Saturday, March 31, 2007

The Treatment

Quentin Tarantino, Elvis Mitchell, and Robert Rodriguez

Elvis Mitchell talks with Quentin Tarantino (pictured above with Robert Rodriguez who directed 'Planet Terror') about his part of the double-feature 'Grindhouse', the pulp/sleaze thrill-ride he describes as a "high-octane slasher film at 200 miles per hour" -- 'Death Proof'.

Simpsons Movie

The Simpsons Movie

Nikki Finke reports on the super-secret test screening of 'The Simpsons Movie' in Portland, Oregon. If you don't have time to read the whole thing, here are my notes: First half is brilliant, second half is very good.

Top Secret Zombie Guide

Recently declassified Zombie movie from the 50s, 'Guy's Guide to Zombies'.

Guide For Frogs

Two frogs attempt to cross a road in 'The Big Guide For Little Creatures'.

Friday, March 30, 2007

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

USPS: A New Hope

R2D2 mail box

By now you've all heard that the Post Office is using R2D2 mail boxes. But, wait! That's not all! Just when you thought mailing a letter couldn't be more fun the USPS announces the arrival of the new Star Wars stamp collection. Here's the Darth Vader stamp:

Nice. I like that expression. He seems to be telling us, 'Search your feelings! You want to lick the back of me and stick me to a letter. You know it to be true'. And, I do. What a perfect way to send a birthday card to a friend, or perhaps, Christmas tidings to a distant family member. It's so warm and fuzzy...in a hard/shiny sort of way.

But, what's this? What's with that price? Forty-one cents! No freaking way. Yes, folks the ever clever USPS is using the beloved Star Wars imagery to divert our attention from the fact that the price of a stamp will now be $0.41. Okay, you think this is an outrage and I don't blame you one bit. 'I'm never using the Postal Service ever again', you say. 'I'm just gonna buy one or maybe two complete sets of Star Wars stamps on my way home from work tomorrow and that will be the last business I ever throw their way...ever', you're thinking.

Sure. That's justifiable, but wait until you see what the Postal Service is planning to spend all that extra money on. I have it on good authority that on April 1st the USPS will announce that their new space-based headquarters is open for business.

Death Star

Pictured above is the new Orbiting Postal Service Ops Center, or, as it's known to the boys down at HQ, OPSOC (this shot is from a few months ago when it was still under construction). When fully operational this space station will be able to coordinate mail delivery to the entire planet more efficiently than has ever before been imagined -- even by the most gung-ho mid-level executive.

But, wait! There's more! This orbiting high-tech behemoth is capable of monitoring the skies for killer asteroids. If a civilization-ending hunk of rock should come too close to our peace-loving planet OPSOC will utilize its main weapon (already fully-functional, it would seem), and blow the offending projectile into a million tiny bits -- thusly:

Death Star

Nice. But, wait! There's more. Not only will OPSOC be the new home for the United States Postmaster General and the new Global Defense Platform, it will be the new Main Postal Distribution Center from which will be launched the latest in mail delivery vehicles which the USPS has dubbed the 'Two-Pronged Ultra Fast Ship', or T-PUFS for short, seen here.

This ship will be able to deliver millions of First-Class letters to any destination on Earth within 3-5 business days. Don't believe such speeds are possible? Just look at this shot from an early test flight:

That is really fast. See what a price hike of 2 cents per stamp buys? Worth it, right? Sure it is. And how does all this express service begin? That's right. By simply dropping a letter in one of the above-mentioned R2 mail boxes. Couldn't be easier, right. Remember, watch for the official announcement April 1st!

Oh, and may the force be with you...and all that crap.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Tough Talking Thompson

Anne Thompson gives us the lowdown on the 'Grindhouse' raunch violent spitting burn-rubber creature-feature slugfest premiere.

Heist With Heart

Here's a nice write-up of a movie I'm looking forward to, 'The Lookout'.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Iconic Image vs. Iconic Image

Cillian Murphy in Sunshine

The crew over at SunshineDNA were kind enough to send me this image from the upcoming sci-fi thriller 'Sunshine'. The person who sent it, he/she identifies him/herself only as 'sunshinedna', feels the above image represents the scene better than this one (see my comment):

Cillian Murphy in Sunshine

sunshinedna could be right, their choice does seem to represent the scene better, however I still think my choice represents the movie better -- it has that quietude thing going. Either way it's all good.

