Arrested Development Movie?

I know, I know, you've heard it a million times, but once again there are murmurings that an Arrested Development feature film is in the works. Granted, these murmurings are coming from actors, specifically Jason Bateman and Will Arnett in interviews with MTV, and not from producers or writers. More from the AD team is always a nice little dream to dream, even if that's all it ever is, but would a full length movie really be all we might hope for? It seems it could be a tricky proposition. Generally, movies made as continuations of tv shows, like The XFiles or Serenity, are better than remakes of tv shows, like Bewitched or Mod Squad, but are still risky business. Will the rabid AD fans be satisfied with a two hour wrap up after more than three years of waiting? A big part of me thinks not. And just how will they wrap up in two hours a story that didn't seem only four episodes from its conclusion? Maybe I'm a worrywort but I feel like Horowitz and Co. might have the deck stacked against their favor. Nothing is set in stone, so I will try not to get my hopes too high (or low) in the meantime and keep my ears open for news. Really, I would just be overjoyed to see Will Arnett in something good for a change.

“He did get sold, didn’t he?” Arnett said, speculating that Franklin may have fallen victim to the show’s liquidation. “Did somebody sell him for real? That makes sense.”
“Well, I built the first one, so I’m going to have to build it again. That’s a little ‘Arrested Development’ piece of trivia,” Arnett revealed. “I made Franklin.”
Really? “No, that’s a lie,” he grinned. “How would I know how to do that?”

mel

The truth is that they need to pump. That they like to is merely a happy coincidence.

Week in News 2/12/08

In honor of our fav. holiday a website posted what they thought were the top ten couples in video games, not everyone is included like Mario and Peach but they are just a obvious couple so thats why I think they went with a different route. You can check it out HERE

A science museum in Washington is showing all the ins and outs of Darth Vadors helmet so if you live in that area check it out, if you are like me just click HERE and dream about being there.

EA posted new pictures of what might be a new zapper for the Wii-mote, people are buzzing and saying that it might be for a new game they are releasing for the Wii called NERF blast,  I would pick it up if this rumor is true. Also it works like a real NERF gun.

The artwork for Okami on the Wii was released and it looks pretty good, I never played it on the PS2 because I was waiting for it to be a greatest hits, but I will pick up this one for sure!

And last but not least a trailer for Pineapple express this movie is looking better and better. Check out the trailer before its taken down.

BTW it was a really slow news day I guess its still early but it feels like its been a slow week.

