Movies: How Michael Crichton’s ‘Westworld’ Pioneered Modern Special Effects.
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Jehuda
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Jehuda
The Death of Movies: Medieval Times restaurant headed for movie screen.
I would have gone with ‘Red Lobster’ instead. Sounds more exciting.
Anyway, this is just another step in a long process.
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Jehuda
Science! IBM makes world’s tiniest movie: “IBM says it has made the tiniest stop-motion movie ever – a one-minute video of individual carbon monoxide molecules repeatedly rearranged to show a boy dancing, throwing a ball and bouncing on a trampoline.”
Video at the link (just scroll down to find it).
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Jehuda
Free on YouTube: Breaking the Taboo: a 60-minute documentary on the failure of the War on Drugs.
Narrated by Morgan Freeman (I know. He seems to narrate everything these days).
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Jehuda
Yawn: John Cusack Developing Rush Limbaugh Biopic.
Well, at least it’s not Sean Penn behind it.
You don’t really need Rush’s permission to adapt his life story to the screen, as long as you stick to public records and known facts about him. But I have the feeling that if Rush can lawfully stop this project from coming to fruition (and it’s quite possible that he could have that opportunity), he will. Or at least he will make it more difficult and time-consuming than it would be otherwise…
UPDATE: Insta-lanche! Thank you, Ed Driscoll (who links with an excellent idea). And here’s some analysis from Christian Toto at Breitbart’s Big Hollywood.
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Jehuda
A propos of all the Lucasfilm buzz: NYT: Hollywood Seeks to Slow Cultural Shift to TV.
Some better movies would help. It increasingly seems like all the good storytelling is taking place on TV – and Hollywood studio movies are left to showcase toys, games, or recycle something or other. You know, it’s like they’re dying a slow death.
Related: David Denby: Has Hollywood Murdered the Movies?
That last piece is from last month, but if you haven’t read it, it’s new to you!
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Your Moment of Geek: Disney’s Acquisition of Lucasfilm Edition: What A New Star Wars Movie Might Look Like: “Tuesday’s news that longtime Hollywood producer Kathleen Kennedy will executive produce three new episodes in the saga could give fans a reason to be excited. Lucas, who’s retiring, has written the treatments for the next three films, Disney executives told investors today. He’ll remain a creative consultant to Disney, but won’t produce or direct.”
Maybe the Force is with this one. Assuming Lucas won’t be writing either…
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Jehuda
More Kottke on film: A look back at opening titles from David Fincher’s films.
Cool video at the link…
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Jehuda
For the Kubrick fans out there (via Kottke):
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Bonus! Troma Entertainment: 150 free films on YouTube.
Be warned: Troma product is not for everyone, but there you have it…
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Jehuda
THR: Box Office Shocker: Anti-Obama Docu Bests Other New Films on Friday.
It’s not that shocking. It was being reported as number 3 on the box office charts last night. Ended up at number 4. But what is indisputable is that it has become the #1 documentary of the year.
UPDATE: A review of the movie by Smitty. I think I’m going to pass. Namely because my time is at a premium these days – and to paraphrase what my JROTC SAI replied when I stupidly asked him if he was planning to see Platoon (back when I was a high school senior): “Don’t have to, J.J. I know what it’s about.”
Related (marginally): Hollywood bails on President Obama (via Insty).
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Jehuda
This photo of the president reminds me a little bit of John Carpenter’s They Live.
It’s as if the reality glasses are now on Reuters’ collective face and it can finally see that Obama has his head – uh – somewhere other than on his shoulders, let’s just say…
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Jehuda
Nikke Finke has an update on HBO’s Roger Ailes movie project:
Today I’ve received this email from HBO Films President Len Amato: “We recently decided not to pursue the Ailes project. It had become clear to us before even receiving a script that due to our company’s CNN affiliation the film could never be seen as objective.” Interesting, because today I’ve learned that none of the dealmakers have yet been informed by HBO that the project isn’t going forward. “HBO was trying hard to keep the project under wraps,” one of the dealmakers tells me. My reporting blew that.
She adds: “HBO appears obsessed by GOP Conservatives.”
Yup, pretty much…
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Jehuda
Dog Bites Man: HBO Now Targeting Fox News’ Roger Ailes.
With a TV movie, executive-produced by a couple of folks from MSNBC whose names you’ll find familiar. I guess HBO is indeed the pay cable non-news equivalent of MSNBC!
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Jehuda
Double-reverse anti-nostalgia: Blade Runner: What has come true?
Related: Looking back at the Minority Report “idea summit”.
Of course, of all the possibilities posed by Minority Report, Uncle Sam had to develop this one…
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Jehuda
Science!Your Moment of Geek: An Analysis of Blaster Fire in Star Wars.Written by an actual physics professor. So it’s not just for fanboys, either…
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Jehuda
Happy 35th Star Wars Anniversary? Maybe. Maybe not.
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Jehuda
Shocker: Obama White House leaked sensitive info for The Obama Is Totally Awesome blockbuster movie.
Well, everybody knows that leaks of classified info are only despicable and immoral when Sean Penn can star in an anti-GOP movie about them.
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Jehuda
MASH-UP OF THE
WEEKMONTHYEAR: Walt Disney’s Taxi Driver.Expertly-produced video at the link (with apologies to Martin Scorsese, of course)…
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Jehuda
No, I haven’t seen The Avengers yet – or The Cabin In the Woods – but I remain a huge fan of Joss Whedon’s ever since I read his screenplay for Alien: Resurrection (which I can only describe as ‘unputdownable’ – too bad the movie sucked). So I thought I’d point out that Joss Whedon: The Complete Companion is available for the Amazon Kindle for less than $9. Here’s a review.
