I read a cool theory this morning that I just love the idea of. What if Ferris Bueller was like Fight Club?

Its a theory that re-imagines the exact same movie, but applying the twist of Fight Club to the characters. Its all in Cameron’s head. Ferris isn’t real.

/Film explains the theory created by “Cool Papa Bell”

One day while he’s lying sick in bed, Cameron lets “Ferris” steal his father’s car and take the day off, and as Cameron wanders around the city, all of his interactions with Ferris and Sloane, and all the impossible hijinks, are all just played out in his head. This is part of the reason why the “three” characters can see so much of Chicago in less than one day — Cameron is alone, just imagining it all.

It isn’t until he destroys the front of the car in a fugue state does he finally get a grip and decide to confront his father, after which he imagines a final, impossible escape for Ferris and a storybook happy ending for Sloane (”He’s gonna marry me!”), the girl that Cameron knows he can never have.

This just give me one more reason to watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off - not that I needed another reason. The movie is a classic.

This reminds me of a recent episode of How I Met your Mother where Barney seems to be the only one who “gets” movies. He sees Karate Kid as being about Johnny learning to take defeat with some pride after being beat by some talentless punk from the poor part of town. Or how Terminator is about the Terminator.. not the resistance, or Sarah Connor. Look at the title.. Terminator.

Are there any movies that you can twist its original intent and make it work with a different point of view?

Way back in the day Marvel did these comics called “What the-?!” and they were basically just spoof comics of the Marvel Universe. Well now they are riffing on Robot Chicken and using the action figures to play out stop motion animated versions of those comics.

Just in time for the premier of X-Men Origins Wolverine, we get the second episode of Marvel’s What the–?!

Love the closing credits song. Listen for the trademarked “snikt” in the background.

Via

X-Men is not just a popular movie franchise, but it has held its own corners of TV Land as well. Any of the Live Action attempts failed at the pilot stage, and the only one to have any wings to it was Mutant X, which had a strong resemblance to the X-Men, based on Marvel’s concept of mutants and even bore the Marvel branding during the credits despite having nothing to do with the Marvel Universe.

But the various animated series have been fairly successful and it all owes its success to the first series to dare a season after the failed X-Men 80s pilot Pryde of the X-Men.

LatinoReview

Walt Disney Home Video has released two DVD volumes of the popular 1990’s ‘X-Men’ animated series. Launched in October of 1992 by the Fox Network, the series aired on Saturday mornings and met tremendous success. For the first time comic book fans were given the opportunity to see their favorite X-Men stories told in an animated form that honored the original material. The “Night of the Sentinels” two-part episode originally aired as a “sneak preview” even though it truly wasn’t ready for broadcast. There were many animation errors in these two episodes, but the errors were later corrected when Fox re-aired the pilot in early 1993.

Back in the day these were the first collected TV Series I ever bought. Granted being the dinosaur that I am, this was available in VHS format with ONE EPISODE per tape. I had the entire first season of videos including the three part season finale that dealt with the Dark Phoenix Saga.

For the most part, this animated series was the closest thing to the comics of that same time.

I liked X-Men Evolution, and the new Wolverine and The X-Men and there will likely be 3 dozen more animated series. This one just reminds me of a simpler times and I will likely pick it up out of nostlatia sake. But also because I never had the second season. My favourite episode (with Nightcrawler) was on that second season.

Julia Child is the celebrity, but in telling her story this film turns to the true story of someone less celebrated.

/Film calls it:

“Based on two true stories, Julie & Julia intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends…until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible. ”

I am a sucker for anything with Amy Adams in it, and in this trailer, I find her to be utterly plain… which is the point. She still maintains her charm while showing how the life of someone unremarkable becomes fulfulling and paralelling that with another true story. It is a very interesting way to tell a story of someone notable, while using someone who isn’t.

I really want to see this.

Remember when we got that first peek at Megan Fox on the set of Jonah Hex in her Western Frontier Saloon Gal outfit? Well it was all covered up by a long sweater, but you could get the idea.

Well MovieGab is taking away what was left to the imagination and now my pants don’t fit right.

Megan Fox is pure eyecandy. She’s never going to win an Oscar, but she could give up acting and just do posters for the back of teenager’s bedroom doors and still have a long and healthy career.

I have a soft spot for westerns and the loose morals of saloon girls, so this works for me on a number of different levels. She could do this role butchering a southern drawl and I would still go see it.

MovieGab has a few more shots.

Russel Brand is sure getting his name out there, and most recently he is attached to a remake of Drop Dead Fred. The story of a woman and her childhood imaginary friend from the early 90s will be updated.

