Everybody look at your hands

I woke up yesterday with the moronic Safety Dance by the Men Without Hats inexplicably going through my head. I found it on my iPod but I didn't get around to listening to it until this morning. Oddly comforting.

Baow Baow Baow buhbuh BaowBaow...

Today Will Be A Day Long Remembered! That's Not True, That's Impossible!!!

woo-hoo! From Aintitcoolnews,

May 03, 2006

Fans can look forward to a September filled with classic Star Wars nostalgia, led by the premiere of LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy video game and the long-awaited DVD release of the original theatrical incarnations of the classic Star Wars trilogy. In response to overwhelming demand, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release attractively priced individual two-disc releases of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Each release includes the 2004 digitally remastered version of the movie, as well as the original theatrical edition of the film. That means you'll be able to enjoy Star Wars as it first appeared in 1977, Empire in 1980, and Jedi in 1983.

See the title crawl to Star Wars before it was known as Episode IV; see the pioneering, if dated, motion control model work on the attack on the Death Star; groove to Lapti Nek or the Ewok Celebration song like you did when you were a kid; and yes, see Han Solo shoot first.

This release will only be available for a limited time: from September 12th to December 31st. International release will follow on or about the same day. Each original theatrical version will feature Dolby 2.0 Surround sound, close-captioning, and subtitles in English, French and Spanish for their U.S. release. International sound and subtitling vary by territory.

"Over the years, a truly countless number of fans have told us that they would love to see and own the original version that they remember experiencing in theaters," said Jim Ward, President of LucasArts and Senior Vice President of Lucasfilm Ltd. "We returned to the Lucasfilm Archives to search exhaustively for source material that could be presented on DVD. This is something that we're very excited to be able to give to fans in response to their continuing enthusiasm for Star Wars. Topping it off with a new interactive adventure makes September 12 a red-letter day for Star Wars fans."

That's also the day fans will be able to experience the LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy video game, the action-packed sequel -- filled with tongue-in-cheek humor -- to one of the best selling video games of 2005. To see the trailer to the new game from LucasArts and TT Games, click here!

From USAtoday,"Die-hard Star Wars fans soon can see the original theatrical versions of the first three Star Wars films on DVD.
Even though George Lucas adamantly declared 2004's digitally restored Star Wars Trilogy DVDs the definitive versions of his movies, fans have held out hope for DVDs of the originals.

Their wishes will be granted Sept. 12 when Fox releases new two-disc DVDs ($30 each) of Star Wars (since retitled as Episode IV: A New Hope), The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi that include the films as they first appeared in theaters, along with the new, restored versions (now available in the four-disc $70 Star Wars Trilogy).

The individual DVDs will be taken off the market on Dec. 31, a strategy that Disney uses on many of its classic releases.

Lucas re-released his original three Star Wars films in theaters in 1997 with inserted scenes and improved special effects. Those "special editions" were further enhanced for the four-disc DVD set. With the original versions coming to DVD, here's what you'll see again:

• In Star Wars, Han Solo shoots a bounty hunter named Greedo. Lucas changed the scene later so it seemed that Greedo draws first, and changed it again for the DVD so that they appear to shoot simultaneously.

• In Empire Strikes Back, the ice creature that captures Luke Skywalker gets less screen time.

• In Jedi, Sebastian Shaw returns as Anakin in the movie's final scene. Lucas substituted Hayden Christiansen, who plays Anakin in the more recent films, for the 2004 DVD.

Back in 2004, Lucas told the New York Post, "The special edition is the one I wanted out there."

This new set of DVDs does not constitute "George changing his mind," says Lucasfilm's Jim Ward. "What we've always said is George viewed the revised versions of the films as the definitive versions."

Fan attachment to the originals is strong. The movies topped entertainment website IGN.com's recent chart of Top 25 Most Wanted DVDs.

"People want the option of having the movies that they remember and people are opposed to George Lucas' revisionist tendencies," says the site's Chris Carle.

The original films' video quality will not match up to that of the restored versions. "It is state of the art, as of 1993, and that's not as good as state of the art 2006," Ward says.

