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February 22, 2002

Personally I'm not the biggest MATRIX fan in the world.  I know I'm already setting myself up for a litany of e-mails regarding this issue, but it's about time I get this off my chest.   It wasn't a bad movie and in fact I enjoyed it somewhat.  But I can't follow it like the second coming of STAR WARS that many think it is.  While that's certainly your prerogative to follow something so religiously (hell, I'm of the belief "The Simpsons" is on par with the Bible), I just can't get myself overly excited about the upcoming sequels.  To paraphrase Jules Winfield, I guess that's just where most people and I differ.

So if you're unlike me and consider yourself a big MATRIX fan, you might want to head over to hackthematrix.warnerbros.com.  Why?  You lazy baaaastid!   Do I have to spell everything out for you?  Don't you want to have some fun and play Perry Mason for the day?  If you do some detective work, I'm sure you'll find all kinds of cool new information on the MATRIX RELOADED.  Oh man, I ran out of Pez - I better RELOAD my dispenser.  Hey, my favorite old-time game show PASSWORD is on.  I think I'll watch PASSWORD and RELOAD my Pez dispenser for a snack.......
  

February 22, 2002

A Bill Murray/Coen Bros. collaboration is something I've been waiting for for a long time.  I may just finally get my wish, although not as completely as I once hoped.  Murray is in negotiations to star in the Coen Bros. production of BAD SANTA, which will be directed by Terry Zwigoff (GHOST WORLD).  He would play a conman in the film, posing as Santa and touring department stores at Christmas time while robbing unsuspecting kids and parents of cash.  "Santa" meets his match in an 8-year-old boy who teaches him the true meaning of Christmas.  This could make for a really great match.  Now if only they could get the guy who played Mickey on "Seinfeld" to star as his elf buddy.  Then we'd be cooking with bacon!
  

February 22, 2002

Hollywood is falling all over themselves to get pro-skateboarder Tony Hawk in their movies.   After Disney signed him to star in a biopic about his life, Universal has now decided to create a film around his life calling it a mix between BOOGIE NIGHTS, THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS and 8 MILE.  I'm not sure how this conflicts with Disney's planned biopic but I imagine that since this project, being written by Gary Scott Thompson (FAST AND THE FURIOUS), is a fictional tale more about the lifestyle than the man, it should be in the clear.  While Hawk will likely star, it's unknown how much screentime he'll have considering it's a coming-of-age type movie.  The actor playing young Tony Hawk could get just as much if not more.
  

February 22, 2002

While talking about the upcoming DreamWorks/PDI animated movie MADAGASCAR the other day, I mentioned that Madonna was to lend her voice, alongside Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and Jason Alexander.  Turns out the Madonna deal wasn't that finalized after all.  Got another e-mail from the guys at Animated Movies who say they heard directly from PDI that Gwen Stefani, lead singer of NO DOUBT, has replaced Madonna as the voice of Gloria the Hippo.  The also mentioned that at one time Jennifer Lopez read for the part but decided to work on different projects.  I'm imagining the hippo does a fair amount of singing in the film considering the women they've looked at to voice the part.   MADAGASCAR is scheduled for release Christmas 2004.
  

February 21, 2002

Some certainly unexpected news came when I turned on my computer this morning.  I knew the announcement regarding who would be playing the Terminatrix (or TX as it will be known in the film) would be made sometime soon, but I didn't expect it so quickly!   There was hardly any web speculation (beyond the Chyna rumors of late).  There was more talk about who was in talks for Foggy Nelson in DAREDEVIL than there was about who was negotiating for this role.  So kudos to the folks who managed to keep this juicy bit of news under wraps!

So without further adieu, let me introduce you to the girl who will be kicking Arnold's ass all up-and-down the screen next July 4th.   Ladies and germs....Kristanna Loken......

Arnold mentioned in my interview with him a few weeks ago that there was a debate amongst producers about how to present the TX.  Should she be someone obviously intimidating (like Chyna) or someone more demure and unsuspecting of carnage.  Quite obviously they went with the latter choice.  And for what it's worth, I think it's a good one - she is a cutey, ain't she?  I also applaud their decision to go with a relative unknown for the role.  Plus, she starred in the "Mortal Combat" TV show so she must have some ass-kicking tendencies.  So I'd have to say to the producers of TERMINATOR 3, in the immortal words of Chief Clancy Wiggum, Good work boys.

