones were nearly all practical.
I enjoyed the movie, it was Indiana Jones through and through. But it wasn’t outstanding. Instead of coming up with a great new script that pushed today’s boundaries and saying “this would be a great Indy sequel”, Lucas and Spielberg decided “Let’s make Indy 4, now make up a script that copies the last movies”. People remember the original movies for being so different an a breath of fresh air compared to what was out in th 80s. This movie would have worked better in 1991, but in 2008 it is a retread of what we have seen replicated many times over.
No, I still think it’s good… but it also disappointed, it wasn’t good for an Indiana Jones movie… and most people seem to dislike it. That’s what i meant
John, I thought you said Indiana Jones was a good movie in your review. Now you say it’s not?
Just a couple of quick things.
Didn’t Comcast buy Fandango? So, is it Comcast buying movies.com?
Hostel 3 should be called Hostel III so that way, it could appear to be called Hostel ill. Which is exactly how I feel about a third one being made.
As far as Spiderman 4, I know that everyone expects Liizard to be the main villian if they continue that path, but any thoughts to maybe Carnage appearing since a piece of the Symbiote is still out there? But I didn’t really get all that involved in comics when I was younger, though I do wish now that I had.
Steven is somewhat right, John. There *is* a script being written for Spidey 4. “Somewhat” being that since you are right saying that there isn’t a director attatched yet. If Sam returns as director, it is more than likely him and his brother Ivan will rewrite said script and put in their own stuff. If it isn’t Sam, that’s still no guarantee that the “good script” will be the final product (it is extremely rare that it will be white pages anyway) and as for back to back films, that’s a great idea…seeing that’s what they should have done with ‘3’.
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As much as I disagree with you about Green Hornet, I will agree getting a generic piece of crap to show the masses is not only premature, it gives the fist impression of the film…being a generic piece of crap.
That goes for ‘Bolt’ too.
In fact, come to think of it, what the hell is it with the studios giving out one sheets with just a few names and/or the title of the film anyway? I’ve started to notice this over at Quicktime apple trailers and other places.
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“Nailed”
Third time, eh? It’s obviously a pic someone wants to make. Someone seems to have faith in the picture…hanging in there…but y’know what? If the budget isn’t there, it isn’t there. Improvise, cut some corners and get inventive or.., keep it closed for now, move along. With that possible actor’s strike breathing down, why risk shutdown #4 should they regroup?
The best bet is to close up shop, get the backing, come back in a few years or so, and make a decent film. Then us, the movie going audience will hear the always moving (and always true) story of how the filmmakers never gave up in all those setbacks and years of development hell.
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Hostel III
Funny. I was thinking about this the other day. Where can this stuff go-? The only thing I can think of is if, with Eli Roth or without him, someone is tortured and killed, only to be the daughter of a former KGB agent/bodyguard (or is hired to find the person who died), played by Vinnie Jones or Oleg Taktarov and starts bringing down the Hunting Club, and dispatches them in the factory with guns, knives, cleavers, bare hands brawling and other knick knacks.
Yeah, that sounds unlike the previous Hostel flicks, but really…? What else is there? The only thing left is either to be discovered/exposed or to mess with the wrong person. Hell, I’d even go that they piss off a rival mobster by accident.
I will say that I would nto mind another spiderman film. The first and second one were good enough for me to ignore what they did to the third. I am sure people will remain skeptical of the new film but as soon as it hit theaters I am sure everyone would race to see it. I dont know much about movienews but whos to blame for the third one… the director(was it a different director than the first two?), script writer? Anyway hopefully they realize that people did not like it and change it for the better.
I also would not mind seeing a love triangle in T2, or at least some kind of character conflict.
Hey Steven,
Nope, they have no script yet although apparently they’ve got it being worked on.
“franchise producer Laura Ziskin said the screenplay is not finished”
There is only one thing wrong with your post there John. They do in fact have a script for Spider-Man 4. In fact, the script was so large and “good” apparently, that they are considering filming for Spider-Man 4 & 5 off this script back to back.
Im happy Indy is making big bucks, hoppfully that would mean another (better one) is in the works. Nailed? Dont know dont care. The Dark Knight cant wait to see but IMAX screens are like the blue-ray of theaters. Guru gets beat? Now honestly you didnt see that coming miles away. Yea I have the same feeling about T2, but didnt Bay say he puposly leak out fake info?
I respectfully disagree with the commenter above me. I’m probably in the minority when I say this, but I actually thought that Transformers needed those human interactions. I don’t mind seeing more human interactions. Besides, Bay, Spielberg, Orci, and Kurtzman have already said that there would be more robot-on-robot action. (actually, that sounded kind of nasty,what I just said.) And they said that the robots would get equal screentime as the humans will.
That Roku player also can connect wirelessly to the internet if it is out of reach of an ethernet.
Quote from the Transformers-guide refering to the Isabel Lucas character:
“Alice seems to be another character who will get between Mikaela and Sam. A few set images show her getting out of Bumblebee and talking to Sam through the window.”
In a movie about big robots they are going to introduce a love-triangle? No, that’s just wrong, it’s wronger than wrong
was i ever wrong abour guru/get smart