Bedknobs and Boomsticks

Reel Artsy

2010-03-22T18:38:00.000-07:00

I have joined film blog Reelartsy.com as a contributor. All of my posts can now be found there.

Actor Mark Daugherty

2009-12-01T12:23:00.000-08:00

If you need an actor, check out my friend Mark. He is the real deal.

Best Rolling Stone Cover?

2009-09-20T23:57:00.000-07:00

For some reason they don't credit Billy Dee and he seems to be sneaking into the photo.

Coen Bros. Short Film WORLD CINEMA

2009-09-01T12:07:00.000-07:00

THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS Trailer

2009-08-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

I love hippie Jeff Bridges, the use of Boston's 'More Than A Feeling', and the fact that Ewan actually is a jedi.

Tarantino!

2009-08-22T22:04:00.000-07:00

This is why I love LA.

The Ballad of G.I. Joe

2009-08-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

The Ballad of G.I. Joe from Olivia Wilde

DEXTER Season 4 Promo

2009-08-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

My New Video

2009-08-10T17:32:00.000-07:00

Chewbacca Cops A Feel

2009-08-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

Reno 911 & Human Giant Cinemash POINT BREAK

2009-08-03T23:17:00.000-07:00

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&from=sp_en-us_cinemash&vid=02fbd38f-cf72-487c-a788-bbca5eb51d94" target="_new" title=""RENO 911!" and Human Giant Cinemash "Point Break"">Video: "RENO 911!" and Human Giant Cinemash "Point Break"</a>

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE Trailer

2009-08-02T18:40:00.000-07:00

Watch more AOL Movies videos on AOL Video

Best title ever?

Comic-Con 09 Wrap Up

2009-07-28T20:00:00.000-07:00

THURSDAY
I missed the Alice in Wonderland panel with Tim Burton because of those damn twilighters but I made it into Avatar. Cameron showed about 25 minutes of footage in real 3D. It was incredible. The animation really captured the actor's nuances and the level of detail was astounding. Everything in it was alive and moving. Then came Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus panel. Gilliam was joined by Verne Troyer and introduced some amazing footage that showcased his trademark visual style. Ledger is fantastic as always and is joined by Johhny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Christopher Plummer as Parnassus, and Tom Waits as the devil! Up next was Matthew Vaughn's Kick-Ass, based on Mark Millar's comic. This was the first time any footage had been shown and it was spectacular. Nicolas Cage shoots a little girl. It completely surprised me and was hilarious, action-packed, and well...kick ass. It's a love letter to comics and comic book fans and I can't wait for this movie. I left hall H to go to the screening of Green Lantern: First Flight, but didn't make it in. Luckily it came out today anyways.

FRIDAY
First up was the massive WB panel which started with Where The Wild Things Are. The kid who plays Max introduced a featurette which was followed by some full scenes from the movie. It looks absolutely gorgeous. This is everything I want this film to be. I loved the book as a kid and to see it come to life in such a creative way is heartwarming. Spike Jonze and the Jim Henson company have truly made something special. Then came The Hughes Brothers with The Book of Eli panel with surprise guests Gary Oldman and Denzel Washington! The trailer was cool with Denzel doing martial arts in a post-apocalyptic world. Then came the Nightmare on Elm Street remake with Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy. Looks very mediocre. I miss Robert. Then Richard Kelly's The Box panel where he was joined by Cameron Diaz and James Marsden. They showed an extended trailer that looked so awesome. Then Kelly gave away a replica of the box signed by him and the cast to a lucky fan who found a poster under their seat. Then the Jonah Hex panel with Josh Brolin and Megan Fox. All questions go to Fox. Footage features crazy western action. Malkovich is the bad guy. Somebody shouts Goonies and Brolin jokes that this is an older version of his Goonies character. He's really funny and super nice. Then Robert Downey Jr. came out of nowhere and introduced the Sherlock Holmes extended clip. Really funny and great action. Guy Ritchie does a buddy cop movie with excellent results. He was then joined by Rachel McAdams and Joel Silver. Then came Disney's Animation Panel with Lee Unkrich, Kirk Wise, Ron Clements, John Musker, and Hayao Miyazaki(!). John Lasseter hosted the panel, and Patton Oswalt moderated. Miyazaki got a standing ovation and charmed the crowd even as he spoke through his translator. Just being in the same room with him was so cool. They showed (deep breath) the whole Toy Story 2 opening in 3D, the trailer for the Toy Story double feature in 3D, a specially made clip from Toy Story 3 featuring the debut of Michael Keaton as Ken, a scene from Beauty and the Beast in 3D, a clip and an entire musical sequence from the Princess and the Frog, and a jaw-dropping clip from Ponyo. Then the 9 panel with director Shane Acker, producer Tim Burton, Elijah Wood, and Jennifer Connelly. Footage looked great. Surprisingly no Labyrinth questions. Later came the Entertainment Weekly Visionaries panel where filmmakers James Cameron and Peter Jackson discussed 3D, digital effects, and how they have managed their film careers. Really smart guys who love playing with new toys.