Discuss the casting of the TX here
  

February 21, 2002

Add another hat into the Battle Royale that's fighting to see who can get a film based on the life of Alexander the Great started first.  Oliver Stone is set to direct Heath Ledger in the biopic ALEXANDER, making them the fourth Alexander the Great project in development.  They join a Mel Gibson produced HBO mini-series, a Martin Scorcese directed version starring Leonardo DiCaprio and a Dino De Laurentiis (HANNIBAL) tale possibly directed by Ridley Scott.  Stone's film is in prime position with an October 16th start date that would likely put it in theaters before any of the other films.   The director is currently working with writer Christopher Kyle (K-19) on rewriting the script.  The film will be financed by Intermedia, the same British company behind TERMINATOR 3. 

Personally I feel that the Oliver Stone version would be the least exciting of the bunch.  I'm not a big Heath Ledger fan either so I suppose that doesn't help.  I'd really like to see Ridley Scott take a crack at directing but I have a feeling after GLADIATOR and BLACK HAWK DOWN he might try to do something a little more lowkey.  Besides, that project is the furthest behind without even a finished script to work with.  HBO's mini-series could be an interesting watch but we'll have to wait until 2004 to get a glimpse of that one.
  

February 21, 2002

Robert Zemeckis has come aboard to produce and likely direct a feature film adaptation of the children's classic book, THE POLAR EXPRESS.  The move will reteam Zemeckis with his CAST AWAY and FORREST GUMP star Tom Hanks who has signed to play the Conductor of the Express.  Fellow CAST AWAY alum William Broyles has already written a new treatment for the film and is expected to write the script.  Zemeckis may have saved the film from the dreaded depths of development hell after Rob Reiner dropped out of the directing role and left the film languishing. 

For those who are unaware, here's the basic gist of the plot, straight from the publisher's mouth: "Late one Christmas Eve after the town has gone to sleep, the boy boards the mysterious train that waits for him: The Polar Express bound for the North Pole. When he arrives, Santa offers the boy any gift he desires. The boy modestly asks for one bell from the harness of a reindeer. The gift is granted. On the way home the bell is lost. On christmas morning the boy finds the bell under the tree. The mother of the boy admires the bell, but laments that it is broken; for you see, only believers can hear the sound of the bell."
  

February 20, 2002

The new Ben Stiller/Drew Barrymore comedy DUPLEX began filming in New York City this week and we've two on-set pictures to share with you.  The first shows Stiller and Barrymore with director Danny DeVito and the second has Stiller in mid-fall.  DUPLEX is a dark comedy that follows a young couples comic attempts to bump-off an old woman occupying their dream apartment.  Check the pics out below:

February 20, 2002

Got an interesting e-mail from the guys over at the Animated Movies website.  Turns out they've got official word from PDI (Pacific Data Imaging), who handles the CGI animation for DreamWorks Animation, on their upcoming release slate.   Here's what the guys had to say:

Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jason Alexander and Madonna will lend their voices to MADAGASCAR, the tale of a hippo, giraffe, a lion and a zebra who are set free from the Central Park zoo only to find life on the outside conflicting with their, as to yet, pampered lifestyles.
  

February 20, 2002

You might think that after the awful GLITTER, people would want to keep Mariah Carey as far away from a movie set as possible.  But apparently her performance in the upcoming film WISEGIRLS was an improvement (could it have been worse?) and the singer has signed on for another film role.  She will reteam with WISEGIRLS producer Anthony Esposito to play (get this) a boxing manager who trains and up-and-coming female fighter in SWEET SCIENCE.  Now if Mariah Carey had a hard time playing a girl-turned-singer in GLITTER, what makes anyone think she'll be able to convince an audience she's a boxing manager.  All I'll be thinking about the entire time is her appearance on MTV's "Cribs."  SCIENCE is scheduled to begin filming this summer and WISEGIRLS is still without a definite release date.
  

