411 Fact or Fiction Movies: Week 88

Posted by Ben Piper on 08.10.2007

Is Rush Hour 3 unneccessary? Is Kevin Smith a good fit to write and direct the Heroes spinoff? Will Stardust be a good piece of fantasy escapism? 411's Owain J. Brimfield & Leonard Heyhurst debate these and other topics in week 88 of Fact or Fiction Movies!

Hello friends. You know what time it is? That's right boys and girls, it's time for Fact or Fiction. This week we've got the very british Owain J. Brimfield squaring off with everybody's favorite answer man, Leonard Heyhurst. They've got a lot of ground to cover, so let's not waste any more time...

1. Rush Hour 3 is completely unnecessary.

Owain J. Brimfield: Fiction. Now I am going against my beliefs somewhat here, as I think overdone sequels are only one rung above unnecessary remakes on the Ladder of Filmic Codswallop. But there's no denying that Chan and Tucker have a kinetic and comedic chemistry (mmm... alliteration), and that's more than can be said for many screen partnerships. I'm sure Rush Hour 3 is going to be just as inoffensive and mildly diverting as its two prequels, just as I'm sure there'll be carping about its over-reliance on cultural differences to perpetuate the comedy. But if you don't find Jackie Chan saying "wassup my nigga" to be funny, then there's really no hope for your decaying funny bone.

Leonard Heyhurst: Fiction. First of all, it's not necessary to make any movie. Viewing things in that way, was it really necessary to make the first Rush Hour movie? Bottom line is the first two movies made money and were popular with fans. As Owain noted, they were mildly amusing diversions and this is looking to be about the same. Tucker and Chan do have chemistry and that goes a long way in the buddy cop genre. If you ask a producer this question he will say it is necessary, because it has all the potential to make a lot of money.

Score: 1 for 1

2. Simon Cowell shouldn't be allowed to produce movies.

Owain J. Brimfield: Fact. A million times fact. Here is a man who has somehow become the most prominent music mogul on the planet, and who claims to be the most successful man in the whole business. But shall we take a look at some of his proteges? Westlife, 5ive, Robson & Jerome, Il Divo, Gareth Gates... and they're the good ones, believe it or not. Anyone remember Ultimate Kaos? Didn't think so. There is absolutely know way this unspeakable abomination of a man should turn his gnarled, festering hand to any other form of entertainment.

Leonard Heyhurst: Fiction. I know he's British, but this is America. Anyone can do whatever they want within reason. Despite what Owain might think, Simon Cowell as a movie producer doesn't pose a threat to public safety. A threat to public taste and sensibilities, yes. If you don't like Cowell, don't watch his movies. As his other ventures show, and Owain didn't even mention his involvement with the Teletubbies and the Power Rangers, Cowell's movie failures will be but mild annoyances in the overall scheme of things.

Score: 1 for 2

3. You like the casting of Zachary Quinto (Heroes villian Sylar) as the young Mr. Spock in the J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot.

Owain J. Brimfield: Fact. Only a few episodes into Heroes here in the UK, but having downloaded a few episodes ahead this is certainly shaping up to be an intriguing proposition. The role really did need an unknown to be cast, and I'm sure Quinto has as much potential as anyone else that could have been chosen. The real good news is that the project is moving forward, even if it does divide the Trekkies.

Leonard Heyhurst: Fact. 3) I admittedly don't watch Heroes, so I don't have knowledge of Quinto as an actor. However, from articles I've read and pictures I've seen he appears to be a good choice. He has the right look, he's approaching the part in the right way and Leonard Nimoy is giving his blessing. Casting of Kirk will be crucial, especially in how he and Quinto relate to each other on screen. I'm not sold on Abrams project, but I'm willing to give it a chance.

Score: 2 for 3

Switch!!!

4. Speaking thereof, you like the notion of Kevin Smith writing and directing the first episode of the spinoff series, Heroes: Origins.