SATURDAY
Over sleep, run to the hall H line for Lost, but don't get in. Make it to the Oni booth for the Bryan Lee O'Malley signing. He's super cool, compliments my Scorsese shirt, and signs my vol. 1 of Scott Pilgrim. Head back to to the hall H line, don't make Zombieland or Iron Man 2 but get in for the legendary Kevin Smith panel. He is on his A game and brings down the room. After that we leave to get on the shuttle for the Robot Chicken Party. There's pizza, roller skating, exclusive merch, dancing stormtroopers, and other craziness.

SUNDAY
Hit the floor and pick up some cool Trek swag (including a tribble) then head to ballroom 20. The American Dad panel has showrunners Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman and stars Seth MacFarlane, Wendy Schall, and Dee Bradley Baker. They announce an epic Christmas episode that involves the rapture and heavy metal music. Then proceed to do a live table read of the first act, show the animatic of the second act, and then show the fully animated third act! After that it was Mystery Team panel with the guys from comedy troupe Derrick Comedy, writers/stars Dominic Dierkes, Donald Glover, and DC Pierson, producer Meggie McFadden, and director/editor Dan Eckman. They show a new short film featuring the Mystery Team characters that is crazy funny. Their Q&A is of course priceless. Then the Paper Heart panel with Charlyne Yi. Great clips and really funny Q&A. Looks like a sweet film that's also really funny. Go back to the floor for more swag and purchases. Meet all the guys from Derrick Comedy at their booth, they take a picture with me and all sign a poster of Mystery Team for me. They couldn't have been nicer and now I like them even more. It was a great con, had a lot of fun, and a big goofy smile on my face the whole time. My favorites were Avatar, Where The Wild Things Are, and Kick-Ass.

FANTASTIC MR. FOX Photo

2009-07-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

Wes Anderson. Roald Dahl. Stop-motion. Yes please!

Full Comic-Con Schedule Announced!

2009-07-13T15:11:00.000-07:00

Some highlights for 2009 include Tim Burton, Robert Zemeckis, James Cameron, Hayao Miyazaki, a Where The Wild Things Are panel, Terry Gilliam, Peter Jackson, the final Lost panel, an Iron Man 2 panel, and the famous Kevin Smith Q&A.

Optimus Prime on Letterman

2009-07-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

BIG FAN Trailer

2009-07-06T23:12:00.000-07:00

Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter

2009-07-04T21:33:00.000-07:00

Looks amazing. Burton was born to make this movie.

THE INVENTION OF LYING Trailer

2009-07-02T23:32:00.000-07:00

This looks awesome and Gervais also co-wrote/co-directed it.

Fun with Photoshop

2009-06-30T12:59:00.000-07:00

Click the shark for a big version.

MICMACS A TIRE-LARIGOT Teaser

2009-06-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

This is the new film from visionary French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie, Delicatessen). I have no idea what it's about but like his other films it looks amazing.

R.I.P. Michael

2009-06-25T21:56:00.000-07:00

Tom Hanks Does Song From BIG

2009-06-23T23:07:00.000-07:00

BETTER OFF TED Returns Tonight

2009-06-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

A new episode airs tonight at 9:30/8:30c on ABC. This is definitely my favorite new show. Andy Richter Controls The Universe creator Victor Fresco has crafted a series that's hilarious, sweet, and consistently clever. Once the show finishes its summer run, it goes away until its second season launches in early 2010.

Go See MOON

2009-06-22T22:55:00.000-07:00

Currently in limited release. It's smart sci-fi that's also heartbreaking drama. Sam Rockwell gives an amazing Oscar-worthy performance and the score by Clint Mansell is emotionally devastating. The less you know about the plot the better. It will easily make my top ten list this year.

THE LAST AIRBENDER Teaser

2009-06-22T22:48:00.000-07:00

Not as bad as everyone thought it would look. The long-take bo staff routine is a step in the right direction.

Volkswagen Bumblebee

2009-06-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

THE PACIFIC Trailer

2009-06-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Spielberg. HBO. Can't wait.

THIRST Poster

2009-06-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

Vampires are everywhere right now and Chan-wook seems a perfect fit for the bloodsuckers.

LOST Meets FULL HOUSE

2009-06-20T22:15:00.000-07:00

Obama: The First Geek President

2009-06-20T21:45:00.000-07:00

COLD SOULS Poster

2009-06-15T17:56:00.000-07:00

Click for a bigger version.

George Lucas: Then and Now

2009-06-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

High-Def Armwrestling

2009-06-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

Comes out September 8th.

New Yeah Yeah Yeahs Music Video

2009-06-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

Bonus cool points: it was directed by Richard Ayoade aka Moss from The IT Crowd!

TONIGHT SHOW WITH CONAN Premieres Tonight

2009-06-01T22:55:00.000-07:00

The first episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien premieres tonight at 11:35/10:35c on NBC. After more than three months away from nightly television, Conan O’Brien becomes the fifth host of NBC’s legendary talk show. Former sidekick Andy Richter replaces Joel Goddard as announcer and Max Weinberg expands the 7 to the Tonight Show Band. Will Ferrell is the first guest and Pearl Jam is the music. I'm glad to see Andy back.

