Fox Throws Hissy Fit Over ‘Watchmen’

20th Century Fox is asserting its right to create, shoot and distribute a movie based on Alan Moore’s popular comic book.  What’s that you say, Warner Bros. is already doing that?  Send in the lawyers…

A  judge has agreed refused to throw out the case, which is good news for Fox.  The short short version of the suit is that when Fox put the movie into turnaround in 1994, producer Larry Gordon never exercised the option on the project, thereby reverting the project to a previous agreement, which gave Fox rights to the project.

It’s all very confusing.  Deadline Hollywood Daily has a copy of all the paperwork if you want to check it out.  Be forewarned, I’ve read scripts shorter than this.  -Sam

‘Dark Knight’ Passes ‘Star Wars’

It’s official- ‘The Dark Knight,’ is the second highest grossing movie of all time in North America. This weekend, the Christian Bale movie passed George Lucas’ original ‘Star Wars,’ with a gross of $473 million.  ‘Titanic’ is still number one with $600 million. Read more

DVD Review: The Counterfeiters

When the Oscars were handed out earlier this year, one of the surprise winners was in the Best Foreign Film category. ‘The Counterfeiters’ became the first Austrian movie to take home the top honor. Read more

DVD Review: Hitman

There is nothing wrong with a movie whose sole purpose is to explode things in a dramatic fashion. However, Xavier Gens’ movie ‘Hitman,’ takes things to a rather unreasonable extreme.

Based on a video game, (and adding fuel to the ‘there’s never been a good movie based on a video game fire,’) ‘Hitman,’ tells the story of Agent 47, a contract killer with a shaved head and a barcode at the base of his scalp. He’s incredibly efficient and clean- when he kills you nobody knows who did it. Things begin to go awry when he tried to kill the Russian President. Of course he does it, but there’s a problem. He really isn’t the Russian President. There’s something about arterial blood spray that gets Interpol involved in the case. Agent 47 is then sent to kill the one person who knows the truth about the Russian President. When 47 sees it’s an attractive Russian hooker, he doesn’t go through with the job and quickly finds out that someone is out to kill him. His agency double-crossing him, 47 hits the road with the girl, trying to figure out the truth before one of the many people who want him dead get their wish.

Did you follow all that? That’s what I was able to piece together from an actual viewing of the movie, combined with reading the plot summaries on two different web-sites. Needless to say, a clear plot was not one of the goals of the filmmakers.

‘Hitman,’ is a celebration of style, flashy cutting, cool lighting and effects. Agent 47, as played by Timothy Olyphant is, of course, an enigma. He finds himself falling for the Russian hooker, but doesn’t give in to his desires, fearing, I guess, that it’ll make him weak. Basically, the problem with a movie featuring a un-emotive main character is that you have no idea what the hell he’s thinking. Sure everything looks cool, but it’s all too contrived. Of course he’d stash a gun in the perfect place to retrieve it in the heat of a fight. Of course he would have an escape plan all set if someone comes to his hotel room. What happens to housekeeping when they just want to turn down the bed?

While some movies are silly and fun, this is just plain silly. It’s too caught up in looking cool and acting like it doesn’t care that the attitude starts to rub off on the audience. If Agent 47 doesn’t seem to give a crap, why should we? -Sam

DVD Review: No End in Sight

Political documentaries are a sticky wicket. Many seem to try to float by on the idea that their position is the right one and that is enough. That artistry on such a project is not needed or required. Just the facts. Read more

‘Dark Knight’ Still Number One, Closing in on ‘Star Wars’

Christopher Nolan’s second Batman movie, ‘The Dark Knight,’ is number one at the box office for a fourth straight week, bringing it’s domestic haul to $441.5 million.  Read more

Dear Hollywood Filmmakers…

Next summer, Ridley Scott’s latest movie is opening.  Shockingly, it doesn’t star Russell Crowe.  Starring Denzel Washington, John Travolta and James Gandolfini, this could me the movie that makes people over look the strange, plastic-like sheen that’s coming off of Travolta’s forehead.

But, there’s another problem.  It’s a remake…  (wait for it…) of a really good movie.  I plead with all Hollywood filmmakers, please stop re-making good movies.

‘The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,’ is an amazing movie and, while Ridley Scott’s new take could be good, there’s a good chance it won’t be as good as the original movie.  If you think this is an isolated incident, may I direct your attention to ‘Sabrina,’ ‘The Wicker Man,’ and ‘Sleuth.’  Basically, if it shows up in the ‘Remake This,’ series of articles, it’s probably worthy of being on this list.  I mean, even the upcoming ‘Death Race,’ looks like a piece of crap.  The original is a fun movie.  This new one looks terrible.  Why do they do this?  They screwed with the storyline so much, if they didn’t call it ‘Death Race,’ I wouldn’t have really given it a second look.  Now, I’m primed to hate it.

So, please, on behalf of the film-going public, stop.   You’re in a creative industry.  Please try to live up to that every once in a while.  Thanks.  -Sam

Isaac Hayes Dead at 65

Soul legend Isaac Hayes, best known for the theme from the 1971 action classic ‘Shaft,’ has died. Read more

Comedian Bernie Mac Dead at 50

Comedian Bernie Mac has died from complications from pneumonia at age 50. Mac died early Saturday morning, according to a family member. Read more

Review: Transsiberian

‘Transsiberian,’ tells the tale of Roy and Jessie, an American couple finishing up missionary work in China Read more

Johnny Depp to Play the Riddler in Next Batman Movie?

With the success of Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dark Knight,’ (I’ve read a bunch of articles suggesting that the film could possibly pass ‘Titanic,’ as the highest grossing film of all time,) talk always turns to the follow-up movie.

While Nolan and his co-writer brother remain un-signed for a follow-up, Flylyf is reporting that producers are eyeing Johnny Depp to play the Riddler in part three.

I’m a huge fan of the Depp, (as I believe I mentioned only last week in an article about the ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ re-make by Tim Burion,) and I’m not going to repeat that all here. Needless to say, I’m intrigued. That is, if this is true in the least bit. We’ll see -Sam

Jack White & Alicia Keys to Do Bond Theme Song

And you thought they were just being coy about Amy Winehouse doing the title song.  Reuters is reporting that Jack White and Alicia Keys will team up to perform the theme song to the new James Bond movie, ‘Quantum of Solace.’

The song, written by White, is titled, ‘Another Way to Die.’  It is also the first Bond theme to be a duet.

I’m curious.  I’m a huge fan of Mr. White, with both the White Stripes and the Raconteurs, and I don’t mind terribly the few Alicia Keys songs that I’ve heard.  But, Bond?  Really?  If the report wasn’t coming from Reuters, I don’t know if I’d believe it.

Well, it could be worse.  They could have gotten Madonna to do it again.

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