The Big Screen Bulletin 10.27.08: Bourne to Chill

Posted by Chad Webb on 10.27.2008

This week the Bulletin argues the Bourne franchise, discusses the Chiller Theater Expo, the box office results, release date changes, Jack Ryan's future, new DVD releases, new quickees, the week's activities, and much more!

For Argument's Sake: The Bourne Franchise

I received a couple comments about my Jason Bourne news bit last week. I felt the need to respond. First off, last I checked (And I did. I checked 2 websites and the DVD credits), the current trilogy is still listed as being adapted from Robert Ludlum's material. When the studios, screenwriters, and directors get a hold of it, they can strip the source as much as they wish. That is what Hollywood does. I am well aware that the films deviate from the book. This occurs multiple times every year with films of varying genres. I shouldn't have to say it each time. Perhaps I should describe what "Based on" means. It does not mean "Precise Translation of..." nor "Based on the Characters Created by…" However, it is not my responsibility to write my detailed thoughts on the books and comparisons to the movies in my small news blurb. I actually own the original Bourne Identity mini-series from 1988, which is much more faithful to the book, but I didn't mention that in my report. Why should I? I'm talking about the 4th film. If you wish to complain about how the films are labeled according to what Ludlum's book contains, please email Universal. It is their fault, not mine.

Here is what I said last week "I have faith in Damon and Greengrass, but the screenplays up until this point have been based on Ludlum's material. This will be an original tale." I said nothing false there. My point is this: Up until now Hollywood has used a book as the template for the film. No matter how much or how little they utilize, they still had a source. For the 4th film, they will not have that, and it COULD be a risk. I will repeat that. It could be a risk, but it might not be. No disrespect to you either Mr. Harris, but if you want "more research" on book to film comparisons, you can email Leonard Hayhurst at Ask 411 Movies. He has the room to go into detail. I on the other hand write a news report.

Chiller Theater Expo 2008

From the 26th – 28th of this month, the annual Chiller Theater Expo was held. I decided many months ago to attend for at least one day. Leonard Hayhust would be working at the event with Creepy Classics, and I would be traveling there with George Sirois and his wife Cheryl. Of course my fiancée Steph was there too. It turned out to be one of the craziest days I can remember in quite some time. Allow me to begin this interesting series of events.

With Mr. Hayhurst already there, George, Cheryl, Steph, and myself decided to go on Saturday. I knew I was in store for an odd afternoon when I went to pick up George and Cheryl. After searching for them around a very confusing train station, and finally meeting thanks to cell phones, we were on our way. I managed to anger multiple bus drivers in the process of searching since I ended up driving through their terminal by accident.

Upon our arrival at Chiller, to be held at a Hilton hotel, we were forced to park a good distance away. It had just started to drizzle lightly when we parked. At the Hilton, the place was insanely packed with people. We found the line to pay admission and obtain wrist bands. You see, we needed wrist bands to enter any of the areas with vendors, guests, or Q&A's. The line was wrapped around many corners of the hotel, and was barely advancing. A robust gentleman emerged and stated on numerous occasions that tickets could be purchased in one hour because the Fire Marshall had put the event under an hour suspension due to the number of people inside. 20, 40, and 60 minutes later, he made more trips to tell us that we could purchase tickets in one hour. Just when the hell was this hour starting anyway? He didn't know. Fabulous. Much to our surprise, the line kept getting smaller, yet the front was not moving inward. Yes, people were getting tired of waiting, but they were also sneaking in a hidden hotel entrance. Meanwhile, it has been sporadically pouring outside and we had one umbrella. A Yankees one no less.





The line outside.


The entire week around Saturday was beautiful weather, but today it had to rain. Leonard came outside to chat a bit, but quickly ran back inside where it was dry because he could not get us in faster. Thanks a lot Hayhurst! After waiting a very long time, we figured out that this line was not going to move. So we snuck in as well, but hit a wall since Chiller staff were stationed at all the cool areas. We needed wrist bands badly, but none were being sold. So we decided to hang out around the pit area, where all the bigger celebrities were sitting and signing autographs. All we could do was lean over the railing and watch as happy people got pictures and exchanged stories. George wanted to talk with the actors who played Jason Vorhees, and I wanted to talk with Fabiana Udenio (Alotta Vagina from Austin Powers). They were all near each other. George ended up starting a conversation with the Jason guys, but I wanted to meet Fabiana the appropriate way…with a damn wrist band. She did walk by us at the bar, but I could not get her to stop. The girls were content by taking pictures of the celebrities from afar, but I was upset. I did not come all this way to stand in the rain and be denied admission.





The celebrity pit…..insane.