Explosions!

2009-06-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

MTV Shows

Final JAY LENO Tonight

2009-05-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

Jay Leno's last episode as host of The Tonight Show airs tonight at 11:35/10:35c on NBC. His successor Conan O'Brien is the guest and James Taylor performs. I'm sure there will be many surprise guests as well. (Letterman would be awesome) I've always been a fan of the show and I'm glad I had a chance to see it live a couple months ago. I also can't wait to see what Conan does with it on monday and I will definitely be seeing that show live. It will be sad to see it end but I'm looking forward to Leno's primetime show in the fall.

THE GOODE FAMILY Premieres Tonight

2009-05-27T10:44:00.000-07:00

Mike Judge's new animated show about a family of environmentally-obsessed vegans premieres tonight at 9/8c on ABC.

SHERLOCK HOLMES Trailer

2009-05-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

Did Sherlock join a fight club? Guy Ritchie is crazy. I can't wait.

Ida Maria = Amazing

2009-05-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

SNL's 'Goodnight Saigon' with Guest Stars

2009-05-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

Head Full of Logic, Nose Full of Coke

2009-05-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

LOST Season Finale Tonight!

2009-05-13T15:41:00.000-07:00

The two hour fifth-season finale, entitled The Incident, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Jack's decision to put a plan in action in order to set things right on the island is met with some strong resistance by those close to him, and Locke assigns Ben a difficult task. Fan favorites Rose and Bernard return and the guest star list also shows there will be appearances of young Kate, young Juliet, young Sawyer, and young Tom. I'm interested to see how Tom's backstory fits into the puzzle. I also hope they finish the time travel stuff before they get themselves into a paradox. It was written by showrunners Damon Lindelof/Carlton Cuse and directed by Jack Bender. There will also be a Lost recap episode at 8/7c.

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG Trailer

2009-05-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

Disney returns to classic animation with this New Orleans musical tale. It was written and directed by acclaimed animation duo John Musker & Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules) and scored by Oscar-winning composer Randy Newman. It stars the voices of Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos (a Brazilian!), Oprah Winfrey, Keith David, Jim Cummings, John Goodman, Jenifer Lewis, and Terrence Howard. I'm so glad John Lasseter (who produced) convinced Disney to return to their roots and hopefully the film will be a big success. Also, I believe this is the first time Disney is doing an indie film style release strategy. It will open in limited release on November 25th, then wide on December 11th.

Final SCRUBS Tonight

2009-05-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

The one hour series finale, entitled My Finale Parts 1 & 2, airs tonight at 8/9c on ABC. The show was picked up by ABC for another season last year after NBC cancelled it and I think the HD upgrade and addition of new interns have really made this season one of the best. This has been one of my favorite shows and it will be sad to see it go. I've always loved the goofy humor (especially the janitor), talented cast, and the fantastic music choices. It's very hard to mix silly comedy with unexpected drama (see The Unusuals), but they always managed to pull it off effortlessly. Scrubs also had a exceptional variety of guest stars including Brendan Fraser, Michael J. Fox, Dave Foley, Amy Smart, and John Ritter as JD's father. Zach Braff has hinted that there might be some kind of spin-off version of the show, possibly revolving around the interns, which I look forward to.

New LOST Tonight

2009-05-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

A new episode, entitled Follow The Leader, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Jack and Kate find themselves at odds over the direction to take to save their fellow island survivors, Locke further solidifies his stance as leader of The Others, and Sawyer and Juliet come under scrutiny from the Dharma Initiative. It was written by Paul Zbyszewski/Elizabeth Sarnoff and directed by Stephen Williams.

Coppola's TETRO Trailer

2009-05-02T23:29:00.000-07:00

Francis Ford Coppola returned to directing after a ten year break with the overlooked 2007 indie Youth Without Youth and now he's back with another indie, also his first original screenplay since The Conversation. I love Coppola's return to his roots and hopefully Lucas will follow his lead. If Coppola wasn't enough, the casting of eccentric actor Vincent Gallo and the amazing black and white cinematography make this a must see. It will be released June 11th.

New LOST Tonight

2009-04-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

A new episode (the 100th!), entitled The Variable, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. The time of reckoning has begun when Daniel Faraday comes clean regarding what he knows about the island. It was written by Edward Kitsis/Adam Horowitz and directed by Paul Edwards. I'm so glad to see more Faraday! This could be my favorite episode since The Constant.

