Movies/TV's 3R’s 10.06.09: Zombieland, Dennis Hopper, The Hobbit, Seth Green, More

Posted by Shawn S. Lealos on 10.06.2009

From directors petitioning to get Roman Polanski released, The Hobbit getting a reprieve, Seth Green going to network TV, and Jenny Slate dropping the F-Bomb to Kate Plus 8, The Rock being a Tooth Fairy, and Roger Avery going to prison, 411's Shawn S. Lealos breaks down the Right, wRong, and Ridiculous from the week in Movies/TV!



Welcome to Week 14 of The 3 R's for the Movie/TV world.

Without any further ado, here is...

THIS WEEK'S RELEASES:

The Right

Zombieland Takes Weekend Crown: In a week where there was a lot of competition, Zombieland reigned supreme. The zombie comedy (see my review here) surpassed Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs for the number one spot with a $25 million weekend. Third place was the 3D re-release of the Toy Story movies while the other new releases failed to break into double digits: The Invention of Lying was fourth with $7.4 million while both Whip It and Capitalism: A Love Story tied for seventh place with $4.9 million (behind Bruce Willis' Surrogates). Woody and company challenged everyone to "nut up or shut up" and then proceeded to plow over the competition. It couldn't have happened to a better movie.



Dennis Hopper survives health scare: OK, so his condition was just flu-like symptoms and stomach ailments but when a 73 year old man checks into a hospital for any reason, it is scary. In a year where we have already lost Henry Gibson, Patrick Swayze, John Hughes, Farrah Fawcet, Michael Freaking Jackson... When a group of people you followed when you were young dies, it makes you think. I know that Hopper has lived a full life and when he dies, he will have lived a life fuller than most people get a chance to but it is still sad to see childhood idols pass away especially when they are still up and working (Jackson preparing a tour, Swayze working on a TV show). I will actively seek out and watch Hopper in his latest show Crash because things like this makes me realize that all good things eventually come to an end. Now, go watch Hoosiers.

Del Toro still in line to walk, and walk, and walk, and ...: Last week I lamented the fact that MGM is nearing a catastrophic financial state and might have to throw in the towel. This meant they would lose both James Bond and The Hobbit. Well, The Hobbit has been saved. MGM has secured support from key lenders to allow the studio enough cash to proceed with the movie thanks to a crucial endorsement from J.P. Morgan. I feared we wouldn't see Guillermo Del Toro's chance to play in the world of Tolkein but MGM received a lifeline and this movie might be enough to keep the studio alive.

Leo DiCaprio to become a beach bum: One of my favorite detective series growing up was John D. McDonald's "Travis McGee" adventures. McGee is not a police officer or P.I., but instead works as a "salvage consultant" who recovers other people's property for a fee. He also lives on a custom made 52-foot houseboat in Florida and refers to himself as a beach bum. McDonald wrote 21 McGee novels from 1964 to 1984 and his work is still taught in mystery writing classes today. 20th Century Fox is currently developing an adaptation of the very first McGee novel The Deep Blue Goodbye with Leonardo DiCaprio set to star. Leo is perfect for this role and, as an old fan of the books, I am very excited. Hopefully this will work out better than the adaptation of Clive Cussler's Sahara, which ended the Dirk Pitt franchise at one movie.

Sam Raimi goes where Guillermo Del Toro went before: Sam Raimi has announced the formation of Spooky Pictures, a subsidiary of his Ghost House horror label that will make horror movies geared towards kids. This comes a few weeks after Guillermo Del Toro created the Double Dare You film label, geared towards the same age group. I have no problem with two different filmmakers overseeing horror films made for the young ‘uns. I was just thinking yesterday that I want my son to grow up with a love of horror movies but have to carefully work around my wife's protests that some movies are not "age appropriate." She is right and now two great directors are going to make sure that my son and I can watch fun horror movies made just for his age group. The first movie from Raimi's label is the remake of a Danish thriller about a sixth grade class who tries to warn their parents that their teacher is an evil alien. Hell, what kid doesn't think that about one of their teachers.

Michael Bay beginning work on Transformers 3!!!: Just because it is critic proof and will piss most of you off... You're welcome.