Just when we were about to give up and go home, an idea was overheard that gave us hope. Since no tickets were being sold, we could buy wrist bands off people that were leaving in the parking lot. That is just what we did. We only had to pay for one luckily. However, we had to use chewing gum, yes chewing gum, to give the allusion that they were attached properly (we forgot our spare tape). These particular wrist bands do not just come off unless they are cut or ripped. Anyway, we got the wrist bands, and proceeded to shop where I ended up buying a bunch of DVDs I didn't need: Convoy, Machine Gun Kelly (with Charles Bronson), Halloween II (Ultimate Cut), Ilsa: The Wicked Warden (which completed my set for that franchise), and two other DVDs which will be discussed in more detail for a future comic character timeline.

After browsing, with Leonard tagging along, and watching a gorgeous 1998 Playmate jiggle around in a skimpy outfit, we moved on to the pit for autographs. I'll let Leonard and George talk in more detail about some of the stars, but I did end up meeting Fabiana Udenio, who was a sweetheart, and looks outstanding for her age. I can't afford to buy $20-$25 pictures from everyone, so I'll just say we saw the following people: Linda Hamilton, George Kennedy, Morgan Fairchild, Kevin Nash, Terri Runnels, Corey Haim, and many more. It was a great day to be a Karate Kid fan. The four of us met and got a picture with Ralph Macchio, who was very pleasant. I also shook the hand of this man...





...Mercy is for the weak Martin Kove.


It was closing in on 7pm when everything was shutting down, and we were all pretty tired. It was still raining like hell. We made our last minute purchases, and headed home. Overall it was a fun day at Chiller, but the event was totally disorganized. No wonder the Fire Marshalls were walking around all day. It was chaos, and should have been held in a larger venue. Still, I bought plenty, and met all the people I wanted, so it was all good. I would have planned ahead and bought a ticket weeks before, but I had no idea it would be that crazy. And what made matters worse was that when I finally did get a wrist band, I was so desperate to shop that I spent most of my money without any trouble. And as a rather crappy bookend to the evening, I dropped George and Cheryl off at the same train station, and promptly received a parking ticket from a police officer, who could care less that I was only there for a couple minutes. The lesson for the day: Avoid Transit Police.

The News Bulletin

It's Cool to Sing in School
Disney's "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" and Lionsgate's "Saw V" divided and conquered the movie biz over the weekend, opening with $42 million and $30.5 million, respectively. Total B.O. rose about 30% from the year-ago frame, according to studio estimates, in large part because the G-rated and hard-R auds were almost totally distinct. The top two films each entered record territory. Disney's "High School" is by far the biggest musical bow ever, besting "Mamma Mia!" Lionsgate's "Saw" franchise is within $2 million of eclipsing "Friday the 13th" to become the top-grossing horror series ever. "High School" also raked in $40 million from 22 overseas markets. At $82 million, it was the first wordwide No. 1 opener since "The Dark Knight." Disney said 35% of global territories are still to come.

"You'd never know we were supposed to be in a recession when you see two openings like this," said Steve Rothenberg, Lionsgate's distrib chief. "When Hollywood offers up a choice, the audience can really expand." The news was not so rosy for sophomores "Max Payne" and "W." "Payne" fell 57% to $7.6 million and "W." dropped 49% to $5.3. Cume for the George Bush pic is $18.8 million, with a gross in the $25 million range likely after a post-Election Day exit. Warner Bros.' "Pride and Glory," a long-gestating New Line title, debuted at No. 5 with $6.3 million. More than a few sighs of relief should be heard around Hollywood this morning, given the big picture. Fall TV for the broadcast nets has been vexing, with continued audience erosion. The B.O. has been respectable but not exactly thrilling. And all sectors of the entertainment biz have been distracted by the unfolding economic chaos, which has yet to hit home in a drastic way but looms as a longer-term threat.

On the limited scene, Universal got spectacular results from 15 runs of "Changeling" in nine markets. The Clint Eastwood-helmed pic bowed with $502,000, or $33,441 per house. It breaks wide Friday, in about 1,800 situations. Logo Features, the pic arm of Viacom's gay cable channel, also got impressive results from "Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom," which pulled in $161,302 from just five screens in an independent release. Samuel Goldwyn's "Fireproof" fell out of the top 10 in its fifth outing but dipped just 17% to collect $2.1 million, or $2,380 on each of its 898 screens. The eye-popping cume for the Kirk Cameron-starring Christian pic is now $23.6 million. Sony Classics opened Charlie Kaufman's star-studded puzzler "Synecdoche, New York" in nine runs, grossing $172,926, for an average of $19,214. SPC also ushered in "I've Loved You So Long," which averaged $11,124 on six U.S. screens and $2,116 on four Canadian screens. The North American cume is $316,263.
-- From Variety

I have to admit, Mr. Sirois gave a more accurate percentage on Oddsmakers during our podcast. I thought for sure the Saw engine would have slowed for this fifth installment. It came mighty close to the #1 spot considering how popular High School Musical is. Nevertheless, I did predict correctly. The Lionsgate distribution chief made a comment about the recession above. The fact is, people will always go to the movies. It offers an escape during bad times, and we need that to prevent from going crazy. W. is dropping faster than the real President's approval ratings, which is a shame since the film is good. The same goes for Body of Lies. The Chihuahua is still in the top 5, and has proven to have a lasting bark and bite. Pride and Glory debuted about right I'd say. Max Payne dipped, but for a video game adaptation, it is still strong. Next week, look for HSM3 to repeat the top spot. Smith's PORNO won't challenge it.






