Yes, my little sister is turning (cough cough cough) today, so shout out! (I couldn't find a current pic, so I took a pic of a pic using one of my favorites)
Love ya, baby! Happy Day!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Happy Birthday, DCD!
Yes, my little sister is turning (cough cough cough) today, so shout out! (I couldn't find a current pic, so I took a pic of a pic using one of my favorites)
Love ya, baby! Happy Day!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Terminator to Be a Rebooted Trilogy; First Due June 2015
Well, that's one way to get around your aging cyborg. Reboot the whole thing. A press release sent to Deadline from Paramount - who'll be distributing - has announced that the new Terminator, set for June 26th, 2015 and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, is part of a stand-alone trilogy and a reboot.
Another interesting factoid added by Deadline is that the rights to Terminator will eventually revert back to James Cameron in 2019, who has yet to be satisfied with any of the follow-ups and spin-offs that came after his two films. So they're hauling ass to make three movies before that happens. Always a recipe for a quality product.
Aint It Cool News recently ran some wild speculation that the Rock would be in it and it'd be set in the '40s, none of which passes my BS detector. But if they must reboot, a shakeup on that level is probably what's needed, as I don't need to see a Kyle Reese/Sarah Connor romance again.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Pac-Man As A First Person Shooter (Is Kind Of Scary)
From geekology, ver wanted to play Pac-Man in the style of a first person shooter? Well tear your shirt off and start waving it around like you're at a Kid Rock concert, because this is your lucky day. 'FPS-Man' was created by game designer Tom Davies and available for free play over at Kongregate. It has creepy music, a map to show you were the remaining pellets and power pellets are, and...that's about it. I just played for ten minutes while I had a client on hold, during which time I actually forgot I had him on hold, then picked up the phone and tried to order a pizza from him.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Liam Neeson to be 'Taken' again
From darhorizons, Liam Neeson is closing a deal reportedly worth around $20 million for a third installment in the "Taken" franchise at EuropaCorp and 20th Century Fox.
Neeson would reprise his role as Bryan Mills, the retired CIA agent who beat the crap out of the French sex slave underworld in the first film. Neeson was under contract to return for the first sequel for which he earned around $15 million.
The first film scored good reviews and raked in $226 million worldwide from a $25 million budget. The second film, despite being widely panned, made an impressive $376 million from its $45 million budget.
No deals are yet in place with his onscreen family - actresses Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen. Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen are working on the script with Besson set to produce.
No director is yet attached, though filming is aiming to begin in February.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Richard Matheson, author, screenplay writer, and science fiction legend, dies at age 87
From ew, It is ironic that one of the books author Richard Matheson, who has died at the age of 87 according to publisher Tor/Forge, is best known for is 1956′s The Shrinking Man. While that novel related the tale of a person diminishing away to virtually nothing, Matheson’s influence on the science fiction genre continues to grow more than a half century after the book’s publication. Just last week saw the release of World War Z, a film which owes a huge debt to George A. Romero’s classic 1968 film Night of the Living Dead and hence to Matheson’s similarly revered 1954 tome I Am Legend, to which Romero paid extremely generous homage in his film. Maybe too generous, according to Matheson himself. In 2007, the Allendale, N.J.-born writer told me with a chuckle about the time he met Romero for lunch. ”The first thing he said to me, putting his arms up as if I was abut to strike him, [was], ‘Didn’t make any money from Night of the Living Dead,’” Matheson recalled. “‘Homage’ means I get to steal you work. He’s a nice guy, though. I don’t harbor any animosity toward him.” (Romero later confirmed this story: “I confessed to him that I basically ripped the idea off from I Am Legend. He forgave me because we didn’t make any money. He said, ‘Well, as long as you didn’t get rich, it’s okay.’”)