ComingSoon shares:

The 1991 original starred Phoebe Cates as a wallflower who loses her job and husband during the course of a lunch hour. Forced to live back home, she’s reunited with her childhood imaginary friend (Brit actor Rik Mayall), who promises to help but causes more havoc.

The trade says the take for the update is to make a film in the tone of Beetlejuice, building a universe around the concept of imaginary friends. Brand would play the trouble-making pal.

Now we get to play the “Remake Game” and compare this to our list of our extensive but in no way absolute 4 Rules Before Making a Remake!

1) The original has to have a good story I loved the original Drop Dead Fred. It was a heartwarming story that appeals to the inner child in all grown ups - that tug back to a simpler time when it was OK to have an imaginary friend, and seeing the two worlds collide. Yes, the story is a good one and well worth repeating.

2) Majority of current audience hasn’t seen the original Ask anyone about this movie. Go now and ask “Have you seen Drop Dead Fred” and I guarantee the reaction will almost entirely be the same. Slight pause, glancing up and to the right, then a moment of recognition and a “Yeah I remember that” and at best people will think Carrot Top was Fred. This movie might still be on a vague radar ping, but most people haven’t seen the original, or if they have, its been so long that it doesn’t matter.

3) Original has to be at least 20 years old This year will be 18, so by the time its made it might be. Or damned close.

4) The story would benefit from a modern telling This is the pants kicker for me. I don’t think it would BENEFIT from a modern retelling. Aside from the fashion sence that said bold busy patterns and padded shoulders were in, this movie will pretty much be the same if told in a modern retelling. I do like that they want to hit up a broader concept that imaginary friends come from a parellel existance and have “rules” and such, but that too was touched on in the original.

So my verdict is that I wouldn’t mind seeing Drop Dead Fred remade. Of course my sway has a lot more to do with seeing Russell Brand just OWN a role where he plays a silly imaginary friend that leads our main character into crazy hijinks, but it just makes sense to me.

Brand is one of those guys you either love or hate, but for this type of role, I could barely imagine anyone BUT him doing it.

Robert Sanchez at IESB.net ambushed Tom Rothman of Fox at the Wolverine Premier in Arizona to ask about some of the projects coming down the line. Robert asks him about returning to the Alien franchise for a prequel, and this is Rothman’s answer:

Rothman said of the possible Aliens film, “There’s been some talk. Ridley Scott, Ridley is right now working on Robin Hood, but I think he’s toying with the idea and that would be great for us. I mean, it’s always been a matter of, really, if you can get the originator to do it that would be the greatest thing, so I’ve got my fingers crossed, all of them.”

The article also hits up on some other key tidbits that I will fire out bullet point style

- Robert Sanchez of IESB has Sources.
- Robert Rodriguez will be rebooting Predators (Rothman calls him Creative Godfather -writing/producing)
- Daredevil Reboot is eventually going to happen
- Wolverine Stingers will hint at what films will come next in the X-Franchise
- No comment on Reboot Fantastic Four
- You better be at Comic Con if you want to see more about Avatar.

The intersting quote by Rothman in the interview is that he describes Avatar as “THE movie that will change the way we see movies” but then continues to say that even if it wasn’t for the revolutionary effects and technological marvel, the real thing to look forward to is the “totally great kickass emotionally driven story”.

That makes me more excited for the movie than any of the tech advancements it promises to reveal.

Check out IESB.net to see the video of the Interview.

The newest trend in Hollywood today is all the rage. Who wants to pick up a phone and call someone, or even have your people talk to my people. That is just so 2008.

Now if you want someone to know what you are thinking or perchance have a request for them, you just drop it in an interview! And the proper ettiquette for replying? Also mention it in an interview!

I’m sure everyone will be asking him this question today, but during the press day for Star Trek, I spoke to Leonard Nimoy (Holy shit.. What a legend) and asked him if Michael Bay had contacted him about voicing a robot in Tranformers 2.

Leonard looked right at the camera and said loudly, “Call me, Michael! Call me!” he said he heard Michael was afraid to get a hold of him for some reason, but he’d gladly be a part of Transformers. Then he again reiterated to the camera, “Call me, Michael!”

I never had any doubt that Nimoy would turn down even a piddly handful of cash to do a voice role like this. It is a cool fanservice for him to have a part of the Transformers feature films after he was a voice in the 1986 animated feature.

Remember, this is the guy who hand delivered a surprise screening of the new Star Trek to fans who gathered to watch Wrath of Khan in a small cinema and lets not forget his tribute to Bilbo Baggins!

But I kind of get that awkward feeling that we are standing close to one of those conversations where people say things to each other with that tone that makes you realize they want you to be listening.

Just do lunch and make it happen already!!