Wicked on Film?
Everyone on Broadway knows "Wicked" does wicked good business. But after five years on the Gotham boards, the perennial top dog of Rialto sales has racked up the kind of numbers that make Hollywood sit up: Universal Pictures, the studio that first optioned the 1995 novel and one of the producers of the tuner, says "Wicked" counts among its most profitable properties. Period. Since the legit industry is generally considered small potatoes next to the coin reaped by cineplex hits, it's a gravity-defying feat for a legit franchise to muscle up into the ranks of its bigscreen brethren -- especially with a potential feature adaptation still several years down the Yellow Brick Road.

Producers aim to keep the legit witch aloft by sustaining the sellout North American crowds to which the show has become accustomed. With four international productions growing to five in 2011, the musical's global reach will continue to expand until slipping box office warrants contraction -- whenever that is. "We don't yet know where the peak is," says David Stone, the producer who spearheads the production team with Marc Platt, the former prexy of production at U who now has a shingle on the studio's lot. It all counts as stratospheric success for a show that didn't initially look like a slam dunk. When Platt picked up the option on Gregory Maguire's well-reviewed novel, which explores the backstory of Oz's green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West, he initially imagined it as a film until composer Stephen Schwartz convinced him it would work better as a tuner. From there creatives moved forward on the musical version, with Winnie Holzman penning the book and Joe Mantello directing.

"It was the first time we were part of the evolution of a stage project from start to finish, and the expectations were certainly modest," says Jimmy Horowitz, co-prexy of production and executive vice president of Universal Pictures. "From our standpoint, we were supporting Marc's vision. But when we all first sat down at that reading, we knew it was something special." Now, on the eve of the musical's fifth anniversary, worldwide reported grosses for "Wicked" have hit $1.2 billion. That's higher than the global grosses for any of the studio's top five films (led by "Jurassic Park" with $923 million worldwide), although those sums do not count DVD, TV sales and other ancillary revenues. "The show really found its way into the culture at a time when there was nothing else out there like it," Horowitz says. A feature adaptation of the tuner remains a likelihood, but no plans are being developed until it appears the show's sales arc has crested. Ditto theme park rides, cartoon series and any other potential spinoffs. "The show is doing so well that you want to let that continue to play out as long as possible," Horowitz says. "We haven't yet started expanding beyond the core business."
--From Variety

I will be the first to say I cannot wait for a big screen adaptation of the hit musical, but one can't blame Universal's stance on the property. As long as folks are still buying theater tickets steadily, why bother changing a profitable thing? On a minor tangent, when a film is greenlit, it needs to be based on this musical moreso than the Gregory Maguire book, which is dull with a capital "D." Literally, I could not make it until the end because his writing style goes off into agonizingly long digressions. Anyway, when a musical is THIS fun, fans get impatient for more, but if I was being smart, I would actually wait a few years after the popularity of the stage version dips. It really is amazing how much this has made though.






The Ripley Saga Continues
Chris Columbus is in negotiations to direct the long-gestating "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" for Paramount Pictures reports Variety. Jim Carrey is still set to star as newspaper columnist-explorer Robert Ripley who goes on strange adventures that defy explanation. Originally slated to go into production last year with Tim Burton at the helm, Columbus has pitched a new concept that Paramount and Carrey sparked to. As a result, the original China-based storyline will be scrapped. The studio will soon hire a writer to draft the project and is aiming for a 2011 release.
--From Dark Horizons

What a shame the journey of this film has become. With so many script revisions, casting changes, and directorial issues, how profitable will the result eventual film be? By this time, critics are well aware of how much trouble the production has grown into, so their reviews will reflect that because many critics (I'm not one of them) search harder for flaws when a production has encountered so many hills and valleys. Admit it guys, you do. Moving along, if Columbus is hired, the tone and mood will be altered drastically because Columbus is better as a family geared filmmaker. Burton's effort would have been dark. So now a new director and new screenplay will be the focus. I wouldn't be shocked if this is trashed sometime soon by the studio.






Fox Schedule Shake Up
Coming off one of the worst years in its history, 20th Century Fox is tightening its belt for next year and shifted around it 2009 slate with many of its films undergoing delays of several months reports Variety. The most notable change is that its film version of "The A-Team", which still doesn't have a cast or director locked, has been delayed a full year from June 12th 2009 to June 11th 2010. John Singleton, who had been attached to direct, left the project after the studio said it wanted more time to develop the script.