Of course, I Am Legend — the groundbreaking tale of a pandemic’s sole survivor and his battles against the vampiric undead — has been officially adapted to the screen on several occasions, most recently in 2007 with Will Smith in the lead. The Shrinking Man too was made into a movie as 1957′s The Incredible Shrinking Man, for which Matheson wrote the screenplay. The films Real Steel, What Dreams May Come, Stir of Echoes, and The Box were all also based on Matheson tales while his own scripts included several episodes of the original Twilight Zone show, including the unforgettable, William Shatner-starring Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, and Steven Spielberg’s Duel. Matheson relished tackling different novel genres, notably the Western, and even penned a children’s book, Abu and the 7 Marvels. But it was as a writer of highly disturbing, yet somehow highly believable, science fiction that Matheson really had an impact on pop culture and on other authors. Stephen King once wrote, ”Without Richard Matheson I wouldn’t be around.” (King dedicated his 2006 novel Cell — in many ways, an update of I Am legend and Night of the Living Dead – to Matheson and Romero.)
Of course, I Am Legend — the groundbreaking tale of a pandemic’s sole survivor and his battles against the vampiric undead — has been officially adapted to the screen on several occasions, most recently in 2007 with Will Smith in the lead. The Shrinking Man too was made into a movie as 1957′s The Incredible Shrinking Man, for which Matheson wrote the screenplay. The films Real Steel, What Dreams May Come, Stir of Echoes, and The Box were all also based on Matheson tales while his own scripts included several episodes of the original Twilight Zone show, including the unforgettable, William Shatner-starring Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, and Steven Spielberg’s Duel. Matheson relished tackling different novel genres, notably the Western, and even penned a children’s book, Abu and the 7 Marvels. But it was as a writer of highly disturbing, yet somehow highly believable, science fiction that Matheson really had an impact on pop culture and on other authors. Stephen King once wrote, ”Without Richard Matheson I wouldn’t be around.” (King dedicated his 2006 novel Cell — in many ways, an update of I Am legend and Night of the Living Dead – to Matheson and Romero.)
“I wrote about real people and real circumstances and real neighborhoods,” Matheson told me. “There was no crypt or castles or H.P. Lovecraft-type environments. They were just about normal people who had something bizarre happening to them in the neighborhood. I could never write about strange kingdoms. I could never do Harry Potter or anything like that. Even when I did science-fiction I didn’t write about foreign planets and distant futures. I certainly never did fantasies about trolls living under bridges. I had to write about realistic circumstances. That’s the way my brain works. And I think that gave me a sort of place in the field.”
Box Office
Pixar earned its 14th No. 1 at the box office this weekend — out of 14 releases. Yep, the animation studio, now owned by Disney, has never not opened a film in first place. Its latest release, Monsters University, was no exception. It finished at the top of its class.
Monsters graduated with $82 million from 4,004 theaters in its debut weekend, making it the second biggest Pixar opener of all time behind Toy Story 3, which bowed with $110.3 million in June 2010. It also beat the opening of its predecessor, Monsters Inc., which opened with $62.6 million in 2001. That being said, when inflation is taken into account, Monsters Inc.‘s debut adjusts to about $82 million today (and that was without 3D tickets).
According to Disney, audiences were 56 percent female and 60 percent below the age of 25. Families made up 73 percent of business, and teens accounted for a solid 15 percent. The film played well with all ages, and crowds issued Monsters University an “A” CinemaScore, which should help it endure at the box office for weeks to come.
Monsters University‘s biggest challenge arrives July 3. That’s when Universal’s animatedDespicable Me 2 hits theaters and will provide direct competition for families. The originalDespicable Me became a word of mouth sensation and earned $251 million in 2010, and because it’s still fresh in audiences’ minds, it provides a formidable threat. But Disney is confident that positive audience reactions will carry Monsters University to success.
Internationally, Monsters University took in $54.5 million this weekend from 35 territories, representing about 48 percent of the overseas market. All together, Monsters University has earned $136.5 million worldwide in its first three days. It should be noted that Disney declined to provide a budget for the film. Last year, the studio reported that Brave cost $185 million. Because filmmakers had to bring voice actors John Goodman and Billy Crystal back into the fold to work on Monsters University, it’s likely that it cost substantially more than that.
Internationally, Monsters University took in $54.5 million this weekend from 35 territories, representing about 48 percent of the overseas market. All together, Monsters University has earned $136.5 million worldwide in its first three days. It should be noted that Disney declined to provide a budget for the film. Last year, the studio reported that Brave cost $185 million. Because filmmakers had to bring voice actors John Goodman and Billy Crystal back into the fold to work on Monsters University, it’s likely that it cost substantially more than that.
