It looks like Mr. and Mrs. Cruise may be starring in a saucy remake of Last Tango in Paris. We get wind of this news thanks to the WEBMASTER at FILM JUNK.

Gotta love those British tabloids… they keep cooking up some seriously amazing rumours. This week there’s a report from NOW Magazine that says Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are looking to star in a movie together that is “cutting edge and sexy, but also accessible”. Their solution? A remake of Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris!

If Tom and Katie star in this remake, I want it to be a sultry whorish affair. I haven’t seen Last Tango in Paris, but people say it’s racy and if they’re going to bother to remake it - I say go overboard with the sensual onslaught. Eyes Wide Shut was a great sexy thriller with Tom and the ex; it only makes sense that he would want another film to embarrass his current child by humping her mom on screen as well.

Seeing your parents bang on screen (along with the world) is a definite downside to being the child of an actor.

International friends - it is with a heavy heart that I pass the following news to you from the good people over at theage

Patrick Swayze’s cancer has reportedly spread to his liver. The Dirty Dancing star - who announced earlier this year he is suffering from pancreatic cancer - has reportedly started preparing himself for death by saying goodbye to his friends and family after discovering the deadly disease has infested another part of his body.

A source told National Enquirer magazine: “Patrick recently got word that the cancer had spread to his liver and that is what his doctors said would begin the countdown to the end. Patrick knew it was coming because he was suffering increased weakness. “At times, he was so weak that he could barely walk without feeling faint. Sometimes he feels out of breath and has to sit down.”

Patrick, 56, has reportedly told Lisa, his wife of 33 years, and his brother Donny that he doesn’t have long to live.

We have heard this before, and I declare now as I did before; Cancer shall have no part of Swayze. This affront to his blessed liver will not stand and the glorious Swaze will once again stand victorious.

Cancer you lost your fist match against Swayze, and in the second bout you stand to be humiliated anew. If you thought Lance Armstrong gave you a hard time, wait till you feel the wrath and persistence of Swayze! The man has 4 livers and 3 hearts!!! Bring it!

I refuse to feel sorrow for Swayze, he will be victorious; he will conquor. If I believed in the gods I would pray to the pantheon tonight, I would saw a cow in half like Abraham and spend countless hours in supplication. Because I believe the skies are hollow, I can only believe in Swayze this day. And believe in him I shall.

He beat cancer before and he will do it again.

Cancer, fuck you.

Boards are being posted n the woods of woe that the SAG is set to strike. We get wind of this dismal update thanks to the professionals at Variety.

The Screen Actors Guild will send out its strike authorization vote to members next month, making it possible for actors to strike as early as January — prompting a bitter response from the majors. In a message to SAG’s 120,000 members sent Wednesday, SAG president Alan Rosenberg said a strike would be called by the national board “only if it becomes absolutely necessary.”

“Your leadership believes that we must be empowered with the real threat of a work stoppage in order to let management know that we are committed to protecting the future of all actors,” he wrote. “We ask for your support, knowing that you have entrusted us to fight for your rights, and to protect your wages, working conditions and your health and pension benefits. We take your trust very, very seriously and will work towards reaching a fair agreement without a work stoppage.”

I understand the need to strike, but in this case I would personally want to hold off until the current economic “tsunami” is over.

Sadly, from where I sit, it looks like a strike is going to be inevitable. The studio may have to cave on this one just to ensure the business dollars for the California economy. People need the jobs right now and squabbling over percentages in this current climate isn’t kosher. I’m all for sticking it to the man and getting fair pay for fair work, but now is not the time to take a stand. The Union will have a much harder time shoring up public support when so many laid off from the manufacturing sector are looking for work.

In all sincerity, I hope this prophecy remains unfulfilled.

Stay tuned for strike news!

We have pictures from the upcoming Woody Allen/Larry David Film Whatever works to show you today thanks to First Showing:

I can’t wait to see this one. Larry David in a Woody Allen film seems about as perfect as you can get. Stylistically they come from the same denomination of comedy and I have the highest of expectation for this legendary team up.

This film is slotted for a Cannes premier and a release sometime in 2009. We’ll keep you up to speed on the progress of this film, I apologize for not having info about it sooner.

We have another trailer for He’s Just Not That Into You thanks to the good people over at the movieweb:

I have a feeling that this film is going to do quite well. It has a loaded cast and seems to have a finger on the pulse of those hunting for a mate. I am not sure if it will make Sex and the City money, but It should be among the most successful romantic comedies of 2009. This film launches in the love month of February and we’ll soon see what kind of booty it’s able to pull in.