Their comedy "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief", about a modern-day man who incurs the wrath of the Greek Gods, has also been pushed back from late 2009 to July 2nd 2010. This is the same weekend as their adaptation of the acclaimed book series "Ramona. Next, the studio has pushed back Dwayne Johnson-led family adventure "Tooth Fairy" from June 2009 to November 13th 2009 to take advantage of the pre-Thanksgiving holiday frame. Earlier in the year, Chris Columbus' "I Love You Beth Cooper" starring Hayden Panettiere has been pushed from March 27th to July 10th, while comedy-adventure "They Came From Upstairs" has been moved even further - from February 13th to July 31st. Finally, "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel" will hit Christmas Day 2009.
--From Dark Horizons

We all knew schedule changes would be common after the writer's strike. The A-Team is without a cast or director. Remind me again why this film is being made? That is a rhetorical statement. Some of these 80's adaptations are not going as the studio probably planned. These hurdles should be a sign, but they won't be. The next three projects mentioned do not strike me as blockbuster hits, but then again what do I know? Is that seriously the title for the Alvin and the Chipmunks sequel? How on Earth could "intelligent" people conversing in a room actually agree that "The Squeakuel" is the best choice?






More Release Date Changes!
Gran Torino
Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" will get a limited release on December 17th with a platformed campaign into wide release to play out over subsequent frames.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
The New Line romantic comedy starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner has been scheduled for May 1st 2009 to act as counter-programming to "X-Men Origins: Wolverine".

Hangover
The Todd Phillips-directed comedy has moved back a week from June 12th 2009 to June 5th 2009.

The Orphan
The Dark Castle thriller starring Stellan Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga has moved back more than three months from November 6th 2009 to July 24th. It is now very likely that Warner Bros. will move Alexandre Aja's Piranha 3-D, which is still scheduled for the same date.

Hurricane Season
The Weinstein sports drama starring Forest Whitaker has been delayed from December 25th 2008 to an undetermined date in March 2009.

The Book of Eli
The post-apocalyptic western starring Denzel Washington will come out January 15th 2010.

Bandslam
Summit Entertainment's musical comedy starring David Bowie and Lisa Kudrow has been delayed from April 10th 2009 to July 31st.

Julie & Julia
The Columbia Pictures rom-com starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep has moved back from April 24th 2009 to August 7th to act as counter-programming to Paramount's G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra.

Sorority Row
The horror remake will release in theaters on October 2nd 2009.

Che: The Argentine
The first part of Steven Soderbergh's two-part epic on the life of Che Guevara will likely come out on January 9th 2009 in select markets.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
The Sony Animation adaptation has moved back away from direct competition with Hoodwinked 2: Hood Vs. Evil on January 15th 2010 to September 18th 2009. Strangely, this was only one week before the original release date of another Sony Animation feature: Hotel Transylvania, which was delayed to 2010.

Last Chance Harvey
The comedic romance starring Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson has moved up from January 23rd 2009 to December 26th 2008.

Sunshine Cleaning
Overture Films will finally release the comic drama starring Amy Adams and Alan Arkin on March 13th 2009.

The Crazies
The horror remake will come out sometime in Fall 2009.

Untitled Michael Moore Documentary
While the subject matter remains a mystery (though it is likely the rumored sequel to Fahrenheit 9/11), the next documentary from Michael Moore will release sometime in the summer.

Pandorum
The sci-fi thriller starring Dennis Quiad and Ben Foster will come out some time in Summer 2009.

Let The Right One In
The controversial remake directed by Cloverfield's Matt Reeves is currently on the fast track for Fall 2009.
--From Dark Horizons

I have to wonder why Clint Eastwood is releasing two films this fall. Changeling is sure to gain the Academy's attention, but maybe he just loves directing dramas. Nothing wrong with making movies that critics and Oscar voters enjoy. And leave it to McConaughey to provide counter-programming for bigger flicks. Does he care about anything other than ab shots and easy paychecks? This is the first I have heard of the post-apocalyptic western starring Denzel. That should be intriguing. The horror remakes will be…the same as most horror remakes I suppose. I heard many months ago that Michael Moore wanted to do a documentary on homosexuals, but a Fahrenheit sequel is more likely for a summer release. Amy Adams looks to have a packed year in 2009. Pandorum sounds promising. And on my last random observation, the release date for Soderbergh's Che two-parter means it will probably be less than stellar. Too bad.






Jack Ryan's Future
It looks like Sam Raimi won't be producing a reboot of the Jack Ryan franchise after all. According to Moviehole, "Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mace Neufeld have been rehired by Paramount as producers on the franchise, with a mandate to come up with a Jack Ryan original ASAP. "By Any Means Necessary" has been abandoned as a potential new Ryan story. At present there are no director and no star attached." Neufeld produced the prior Jack Ryan films, while di Bonaventura has produced Paramount's "Transformers", " Shooter", and the upcoming "G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra." Moviehole adds that there's also "a possibility that the film may feature an 'older' Ryan, as opposed to a younger version." With "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" among the year's biggest hits, it certainly doesn't seem inconceivable for Harrison Ford to reprise his role as Ryan if the filmmakers go with an older character.
--From IGN

Since this news bit emanated from moviehole, we must take it with a grain of salt. I might be in the minority, but that has never stopped me before, so I'll say I did not like either of the Jack Ryan pics in which Harrison Ford starred. He portrayed the character like it was any standard Harrison Ford actioner. Alec Baldwin and Ben Affleck seemed to immerse themselves more in the character (but I cannot say that certainty since I have not read the books). By the way, the "by Any Means Necessary" is not a Clancy novel. I would not be surprised at all if Ford signed on. Still, the bouncing around this franchise does with regard to Ryan's age is not helpful. Perhaps they should hang it up. Would Raimi have made a solid sequel/prequel? Maybe, but even his best attempt might not be good enough to make this series relevant again.

