2009 March « Entertainment Today and Beyond

SORORITY ROW TRAILER

Summit Entertainment has just released the trailer to its remake of the 1983 horror film, The House on Sorority Row – this one simply titled Sorority Row. Unlike the familiar name recognition of the My Bloody Valentine and Friday the 13th remakes, this property will sink or swim on its marketing campaign alone as most people won’t be familiar with the 1983 version. I only vaguely remember it. The new movie, which takes great liberty with the original storyline, stars Briana Evigan, Audrina Patridge (The Hills) Rumer Willis (the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore) and Carrie Fisher. This really has the feel of “I Know What You did Last Summer”. Can’t say that’s a great thing.

March 20, 2009 Posted by Entertainment Today & Beyond | And Beyond - Trailers & News | Sorority Row Trailer, The House on Sorority Row remake | Leave a Comment

LOST BOYS 3 DVD gets Green light

lost-boys-the-tribe-101 According to Bloody Disgusting, Warner Premiere has given a green light to a second direct-to-DVD sequel to The Lost Boys. Evan Charnov (Fearless) will write the script. This story will reportedly focus on the Frog Brothers, characters played by Cory Feldman (Edgar Frog) and Jamie Newlander (Alan Frog) in the 1987 original. While Feldman co-starred in the first DVD sequel Lost Boys: The Tribe, Newlander’s Alan Frog wasn’t involved in the finished plot so he didn’t appear. He did film one scene but it was left on the cutting room floor. Cory Haim (terrific as Sam Emerson in the original) who appeared in the Tribes closing credits reportedly won’t be involved in this installment. His loose cannon behavior is a big problem and not worth the risk. That’s a shame as Haim really was an appealing talent during the 1980’s.

Direct-to-DVD movies seem to only exist as a quick cash cow for production companies and studios. It’s just bad movie-making with budgets too low for the final product to be anything much more than mediocre; exactly what Lost Boys: The Tribe was. Some are watchable, and I guess marginally interesting, but overall pointless. Still, I must admit, I really like Feldman in the role. He certainly gave it his all in the last installment despite the productions obvious limitations.

March 20, 2009 Posted by Entertainment Today & Beyond | And Beyond - Trailers & News | direct to DVD Lost Boys sequel, Evan Charnov, Lost Boys sequel with Cory Feldman | Leave a Comment

Can JULIA ROBERTS open DUPLICITY and a look at WATCHMEN Box-Office

julia-roberts-in-duplicity With the release of the caper thriller/romance “Duplicity” on Friday one has to wonder if actress Julia Roberts can open a film in a big way once again. She’s really been the only female talent that’s a sure thing at the box-office since Pretty Women made her a star in 1990. Roberts, who has taken time off to raise her kids (she hasn’t headlined a film since The Mexican in 2001) is a special talent indeed. She has one of the most unique screen personas in the history of movies. I remember sitting in a movie theater in 1991 watching Sleeping with the Enemy. I knew I wasn’t watching anything overly special, but the way she just radiated off the screen you couldn’t help but love her. Whatever a star is, she is it. She elevates everything she appears in and her reputation as America’s Sweetheart was well justified. Now, at age 41, and mostly out of the public spotlight, it will be interesting to see how this film opens with her as the lead once again. Even with newer very appealing talent like Anne Hathaway and Rachel McAdams making names for themselves, very few will ever have what Julia has, and that really can’t be put into words. You either have it or you don’t! Her reported net worth of $140,000,000 is also proof of that. Obviously I’m a big fan and rooting for a great showing.

I can’t say I’m surprised by Watchmen’s 68% drop-off in ticket sales ($85,751,993 first 10 days – and it’s also underperforming overseas) in its second weekend in release. I didn’t drink the ‘can’t miss’ Kool-Aid on that one. While I wound up really digging the film, I never had the feeling that the mainstream audience would totally embrace it, even in the final weeks leading up to its release. In retrospect I applaud Warner Bros for keeping Zach Snyder’s vision of the material intact and, in time, they should recoup there investment. Still, I think they went way overboard on their marketing costs ($50 million +), flushing millions down the toilet in excess promotion with almost all of it focused on the target fanboy audience. It just never made sense to me. Box-office aside, Watchmen will always have its core supporters and it’s a film that will probably be re-discovered like Blade Runner was years after its initial release.

