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Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back...!!!

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July 13, 2001

This came across my desk and despite my frequent bashing, I was pretty excited by what I saw. Since I haven't seen this anywhere else, including theaters, I'll assume that this is a exclusive. What we have here is our first look at the teaser one-sheet for SCOOBY-DOO. It does what a teaser poster's supposed to do and does it well.  It walks that fine line in between showing too much and too little.  I'll let you guys decide for yourself:

July 13, 2001

Some of you may remember my botched trip to the AKIRA premiere a few months back.  In an effort to make amends, Pioneer Animation (the company behind the restoration), offered to send a package of goodies to give away in a contest on the site. Flashforward to July (yes, July) and the package has finally arrived.  Its contents? 4 posters and 1 t-shirt.  [Crickets chirping...]

Anyway, since I'm a man of my word and I promised to one day have an AKIRA contest, I will give these items away to one lucky winner.  There will be no second, third or so on place because that would just be silly.  I know you're probably asking, "What the hell am I gonna do with four posters?"  I dunno, that's not really my problem.  If you don't want the four posters - don't enter the contest. If you do, here's the deal: e-mail me (scoops@joblo.com) with a picture of someone of the female persuasion.  The more attractive the better.

I'll sort through the pictures and the person who sends in the one I like the best (i.e., the hottest one) wins.  Don't waste your time sending me Playboy centerfolds or butt-naked big boobed women cause you won't win (please limit the nudity cause I'd like to post the winning picture up on the site).  We're looking for natural-looking, normal, everyday girls. Hell if you're a girl, send in a picture of yourself (or one of your "friends"...growl!).  Just find a picture of the best-looking chick you can and send it in with your e-mail address.  The winner will be announced some time next week and will win four copies of the pretty sweet AKIRA poster shown below and a AKIRA premiere t-shirt.

Send me your winning picture here...!

Click here to pre-order AKIRA on special edition DVD
  

July 13, 2001

Reese Witherspoon, currently charming the pants off JoBlo in LEGALLY BLONDE, has signed with Miramax to star in a remake of the 1965 TV show HONEY WEST (which lasted for about one season by the way).  The detective action drama revolved around female PI Honey West, who originated from a series of pulp novels by Skip Fickling.  The film version of the show will take place in the present time and has been described as being in the veing of FOUL PLAY (remember that old Chevy Chase/Goldie Hawn film...).  Reese and husband with mohawk Ryan Phillippe will produce the film through their Lucid Film production company. If you'll remember correctly, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth and Harvey Keitel briefly mention "Honey West" in the scene in the car from RESERVOIR DOGS where they talk about Lady E.
 

July 13, 2001

Jim Cameron will produce a film for Revolution Studios, the first time he and his production company Lightstorm Entertainment have dealt outside of Fox.  The film, THE HANGING TALE, is described as being a PRINCESS BRIDE-esque tale about an Old West cowboy who spins yarns about his search for Spanish treasures before his scheduled public hanging.  The script was written by Danny Rubin who also wrote the hilarious GROUNDHOG DAY.   Cameron is still deciding on his next picture, which could be TRUE LIES 2 or a possible Mars film.
 

July 13, 2001

BMW Films short film series THE HIRE is winding done as the last film POWDER KEG is set to premiere on July 18th.  KEG was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu who directed the film AMORES PERROS, which was nominated for a Best Foreign Film Academy Award. Clive Owen again stars and is joined by Stellan Skarsgard, most famous for his role in GOOD WILL HUNTING.  Check out BMW Films to download the film and make sure you check out the Director's Commentary option to hear each of the directors talk about their respective films.

