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Archive for the 'Hollywood' Category

Michel Gondry takes on The Green Hornet

Published by
mpowell
at January 14, 2011 in Coming Up, Directors and Hollywood. 2 Comments

Months ago, when I saw that The Green Hornet would star Seth Rogen, I sighed. And then I saw the director, and sighed even deeper. Michel Gondry is whimsical. Seth Rogen is goofy. The Green Hornet should be neither of these things.

The film opens this weekend, and initial reviews haven’t exactly been effusive in praise. Sigh. But what could have been?

The New York Times has a great article about the latest Green Hornet’s rocky ride to the silver screen. Names like Eddie Murphy and George Clooney had been interested. This was way back in 1997 and was to be Gondry’s big-time Hollywood debut. He wanted Vince Vaughn as his crimefighter, the studio wanted Mark Wahlberg and the project soon fell apart.

But it came back, this time with Stephen Chow as director and Rogen as screenwriter. Gondry took back the reins after Chow proved too unpredictable, and he put a slimmed down Rogen in the lead role. And Nicholas Cage was supposed to be the bad guy…

But the director was unable to work with Nicolas Cage, the film’s original villain. For reasons known only to him, he insisted on using a Jamaican accent. “I was quite relieved when he announced he no longer wanted the part,” Mr. Gondry said.

That’s just awesome.

If you need a Green Hornet fix, but can’t stomach the thought of coughing up $10 for a film that’s probably going to be terrible, we’re here to help. Check out Bruce Lee as a truly kick-ass Kato in the short-lived 60s TV version:

[via NYT]


iPhonesIntoCash

R.I.P. Leslie Nielsen

Published by
mpowell
at December 3, 2010 in Hollywood and News. 2 Comments

Earlier this week, Leslie Nielsen passed away from complications due to pneumonia, at the ripe old age of 86. Most well known for his wacky comedic turns, such as the Naked Gun’s Lieutenant Frank Drebin, Nielsen was also well-received for more serious roles at the beginning of his career.

We’ve taken a look through our database for the best Leslie Nielsen films… Pop one in this weekend, and let his perfect comic timing and hilarious deadpan expressions remind you why he was so popular, for so long.

#1. Airplane! (1980)
An airplane crew takes ill. Surely the only person capable of landing the plane is an ex-pilot afraid to fly. But don’t call him Shirley.

Ray – If it were possible to laugh yourself to death, then Airplane! would quickly have become the most prolific serial killer of all time. It is exceptionally funny, with some of the quickest humour and wittiest writing ever conceived. The jokes come hard and fast, each one causing so much laughter you’re likely to miss the following three. A truly timeless film, Aiplane! soars to dizzying heights of comedy.

Buy Scenes From a Marriage – Criterion Collection

#2. Forbidden Planet (1956)

A starship crew goes to investigate the silence of a planet’s colony only to find two survivors and a deadly secret that one of them has.

Buy Ali – Fear Eats the Soul – Criterion Collection

 

Leslie Nielsen stars as Police Squad’s own granite-jawed, rock-brained cop Frank Drebin, who bumbles across a mind-control scheme to assassinate Queen Elizabeth. Priscilla Presley, O.J. Simpson, a stuffed beaver, two baseball teams and an odd assortment of others join the wacko goings-on and blow the laugh-o-meter to smithereens.

Buy Annie Hall

 

#4. Creepshow (1982)

In this anthology, Nielsen stars in “Something to Tide You Over” — Richard Vickers (Leslie Nielsen), a coldblooded, wealthy husband, stages a terrible fate for his unfaithful wife, Becky (Gaylen Ross) and her lover, Harry Wentworth (Ted Danson) by burying them up to their necks on the beach, below the high tide line. He sets up closed-circuit TV cameras so the lovers can watch each other die. Richard is in for a surprise of his own when the people he murdered return as waterlogged, seaweed-covered zombies intent on getting revenge of their own.