Ladies, Gentlemen, Police Academy 8 is on deck suited up in full Guttenberg glory; ready for action! We get this glorious news thanks to Pete over at slashfilm:

Steve Guttenberg told The Sun over the weekend that a screenplay is being written for an eighth Police Academy movie with all the available original stars set to return.

“So far it is really great, everyone from the original movies who is still around will return,” says” Guttenberg. “I know Kim and Sharon have been asked but they haven’t said yes yet. It would be really great to have them onboard.”

Remember when I said I hate needless sequels, this is an exception to the rule. I love the first 3 Police Academy films. (I will watch all of them but the first three are very enjoyable.) The series went to shit after the Guttenberg left, so I think it appropriate to have hope now that Mahoney has returned.

I am more than pleased that the original cast is getting back together, but a massive absence will haunt this latest incarnation. In 2001 David Graf passed on and is no longer able to play Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry. Tackleberry was impulse and made for great comedic moments; his contributions will be greatly missed. I personally think the film should start at the funeral of Tackleberry to get this out of the way and celebrate the character one last time. A death in the line of service would fit the character perfectly and this character deserves an on screen funeral. Tackleberry may act before he thinks, but he isn’t a coward; the man has the blood of a hero and should have a warrior’s send off.

I hope Bobcat is back for this one as well. Shit. I am getting way too pumped for this film. Happy Thanksgiving Mr. Gutenberg, you made my day.

We have a few new pics from Underworld 3 for you to check out today thanks to our friends at moviesonline. For the rest of the images please go to the source.

I thought the first Underwold was enjoyable enough, but it always seemed like a weak second fiddle to the glory of Blade. Underworld 3 is set to take place in the 1500’s however and this is the best setting in which to have this film (in my opinion). Crossbows and spikes are more exciting than gun-fighting among vampires.

I have said before that Rona Mitra is a strong, sultry warrior. Any film where she is wearing armor like this is a-ok with me. I hope that she becomes to armor what Kiera Knightly is to gowns.

I consider the above pictures to be pornography.

When Twilight was feeling its rise to popularity there were two comparisons that were thrown about. The literary popularity in young readers like Harry Potter fans, and the criticism that the romance was ripped from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

And now Hollywood is rumoured to be alive with the buzz that Joss Whedon, creator of the aforementioned Buffy the Vampire Slayer is eyeing the success of Twilight with anxious hands gripping a feature film script he had prepared for the continuation of the show.

Moviehole Reports:

The monster success of girly vampire pic Twilight at the US Box office last weekend could kick open the door for a big-screen return of Joss Whedon’s much-loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Rumours are circulating in Hollywood that Whedon has a feature-film script based on his hit TV series ready to roll as soon as a studio is prepared to commit.

I could see this as prime picking for a return of the delectable Sarah Michelle Gellar and her Scooby Gang to return to the big screen. I have no doubt that Joss has a multitude of ideas stashed away for the Buffyverse in that treasure trove of a mind of his.

Maybe if Buffy gets a movie treatment in this high time of teen vampire romance, other spinoff possibilities could return to television as well. Faith the rebel slayer was rumoured to be getting her own show back in the day and even Spike was considered, but the one spinoff show I was looking more forward to seeing was Ripper. The story of Giles, the last remaining Watcher gathering and reforming what is left of the council (destroyed in the closing end of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on TV). Anthony Stewart Head is currently staring as King Pendragon in the BBC’s Merlin.

David Boreanaz is enjoying great success on Bones (also a favourite of mine) but I am sure he too could leave some room for a feature film to return as Angel.

Joss has a cult following, which I am a member of so I am tainted in my opinion. But it might be high time for him to reign the TV waves again. Joss once swore to never do TV, but mid-season he has Dollhouse premiering with former Buffy Alum Eliza Dushku (which is getting mixed reviews and speculation on the Whedon TV Cancellation curse) and his outstanding success online with Doctor Horrible’s Sing-a-Long Blog are keeping him just shy of the spotlight.

But the rabid Whedonites have let him down in the past with Firefly. But while the market is hot for angsty vampire love, and Hollywood itching to make a movie out of every popular but ened TV show (Friends, Sex and the City, Arrested Development) we just might find all the planets are aligned for our best chance at seeing it happen.

We have the trailer for What Doesn’t Kill You today thanks to our friends over at slashfilm. Peep this shit -

Holy fuck, does Ethan Hawk looks like a dirtbag! (This of course, is awesome.) I didn’t expect a film about hooligans involving Mark Ruffalo And Ethan Hawk to look so appealing - but this trailer has sunk chains into me like they were sent by Cenobites.