Click here to download the POWDER KEG trailer
  

July 13, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• Bill Paxton's directorial debut FRAILTY has been test screened and one of the attendees has let his feelings be known to a public audience here
• A possible one-sheet image for JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK has been posted at News Askew and you can check it out here
• A spoiler heavy review of the new CATWOMAN script (to star Ashley Judd) has popped up on the net and if you don't mind ruining the story for yourself, click here to read it
• Read an early review of the upcoming Robin Williams suspense/drama ONE HOUR PHOTO here

July 12, 2001

Robert De Niro has certainly come along way from the gritty, intense roles in TAXI DRIVER, MEAN STREETS and GOODFELLAS that helped make him a star.  Lately, he's stuck with comedies like MEET THE PARENTS and his next film, SCARED GUYS, will continue that tradition.  SCARED revolves around a agoraphobic therapist who must finally leave his apartment to save his lover from a killer. Hmmm...that doesn't sound very funny - In fact it sounds an awful lot like the Sigourney Weaver thriller COPYCAT.  The film is set to be directed by Dean Parisot whose last film was the very funny GALAXY QUEST, so maybe there is comedy in there somewhere.  Jim Carrey was originally onboard to play the De Niro role but dropped out to work with Frank Darabont on THE MAJESTIC.  Sheesh, I never thought De Niro and Jim Carrey would ever be considered for the same part.  What a wacky world.
  

July 12, 2001

With production looking to begin early 2002, the feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical CHICAGO is starting to take shape.  Tons of A-list Hollywood actresses (Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Helen Hunt, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Cameron Diaz, etc.) have been rumored to star as one of the film's two main characters but Catherine Zeta-Jones came out swinging and is the first to begin serious negotiations to join the film's cast as "Velma".  Zeta-Jones, a singer and dancer early in her career, met with director Rob Marshall in New York City to discuss the film and audition for the part.  While there are no names mentioned in connection with the other lead character "Roxie" but Hugh Jackman and Kathy Bates are also in talks to play a lawyer and a prison matron, respectively.
  

July 12, 2001

If you didn't make it to the theaters to see FINAL FANTASY but you still want to check out the SPIDER-MAN teaser trailer, you're in luck.  The teaser hits the web tonight at 6pm EST, 9pm PST at any one of the following locations:  www.apple.com/trailers, www.sony.com/spiderman, www.spidermanhype.com.  There are bootleg copies of the trailer popping up all over the web, so if you want to check one of those out, go to JoBlo's Movie Trailers. But if I were you I would just wait until the theaters or the official Quicktime download.

BTW, the good ol' boys over at Spider-Man Hype were lucky enough to get invited to see the teaser trailer with Sony, and got an exclusive interview with the man behind all of the action, director Sam Raimi, afterwards.

Read the Sam Raimi interview here
    

July 12, 2001

The lead story tonight was initially going to be my review of JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, which I was lucky enough to see on Tuesday night.  There seems to be some disagreement between myself, publicists and Dimension Films about whether I can post the review now or if it'll have to wait until the week of the film's release.  Hopefully I'll have this resolved soon and I can get you my full report by this weekend.  For now, you'll just have to trust me that this is one damn funny movie.  DAMN funny. Stay tuned....

Download the internet only JAY AND SILENT BOB trailer

Discuss JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK here
 
  

July 9, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• Read a review of a "work print" of HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCEROR'S STONE here
• A script review of TIMELINE, based on the Michael Crichton novel, is online here
• So now which movie will have the EPISODE 2 teaser in front of it?  There's more rumors on this topic here.  I suggest you believe nothing until you hear it from the mouth of LucasFilm
• The rumor of a possible replacement in CHARLIE'S ANGELS 2 is officially debunked here

The 2002 Movie Preview !

Below is a list of movies that are coming out next year. Want more info? Click on the links...

July 11, 2001

Producer of the upcoming live-action DAREDEVIL film, Gary Foster, says that despite lacking a cast, his film is scheduled to begin production this November.  He goes on to talk about who he'd like to see cast as the blind vigilante and among the usual names (Matt Damon, Ed Norton, etc.) brought up with almost every film in development is a truly inspired choice: Guy Pearce.  For those unfamiliar with Guy Pearce, he's currently kicking ass in the indie hit MEMENTO and he also starred alongside Russell Crowe in the Academy Award winning film LA CONFIDENTIAL.  I think some of you might know by now that I'm a big comic-book fan and very protective of the characters I love most.  I have faith that Mark Steven Johnson can take his script (which he worked on with Brian Helgeland, also of LA CONFIDENTIAL) and direct a really intense DAREDEVIL film and I think casting Guy Pearce would be a step in the right direction.  They could probably save a few bucks, considering he's not a huge star (yet) and put that money to effects or whatnot.  Expect to hear casting news soon if Foster and team plan on getting started in November.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Who do YOU think they should cast in DAREDEVIL?
  