I'm choking on my own rage here

From Iwatchstuff, "The newest rumor regarding the J.J. Abrams led Star Trek film is that Ben Affleck is in talks to play the lead. Though Abrams has said word that the project will feature a young Kirk and Spock is unfounded, speculation has already grown that Affleck will play the famous captain:

Some others had heard that Ben has also been talking to Paramount about possibly playing a lead role in a new Star Trek film from J.J Abrams. If it comes off, he's apparently playing the hero. Don't know if that's Captain Kirk or some other nameless male protagonist...but that's the gist of it.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is true--at least that he'll be in the film, if not as Captain Kirk. It's been widely known that in the 60's, just behind the U.S. and Russia, the Douchebags had been mounting a strong, yet secretive, run at space. It only makes sense Ben Affleck would lead their eventual victory."

I'm still mad that Disney shut down this ride

From AICN, "It looks like Jules Verne fans can look forward to a big screen treatment of one of his most famous stories, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA. I'm actually a big fan of the Disney film, but I am looking forward to a more direct adaptation.

Craig Titley made the pitch to New Line and got Sam Raimi and Josh Donen's names attached via their Buckaroo production company... how many damn production companies does Sam Raimi have anyway? It doesn't look like Raimi's in any way said he wants to direct the flick, just produce.

Anyway, Titley's name has been attached to some weak shit (SCOOBY-DOO), but word through the grapevine is that Titley's original take on the 'toon was fantastic, not what we ended up with when the film changed studios.
Titley's version is "an updated version" of Verne's original story. Red flag there. Usually not a good idea. Let's hope updated doesn't mean year 2006, but just a more modern approach to the original material. Titley's version will also delve into Captain Nemo's background as well as that of his prisoners aboard the Nautilus."

Because Octopunk loves prequels

From Darkhorizons, 'While doing press for his upcoming releases "The Da Vinci Code" and "X-Men: The Last Stand", IGN FilmForce got to ask Sir Ian McKellen about 20th Century Fox's planned X-Men spin-off, Magneto and how it was going.

The project, scripted by Sheldon Turner, is reportedly a prequel focusing on the early days of Erik Lensherr (played in the X-Men films by McKellen), how he became Magneto and his relationship with young Charles Xavier. So who would McKellen like to see portray the young Magneto?

"I'll be playing the part. I don't know if it's in the [press] notes, the first time that Patrick Stewart and I appear in this film [X-Men: The Last Stand], we appear to be 25 years younger than we are. And that's been done by a technology never used in film before, which involves no makeup, no special effects whatsoever. We just go into the studio and do the scene as is, and then they morph our faces on to photographs of ourselves 25 years ago. Lo and behold, there we are" says McKellen.

He continued, "They can take any shaped person and they can slim you down, they can build you up, they can bring out your shoulders, change the style and color of your hair. Remove every wrinkle. They removed so many wrinkles from my face, I looked so young that [X-Men director] Brett Ratner said, 'You've got to put a few wrinkles back. It's looking ridiculous.' So it would mean that I could play myself at 25, feasibly. As long as I can keep myself lithe and sounding young".'

Sean Connery beats up women

From Thesuperficial, "Sean Connery's ex-wife has written an autobiography, and in it makes claims that Connery used to beat her.

According to an interview in the London Times, Cilento writes that in 1965, after she danced with a wedding party at a hotel in Spain where the couple was staying, she returned to her room and felt a blow to the face and Connery knocked her to the floor. “She got to her feet, but a second blow knocked her back,” reports the paper.
Connery has always denied that he hit his wife, but that year he was quoted in Playboy as saying, “I don’t think there is anything particularly wrong in hitting a woman, though I don’t recommend you do it in the same way you hit a man.” And in 1993, he was quoted In Vanity Fair as saying “Sometimes there are women who take it to the wire. That’s what they are looking for — the ultimate confrontation. They want a smack.” Connery has said that those comments were taken out of context.

“It has been gone over millions of times,” Cilento told the London Times, “but what’s in the book is exactly what happened. I wouldn’t have said anything about it if Sean hadn’t done all those interviews about slapping ladies around.”

That's the difference between the real James Bond and the trained monkey they've got playing the current one. I'm not saying it's okay to hit women, but it just feels okay when James Bond does it. Whether he's hitting you or humping you, you know you're in for the ride of your life. Besides, it's impossible to be mad at a guy who has a watch that shoots lasers out of it.

The original Superman V

From Movies online, "Before "Superman Returns" became the baby of Bryan Singer, before it was starring fresh new face Brandon Routh, before it was even officially named "Superman Returns," the fifth Superman film was mired in Hollywood limbo and being dubbed the most expensive movie never made. The project was a disaster for more than a decade with no end to the downward spiral in sight. The evolution of this movie from a dead weight to actualization to a reality is nothing short of miraculous, considering its bleak history that has now transformed into massive potential.