For those of you who may not have visited the official 'Sunshine' site, it's loaded with material and well worth exploring. If you haven't seen the trailer yet, you're missing out -- this section of the official site has a bunch of trailers, interviews, and clips.

Many thanks for the excellent image. Love the movie already.

TMZ Will Cover DC


NPR reports the 600 pound gorilla of a gossip/news site TMZ (Thirty Mile Zone) is opening shop in Washington, DC.

So. What's The Difference?


Writer Billy Mernit (Imagine Me and You, due in bookstores next year [and, I'm betting Billy will be working on a screenplay adaptation soon]) explains how Chris Rock's 'I Think I Love My Wife'
is different from mainstream comedies, but similar to hard-to-explain dramedies by Rohmer, but not too similar or too different, and the (probable) reasons for the above-mentioned similarities/differences.

Also, Billy explains the difference between writing in 'Screenwriter' mode and 'Novelist' mode.

It's all good stuff.

28 Weeks Later...

28 Weeks Later
Andrew Kasch over Blog Critics Magazine was invited by Fox to view the first 28 minutes of '28 Weeks Later', the follow-up to the very satisfying sci-fi horror '28 Days Later'. Here is Andrew's rundown.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Day Watch

Day Watch
This follow-up to the blazing good 'Night Watch' is breaking records in Russia since its January release and is due in the US June 1.
English language trailer site. Russian language trailer site (17 versions). This is part II of a trilogy.

Moving Pictures Projected Onto Buildings

Rockteboom video blogI'm not sure where they get their ideas or what they're tying to accomplish but I can't take my eyes off their work.

In this episode, a girl projects moving pictures onto buildings as she rides past them on a bicycle equipped with a laptop and a video projector. Rocketboom video blog for March 13, 2007.

An Icon Is Born

Cillian Murphy in SunshineRemember HAL? The suddenly-sentient computer in Stanley Kubrick's towering opus '2001: A Space Odyssey' that (or should I say 'who') realizes that, perhaps, it's not necessary to take orders from human beings anymore. If you think of HAL what do you remember? That silky voice with its blend of apathy and superiority? Maybe. People imitate it when they want to make fun of something that's blindly foolhardy in a grand manner, or when they forget their password and can't get into their computer.

For me, it was that eye -- the red sensor through which HAL watched (maybe 'monitored' is a better term) the world. I loved how that camera lens represented HAL so well -- malicious in the most subtle way due to its red color and unblinking stare -- yet passive aggressive, suggesting that, if there is any tension, it's your fault because (look into my eye) I'm as calm as can be. It's your fault you human being.

Danny Boyle's new movie, 'Sunshine', strikes me as similar to '2001' in that it's a very visual movie and has the same quietude about it. The trailers I've seen promise a movie that's dazzling to watch but also inward-looking, philosophical, and designed to make people think and generate some discussion (I think it will).

But, I've notice something that strikes me as a bit peculiar. There's one still that seems to be representing this movie -- somewhat strange for a film with so many incredible effects-driven sequences. That image is the one of Cillian Murphy looking out of some kind of portal. It's effects-free, does not imply action, and is meditative, and thus is not a natural choice for a sexy new sci-fi thriller. His expression is hard to read -- perhaps it's fear, perhaps hope, or resignation. But, one thing is sure -- it's a quiet, thoughtful composition. Yet, this image is the one generally selected to represent 'Sunshine' on websites and blogs. (This supports the growing notion that second-tier online content [i.e. the blogger] affects what plays well and what just sits there). I can't believe this image is the one the producers and the guys in Marketing wanted to rep this movie. I mean, wouldn't they prefer the one below? Nice -- cool, shows how much money was spent. But, it doesn't have the quiet humanistic power of the one of Murphy above.

Sunshine

Why would the image of Murphy be preferred? I'm guessing it's the basic difference between the world of the sixties and society today. I'm guessing 'Sunshine' has a much more brass-tacks approach to philosophy than Kubrick's masterpiece and is designed for an audience that has to deal with problems that did not exist on the same scale or had the immediacy in the sixties as they do today. 'Sunshine' seems more real than the intellectual and somewhat sterile '2001', and I think this is exactly what today's headline-weary audience is looking for -- quiet reassurance.

'2001' is certainly a great accomplishment. The effects are astounding, especially considering when they were created. That story, though… Just a bit off-putting -- it keeps even the most enthused viewer at arm's length. If 'Space Odyssey' were released today it couldn't connect with an audience. It's just too esoteric, especially that mind-bending ending. What would the average teenager today say when asked, 'So. What was 2001 about'?

