Star Wars From A 3 Year-Old

Obie-Kenobi is right. Having a crap day? Watch this and at least get a grin.

Thanks to Marcelo for passing it on.

Silk Spectre

The pain in my chest is the excitement I have for this film. And the disappointment I will bring on myself if they blow it.

I'm so excited, I'm linking to MTV News.

Carla Gugino Gets Sexy For Silk Spectre In 'Watchmen'
Published by Larry Carroll on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 11:53 am.

When I recently visited the set of one of 2009's most anticipated movies, "Watchmen," I saw many amazing things that I unfortunately still can't talk about. One of the people who wasn't there, however, was the stunningly sexy Carla Gugino — so when I caught up with her on the red carpet at Sunday's SAG Awards, we were naturally both excited to engage in some red-hot, non-embargoed Sally Jupiter action.

"It was really one of the craziest, most fun roles I've ever gotten to play," marveled the "Sin City" star, cast as the burlesque dancer who proves to be the most PR-savvy of the complex superheroes. "I start at 25 years old in the 1940s, and I age to 67 years old with full prosthetics in the 1980s. [Sally] is a larger-than-life character. She's a costumed crime fighter, but her idea of a costume is very Bettie Page-meets-[Alberto] Vargas."

As those who've read Alan Moore's beloved 1986 comic know, Gugino's character dubs herself "The Silk Spectre" and becomes a de facto matriarch among the alternate-reality antiheroes. Years later, she'd pass the torch to daughter Laurie ("The Heartbreak Kid" star Malin Akerman) and retire — but not until after she might have been raped by another so-called "hero."

"The rape scene is pretty crazy that Jeffrey Dean Morgan and I have," Gugino insisted. "Not that I would say that's the one I really want you guys to see. … The title sequence of this movie is going to be extraordinary. We spent many weeks over the time of the shoot shooting it. That's going to be a very, very special thing that wasn't scripted, that will be really empowering."

In those opening credits, Snyder is mixing CGI and real-life footage to establish the close-but-not-quite reality of a "Watchmen" world that mirrors our own. "It incorporates real history and the fictitious world of Watchmen, and so it's very cool," Gugino explained. "We meet Nixon and all sorts of people."

And once those credits conclude, Gugino gets to squeeze into a famously skimpy costume and re-create the character's superhero heyday. "I kick a small amount of ass. I don't kick as much ass as some people do in the movie, however," she sighed. "But I get to play an old lady, which was just, for me, the most fascinating thing. To start as this young crime fighter and end up an alcoholic woman in her late 60s was for me enough of a challenge; let's put it that way."

The actress also got to don Sally's trademark hairdo, albeit a slightly more plausible version. "We did our own take on the poodle [haircut]. It's not quite as poodle-y, though it's an homage to the poodle," Gugino laughed. "I wear red wigs; I've been in many hairdos this year, on many things. Sometimes I have to look in the mirror to remember which character I'm playing."

On March 6, 2009, however, it seems quite likely that Gugino and many of her co-stars will be appearing in the most unforgettable roles of their careers. "It was really great," she remembered of the Canadian shoot. "The cast is extraordinary; we all really bonded with each other. [Director] Zack Snyder has such a very strong and clear vision for this piece."

Missing Star Wars Scene

I know this is getting old, but I missed it in the holiday rush, so maybe you have too. If not, you're cooler than me, which is, well...easy.

So here's the missing Biggs scene we've always heard about. This is real. And I don't think it's awful. I don't. I just think it looks like Luke and him are gonna kiss.

Juno and KITT

Saw the movie Juno last night and just was won over by it. For fifteen minutes, you worry it's a Wes Anderson or Heathers or something-else rip off, but no need to worry at all. It's so darn fun and good. Plus, anything the studios send me free to screen I automatically love even more (that's my psych disclaimer). Plus, Michael Cera and Jason Bateman? Was Arrested Development the best show after Freaks & Geeks? Yes, Santa, yes it was.

And on that theme, the voice of KITT for the new Knight Rider movie? Will Arnett. I hate when they market to our geek love. And I hate it even more when it works.

Sharks! And Big Dinner

Saw a great documentary last night -- Sharkwater, which was done by Rob Stewart. I never thought I'd hug a shark, but you have to love this kid's passion. Plus, there's a great interview moment with one of the renegades of the environmental movement. He's talking about how most people don't care what happens in the world. Most people don't want to make a change. Then he looks right at the camera and says, But you only need a few.