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Jehuda
The Avengers Movie That Coulda Never Been.
Better that way, I think…
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Jehuda
Sung by the Movies: Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’:
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An Open Letter to Roger Ebert about his review of festival-favorite martial arts flick The Raid: Redemption.
My wife and I saw it a couple of weeks ago. It’s not for everyone, but we enjoyed it…
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Jehuda
The Death of Movies: ‘Battleship’ Nasty Early Reviews.
A movie based on a board game that didn’t turn out to be any good? Who knew?!!
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Jehuda
At PJ Lifestyle, I break the most nauseating movie news of the day…
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Jehuda
Dog Bites Man: Top Stars and Execs on HBO’s McCain-Palin Movie gave $200K to Dems, $0 to GOP.
Ideology-wise, HBO does seem like the pay-cable non-news equivalent of MSNBC some times, what with this McCain-Palin flick and their planned Dick Cheney mini-series. And – of course – misogynistic Obama PAC-donor Bill Maher.
But thank God for alternatives. The Sarah Palin documentary The Undefeated makes its cable debut this Sunday on Reelz. That’s the network that finally brought the award-winning The Kennedys mini-series to TV.
UPDTE: Related: Actress Julianne Moore defends HBO’s Game Change.
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Jehuda
Memento, the movie that put Christopher Nolan on the map, is on sale at Amazon: 10th Anniversary Special Edition Blu-Ray, just $6.99.
Lowest price on a Blu-Ray disc I’ve ever seen. Terrific flick. It’s a revenge story told backwards, with the protagonist suffering from amnesia – but also unable to form new memories – while he hunts down the man who raped and murdered his wife. Stars Guy Pearce, Joe Pantoliano, and Carrie Ann Moss.
Free Shipping to Amazon Prime Members and those who spend $25 or more.
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Jehuda
Your Moment of Geek: How to Best Introduce Someone to the Star Wars Movies For the First Time: “I’ve tried clearing my brain out and watching the films in this order and it makes the overall experience vastly more enjoyable. If you find someone who has never seen any Star Wars movies, try showing them the films in this order”.
Read the Whole Thing™. Makes a lot of sense.
UPDATE: Related: Ralph McQuarrie has died. May he rest in peace.
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Jehuda
Standards: Star Wars merchandise that didn’t make the cut.
If only the scripts went through a similar level of scrutiny…
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Jehuda
Why all cinephiles should love Roger Corman: 6 Ways The Creator of ‘Sharktopus’ Invented Modern Cinema.
And Battle Beyond the Stars - which is mentioned at the link – was written by John Sayles, who’s no slouch himself; though he’s very much an indie filmmaker through and through. Not a Hollywood studio guy at all…
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Jehuda
VIDEO: General Alladeen Addresses the Academy: “I Applaud The Academy For Taking Away My Free Speech”.
Spoken like a true dictator…
Background here.
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PJ Lifestyle: Wanderlust: The Rise of the Counter-Countercultural Comedy: “You don’t generally go to bawdy R-rated comedies stuffed with drug abuse, profanity and nudity for political messages, especially conservative ones. So when such a movie comes along and it unashamedly makes the case for monogamy, stability and private property over collectivist ideals, you should pay attention.”
Read the whole thing™.
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Jehuda
Standoff: The Academy and Sacha Baron Cohen remain at odds over red carpet ‘stunt‘: “Academy President Tom Sherak this morning told the TV morning show Good Day LA that Baron Cohen will be at the Oscars. To which the Baron Cohen camp responded to me that is untrue.”
Background here.
UPDATE: The fun begins! “The actor says his character will hold a press conference on Friday.”
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Jehuda
Appeasement, Hollywood-Style? Sacha Baron Cohen Banned From Oscars 2012:
The Dictator is a spoof about the “heroic story of a Middle Eastern dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy never comes to the country he so lovingly oppressed”. Whether the fact that the 84th Academy Awards will be beamed into 200 countries had anything to do with this ban is unclear. But an Oscars spokesperson acknowledged to Deadline yesterday: ”We would hope that every studio knows that this is a bad idea. The Red Carpet is not about stunting.” Oh really? then why did Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park crossdress down the Red Carpet as J-Lo and Gwyneth Paltrow in evening gowns in 2000? Or Ben Stiller appear as an Oscar presenter in full blue Avatar makeup and hair in 2010?
It’s about the right stunting. Everybody knows the only political leaders you can mock at the Oscars have to be Republican. And I bet you a trip to Los Angeles that the show’s script on Sunday will include at least one jab at the GOP primary contenders…or at least one mocking reference to tonight’s GOP debate…or both!
UPDATE: Academy denies.
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Jehuda
The Sarah Palin documentary The Undefeated is coming to basic cable on March 11.
Only on Reelz!
UPDATE: More here.
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Jehuda
Extreme movie-watching: All 22 Bond Films playing at once.
The first minute of all 22 Eon Productions Bond films, anyway, but still pretty cool…
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Jehuda
Entirely Predictable: Entertainment Weekly Calls Streep’s Thatcher ‘Total B*tch’ in Poster Parody.
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Jehuda
“I find your lack of new material disturbing”: Second City laments The Phantom Menace in 3D.
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Jehuda
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Jehuda
Uh-oh: Lionsgate Offering Groupon Discount For ‘Man On A Ledge’ This Opening Weekend: “No word yet on the price but it could be as low as $1. Hmm, Groupon $1 tickets and Redbox $1 rentals: what happens when consumers decide $11 bucks is now too much to pay for any new movie?”
Related (marginally): How Hollywood Lost the SOPA war.
I have the feeling the war is not quite over…