Enter 'Sunshine'. With its unpretentious title, Rock-and-Roll effects, and (it would seem) a story that's both philosophical and has popular appeal. 'Sunshine' has a shot at becoming the new reference for sci-fi movies -- both fun and entertaining, and much talked-about for years to come. Right now, the online buzz is pegging the meter. 'Sunshine' looks like it will be a hit and have people arguing the meaning of life -- quite an accomplishment in today's market -- and I'm thinking that still of Cillian Murphy will become an iconic image for a new generation. HAL

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Poland On Poland

David Poland runs Movie City News, one of the best movie news aggregate sites out there. His blog, The Hot Blog, features some very well-informed, honest, and often controversial opinion. What sets the blog apart is the reader comments, which can become very passionate and at times spins a bit out of control.

Poland spoke with Cinematical's James Rocchi. You can listen to the interview here.

Hitting The Target

Training Day
There’s a certain kind of movie I really like. It clicks along with lots of energy, turns on a dime, and has visual panache. Director Antoine Fuqua produces this kind of work. In ‘Training Day’, starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, every scene is shot with an easy confidence that is direct as well interesting and fresh. Fuqua’s camera is never quite where you expect it to be, and this yields a visual pop and drive missing in many films of the genre. The story isn’t fluff either -- each scene in 'Training Day' builds dramatic tension through Act II, and character arc rolls out well with a strong resolution in Act III.

Italian Job
The projects Mark Wahlberg chooses have solid story and clean lines. ‘The Italian Job’, starring Wahlberg and directed by F. Gary Gray, spins out with clean energy and visual snap, and has car chases that are of reference quality. The sequel, ‘The Brazilian Job’, due in 2008, is getting good buzz and will be a must-own DVD. Wahlberg has, somewhat against the odds, become a go-to action headliner, playing the everyman who (somewhat against the odds) wins out in tough situations in ways audiences can connect with.

The Matrix
Lorenzo Di Bonaventura has similar tastes in movies. He shepherds projects that have a straight-ahead energy like ‘The Matrix’, ‘The Perfect Storm’, and ‘The Departed’.
Each one of these stories is a good example of ‘painting your protag into a corner’ and forcing them to find a way out. These plots propel their characters headlong toward an unambiguous fate, and leaves audiences satisfied.

ShooterDi Bonaventura, Wahlberg, and Fuqua are the team behind the new thriller, ‘Shooter’, which opened this week. Wahlberg plays a Marine sniper who is enlisted to advise how an assassination of the president might be attempted from a range of over a mile. However, he finds himself on the run after the president is killed and he is framed for the shooting. The trailers I've seen have that live camera you expect from Fuqua and the story seems solid. This should do fairly well at the box office, and have excellent DVD sales.

Having a main character who is so talented with a rifle he can hit a target a mile away seems apt for these three filmmakers. Their talent for storytelling has the same kind of precision.

Di Bonaventura

Anne Thompson brings us up to speed on producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, whose current project, 'Shooter', directed by Antoine Fuqua, starring Mark Wahlberg, is in theaters now.

For anyone who may not know -- Anne Thompson is now at Variety. Her new blog is called Thompson on Hollywood. New digs, new name, just as good as ever.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Then We Shall Fight In The Shade

300
'Our arrows will blot out the sun'. 'Okay then. We'll fight in the shade'. Did they really say that? According to Herodotus and Plutarch, and Victor Davis Hanson, they did. While some historical liberties are taken in "300", other events are depicted accurately.
Here's some history sliced thin.

Shaye's Mimzy

Bob Shaye, through New Line Cinema, has brought us the gnarly "Pink Flamingoes" and the regal "Lord of the Rings". Now, he's directing a family fantasy, "The Last Mimzy". Kim Masters reports.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?


Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon...A serial killer like the ones in the movies. That, at least, is what the main character in "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon" tells the documentary crew who follow him as he plans a killing spree. The movie, directed by Scott Glosserman, premiered at SXSW in 2006 and won the Audience Award at the Gen Art Film Festival the same year, and opened in limited release last week.

Glosserman has been committed to movies from the start, moving to LA to work at CAA straight out of college, then quitting that gig to pursue a career. Indiewire has an interview with Glosserman -- I like how he became interested in filmmaking:

We had a terrible thunderstorm come through when I was in Jr. High. The storm left trees down, power outages, stunned birds, no school [and] lots of structural damage. I went out with my dad's new home video camera and I "reported" from the scene, interviewing neighbors and the PEPCO guy. I loved it!

