Why Superman Stands Alone
Superman Stands Alone
After my last post, Murph had this to say:
“Craig, seems your very selective in your choices for seeing films on the big screen.”
Wait til he gets a load of my movie pics for next month…
Surprisingly, after looking at the films that will be released in June, only one made my “see in a theater” list. That movie is Superman Returns.
Most folks who predict this sort of thing are saying that Superman Returns will probably make the most bucks at the box office this year. Who am I to argue? Although I think that The DaVinci Code may just give it a run for it’s money. [Pun intended].
Movies that MAY be Worthy
May starts off with a bang. Mission Impossible III opens the summer on May 5th. Despite the bad press Cruise has been getting, I still think that MI3 is going to do big business and I can’t wait to see it on the big screen!
Hot on the heals of MI3 is X-Men 3, better known as X-Men: The Last Stand. While I’m a huge fan of the Claremont, Byrne and Austin run in the X-Men comic series, I’ve yet to see an X-Men movie in a theater. Although this clip looks pretty cool, I’ll probably be one of the few who wait for dvd.
The Poseidon Adventure was one of my favorite disaster movies when I was a kid. I can still remember getting together with a few of my friends and catching the bus to go downtown to the movie theater to see it. I think that this updated version, Poseidon, will be good, but I have a feeling that I may wait for dvd.
The Da Vinci Code is going to be HUGE. Based on the best selling book, and starring Tom Hanks with direction by Ron Howard. It can’t miss. And this one will get meback to a theater.
Next time we’ll take a look at June!
Tarantino – Rourke – "Death Proof"
I thought this post was going to be about the movies coming out this summer that I’m looking forward to, but when I saw the cool title page to Tarantino’s “Death Proof” posted over at Ain’t It Cool News, I just knew that the summer previews would have to wait… at least until you get a look at this!Let’s Get Ready to Rumble !
A little over a month ago, I told you about Rumble in La Rambla, a comic mini-series that I thought was worth a look. Writer Felipe Ferreira and artist Rafael Albuquerque have to feel pretty good since Rumble in La Rambla still has another month before the first issue hits the stands, but the positive buzz is spreading like wild fire.Kirk, Spock Are Back, Baby!
The big entertainment news this week is that J.J. Abrams [the creative mastermind behind Lost, Alias, and Tom Cruise‘s lastest turn in Mission Impossible III ] will produce, direct and cowrite what looks to be a rebirth of the Star Trek franchise Abrams is planning for a big-screen 2008 release which will focus on the early adventures of James T. Kirk and Spock [sorry Bones, no mention of you].
I’ve got to admit that this news has caught my interest. I was a HUGE fan of Star Trek during it’s initial run on tv. Then again, I was just seven years old. Still, Star Trek did capture my attention and I made a point to watch it each week. I was never a Trekie, but I did see and enjoy the Star Trek movies [well… except for the first one] that featured the original cast.
It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.
Liotta is out of Control
Control totally slipped by me… waaaaay under the radar. I don’t remember reading anything about it before, during, or even after it’s release. [And I’m talking theatrical and dvd]. That’s surprising not only because it stars Ray Liotta, Willem Dafoe and Michelle Rodriguez, but also because it’s a pretty decent movie.
Ray Liotta plays a sociopath on death row who is given a last minute, and I mean LAST minute, reprieve, if he will participate in an experimental group testing a drug that might be the key to a cure. Given the set up, I thought that the movie might be a preachy “we can cure them” take on the death sentence. Boy, am I glad that it turned out to be much more than that.
Ray Liotta is one of the most underrated actors working today, and Control provides him an opportunity to show his chops. DaFoe and Rodriguez are welcome additions, but it is the script that really works for me. What could have been a really over the top action-adventure is instead so much more.
Control isn’t the best movie you’ll see this year, but I bet you’ll enjoy it if you give it a shot. “Control” rates a B+.
Sharky’s Coming Back
Director, Phil Joanou, is set to direct a remake of Sharky’s Machine, a 1981 movie that starred Burt Reynolds as a vice cop who puts together a team to bring down a powerful mobster who controls politicians, the city’s drug trade, and a psychotic assassin.
Sharky’s Machine is my favorite Burt Reynolds movie, so you might think that I’d be upset that it’s being remade. You’d be wrong.
The cool thing about re-makes is that they bring new attention to the original movies. It’s usually a win-win situation.
If the new movie kicks butt, then fans may decide to check out the original. If the new movie tanks, it doesn’t change the fact that people are still going to be talking about the original film and better still, there’s a good chance that a new dvd release of the original film with extras will come heading our way in time to celebrate the theatrical release of the re-make.
Now if they’d only remake Nighthawks
3 Really Bad Days or 3 Really Great Years
Kiefer Sutherland has signed on for three more seasons of 24!
