FIrst pic from On Stranger Tides looks pirate-y

From cinemablend

Bill Murray Trashes "Garfield," Says "Ghostbusters 3" Won't Happen

From worstpreviews, While promoting "Get Low," Bill Murray sat down with GQ magazine to talk about "Ghostbusters" and why he decided to voice the title character in "Garfield."

Regarding "Ghostbusters 3": "It's all a bunch of crock. It's a crock... Harold Ramis said, Oh, I've got these guys, they write on 'The Office,' and they're really funny. They're going to write the next 'Ghostbusters.' And they had just written this movie that he had directed... 'Year One.' Well, I never went to see 'Year One,' but people who did, including other Ghostbusters, said it was one of the worst things they had ever seen in their lives. So that dream just vaporized. That was gone. But it's the studio that really wants this thing. It's a franchise. It's a franchise, and they made a whole lot of money on 'Ghostbusters'."

Regarding "Garfield": "I thought it would be kind of fun, because doing a voice is challenging, and I'd never done that. Plus, I looked at the script, and it said, 'So-and-so and Joel Coen (of Coen brothers).' And I thought: Christ, well, I love those Coens! They're funny. So I sorta read a few pages of it and thought, Yeah, I'd like to do that. I had these agents at the time, and I said, 'What do they give you to do one of these things?' And they said, 'Oh, they give you $50,000.' So I said, 'Okay, well, I don't even leave the f*ckin' driveway for that kind of money.'

Finally, I went out to LA to record my lines. And usually when you're looping a movie, if it takes two days, that's a lot. I don't know if I should even tell this story, because it's kind of mean. What the hell? It's interesting. So I worked all day and kept going, 'That's the line? Well, I can't say that.' And you sit there and go, What can I say that will make this funny? And make it make sense? And I worked. I was exhausted, soaked with sweat, and the lines got worse and worse. And I said, 'Okay, you better show me the whole rest of the movie, so we can see what we're dealing with.' So I sat down and watched the whole thing, and I kept saying, 'Who the hell cut this thing? Who did this? What the f*ck was Coen thinking?' And then they explained it to me: It wasn't written by that Joel Coen."

What, No Death Star Sugar Bombs?!: Collectible Lil Star Wars Cereal Boxes

From geekology, Cereal: it's the most important meal of the day. And apparently they're giving away these collectible Star Wars cereal boxes at Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, Florida, August 12th - 15th. Anybody else notice something special about those dates? The 12th is my birthday! *sniff* I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO! Kidding, I'm huffing brake fluid.

"We are thrilled to announce the exclusive giveaways," says Lopez. "In addition to listening to fascinating talks and panels by some of the leading experts on Star Wars collecting, attendees will receive collectible cereal boxes based on Star Wars character 'cereal brands' highlighting each of the sixteen panel topics."

Chris Georgoulias led the effort working with collectors, sponsors, and artists, who contributed to the concepts, funding, and artwork of this completely fan-sponsored giveaway. There are sixteen mini cereal boxes to collect (they are about four inches tall), one for each panel, and they are exclusive to Celebration V! Only 400 of each will be made available.

See more here

Mythbusting Leia's Hair

From Skepchick:

For some time now, I’ve felt there’s an uncomfortable fact lurking in the corners of fandom that no one has yet brought out into open discussion, and I’ve decided it’s time we face its probably unpopular reality. I’m sorry to have to break the news to you if you’ve so far lived in blissful ignorance, but here it is: almost all, if not every one, of Princess Leia’s hairstyles are impossible to pull off in real life.

Box Office

From ew, The weekend’s two wide releases Inception and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice both scored a B+ with audiences but still ended the weekend with markedly different results. The mind-bendy heist film from director Christopher Nolan generated an estimated $60.4 million for its opening frame, a great success considering the complicated plot line and the vague marketing campaign. In contrast, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, which earned the same score from exit pollster CinemaScore, couldn’t catch a break from audiences, grossing only $17.3 million and a third spot for the three-day period. The Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel starrer has now earned a lackluster $24 million after five days of release. This will be one of those movies where Disney will be counting on the international audiences to save the movie from being a total disappointment. Despicable Me scared up spot two for the weekend with an estimated $32.7 million. The animated film’s strong hold of 42 percent puts its brief ten-day stint at $118 million. Inception and Despicable Me’s impressive numbers, which are an encouraging sign of audiences embracing original ideas, helped lead the box office to a 10 percent gain over last year at this time when Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince bowed to $78 million. It didn’t hurt that The Twilight Saga: Eclipse earned another $13.5 million to put its total cume at $265 million while Toy Story 3 fell a scant 44 percent to gross close to $12 million. Pixar’s highest-grossing film’s total now stands at $363 million.

Adam Sandler’s Grown Ups landed in the sixth slot. The film continues to hold in well, dropping only 37 percent its fourth weekend in theaters for an additional $10 million in ticket sales. The film’s total take stands at $129 million. Spot seven went to The Last Airbender. The film from director M. Night Shyamalan grossed an estimated $7.4 million its third weekend for a total cume of $115 million. Predators sank like bloated, forgettable sequel it is, dropping 73 percent its second weekend in theaters to earn $6.8 million. The film’s two-week total has reached $40 million. Spot nine and ten are being filled by Knight & Day and The Karate Kid. The films earned $3.7 million and $2.2 million respectively, putting total grosses for the two movies at $69 million and $169 million.