The score of a film can solidify its message, bridge logic to emotion, and punctuate impact in a way that gives you chills. So even with popcorn summer blockbusters, they want to make sure they get it right. Linkin Park’s “What I’ve Done” was a good match for Transformers, and so Michael Bay will have the rock band put together another song for Transformers Revenge of the Fallen. But they will also be lending their theme song into the overall score which will earn them a composing credit.

FirstShowing says:

Michael Bay has of course turned to Linkin Park again to write another song for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, but is that all they’re doing? A news break on singer Mike Shinoda’s official blog announces that Linkin Park has not only been working on a song, but that song is being used as one of the themes, which is going to be part of the score for the film. Additionally, he mentions that he’s been working with none other than Hans Zimmer.

The musical score and how each song relates to one another in the movie can make or break it.

I constantly talk about how painful the score is in Ladyhawke (one of my all time favourite films) and how the movie is a testament to overcome such BAD score. And I have to say that I really like Linkin Park’s stuff. Instrumentally I find it to be some of the greatest rock stuff on the market, and to tie in one of their songs into the melody of the score is a great idea.

The last time we got a sampling of clips from a movie it ruined any anticipation I had for the film entirely. So as I hit up the clips I did so half flinching waiting for something to offend me.

It didn’t happen. Check out this clip giving premise to Nero.

And a nice Easter Egg dropping the Abrams “Slusho”

Kirk is always been known as the ladies man, and it sends Trek in a new light to have Kirk hitting on Uhura. I don’t mind that at all as to me, it just punctuates that there is no canon not worth deviating from. Nothing saying they didn’t have history from the academy.

Fresh start people! Loving it.

MovieWeb has three more clips to check out.

Its the ones closest to you that hurt you the most.

I have a lot of hope for X-Men Origins Wolverine. I have been reveling in these movies for a long time now. As a comic book collector I have been waiting a LONG time and this is a golden age. Then some retard steals the movie and puts in on the net unfinished. A lot of the criticism trying to rain on my parade are basing their assessment of the movie on an unfinished cut.

But this assessment is based off an unfinished workprint that is said to be missing some footage and a lot of effects.

FilmJunk says:

Director Gavin Hood said that Fox had a tradition of hiding “easter eggs” in their films (the hidden scene at the end of X-Men: The Last Stand, for example), and although he didn’t say how many different endings there would be, at least one of them is related to the Deadpool character. Apparently Fox is hoping that fanboys will go see the movie multiple times in order to see each of the different stingers after the credits.

I have no doubt that they would want to add footage, finish the movie, hell they might even be taking the critiques as the biggest un-invited test market of all to make some tweaking changes.

But multiple endings?? Does this just sound like “insurance for boxoffice receipts” to you?

I am torn, because if this leak never happened I would probably geek over this like a good little fanboy. But right now it feels like a counteroffer.

I don’t want this to taint my anticipation of the film, but on the other hand it might actually give me more hope as the idea sets in.

Renee Zellweger is staring in a thriller and I hadn’t heard much about it, but today I tripped over the theatrical trailer. Check it out.

ComingSoon says:

Zellweger plays family services social worker Emily Jenkins. Emily thinks she has seen it all until she meets her newest, most mysterious case, troubled 10-year old Lilith Sullivan (Ferland). Emily’s worst fears are confirmed when the parents try to kill Lilith, their only daughter. Emily saves her and decides to take her in herself until the right foster family comes along. Then the real horror begins.

Edit: I found a clip that wasn’t taken down for copyright

I haven’t really formed an opinion about this yet. I am on the fence.

We don’t often get personal here, but on a very warm and windy day in my home town, my family and I hit up some shops in the quaint part of town called Westdale. Two places I visited this weekend included a candy shop and a Hobby shop. I thought I would share with you a pair pictures of some things I found.

A very “cute” but still scary version of Jason Voorhees figure.

And proof of what Yoda was doing while in exile. He was making chocolate.

Keep in mind that I saw the chocolate bars in the Candy Store across the street from the Hobby Store.

Is there anything strange or fun that you have discovered??

Bea Arthur has left our mortal plane finally laying rest to her battle with Cancer. She was 86.

KTLA.com says:

Former “Golden Girl” Bea Arthur died in Los Angeles Saturday at the age of 86.

The famously tall and deep-voiced actress had cancer, according to a spokesperson, who declined to give details. He said Arthur’s family was by her side.

Arthur is perhaps best known for her roes on the hit television shows “Maude” and “The Golden Girls.”

The very respected aging star was in a league of her own and despite never making the leap to the big screen her Television career was never seen as limiting.

I will always remember her in Golden Girls, a sitcom of a different era. But in tribute I offer up this blurry and terrifying Star Wars Holiday Special, in which Bea makes a cameo appearance in the Cantina. Remember boys and girls. The Holiday Special is Canon, so Bea will be immortalized for her role, as she is with all her other roles.

