The Hot Blog

So...

Has anybody actually seen Mega Snake? I see the DVD box with the giant green cobra head every time I'm at Blockbuster, but I can't bring myself to rent it.

I finally saw Leatherheads last night. It made me even more surprised that Clooney would raise that hullabaloo over his writing credit, since the screenplay, in terms of structure, flow, and character motivations, was pretty misshapen and lumpy.

Much to my wife's chagrin, I love watching Sci-Fi Channel movies and eagerly anticipate the new Saturday night movie every week. I have not, however, seen Mega Snake.

Yes, Virginia, there are other discussions to be had...

LIES.

What did everyone think about Iron Man?

(kidding)

I found a video review of Mega Snake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyT9rOTy9Tc

I think I'm gonna have to rent this shit after all.

If you do let me know how it is.

You really should give "Mega Snake" a chance. Tibor ("The Gate") Takacs actually does turn around a good Sci-Fi Original now and again, particularly the incredibly watchable "Mansquito" starring Corin Nemec. If you've suffered through stuff like "Boa vs. Python," "Boa," "Snake Island," "Python," "Python II" or "King Cobra" ("KC" being kind of the best of those last six, though Jenny McCarthy is kind of funny in the higher-budget-than-usual "Python"), then "Mega Snake" will kind of deliver what you're looking for.

Oh, and if you really want to live it up, make it a double-feature with Treat Williams in "Venomous," also a real champ of a flick.

i rented 'bubba ho-tep' last night for the first time - one of those movies i've been meaning to watch for ages - what a weird and wonderful little flick. campbell was hilarious as usual (i've always had a huge crush on him), he and ozzy were lovely together...strangely touching... i pretty much laughed my ass off at those old geezers.

I'll go see that movie that features Robert Downey Jr. on Sunday. The rest of the weekend, however, is all about old Phil Hendrie Show skits, "Nanking", Steve Buscemi in "Reservoir Dog" and "Ed and His Dead Mother" (the latter being really funny) and Yaphet Kotto in "Across 110th Street". Ahhhh.

My wife has a major jones for craptastic horror films, so yes, we rented Mega-Snake the other week. As far as the genre goes, it's pretty good. The snake is larger than life and it does gruesomely kill many people. The other production values are bearable and the acting isn't too painful. If that's your thing, you could do worse. At least it's better than Ice Spiders (sigh... sometimes, I hate my life).

Scott Mendelson
http://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.com/
(new blog, work in progress, feel free to comment, but be gentle).

Regardless of the eventually quality of the new Hulk movie, I was most amused at how many images and action beats in the new trailer seem taken right from the 2005 video game Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. Released on most platforms at the time, it was basically Hulk in a Grand Theft Auto type open environment. And, quite frankly, it's terrific fun and one of the best comic book video games I've ever played.

Even the final trailer tag (Hulk using two smashed cars as arm-guards) is taken right from the game, as are the bits involving running up alongside takes, running up and down buildings, and jumping into a helicopter and wrestling it to the ground. Granted, I'm sure Hulk has done these things in the comics before too, but I got a major sense of de je vu while watching the trailer. And truth be told, if the Incredible Hulk movie is 1/3 as much fun to watch as Hulk: Ultimate Destruction is to play, we may all be in for a major surprise in a month.

Scott Mendelson
http://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.com/

Sorry for the triple post...

As I was leaving the theater this afternoon, I glanced at a standee of Sex And The City. No biggie, but it did confirm that the movie is indeed rated R. Hooray for New Line/Warner for not wussing out. There was, if you recall, rumblings about them going for a PG-13 to appease the fans who discovered the show in its edited syndication form, as opposed to the true loyalists who watched the show back in its HBO days. Glad to see they didn't.

Scott Mendelson
http://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.com/

I'll preface this by admitting I know jack and shit about Narnia. I did not read the books, did not see the first film.

But based on this trailer for Caspian, is it even the same deal? Is it even the same genre?

Wasn't the first movie a Golden Compass-looking fantasy with talking lions and James McAvoy as a fairy?

Every trailer for the sequel seems to have none of the same characters, creatures, or even the same style... Just some Orlando Bloom looking dude holding court mid-frame with a legion of warriors behind him, all looking like a standee for THE SEEKER. Again, I know nothing about the story or the books, but it'd be like if the follow-up to Fellowship of the Kings suddenly had a bright, cheery color scheme, an all-model looking cast, modern weaponry, and took place in the mid-1970s. That's about how different these current trailers look from the trailers for the first movie.

Does anything repeat?

LexG

Just one talking lion and James McAvoy was a faun!!! and a damn good-looking one at that! ;o)

The only repeat characters are the four Penvensie children (who became kings and queens of narnia in the first film before returning home to discover that in spite of years having passed for them in Narnia, in England no time had passed at all), plus Aslan (the lion).

The story of Prince Caspian takes place a year later from the children's point of view, but over a thousand years later in Narnia. Imagine a "return of King Arthur" scenario if you like. So the look and feel should be different from the first because it's a whole different period of history. Oh plus the Telmarines (Caspian's people, humans who rule over Narnia) don't tolerate magic or anything out of the ordinary so most of the "true" Narnians live in hiding... all the fauns, dwarfs, talking animals, trees...

Caspian should be king of Narnia at the time, but the throne was usurped by his Uncle Miraz when he was a child.

All this is explained in the book in great detail, but I don't know how much will be told in the film.