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In second place, the Brad Pitt vehicle World War Z went totally viral with an excellent $66 million debut from 3,607 theaters. The zombie thriller, which reportedly cost over $200 million to produce (Paramount is admitting to $190 million), had a famously troubled production, but thanks to Paramount’s relentless marketing campaign (including numerous ads in this year’s hugely popular NBA finals), World War Z became the biggest opening of Brad Pitt’s career, ahead of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, which opened with $50.3 million in 2005.
World War Z has a long way to go before it can be deemed a success, but its great box office debut and surprisingly strong reviews have wiped away much of the stigma that surrounded the project. Of course, the film’s on-set drama didn’t matter much to the average moviegoer. According to Fandango, 87 percent of people who purchased a ticket to World War Z said that the film’s much-reported production struggles had zero effect on their decision to go. Who was the average moviegoer? Paramount reports that crowds were 51 percent female (yep, both a zombie movie and a monster movie played primarily to females this weekend) and 67 percent at least 25 years old.
Overseas, World War Z earned $45.8 million from 25 territories representing about 30 percent of the international market, which gives the zombie film a $112 million total after just one weekend. Audiences issued World War Z a “B+” CinemaScore grade.
Man of Steel fell by a hefty 65 percent in its second weekend to $41.2 million. The $225 million Superman reboot has now earned $210 million after 10 days, easily surpassingSuperman Returns‘ gross, which topped out at $200 million in 2006. Unless it continues to plummet at this rate (which seems unlikely — World War Z and Monsters University provided unexpectedly massive competition), Man of Steel is still on pace to reach the $300 million mark.
This Is the End and Now You See Me rounded out the top five with $13 million and $7.9 million, respectively. This Is the End fell by just 37 percent and has now earned $57.8 million against a $32 million budget. Now You See Me, meanwhile, dropped by just 29 percent and has earned $94.5 million after four weekends. The $75 million magician caper is now a lock to finish above $100 million.
1. Monsters University – $82 million
2. World War Z – $66 million
3. Man of Steel – $41.2 million
4. This Is the End – $13 million
5. Now You See Me – $7.9 million
2. World War Z – $66 million
3. Man of Steel – $41.2 million
4. This Is the End – $13 million
5. Now You See Me – $7.9 million
In limited release, Sofia Coppola’s buzzy drama The Bling Ring, which stars Emma Watson, expanded too quickly for its own good. The film, which opened in five theaters last weekend, expanded into 650 locations and took in $2 million. Its resulting $3,077 per theater average limits The Bling Ring‘s chances for another major expansion.
Next week, The Heat and White House Down hit theaters. How will they do? Check back to EW for full box office coverage, and follow me on Twitter for up-to-the-minute box office updates to find out.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
World War Z
This big-budget, PG-13 Brad Pitt vehicle strays pretty far from the source material, but succeeds as a zombie-themed summer blockbuster.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Dad makes awesome R2D2 birthday cake for unappreciative 6-year olds
From geekology, This is a video of the R2-D2 birthday cake Marc Freilich made for his six-year old son Alexander. It has a teensy Pico projector inside so it can project the 'hologram' of Princess Leia followed by 'Happy Birthday Alexander' in the Star Wars font. I like how the one kid at the end asks, 'What WAS that?' I'm pretty sure his parents should be hauled off for child negligence because if you haven't seen Star Wars by the time you're six, clearly your parents don't use the TV as a babysitter as much as they should. That's what it's there for. My parents used to leave me for days at a time and look how I turned out. You know how many TV theme songs I know? ALL OF THEM.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Robert Downey Jr. to return as Iron Man for two 'Avengers' movies
From ew, Robert Downey Jr. has reached a two-picture deal with Marvel Studios to appear in The Avengers 2 and The Avengers 3 — but notably not for a possible Iron Man 4.
The news was confirmed by Marvel, which declined to offer specifics on the nature of the deal.
