Entertainment Today and Beyond

Never Met a Zombi I Didn’t Like…

I Am Legend to Rambo…

I AM LEGENDRiding on the heels of the half billion dollar world wide box office success of Warner Bros “I Am Legend”, “Disturbia” director DJ Caruso is prepping a big screen movie version of the acclaimed comic book series “Y the Last Man”, yet another story about Earths last male survivor. Caruso’s “Disturbia” star and Hollywood “It” boy of the moment, Shia LaBeouf, is rumored to be the favorite to play the film’s lead. New Line Cinema hopes to turn the property into a trilogy.

As for “I am Legend”, it certainly was a solid piece of work, and a well done effort for a majority of its running time but many moviegoers, including myself, feel director Francis Lawrence really botched the story’s last third, with a rushed unsatisfying climax. Look for an extra alternative ending option when WB releases a special edition DVD on March 18th. I just got a chance to watch the different ending and it is much better paced and superior to the one in the theatrical version. The studio also is reportedly very interested in coming up with a sequel.

Despite a big 2nd weekend drop off in ticket sales, Paramountpictures and director Matt Reeves are discussing a follow up to his monster movie “Cloverfield”. While the highly hyped film had one of the best internet marketing campaigns ever and was reviewed favorably by more than 75% of the nation’s top critics, the general public very much had a love it or hate it reaction, mostly due to the creative choice of telling the story from the point of view of a shaky hand held video camera. Personally I really liked the film and thought it was unique, featuring some of the most eerie images of destruction ever projected up on the big screen. To date, no movie has captured the 911 type fear as this film has.

Sylvester Stallone has signed a lucrative two picture deal with “Millennium Films” to star and direct two action movies. The production company is the same one that financed Stallone latest “Rambo” comeback. Like last years very successful “Rocky Balboa”, Rambo” is a fitting conclusion to the long running franchise although be forewarned it is extremely violent. Stallone is also reportedly very interested in remaking Charles Bronson’s 1974 fan favorite “Death Wish” for MGM. At 61 yrs of age Sly still has a lot to offer, and I believe he has more talent behind the camera than the majority of hack directors working in the business today.

Paramount Pictures has changed the release date of its JJ Abrams produced new “Star Trek” movie from Christmas day till June of 2009. The film, which tells the story of the very beginnings of the star fleet academy, features an all new cast of young relatively unknown actors, except for “Leonard Nimoy” who will be seen as the older Spock in the movie’s storyline. Sorry fans, no William Shatner!

Actor Ryan Reynolds (Van Wilder, Blade 3) has been added to the cast of the, now in production, comic book film Wolverine. The X-Men spin off film which stars Hugh Jackman will hit theaters for the summer 2009 season.

After watching ABC’s “Lost” this season, I am now convinced that this is one of the five greatest television programs ever produced. Not since the Twilight Zone in the 60′s has a show worked on so many levels of pure imagination and just brilliant writing. Rod Serling would be proud! Kudos to all involved!

June 8, 2008 Posted by | Reviews | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

   

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