Looking back is like a convoluted blur. The film went through different titles; "Superman Lives" and "Superman Reborn." Many trips through the rumor mill passed it through the hands of several big names; Kevin Smith, J.J. Abrams, Brett Ratner, to name a few. And, the previous versions of the movie sport the most notorious casting choice that never came to fruition, Nicolas Cage for the part of Superman. (Cage may be holding onto the role a little tightly even after having given up on the 10-year wait to begin filming, since he named his real life son Kal-El.) Complaints about Cage being cast were rampant, as were complaints about every version of the script, be it from the studio or the fans, until finally every detail regarding the movie was locked away in a vault until set in stone and officially announced.

Another major deviation from early on in the project is the story. Originally, the movie was supposed to center around "The Death of Superman," the plot ripped right out of the epic comic tale of how World's Greatest Hero died saving the world from Doomsday. This may be the most significant difference, because "Superman Returns" is revisiting quite a few parts of the Superman mythos that have already been explored on celluloid. While it will be incredible to revisit these moments in this new age of digital wonder enhancing movie magic ten fold, fans may have lost the chance to see an untapped vein of the mythology explored on the big screen.

Perhaps one of the most disappointing differences is the return to Lex Luthor as the primary villain, as with three movies out of the quadrilogy starring Christopher Reeve. Many fans would have loved to see Doomsday take the archenemy spotlight for once, or even Brainiac. However, with Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey portraying Lex, it's highly unlikely there will be any cause for complaint in the bad guy department. (Especially when Spacey has embraced the character with such quirky enthusiasm as to circle Brandon Routh in a golf cart on set while maniacally shouting "Die, Superman, die!")

In past rumors and drafts for "Superman V," the gossip spread was ridiculous. Every circulating detail was foretelling of a trainwreck; Superman doing kung fu, Lex Luthor being a CIA agent from Krypton, the big fight between Superman and Doomsday taking place in the sewer instead of being an epic battle all over the city, and on and on it went like this. There is little that can compare with the struggle it has taken to bring Superman back to theaters. It took enticing Bryan Singer away from the "X-Men" trilogy just to get the Caped Wonder off the ground. With June 30th fast approaching, we may very well be able to reminisce about how bad it could have been and marvel at how great it turned out to be."

Dracula sucks

From Darkhorizons, "Speed" and "Twister" helmer Jan De Bont is producing "The Un-Dead", a "Dracula" sequel through his Blue Tulip Productions reports Variety.

"The Un-Dead," penned by Ian Holt, is set 25 years after the events of Stoker's novel, with the surviving characters resurfacing. Holt's also added an Inspector Cotford character, which was edited from Stoker's manuscript prior to publication.

Its the first sequel authorized by the descendants of "Dracula" author Bram Stoker since the 1931 original starring Bela Lugosi. Holt scouted locations in Whitby, England, and Transylvania, Romania when penning the story.

De Bont and Atchity are seeking a director for the project. De Bont remains attached to direct and produce "Meg" and "Stopping Power".

Another sign of the Apocolypse

From Darkhorizons, "Hugh Grant revealed to New! Magazine recently that he has been approached by George Clooney who is trying to lure him into taking a role in Ocean's Thirteen reports Clooney Studio.

Hugh, 45, let slip to one of their spies, "I love George, and the fact that he films his movies so quickly also makes me happy. I will look at whatever he has to offer and if it's right then I would jump at the chance".

Production on the next "Ocean's" flick is scheduled to get underway later this year."

I hope it's as great as those live action Flintstones movies!

From Darkhorizons, "Warner Bros. long-planned, live-action bigscreen version of "The Jetsons" is beginning to take flight with Adam F. Goldberg ("Revenge of the Nerds", "Fanboys") penning a new screenplay and Donald De Line set to produce alongside Denise Di Novi reports the trades.

Storyline will be based on the popular sci-fi animated sitcom which revolved around the four members of the Jetson family, their dog, robotic maid, and the father's temperamental boss.

The studio has been attempting to adapt the animated property into a live-action vehicle for around ten years now with multiple writers having gone through the project."

New PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN 2 trailer looks freakin' great

Really, it does! Check it out here.