Leonard Heyhurst: Fact. Again, I'm not a fan of the show. However, Smith has proven time and again to be a comic book fan with respect and understanding of the superhero genre. I enjoyed his run in resurrecting one of my favorite characters in the Green Arrow. Smith as a director is very bland, but as a writer he has an ear for dialogue and quirky character development. Many of Smith's attempts to get his hands on an iconic hero for a movie (everything from Fletch, to the Six Million Dollar Man to Superman) hasn't panned out, so I'm interested to see what he does with something that should be right in his wheelhouse.

Owain J. Brimfield:Fact. This is a little misleading though - what I really like the idea of is Smith writing the whole series - which, incidentally, is an idea I don't totally endorse - but leaving the rest of the directing to someone with more of an eye for TV (personally, I'd like to see someone like Alison Maclean get a look-in). As Leonard says, there's no denying Smith's talent with a pen in his hand, and his passion for the comic/hero genre is always evident. However I do think the series would benefit from direction from someone a little more dynamic behind the camera.

Score: 3 for 4

5. There shouldn't be a Blade Runner sequel so long after the original was released.

Leonard Heyhurst: Fiction. "Shouldn't be" is too strong language for me. Perhaps ill advised or unwise might be better phrases. I also don't want to condemn the idea until I know exactly where the movie is heading. Is this going to be a direct sequel starring Harrison Ford and Sean Young, a recasting, a prequel, a spin-off, simply another movie set in the same universe? Scott said at the San Diego Comicon that he has an idea that would pick up from the end of the first movie, but that's about all we know. He might have just been talking to hype the big DVD release and theater re-release for the film this winter. Maybe it was just musings of a director for a beloved project. Bottom line is that we don't know enough to past judgment, but on paper it
seems an iffy prospect.

Owain J. Brimfield: Fiction. I ummed and aahed long and hard about this one. On the one hand, the original is one of my favourite films of all time, and one of the best science fiction films of all time. Plus we've still yet to see the oft-promised "Final Cut", if such a thing ever does see the light of day. On the other hand, the Blade Runner PC game proved that there can easily be credible and enjoyable stories told in the movie's universe, even going so far as to include original characters from the film. I think as long as Ridley Scott has a big hand in the creative process, it could turn out to be all right, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed all the time from now on.

Score:4 for 5

6. Stardust is looking to be a nice piece of summer fantasy escapism.

Leonard Heyhurst: Fiction.Stardust looks like it licks the sweat off of a dead man's balls. I don't know what that means, but it can't be good. Just from commercials it looks like Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro are just phoning it in. The plot seems needlessly convoluted. Special effects don't look great. The action appears lame and the comedy attempts just going to stupid and silly. My basic opinion is that the movie is The Princess Bride funneled through Lord of the Rings by way of Harry Potter. That means a lack of focus and originality. Early reviews have been positive, but the few negative ones I came across seem to side with my preview assessment. They also note that the movie is not that faithful to the original source graphic novel by Neil Gaiman.

Owain J. Brimfield: Fact. Two words spring to mind, Leonard, and the first is 'bull'. It's always refreshing these days to see a fantasy film that isn't part of a franchise (Pan's Labyrinth, anyone?) and the cast is pretty damn good too. Convoluted plot? Rubbish - the basic structure is just a simple "quest" archetype; the only thing that you could consider convoluted is the variety of characters who have things to offer. I don't think the fact that the movie may or may not remain faithful to the book is a problem; it is after all one of Gaiman's weakest prose novels. Plus, how can you argue with a trailer that features a Dimmu Borgir song? Personally I think this looks to be just as entertaining as MirrorMask and probably have more substance as well.

Final Score: 4 for 6

Wow, that was a lot of animosity between two guys that mostly agreed. Or maybe I'm just trying to make it seem that way. I'm such a devilish instigator. Anyways, that's it for this week. Check back same time in seven for more exciting, breathtaking and heartpounding Fact or Fiction: Movies!