What did you guys think of it?

For those of you that are feeling the depression blues this Thanksgiving, may I suggest hunting for your own turkeys just like the pilgrims did! I was luck enough to find a Norwegian “how to” video on this very subject. The video below features a typical Norwegian turkey hunt.

Feel free to discuss techniques of your own!

Empire Magazine has outstanding pictures from time to time and below is an example of such work. We get the heads up thanks to our good friends at comingsoon:

This months issue has Wolverine on the cover and has an interview with Jackman about the film.

Wolverine opens May 1st, 2009

We have the new trailer for the upcoming Heigl/Butler Rom Com The Ugly Truth thanks to the video lords of You Tube.

This looks like a pretty standard “I’m going to prove you wrong” Rom Com, and I can’t say that I’m too excited about this one personally. 27 Dresses wasn’t great and if this one ends up being shit, it may be time for Heigl to walk away from the genre.

Katherine has a sternness about her that needs to be tapped; I want this to be remedied by having her portray a nun in a movie.

Katherine Heigl stars in Nun Vengeance: The Sisters Take Back The Streets.

To those International Friends who live in the United States, I bid you a Happy Thanksgiving.

This day shall forever be known in Canada as “Thursday” but for those Americans it is a time of reflection and giving thanks.

We thank you for coming to visit this site and sharing in the discussion of movie news and general geekery.

No go eat Turkey, watch football and take a nap! There is shopping tomorrow!

We learn of a new Michael Cera comedy called Paper Hearts today. It is scheduled to appear at next years Sundance film fest and we get the following details thanks to the hilarity caves of yahoo:

Look at most movie databases, and you’ll find no mention of a new film called “Paper Hearts.” “It’s pretty much ‘the one,’ at least as far as festival programmers are concerned,” one seller said.

Those familiar with “Hearts” describe it as part documentary, part scripted comedy, centering on the real-life relationship between Cera and his girlfriend, Charlyne Yi, another member of the Apatow acting crew (she played the pigtailed stoner in “Knocked Up”). As in Cera’s recent “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist,” music is a key element.

So this is an exaggerated day to day between Cera and his girlfriend… it could be good. If the chemistry between the two is humorous, I can see this being quite funny. I like the deadpan stylings of Cera and am curious to see if he will play it as straight in this film, where he plays himself.

I’m curious if he is naturally “like that” or merely plays a subdued character on the screen. In real life I bet Cera’s as cantankerous as Belushi (RIP).

International friends - what do you think about this one?

For those of you that haven’t seen the motion poster in action - please go to the official Sony site to see it for yourslef. Below is the poster at the end of the animation. The motion poster is a cool idea for a web ad and I think we will see more of this sort of thing in the future. Now I need to find out how to embed them here.

Thanks to IESB for the heads up.

Elijah Wood recently dished about an upcoming project titled “9″ that will be based on a short silent film by Shane Acker. We get the following interview scoop thanks to our friends at MTV:

Tim Burton is producing the full-length feature from Acker, one of the WETA Digital animators on “Return of the King,” and Crispin Glover, Jennifer Connelly, John C. Reilly, Martin Landau, and Christopher Plummer are among the other voice actors. Wood plays 9, one of nine mechanized rag dolls, “who kind of have the soul of humanity in them,” he said. “It’s basically about a post-apocalyptic world where machines created by man have destroyed mankind, and these nine ragdolls go about trying to find out what has happened and what these machines are about.”

In the worldless short film version, two of the ragdolls — 9 and 5 — are scavenging for items when they encounter and must fight one of the ramshackle machine monsters, whose head is a skull, limbs are metal, and torso made out of the burlap hide of ragdolls it’s already killed.

A post Apocalyptic film where robots are the only ones left to investigate wheat happened is right up my alley. Add to the fact that Tim Burton is producing and I can safely tell you that this is now on my radar in a big way.

A ramshackle enemy that collects the parts of his bested foes unto himself is incredible. This is the robot version of a cannibal and the look is completed with the wearing of the skull. I cannot wait to see this villainous Lhurgoyf robot grow stronger as he pilfers parts from his fallen foes.

9 we just met and already I want to have your baby. Give me a cyborg uterus so I may carry your children to term.

Edit: I have added the original Short here for your viewing enjoyment!

We have the new Duplicity trailer for you today thanks to the video lords of You Tube. Check it out -

This looks like a cool romantic spy film involving a lot of snappy Julia banter. She’s an outstanding guest on Letterman, they have great back and forth exchanges. She is quick as a whip - and that will always increase someone’s stock on my charts.