Today's Tee Fury shirt -- entitled, "Best Served Hoth"

here

I want to hang out with this couple

Found here.

God of War Indie Film

These people made a trailer for a movie based on God of War if it were a Wes Anderson movie. As Cal at Cal's Canadian Cave of Cool opines, "The guys who made this totally nailed Wes Anderson's annoying style of filmmaking. It shows how everything great can be ruined by a spin through the art house movie machine set to W. Anderson."

P.S. I'm not trying to start a Wes Anderson fight! I'm quoting the dude, granted, but I totally respect that there are people of impeccable taste who genuinely love and admire Anderson. That's fine with me! Honestly. Peace.
http://www.viddler.com/explore/gamervision/videos/1146/0

What the EFF is Julie doing????

So I am waiting in an airport at the moment. I just had a giant, deep dish oatmeal cookie. Pretty much for dinner. And also lunch, now that I think about it. I haven't really felt too much like eating today, because I was so freakin' nervous.

I had a TV audition today, something I haven't had in a while. This woman I did a terrible show with ages ago is now a casting director and called me in. Very, very nice of her. But I forgot what it was like to audition for TV. I audition all the time for commercials, which seems so much like just another day job to me at this point. It's just another point in my day. Nothing special. But having an audition for a show just about did me in. The mind plays tricks. I was really a mess until it was over.

And now I am off to Silverton, Oregon to interview the guy in the video above. Because. I. Am. Crazy.

Clearly. There is no other rational explanation.

I heard about this story on Radio Lab. Here it is. For whatever reason, I got really into it, and after having been scooped on one major idea already here, I thought, "You know what I should do!" I must learn to never listen to myself when the idea starts with that. "I should be super duper aggressive this time! Someone will write this as a feature, and it should be me!"

So I got in touch with Stu Rasmussen, who's the guy in the video above. And I sent him a bunch of samples of my writing. And then I sent him a treatment. And he liked it. And then he suggested I come up to Silverton, Oregon to do some research. And I bit. I'm going. Meanwhile, by a total coincidence that kind of amazes me but might bore some of you, I found out another writer is after this same idea, and she has a manager who is also a producer. So essentially, I'm fucked. But Stu kind of, maybe thinks my version of the story is better.

I put the word out to my UCLA peeps about this project, and I actually had some "meetings" about it. One I was lured into believing might be important, but turned out to be a young assistant giving me notes. They were good notes, but I still have no real ammunition, no producer, no manager, no agent on my side.

I am going to see my dad up there, so it won't be a totally wasted trip. And who knows, I might get Stu's blessing to go ahead with the story. I did make some progress in LA making contacts. But I'm still not an equal match for these other people.

So that is what I'm doing right now. Your boy Octo is a freakin' saint for putting up with this kakameme (spelling?) idea. It's an expensive, ridiculous trip, and it will take me away from Zack for two days! And...why? I'm not even as into this story as I used to be. I just go so burned on one of my scripts straight out of grad school. A script sold right at the same time mine was making the rounds, leaving me with no sample that would sell, so nothing really to offer. So I got all het up about being first with the idea this time.

All day I've just been thinking, what the HELL am I doing here??? I wish I were one of those people who always had faith in their own ideas.

It Just Figures

So our beloved Dandy Warhols are playing Boston (at The Royale, the made-over Roxy) the very same night (Wednesday November 3rd) Roger Waters is playing in NJ. Why is this a problem? Because I scored super-sweet tickets for the NJ gig for my bro and was planning to share the experience with him. But the Dandys in Boston... you see my dilemma.

Anyway, regardless of which show I decide to see, I would like to offer to treat any and all east coast thonners to tickets to the Dandys in Boston. If you have a friend who needs to see them live, totally cool. The more, the merrier. Let me know if you want in and if so how many tickets. They go onsale next Friday.

*facepalm* Westboro Baptist Church To Protest Comic-Con For "Idol-Worship"

From geekology, Well folks, Comic-Con is only a week away and I was denied a booth despite my promise to "only drink from a flask" and "sign the everliving-shit out of some f***in' autographs". So yeah, maybe next year. My Deku-Link costume going unworn aside, members of the gay-hating Westboro Baptist Church (best known for the confused looks on their faces when they find themselves burning in hell) plan to protest the convention for idol-worship. Per the "don't you have something better to do?" church itself:

Are you kidding?! If these people would spend even some of the energy that they spend on these comic books, reading the Bible, well no high hopes here. They have turned comic book characters into idols, and worship them they do! Isaiah 2:8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: 9 And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not. It is time to put away the silly vanities and turn to God like you mean it. The destruction of this nation is imminent - so start calling on Batman and Superman now, see if they can pull you from the mess that you have created with all your silly idolatry.

They, uh, do know Batman and Superman aren't real, right? And why isn't the church all over the parents who let their children worship the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus? Oh, right, those are their people. AMERICAN IDOL IS DESTROYING THIS COUNTRY.