This Is My Top Ten

Last year my goal was to watch 200 movies I had never seen before. I don't know if that sounds like a lot, but it was a lot for me. Sure, it averages to less than 17 movies a year...but you go try it, ok? Anyway, I achieved my goal, wrapping everything up in a pretty little bow by seeing my 200th movie on New Year's Eve. Now I'm attempting to make my top ten list for 2007. It's a little different this year. In previous years I would peruse the list of all the films released in a year, note how many I'd seen, then pick out my favorites from that list. This year, I already have a list of all the movies I saw, and they are rated on a 0 to 4 star scale, so it's fairly simple to pick out my 4 and 3 1/2-star movies. The only difficult part has been deciding which 3-star movies belong on the list, so I will follow the list with a few "honorable mention" films. I was interested today to discover that the movies on this list fit into three categories: comedies, really bleak and depressing movies, and documentaries.
Here we go, in descending order:
1. Superbad - This was my most highly anticipated movie of the year and, for once, I was not disappointed. I have already written a lot about this film, and there's not much more I feel I can say...I'm sad it wasn't recognized in the Best Original Screenplay category in this year's Academy Awards because I think it was an amazingly well crafted movie. And I think it is kind of hilarious that Seth Rogen has no picture on his IMDB page . If you want to read my review/rant click here.
2. Hot Fuzz - This movie was hilarious, not quite as exquisite as Superbad, but geez it was good. There has been some contention among the people I know as to whether Hot Fuzz or the earlier movie from the same team, Shaun of the Dead, is better. I can't make a definite yay or nay on either side; it's been far too long since I've seen Shaun of the Dead, but I believe that, overall, Hot Fuzz was a far worse received movie. It was, in fact, this movie and Superbad that resulting in my ceasing to read reviews by Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly, in part because she didn't like Hot Fuzz because, according to her, it was too "British" to be funny to Americans. Unfortunately for Ms. Schwarzbaum, she is retarded, because, even if Americans don't realize that Pegg and Co. are gently poking fun at them, they will still find much to laugh at in a movie that so cleverly references American classics like Point Break and Bad Boys II. I think you may have trouble with this movie if you've never seen an action film, but I'd still give it a try, if only for the very exciting supporting and cameo cast.
3. The Host - Horrifying, uplifting, touching and heartbreaking. All with some of the most awesome special effects I've seen in some time. Please see this movie.
4. Juno - This is the movie that caused a friend of mine to comment, "I realized, Michael Cera has no range!" and I would have to respectfully disagree. If you're of the same mind as my friend, I would check out Clark and Michael at clarkandmichael.com. Anyway, I may be too enamored of Michael Cera, but I don't think it clouded my judgement of this movie. It is, at times, overly precious and stilted, but I felt that everything came together and it was, in the end, extremely sweet without being treacly. I was really surprised by Jennifer Garner in this movie, I usually find her stomache-ache inducing, but she was believable and relatable.
5. Protagonist - I don't know if many people were able to see this movie, I think it may have played only at Sundance theaters, but it is available through Netflix, so put it on your queue right now! It tells the seemingly disparate life stories of four men, weaving them together using the plays of Euripides and puppetry. It's directed by Jessica Yu, who is the auteur behind another of the most inventive documentaries of the past few years, In The Realms of the Unreal. I think this movie was especially interesting to me because of my interest in the Greek Tragedies, but even if you don't know Clytemnestra from Medea you will find the tales the four men have to tell fascinating.
6. No Country For Old Men - I think I could say Javier Bardem and that would be enough. But then I would be neglecting to say Tommy Lee Jones. And Kelly Macdonald. And I'll throw Josh Brolin out there, heck why not? Also, I think I get more excited about bleak Western expanses than most. But...Javier Bardem. That's really all you need to know.
7. Margot at the Wedding - Margot is another movie that got very little love. I am actually trying to understand why I liked it so much, because it is a very nasty and mean little film. At first I thought maybe you had to be from a supremely fucked up family to relate, but now I think maybe it has to do more with sisters specifically. Nicole Kidman is more alive in this movie than she has been in...probably forever. Noah Baumbach is really good at finding great young actors, but his interest in childhood sexuality is still creepy.
8. Knocked Up - I am a Judd Apatow fan from way back, I was a little too young for the Ben Stiller Show (besides, wasn't it on HBO? You think I was some kind of rich kid?), but I watched Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared when they first aired and I'm really glad that they are getting some of the attention they deserve on DVD. The 40 Year Old Virgin was my number one movie of 2005. I was a little disappointed in Knocked Up, I have to say, and more than a little disappointed in the "anti-abortion genre" discussion it incited, but it was solid; it was funny and sweet. And I'm glad it made Seth Rogen a star. Paul Rudd is the highlight of the movie for me, but when is he not? Paul Rudd is a genius character actor, and I hope one day he gets the recognition he deserves.
9. Stephanie Daley - Another movie I think no one saw, but that I absolutely can't get out of my head. I was musing just yesterday why it wasn't brought up in the whole anti-abortion genre discussion, but I guess it was too small to be noticed and it is all the better that it didn't have it's name sullied by any association with that nonsense. This movie is a little crazy, and I'm not sure why it had such an affect on me; I saw this movie probably in June of last year on a whim, not knowing anything about it. It drew me in totally unexpectedly. I think it is so fascinating because it is so outlandish and rather shocking and at the same time very real. Amber Tamblyn is perfect, mostly innocent and bland with just a hint of something really sinister lurking underneath.
10. Deep Water - Wow. This movie is a total wow. It's one of those documentaries that make you wonder "why have I not heard this story before?" It tells the story of a contest sponsored by the Times of London to see who would be the first person to circumnavigate the globe, nonspot, completely alone. It focuses on the most unlikely competitor, Donald Crowhurst. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to give anything away, I'll just say that this movie will make you think, and that will probably make you more than a little uncomfortable.

Honorable Mention:
*Zodiac - I was totally geeking on this movie because a lot of it was filmed in San Francisco (in fact, around the same time The Pursuit of Happyness was being filmed here as well) and it was exciting to walk past film sets on my way to work in the FiDi. I was also excited because, hello! Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo (who, the year before this filmed, had been giving me and my roommate palpitations by filming Just Like Heaven in our Chinatown/North Beach neighborhood) and Robert Downey, Jr.! When I actually saw the movie, I was surprised to find more of my favorite actors, like Adam Goldberg and John Ennis had roles as well. There was nary an actor who wasn't somebody. Anyway, Zodiac was good, even though it turned a little movie of the week at parts. Robert Downey, Jr. was pretty amazing in it.
*Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains - Before I saw this movie I didn't know much about Jimmy Carter except that when I wore my Jimmy Carter button around the neighborhood, the Palestinian shop keepers really liked it. "He's a great man," they would say. I mean, I also knew about the energy crisis and the Iranian hostage situation and Habitat for Humanity and the Nobel Peace prize. And that he is universally hated by Republicans. But that's just history class. Through this documentary, which tells his story as it follows him through his book tour for "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," you get to see an incredibly compassionate, forward thinking man who is unlike any politician you've ever known. See it even if you're not into politics, it may restore your faith in humanity.
So, that's it. My 2007 in a nutshell. Sorry it's so long and rambling, but that's kind of who I am. Sue me.
Mel

All good things.......