Another success story from the 'just do it' school. You can read the complete interview at Indiewire.

Digital 'Film'

NPR takes a look at digital movie projection. Why is it taking so long to get those digital projectors?

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Getting The Bones Down

Billy Mernit's novel, the formerly entitled Making Up, now titled Imagine Me and You, is scheduled for release next year. (See how my suggested title, Match, did in the contest to help find a new title after his publisher informed him they were not cozying up to Making up -- so close, so very close!).

Mernit's guide to screenwriting, Writing the Romantic Comedy, has gotten lots of good comments and his blog Living the Romantic Comedy should be a regular stop for the aspiring writer. There's good insight into the process, and, if you post a comment, Billy replies.

In his latest post Billy runs down his process for outlining a novel. Check it out.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Kid Notorious


Robert Evans in Vanity Fair Magazine
Robert Evans brought us Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown, Marathon Man, as well as other great movies. His honest tell-all "The Kid Stays In The Picture" was a lot of fun.

Evans is currently working on another book "Kid Notorious". VanityFair.com has an audio excerpt of Evans narrating "Kid Notorious" (one full hour). Evans' voice is gravelly, confident, and relaxed and arrests your attention immediately. VF also has video of Evans prepping audio for "Kid Notorious". This stuff is great -- you'll love the story of Val Kilmer's marriage proposal to Evans, and Evans noting there were too many 'fuckings' in the last audio take.

This guy looks great, sounds great. If I'm that sharp at his age I'll count myself lucky.

Black Sheep


Black SheepThe violence of the lambs! Flocking to theaters near you! Trailer! Site! Weta Workshop -- the animatronic and special effects shop behind the movie!

This is going to be a hit! You can tell because of all the exclamation points!

On The Record...Online

There's a new podcast called On the Record...Online which covers the digital revolution in journalism. Here is their rundown on the latest show:

On the Record...Online New Media Masters Panel Part 1

Special Episode: On the Record...Online host Eric Schwartzman moderates a "New Media Masters Panel" with Rob Barrett, GM, LATimes.com, Larry Gerbrandt, GM, Nielsen Analytics, Claude Brodessor, NPR's "The Business" and TMZ.com blogger Kevin Roderick, LAObserved.com. They share how the internet is changing the main stream media business, the future of print media and how industries are reacting to Google and YouTube.

SHOW NOTES:

04:16 - Larry Gerbrandt, Claude Brodessor, Kevin Roderick and Rob Barrett reveal their thoughts on new media, such as websites, blogs, podcasts and social networking platforms, and how it is changing the way they communicate.

18:30 - Roderick, Brodessor and Gerbrandt share where they get their news and which new or mainstream media outlets they consider influential.

25:24 - Brodessor on what organizations are now doing to counteract Google and YouTube from taking what some consider to be free content.

28:50 - Gerbrandt explores whether or not main stream media views Google as a friend or foe.

31:47 - Roderick reveals what the future of the print publishing business is in a world where people hunger for news at internet speed.

33:11 - Barrett on whether or not Google News is in breach of copyright violation for content siphoning.

36:26 - Gerbrandt shares his thoughts on DVR and TiVo usage.

39:45 - Brodessor talks about the "lazy factor" of DVR users vs. Madison Avenue advertising.

42:38 - Roderick talks about Steve Jobs and Apple managing to escape criticism in an industry where others such as, Bill Gates, are viewed more objectively by the media and the industry.

45:43 - End.

Shooter

Mark Wahlberg in Shooter
Variety has snippets of interviews with Mark Wahlberg and Danny Glover and a sneak peek at "Shooter".

Direct Access

Online movies

NYT has coverage of the online movie industry. A.O. Scott looks at the democratizing effect of internet movie content and the possibility of first run movies being made available online.

Manohla Dargis tells about her try at downloading movies at jaman.com. She had quite a few troubles.

I went over to jaman. There's a lot of potential in this approach but the tech side is not up to speed yet. I watched a few minutes of a Kung Fu movie -- the picture was very small and had modest resolution, but the idea of being able to download a movie is still pretty appealing.

The technical difficulties associated with downloading huge files (a 90-minute feature downloaded from jaman.com is about 1.3GB) will be lessened when the quad-core chip becomes available at consumer prices. Add the solid-state drive (SSD. Should be available before the end of the year) and downloads become far easier, with no crashes or freezes.