The 20 Second Sermon

Zac Efron has two items of news in the sermon this week. First he has denied rumors of a Pirates 4 role. Thank the movie Gods those have been debunked. Second, Kevin Bacon has given Ef a blessing for the Footloose remake. Uh…cringe is all I can type at the moment. Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire has been afforded a surprise "R" rating by the MPAA. The film has already received Oscar buzz. This can't be a beneficial blow. Marvel has dropped hints that a Dr. Strange movie could be in the works. I'll be honest, a live-action adaptation of this is more likely than not to be disastrous. The original made-for-TV live-action release was beyond atrocious. The recent DTV animated movie was ok, but seriously, just imagine how bad this might be. I'm being pessimistic, I know. Daniel Craig has turned down the Thor role. Star power is what this adaptation needs, but what A-lister is willing to take the risk? And even though he looks exactly like him, Triple H would be a last resort option in my book.

What's Coming to DVD….Buy or Avoid?

DVD Headline of the Week



National Lampoon's Animal House (30th Anniversary Gift Set) - National Lampoon knows this is the only way it will make money, so this has to be like the fourth or fifth dip of this by now. Still, this comedy is ageless. Buyable

Journey to the Center of the Earth - This release comes packed with 2-D and 3-D versions. Glasses are included as well. This adventure does have its setbacks in being tailor made for effects, but Brendan Fraser and company still deliver some great laughs, neat action, and ample entertainment from rookie director Eric Brevig. This is not perfect, but acceptable family fun. Rentable

Tinker Bell - Disney, always the trickster, has shifted to DTV spin-offs now that John Lasseter has stopped the DTV sequels. This is a CGI adventure. I don't have to tell you how good or bad it will probably be.

Kitt Kittredge: An American Girl - Didn't see this, and don't care to anytime soon. I think Abigail Breslin is choosing the wrong type of roles considering the talent she displayed in Little Miss Sunshine. This had a Nancy Drew feel, and I hated that movie.

The Polar Express Presented in 3-D - I actually felt this was a modern Christmas classic, despite the eyes of the characters many criticize. If you already own the DVD like me, the only reason you would update is for Blu-Ray, not necessarily the new 3-D bonus. Buyable

Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead - I keep hearing whispers of this release that make me curious. It is directed by Lloyd Kaufman, President of Troma Studios, and creator of The Toxic Avenger, so that says a lot. It might be funny, so I'd rent it for sure.

Abbott and Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection - I am not as familiar with this duo as I am with other classic comedy groups, but this is a loaded box set. Quiz me on Laurel and Hardy, The Marx Brothers, or W.C. Fields, but I need to rent some films from these two.

Zombie Strippers - I was close to watching this online since it was readily available on less than reputable sites, but I never got around to it. Zombies + Jenna Jameson = money that needs to be spent.

Hell Ride - Oh the "Quentin Tarantino Presents" catalogue. Remember when Hostel came out under the same moniker? That was terrible and this has received similar reviews. Still, the cover is so darn neat looking.

Death Defying Acts - I am a Houdini aficionado, and this biopic slipped by my radar. It can't be too bad with Pearce right?