He reportedly earned more than $50 million for The Avengers, and although his multi-picture contract with the comic-book moviemakers was fulfilled by Iron Man 3, everyone involved was moving forward as if a deal for more films was inevitable.
“I’d go start another one tomorrow, but it’s not tomorrow,” Downey told EW when Iron Man 3was debuting. “And there are a lot of other considerations. But I also don’t like the idea of leaving people hanging or leaving people in the lurch.”
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige also previously told EW that they hoped to continue working with Downey, whose charismatic interpretation of Tony Stark helped launch its multi-billion-dollar film franchise. But he also indicated that Iron Man was bigger than any one actor.
“I believe there will be a fourth Iron Man film and a fifth and a sixth and a 10th and a 20th,” the producer said. “I see no reason why Tony Stark can’t be as evergreen as James Bond. Or Batman for that matter. Or Spider-Man. I think Iron Man is a character just like that.” Feige declined any further comment Thursday.
Writer-director Joss Whedon is already at work on The Avengers 2 script, with plans to begin shooting in March 2014 with a debut in theaters set for May 1, 2015.
A date for The Avengers 3 hasn’t been set, but parent company Disney has already announced May 6, 2016, and May 5, 2017, as target dates for future, unspecified movies from Marvel’s as-yet-undetermined Phase 3 lineup.
But that big question remains: Will we see any more solo Iron Man adventures starring Downey?
The actor, who is currently shooting the legal/family drama The Judge in Massachusetts, says he hopes to launch an entirely different film franchise at some point in the near future, and often notes that at 48, his super-powered fighting days are obviously numbered.
It is starting to look like Iron Man 3, which ended on a fairly conclusive note, won’t be the last we see of Tony Stark, but it might be the last time he stands alone.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
James Gandolfini dead at 51
From ew, Actor James Gandolfini, best known for playing Tony Soprano on the Emmy-winning seriesThe Sopranos, has passed away after suffering a heart attack. He was 51.
HBO said in a statement: “We’re all in shock and feeling immeasurable sadness at the loss of a beloved member of our family. He was special man, a great talent, but more importantly a gentle and loving person who treated everyone no matter their title or position with equal respect. He touched so many of us over the years with his humor, his warmth and his humility. Our hearts go out to his wife and children during this terrible time. He will be deeply missed by all of us.”
The actor was on vacation in Rome, Italy at the time, a statement from his managers added.
The three-time Emmy winner, who most recently appeared in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and Zero Dark Thirty, was set to star in upcoming HBO series Criminal Justice.
'The Lego Movie' Teaser Trailer: Batman and the Ninja Turtles Join Forces
From hollywoodreporter, Everyone’s favorite miniature building blocks are coming to the big screen.
The first teaser trailer for The Lego Movie has just been released, and it's giving fans a first look at the vast assemblage of pop-culture references that will be featured in the upcoming comedy -- including Batman, Wonder Woman and Michelangelo (both the painter and the Ninja Turtle)
Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the directing team behindCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and 21 Jump Street, wrote and directed the pint-sized action adventure.
The CGI film follows the story of an ordinary Lego minifigure, Emmett (Chris Pratt), who is mistaken for the messianic Master Builder, and must now stop the evil President Business (Will Ferrell), who has plans to glue the entire universe together.
The film features a star-studded cast, including Liam Neeson, Alison Brie and Morgan Freeman.
Mom Orders Graduation Cake For Daughter, Asks Icer To Add Cap On The Photo Of Her Head, Gets Cat Instead
From geekology, Carol Gambrel went to a bakery to buy her 22-year old daughter Laura a cake to celebrate her recent graduation from Indiana University. She got one of those photo cakes and requested the icer add a cap on top of Laura's head. But, you know, cap sounds a lot like cat.
She thought it would be a nice touch to add a graduation cap on top of Gambrel's head.
However, the family now believes, the baker must have misheard the mother's instructions and accidentally wrote down, "try to draw a cat on the head," instead of cap.