Monsterpalooza scheduled for April 9-11, 2010: It is a fan-fest in Burbank, California that honors special effects artists. Check out some of the scheduled names: KNB EFX (Award-winning FX company, Sin City, Grindhouse, Narnia, From Dusk till Dawn), ADI (Alien vs Predator, Race to Witch Mountain, X-Men Origins), CHIODO BROTHERS (Critters, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Gremlins), MICHAEL WESTMORE (Award-winning FX artist for Mask, Star Trek series and movies), TONY GARDNER (Zombieland, Return of the Living Dead), BASIL GOGOS (Versatile painter and cover artist for Famous Monsters of Filmland), WILLIAM STOUT (Conceptual artist for Return of the Living Dead), ALLAN TRAUTMAN (Return of the Living Dead, Tar Man), BRIAN PECK (Return of the Living Dead, Scuz), BEVERLY RANDOLPH (Return of the Living Dead, Tina), JOHN PHILBIN (Return of the Living Dead, Chuck), DON CALFA (Return of the Living Dead, Ernie), JOE TURKEL (Blade Runner, The Shining), JULIE ADAMS (Creature from the Black Lagoon), DONNIE DUNAGAN (Son of Frankenstein, Tower of London). This is a must see for any horror nut.

The wRong

Who did Letterman do in the green room?: Well, David Letterman's life is about to get turned inside out. After dodging recent bullets with the Ridiculous Sarah Palin accusations, he now has a bullet that may well leave him scarred. Letterman has been accused of having various affairs over the years. The accuser is a man now facing extortion charges but the problem comes now that various gossip sites (TMZ) has placed a giant bulls eye on the talk show host's "head". Letterman is a late night talk show host in a time slot usually watched by those in the senior citizen age group. How will his reputation be affected by people who see his wife Regina Lasko, a woman who the talk show host has been with for over twenty years? We saw how Marv Albert was treated by his network when his infidelities came to the forefront. Let's just hope Dave's closet doesn't involve any women's undergarments.

Thomas the Train coming to theaters in 2011: There was a theatrical debut for Thomas the Train back in 2000. Don't be shocked if you never heard of it, it was not a commercial success. A product like this needs to be kept short and if it ever does become a longer film, still needs to be under an hour for the age group it is geared towards. Making it into a theatrical movie is, in my opinion, a waste of time.

Roger Avery sentenced to a year in prison: Roger Avery, the acclaimed co-screenwriter for Pulp Fiction has been sentenced to a year in prison for gross vehicular manslaughter in the death of his friend Andreas Zini. The punishment is light and the judge indicated it is because Avery showed remorse and had no criminal background. I am sure some people will bash me for making this a wRong before reading my reasons. I am not defending Roger Avery. This is wRong because a person's life was lost in this incident and there are serious ramifications to the ordeal outside the criminal charges. Avery is directly responsible for killing his friend and will always have to look back on this event and atone for it for the rest of his life. Many people don't care about that but it is a heavy burden of guilt for a man to carry. Also injured in the accident was Avery's wife and the fact that she could just have easily have been killed is also something he will have to live with. I hope that he is able to eventually come to terms with his sins and work to become a better person over time. Many people will not be so kind in their thoughts but I always live by the motto of a guy named Jesus who said to forgive. If he is really remorseful, and why wouldn't he be since this was his friend who died, then I hope he can turn things around. Maybe his story can also be a lesson to all that it is not a good idea to drive drunk.

The Ridiculous

Director's jump on Polanski bandwagon: Last week I spoke about how Ridiculous the entire judicial mess in the Roman Polanski case has become. I feel this is too late to actually do anything in the case and believe, even if he is returned, he will be set free because of the judicial wrongdoings in the original case. Many readers assumed I was coming to Polanski's side and that I do not believe what he did was wrong. Those people either did not read my full write up or have no reading comprehension skills. What he did was wrong but, like it or not, he was not found guilty of rape so even if he is returned, he won't face rape charges.

With that said, this week's Ridiculous is the number of people demanding he be released from jail and set free. I believe the L.A. district attorney is posturing and this is all being done for attention. But, honestly, Polanski needs to finally come back and face his charges. He should not do it because the DA is grandstanding but do it because it is the right thing to do. It would finally put an end to the thirty year old case and I don't believe they would put him in jail anyway. It is pretty clear he is reformed and putting him behind bars at this point is like poking an old dog with a stick.

However, Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen have joined up with over 100 other filmmakers signing a petition to demand his release. What the hell is that going to accomplish? It is just more stupid grandstanding. This is a criminal case over thirty years old between Polanski, his victim and the court system. The holier than thou people making a stand opposite all the Hollywood elite have absolutely nothing to do with any of this. Everyone has an opinion of what should happen to Polanski from me to you to Whoopie Goldberg. But opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and it takes a true asshole to tell everyone that yours is the only one that matters, whether you're a message board commenter or Darren Aronofsky.

Come on Rock, you can do better than this: And I actually like kid's flicks...

