Neat Special Effects, Will the Film Live Up to Them?

I remember when the first Tron film was released (thus providing a further hint that I'm a bit older). People were freaked out for some reason that Disney was putting out a movie that wasn't rated G. Sure, that seems absurd now, but at the time it was an honest concern for some people.

I watched the film, both in the theatre and on cable. It was all right, but it didn't captivate me as much as other productions at the time. Excalibur came out around then. Remember that King Arthur epic? Major cool. Anyway, Tron was okay, but not the most special thing in the world. They came out with some video games. The cycles. The flying discs. Interesting in a time of early standup gaming, but after a game or two you could move on without dropping more quarters into the slots.

So why is Disney releasing Tron Legacy (formally Tron 2)? I don't know. But if the movie is half as cool as the updated special effects, I'll have to give it a go. Empire Online is one of the spots where you can view the trailer shown at Comic Con. Is Jeff Bridges a bad guy this time around? Or is there more to his hunting down that other cyclist than meets the eye?

I think I'll be able to manage waiting until 2011 to find out. Until then, how about a sneak peek at Olivia Wilde's character? C'mon, guys!

Let's Watch Some Guys Sell Some Cars!

I'll be honest. Jeremy Piven's acting style grates on me after a while. But, in limited doses, it can be entertaining. Funny or Die has posted the red band trailer for The Goods, Piven's upcoming car salesmen comedy with a nice supporting cast. (Sorry, after multiple attempts I couldn't get the vid to load properly here. Click the link to check the site out.) They don't mention Charles Napier by name in the trailer, but I've always been a fan of his. And Rob Riggle as... well, you have to watch the video... cracks me up with his dry approach. Have you see the safe driving PSA that he did? Good stuff. I don't think that The Goods will be the next The Hangover, but it should be worth plenty of laughs for the buck.

Chuck News is Good News

Back from my vacation and there's oh so much stuff that I could cover. So why not get started with a personal favorite? The gang over at My Hollywood Dream has posted some links concerning the excellent television series Chuck. Nearly destroyed by NBC's apathy, a very loyal fan base made sure that the show would return after a number of initiatives. Check the link out for, well, more links. I can hardly wait for the new season! How will Chuck's new knowledge affect his life? Does he need Sarah and Casey any longer? Will we be seeing more of Chuck's father? And, most important, how about more scenes of Sarah getting ready for dates? I think you know what I'm talking about.

Weekly Wrapup

A gathering of bits and pieces from the week...

• I Don't Like You In That Way is keeping its rail hitched to the "Let's see how much of Hermione we can see" train with some revealing pictures of the actress. As Emma Watson left the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince after party, she made some nerds very happy. Shame on you, Emma.

• My Hollywood Dream has initiated its commentary on the recent Emmy nominations. My own thoughts are more simple. Among them: Where in the world is Elizabeth Mitchell? Lost's Juliet has been denied again. Shame on you, Emmys.

• Who will be Bilbo Baggins? Rumors are flying that the casting could be announced at Comic Con next week. But, according to an online article from Empire, director Peter Jackson is saying not to hold our breaths.

• I still haven't forgiven Scarlett Johansson for marrying Ryan Reynolds when I'm terribly available, but here's a low resolution picture and article from Entertainment Weekly covering her casting as Black Widow in the next Iron Man movie. But if she decides to come visit me in that outfit, I'll reconsider.

• I'm all for hunting zombies. They're nasty creatures that could possibly put a crimp in your day if they eat your brain. But this poster for Zombieland posted on IGN doesn't really do it for me. Kind of boring. Let's see if they follow up with a better one.

Dafoe's a Martian!

Variety has reported that Willem Dafoe will star with Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins in John Carter of Mars, Disney's fantasy epic based on the book series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Dafoe will portray Tars Tarkas, a green Martian warrior who will most likely fight along Kitsch's John Carter.