Although that means that his character, Jack Bauer, will face three more really bad days, Kiefer will suffer anything but. He’s being paid a reported $40 million which makes him the highest paid tv actor in a drama. Kiefer will receive other perks as well. He’ll become the executive producer on 24, be set up with his own production company and given a two-year development deal.
Works out to be a sweet deal for Kiefer and a pretty good one for fans of 24.
Soloman & Hunter… Now Thorn
James Byron Huggins is one of my favorite authors. I’ve enjoyed every book that I’ve read by him, and two [Cain and Hunter] are all-time favorites. In fact, I’ve always wished that Huggins would do a sequel teaming the two heroes, Soloman and Hunter, in a new adventure.
Although Sorcerer, Huggins‘ latest novel, doesn’t bring back either Soloman or Hunter, it does introduce us to a new hero, Michael Thorn. Thorn is an ex-cop, ex-Airborne Ranger who, at 45, has opted for early retirement after seeing more than enough action in the military and as a decorated detective. Thorne, his wife, and two children move to a remote New England town where they buy a house in the country.
Any hope for a peaceful retirement is gone when Thorn discovers a hidden room in his basement. In the room he finds a skeleton chained to the wall. The manacles are engraved with an ancient writing. When the skeleton disappears and people start turning up dead, Thorn suddenly finds himself allies with Assassini sent from Rome to do battle with the ancient evil that has returned from the grave!
Huggins has the ability to make a story move, but never at the expense of character development. He also has the talent to make the unbelievable believable. I must admit that before reading the book,. I was worried that the villain would be some kind of wizard like in Harry Potter or King Arthur. Boy, was I wrong. This sorcerer is an ancient evil who dared to challenge Moses himself!
I thoroughly enjoyed Sorcerer and wouldn’t mind a sequel. Hmmm… maybe Thorn could team with Soloman and Hunter on a new adventure?
Put Down Your Drink Now
Although I’m not a huge David Spade fan, I was glad that I wasn’t drinking anything when I read that he said:
“A spokesperson for Michael Jackson announced the pop star’s
2,600-acre ranch will be closed. Now that the ranch is over 15
years old, Jackson isn’t attracted to it anymore.”
I’m afraid if I had been drinking something, I’d have sprayed.
The Walking Dead – Pick Your Edition
If you’ve been searching for missing back issues to The Walking Dead, thinking about picking up the graphic novels, or looking for a great starting point to join in on this classic series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard; then wait no more.
The Walking Dead: Book One is a 304 page hardcover that reprints the first 12 issues. It’s a great bargain since prices for the original comics, if you can find them are through the roof. Of course, if you don’t want the hardcover edition, but still crave even more zombie action, you can take advantage of this special and get 4 trade paperbacks collecting the first 24 issues for just $32.23!
Price that low are to die [and reanimate] for!
Scary Batman
DC has been putting out a variety of Batman statues based on designs by some of the best artists to work on their flagship character.
I told you about this one, based on Eduardo Risso’s Batman. It adorns a spot on my bookcase. There have been others in the series based on designs by Joe Kubert and Mike Mignola.
Now there’s even one on the horizon based on Kelley Jones’ Batman. I always liked Kelley’s Batman since it played up the horror aspects of the “Dark Knight.”
Of course Doug Moench’s writing and Big John Beatty’s inks played a key role in making Kelley’s Batman so cool… and I don’t think that they’ll have much to do with the statue. ; )
Dan Curtis – Rest in Peace
Dan Curtis, best known as the creative force behind “Dark Shadows” died today at the age of 78. Curtis‘s career as a producer, writer, and director spanned five decades. Many would say that the high point of his career was in 1983 when he produced, directed and co-wrote the highly successful “Winds of War” mini-series starring Robert Mitchum. But I would argue that his work on “Dark Shadows” is what most folks will remember.
Curtis created a cult classic that was “must see tv” for the five years that it ran. Ok, ok, truth be told, it wasn’t until the second year and the addition of Jonathon Frid as Barnabus Collins that the series really took off; but boy did it! “Dark Shadows” spawned two feature films [not as good as the tv series], comic books, novels, trading cards, and more. Even now, as I think back at how all of my friends and I were “into” “Dark Shadows” I have to smile.
Curtis’s wife of 54 years died earlier this month. He is survived by his two daughters and a world of fans. Our thoughts and prayers are with them today.
Something Different from Eric Powell
Today’s banner looks like something that you might expect in an Eric Powell drawing. As I’m sure most of you’re aware, Eric is the creator of the hugely popular The Goon series. The Goon frequently finds himself up against all manner of mobsters and monsters [werewolves, witches, zombies, etc].
So yeah, that’s a typical monster from The Goon in today’s banner, right?
Wrong.
Actually it’s part of this cover that Eric did for Marvel Westerns: The Two-Gun Kid! Although Eric didn’t do the enterior art [Eduardo Barreto did], it should still be worth a gander.