Ohh, I feel like I'm in college again discussing theories of the universe. Anyway, trailer is here

Also, after 25 comics pages, and two covers together, tonight I finally get to meet Gene Ha face-to-face. This is the benefit of living where there's warm weather: people come down to get away from the cold. And go to comic conventions.

Now to figure out if there's more work we can do together...

Green Lantern Film

Been getting lots of email about the Green Lantern movie since all three principals are Jack & Bobby people. So stop panicking. Michael and Marc will no doubt be doing the good stuff with the ring slinging. If you don't believe me, check out their current runs on Batman Confidential and Wolverine. I can't wait for it. Very excited about all.

GREG BERLANTI TO DIRECT GREEN LANTERN FILM

DC Comics’ Flash has apparently gotten some love in regards to making the leap to the big screen, and now, according to Variety, the Flash’s pal, Green Lantern is making the move as well, with Greg (Dirty Sexy Money, Brothers & Sisters) Berlanti named by the trade as the director for the film.

Berlanti will write the script for the film with Marc (Wolverine, Amazing Spider-Man under exclusive contract to Marvel, Brothers & Sisters) Guggenheim and Michael (Heroes) Green. Donald De Line will produce, with Andrew Haas named as executive producer.

For the director, this will be his second film – he directed The Broken Hearts Club in 2000.

As with many DC Comics characters, Green Lantern has had a long slog to get to this point – many attempts on the character have been rumored to be in the works over the past years, including a more comedic take with actor Jack Black in the title role.

No word was given as to which Green Lantern will be featured in the film, but, given the recent revamp and return of Hal Jordan to the role, the test pilot introduced in 1959’s Showcase #22 would be the best bet, beating out Alan Scott, John Stewart and Kyle Rayner.

Berlanti told The Hollywood Reporter: "To me, this was on the last great comic book movie that hasn’t been made. It was a comic book with a real mythology that you would see in a lot of the space operas and the sci-fi books. The best part about it, anybody can be become one of the Green Lanterns because anyone can end up with that ring.”

And the Reporter confirms that the film will be about Jordan, adding that the director originally pitched a series of GL movies to Warner Bros., the first being the origin story, showing how Jordan became a member of the Green Lantern Corps.

49-Up

Not sure how many of you like documentaries, but this may be my all-time favorite. Judd and I saw 35-up in college and fell in love with it immediately.

In Book of Fate, I wanted to show what it's like when life doesn't turn out how you planned. I have to believe this series beat some of those ideas into me. So go rent the full series from the start. Well worth it.

'7-Up' times 7 equals a complex look at midlife

By Peter Johnson, USA TODAY

When 7-Up, Michael Apted's documentary about kids from diverse backgrounds in England, first aired in 1964, childhood friends Sue, Jackie and Lynn voiced aspirations that probably were typical of working-class girls at the time: to find decent jobs and good husbands and make a go of it.

But in subsequent 7-Up films, in which Apted checked in with his subjects every seven years, showing flashbacks at each stage, the girls' initial half-dreamy, half-realistic hopes had been sharply altered by life's harsh realities.

By 42, Sue and Jackie were struggling single mothers. But Lynn, whose ambition had been to work at Woolworth's, had become a librarian.

That's the way life works, says Apted, whose seventh installment, 49-Up, airs tonight at 9 ET/PT on PBS' POV (times may vary; check local listings). "You can't have life all laid out and just walk through it."

In 49-Up, Sue seems happy, having finally found stability with Glen. Jackie lives in Scotland with her three boys. She suffers from rheumatoid arthritis but says wistfully that her public-housing neighbors remind her of the close-knit world of her youth in London's East End. Lynn, now a mother of two, is devastated that her job as a children's librarian — her life's work — may be abolished.

She complains bitterly on camera to Apted about how painful it is to have his cameras intrude on her. "It's too much." Jackie gets angry at him, too, calling some of his questions "insulting." Apted, off-camera, gently soothes her. "I like it when you shout at me."

Apted says maintaining a documentarian's emotional distance is virtually impossible with a project like this because he has known his subjects for more than four decades — "longer than I've known most people."

"I had to give up long ago the idea that this was some sort of objective, cool-eyed approach," he says. "What they do — putting their lives up for examination every seven years — is a very brave thing to do, and it gets more emotionally draining as the series continues." (Two bowed out, 12 remain.)

Apted, whose feature films include Coal Miner's Daughter, Gorillas in the Mist and last year's Amazing Grace, checks in with his Up subjects once a year and, when he can, invites them to the film opening "so I'm not just asking them for something, I'm giving them something." But otherwise, he tries to keep his distance. "Some freshness, some objectivity is good."