Online moviesThe last element needed to make movie downloads a mainstream choice is internet connection speed. Right now the max transfer rate is about 1.5 megs/second. (I know your cable company advertises speeds up to 6 megs but that's not a reality. Usually the transfer rate hovers around 400 kb/sec -- that's less than 1/10th the 6 meg/sec rate). At 1.5 mb/sec a movie would take about 1000 seconds to download -- that's pushing 20 minutes (under perfect conditions with no freezes and a hypothetical max transfer rate). At a more realistic transfer rate a movie would take up to 10 times 20 minutes to download -- not very palatable.

There are two possible fixes: Nationwide installation of high-speed optical cable, or, establishing high-speed satellite feeds. Unfortunately, neither of these is on the horizon, but the satellite option seems most realistic to me and 2 mb/sec transfer rate is currently in place.

For aspiring filmmakers the news couldn't be better. In a few years all you'll need to make a movie is a digital camera and a site that will accept your upload and, baddabing, you've got your first feature produced and distributed. The two major differences: You won't need to buy thousands of feet of film (or worry about the costs of processing, and editing), and you won't need a distribution deal to get your movie into theaters.

The online movie download industry may be in its infancy but I think it represents the way people will get their movies in the not-too-distant future. I mean, it wasn't that long ago we listened to music on AM radio and 8-track tapes, and watched movies only at the theater or on TV (until the advent of the VHS tape, that is). Stay tuned...

Cartoon Of The Day

300 Cartoon at Time.com

Saturday, March 17, 2007

New Heights Of Irrelevance, Or, Apples And Oranges

300Here's Variety's guru Peter Bart on the ongoing and painful marginalization of movie critics:

...In reviewing "300" last week, for example, A.O. (Tony) Scott of the New York Times, said the movie was "as violent as 'Apocalypto' and twice as stupid."

That comment reflected the consensus among critics not only on "300" but also on "Ghost Rider," "Wild Hogs," "Norbit" and the other movie miscreants unleashed on the public since Oscar time.

The situation underscores yet again the disconnect between the cinematic appetites of critics vs. those of the popcorn crowd. The kids who storm their multiplexes to catch the opening of "Night at the Museum" don't give a damn what the critics think ("Museum" has passed $525 million worldwide)...

Have to agree with this. Most kids simply don't care what movie critics have to say (and probably don't read their comments, anyway). 10 seconds into a trailer you know whether you will consider seeing any given movie, and if anyone's comments mean anything to you it will be those of your friends, not of movie critics.

If a critic wants to point out the failings of a movie like "300", fine. But, by all accounts this movie is very violent, has way-cool effects, and is filled to the brim with comic book bravura and bubble gum philosophy -- exactly what the core audience is looking for. To criticize "300" because it has on-the-nose dialogue or lacks complex subtext or theme, or is 'twice as stupid' as another movie, is akin to criticizing an apple because it's not an orange. While it may not be what the critics wished it was (a layered, subtle, compelling war drama that will be remembered as a fine example of cinematic execution) "300" is exactly what it was crafted to be -- big box office eye-candy for kids.

The funny thing is when critics trash these movies it serves as a ringing endorsement for the targeted audience and, as such, rather than dissuade anyone from seeing these romps, a critic's vociferous and articulate thrashing merely functions as free advertising -- they are describing precisely how and to what degree the movie delivers what its producers designed it to.

Mr. Scott calling "300" twice as stupid as "Apocalypto" falls on the cheap side. This is code for "I'm pissed off that I had to sit through this and I'm just going to take shots" -- low-ball, especially coming from a writer for The New York Times. This type of comment only alienates the reader and makes the critic seem tired of his job.

300So far "300" has done great business and the DVD action should be stellar. If anything, the poor reviews "300" received only helped it along while making those who issued these reviews look more snobby, disconnected, and irrelevant than ever. It would appear this round has gone to the fluff eye-candy Saturday popcorn matinee effects-driven multiplex special.

Bart wraps his comments by saying, "As for the critics, they should consider a sabbatical until September, when movies aimed at their quadrant magically reappear." Sounds like good advice.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

The 2% Option

Jonathan Lethem, author of You Don't Love Me Yet, is offering the option to his novel (as well as a bunch of ancillary rights) for free in exchange for 2% of the movie's budget. You can read Lethem's contract here and listen to the NPR story here.