The Critic's Quickee

W. - This is a very hard film to approach with an open mind because I think most people will enter the theater ready to judge based on their personal opinions of the President. That's not what I did. I wanted to go see a movie, and that is how I decided my rating, based on how good the movie was. I fully expected to hate this because the production was rushed in time for the election. However, I was fascinated by how Oliver Stone handled the material. I agree with Leonard that a lot of viewers will misread this. Oliver Stone is not Michael Moore, and this is not a documentary about George W. Bush. This is a film based on events in his life, not a documentary. This is about a son trying to succeed past his father. It's about how he approached his jobs, his relationships with others, his drinking problem, and so forth. What I loved was that for the most part, this stays focused on George W. Bush, not his marriage, not his mistakes. This is about him. It does venture off track a bit with stock footage from Iraq, but the majority of the time, it stays straight to its intentions. I also think it will be impossible for this to satisfy everyone. Some may leave saying it attacks Bush too much, and others might accuse it of "Not having any balls." Peter Travers from Rolling Stone actually did. I think Stone and screenwriter Stanley Weiser were about as impartial as anyone could be. They conveyed the ups and the downs concerning Dubya. All but two of the performances were brilliant. Josh Brolin certainly deserves an Oscar nod for his portrayal. He managed to capture the heart and soul of this man without making it a caricature. Jeffrey Wright is superb as Colin Powell (a difficult part), Elizabeth Banks is just fine as Dubya's wife Laura, Toby Jones is fantastic as Karl Rove, Scott Glenn is solid as Donald Rumsfield, and Richard Dreyfuss is just outstanding as Dick Cheney. I could go on as this is filled with notable turns. Thandie Newton gives one of the strangest depictions of the year as Condolezza Rice. I am still baffled as to what she was aiming for. I find it hard to believe that she tried so hard to impersonate her, and ended up so far from the mark. James Cromwell is the biggest flaw in my opinion. He had a key role, but played George H.W. Bush as James Cromwell. He might have possessed some of the same traits, and he does resemble him in stature and age, but he did very little to immerse himself into the person compared to the rest of the cast. The best scene occurs during a meeting with cabinet where Cheney gets up and speaks in front of a map. All I'll say is it was chilling. The fact is the film is packed with memorable moments, and considering it jumps around to numerous periods of Bush's life, I say Julie Monroe did a great job editing. The soundtrack selection was terrific with Alan Jackson and Louis Armstrong among others. Certain events are skipped over, but I think there is a reason for that. This is about what drove Bush, not his entire campaign. I think people expected more of a polemic, but this is a biopic. As I said, once or twice the film shifts its focus, but primarily stays on the same path. There was no doubt that W. would have audiences and critics divided because of the person it centered around. However, I feel in time, people will start to see this as it was meant to be seen. This was a very comfortable film to watch, and I enjoyed myself thoroughly. Final Rating = 8.5/10.0

Max Payne - Another video game adaptation equals another clunker. People wonder why we haven't seen a halfway decent adaptation, and the reason is quite clear. It goes beyond the cast. The script and the director have no ambition when it comes to these projects. They tell the exact story from the game, and that's it. The goal is to make sure the fans are pleased enough so they buy a ticket. This needs to stop. Those familiar and unfamiliar need to be pleased. Vince McMahon once said "I know what the fans want better than they do." This should be the message for directors if they ever want a critically acclaimed film from this genre. On the other hand, they always make money, and it is a nice walk in the park for the star because he/she picks up a paycheck, and is kept in good graces with the studio. That party in this case is Mark Wahlberg, who is a fine performer to be sure, but this is not his best year. After The Happening crashed and burned, he hands in another dud, even though the fault has little to do with him. However, people are forgetting why he received that Oscar nod, and he needs to remind them again. We have seen barely anything novel in Max Payne. You have a cop whose wife and child were killed, and he sets out as a vigilante hell bent on revenge. Throw in some weird drug that makes you hallucinate and you get cookie-cutter characters and paper thin story. Wahlberg turns in a very one-note portrayal as Payne. He does resemble the drawings on the game artwork, so I guess that's all it takes to satisfy fans. An extremely odd cast includes musicians Nelly Furtado, Ludacris, as well as Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Sucre from Prison Break, Donal Logue, and even Chris O'Donnell who has evidently pissed someone off, and is attempting to work his way back up the ladder. Everyone is rather plain, but as I said, the flaws are not with the cast. The problem is Director John Moore was too busy copying the plot from the game to the big screen with Beau Thorne's script when they should have molded it and altered it to evoke some passion, profundity, and :gasp: originality. Not one John Moore effort is all that spectacular, so I have to question why he was selected. Any unique aspects of the tale are sacrificed for standard action sequences. I'm not saying mindless action is bad, but we expect this when the source is a video game, and furthermore, the mindless action contained is so stereotypical that repeated viewings would be torturous. Many have praised the visual style of the film, and to be truthful, it probably is the most impressive quality, but that is not saying much. The poster and atmosphere are made to resemble Sin City in many ways, so I was not nearly as enthused about that as others were. This world was intriguing, but never explored so it doesn't matter. Don't even get me started on the outlandish rating from the MPAA. The point is this: There is not one facet that stands out with Max Payne. Faithfulness in this medium is not the wisest course. I thought this entire flick was ridiculous, and it makes Eagle Eye look like a masterpiece (Don't worry I'm sticking by my rating). I hope we see a worthwhile video game adaptation someday, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to approach them with optimism. Final Rating = 4.0/10.0

What Have I Done?

Monday - Steph and I make trailer predictions before movies to make the time go faster. The loser usually has to pay for something like $5-$15. On this occasion, I won, and made her purchase 4 Film Favorites Superman I-IV for $12. Not a bad deal.



Tuesday - I was listening to a song by The Joe Perry Project called "Crossfire" and was reminded of the old Milton Bradley game of the same name from the early 90's. To prove I am a geek, I even remember the song from the commercial, and how I became bored after playing this for like 5 minutes.