Duplicity is set for launch March 20th 2009.

For those of you hungering to see the trailer for the upcoming Wolveine film, the wait will soon be over. The trailer is set to show before The Day the Earth Stood Still. We get the following heads up thanks to our friends at the movieweb:

We now know when you can expect your first glimpse at Hugh Jackman and his adamantium claws once again. 20th Century Fox has confirmed that the first trailer for Wolverine will be shown in theaters on Friday, December 12, before Fox’s The Day the Earth Stood Still. The traielr will likely debut online sometime shortly thereafter.

I still have a bad feeling about this one. Wolverine is said to have gobs of supporting characters, and this is bad news in my books. Whenever you try and introduce too many fresh heroes in a film; it usually seems to fall apart. I have fears that Wolverine will be a let down and make fans of the character furious.

For now however, we wait; let us discuss the trailer together on the following morning of December 13th.

Fi Fi FO Fum I smell the blood of a Lundgren’s son! Ladies and gentlemen today we learn that monsieur Dolph Lundgren will be joining the cast of the Expendables. We get the following scoop from our friends at comingsoon:

In an interview with Review Nation on the red carpet of Transporter 3, Sylvester Stallone revealed that he’s lining up Dolph Lundgren to co-star in his next film, The Expendables. Lundgren starred in Stallone’s fourth installment of the “Rocky” series in 1985.

Sylvester Stallone will star in, write and direct the action film, also starring Jason Statham and Jet Li. The movie follows a team of mercenaries on a mission to overthrow a South American dictator.

Well this is certainly awesome. This film is shaping up to be the Inglorious Bastards that I’ve always wanted. Statham, Stallone, and Jet Li are more than enough action for one film; ramming Lundgren into the mix makes for an overblown macho ensemble of lore and legend.

I first heard about Lundgren’s addition to the cast on yesterday’s 2pm live show and I’m pleased as punch to have this news confirmed today. I hope Lundgren and Stallone are on the same team this time around so we may see them join forces in ass-kickery.

I am pumped for this one amigos, I have high hopes for hot action.

What say ye?

Josh Brolin opted out of Terminator Salvation and recently had this to say about the matter to the good folks over at MTV:

“Yeah. I talked to Christian [Bale] for a couple hours,” he said. “I really liked the script though I hear that’s not what they filmed. The one I read was very interesting and dark. Ultimately though I didn’t think it felt right.”

One would guess that Sam Worthington ended up in the role meant for Josh. Brolin told us that he’s curious along with the rest of us now about how it all turned out. “I saw [Bale] recently and I asked him how it was and he said, ‘it’s alright.’” he laughed.

Based on this above chatter, it doesn’t sound like Bale feels Salvation will be his most excellent work. This is of course news we heard from a dude, that heard from a dude, as reported by another dude. My hopes were high when Bale was brought on board, but expectations have been falling steadily since.

It would have been cool to see Mr. Brolin team up with Mr. Bale; perhaps another time. If the two can talk shot for hours about the new Terminator, I am guessing they have a decent working relationship.

Do you guys think this chatter can let us know anything about the quality of Terminator Salvation, or should we just chalk this chatter up as rumor and hearsay?

Looks like Tim Blake Nelson’s character in the Hulk was not just any old Doctor with a made up name. That name was Dr Samuel Sterns. Avid comic book readers would pick up this little tidbit as the name that the longtime Hulk Nemesis The Leader. Sounds like The Leader is precisely where they were headed when they gave the role to Mr Nelson.

ComingSoon.net quotes Nelson

That’s the plan. That’s what they tell me, but I don’t know when that’s happening or what the details are but I am eager to do it and I hear that’s in the works. I would tell you if I knew more, but I honestly don’t.

I was never a fan of The Leader as a nemesis for the Hulk. He is a diminutive little man with a ridiculous oversize cranium dome, and of course he is green. Sacrificing brawn for brains, he creates a legion of plastic humanoids that are all super strong and mostly invulnerable. Kind of a dumb villain and not something that should rank as “nemesis”

However, for a movie? Seeing the Hulk wade through hundreds of indestructible plastic men or a variety of robots would be a visual treat for certain. They would just keep coming, and he would keep smashing. Effects extravaganza!!

Samuel L Jackson is one of those guys that people just like to see in movies. He has as many hits as he does misses, but still manages to come out smelling like roses. He falls in a very unique category as an actor.

On the horizon for Jackson is a pairing with new golfing buddy Brian Goodman. After the good reviews he got with What Doesn’t Kill You, Jackson is pairing up with Goodman in hopes of getting a greenlight on a firefighter drama.