TMNT Movies Coming To Blu-Ray

2009-04-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

Cowabunga dude! Warner Home Video has announced that they will bring the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Film Collection' to Blu-Ray on August 4th. This four-disc set will feature all four films from the series - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Turtles in Time, and the animated TMNT. I'm liking the awesome pizza box inspired packaging. They haven't announced the special features on the discs but the set will include these bonus items:
Comic Book
Sketch with Co-Creator Peter Laird's Autograph
Radical Beanie Hat
8 TMNT Character Cards

CHUCK & HEROES Season Finales Tonight

2009-04-27T17:31:00.000-07:00

The season finale of Chuck, entitled Chuck vs. The Ring, airs tonight at 8/7c on NBC. I thought the first season of Chuck was alright but I really enjoyed the second season. The show does have its problems, the humor is hit or miss and it doesn't get geek culture as well as other shows (like The Big Bang Theory or The IT Crowd), but the drama is always solid and it's a fun show. Plus you can always count on 'Browncoat' favorite Adam Baldwin and a pack of geek-friendly guest stars (including Tony Hale, Chevy Chase, and Scott Bakula) to entertain. It hasn't been picked up for a third season so this could be the final episode if NBC is dumb enough to cancel it, even though they've kept the vastly inferior Heroes around. In the season two finale, Ellie and Awesome's wedding day arrives but Chuck must save his sister from evil Fulcrum forces and Ted Roark (Chevy Chase). Plus the return of Jeffster!

The season finale of Heroes, entitled An Invisible Thread, airs tonight at 9/8c on NBC. Except for a few bright spots like Bryan Fuller's episode and guest star Zeljko Ivanek, the show has gotten pretty bad and I keep watching in the hope that it will return to its former glory. This episode has been getting terrible reviews and NBC should really let Bryan Fuller run the show next season if they want to salvage it. In the season three finale, Nathan faces off against Sylar to keep him from meeting the President (guest star Michael Dorn). Sylar has his own plans for his new partner. Meanwhile, Hiro learns that there are repercussions to regaining his ability. Elsewhere, Matt is forced to go to extraordinary lengths to protect his future with his family.

Soderbergh Casts Demetri Martin in MONEYBALL

2009-04-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

Lately there has been a growing trend of casting comedians in dramatic films whether it's Todd Barry and Judah Friedlander in Aronofsky's The Wrestler, Patton Oswalt and a whole crew of comedians in Soderbergh's The Informant, or Demetri Martin in Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock. Now Martin has lined up another big role alongside Brad Pitt in Steven Soderbergh's "Moneyball," the adaptation of the Michael Lewis book about ballplayer-turned-Oakland Athletics manager Billy Beane (Pitt) and his attempt to field a competitive team on a slim payroll. Martin will play Paul De Podesta, a Harvard grad who turned down Wall Street jobs to use his statistical skills to change baseball scouting tactics. His system, known as "Earned Run Value," allowed Beane to evaluate valuable players he could hire at low cost. Also joining the cast is a group of actual baseball players: former Oakland A's team members David Justice and Scott Hatteberg have signed on to play themselves in the picture, while Daryl Strawberry and Lenny Dykstra are among those who will be seen on camera being interviewed about their experiences with Beane when he was drafted by the New York Mets before becoming a baseball scout. Oscar-winning screenwriter Steve Zaillian is doing a rewrite on a script originated by Stan Chervin. I think Martin is one of funniest comedians working today (watch his show on Comedy Central for proof) and I'm excited to see him transition to movies. Taking Woodstock will be released on Aug. 14th and Moneyball begins shooting in June.

First Photo of ROBIN HOOD

2009-04-20T11:01:00.000-07:00

The first image from Ridley Scott's upcoming Robin Hood film has been released. They have decided to go with a more modern style which producer Brian Grazer says "looks, if anything, more like he did in Gladiator than anything we're used to seeing with Robin Hood." Nobody does period epics like Scott and while I haven't seen the BBC series I am glad to see the character back in a big way. Joining Crowe is Cate Blanchett as Maid Marion, Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Eleanor, Mark Strong as Sir Godfrey, Oscar Issac as King John, Léa Seydoux as French Princess Isabella, William Hurt as Earl of Pembroke, Scott Grimes as Will Scarlet, Kevin Durand as Little John, and Alan Doyle as Allan Adayle. The Sheriff of Nottingham has not been announced but how awesome would it be if they got Alan Rickman to reprise his role?

SIT DOWN, SHUT UP Premieres Tonight

2009-04-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Mitchell Hurwitz created the critical darling Arrested Development which garnered him three Emmys but was still abruptly cancelled. Now he's back on FOX (can we call this Joss Whedon syndrome?) with his new animated show that airs tonight at 8:30/7:30c following The Simpsons. The show is a remake of an Australian series and revolves around a dysfunctional high school faculty in a northeastern fishing town. The quirky visuals combine 2D characters with live-action backgrounds and the voice cast reunites Arrested alums Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Henry Winkler. The stellar cast also includes comedy veterans Tom Kenny, Kristin Chenoweth, Will Forte, Kenan Thompson, and Cheri Oteri. In the pilot Knob Haven High has money problems, and the pressure is on to win the big football game and spur alumni donations. Meanwhile, pills confiscated from a student's locker become part of the vice principal's daily regimen. Hopefully the series can live up to Hurwitz's talent and hold its own with the 'animation domination' Sunday line-up.