Wednesday - Blockbuster Memory File #1124B: When I was younger and switched cases commonly at Blockbuster to see certain titles, one series that was always checked out was Erotic Zone. The "Let Your Fingers Do the Walking" episode had one of the hottest women I have ever laid eyes on, Denise Buick, who did like 2 movies (Angel Fist, Full Contact) and disappeared. This VHS is only available on used for anyone curious.




Thursday - I found a Gamestop gift card among my things recently with some money leftover, and gift cards tend to burn a hole in my pocket. Gamestop at one point sold used DVDs, and I thought a couple near me still did, but I went on a journey to many local shops throughout the week only to discover that not one still sold DVDs. Since I am not a gamer, what will I do with this gift card now?




The Weekend - I have been renting a bunch of Otis Redding CDs from the library recently. I was moved by the passion in the late singer's voice. The Dock of the Bay is certainly his best album, but Otis Blue and The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul are both superb as well. I recommend checking him out if you haven't already.

Based on the Trailer…

Newest Trailers

Friday the 13th - This looks about as bad as any Michael Bay produced remake, but the mother voice over was eerie. Trailer Rating = 4.5/10.0

Notorious - You can access both trailers from here. The newest offers a larger glimpse. This movie looks ok with inspired casting decisions, but my question is how sugarcoated will it be? Even those a little familiar with Biggie will see through the phony scenes. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

Gran Torino - Clint's second release looks good primarily because he is in it. Otherwise, the plot would seem average at best. But since he is the star and the director, my interest goes up considerably. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

October Releases

The Haunting of Molly Hartley - Oh goodie another movie with cheap scares and devil pact plot. The newbie cast and the lame premise equals a skip for yours truly. This kind of sludge just doesn't interest me. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0

Zack and Miri Make a Porno - Kevin Smith's new comedy looks hilarious. I'm anxious to see this because I know he is a great filmmaker that can flourish outside of Jay and Silent Bob. Note: This may not be online anymore. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2) - Kevin Smith's new comedy still looks funny, but this trailer sends a different message of tone than the teaser did. I'm anxious to see this due to the absence of Jay and Silent Bob, although Mewes is involved. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

November Releases

Role Models - On one hand you have Paul Rudd, who is always hilarious, but then you also have Seann William Scott, who is annoying after about 5 minutes. This looks average the very maximum. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - This is some sort of weird DVD trailer, but we see the basic layout of the plot, and it is not very funny or interesting. I could care less about this one. Trailer Rating = 4.5/10.0

Repo! The Genetic Opera - They keep the music clips to a minimum in the trailer, which was wise. While this certainly intrigues me, the praising quotes from random websites worries me. It could be really bad, but check out the cast. That alone is worth the price of admission. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

Quantum of Solace - I saw this weeks ago, but forgot to rate it here. The new Bond movie looks to be just as awesome as Casino Royale. I can't wait. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0

Transporter 3 - I know George's buddy is looking forward to anything Statham, but this franchise has never been all that outstanding to me. Statham is hit or miss. I'll see this I guess, but only out of curiosity. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

Australia - The new epic from filmmaker Baz Luhrman seems to have left out his usual exaggerated flair. Kidman and Jackman will make a fine team. I think this looks rather good, and the trailer has a splendid piece of music accompanying it. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Bolt - It takes exactly two seconds to decipher the Disney CGI to the Pixar Disney CGI. This has John Travolta as the lead voice. The hamster seems funny, but the rest doesn't impress me. Trailer Rating = 5.5/10.0

Milk - Sean Penn as a gay man. At least we know he wants an Oscar. I love Gus Van Sant, so this should be fabulous no matter how many Oscars they want. The cast has some outstanding young guys in it, so I'm there. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

Four Christmases - Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon in a holiday comedy. Yippee. I generally dislike modern Christmas movie because they all go way overboard on the slapstick. This appears to be up that same alley with typical Vaughn shtick. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0

December Releases

Doubt - A great looking drama with great performers. This trailer was riveting. I'm looking forward to it. How can you go wrong with Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman going toe to toe? Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0

Frost/Nixon - Wow. I was glued to my seat. This is an amazing trailer that shows right away how brilliant the performances are. Ron Howard is a superb director, and I really hope this is a hit for him. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0

Yes Man - A new Jim Carrey comedy where he must say yes to everything. Sounds a bit like Liar Liar, but this is the Carrey humor I have missed for years. It looks pretty funny to me. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

Delgo - I've seen this one twice now, and it amazes me how studios think. If we stack as many stars that are willing to join, it will be a hit right? No. The animation looks sloppy, and the story sounds forgettable. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0

Defiance - This new Edward Zwick film looks outstanding with Daniel Craig leading the cast in World War II story. This gave me chills. I can't wait. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Seven Pounds - I'm not quite sure what to make of this yet, but it looks compelling, and it also looks like Mr. Smith is aiming for another Oscar nom. We'll see, but this is worth a ticket price. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

Punisher: War Zone - This is only a teaser, but I get the impression I have seen all I need to. This sequel (or whatever is in relation to the previous film) looks like an comic action nightmare with cliches up the wazoo. I'm not a fan of the Punishers movies thus far, and this does not look to change that. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - This film looks amazing. David Fincher is the man, I will be waiting to purchase my ticket. A plot about someone who ages backwards has all sorts of possibilities. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0

