It was only a matter of time til Hollywood got around to remaking the 1981 stop-motion classic, "Clash of the Titans." Starring a pre-Botox Harry Hamlin and fueled by maybe the last of the cheesy Ray Harryhausen-inspired creatures, this film adaption of the myth of Perseus and his quest to battle both Medusa and the Kraken monster to save the Princess Andromeda even seemed a bit dated in 1981 - remember, "Star Wars" and CGI-driven special effects were new to the game, but a step beyond the wave of the future at that point.
So now we get what appears to be a mashup of "300" and the inside of Guillermo del Toro's head. Which is not a bad thing. But to call this a remake does both movies a disservice. The original was from the vein of Saturday morning serials shown in theaters that no longer exist. While the 2010 version is made for a movie audience that demands more realism, if that's what you can call it, with every epic on the screen today.
Anyway, we only have the trailers to compare for the moment, so enjoy those titanic efforts until the expected March release date.
There's just not much you can add to this trailer for "The Expendables."
Well, maybe testicles. Because something with this much testosterone clearly has something driving the man-ness. Here's Stallone, directing, no less, returning to his monosyllabic roots for the glory of film-goers everywhere.
Plot? May be one, but who cares? There doesn't seem to be a lot of room for character development with all the rounds flying and asses being kicked. Relentlessly.
One thing's for sure, between Steven Seagal and Sly, this is shaping up to be an explosive 12 months in entertainment.
By Thomas Conner on September 21, 2009 10:28 AM
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To stoke the fires for next month's big-screen release of "This Is It" -- the feature film compilation of footage from Michael Jackson's final tour rehearsals -- Sony has slipped out a snippet of footage.
It's not quite a minute of Michael, running through the blocking for the song "Human Nature" from his hit "Thriller" album.
Check it out -- he was still in fine voice ...
"This Is It" is a rushed-together documentary of the preparations for Jackson's comeback shows, originally scheduled for July in London. Jackson died in June. The movie, culled from rehearsal footage (we posted some of that earlier), will stand as the final document of Jackson's massive musical career.
Sad news tonight that Patrick Swayze, by all accounts, one of the better people in Hollywood, has passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
For most people, he'll be remembered as the sultry teacher for Jennifer Grey in "Dirty Dancing." Or maybe as the leading man in the afterlife in the chick flick uberhit "Ghost." Or maybe from his latest and last roll in "The Beast," the gritty crime drama set in Chicago. Or as the adrenaline junkie bank robber, Bohdi, in "Point Break." Dare to dream, he might even be remembered after a long career as Dalton ("Be nice ... until it's time not to be nice) in the classic "Road House."
But for me, as a child of the '80s in rural America where God, guns and guts were all we had to keep the Commies at bay, I'll always think of his role as Jed, the leader of a scrappy band of teen freedom fighters in "Red Dawn." So here's the whole movie, in chapters, to honor Swayze.
By Thomas Conner on September 4, 2009 1:19 PM
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So on Monday, Labor Day, when you're not grilling or whatever is expected of Americans on a three-day weekend -- first, check to see if anyone's showing any Kevin Smith movies.
Then, dial up Twitter and follow Smith himself, @ThatKevinSmith, and ask him a question. Smith will be online for 24 hours on Monday, hosting his own marathon Q&A on Twitter.
Whatever you think of his movies, he's pretty funny in interviews (warning: strong language) ...
By Thomas Conner on August 11, 2009 3:27 PM
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At the end of this trailer, Johnny Depp overacts a simple line: "Nothing's permanent -- not even death!"
It's a nice bit o' irony considering he's one of a handful of A-list actors who stepped in to finish the scenes left unfilmed in this, Heath Ledger's last film, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus." And today the trailer for the spectacular fantasy (the latest such wonder emporium from Terry Gilliam) began going viral online, and here 'tis:
"A Very Potter Musical," a fan-written and produced homage/parody musical about the "boy who lived," is quickly rising the ranks of most watched clips on YouTube.com
The opening guitar strains are reminiscent of "Jesus Christ Superstar." The musical is also equal parts "Spring Awakening" and "Wicked," but is mostly from the Potter canon. In fact, just about all the books are jumbled into one parody.
Warner Bros. has decided on who gets to wear the super-powered ring in "Green Lantern," the studio's latest DC Comics movie: Ryan Reynolds.
The studio has spent the past five months searching for the actor to play Hal Jordan, the hot-shot Air Force pilot who is chosen by a dying alien to be his successor in an intergalactic police force known as the Green Lanterns.
This week, the race narrowed to Bradley Cooper, Reynolds and Justin Timberlake.
The studio ordered up two rounds of screen tests with Cooper, Reynolds and Timberlake. Other actors in the early mix included Michael Fassbender, Henry Cavill and Jared Leto.
Apparently, the producers, director Martin Campbell, and the studio each had a different favorite among the three finalists, making it difficult to come to a consensus.
The studio has scheduled the movie for a December 2010 opening.
Reynolds recently starred in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," where he played the spinoff-friendly Deadpool. He's also in theaters with Disney's romantic comedy "The Proposal," which just hit the $100 million mark.
By Thomas Conner on June 1, 2009 11:29 AM
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Well, if you've ever admitted to wanting your mouth all over James Bond star Daniel Craig, now's your chance. And here's the weird thing: He tastes like blueberry.
Or pomegranate. Or cranberry. Those are the flavors of the new Daniel Craig popsicles, available this week in Britain from Del Monte Superfruit Smoothies. Why make a popsicle in the shape of 41-year-old hunk Daniel Craig, you ask? Why the hell not, we say. But here's the marketing answer: "'Daniel Craig topped our poll of Britain's coolest celebrities and thanks to our Del Monte lolly replica he is officially immortalised as super smooth and licensed to chill," said spokesman Matt O'Connor. Sigh. You knew that pun was coming.