Rest well Bea, you will be missed.

Day 3 of Entertainment Tonight’s behind the scenes coverage of The Twilight Saga’s New Moon is online. This one is pretty lengthy.

More will come as I find them. Another one is on tonight.

Remember that Halloween 2 Trailer that some yahoo took with a handycam that we posted earlier?

Forget it. ThinkHero has the HD trailer online.

Hope that works better.

Lauren Shuler Donner was interviewed about producing a number of comic book related films like the proposed First Class and a possible Constantine sequel, but more importantly she talks about X-Men Origins: Magneto.

Today’s producer in the spotlight is Lauren Shuler Donner, who recently spoke with SCI FI Wire about Cirque du Freak, First Class, the Magneto prequel, and the potential Constantine sequel.

When asked about whether or not the Magneto movie would hit ever hit screens Donner said, “I don’t know. Magneto is a fantastic script, and hopefully we’ll make it.”

When asked if the uncertainty around Magneto had anything to do with waiting to see how X-Men Origins: Wolverine does in theaters, she said that might have something to do with it.

I imagine that EVERY X-Men spinoff movie is going to be affected by the success of the most recent effort to come out. This is how they gauge if the market is still hot for this type of film. No rocket science there.

I would be curious to see what angle they are going with for a Magneto origin story. We already saw a very young Erik get the heel end of a rifle in a Nazi concentration Camp. I imagine they would lead in with that. Maybe catch up years later with him struggling as a survivor of the war.

But I can’t see this having any value without Xavier. The whole point of telling an origin story with this character would be dependent on his relationship with Charles, discovering other mutants and choosing to do something about it. Together they build Cerebro, and since neither seems to have an engineering degree, maybe describe how it is that they did this (introduce Forge?)

Magneto’s early days as an active in the mutant world is just as dependant on Xavier as I would think Xavier’s is dependent on Magneto.

And of course you know they will name drop a dozen or so mutants to appear later like they did in all the X-Films. I look forward to playing “spot the mutant” in Wolverine next week.

Entertainment Tonight’s Behind the Scenes coverage of The Twilight Saga’s New Moon hits day two and we have it right here for you.

Lots of juicy gossip, but I really only care about the movie related stuff. Amazing that Lautner put on 30lbs to bulk up and be more muscular for this role. That kid looks twice the size he was in the first movie. Amazing.

Star Trek isn’t even released yet and its already making money. How you ask? Well the wise and wonderful Yogurt once said the real power behind the movies is “Merchandising!!”

A massive ad campaign will be hitting off soon involving a number of big name brands all offering advertising that will tie into Star Trek.

Hollywood Reporter says:

Kellogg’s Tony the Tiger, Burger King’s ubiquitous King mascot and Esurance’s animated Erin will appear in custom-created “Trek”-themed advertising as part of an estimated $50 million worth of partner promotions for the J.J. Abrams version of the classic property

Tony the Tiger will illustrate the Vuclan “Live Long and Prosper” salute in a print ad as well as Trek related goodies buried in the bottom of the cereal boxes. Also Kellogs will be releasing a limited edition Star Trek cereal with Starfleet shaped marshmallows.

Verizon and Burger King will have commercials that will bank on familiar set pieces and crew members.

Nokia will tie in with Verizon to launch its Intrigue Multimedia Phone (Please say it looks like an old school communicator!!)

Burger King will also be selling off kids meals with Trek toys in it, as well as offering collectible glasses (The only reason I would go to Burper King)

There apparently is a Nokia logo somewhere in the movie, though it is said it will not be “product placement” as it is more cleverly hidden like an Easter Egg.

If you are sensitive to gore, even fake cheesey not-even-trying-to-look-like-real-blood gore then DON’T watch this trailer. I was eating breakfast while watching this and it left me a little queasy.

Now that you have been warned, Yoshihiro Nishimura - Japanese makeup artist - has a trailer out for Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl. Its about as campy as that title sounds, but its not the acting or plot that will drive people to see this.

FilmJunk says:

With his work on such films as Meatball Machine, Tokyo Gore Police and Machine Girl, make-up guru Yoshihiro Nishimura is spearheading the recent Japanese gore movement. His latest, Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstein Girl, has just dropped its first trailer, and it appears to be a thoughtful dissertation on just how much blood the human body contains.

I have been wanting to catch Tokyo Gore Police since I missed the screening at last year’s Toronto After Dark Film Festival but this one is going to get a big pass by me.

The draw seems to be all about the gore, and I like to have some substance to my films even if they are going to be bloody violent. But this is what happens when an effects artist makes a movie. Its just turns into a 90 minute resume.

I still want to see Tokyo Gore Police though.