Apted, 66, shot the first 7-Up when he was 22 and his subjects were youngsters. But as the years progressed, "our age differences diminished. I'm 15 years older than them, and 15 years can be a lifetime when you're in your 20s and 30s, but when you get to be our age, it's almost collegial."

49-Up is "made with great affection. There's a tenderness to it which is wonderful," says Simon Kilmurry, POV's executive director. "One of the greatest achievements of the film is that you have grown old with these people and you grow up with them."

Apted says he relates most to Nick, a farmer's son who, at age 7, wanted to learn about the moon. He's now an engineering professor in Wisconsin. "We both left our roots and tried to build our careers here."

Apted is impressed by Tony, a would-be jockey at 7 who worked most of his life as a London cabby and now has a vacation home in Spain. "He's done pretty well for himself and his family."

Apted draws no grand conclusions, but "one thing I've learned is that a 7-year-old personality probably doesn't change that much. If you're an extrovert at age 7, you're probably still going to be that, and vice versa."

JLA Movie

Heard this a little bit ago and was very excited. Please let this be the thing that opens up DC's movie vault.

George Miller to direct Justice League movie

via Blog@Newsarama by Kevin Melrose on 9/20/07

Warner Bros. has confirmed that George Miller will direct the big-screen adaptation of Justice League of America.

Variety reports the movie is a priority for the studio, which is rushing the project into production before a potential talent strike effectively shuts down Hollywood next summer. To make matters more complicated, Warner Bros. has to juggle its other superhero projects.

According to the trade paper, the next installment of the Superman franchise "has taken a backseat to Justice League in part because Warners is so keen on the Justice League script by Kieran and Michele Mulroney." That would seem to answer the question that's been dogging the planned sequel to last year's Superman Returns.

Despite earlier rumors that Justice League would be made primarily with motion capture, it looks as if it'll be a special effects-driven live-action film.

In addition to the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel, Variety says Justice League likely will feature at least Aquaman, Wonder Woman and The Flash. It's being viewed as a launch pad for movies starring the latter two.

Miller, who most recently helmed the hit Happy Feet, also directed the Mad Max franchise.

JLA & Eternal Sunshine

Last JLA is this week, so looking forward to and so saddened at the same time. Like last issue, this is also a sort of risky experiment (and yes, no fistfights, again), but one that also ties back to issue zero (not the future stuff, the opening sequence). One day of Monitor Duty to show what the League is really made of. It's got extra pages, Eric Wight doing his magic and Ed Benes doing his as well. Plus Alex Ross and the final Turner cover.

Also, this trailer is so fun. If it were anyone else, I'd say the movie might suck. But Eternal Sunshine is a personal favorite, so let's have some faith. The best stories are indeed the ones we tell each other.

JLA Logos And Disney's No Smoking

First, we're bringing back the logos on the monitor chairs. It's so sad how much this excites me. Some are obvious. Here are the others:

Also, check out this article about how Disney is taking out ALL smoking from its films. It's amazing how Congress can't change the world, but some well placed politics can.

Most vital new news -- casting in Watchman. I've tried to remain clam, but Jackie Earle Haley as Rorshach? Best. Ever.

From Newsarama:

According to both of today’s Hollywood trades, the long-awaited big-screen adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons Watchman has the first additions to its cast, and they are Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Malin Akerman. Zack Snyder 300 directs.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, "Set in an alternate America, 'Watchmen' follows costumed hero Rorschach, who is living a vigilante lifestyle because most masked heroes have retired or been outlawed. While investigating a murder, Rorschach learns that a former masked-hero colleague has been killed, prompting him to begin investigating a possible conspiracy."

Haley - best known for this roles as a teen in Breaking Away and The Bad News Bears before mounting a comeback with his Oscar-nominated role in Little Children will play Walter Kovacs, aka Rorschach, "who ignores the ban on costumed vigilantes."

Crudup (Almost Famous, long-time voice of the Mastercard “Priceless” commercials) will play Dr. Manhattan, "a superpowered being with godlike powers and temperament."

Akerman will play Laurie Juspeczyk/the Silk Spectre, "who is involved with Dr. Manhattan -- but that relationship begins to fall apart as he becomes more disconnected from humanity."

Goode will play Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias, "a costumed adventurer who retired voluntarily, disclosed his identity and built a large fortune. He hatches a plot to avert a global catastrophe he believes will be caused by Dr. Manhattan."