Polanksi's REPULSION Gets A Criterion Release

2009-04-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

The Criterion Collection have announced that Roman Polanski's 1965 shocker Repulsion is getting a DVD and Blu-Ray release this July 28th. Previously only available in a bare-bones fullscreen edition, the Criterion disc will feature a new, restored high-definition digital transfer in its original 1.85:1 ratio (with an uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-Ray edition).
Extras include:
Audio commentary featuring director Roman Polanski and actress Catherine Deneuve
A British Horror Film (2003), a documentary on the making of Repulsion, featuring interviews with Polanski, producer Gene Gutowski, and cinematographer Gil Taylor
A 1964 television documentary filmed on the set of Repulsion, featuring rare footage of Polanski and Deneuve at work
Theatrical trailer
PLUS A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar and curator Bill Horrigan
Repulsion is a claustrophobic story of mayhem, starring Catherine Deneuve as Carol, a young woman losing her nerves over the course of a weekend. Left alone by her vacationing sister in their London flat, Carol is haunted by both real and imagined beings, and her insanity grows to a violent degree. Repulsion remains one of cinema’s most intense character studies. I personally love Polanski's early tension-filled psychological thrillers and hope he makes a successful return to them with his upcoming film The Ghost. I would also love to see Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown on Criterion too.

(500) DAYS OF SUMMER Poster

2009-04-16T23:29:00.000-07:00

If you're a Zooey Deschanel fan (and you should be) you'll love the poster for music video director Marc Webb's upcoming feature debut. Fox Searchlight actually let people vote for the best poster concept online and this awesome collage of stills won out. It will be the centerpiece film at this year's San Francisco International Film Festival and opens in theaters July 17th.

LORD OF THE RINGS Finally Coming To Blu-Ray

2009-04-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

Blu-ray.com has announced that New Line Home Entertainment in conjunction with Warner Home Video have revealed the cover art for 'The Lord of the Rings Trilogy' Blu-Ray and Amazon has begun taking pre-orders at $69.99. The set currently does not have a release date, but it is expected to be released later this year. No technical specs or special features have been revealed at this time, but you can expect to see 1080p VC-1 video accompanied by a Dolby TrueHD soundtrack. The only potentially bad news here is that it looks like the films will be presented in their theatrical versions instead of the more popular (and more faithful) extended versions. This is not entirely surprising as Warner made it well known early on that the theatrical versions would be released first, with the extended versions coming sometime later (likely around the theatrical release of 'The Hobbit'). It is a seven-disc set so at least we can expect some new extras. Whatever the case, one of the greatest trilogies of all time and a benchmark for DVD quality is sure to amaze in high definition.

Dana Brown's New Film HIGHWATER

2009-04-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

Bruce Brown's innovative 1966 documentary The Endless Summer was the genesis of the surf movie genre as we know it today. His son Dana continued the tradition with the amazing Step Into Liquid and now his new film Highwater. Surfer or not, if you like good documentaries check it out.

New LOST Tonight

2009-04-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

A new episode, entitled Some Like It Hoth, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Ben is abducted from the infirmary, arousing concern that hostiles have gotten into the Dharma village again. Meanwhile, Hurley and a reluctant Miles team up to deliver a package to a Dharma bigwig. It was written by Melinda Hsu Taylor/Greggory Nations and directed by Jack Bender. Looks like we will finally learn some more about the elusive Miles and is that not the best episode title ever?

New INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS Footage

2009-04-15T10:44:00.000-07:00

So apparently Quentin Tarantino did a guest spot on American Idol last night (to help publicity I assume) but the good news is a new behind the scenes clip from his latest flick was released. It also shows some new clips from the film including the first look at Mike Myer's character General Fenech. It looks like it could be his most violent film and continues in the same 70s approach as Death Proof. It seems that Brad Pitt is having the most fun he's had since Burn After Reading and the war genre could certainly use a fresh take. The Nazi-killin starts on August 21st.

Hans Zimmer's ANGELS & DEMONS Score

2009-04-14T19:19:00.000-07:00

The best thing about Ron Howard's serviceable adaptation of The Da Vinci Code was easily composer Hans Zimmer's rousing score. This is by far my favorite piece of marketing from Angels, a two and a half minute dialogue-free montage set to Zimmer's music.

WARRIORS Inspired Music Video

2009-04-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

You might remember British rapper Lady Sovereign for her 2006 breakout single Love Me or Hate Me. Her awesome new music video for the song 'Got You Dancing' references Walter Hill's 1979 cult classic The Warriors. It was directed by indie auteur Dandilion Wind Opaine. Check out the video and the making of below. And if you haven't seen The Warriors or only know the Rockstar video game, Netflix it immediately for a good time.

Freaky Trailer For ANTICHRIST

2009-04-14T15:17:00.000-07:00

Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier, best known for his Dogme 95 films, is now exploring the horror genre with his upcoming Antichrist. It stars Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg as a couple who go on a retreat in the woods and descend into fear. It looks disturbing as hell and was shot by recent Oscar-winning cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle. The trailer recalls early Dario Argento with its surreal imagery, unsettling sounds, and widescreen nightmares. It's scheduled to appear at Cannes in May where I'm sure it will get a mixed reaction like most art house/horror films.