So was it really a mistake? Or -- OR -- did the icer at the bakery realize how stupid a giant black triangle would have looked on her head and made an executive decision to draw something better instead? Just look at the composition -- it's perfect. This person is a visionary.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
‘The Amazing Spider-Man 3 and 4′ Announced
From slashfilm, Sony Pictures is currently in production on The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but they’ve today announced release dates for two more Spider-Man films.
- The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will hit theaters on May 2, 2014 (as we’ve known)
- The Amazing Spider-Man 3 will hit theaters on June 10, 2016
- The Amazing Spider-Man 4 will hit theaters on May 4, 2018
The fact that Sony is announcing these dates shows an insane confidence in the future of this comic book franchise, and have very likely already mapped out a story roadmap for the series at least through the third film. There have been rumors about an appearance of The Sinister Six in the third movie — a villainous super-group featuring the Lizard, Vulture, Electro, Rhino, and possibly the Green Goblin. That seemed like a lot to set up in time for the third film, but spreading out the story to four films gives Webb much more room to work.
CULVER CITY, Calif., June 17, 2013 – With Sony Pictures Entertainment now in production in New York on The Amazing Spider-Man™ 2, slated for release on May 2, 2014, the studio is planting its flag on two future release dates for one of the most successful franchises in studio history, it was announced today by Jeff Blake, Chairman, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution for Sony Pictures. The next two films in the story of Peter Parker will be released on June 10, 2016, and on May 4, 2018, respectively.
Commenting on the announcement, Blake said, “Spider-Man is our most important, most successful, and most beloved franchise, so we’re thrilled that we are in a position to lock in these prime release dates over the next five years.”
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jeff Pinkner, with a previous draft by James Vanderbilt, and based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach are the producers. The executive producers are E. Bennett Walsh, Stan Lee, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci.
The Amazing Spider-Man took in over $750 million at the worldwide box office last year.
Box Office
From cinemablend, After an incredibly successful marketing campaign that's been generating all the right kinds of excitement for months, Man of Steel finally flew into theaters this weekend, dominating the box office and breaking the record for the highest ever opening in the month of June.
With $113 million, the second attempt at a reboot of the Superman film franchise easily captured the top spot over the weekend, but fell well short of this year's biggest opening: Iron Man 3's $174 million debut. While the DC comic hero couldn't stand up against the Marvel cash cow, he did better than the last debacle of a Superman relaunch. Superman Returns only banked $52 million on its first regular three day weekend back in the summer of 2006.
Opening a little ahead of the weekend, Man of Steel's domestic total now sits at $125 million. While sales are likely to stay solid, the movie has a long way to go and only the slimmest of chances to beat out this year's biggest earner Iron Man 3 which fell just shy of breaking the $400 million mark this weekend.
Bowing in at a respectable second place, rated-R apocalypse comedy (a very niche genre indeed) This is the End took in $20 million. Add in the $12 million it earned during Wednesday and Thursday and you have a nice total to match the movie's reported $32 million budget.
Sofia Coppola's latest offering The Bling Ring got huge attention in the five locations where it debuted, banking $210,000 this weekend for an impressive $42,000 per theater, a best for the writer/director.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
This is the End
(2013) ****
If you loved Superbad and Pineapple Express, do yourself a favor and don't read anything else about this raunchy, apocalypse-themed comedy: just go see it.
Disney World to Open "Star Wars Land" in 2018
From worstpreviews, After buying Lucasfilm and the "Star Wars" franchise, Disney started sending out asurveyto its Disneyland annual pass holder asking them if they would be interested invisitinga "Star Wars" theme park.
That was back in March. And now comes word that Walt Disney World in Orlando is expanding itsHollywoodStudios section to include "Star Wars Land." According to Theme Park Insider, Disney is already deciding which attractions to remove to make space for "Star Wars Land." Some of the attraction that may go are "The Muppets" theater and "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" play area.
"This appears to be a five-yearproject, putting completion in 2018, though Disney could choose to throwmoneyat it and accelerate it by a year," said thewebsite, adding that the park may also get a Mos Eisley Cantinarestaurant.
Meanwhile, Disney is also working on adding "Cars Land" toHollywoodStudios in Orlando and figuring out ways to start addingMarvel superheroesto its theme parks.
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