Marmaduke: Yep, they are making a movie out of the long running comic strip about a Great Dane who likes to tear shit up. It is being referred to as "a mix of live action and CG-animated creatures similar to Fox's previous family hits Garfield and Alvin and the Chipmunks." I guess their version of a hit and mine are two different things. I can only hear Bill Murray's voice when asked if he regretted anything in his life and he answered "maybe Garfield." Then he died. Good times...

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THIS WEEK'S TOP DVD RELEASES:

The Right

Kristen Chenoweth appears on Glee: I love this woman. Chenoweth was amazing in the awesome Pushing Daisies, a show killed before its time. Despite its cancellation, Chenoweth picked up an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress for her role. During her acceptance, she jokingly said she is available now if someone wants to hire her. I don't understand why Glee has not jumped all over this. She is appearing in a guest star role as April, a boozy former classmate of Will's who likes younger men. There is talk of bringing her back, but just as a guest star. She needs to be a regular on a show now. Come on people, sign this girl!



Seth Green to bring more goodness to network TV: As far as I am concerned, Seth Green is complete aces when it comes to his television work. From his "only cool" role as Oz on Buffy the Vampire Slayer to his great improvisations as Chris on Family Guy to his inventive, very funny original show Robot Chicken, I drink the man's Kool-Aid. Green has just signed a development deal with FOX for a new animated series. It will not be animated in the same stop motion aspects of his Robot Chicken and new Titan Maximum, instead looking more like FOX's current slate of animated shows. I don't care. Seth Green is a comic genius and I can't wait.

The Rock Has Come Back to Smackdown: I know this is more for the wrestling section, but it was on TV and it was one of the coolest TV moments of the week and you can never get enough of The Rock in the WWE. Plus, there isn't much TV news this week that I actually give a damn about.

The wRong

Jenny Slate gets off to an F'n good start: When Saturday Night Live fires two of its female cast members and you are one of the replacements, it might be a good idea not to drop the F-bomb on live TV. Well, that is just what newcomer Jenny Slate did in her first ever SNL appearance. While in a skit with Kristen Wigg and Megan Fox called "Biker Chick Chat" she was supposed to say things like "freaking" and "fricking" but slipped up and dropped the F-bomb at one point. It is clear she realized this but sucked it up and kept the sketch going without any further incidents. It is funny but not what I imagine she hoped her debut would be known for.

The Ridiculous

Kate Plus Eight: I read a wonderful article about how they should just rename the show Kate. Starting November 2, Jon will be removed from the title and it will focus on Kate, as a single mother, raising her eight children. I'm kind of curious how she will find the time to do that since she is working on a new talk show because, and I quote, "I've been given the gift of gab." She believes people give a shit what she has to say. The article I read said Kate has always been the center of attention: "how she mothers the children, how she bullies her husband around, how she cuts her hair and has her tummy tucked." It is all about Kate and her new talk show dreams prove that. Kate Gosselin's life is no longer about raising these eight kids to be well rounded, loved adults. It is about her ego and making her the center of attention. She is a whore and for the millionth time, I feel sorry for their children.



2009, MY YEAR IN REVIEWS

Up (10.0)
The Hangover (10.0)
Zombieland (9.5)
Inglourious Basterds (9.5)
Extract (9.5)
District 9 (9.0)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (9.0)

Star Trek (8.5)
Drag Me to Hell (8.5)
Watchmen (8.5)
Adventureland (8.5)
I Love You, Man (8.5)
Coraline (8.5)
No Impact Man (8.5)
Monsters vs. Aliens (8.0)

Public Enemies (7.5)
Race to Witch Mountain (7.5)
Defiance (7.5)
Miss March (7.5)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (7.0)
Angels & Demons (7.0)
Terminator: Salvation (7.0)
Fanboys (7.0)
9 (6.5)
He's Just Not That Into You (6.5)
Push (6.5)
My Bloody Valentine 3D (6.5)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (6.0)
Outlander (6.0)

The Unborn (5.5)
The International (5.5)
Dead Snow (5.0)
Donkey Punch (4.5)
The Uninvited (4.0)
New in Town (3.5)
Whip It (3.5)
The Taking of Pelham 123 (3.0)
Van Wilder: Freshman Year (1.5)


PREVIOUSLY IN THE MOVIE ZONE

I look at Zom-Cons in this week's Alternate Takes

My Zombieland Review

My Whip It Review

My No Impact Man Review

This week's Top 5 looks at the Best Horror Heroes

Jeremy Thomas reviews The Invention of Lying

Eric Luers reviews Blind Date

Chad Webb reviews Bright Star