Entertainment Today and Beyond

Never Met a Zombi I Didn’t Like…

NEWS and My Opinion on Sony’s upcoming THE GREEN HORNET!

I’m a bit perplexed by what’s going on with Sony’s pre-production big screen version of THE GREEN HORNET. It was just announced that Hong Kong superstar, STEPHAN CHOW (KUNG FU HUSTLE), who’s known for slapstick style martial arts will not only direct, but co-star as KATO in the film opposite SETH ROGEN (who also co-wrote the script). Yes, that’s Seth Rogen of Knocked Up and Pineapple Express fame. Why Rogen has chosen to attach himself to this project is anyone’s guess but, to me, it just doesn’t make sense! If the material is played straight, Rogen is just so wrong and if it’s played for laughs it’s totally disrespectful to the source material.

Ben Stiller did this type of thing with STARSKY AND HUTCH and I hated that film. The 70’s cop show it was based on was a drama, not a silly comedy. The same goes for The Green Hornet. Instead of the greatness of The Dark Knight would anyone have opted to see a Batman and Robin 2 this summer? The answer is pretty obvious! My guess is the studio deemed the Green Hornet property as having a limited mass audience so, when Rogen showed interest, they welcomed him with open arms because he’s such a hot property in the industry. When all is said and done, it will be interesting to see how this project in its current form is received. My guess is that there will be a strong backlash from many who think the creative choice to have Rogen along with his comic antics in the lead is a really bad idea! COUNT me in!

September 25, 2008 Posted by | And Beyond - Trailers & News | , | Leave a Comment

Will SPIKE LEE’S New WW2 film draw a crowd? and MOBY DICK for a modern AGE!

With a running time of 2 hrs and 40 minutes and advance lukewarm reviews Spike Lee’s WW2  film, MIRACLE AT ST ANNA, faces a tough road to box-office success when it theaters this Friday. I just can’t see it doing much business without the backstop of great reviews to fuel interest.

I’m really intrigued by Universal hiring WANTED director, Timur Bekmanbetov, to direct a re-imagining of the classic MOBY DICK story. While I have no doubt the idea of modern day special effects will be a strong selling point, I really hope all involved focus in on character and story and avoid the pitfalls of WOLFGANG PETERSON, who relied solely on effects for his disaster at sea remake, POSEIDON. Even though that film was totally watchable and exciting, it could have been so much more if they had taken the time to develop its characters. Captain Ahab reportedly will be more of a charismatic character than the obsessed one of the original novel. I think this would be a good project for George Clooney!

September 25, 2008 Posted by | And Beyond - Trailers & News | , | Leave a Comment

TRAILER TO QUARANTINE

Just in time for Halloween season, here’s a look at the trailer to Quarantine, an interesting looking suspense/horror thriller that stars actress JENNIFER CARPENTER of TV’s Dexter. It hits theaters Oct 10th.  VIEW TRAILER

September 25, 2008 Posted by | And Beyond - Trailers & News | , | 1 Comment

ENTOURAGE On Creative High, a few thoughts on the EMMY’S, a whole host of PROGRAMS return this week, and will EAGLE EYE be big?

I thought Sunday night’s episode of ENTOURAGE was one of the funniest efforts that the HBO program has ever produced! It was quite fitting that while Jeremy Piven was knocking it out of the park once again he was winning another Emmy for his Agent Ari Gold character almost at the same time! He is one terrific talent. The show itself reportedly will be picked up for a sixth season.

Speaking of the Emmy’s, producers clearly made a bad choice handing over the hosting duties to a handful of reality hosts, including Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum, on Sunday night. Their opening skit was forced and void of any real laughs. I might be biased, but is anyone else sick of seeing RYAN SEACREST? I know I am!  
As for the awards themselves, I must admit I haven’t watched MAD MEN but after the show won the Emmy for best drama I’m going to start. Again, I’m probably biased but I thought LOST had one of the great season’s in TV history and I wanted to see it win but it didn’t. Plus, the fact that FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS was completely ignored makes me wonder how many voting member’s really watch some of these shows! Ratings were at a historic low as the telecast attracted just 12.3 million viewers.

I’m really looking forward to this week as a bunch of shows return including Heroes, Grey’s Anatomy, ER, Dexter and Brothers and Sisters!

While September at the movies has been ho hum at best, DreamWorks new action thriller EAGLE EYE might do some real damage at the box-office as early reviews are good, and its star, Shia Lebeouf, is a certainly a draw. It opens Friday!