The Spirit - This is the new adaptation from Frank Miller. I'm anxious to see this, but from this teaser, it looks a bit too similar to Sin City. Oh well. I loved that film, so maybe this will be just as entertaining. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

The Spirit (2) - This revealed a lot more than the teaser, and while this film looks like a blast, I have some doubts, and they start with Samuel L. Jackson. Can Frank Miller hit a homerun for a third time? Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

The Day the Earth Stood Still - This teaser illustrates how a classic sci-fi film will probably not update well for this era. I am curious because Keanu Reeves is a suitable choices, but I noticed too much CGI just from this, so that's not a good sign. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

The Tale of Despereaux - This new Universal CGI film has some cute lines and some exquisite animation, but the plot strikes me as dull. You never know, at least it isn't filled with poop jokes. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

January, TBD, and Beyond Releases

Che - Granted, this is in Spanish, which I do not speak fluently, but this trailer looks amazing nevertheless. Soderbergh's epic should be fantastic. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

Paul Blart: Mall Cop - Kevin James stars in a Happy Madison production about a mall security guard. This looks like it will provide a few chuckles, but not much more. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

The Escapist - A British prison break film starring Brian Cox. This is my favorite genre, so I can't wait for this, but in order for this to make a splash, it will have to be something special. The critic quotes being from random guys worries me. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Bride Wars - Kate Hudson has gone downhill as much as possible after her great role in Almost Famous. This looks dreadful, and not because it is targeted at women. I'm sure it will be #1. Trailer Rating = 2.5/10.0

The Uninvited - A crappy looking horror film with some sort of lame twist at the end. Yay. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0

Terminator Salvation - I love Christian Bale, and the Terminator franchise, but I have serious doubts about this. I believe it will be terrible, but I must admit, this teaser was well constructed. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Watchmen - This was the best trailer attached to my Dark Knight screening. Hopefully Zack Snyder can continue to improve his skills after 300. I must read this graphic novel soon. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

Star Trek XI - The teaser was superbly placed before Cloverfield, and this causes me to be amped for the next installment despite my doubts about the cast. I hope it's as good as we deserve. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Wolverine - Not the finest quality of trailers, but you can still see and understand it. Gavin Hood is directing, so that is intriguing. The preview is ok, and I am still unsure. Can the character carry a whole film on his own? Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

The Perfect Game - Though I'm not a baseball fan, I always enjoy watching the Little League World Series. The problem with this film, despite a bad title, is that the preview reveals way too much, so hopefully it has more going for it besides the story, which I'm sure is inspirational. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

Outlander - Hmm, I'm not sure about this, but the cast alone is enough for me to buy a ticket. James Caviezel is so talented, but his script choices continue to boggle me (not in a bad way mind you). The idea is shaky, but the effects and acting look good, so I'm in. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

The International - Sadly, this will be released early in 2009, which is not a good time of the year. Still, I like both Owen and Watts, and since Tom Tykwer is helming, it should be at least halfway decent. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

Fast & Furious - Is that the best title they could come up with? Well, I hate this franchise, and everything it stands for, but I'd be lying if I said this wasn't a step up from the previous installment. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

The Soloist - Atonement' Joe Wright changes his British period drama material for something new. This looks a bit like Resurrecting the Champ, only with better actors. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

Knowing - This has Number 23 sort of approach, which is fine, but why is Nicolas Cage doing all these mediocre thrillers? He's a great actor, and should be showing that more. Anyway, this looks ok. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

New York, I Love You - The first film, Paris, Je T'aime was one of the best films in recent memory that few knew about. So I am very excited about this second installment. The cast and directors look amazing. It should be a terrific experience. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - This was a great book, the darkest of the set, and this trailer rocks. I'm anxious to see this. The franchise has not decreased in quality, and here's hoping this continues that trend. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Other Stuff to Read

The Best Movies of the Alphabet
411 October Roundtable - This month Owain J. Brimfield continues as roundtable host and compiles the thoughts of the movie zone staff on the releases for October!
The MeeThinks Friday FreeThinks - Thanks again to John Meehan for providing my banner here, and for the Alphabet feature.

Also, keep an eye out for more comic book character timelines in the future. Here are the first two:

The Ultimate Batman Timeline
The Ultimate Daredevil Timeline



CHECK OUT ALL THE GREAT WRITERS 411 HAS TO OFFER!
411 My Space!
The 411 Wrestling Zone
The 411 Music Zone
The 411 Politics Zone
The 411 Games Zone
The 411 Sports Zone

The 411 Movie PODCAST - This week we discuss new releases and the Halloween TV schedule!

Make sure to check out all of this week's reviews of DVD's, Movies, Music, and more!
And of course read every movie review with the name Chad Webb attached to it.
Thanks for reading the whole way through, and make sure to tune in next week.