July 11, 2001

The classic Akira Kurosawa film RASHOMON will be remade into a "contemporary thriller" by newly formed production company Harbor Light Entertainment.  While I have never seen RASHOMON myself, I know it has a devoted following and is revered as a true landmark in cinema inspiring many of the films made today (least of which being the god awful BODY SHOTS).  Why this company would choose to attempt to update a classic like this baffles me.  Didn't they see Gus Van Sant's PSYCHO?  Even when you follow the original film shot for shot, the result still sucks!  I imagine this is their way of getting their name in the trades and in the news and sparking some interest in their films.  The film will have an estimated budget of $40 million and so far no talent is attached.  If you've never heard of RASHOMON it's summarized best by Variety as a "story of a nobleman's bride who is raped by a bandit. The nobleman is murdered, or possibly committed suicide. This double crime is acted out four times, in the versions of the three participants -- the bandit, the woman, and the husband, each giving an account that increases the prestige of his conduct -- and in the version of the woodcutter who witnessed the episode."
 

July 11, 2001

Actor Marlon Brando reportedly hated the director of his latest film THE SCORE so much that he refused to take direction from him on the set. Brando was at odds with Frank Oz, who also directed IN AND OUT and BOWFINGER, for unknown reasons but the pampered star refused to appear on set if Oz was present. Oz was forced to sit off-set and watch a monitor replaying takes from where Brando was filming.  He would then give direction to an Assistant Director who would then relay those messages to co-star Robert DeNiro who was the only person Brando would accept direction from.  To make matters worse, the pudgy primadonna actually had the nerve to call Oz "Miss Piggy" referring to the director's voice work as characters like Miss Piggy and Yoda.  This fat tub of crap is calling someone else Miss Piggy? Now that's funny.
 

July 11, 2001

Bruce McCulloch, former KIDS IN THE HALL cast member and director of the upcoming Tom Green/Jason Lee flick THE PROMISE (formerly STEALING STANFORD), is talks with Imagine Entertainment about directing a remake of the 1941 film IT STARTED WITH EVE.  The script, written by Peter Tolan (who also wrote THE PROMISE), is based on the original film that has a young man asking a female stranger to pose as his fiancee to please his dying father.  When the father makes a miraculous recovery, hilarity ensues. 
  

July 11, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• Care to chat with star of PLANET OF THE APES and FIGHT CLUB, Helena Bonham Carter? Check out the details of Thursday's chat here
• Heading to the San Diego Comic Con? JoBlo and Arrow are and you may be interested to see what they're in for. Check out the convention line-up here
• Storyboards from the Christian Bale/Matthew McConaughey film REIGN OF FIRE are online here
• Read a view of the upcoming Jon Favreau/Vince Vaughn mob flick, MADE, here

July 10, 2001

Crappy reviews for SCARY MOVIE 2 (read JoBlo's take on the film here) haven't deterred the Wayans Bros. from beginning work on a third film.  Shawn Wayans spoke with Cindy Pearlman and revealed that they were "told" (by who?...) to get working immediately on a third film.  SCARY 2 was released on July 4th and was beat out that holiday weekend by the kids movie CATS AND DOGS.  The film wound up taking in $21 million this weekend, which isn't bad but certainly nowhere near the $42.5 mil the original raked in. I haven't seen the second film yet but I heard it's just plain terrible.  And this is from people who loved the original and like that type of humor.  But I guess the Wayans just really have nothing else to do.  Hosting award shows is certainly out of the question...
  