March 18, 2009 Posted by Entertainment Today & Beyond | And Beyond - Trailers & News | Duplicity with Julia Roberts opens, Watchmen drops off at the box office | Leave a Comment

AWAY WE GO Trailer

Focus Features has just released the trailer to director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) newest film, a comedy titled Away We Go. The movie stars John Krasinski (The Office) and Maya Rudolph (SNL) and really has the same quirky feel as Juno. That may or may not be a good thing. This story follows an expectant couple who travel the country in search of a place to put down roots and raise a family. The film hits theaters June 5, 2009

March 17, 2009 Posted by Entertainment Today & Beyond | And Beyond - Trailers & News | Away We Go trailer, Sam Mendes directs Away We Go with John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph | Leave a Comment

ETB Radio – Bad remakes, DeVito’s Crazy Eddie & Stephen King’s IT and other classics

Race to Witch Mountain and other remakes panned, Devito/Depp do Crazy Eddie, Stephen King’s IT to hit the big screen along with a look at King’s best movie fare. LISTEN HERE and let us know what you want to hear about. email Chuck
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March 17, 2009 Posted by Entertainment Today & Beyond | Radio Shows | DannyDeVito Johnny Depp Crazy Eddie movie, Race to Witch Mountain review, Stephen King's IT to be feature film, Top Stephen King movies | Leave a Comment

MY TOP TEN FAVORITE FILMS BASED ON STEPHEN KING STORIES

With news this week that Warner Bros will turn the 1985 Stephen King 1138 page novel IT (In 1985 it was turned into a pretty good miniseries which starred Tim Curry as the evil clown Penny Wise) into a feature film I thought I would list my top ten favorite movies based on King material.

10. THE RUNNING MAN- This was masterful casting with Richard Dawson ( famous for the very popular Family Feud game show at the time) as the film’s villain, Damon Killian, as the host of future TV’s most popular show “The Running Man.” The show featured convicted criminals being hunted down by professional killers in the year 2017. Arnold Schwarzenegger (Ben Richards) stars as a wrongly accused man who wins over the blood thirsty TV crowd with his heroic exploits. Highly enjoyable action romp loosely based on a King story.

9. NEEDFUL THINGS 1993- An underrated film starring Ed Harris as a sheriff in a small Maine town whose community becomes unhinged when the devil opens a storefront shop catering to revenge. Max von Sydow (Leland Gaunt) is highly effective as the human version of Satan. Unforgettable last twenty minutes as all the story threads come to a head.

8. THE SHINING 1980- Perhaps Jack Nicholson’s tormented writer Jack Torrance goes off the deep end a little too quickly in this film, but the Stanley Kubrick vision has some serious atmosphere. While far from a blockbuster at the box-office when first released the film has built an immense fan base over time. The famous line “here’s Johnny” was improvised by Nicholson during shooting. The 1997 ABC mini-series starring Steven Weber is also worth a look. It fleshed out the Torrance character’s descent into madness miseryposter and has more of a slow burn affect.

7. MISERY 1990- Rob Reiner’s terrific adaption of King’s novel about a writer (James Caan) abducted by his number one fan. Kathy Bates became a major player in the business after her terrific turn as the deranged Annie Wilkes.

6. STORM OF THE CENTURY 1999- King wrote the original screenplay directly for this absorbing ABC miniseries and then later turned it into a novel. A small town in Maine gets more than a snow storm when a mysterious man shows up during the worst blizzard in 100 years. Actor Colm Feore is terrific as the film’s villain, Andre Linoge. His tag line, “Give me what I want the_mist_poster and I’ll go away” is totally creepy. A great original miniseries!