The John Carter books are full of sequel potential. Dafoe has proven himself worthy of the makeup and fantastic setting of a film such as this, due in no small part to his participation in Spider-Man as the Green Goblin. I've always found him likeable and talented. Will Disney be able to bring justice to the grand scale of the books? I'm anxious to see, being a fan of classic novels. I can't imagine anything worse concerning this project than Disney blowing the potential of a continued successful movie series. (crossing fingers)

Arquettes Out to Dodge Killer Again

My Hollywood Dream has just reported that David Arquette and Courtney Cox-Arquette have signed to return to their roles as Dewey Riley and Gale Weathers in Scream 4, the long-awaited sequel to the horror series. Kevin Williamson is writing the script, but it's not for certain if Wes Craven will be directing or not.

What separates Scream from other slasher/killer style horror flicks is that there's a definite story and flow involved. Movies such as the Saw films tend to concentrate on the killing itself. It would be interesting to see some old faces show up in this new Scream. Everyone loves nostalgia, old and not-so-old.

Hathaway as the White Queen Pic

Empire Online has posted a new image of Anne Hathaway as the White Queen in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. Photos have already been published of Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham-Carter's Red Queen and Mia Wasikowska as Alice.

Hathaway appeared in the mediocre Bride Wars earlier this year, but it's her participation in 2008's Get Smart that still has my attention. Let's face it, Anne sure can fill out a wardrobe. Agent 99 did our country proud. Will she bring the White Queen to justice? We'll have to wait until the early half of 2010 to find out.

Deleted Watchmen Scene Online

Trailer Addict has a deleted scene of Watchmen online (located here) featuring the death of Hollis Mason, Nite Owl I. Director Zack Snyder's theatrical edit of the film was 162 minutes, a little on the long side, so thankfully some parts were cut from the final. Mason's death seems important, however, so it's good to see that it will be making the Director's Cut DVD, available on July 21.

Portman Joins Cast of Thor

Natalie Portman has signed on as the romantic lead in the upcoming Thor, based on the Marvel comic about the Norse god of thunder. Portman is to play Jane Foster, who was a nurse in the early comic life of Thor, but who knows how they'll modernize her in this adaptation. Chris Hemsworth is already inked to play the title character, with Tom Hiddleston as god of mischief Loki. Kenneth Branagh will be directing. Shooting will begin in early 2010 with a May 2011 release planned.

Loved by movie nerds everywhere, Portman has starred in Star Wars episodes one through three and will be in the update of the lizard-alien-eatin'-dem-humans show V. I personally can live with or without her, but I admit she's got some acting chops and her name will ad to the marketability of Thor. I just hope she doesn't play Jane Foster as the timid girlfriend. She's overdone that. Looking forward to this one, but I can wait two years. Plenty of films out before then.

Eureka Returns to Syfy With New Episodes

Although I'm one of the millions of people who think that Sci Fi Channel's name change to Syfy is, to put it simply, extremely silly, they do have some fine programming. Eureka, the original show about life in a secret government-run town of super geniuses, has returned. I've always liked the show... likable characters, interesting storylines, and family friendly. Last September we saw amiable situation solver Sheriff Carter get fired by the feds in charge of his employment. How will the town of Eureka survive without him? After almost ten months the show has returned, with a delightful episode full of mystery and character compassion. Check out that ep here on Hulu. I'm looking forward to more of the series. It sure beats the excess of reality shows that we're forced to endure.

Green Lantern is Cast!

Holy moly! As reported below, actors Ryan Reynolds, Bradley Cooper and Justin Timberlake were under consideration for the next DC Comics superhero movie, Green Lantern. Even Jake Gyllenhaal tested for the part of Hal Jordan, the test pilot who becomes a ring-carrying guardian. The Hollywood Reporter is now saying that Reynolds has nabbed the role.

This is a surprise to me, since Reynolds had been cast as Deadpool, the Marvel Comics character. Will he be dropped from that job because of this new signing? Cyclops was killed quickly in X-Men 3 when James Marsden signed on to Superman.