MTVMovies Blog says:

Jackson is ready to take the plunge with Goodman on the rising director’s follow-up, “The Fallen,” a story which centers around a group of Boston firemen. Now all the talented duo (who admit to golfing together a few times a week) need is a greenlight.

“Yeah, we’ll see what happens with that,” Goodman said of the finished script, which he is currently deciding what to do with. “We are looking at that and we both would like to work together and we’ll see what happens.”

“The script is good and Brian’s a good guy,” Jackson added. “Hopefully, that film will come together and I’ll be able to do it.”

I always give at least half my attention to anything with Sam in it. But time will tell if this really grabs me.

I haven’t seen What Doesn’t Kill You, so I don’t know much about this first time director and writer. Buzz says its pretty good.

When Robert Downey Jr offers comments off the cuff, they flow like golden manna from heaven that geeks just live a lifetime to hear. An actor saying what we are all thinking. Seems Robert Downey Jr has offered up a gem of an observation about how critical it is to get the Avengers film “right”

MTVMovies Blog quotes:

“If we don’t get it right it’s really, really going to suck,” said Downey. “It has to be the crowning blow of Marvel’s best and brightest because it’s the hardest thing to get right. It’s tough to spin all the plates for one of these characters.”

I have said it before and I will say it again. Using A-List actors and writers on comic book movies is like finally treating a teenager like an adult. You treat them like an adult, and they will act like an adult.

For too long have Superhero films been discarded as secondary or fluff action films. Treat them like serious films, and you know what you get? A serious film.

RDJ hit it on the head. The job is a massive undertaking, and when casting the remaining Avengers for their films you have to consider how well they will work in the Avengers film. You can’t just cast some professional wrestler as Thor, or some CW pretty boy as Captain America. Because when time comes for the Avengers film, we are going to have them pairing up alongside Robert Downey Jr.

The example I always use in this kind of scenario is Street Fighter. The movie was horrible for a multitude of reasons but they cast Jean Claude Van Damme as Guile and everyone else were just no-name d-listers (at the time JCVD was A list for campy action) and the movie turned into a Jean Claude Van Damme movie instead of the Street Fighter movie.

I hope we get a pure ensemble that embodies Avengers, and not the Robert Downey Jr flick called Avengers.

There’s an interview today over at MTV that has one of the writer’s of Iron Man shedding some light on the ongoing War Machine drama. In the interview Justin Theroux quells rumors that Jim “Rhodey” Rhodes has his profile scaled down in the next film. This news clears up the assumption that Howard had a lesser role to play in the film, than the previous Iron Man.

If you have interest in reading the interview for yourself please check it out here.

I am sure something that somewhat resembles the truth will surface eventually regarding this matter; but for now the scrying glass is cloudy.

Regardless of the reasons for his departure I personally consider the loss of Howard to be a big blunder on Marvel’s part. This shouldn’t have happened.

TMB International Friend RonSalon tips us off to an updated trailer for Star Trek. How updated? Well it is the same trailer we were introduced to last week… With a little more.

You have to watch the whole thing to see the three seconds of extra footage, but it is worth it to see a very old looking Spock offer a “Live Long and Prosper”

I opened up the flood gates to a shit storm last week when I announced that Brand may be cast as a brother to Jack Sparrow in POTC 4. The news was dispelled as rumor but today we have Brands own thoughts on the buzz thanks to the scoop hounds over at MTV:

“I’ve seen some talk about that matter but I think they’re still writing the script,” he said. And of course, then Brand launched into a riff that makes you wonder how far he will go for his art should the role pan out. “I am having a skull and crossbones tattooed on each of my nipples in anticipation of the plotline. I just hope it doesn’t affect my other work in Jane Austen adaptations.”

So no new information. It obviously looks like Brand will take the job if it’s offered to him, but his involvement seems to be wishful thinking at this point.

When I first posted about the possibility of Brand being cast I was floored at how many people hated this man. I count him as a ridiculous character along the lines of Karl Lagerfeld, but personally have no reason to hate him, and consider him to be a quality glam entertainer. I appear to be in the minority among our readers however; and growing up with a taste for Motley Crue may be to blame.

Russel Brand is an infamous man that possesses great powers of polarization; no matter which way this news falls - there will be chatter.

We have news today about a sports biopic based on the ascention of LeBron James. We get the following skinny thanks to our friends at comingsoon:

Variety reports that More Than a Game, a documentary about NBA star LeBron James’ high school days in Akron, Ohio, has been sold to Lionsgate in an unusual deal.

