TUESDAY TIDBITS

Robert Rodriquez has made some great grown-up films (all on the dark, gritty and artful side), but he’s also pretty effective with the kiddie set (Spy Kids). He’s back, with a new film called Shorts, a story about a kid and a magic rock (releasing in August):




I’ve always liked Sam Rockwell. Maybe his new movie, Moon, will help propel him to the top of the actors’ heap. I’m not a huge sci-fi fan, but this looks pretty riveting. A three-year stint alone on the moon for astronaut Sam Bell, played by Rockwell, is about to come to an end... until a bizarre series of events occur.




Speaking of sci-fi, Tron, from 1982, is a movie I managed to avoid (told you I wasn’t big on this stuff), but I’ve recently put it on our Netflix list for K. It’s rated PG, and sounds like it’s right up K’s alley:

Programmer Kevin Flynn's (Jeff Bridges) video games are stolen, and with help from his friends, he tries to hack the Master Control Program to prove CEO Ed Dillinger (David Warner) ripped him off. But the MCP pulls Flynn into its world, where enslaved programs fight on the "game grid." An amazing mix of Alice in Wonderland, Star Wars, Ben-Hur and German expressionism. (--Netflix)

I may finally see this film! Fans of Tron are probably thrilled to hear there is a sequel planned for 2011, and original star Jeff Bridges has reportedly signed on.

In more semi-kid-related movie news, Ridley Scott is directing a Robin Hood epic for 2010 release! Now, this could be fun. It will star Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe, with Vanessa Redgrave and William Hurt. Of course, as usual, I fear it will be a PG-13 or an R movie when all is said and done. I’m 110% certain this could be a great movie with a PG rating. Bets, anyone?

Awright, back to grown-up stuff:

Directed by Ang Lee, and starring Emil Hirsch, Eugene Levy and Dimetri Martin, Taking Woodstock looks like it could be a real charmer.




Small indie movies typically have short lives in the theaters, so here’s a little plug for Sugar, which may be playing near you; try to catch it before it leaves! It looks like a great human story, and if you are a baseball fan, it’s probably a great baseball movie, too.

Sugar follows the story of Miguel Santos, a.k.a. Sugar, a ball player from the Dominican Republic, who gets a break and makes it to the U.S. minor league system.

Tuesday Tidbits

Have you seen any of the new Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince posters? I think they’re going for a new tough guy image. But I guess with aging actors (and viewers), and thus more mature storylines, you gotta market the thing with a bit of grown-upness. You can see all the new posters here at MSN.

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Son K asked me the other day: “What is it about Twilight, why does everyone like it so much? Especially girls? Is it 'cause the guy is a --" (here he indicates air quotes) "-- 'hunk'? What’s the big deal about it?”

I said, "Well, it was a popular book--"

"These kids haven't read the book, I guarantee you," he snorted.

Since the Twilight phenom is something I’m really not up on, I couldn’t answer him with any authority. K’s just turned 12, isn’t particularly interested in it himself, but wonders what the fuss is.

What should I have said? What do YOU know about it? I know vampires are sexy and all, but how do you give that answer to a kid in a way that ... uh... that makes sense? (Actually, I did say that: “Um, some people think vampires are kinda sexy, I guess...” After that, I was at a loss.)

What's your take on the Twilight phenom?

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Lastly (promise I’ll get to a review soon!), here’s a sneak peek at a poster for a film coming out Christmas Day.

Do you know who the actor is? I’ll let you ponder for a moment. Answer in image following.





Here's the answer. Oh, i can't wait! Jude Law will co-star as Watson, and it's directed by Guy Ritchie, so I rather doubt it will be kid-friendly.

Tuesday Tidbits

So, son K never insisted on seeing Coraline. My theory? I think he’s a little spooked by it! I’m hearing more stories about kids who are/were spooked by the movie, and either skipped it or are now trying not to dream about it.

I guess I’ll have to see it on my own -- in my living room since it’s no longer on a screen near me. Phht.

If you’re a fan of musician Stephin Merritt/Magnetic Fields, you may already know that he has written music and lyrics for a stage production of Coraline that’s opening in NYC on May 7. Arrgh! Can I get back to NYC then? I doubt it.