The frozen treats are modeled after Craig's appearance fresh out of the ocean -- hubba -- in his first film as Bond, "Casino Royale" in 2006.
The others topping the poll of male celebs that British women would most like to see on the end of a stick? Jude Law was second, Hugh Grant was third, Steve Jones fourth and Tom Jones fifth. Hmm, what flavor should they have been?
The next generation of Microsoft's Zune music player, due in the fall, will have a touch screen, Web browser and an HD Radio receiver.
The new device, called the Zune HD, will also carry a high-definition HDMI video output that will let people play files through a docking station on HD TVs at 720p resolution. And the Zune's screen - 16:9 wide-format ratio with a resolution of 480 by 272 pixels - will use organic light-emitting diodes, a technology that helps improve battery life and image quality.
The OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screen technology is also likely incorporated in the upcoming iPhone update this summer, as well as the Samsung i7500 with Google Android, according to PC Magazine, which also speculates an upgrade to similar technology from the iPod Touch.Microsoft has managed only single-digit market share for the Zune since its 2006 debut, but the company is continuing to invest in the device as an alternative to the dominant portable music player, Apple Inc.'s iPod. Microsoft says the new Zune will be the first with a receiver for HD Radio, which lets radio stations transmit extra channels alongside their regular broadcasts.
Microsoft also plans to announce a link between the Zune music service and the Xbox video game console at the Electronic Entertainment Expo next week.
Sounds like some cool features, but with Apple's iPod/iPhone line sucking up about 86 percent of the personal media device market, it's probably also too late to the game to build much buzz
And speaking of games, it remains to be seen how the Zune can compare as a gaming platform, something the Touch has been marketed for and excels at.
There also the question of operationg platform and browsing.
The iPhone and iPod Touch system, based on Apple's OS X, has become a proven commodity for the device and given rise to a cottage industry of thousands of apps. And it incorporates the built-in Safari browser. Speculation for the Zune HD is that it will support a new version of Windows CE, but the question remains on browser choice. A new version of Windows Mobile or something entirely different?
We'll find out next week.
One benefit for current Zune owners, if the folks at Zunscene.com are right, is the promise of some fairly hefty discounts - about $70 off - to upgrade to the new device.
The place is like a museum. It's very beautiful and very cold, and you're not allowed to touch anything.- Ferris Bueller describing Cameron Frye's house
If you thought the Ferrari was nice, just wait til you get a load of the house.
The North Shore mansion made famous as the home to hypochondriac Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck) in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" is for sale.
Here's the specs on this cozy little home, according to realtor.com:
The architecturally stunning, art-filled, 5,300-square-foot house went on the market last week for $2.3 million. Its most famous feature is its steel and glass "pavilion" that hangs over the ravine.
• Built: 1953
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 4 (full)
• Rooms details: 20x18 master bedroom, 42x35 family room, 40x25 living room, 20x16 kitchen, and dining room
• Size: Approximately 5300 sq. ft., one story, approximately 3/4 acre.
• That garage: 3-car, detached
• Amenities: Gas fireplace, central air, Lake Michigan water
• NO, it does not come with a smashed up 1967 Ferrari California in the Ravines.
And the house does have some historical architectural significance, but be warned, it's apparently a fixer-upper, as advertised.
THE BEN ROSE HOME-site of the famous movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", cantilevered over the ravine, these two steel and glass buildings, which can never be duplicated, have incredible vistas of the surrounding woods. This is a unique property designed by A. James Speyer and David Haid, both notable architects of the 20th Century. Estate Sale Sold "As Is" No disclosures! This is an amazing architectural treasure.
Of course, John Hughes, the director who made the a fictionalized Winnetkaesque world famous in a string of iconic '80s movies, is still banging around the North Shore and according to the report, has been made aware the digs are available. Apparently he hasn't shown any interest, but maybe Molly Ringwald and Michael Schoeffling can make a bid if they're still together.
Here's Cameron's NSFW reaction to the sale - we can only assume he still lives at home:
Maybe it's the Red Wings jersey, Cameron, but it just seems a little hard to feel sorry for you.
Of course, Cameron isn't the only character to undergo some changes since the joyride to Chicago and you can catch up with the others here.
So what happens if you lose out on the bid? Well, you'd need a Ferrari to be able to get to all the shooting locations Hughes has used in one day. Here's a helpful look at the properties still out there - though they may not be for sale.
UPDATE: TMZ caught up with Ruck at LAX, and apparently he doesn't have the coin to buy his own house. So sad. Anyway, you can see what he has to say in living color here.
Guess that's one potential buyer crossed off the list.
Sometimes a bit of personal technology comes along that changes everything. Today, friends, is one of those times.
A company called bigbadtoystore.com, which has about any comic book/sci-fi/action figure-type toy and accessory you can imagine has gone one step further, offering a transforming USB drive in the form of Ravage and a transforming mouse in the form of Dinobot Grimlock.
What, you say? Not enough USB ports on your desktop to handle all the coolness? Good thing there's a 4-port USB hub in the form of a talkingOptimus Prime head that can handle some docking duties.
Transform and roll out data!
The catch? Sadly, it looks like these life-altering bits of nerd gold won't be available til fall and will set you back starting at $50 for the memory stick.
And please, no sharing with the kiddies. This is grownup stuff, people ...
Safety Warning: This Product is for Adult Collectors. It may contain sharp points, small parts that are choking hazards, and other elements that are not suitable for children under 16 years of age.
Of course, if you're more about the new school Transformers, there's always this Bumblbee-inspired Camaro wireless mouse.
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