“Game” is being positioned not merely as a record of James’ achievements but as a feel-good story of overcoming adversity. It follows the five starters on the varsity team at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, who travel a winding road from a rundown gymnasium to national glory and NBA riches, seeking to remain a tight-knit quintet even as James becomes a megamillionaire. The film mixes newly unearthed archival footage and family memorabilia with fresh interviews.

I know jack shit about sports. I’m sure LeBron James is popular in most circles; his name sounds familiar…. but that’s all I got. (you may commence mockery)

For those of you that are fans of James and are looking forward to this film, I can only offer this bit of commentary. The film is said to have been very well received at the Toronto International Film Festival. The source article is claiming that a 5 minute standing ovation occurred after the film was shown. This is as good a sign as you can hope for in my opinion. When people are compelled to stand and clap - excellence has happened.

This film is scheduled for a release in fall of 2009 and we’ ll be sure to keep you up to speed on the updates.

We have strange news today about I Am Legend. It appears that the prequel wasn’t well received so a sequel is being forged. We get the following scoop from our friends at AICN:

Let’s start at the beginning. Smith is actually the one who developed the initial story. It took place several years before the original film and there were still pockets of survivors and the story centered around Smith interacting, bonding, and ultimately failing to save them. For months this was the story. Warner’s didn’t much care for it and Smith and Weiss eventually came on board and all parties agreed to change things up. Well this change is pretty insane, the film is no longer a prequel, it’s a fucking sequel!

From what I hear the first film didn’t lend itself to a sequel very well, that’s why a prequel was the obvious choice. Now continuity is being eschewed for extra bags of money.

For those of you that are interested in reading the whole article that Illuminates the reasons why the studio is considering this path - please go to the source,

Those interested in the upcoming Star Trek film may be pleased to know that a comic book mini series will precede the film. We get the following news thanks to our friends at comingsoon:

IDW Publishing has joined with Paramount Pictures, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, Kurtzman/Orci Productions and CBS Consumer Products to publish a four-issue limited comic book series tied to next summer’s new Star Trek movie, which will be released in theaters on May 8, 2009.

The first comic in the series, “Star Trek: Countdown #1,” will be released in January 2009 to the comic book direct market. The story is presented by Abrams and plotted by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. It is written by Mike Johnson (“Superman/Batman”) and Tim Jones, and features stunning art by David Messina (“Star Trek: Mirror Images”). Messina also provides covers for the series.

I’m still very skeptical about Star Trek. I don’ t have high hopes at all - although the trailer was better than I thought it would be, but this is based largely on my love of the score. Having young Kirk drive a car off a cliff is something that I don’t understand; this isn’t a film about fledgeling greasers racing at dead man’s curve (or is it).
I am not averse to the idea of a comic book tie in. I never personally pick up or follow accompanying books, tv shows etc. to films. I like to enjoy the films for what they are and prefer to fill in the blanks with my imagination. Historically from what I have been told - they are shit anyway.

For those of you that are looking forward to this upcoming Trek incarnation and are fans of comic books - let me ask you this. Do you have any interest in picking this up?

We learn today that ABC is going to be showing a gaggle of Potter this Yuletide season. We get the following scoop thanks to our friends at the movieweb:

ABC Family continues the holiday cheer with its Harry Potter weekend on December 5-7, airing the first four installments of the popular film series as part of the network’s “25 Days of Christmas” programming event. In the world television premiere of the special extended edition of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, viewers will also see deleted scenes not included in the original film version.

To add to the magic, ABC Family will also be airing exclusive first looks at the new film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (opening in theaters July 17, 2009), throughout the weekend’s three-day event. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Michael Gambon discuss the upcoming film’s exciting storylines, as well as revealing insider information. ABC Family’s first looks at the latest Harry Potter feature film also offer viewers a sneak peek of never-before-seen footage of love running rampant through Hogwarts, a look into Tom Riddle’s past and an introduction of Hogwarts new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Horace Slughorn.

I think this is great. Harry Potter is a perfect film series for the pre-holidays. It’ s entertaining enough for the adults and children of all ages can enjoy the glory of level 10 wizardry (other than with polyhedrons in hand).

I’m also interested in seeing the promotional clips for the upcoming film. I think rescheduling the film a year on was still a ridiculous idea, but this ABC event is one hell of a promo in the meantime. I wonder if the studio did a straight swap with ABC, rights to air the show in exchange for Half-Blood Prince ads. That would be a win win for both parties in my opinion, but I have no idea how to put a value on ad time.