July 10, 2001

Leonardo DiCaprio's next film CATCH ME IF YOU CAN was all shaped up to be a huge hit for DreamWorks. Gore Verbinski (THE MEXICAN) was ready to direct from a script that was getting a lot of buzz throughout Hollywood.  Then DiCaprio ran long filming GANGS OF NEW YORK with Martin Scorsese. Verbinski decided he didn't want to wait around and has since moved on to remake the Japanese thriller THE RING (also for DreamWorks). The project looked like it was in serious trouble but along came Academy Award nominee Lasse Hallstrom (THE CIDER HOUSE RULES) to save the day!

Now, a few months into pre-production, Hallstrom has left the project due to undisclosed circumstances and leaves CATCH sans director for the second time.  DreamWorks is hustling their little butts trying to sign a replacement but the good news is that these delays may allow James Gandolfini to rejoin the project, as a scheduling conflict forced him to originally drop-out.  CATCH ME IF YOU CAN revolves around Frank Abangale, Jr.,  the youngest man ever placed on FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.
 

July 10, 2001

Here's round two of the script reviews sent in by good ole 'Honest Abe' (round one appeared yesterday).  First up, we have a mixed review with minor spoilers of the Wesley Snipes suspense film LIBERTY STANDS STILL:

Finally, something fun to read. Essentially, this could be classified as a hip-hop MIDNIGHT RUN. Ice Cube is Bucum the bounty hunter, and Mike Epps is Reggie, his latest case and a repeat offender. While being pursued, Reggie loses a lottery ticket worth millions. Unfortunately, he loses it in a van he was hiding in and the van belongs to some diamond smugglers. Once Bucum catches Reggie, Reg tries to convince Bucum that the ticket is worth retrieving and agrees to share with him. They set aside their differences in pursuit of the ticket cause after all...it's all about the benjamins. It's a simple formula screenplay but it's actually quite well written. It's funny without being campy silly and the dialogue is slick. While it's not original, it does have one tremendous thing going for it....it's star. Since BOYZ IN THE HOOD, I've been an admirer of Cube's work. He can be funny (Friday), intense, (the aforementioned HOOD) and just flat out good (THREE KINGS). There are very few actors I'd be star struck by and gush over but I am convinced that Cube will one day be at least nominated for an Academy Award. Bottom line: See it opening weekend. While I don't expect it to be as funny as Friday, you should have a good time.
  

July 10, 2001

Miramax Films has bought the rights to the film UNDISPUTED, which just wrapped filming with Ving Rhames and Wesley Snipes starring as the two leads.  The action flick stars Rhames as a former boxing champ sent to prison for a violent crime.  Once there he butts heads with "head bitch" Wesley Snipes who runs the jailhouse boxing ring. I'm guessing the final scene is a bloody boxing match between the two actors with Rhames taking a 9th round victory.  The film also stars Peter "What the" Falk, Wes Studi, and rapper Master P and is directed by Walter Hill (48 HRS).  Rhames is currently training to play another champion boxer, real life pugilist Sonny Liston, in the Tom Cruise produced film NIGHT TRAIN.
 

July 10, 2001

It's the beginning of a new week and you know what that means, don't you?  That's right, a brand new movie has been announced for the JoBlo Movie of the Week discussion forum!  This week's movie is David Fincher's THE GAME, a film he sandwiched in between two classics, SEVEN and FIGHT CLUB.  So take a look at this film and then head over here and discuss it with your fellow schmoes.  You'll be glad you did, trust me. Meanwhile, if you think your life is boring and in need of a little excitement, perhaps you'd like to play a game. Or maybe you're just not up to it.
 

July 10, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• The official website for the Lion's Gate movie "O" is now open. Check it out here
• Pre-production is underway in Bucks County, PA for M. Night Shymalan's next film SIGNS. They're currently looking for some additions to the cast and if you head here, you can find out if you qualify
• Some more information on Richard Donner's CRAZY TAXI adaptation has come out and if you head here you can find out exactly what Mr. Donner is planning to adapt the video game for the screen
• Director Frank Oz (who also voices Yoda and Miss Piggy) talks his upcoming film THE SCORE here