Wilson will play the Nite-Owl, "a crime-fighter who uses technical wizardry and has an owl-shaped flying vehicle."

Morgan will play the Comedian, "a cigar-chomping, gun-toting vigilante-turned-paramilitary agent."

Shooting is set to start this fall in Vancouver, with Snyder reportedly employing many of the filming techniques he used for his adaptation of 300.

Michael Bay Is Just Like Us

I heart this so much. And not to make fun of it (mostly). But it just shows, no matter what anyone says, a bad review always sounds like (and I'm stealing this part) your mom said it to you.

Movies Make You Cool

Lots of good geek movieness to check out. Most of it may suck later, but if it's good, then you raise your coolness EQ by saying you found it first. If it's bad, you point to your disclaimers like this and get double points. So here are the top three:

1. 5-25-77 (trailer): the day Star Wars came out. I heart this kid played by John Francis Daley, who also played Sam on Freaks & Geeks. My favority show ever. Really, ever...

2. The Ten (trailer): my pal Craig says it best on his blog.

3. Where The Wild Things Are (pics): odds for most suckage, but we're rooting for it so hard.

Sopranos and Fisher Price Peoples And Do The Right Thing

First, a note about the end of The Sopranos. Spoilers and shields up and all that...

No show had made me rationalize more than the Sopranos. When I hated Tony, I rationalized why I should love him. When the series dipped in quality, I rationalized it was Shakespeare and a brilliant character study (which it still somewhat is). And when it ends leaving me without yet another big death or revelation, I'm primed for more rationalizing. One minute after the ending, I was annoyed. Even pissed. But this morning, I'm settling... Part of me loves that he didn't do what we all suspected. But as always, different doesn't mean perfect. And so, as I mourn the end of one of my favorites, I again sit with my rationalizing self. I kinda like it more and more. And it kinda sucked. But in a good way.

Meanwhile, I'm kinda done with mash-ups, but this takes special attention -- simply put, I love my peoples.

B

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-1s9MKDrmU

Loud Moviemouths

No crap, I had the idea for this over the weekend. Everyone loves to snitch. Rat bastards...

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Movie Patrons Can Rat Out Rude Behavior
GRS Allows Anonymous Paging Of Manager

POSTED: 7:52 am EDT May 30, 2007

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Are you fed up with rude movie patrons? A major theater group is offering a way to tattle on them.

The Regal Entertainment Group has been testing small hand-held devices called "Guest Response Systems." Selected patrons can use them anonymously to page management when there's a specific problem.

The GRS's are wireless and have four buttons marked "picture," "sound," "piracy" and "other disturbance."

Company spokesman Dick Westerling said they have been used to report audio or video problems or to tell on someone who is illegally taping the movie. But he said most complaints have to do with loud talking and cell phone use.

Westerling said the Guest Response System seems to be improving "customer etiquette" in the 13 theaters where they've been since last summer. Now, he said, the company is adding them in 101 more locations.

Will Eisner Movie - Screening Times At Tribeca Film Festival

Here's the info on the new film about Will Eisner. Someone I love is close to the director and swears it deserves all the geek cred it's getting. So let's all go and see it!

Times below the movie poster...

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Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist

TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL SCREENING TIMES (www.tribecafilmfestival.org to purchase tickets)

Thursday, April 26, 7:30 PM (PRESS & INDUSTRY SCREENING)

AMC Village VII -- Theatre 2

66 Third Avenue

(at 11th Street)

Friday, April 27, 2:30 PM

AMC 34th Street

312 West 34th Street

(between 8th and 9th Aves)

Saturday, April 28, 6:00 PM

Tribeca Cinemas – Theatre 1

54 Varick Street

(at Laight Street, below Canal)

Tuesday, May 1, 4:00 PM

Clearview Chelsea West – Theatre 2

333 West 23rd Street

(between 8th and 9th Aves)

Sunday, May 6, 11:30 AM

AMC Village VII – Theatre 2

66 Third Avenue

(at 11th Street)

Superbad

The Seth Rogan-written trailer for Superbad (starting "George Michael" from Arrested Development) is up. At your service:

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/superbad/

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JLA: The Movie

WARNER BROS STARTS JUSTICE LEAGUE FILM PROJECT
From Newsarama:

As comic book movies have proliferated over the past few years, comic fans have begun to wonder – when will we start seeing the team-based films? As Marvel’s X-Men films have shown, putting more than one super-powered character into a film can work…but what about the icons joining up?