Buy Manhattan

 

Lieutenant Drebin discovers that his ex-girlfriend’s new beau is involved in a plot to kidnap a scientist who advocates solar energy

Buy Minnie and Moskowitz

And if you’re looking for the worst… look no further than 2001: A Space Travesty


Unstoppable & The Best Films Set on Trains: POLL

Published by
mpowell
at November 11, 2010 in Hollywood. 3 Comments

I saw a commercial last night for this weekend’s biggest release, saying that Unstoppable is the “most acclaimed action film” in years, or something. Immediately, red flags went up in my mind… such a lofty claim seemed hyperbolic.

Turns out, that advance reviews are indeed good — the Criticker users who’ve been to advance screenings were mostly positive — and its 86% fresh rating at RottenTomatoes is impressive. At the very least, Unstoppable might definitely turn out to be Tony Scott‘s best action film ever. As long as this is on the soundtrack, it’ll win points from me.

It’s been awhile since we’ve done a poll … so how about this one? Which of these is the best train movie? This poll won’t expire, so feel free to check out Unstoppable first!

Best Movie Set on a Train

View Results

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- Movie Bargains

Tim Burton’s Superman

Published by
mpowell
at November 1, 2010 in Hollywood and Interesting. 3 Comments

Years ago, Tim Burton had been rumored to helm a new Superman movie starring Nicholas Cage. For myriad reasons, it never got off the ground — and perhaps we should all be breathing a sigh of relief. Pictures have recently surfaced on the Facebook profile of Steve Johnson, who was in charge of Special Effects for the nascent project. It appears Burton’s take on Superman would have been unique, to say the least.

Besides the Big S and the muscles, there is nothing recognizably Superman about this costume! Still, it would have been interesting to see what Cage and Burton had up their sleeves. All-powerful, all-perfect Superman can be a terribly bland character in uninspired hands.

[Via CinemaBlend]

Save 10% for Orders Over $129 at GadgetTown.com

Danny Trejo: The New King of Hollywood

Published by
mpowell
at September 5, 2010 in Hollywood and Video. 1 Comment

Robert Rodriguez’s Mexican revenge flick Machete hacked George Clooney’s The American to pieces at the weekend box office… a feat which I can’t believe, and totally love.

Take that, Arizona! Hah, I’m sure that conservative airwaves will be full of hand-wringing about the changing face of the country, if more of us would rather see a Mexican hit man kill people than George Clooney in a movie called The American. (And they’re off!)

If you haven’t seen the hilarious Cinco de Mayo trailer for Machete where Rodriguez pretty much declares war on Arizona’s racist anti-immigration laws, it’s worth checking out, even though it’s pretty old.

-Best Cartoons of All Time


Chris Evans’ Awesome Scott Pilgrim Posters

Published by
mpowell
at August 26, 2010 in Fun and Hollywood. 0 Comments

We were saddened to see Edgar Wright’s critically praised comic adaptation Scott Pilgrim vs. The World bomb at the box office this weekend. There are a few theories as to why.

But it reminded me of the excellent posters for the action star Lucas Lee (played hilariously by Chris Evans), which I saw at ComicsAlliance a couple weeks ago. Lucas Lee was a skater before becoming a Hollywood superstar, and is one of the evil ex-boyfriends which Scott must defeat.

Action Doctor’s tagline is classic. There are more over at ComicsAlliance, so go check them out!


Fastmul Protect Your Business, Never Worry about Y

Loving the Green Lantern Posters

Published by
mpowell
at August 3, 2010 in Comics, Coming Up and Hollywood. 0 Comments

I’m a geek for Green Lantern, and have been since I was just a little nerd. There’s home video of me running around the house at 7 years old, pointing my “power ring” at Sinestro/Mommy. So for the last few years, I’ve been in heaven as writer Geoff Johns revitalized the comic book and brought GL to the top of the sales charts, by creating a rich mythology for Hal Jordan and his supporting cast. There’s never been a better time to be a Green Lantern fan.

And now, the movie is right around the corner. The recently-wrapped Comic Con 2010 revealed all sorts of news about the upcoming adaptation, but nothing got my heart fluttering as fast as the posters.

I had been a little sour on Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, but the supporting cast inspires confidence (particularly Mark Strong), as does the video of Reynolds reciting the GL oath. Can’t wait!

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