I always liked Reynolds. Two Girls and a Guy was humorous (and provided us with an early taste of the scrumptuous Traylor Howard) and he's had some good roles since then. He's married to ScarJo. (Hubba hubba.) I'd be thanking God each and every morning if I was Reynolds. It'll be interesting to see if he stays on this track. Beats being poor and without a blonde hottie for a wife, huh.

Megan Sizzles, Will the Movie Fizzle?

This poster for Jennifer's Body, provided by Bloody Disgusting, has me torn. Granted, Megan Fox is so hot you can invite her over for a Memorial Day barbecue, grill a couple steaks on her fine self, then have fun cleaning her off with the garden hose. But it's that "writer of 'Juno'" bit that doesn't work for me. Diablo Cody. Sigh. I still don't understand why they gave her an Oscar for that mess. Has she heard all the talk and promised not to try to be so mistakenly hip on this? Who knows. The trailer at Yahoo! Movies doesn't exactly show enough for us to be sure. Maybe this is DVD/satelitte worthy. We'll just have to see how further promotions turn out, I guess.

Green Lantern Might Be...

Warner Brothers is struggling to find an actor to portray Hal Jordan, aka Green Lantern (another in the line of the studio's DC comic characters). According to The Hollywood Reporter:

Warners has spent the past five months searching for the actor to play Hal
Jordan, the hot-shot Air Force pilot who is chosen by a dying alien to be his
successor in an intergalactic police force known as the Green Lanterns.

This week, the race narrowed to Bradley Cooper, Ryan Reynolds and Justin
Timberlake.

Hmm. Bradley Cooper? Maybe. Hangover was funny and I think he could pull off a wise-crackin' HJ. Ryan Reynolds is Marvel's Deadpool. I don't think that WB will follow through with that. But... Justin Timberlake? Are you kidding me? This isn't an SNL short. Someone's not taking their casting job seriously. That's like having pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving without any Cool Whip. Just doesn't work for me.

Red Band Trailer for Funny People Online

Thanks to Trailer Addict (who gives credit to MySpace for this), the red band trailer for Funny People, Judd Apatow's latest project, is available and not out of sync like at some other locations. When I saw the initial preview, I wasn't impressed. Adam Sandler as a man-baby? Then it turns out that's just a show within the movie. Thank goodness. Sandler's been hit and miss for a while. I enjoyed Bedtime Stories, but Chuck and Larry was awful.

Seth Rogen's skill continues to improve, in my opinion. I still can't imagine him as the Green Hornet, but the guy can be funny and sensitive at the same time. Jonah Hill seems to be the same as always. Oh well. And Leslie Mann? The crush remains.

Apparently Sandler's character has a near-death experience and has to do some evaluation of his life. The only stand-up comic whom I knew was an alcoholic who would hit on other guys' girlfriends. I think one of those guys gave him a near-death experience with a tire iron. Sober up, dude.

A New Spell Being Taught This Session: Exhibitionism!

This pic and others from the latest Harry Potter opening have been burnin' up the net. Surely Emma Watson realized how revealing that dress was, top and bottom. Remember those upskirt photos with her a year ago? Ouch. She's 19 now, so studying the above isn't completely morally wrong, right?

Let's face it, Emma must enjoy shilling the goodies to all of the Hermione Granger nerd fans out there. I guess it sells a few extra tickets, plus prepares her for non/post-Harry work. Still, I can't help but think of this actress as the underaged student at Hogwart's. Hmm.

New Inglourious Basterds Poster Online

I caught this poster for Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds earlier today and thought it was an improvment over the original ones. I could live with a better background, however... a filtered sky is kinda boring. And what's the deal with the bare foot? Did Brad Pitt steal the dead Nazi's boot? I hear that Tarantino has a foot fetish. Maybe that's it.

The film opens on August 21. Will I rush out to see it opening weekend? I don't know. I get bored with Tarantino's work very easily. But I do like World War 2 flicks. The Dirty Dozen? Kelly's Heroes? Fun stuff. So I might have to force myself. That way I can see what Brad is being so coy about.