February 20, 2002

Renee Zellweger is in talks to reteam with NURSE BETTY director Neil LaBute on an adaptation of Amanda Filipacchi's novel VAPOR.  The film is described as being a contemporary romance but a synopsis of the book seems to tell a different story.  BEWARE! - this plot outline could give away more of the film than you'd care to know at this point.   Proceed at your own risk!  Here's how the publisher describes the plot: "While waiting for the subway early one morning, Anna Graham witnesses a mugging and selflessly leaps to the defense of a complete stranger. Little does she imagine that the victim, Damon Wetly, will shortly repay her efforts by inviting her to his country home and then imprisoning her in an elaborate, vapor-filled prison for nine months. There, through bizarre methods of discipline, Damon intends to fulfill Anna's wish to become 'the best actress of our day.' But Anna escapes from this torturous self-improvement program and turns the tables on her abductor, paradoxically beginning a risky romance that soon has both Anna's and Damon's heads in the clouds."  I don't know what to make of this other than I know it's perfect fodder for LaBute.  Looks like it has the makes of a very interesting film...
  

February 20, 2002

The Sun continues to snap photos away at the set of BOND 20.  This time they've got some shots of a surfing scene that includes a 60 foot wave.  Pretty interesting stuff.  Click here to see those shots.

Next up is our first look at the DreamWorks comedy OLD SCHOOL, starring Luke Wilson, Will Farrell and Vince Vaughn.  Here's a pic from the UCLA school newspaper that shows Luke and Will in action.  That film is scheduled to hit theaters this October.
  

February 20, 2002

A report by Garth over at Dark Horizons claims that a New Line exec may have revealed the new subtitle for AUSTIN POWERS 3, replacing the "Goldmember" that was lost due to the objections of MGM.  The report says that an unnamed New Line executive was talking about the weekend box-office of JOHN Q. and let slip that the third AP movie may be titled LICENSE TO SHAG.  My attempts to follow-up on this came up fruitless.  I'm not sure who he/she was speaking to but I was unable to pull a quote.   So for now, I would consider this a rumor.  And for their sake, I truly hope it's a rumor.  LICENSE TO SHAG is completely predictable and not the slightest bit humorous.  They've got to be able to do better than this...
  

February 19, 2002

Here, courtesy of scooper 'John B.' comes your first look (and what seems like the umpteenth poster this week) at the official one-sheet for the upcoming Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson flick CHANGING LANES.  Besides the split profiles of Ben and Sam the Man, I have to say this is a pretty cool poster.  Nice tagline, I like the look, feel, etc.   Add that together with a pretty cool trailer (download here) and it looks like we've got a film that's piquing my interest big time.  Now if they could only get that official site online, we'd be in business.  The film hits theaters this April.  Anyway, take a look at the poster below...

February 19, 2002

Things are starting to get back to normal in the AUSTIN POWERS 3 world.  Almost everything Powers-related was removed from the web after the "Goldmember" debacle but now, slowly and surely, things are making their way back.  First up is the return of the film's official website.  The site was once live in all its "Goldmember" glory but was taken offline and replaced with the old SPY WHO SHAGGED ME site.  Now we have a new logo that touts "The Next Installment of AUSTIN POWERS" and links to higher quality versions of the Super Bowl teaser.   In addition there's a photo gallery that features some pics you've seen before, as well as some new ones (some of which you can see below). 

In my humble opinion, I think this gives New Line a rare chance to reevaluate a marketing campaign that many felt had serious flaws (let's face it - the original "Goldmember" teaser was terrible).  Now they've got all kinds of LORD OF THE RINGS money to play with and a helpful dose of hindsight.   Let's hope they come out of this reinvigorated and with a quality movie to back it up.

February 19, 2002

Don Cheadle will be the latest in the line of actors and actresses stepping behind the camera, when he directs his first film TISHOMINGO BLUES.  The film, in which Cheadle may also have a supporting role, is based on the latest Elmore Leonard novel of the same name.   According to the book's jacket, the film goes as follows: "Bring together two death defying daredevils - a heartthrob high diver and a stylish black gangsta from Detroit, Set them in the heart of Dixie (Tunica, Mississippi, that is). Mix in the Cornbread Cosa Nostra, some bad good ole boys, a white thighed landlady named Vernice and a few dollops of Southern sugar. Add a surprise love angle and a Civil War battle re-enactment like no other - this time some of the guns are loaded."  The film is being described as following in the vein of other Leonard black comedies like GET SHORTY and OUT OF SIGHT.   Should Cheadle decide to star, he would play the aforementioned Detroit gangster, Robert Taylor.
  