Um, okay. I'll do the same. You can option any of my stuff (most of which is posted here) for 2% of the budget of the movie made from it.

Rock On The Presidency

Chris RockFrom Chris Rock's Life interview:

Life: In the first movie you directed, Head of State, you were president of the United States. Is this country ready for an African American president?

Rock: It's ready for a retarded president, why wouldn't it be ready for an African American president?

Rock on... Complete interview

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Miller vs Herodotus


300 by Frank MillerHow does Frank Miller's take on the standoff between the Spartans and Persians in 480 BC, "300", stand up to that of the 'Father of History',
Herodotus? Author Victor Davis Hanson (The Western Way of War) compares and contrasts Miller's stylized spin with what actually happened on Talk of the Nation (16:51).

Waxman From ShoWest

Spiderman 3 graphic from Showest 2007
Sharon Waxman
announces her arrival at ShoWest.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

DVD Release Strategy

Would Hollywood make more profit if DVDs were released the same day the movie opened in theaters? New study says 'yes'. Not much of a surprise, but on the flip side the theater industry stands to lose bigtime -- according to the same study exhibitors would lose 40% of their profits if movies were released day-and-date on DVD.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Whatever Happened To...

Helen HuntHelen Hunt? She just dropped out. After a romp as a solid box-office draw in "Twister" and "As Good as it Gets" (which won gobs of awards including Best Actress for Hunt), she quickly followed-up with the little-seen and unfortunately entitled "Dr. T and the Women", and "Pay it Forward".

These were followed by "What Women Want", which drew an audience but seemed to try too hard. She then had a small part in "One Night at McCool's", which I have not seen because the reviews were so bad across the board -- and, apparently, her scenes were not used -- possibly a good thing for her sake.

Just when it seemed her career had taken off she slips from view. The only thing I've seen her in recently is a publicity still (sorry I haven't seen the movie yet) from Emilio Estevez's "Bobby".

But, wait! Perhaps it's too soon to ask 'whatever happened to' just yet. Hunt is in post-production of her first directorial effort, "Then She Found Me", which she also wrote, based on the novel by the same name by Elinor Lipman. Hunt stars along with Bette Midler, Colin Firth, and Matthew Broderick.

Hunt spent years trying to get this project off the ground. Writing, directing, and starring in your own movie after years of setup...that's got to be as good as it gets. Looking forward to "Then She Found Me".

That's 'Mr. Zombie' To You

Rob ZombieRob Zombie is currently working on his remake of "Halloween". MTV has some great behind-the-scenes interviews with the principals including Malcolm McDowell (who offers his rendition of Dr. Loomis), and Scout Taylor-Compton (who puts her spin on Laurie Strode).

It seems Mr. Zombie (I don't know him well enough to call him 'Rob') is out to make a horror movie with a conscience saying, "It's never random killing for no reason."

The director also plans a logical approach that was missing in the original. About the fact that Myers could drive in John Carpenter's classic original he says, "Michael Myers does not know how to drive in this movie, because that always bothered me. They would always play that off like someone must have given him lessons, but you know no one gave him lessons! He's in a maximum-security prison! So he doesn't drive."

Well. I like this guy. Straight-talking, easy-going...not the 'hidden agenda' type at all -- zombie-esque in the best sense. That thing with Myers driving always bothered me too, damn it! You tell 'em Mr. Zombie. You rock.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Caption This!

Borat mankini caption contest
Yesbutnobutyes is having a contest
. Come up with the best caption for this picture and win a big package of prizes...no wait -- win a huge sack of prizes...wait -- I don't know what the prize is. Head over and find out yourself.

I like the guy in the back row in the middle wearing the trunks under his mankini -- why so shy?

Best Movie Poster...Ever?

Premiere Magazine's 25 best movie posters
Premiere Magazine
has selected the 25 best movie posters of all time. Somebody had to do it.

I Think I Like My Movies

Chris Rock
Chris Rock on his career: "It was just time. I like my movies, don't get me wrong. I'm fond of every one of them. But I don't have one that holds a candle to my stand-up."

Will Rock's upcoming "I Think I Love my Wife" change that opinion? CST

Reinventing The Horror Movie

The Host, directed by Bong Joon-ho
Rick Kleffel tells us how the structure of "The Host", the new Korean horror sensation by director Bong Joon-ho, reverses the normal rules of suspense, setup, and payoff with 'amazing success', blending comedy and shocks in what he calls 'The Royal Tenenbaums vs. Godzilla'.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

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