Possibly sooner than expected.

According to Variety Warner Bros. is looking to produce a Justice League movie, and has hired Kiernan and Michele Mulroney to pen the script. After rumors of a possible Batman vs. Superman film this is the first actual news that the studio is looking to make a feature based on more than one hero.

As the trade reported/speculated, such a film would certainly include some blend of DC Comics’ iconic heroes, rather than wholly B-listers.

"The Justice League of America has been a perennial favorite for generations of fans, and we believe their appeal to film audiences will be as strong and diverse as the characters themselves," Warner President of production Jeff Robinov said in announcing the hiring of the Mulroneys.

As Variety mentioned, and fans will surely begin to discuss, such a film has many complicating issues inherent, such as cast – will Warner Bros, if they include Superman and Batman in the mix, cast Brandon Routh and Christian Bale – their current Superman and Batman, or will they re-cast the roles for this project (as each approach would come with budgetary considerations)? Will the film version of the Justice League be connected to the heroes’ solo films? Where does the film take place in the heroes’ lives, and the team's timeline? How will a Justice League film coordinate among all of the production teams working on the various individual properties?

While the Justice League has starred in a handful of their own animated television series over the years, the idea has been tested out in a live action manner, in Warners’ Smallville, which has featured a growing list of other young heroes (Green Arrow, Cyborg, Flash, Aquaman, along with a young Superman) in guest appearances, which culminated in the episode entitled “Justice.”

If the potential problems can be hammered out, the inclusion of a Justice League film franchise would add a major player to Warner Bros. superhero film slate, which already has a Batman sequel set for a 2008 release, and a Superman sequel for 2009, with Wonder Woman trying to get off the starting blocks.

And of course, the Justice League may not be the only team in town – Marvel has previously announced their intent to produce a film based on it’s premiere super-team, The Avengers. Although, Marvel has said it would like to see an Avengers film occur after Iron Man, Thor and Captain America have their own individual film franchises launched.

Ghost Rider

Have to say, I'm shocked Ghost Rider did so well (though of course rooting for Jack & Bobby's Matt Long in it).

So...anybody actually see it? I wanna hear comic reader reviews.

Also, went to a great literacy event this weekend. Saw (huge name dropping coming) former President Bush there. Best part was him telling stories to the crowd that're in The Book of Fate. Surreal plus two.

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Knocked Up

Freaks & Geeks is still the best show on television. So enjoy Judd Apatow's new Knocked Up trailer:

http://www.empireonline.com/futurefilms/film.asp?id=133310

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Meltzer Loves Rocky Balboa

I loved the first Rocky. I loved Rocky II. I even loved Rocky III. (Mr. T AND Hulk Hogan? And Apollo trains him? And Eye of the Tiger? And a superhero ending with a fight that never was? I'm IN!).

And yes, Rockys IV and V were piles of crap on the levels of Superman III and IV.

But the new Rocky VI? Rocky Balboa? It. Is. Amazing.

I said it, I'm not afraid to say it, and I'm not even couching it with, "It's good for a Rocky movie."

It's a great movie. Stallone (I still barely believe I type these words) is writing from a personal place here. He's not writing about Rocky. He's writing about himself. About anyone getting older, and worrying that they peaked, and terrified they'll never see success come again. Plus, I'm a sap for father/son stuff.

So there. Rather than be all high and mighty and tell you how wonderful some art house is, I'm siding with what's actually good. Rocky Balboa. No joke.

I can't wear your colors, Apollo.

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Happy Whatever You Celebrate

Happy Holidays to all here -- especially those of you who are part of the true family we've built here. This year wouldn't have been possible without you (and if you're reading this here, I mean you. Yes, you), and I hope you know how lucky Cori and I feel to have you in our lives. Some of you I know for a long time now. And it really does matter. It always has.

Communities are way underrated, and coming here every day to see you, or a comment, or a news story, or even those who sent me http://www.blacksheep-themovie.com/, all of it makes a difference. Yes, I get to write the stories. But you're the ones whose feedback I listen to most. Again, always have, always will.

So have a happy and healthy and safe new year.

Sending lots of love your way.

Brad

Woody Allen story...and Bendis too.

Here it is -- it's long, it's fun, and it's the first time I've ever explained why Woody Allen asked me to be in his movie. Really.

To see the full story, click here.

Thanks, Brian.

As for new questions, only one person asked, "Why not Ollie?" And that honestly pretty much answers it.

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