February 19, 2002

After the disappointing failure of THE MAJESTIC with both audiences and critics, director Frank Darabont says he's looking forward to getting back into writing.  Darabont checked in at the official website for author Robert McCammon to say his next project would be adapting the author's novel MINE.  "Now that the last five years of intense directing crapola is behind me, I'm absolutely blissed about shifting gears back into writing mode for a year or two. Topping my list of priorities are at long last finishing MINE (I've had the first HALF of the script written for five years now, but got waylaid by GREEN MILE and MAJESTIC!)," said Darabont in his posting on the site.  Also on his "To Do List" are adapting Stephen King's short story THE MIST and writing a script for FAHRENHEIT 451.  Darabont also hints that any of these scripts are "possible directing/producing projects."

Here's a quick idea (paraphrased from the book jacket), about what to expect from Darabont's MINE:

Laura Clayborne is a successful journalist.  Mary Terrell, aka Mary Terror, is a scarred and battered survivor of the radical '60s. Once a member of the fanatical Storm Front Brigade, Mary now lives in a hallucinatory world of memories, guns, and above all, murderous rage. Prompted by a personals ad in Rolling Stone, she becomes convinced the former leader of the Brigade is commanding her to bring him the child she was once carrying. Mary Terror steals Laura's baby from a hospital room, and heads west on her journey of the damned: clutching an innocent child to her side and killing anyone who gets in her way. Stunned, weakened, Laura realizes that the woman who stole her baby is getting away with it, and sets out to hunt her down. What Laura doesn't know is that the closer she gets to Mary Terror the more she will have to learn to think and act like her---even to kill like her....
  

February 19, 2002

Hot off the success of last week's Peter Pan sequel RETURN TO NEVERLAND, Disney plans to release THE JUNGLE BOOK 2 and PIGLET'S BIG MOVIE to theaters in 2003.  Both films were considered initially to be films created for direct-to-video release and were in-fact both created not by Disney's feature animation studio but Disney Television Animation.  But after the highly profitable success of such films like TOY STORY 2, THE TIGGER MOVIE and NEVERLAND, all of which were once planned for a video release, Disney decided to give these films a go in theaters.  Makes sense considering the $16 million NEVERLAND made in theaters this weekend already completely recouped the production costs.  Quite interesting considering the past two Disney feature animated films, THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE and ATLANTIS, cost over $75 million each and combined have grossed less than $90 million.  Pretty simple decision, eh?
  

February 19, 2002

Josh Lucas, the guy you think is going to be a dick in A BEAUTIFUL MIND but turns out to be not so bad after all, has joined the cast of Ang Lee's THE HULK.  Lucas will play Major Talbott, a former friend of Dr. Bruce Banner's love interest Betty Ross, who now stands as a rival to Banner and a threat to The Hulk.  The film also stars Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Nick Nolte and Sam Elliott.  THE HULK smashes its way into theaters on June 20, 2003.
  

February 18, 2002

In addition to the MINORITY REPORT and Lions Gate posters below, we also have two cool exclusives for ya.  First, is a poster for the Joseph Fiennes/Heather Graham sexy thriller KILLING ME SOFTLY.  Next up, is a poster for the comedy DOUBLE WHAMMY, which features Denis Leary, Elizabeth Hurley and Steve "I Was Robbed" Buscemi. 

< click to see bigger picture >

February 18, 2002

Courtesy of Empire Movies, we have our first look at the poster for Steven Spielberg's MINORITY REPORT.  It's not the greatest poster in the world, but I suppose it's creepy enough to tease people.  Maybe we should start looking for secret clues in this poster.   Another Evan Chan game perhaps?

< click to see bigger picture >
  

February 18, 2002

If you haven't yet, I highly suggest you check out the new trailer for the Robin Williams/Edward Norton dark comedy DEATH TO SMOOCHY.   I got a few decent laughs from the trailer and it looks like it'll be a real solid flick.  Good to see Robin getting back to some quality films.  While you're at our trailer page, you can also check out the new trailers for 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS and THE SCORPION KING.   Enjoy!

February 18, 2002

If you've seen the Super Bowl trailer for AUSTIN POWERS 3 then you've seen a glimpse of the new villain from the film - Goldmember.  You might have missed it or might not have realized what you were looking at, but it's there.  Just look closer.  Download the trailer and see for yourself or if you're just that impatient, head over to the forums at Coming Soon! where someone was nice enough to post a screenshot.  Still no word on a new title....