For those of you lucky enough to go, you should know that for a limited time (through April 12; they just went on sale yesterday), discounted tickets will be available for $39 at the MCC Theater website. You can get more info here at Merritt’s site: www.houseoftomorrow.com

His Gothic Archies project did music a few years ago for the Lemony Snickets books, entitled “The Tragic Treasury: Music for a Series of Unfortunate Events.” They are dark, and cool, and lots of fun for parents. Oh dear, now I’m humming the melody to “The World is a Very Scary Place” .... hmmmmm....mmmmmmmm....mmmmm...

TUESDAY TIDBITS

Remakes. And more remakes. We've already mentioned projects under way for remakes of the Wizard of Oz (groan), Karate Kid, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and a few others. Here's news on a couple more:

1984’s NeverEnding Story was a precursor to the fantasy craze in Hollywood, which saw big, big bucks from movies like the Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings franchises. NeverEnding Story did fairly well upon release, and has enjoyed a healthy second life as a rental (this should be featured in a Weekly Classics post by yours truly!). Now comes word that Warner Bros. owns the rights to a remake, and is in talks with various production companies, including Leonard DiCaprio's Appian Way, about the project.

Some diehard fans are up in arms; others welcome the opportunity for a visual spectacular to rival all others (one commenter on a forum suggests the director Guillermo del Toro, of Pan’s Labyrinth, as a suitable match; not a bad idea).

How do you feel about it? I confess I love the original, and think, even in retrospect, that the visuals were pretty cool.

My concern about a remake is that it will go over the edge and be too dark, too scary, too much. I hope I would be wrong.

Here’s a reminder as to how great the original was:




Jack Black is starring in a new version of Gulliver’s Travels, along with Jason Segel and Emily Blunt. Black plays Gulliver, who washes up on the beach of the Lilliputians, and Blunt is the Princess of the ‘putians, while Segel is one who befriends Gulliver. The director is Rob Letterman, responsible for Shark Tale, and this spring’s Monsters and Aliens. (Did you know about some of the voice talent in M&A? Try this: Reese Witherspoon, Rainn Wilson, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogan, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, and Stephen Colbert. There are more worth mentioning but I have to get on with it. That’s a big “Wow!” though, isn’t it?)

Feels like an odd pairing, Jack Black and Gulliver. Hmmm. In this version (don’t expect a serious treatment of the book!), Gulliver is a travel agent who ends up on an island of tiny people.

Oh, heck, why not Jack Black?

Gulliver’s Travels won’t be out until 2010.

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Tuesday Tidbits

Did you know that Terry Gilliam (see my Time Bandits post) has a new film bubbling under that stars not only the late Heath Ledger, but Johnny Depp, Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits and Colin Farrell? It’s called The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and Cinematical has more on its alleged troubles making it to the finish line.

My friend Nick over at Fataculture was giving away some online passes for a fascinating documentary called Must Read After My Death, and in addition to a big thanks to him, I’d like to throw the spotlight over to Gigantic Digital Cinema. They’re a distributor of small films and I love the idea of making independent films available -- in their entirety -- online. Why not?! I might pay a couple bucks to rent it if it’s not showing in my area, so why not send them $2.99 directly and watch it on my laptop (something I never thought I’d do as much as I’m doing now!). They have some great looking stuff. My next viewing there will be The Doorman, which looks pretty funny. (Oh, and I didn’t praise Must Read ... enough. See it!)

Another cool sight where you can get indie films -- documentaries, specifically -- directly but for free, is SnagFilms. You can also put the SnagFilms player on your own web site/blog page, which I may do in the future. Their offerings are spectacular: Whether you’re interested in a doc on Robert Mapplethorpe, the Iraq war, the Wright Brothers or Incan Mummies, you’ll find something well worth your time! You can search by topic, by channel, or use the “What’s Hot” button to browse some of the most popular titles.

I think we need more of these “direct to viewer” sites for films that just don't receive major distribution. Support these sites! (And tell me if you have a favorite, please!)