September 23, 2008 Posted by | And Beyond - Trailers & News | , | Leave a Comment

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

Samuel L. Jackson’s cop thriller, LAKEVIEW TERRACE, lead the way at the box-office this weekend as the film, which cost just 20 million to produce, pulled in 15.6 mill in ticket sales. That’s at the high end of studio expectations. Last week’s top attraction, BURN AFTER READING, dropped off 49% in business, grossing 11.3 mill, giving it a 10 day total of 36.2.

Lionsgate’s raunchy R-rated comedy, MY BEST FRIEND’S GIRL, opened without any advance reviews and faired poorly, placing third with a weak 8.3 mill in receipts. I still don’t understand the decisions Kate Hudson has made with her career. Why she had involvement in this project is perplexing at best! I think it’s time for a new agent. Paging Ari Gold!

The animated movie, IGOR, placed fourth with a weak 8 mill in business. The week’s other new release, GHOSTTOWN, starring the popular British comedian Ricky Gervais, failed to find an audience. Despite really good reviews, the comedy about a dentist who sees dead people grossed just 5.1 mill in ticket sales in its opening frame for an eighth place finish. Here’s a link to the weekend’s Top Ten

September 23, 2008 Posted by | And Beyond - Trailers & News | , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake, Superman

This is a unique and really cool poster of my all time favorite film THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE- As you can see it has a cast photo which was shot on the deck of the Queen Mary, which was used to shoot the exterior sequences for the movie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARTHQUAKE – This is the one of the many different posters used for the 1974 disaster classic. I really like the art work. As you can also see the cast of actors have their pictures at the bottom which was quite common with this genre’s poster art.

 

 

 

SUPERMAN – I believe this was a teaser poster for the 1978 man of steel movie which was a groundbreaking film in terms of putting a believable superhero on film. I really like the look of it!

September 21, 2008 Posted by | Galaxy of Movie Greatness | , , , | Leave a Comment

SMALLVILLE looks for a creative rebirth, HEROES getting solid buzz, and what’s gone wrong with KATE HUDSON’S Career?

ETB Radio: In this episode of Entertainment Today and Beyond Radio, Chuck Curry and Michael Cooper review their Top 5 Sequels with cuts and commentary from the stars. LISTEN HERE and let us know what you want to hear about. email Chuck

I’m happy to report that I enjoyed Thursday night’s season premiere episode of SMALLVILLE which now enters its eighth season. It appears that the new creative team that has taken over the series from original creators Alfred Gough and Miles Miller could breathe some much needed life into the long running series, which was getting more than a little stale. By saying adios to the Lana Lange character (Kristin Kreuk), and giving a lot more screen time to Lois Lane (Erica Durance) I think the show could get a second wind. It’s also good to see no more Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) as that storyline ran out of steam a few seasons ago. Also, taking Clark Kent to the Daily Planet news room is a solid, if not logical, decision which should open up a lot of story possibilities. The choice to make Justin Hartley who plays Oliver Queen/The Green Arrow as series regular is also a smart move. Now at the age of 31, Tom Welling has the look of a big screen Superman; unfortunately I don’t think it will ever happen. I’ll give Smallville’s season premiere 7 out of 10. 
 
Advance buzz is pretty good on the third season of NBC’s HEROES. It certainly has to be better than the strike-shortened season two, which was a creative mess to say the least! Episode one airs Monday night although I must admit I’m not as excited about the series as I once was.   

Question of the day? What has happened to KATE HUDSON’s career? After her breakout film, ALMOST FAMOUS back in 1999, Hudson has starred in one mediocre film after another, including YOU, ME AND DEPREE and FOOL’S GOLD. In her newest, MY BEST FRIENDS BOYFRIEND, she not only receives second billing to Dane Cook, but the film itself was not screened for critics. Second banana to Dane Cook? I don’t get it! At the age of 29, Hudson is at a point where she might have to reinvent herself, as her once promising future in film has taken a serious nosedive!

September 21, 2008 Posted by | Reviews | , , , | Leave a Comment

TRAILER TO SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK

Here’s a look at the trailer to Charlie Kaufman’s (Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) directorial debut SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK. The film stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as a troubled theater director and received a split reaction at the Toronto film festival. To say it looks quirky would be an understatement, but it also seems pretty interesting. Hoffman continues to be one of the great actors working in movies today! This film opens Oct 24, 2008. Take a Look

September 21, 2008 Posted by | And Beyond - Trailers & News | , | Leave a Comment

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