I look forward to checking out this event to hunt for any new insight into the upcoming film.

I wonder if Potter will become an ongoing Xmas institution much like egg nog, woolens and Santa himself.

The Time for Larry has arrived, and so it shall be that all will enjoy their 31 days of him. We get news of cousin Larry thanks to our friends at the movieweb:

Lionsgate Films has acquired the romantic comedy spec 31 Days of Larry, written by new scribe Corinne Kingsbury.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lionsgate vp production Jim Miller brought the script into the studio and will oversee the project with director of development Matthew Janzen.

We really have nothing to go on here…other than that we’ll learn about a dude named Larry - and he’ll be around for about 29-32 days. He will also be romantically involved with someone, near the end of the second act a crisis will pop up! Will Larry pull the relationship together or will it die like a possum on the side of the freeway?

We will look for further Larry related news and be sure to keep you all up to speed.

(Larry King has nothing to do with this film - the picture is just hilarious.)

Holy Captain Kirk posts today folks. /Film found a clip of William Shatner responding to the new design for the Starship Enterprise for JJ Abrams vision of a new starting point for Star Trek.

Shatner has never held back about his feelings on Star Trek, and I think in his more mature days he has a better grasp on the man he was and the man he is today. I have oodles of respect for the guy.

I also like that people would go to him to find out what he thinks of the new direction. Granted he is bound to have feelings on a film that is re-imagining a character that he is best known for playing, but I almost feel like people want him to lose his shit over this stuff so they can rally around it. Fortunately that is not happening and Shatner appears to be all for the new vision.

But in true class and in very few words Bill pulls out a gem of wisdom, even stumbling momentarily to say it doesnt matter if a window is up here instead of over there … its the traditions and ideals that matter. He even wishes JJ well.

I can’t wait for this movie.

Yahoo Movies have updated their collection of Trailers and Video clips (commercial breaks included)for Frank Miller’s The Spirit with a Christmas Themed teaser.

The movie is slated to open Christmas Day.

I have come to expect Miller’s films to be over stylized like Sin City and 300, and I hear a lot of flack criticizing him for this. Now some of the dialogue in the trailers may be cheesy but I really have hope for this movie. I want to like it. I just don’t know if I will.

Right now it looks great, and I can forgive the fromage level until I see if it suits the film. I do however, worry that Sam Jackson’s Octopus character might be a little TOO over the top to be taken seriously. A badguy has to be bad to be considered an honest heart pounding threat, not silly. Guess we will have to wait.

So as much as I really really want to like this, I am starting to get an inkling of doubt.

Click Here to check out the library of clips over at Yahoo Movies.

First Showing tipped us off to this video and I just had to share.

I think it was awesomely done.

As an editorial note, I also like how this isn’t made to insult the new film, just play on the identity crisis of that episode with some humour.

We have bizarre news today regarding a film called The Spy Next Door that is set to star George Lopez, Billy Ray Cyrus (for realz) and Jackie Chan. We get the skinny this morning from the goose blood slathered caves of Yahoo:

George Lopez and Billy Ray Cyrus have joined Jackie Chan in “The Spy Next Door,” a comedy shooting in Albuquerque, N.M.
Chan’s character is asked to baby-sit his neighbor’s children and winds up having to protect them from secret agents after one of the kids accidentally downloads a code.

Lopez is a CIA agent who might not be all that he appears; Cyrus is another agent. Amber Valletta is the kids’ mom, while Katherine Boecher plays a Russian underworld operative. Brian Levant is directing for indie financier Relativity.

This sounds like a casserole mish mash made from the leftovers of other bad film ideas. George Lopez, Billy Ray Cyrus and Jackie Chan are not to be taken lightly however; this could be the Black Dog of this generation.

We will be sure to sniff out every detail that is to follow regarding this ridiculous film. This could be the greatest direct to DVD film ever to make it to theaters. Stay tuned!

There was a LOT of trash talking over Twilight, and I tend to notice that when there is a lot of people complaining about something they know little about, it usually means that it is successful. I am not a Twilight fan and was never drawn to pick up the books. But I couldn’t avoid recognizing its popularity. I saw that book cover more than newspapers when out around town, and even if you feel it is not deserving of the praise it is getting, it cannot be avoided. Twilight is a hit.

Yahoo reports:

Audiences found the vampire romance “Twilight” infectious in its opening weekend, pushing the movie to a take of $70.6 million.

Catherine Hardwicke’s film also enjoyed the biggest opening ever for a female director, blowing away the previous standard of $41.1 million set by Mimi Leder’s “Deep Impact” in 1998.