Roy Scheider

1932-2008

 

Many may remember him for his role in the Punisher but I will remember him for David Cronenberg's Naked Lunch. But we should all remember him for his great roles in Jaws, and Jaws 2. He was a great actor and I'm gonna miss him more than Heath Ledger. 

Growing up with Wrestling

News came around that Darren Aronofsky was working on a new movie entitled the wrestler, I was honestly a little ticked because I have always wanted to do a movie based on the life of wrestling seen through a up and comer and then the down fall since the movie would take place in the 80's when there was drugs just flying around.

Its a thing not a lot of people know about and has until recently with all the deaths involving drugs come into light. I wanted to do something like PT Anderson did with boogie nights cover something that could be dark and shady while at the same time tell a story based on someone famous, which would have been loosely based on a combination of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, 2 of the most famous wrestlers of their time. Being a huge fan of wrestling growing up in the 80's and later getting obsessed with it in 99' or I should say getting back into wrestling.

As I got older I wanted to know everything just like when I would collect comics, and got obsessed with the artist. So I would go on websites during computer class or lunch times and read the ins and outs of what was really going on. I learned that yes it was "fake" to a certain degree and that yes there were real life fights and grudges, it wasn't until Beyond the Mat that I got my first look and how it was in what many call the "business".

As I said before growing up as a kid I loved wrestling, and it didn't get any bigger than Hulk Hogan, of coarse as I got older I realized that he actually wasn't the best and not until now realized that Shawn Michaels was a way better wrestler and was my new fav. I still love the Hulkster don't get me wrong, but HBK is a way better wrestler any day just ask anyone.

I have all the confidence in the world that Darren will do a great job in his movie, in fact Requiem for a dream is one of my all time fav., but I still some day want to make my own, and tell it how it really is.

Lost Review 2/7/08

First off we are treated to a nice opening right off the back it reveals that they found the ship and that all the people on flight 815 were dead a 1-800 number is show which if you call so I've heard actually works :) (BTW the number is 1-888-548-0034) we start off with a new character played by Jeremy Davis who I remember from CQ but the rest of you will remember him from saving private ryan. He is emotionally connected it seems to the whole situation, either that or he's a sensitive guy.

So he joins a group to retrieve the survivors of flight 815 or so we are to believe, no flash forwards in this episode unless you count the flash backs of our new characters a flash forward. Now I got to be honest there are a couple things that bug me during shows, one is when a new character is introduced, two is when they kill off a great character established, and three is when they replace a actor to play the role of the previous actor. Now Lost has already done 2 of those things along the series, and funny it was during what a lot called the weakest of the seasons, well at least till they fixed it and brought back old writers. Now I know it makes me sound like a old fudy duty but I invest in a show and get used to things so sudden changes always affect me in that kinda way but

All these things could be averted if they choose great actors with great written characters, I wasn't bothered this week with the new added characters, they are all people I've seen in other movies or shows. Though the red head who has kinda been annoying me a little is a unknown, and so far she is coming off as the antagonist. Anyways great intro and I love the use of time management all their flash backs in one episode! A first for Lost and gets the show really going.

With only 3 short seasons left I can already tell that the show is moving in a way faster pace, and it works for it! The draw back is that its not that slow reveal we are all used to, but at least we get more things revealed faster. Did you all hear Locke ask what the smoke monster was!? Anyways our new team of "heros" consist of a archeologist, a shrink, a ghostbuster, and a pilot. They are all great the pilot is from grindhouse which is awesome that they choose him, another thing if I may go on a rant here. I love it when people think they got the survivors of 815 caught and they turn it around, its happened many times with the "others" and its like they've gotten used to it and they know what to do in those situations.

IMMORTAL!!! 

Now lets talk a little about the mythos going on this island I was watching some season 2, and I think we all know that everybody heals and a enormous rate or at least Locke does I mean after having his leg messed up during a incident with Ben, Locke is told that his leg wont heal for 4 weeks! Rose tells him candidly "we both know it wont take that long will we". So what does this make Locke a special being like Walt!? Time will only tell I guess.

In this season errrr episode everyone is treating darma like some sort of holy grail it just leaves the rest of us really confused, is there going to be like a shark skeleton on the beach with a darma necklace thats a big deal too!? Time will only tell.

More mysterious characters galore! It wasn't enough with mr. Hanso now this guy!? We know he works for Oceanic but is he just trying to protect his company from a huge lawsuit!? Or is he responsible for putting them on the island in the first place?

And finally Ben what have you been hiding from us I hated you already but now you're a big shot!? :) Well time will also tell what is the big deal with Ben and if it has to do with Jacob.

Thats all for now folks join me next week and till then go watch some Lost!