Entertainment Today and Beyond

Never Met a Zombi I Didn’t Like…

The Future of I AM LEGEND

According to the website ShockTillYouDrop, while making an appearance at the Comic-Con over the weekend Director Francis Lawrence confirmed that Warner Bros is looking to do a Prequel, NOT a sequel to last years big hit, I AM LEGEND.  From my side of the fence, this really sums up the utter stupidity of the way studio executives think. It is just so obvious to me that the alternative cut of the film released on the DVD that has Will Smith’s character Robert Neville still alive at the end is a vastly superior version. It also easily sets up a sequel with enough possibilities for the studio to develop a trilogy. Of course, it’s pretty simple – a prequel, at this point, is the only way to get Will Smith’s Neville back into action, but that storyline’s already been telegraphed, with the surprise possibilities limited.

Listen, I fully understand that Smith is box office gold but unless the studio tells people to disregard the theatrical cut and go by the much better DVD alternative version (which isn’t going to happen), I want to see a sequel featuring a whole new character and NOT a prequel with Smith all over again. Hey, why not go with the female point of view the second time around, CAST a really cool actress like Jennifer Garner, and market the film as the last female on earth. To me that just seems so much smarter from a creative standpoint. It’s bad enough that the Warner Bros picked the wrong version of the film to release theatrically the first time around, now they want to go the prequel route instead of taking the story forward. For me, this goes into the category of – I just don’t get it! As much as I love the I am Legend concept (one of my all time favorite films is The Omega Man), I can’t get excited about a prequel! Note to Warner Bros – Go the sequel route and keep the material fresh.

July 28, 2008 Posted by | Reviews | , | Leave a Comment

W. / looks like Oliver Stone has an opinion again…

Here’s a look at the first trailer for Oliver Stones W. the bio-pic based on the life of George W. Bush. I must say the trailer really sets the tone of Stone’s vision of things really well. Sure to be the topic of choice at every dinner party in the country when it comes out, W. hit’s theaters October 29th. Josh Brolin stars!  See the TRAILER

July 28, 2008 Posted by | And Beyond - Trailers & News | , , , | Leave a Comment

This Week’s Radio Show

In this installment of the ETB Radio Show, Chuck Curry and Michael Cooper review X-Files: I Want to Believe, break down the record Box Office of the Dark Knight and reveal some of the big news out of The San Diego Comic-Con from this past weekend!

LISTEN HERE and let us know what you want to hear about. email Chuck

July 28, 2008 Posted by | Radio Shows | Leave a Comment

THOUGHTS OF THE DAY: BLU-RAY dominance around the corner, DEFINITLY, MAYBE highly recommended and FRIDAY THE 13TH trying to generate some buzz at COMIC-CON!

Has anyone else noticed the way Blockbuster is selling off its inventory of six month old or less DVD’s in bins of 4 titles for $20 bucks. This to me is a clear sign the chain is in the early, if not mid-range stages of gearing up for the boom we should see in the Blu-ray format within the next year. I would be very surprised if Blu-ray DVD players are not slashed to under $200 by this Christmas. At that point all Studios will most likely follow and release all new titles in the $19.99 range, dramatically increasing the interest in the High Definition format.

Every once in a while you come across a film on DVD that becomes quite a pleasant surprise. Well I caught one of those last weekend when I got a chance to watch DEFINITLY, MAYBE. This is a very well written and directed (Adam Brooks) movie that features the best performance in Ryan Reynolds career. While it was marketed as a romantic comedy its plays more like a light drama with Reynolds playing a thirty something, soon to be divorced, father that recounts how he met her mother to his inquisitive young daughter. Besides Reynolds, the film’s other big plus is actress Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers). I think she’s a highly appealing talent who has everything it takes to be a big star in the business. Overall Definitely, Maybe is one terrific movie and a great choice when you rent your next DVD.

Members of Michael Bay’s production company, Platinum Dunes, were at the Comic-Con convention this weekend trying to create some buzz for its FRIDAY THE 13TH remake which comes out in Feb of 2009. I have to believe this will be a better overall product than Rob Zombies re-telling of HALLOWEEN. This was very intriguing for its first 45 minutes or so before taking a bad creative turn when the storyline introduced the very underwritten Laurie Strode character, which felt completely rushed and ill-respected. With the comic book movie craze at a boiling point, maybe this new Jason film can give the horror genre center stage, if only for a weekend, when it comes out next year.

July 28, 2008 Posted by | And Beyond - Trailers & News | , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

   

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