5. THE MIST 2007- Frank Darabont directs this highly effective tail about a small Maine town that gets engulf with a mysterious fog like mist. The story centers in on a group of people who try and ride it out at a local supermarket. Beside the scare of what’s exactly in the mist, this is a fascinating study of human nature which plays out like a two green_mile hour episode of The Twilight Zone. Its ending is a shocker that left me stunned when the credits rolled.

4. THE GREEN MILE 1999- This prison drama with supernatural overtones stars Tom Hanks as a prison guard, and features a totally likeable supporting turn by Michael Clarke Duncan ( John Coffey) as a death row inmate with some very standdvdcover special abilities. An absorbing and totally winning film. Frank Darabont directs.

3. THE STAND 1994- A landmark television achievement. King’s post apocalyptic tale works on many levels, but ultimately a good versus evil story. Gary Sinese is a terrific as Stu Redman, one of the survivors of a man made super flu virus that wipes out most of mankind. Ruby Dee, playing Mother Abigail, a mysterious old woman who might be a servant of God, is nothing short of sensational in the best work of her career, and Jamey Sheridan as the villainous Randall Flagg is incredible. A really great piece of work. shawshankdvdcap

2. THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION 1994- Easily one of the top 100 best movies of all time. Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins give inspired performances in this life affirming prison drama that has grown into a classic. Amazingly the film wasn’t a big hit at the box-office but has emerged a huge fan favorite on DVD and Television. Director- Frank Darabont.

1. THE DEAD ZONE 1983- After the tragic death of Natalie Wood, Christopher Walken threw himself into the role of Johnny Smith, a man who wakes up from a five year coma with the ability to see the future of anyone he comes in contact with. Director David Cronenberg does a skillfull job, keeping the story simple yet absorbing, in this terrific character study of a man gifted and cursed at the same time. Martin Sheen also stands out in the supporting role of the insane politician Greg Stillson.

March 16, 2009 Posted by Entertainment Today & Beyond | Reviews | Stephan King's IT to become feature film, Top 10 Stephen King Movies | 2 Comments

TYSON Trailer

Sony Picture Classics has debuted the trailer to James Toback’s TYSON, a documentary about the polarizing figure of former Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Mike Tyson. While the film received a somewhat split reaction when it was screened at both the Cannes and Sundance film festivals, it should make for interesting viewing – especially if you’re over thirty-five and remember his stunning rise and fall. I know I do. I’ll never forget the night he lost to Buster Douglas, one of the most stunning upsets of all time. If there’s one phrase I would use to describe Mike Tyson it would be self-destructive – he could be the poster boy. Like him or hate him, it’s hard to argue the fact that he was one of the most fascinating pop culture figures during the 80’s and 90’s. Tyson will play in limited release around the country starting on April 24, 2009.

March 15, 2009 Posted by Entertainment Today & Beyond | And Beyond - Trailers & News | Mike Tyson movie, Trailer to James Toback's Tyson | Leave a Comment

GEORGE CLOONEY’S RETURN TO ER

georgeclooneyer Without any advance promotion from NBC (obviously he didn’t want any big fanfare), George Clooney stepped into his Dr. Doug Ross role Thursday night as if he never left, seeming very comfortable in the part. Clooney’s Dr. Ross was seen practicing at a Seattle hospital along with his wife Carol (Julianna Magulies), now a Hospital administrator. They convince a grandmother (Susan Sarandon) to part with her brain dead grandson’s organs in order to save other lives.

Noah Wyle (John Carter) and the returning Eriq La Salle (Dr. Benton) also shared a few very nice moments. Dr Peter Benton now resides in the hospital were Carter is waiting on his kidney transplant. I really enjoyed the program’s last scene which dealt with the aspect of pure chance. It was quite thought provoking. Ernest Borgnine, who is now 92 years old, also guest starred on the episode. This season has been a joy for fans of the long running show, now in its 15th and final season. In case you missed George’s return, here’s the episode titled “Old Times” in its entirety. WATCH