Drawing from its huge fan base of teenage girls, who fell for Stephenie Meyer’s novel of forbidden love between brooding vampire Edward Cullen and bookish high schooler Bella Swan, “Twilight” made a whopping $20,636 per theater, according to Sunday morning estimates.

See, unlike truly undeserving boxoffice success like Jackass or PottySpoof movies, this franchise has hit on an appealing concept to a very large demographic of readers. It may not be your cup of tea, but at least it had SOMETHING to offer other than recycled potty jokes and crotch kicks. I have to give it at most that much credit.

Well while all you people are busy trying to cut up Twilight and pretending that it doesn’t matter, allow me to point out that this weekend Twilight beat out a family friendly film on its opening weekend - an addage here at TMB that rarely goes challenged: never underestimate the Family Friendly Film. Twilight nearly triples the release of Bolt with $70.6million while Quantum of Solace lands a comfy second place (on its second week) at $27.4million while Disney’s animated feature Bolt was sniffing Bond’s heels at $27million.

I would have guessed that Bolt would have fared better than Bond’s second week, but I didn’t doubt for a second that Twilight was going to eat up all the attention at the boxoffice. So while all the naysayers are having their fun trying to come up with creative insults for Twilight, it would appear you are in a minority. There seems to be an awful lot of people (polls show teenage girls mostly) who are willing to go check this out.

Credit where credit is due. Twilight owns the boxoffice.

It looks like the ghost of Johhny Dillinger has taken out a bridge to ensure Johnny Depp gets a clean getaway. We get word today of a bridge collapse (as a result of a detour due to filming) thanks to the destruction caves of yahoo (Shiva be praised).

County officials in Wisconsin are holding the bag following a movie shoot involving Johnny Depp as famed bank robber John Dillinger.
During filming of “Public Enemies” — Wisconsin’s first film under the governor’s new movie incentives — state highway traffic was diverted away from the center of Columbus, 70 miles northwest of Milwaukee. The detour road couldn’t stand the load — and collapsed.

Dodge County was left with a $116,000 repair. It’s filed a claim against the city of Columbus that could lead to a lawsuit.
But Columbus Mayor Nancy Osterhaus says talks are ongoing between the city, county and film studio NBC Universal, with hopes that they might split the bill for the March mishap.

For those wishing to get the hell outta Dodge - the bridge is down! ZING! BAM! BADDAM, BAMP!

I’m not sure how many of you are interested and/or concerned about bridge collapses but this one is related to movie news so we are passing the scoop onward!

Luckilly Obama’s stimulus plan seeks to remedy this problem. Soon all the bridges in America will be up to code and all the streets will once again be paved with gold.

I’m an Obama fan, but I sure as hell wouldn’t want his job. The man has a mountain of work to do under the scrutiny of about 12 billion human eyeballs. Under that kind of pressure I would start drinking under the Sphinx until the Vultures robbed me of my flesh and dreams.

Looks like the Screen Actors Guild is pushing for a strike. We know how well that worked last time.

Yahoo reports

Residuals are payments to actors that are made every time a production airs, such as TV reruns. Many SAG members rely on residuals for more than half of their income, Allen said.

“They’re asking us to bless a system we believe would be the beginning of the end of residuals, and that’s a very scary thought for working actors,” he said.

The producers’ alliance condemned the SAG decision and said it remains the only major Hollywood guild without a labor deal this year.

“Now, SAG is bizarrely asking its members to bail out the failed negotiating strategy with a strike vote — at a time of historic economic crisis,” a producers’ statement said. “The tone-deafness of SAG is stunning.”

Now I assume when he says “working actors” he is talking about the thousands of employed actors who are not making the millions. But still, this is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. Well this and Knight Rider getting a full season while Pushing Daisies is cancelled…

But seriously… another strike? The previous strike -which accomplished NOTHING crippled the industry and sent thousands of people jobless. They will NEVER make back the money they negotiated in their deal, and this will do no different.

I think it is a bluff. SAG knows that another strike, especially with the economic crisis looming, could hurt Hollywood in ways even the Writers Guild Strike never did.

Bottom line is that Unions suck. They don’t do their job anymore. Unions are supposed to protect the workforce, instead they are lobbyists getting people over paid for jobs, and enabling them to walk off a job without getting fired when nothing was wrong to begin with. SAG is no different.

So they are throwing what I think is a bluff out there, saying they want their way and they will be willing to shoot their own mothers to get it. They throw a temper tantrum and the whining little kiddies get their way.

Who learns what here? Yup… the over paid actors can get even more overpaid now. Good thing they had “protection”.