DEPARTURES Gets A Limited Release

2009-04-14T14:10:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest surprises at this year's Oscars was best foreign film going to Japan's Departures instead of the favored Waltz with Bashir. Now Regent Releasing is giving the film a limited release on May 29th. The film follows Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki), a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved and who is suddenly left without a job. He answers a classified ad entitled “Departures” thinking it is an advertisement for a travel agency only to discover that the job is actually for a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies for burial. It looks like a charming Jim Jarmusch-style movie with dry humor, charming characters, and emotional moments. Once you've seen Up, seek it out along with The Brothers Bloom this May. Check out the trailer below.

New Chris Kattan Project Set In Mumbai

2009-04-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

For those who enjoyed A Night at the Roxbury or even Corky Romano, Kattan appeared on Jimmy Fallon last night and gave a first look at his upcoming IFC mini-series Bollywood Hero. The plot centers on an out of work American actor who decides to try his luck in Bollywood. There's the usual Kattan mugging and the obligatory makeout with an animal scene. The show will debut in the summer on the IFC channel. I am a fan of Kattan and IFC makes solid original stuff like Greg the Bunny and The Henry Rollins Show, so I'm optimistic. With Slumdog's success I think it's safe to say we are gonna see a lot of projects set in India. It's great to see stories not filmed in Burbank or Vancouver and I hope we get some new perspectives on Indian life.

TV-to-Film Adaptations

2009-04-13T22:40:00.000-07:00

With State of Play (based on the BBC series) coming out this week and Hannah Montana currently #1 at the box office, I've been thinking about TV transitions. Studios have long mined the tube for ideas hoping to recapture some of that magic on the big screen but for every Mission Impossible there is a Wild Wild West lurking around the corner. Movies that use the same crew tend to be successful (Serenity, Borat) while movies that are made years after are hit or miss. So how do you stay true to the show without just making a 2 hour episode? (I'm looking at you Simpsons Movie) The best ones expand the universe of the show and do things they couldn't do in the series, using the medium to its full advantage. A bigger budget and the freedom of new settings offer countless opportunities to explore the characters we love. A great adaptation can even surpass its predecessor, I know I can't think of The Addams Family without conjuring up images of Raul Julia and a bald Christopher Loyd. Having said that, TV has come a long way especially in the last decade. With shows like The Sopranos, The Wire, and Battlestar Galactica, TV has proved it can do things that film simply cannot. Clearly some stories belong on the small screen. So what should be adapted and what should be left alone? I think if there is something to add to the narrative and talented people behind it, I'm willing to give it a chance.

SPACEBALLS Coming to Blu-Ray

2009-04-13T22:17:00.000-07:00

Hail Skroob! Mel Brooks' endlessly quotable Star Wars spoof is getting a Blu-Ray/DVD Combo release this June. MGM Home Entertainment in conjunction with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment have announced the technical specs and special features for the upcoming release, which is due to hit store shelves on June 16th. Coming on a BD-50, video will be presented in 1.85:1 1080p AVC accompanied by a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack.
Extras for this release include:
Commentary by Mel Brooks
Additional Commentary Tracks-Mawgese, Dinkese
Spaceballs: The Documentary featurette
In Conversation: Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan featurette
John Candy: Comic Spirit featurette
Watch the Movie in Ludicrous Speed featurette
Still Galleries
Trailers
Film Flubs
Storyboards-to-Film Comparison
Spaceballs DVD-Widescreen Feature Film (Side A), Fullscreen Feature Film (Side B)

New LOST Tonight

2009-04-08T18:03:00.000-07:00

A new episode, entitled Dead Is Dead, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. To atone for sins of the past, Ben must attempt to summon the smoke monster in order to be judged. It was written by Brian K. Vaughan(!)/Elizabeth Sarnoff and directed by Stephen Williams. Also the new quirky cop show THE UNUSUALS, which stars LOST's Michael, premieres right after.

Robert Rodriguez's SHORTS Trailer

2009-04-08T13:50:00.000-07:00

Yes that's James Spader flopping his ears around.

SNOW WHITE Coming to Blu-Ray

2009-04-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be released on Blu-Ray on October 6th, a full seven weeks before the standard definition DVD is released on November 24th. The Snow White Blu-Ray release will also come bundled with a copy of the movie on DVD. The release will feature state-of-the-art picture restoration and a pristine 7.1 Digital Theater System Hi-Def Surround Sound. I can't wait!

