New LOST Tonight

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yes that's James Spader flopping his ears around.

SNOW WHITE Coming to Blu-Ray

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

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

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