July 9, 2001

After a long sabbatical, 'Honest Abe' is back on the scene with a big ass batch of script reviews for ya.  I'll break them up into two parts, the first coming today, the rest tomorrow.  First up is a positive review of PRESS YOUR LUCK (starring Bill Murray and produced by Nic Cage) which features minor spoilers:

Next up, we have a mixed review of the upcoming film ARAC ATTACK, starring David Arquette and Kari Wuhrer, with minor spoilers:

Finally, we've got Abe's negative review of DOLAN'S CADILLAC (to star Stallone, based on a Stephen King story and produced by Tom Cruise?) but beware the major spoilers that lie ahead:

I had heard about the basic story when this plopped on my desk and was intrigued by the casting of Stallone as Dolan and Kevin Bacon as the little guy done wrong.  I think what I was most looking forward to was Stallone as a bad guy.  Jimmy Dolan is a powerful Las Vegas mobster who also keeps a home in LA and trades up his women as often as he buys a new cadillac.  I thought that the car was to play something significant, like it was tricked out like a James Bond vehicle but it's only edge is that it has bulletproof glass.  Anyways, Bacon and his wife are driving home one night when they both stop at 7-11 for junk food.  The wife hears something and walks a bit only to stumble across Dolan and two of his goons killing a stoolie.  Needless to say, Dolan gets his revenge a few days later by blowing up the wife in her car.  Bacon, naturally, is distraught and can't let go of his anger but every basic plan of his to get at Dolan suffers from piss-poor execution.  There's a few instances where Stallone and Bacon converse on the phone where you can see Stallone's anger boiling. Dolan doesn't come across as a typical mob goon but at the same time, you really don't get too much of a feeling for anything else for him.  Shame, too.  Finally, Bacon buffs up and joins a road crew so that he can sabotage the roadway that Dolan takes when he heads to LA.  Reading Bacon's transformation as a man possessed is intriguing but what buries the script is that you simply don't get to know enough about Dolan so you really don't care and for me personally, if I don't care about a main character, why should I bother?  This would be better served as a TV movie or even a low budget straight to video release.  I'd be interested in seeing Stallone as a methodological bad guy, cunning and evil.  Sadly, I don't get it here. Bottom line:   pass.  If you are a fan of either of these actors works, wait for video or sneak in.  Me?  I"ll pass.
  

July 9, 2001

If you're an internet junkie that has spent some time over at IFILM, you may recognize the animated series LI'L PIMP.  That series was purchased some time back by Sony and Eddie Griffin (DOUBLE TAKE) attached to lend his voice to the title character.  Plans have changed, Griffin has dropped out and a new voice cast has been announced.  Comedian Bernie Mac (KINGS OF COMEDY) will now voice Li'l Pimp and William Shatner, Jennifer Tilly and Carmen Electra have also signed to voice characters in the film.  It is interesting to note that this will be the first animated feature to utilize Macromedia Flash software which, until now, has been used exclusively for web-based entertainment.  PIMP is expected to receive an R-rating for its raunchy "SOUTH PARK" type comedy and will feature a soundtrack produced by The Dust Brothers (FIGHT CLUB).
  

July 9, 2001

Maybe God doesn't hate me after all. It seems that because of Angelina Jolie's desire to have a child with emaciated husband Billy Bob Thornton (shudder), plans for a sequel to the hit film TOMB RAIDER have been delayed. Jolie spoke with People Magazine and said, "I know a lot of people think I'm crazy but I believe that I'm ready motherhood. Billy Bob and I want a family so much it hurts. I'd rather be pregnant with Billy Bob's baby than bank £10 million for a follow-up."  People think you're crazy?  No way!  You always seemed so grounded to me... Anyway, a TOMB RAIDER sequel will almost definitely happen sometime in the future but probably not as soon as Paramount would have liked.
  

July 9, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• Some reviews of the Mark Wahlberg/Jennifer Aniston film ROCK STAR have popped up online and you can read them here
• Curious to see the poster for THE TIME MACHINE?  Beware: It bites the big one.  If you're prepared to see a sucky poster, click here
• TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES co-creator Peter Laird spoke about the upcoming CGI film and television series and you can read the interview here