New DOLLHOUSE Tonight

2009-04-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

This show has been getting progessively better, especially with the Whedon-scripted episode with Patton Oswalt. A new episode, entitled Needs, airs tonight at 9/8c on FOX. When Echo, Sierra and Victor awaken in the Dollhouse with most of their original personalities and memories intact, Echo leads the charge to free the Actives from their apparent captivity and escape the Dollhouse forever. Meanwhile, Ballard discovers the Dollhouse is closer than he thinks. It was written by Tracy Bellomo and directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá. 'The Awakening' theory sounds good but I'm guessing they all get wiped at the end in order for the premise to continue. Hopefully the dolls will retain something from it and the writers will keep bringing non-mission stories to the show.

New LOST Tonight

2009-04-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

An all-new episode, entitled Whatever Happened Happened, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Kate goes to extreme measures to save Ben's life when Jack refuses to help. Meanwhile, Kate begins to tell the truth about the lie in order to protect Aaron. It was written by Carlton Cuse/Damon Lindelof and directed by Bobby Roth.

Forrest Gump in 1 Minute

2009-04-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

New LOST Tonight

2009-03-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

An all-new episode, entitled He's Our You, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Things begin to unravel when one of the survivors goes rogue and takes matters into their own hands, risking the lives of everyone on the island. It was written by Edward Kitsis/Adam Horowitz and directed by Greg Yaitanes.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE Trailer

2009-03-25T18:47:00.000-07:00

The absolutely wonderful trailer for Spike Jonze's adaptation, which is perfectly set to Arcade Fire's 'Wake Up.'

New LOST Tonight

2009-03-18T17:55:00.000-07:00

An all-new episode, entitled Namaste, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. When some old friends drop in unannounced, Sawyer is forced to further perpetuate his lie in order to protect them. It was written by Paul Zbyszewski/Brian K. Vaughan(!) and directed by Jack Bender.

WHERE THE WILDS THINGS ARE Poster!

2009-03-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

Puppets + Coldplay = Awesome

2009-03-15T18:20:00.000-07:00

Tracy Morgan Hosts SNL

2009-03-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

SNL alum and current star of the hilarious 30 Rock Tracy Morgan hosts SNL tonight at 11:30/10:30c on NBC. The musical guest is (ugh)Kelly Clarkson. I hope Brian Fellow makes an appearance!

New LOST Tonight

2009-03-04T13:41:00.000-08:00

An all-new episode, entitled LaFleur, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Sawyer perpetuates a lie with some of the other island survivors in order to protect themselves from mistakes of the past. It was written by Elizabeth Sarnoff/Kyle Pennington and directed by Mark Goldman.

My New Short Film 'Stallone...'

2009-02-25T14:12:00.000-08:00

Check out my new short below.

New LOST Tonight

2009-02-25T14:05:00.000-08:00

An all-new episode, entitled The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Locke's fateful mission as Jeremy Bentham is revealed. It was written by Carlton Cuse/Damon Lindelof and directed by Jack Bender.

Oscars!

2009-02-22T17:22:00.000-08:00

The 81st Annual Academy Awards air live tonight at 5p/8e on ABC. Hugh Jackman hosts.

Here are my picks:

(these are who I want to win not who I think will win)

Best Motion Picture of the Year

"Slumdog Millionaire" Christian Colson, Producer

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Meryl Streep in "Doubt"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Taraji P. Henson in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Best Achievement in Directing

"Slumdog Millionaire" Danny Boyle

Best Original Screenplay

"WALL-E" Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, and Jim Reardon

Best Adapted screenplay

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Screenplay by Eric Roth

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

"WALL-E" Andrew Stanton

Best Achievement in Art Direction

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt

Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo

Best Achievement in Cinematography

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Claudio Miranda

Best Achievement in Costume Design

"Australia" Catherine Martin

Best Documentary Feature

"Encounters at the End of the World" Werner Herzog and Henry Kaiser

Best Achievement in Film Editing

"Slumdog Millionaire" Chris Dickens

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

"Waltz with Bashir" A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production - Israel

Best Achievement in Makeup

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Greg Cannom

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Alexandre Desplat

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)

"O Saya" from "Slumdog Millionaire"

Music and Lyrics by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

Best Animated Short Film

"Presto" Doug Sweetland

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

"WALL-E" Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

"Wanted" Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño, and Petr Forejt

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, and Craig Barron

Farewell LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN

2009-02-20T12:51:00.000-08:00

The final episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien airs tonight at 12:35/11:35c on NBC. The White Stripes will be reunited to perform. This is one of my favorite shows and I had the pleasure of seeing it when he came to San Francisco. Also, I still have the VHS tape I made with 8 hours worth of Conan. The end marks a new beginning and I'm looking forward to what he will do with the Tonight Show in June.

New LOST Tonight

2009-02-18T14:32:00.000-08:00

An all-new episode, entitled 316, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. The members of Oceanic 6 discover how to get back to the island, but not all of them want to return. It was written by Carlton Cuse/Damon Lindelof and directed by Stephen Williams. R.I.P Charlotte.

SIMPSONS Goes HD

2009-02-15T18:23:00.000-08:00

The first hi-def episode, entitled Take My Life Please, airs tonight at 8/7c on FOX. They also created a new opening sequence to mark the occasion. Viva la HD!

New LOST Tonight

2009-02-11T16:18:00.000-08:00

An all-new episode, entitled This Place Is Death, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Locke takes on the burden to stop the island's increasingly violent shifts through time. Meanwhile, Ben hits a roadblock in his attempt to reunite the Oceanic 6 and bring them back to the island. It was written by Edward Kitsis/Adam Horowtiz and directed by Paul Edwards. More Faraday and Charlotte please!

MARY AND MAX Poster

2009-02-10T23:49:00.000-08:00

You can't stop stop-motion!

MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY Trailer

2009-02-09T17:02:00.000-08:00

Check out the trailer for this indie from SF.

New LOST Tonight

2009-02-04T17:15:00.000-08:00

A new episode, entitled The Little Prince, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Kate discovers that someone knows the secret of Aaron's true parental lineage. Meanwhile, the dramatic shifts through time are placing the lives of the remaining island survivors in extreme peril. It was written by Brian K. Vaughn(!)/Melinda Hsu Taylor and directed by Stephen Williams.

TRANSFORMERS 2 Teaser

2009-02-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

The first look at Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen aired during the Super Bowl and confirms there will more badass robot action that the first. Check it out.

New SHERLOCK HOLMES Photo

2009-02-03T12:01:00.000-08:00

After making the pretty entertaining RocknRolla, Guy Ritchie and Joel Silver are teaming up again for a new take on Sherlock Holmes. Robert Downey Jr. is Holmes, Jude Law is Dr. Watson, and Rachel McAdams is Irene Adler. It's also being shot by one of my favorite cinematographers Philippe Rousselot (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, A River Runs Through It, Constantine). I'm looking forward to this one and hopefully a new series of Sherlock films.

HEROES Returns Tonight

2009-02-02T15:04:00.000-08:00

The first new episode after the break, entitled A Clear and Present Danger, airs tonight at 9/8c on NBC. This season has had its problems but I'm hoping the 'fugitives' storyline and the return of writer Bryan Fuller will get the show back on track. It's followed by the fifth-season premiere of Medium at 10/9c.

New LOST Tonight

2009-01-28T17:02:00.000-08:00

An all-new episode, entitled Jughead, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Desmond goes in search of a woman who could be the key to helping Faraday stop the island's time shifting, Locke discovers the identity of the unknown forces who have been attacking the survivors. It was written by Elizabeth Sarnoff/Paul Zbyszewski and directed by Rod Holcomb.

Andy Richter Comes to DVD

2009-01-28T12:08:00.000-08:00

One of the best cancelled shows, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, finally comes out on DVD March 24th! If you're a fan, creator Victor Fresco has a new similarly-themed show called Better Off Ted (which also co-stars Jonathan Slavin) coming to ABC. Now if only they could release Andy Barker P.I. on DVD as well.

LOST Returns Tonight

2009-01-21T14:16:00.000-08:00

It's finally back! The two hour fifth-season premiere, entitled Because You Left/The Lie, airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Jack and Ben try to reunite the Oceanic 6 for a return to the island to save the remaining survivors, while those survivors feel the effects of the island's move. Later, they come under attack by unknown forces. Meanwhile, Hurley and Sayid are on the run from police; and Kate gets some shocking advice from an old friend to ensure that "the lie" remains safe. Because You Left was written by Carlton Cuse/Damon Lindelof and directed by Stephen Williams. The Lie was written by Edward Kitsis/Adam Horowitz and directed by Jack Bender. There will be a recap episode at 8/7c as well.

My Top 10 Movies of 2008

2009-01-13T16:32:00.001-08:00

I thought I would wait until the year was actually over to do my list. These are not in any particular order.

The Visitor

WALL-E

The Dark Knight

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

The Fall

Milk

The Wackness

Slumdog Millionaire

The Wrestler

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Golden Globes Tonight

2009-01-11T18:19:00.000-08:00

I'm pulling for Benjamin Button, Slumdog Millionaire, and Waltz with Bashir to win their categories. The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards air tonight at 8/9c on NBC.

ABC Does Something Right

2009-01-06T20:53:00.000-08:00

Even though they tend to cancel their best shows (Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone) in favor of reality-based crap, ABC did pick up Scrubs for a final season after NBC cancelled it. It premieres tonight at 9/8c. Here's hoping this trend continues with other networks looking at opportunities to bring shows back from the dead.

My New Favorite Color is Blu

2009-01-06T11:52:00.000-08:00

I finally upgraded to hi-def when I got a Blu-ray player on black friday. I'm glad the hi-def war is over because watching movies in high definition is cinematic bliss. After extensive research I went with the Sony S350. It's pretty amazing and if you can find one at a good price I highly recommend it. Now for some nerd talk: it offers full 1080p, 24p true cinema output, profile 2.0, decodes PCM, DolbyTrueHD, and DTS-HD audio. The best looking discs I have watched so far are Transformers, I Robot, and Wall-E (coincidentally all robot movies). I haven't gotten through all my discs yet. I'm most looking forward to checking out Sleeping Beauty to see traditional animation in HD.