The one thing I don't get is the mentions I keep seeing of Tilda Swinton among the actors. Her character is barely mentioned by name in the book. She was gone and done for in the first story!!! She should only reappear if they adapted The Magician's Nephew (which I seriously doubt they'll get to; that one and A Horse and His Boy will most probably be left on the pages of the book).

Can you tell I'm a fan? ;o) I read those stories so many times growing up they're like old friends now. :o)

I know it's been in development hell with different writers forever, but with all these big, epic book series turning into studio cash cows, the only one from my childhood that would REALLY make me rush to the theater every time the new one hit would be Asimov's "Foundation." Now THAT'S high adventure of the first order.

Too bad it's not a Christian allegory and couldn't necessarily sell a lot of toys.

I'm sure they could turn Hari Seldon into an action figure, pop some missiles on his chair or something.

cris...

Thanks for the explanation. I just kept thinking this one looks so much more like a hero-quest epic than a ragtag-crew family adventure. That clears up a lot.

Trying to think of any other major "series" where the 2nd film has an entirely new leading man.

whatever, just don't you dare criticise the scenery in 'caspian', i'd take that personal

i had an actual question i forgot to ask: does anyone know what ever happened to adrian lyne, the director of 'jacob's ladder'? that film has some of the most disturbing visuals of any film i can think of, totally trips me out and makes my skin crawl (i love it! but having said that i know some people hate it, my cousin for instance loathes it with every fibre of his being, so i may be in the minority). when i looked lyne up on imdb a few days ago it listed his last movie as many, many years ago (with that french guy who also makes my skin crawl but not in a good way, i've already forgotton the name of the movie... i'm having one of those crap days, but i didn't like it). i haven't heard a peep about lyne since. He's done some good work over the years, i always wondered if he would try making another film as bizarre, twisted and risky as jl. is he still working, does anyone know? i'm quite curious

I love that movie too; Lyne's other movies aren't that great though. Looking him up on IMDB is like looking at a list of all the movies Tony or Ridley Scott turned down.

Jacob's Ladder was probably 10 years ahead of it's time. NOBODY understood it in 1990. Not the critics. Not audiences. I was a sophomore in high school and had to explain it to people 3 times age.

I think Lyne is just choosey. He went through a pretty rough time with Lolita.

That said, I can't think of 9 1/2 Weeks without remembering the video store scene in Ghost World where the clerk confuses it with 8 1/2.

When I saw the trailer for Prince Caspian it looked like it had much better effects, if not much else.

Crazycris, I believe Swinton has gone on record as saying she's not in this movie outside of perhaps a recap at the start.

Honestly, I'm not expecting much from the new Hulk, but I don't know why everyone seems to think the trailers are shit. The only reason I'm not excited is the behind-the-scenes talk, I thought the new trailer was fine.

Tim Roth=awesome

The Hulk trailer was a vast improvement over the joke of a teaser they had released just a month earlier. I don't envy the production, as it is stuck with the lovers of the 2003 film not wanting to move on, and the haters of the 2003 film wary of more of the same.

Then she's a damn liar, Kamikaze.

Saw CASPIAN tonight. It's better than the first. More of a straight adventure film.

And Swinton's appearance is verrrrrry memorable.

Leahnz you must be a kiwi! ;o)
I was riding in "Paradise" this past Feb so saw some of the places they filmed Caspian (and LOTR and Willow and... and... and... man lots of movies were filmed around there!), beautiful!!!

Drew... you've got my curiosity peaked!!! How on earth can she be in the movie without their completely ignoring the books? Now I'm worried!!! When does this film hit Spain so I can see it for myself!!! damn!

Oh, since you've seen it (Drew): do they all really have "spanish" accents? (the Telmarines, aka the human Narnians) I won't get to figure that out 'till the dvd (damn dubbing). I heard it rumored somewhere and I thought it an interesting touch since they're all supposed to be descended from Caribbean Pirates I think...

New Crystal Skull trailer is up in HD on IndianaJones.com. 5/22 simply cannot get here fast enough.

Possible spoilers for Sex and the City

Anyone know anything about who dies in the movie?

"Honestly, I'm not expecting much from the new Hulk, but I don't know why everyone seems to think the trailers are shit."

Probably due to the fact that it's like the entire movie in two minutes. I seriously feel like I don't need to see the whole film now. And Norton played a better monster in the pre-prison sequences of American History X.

I can understand that. They probably did show too much of the Abomination.

Was there any point to Manohla Dargis' turgid screed? I couldn't tell if she was whining about the lack of female characters, female leads, or female actors in the big summer movies. I don't think she could tell, either, but that's not a surprise. Memo to Dargis: yes, there are women in the multiplex during the summer. It sure ain't guys only pushing these flicks over the $300 million mark.

Did not see it in theaters, but has any one seen the Indiana Jones trailer? Not bad, but still a tad underwhelming. I cannot believe that with the music, the iconography, everything, that they could not cut a stronger trailer. The whole thing just seems awkward - some good shots and decent lines, but really something just seems off.

Hate to say it, but it really reminds me of the poorly conceived trailers for Superman Returns - I remember saying how something was off and Warners was hiding something and look what happened? I want to see this movie, but expectations have been lowered.

Can't believe Lucas and Spielberg could not deliver a better two minute piece of filmmaking. Any one else feel the same way?

Studios don't produce their own trailers. These days Hollywood farms out the job to shops that specialize in such. That's why most movies look good on paper but come off as crap in the trailer.

Outsourcing -- it's good for America.

Geoff, I felt the same way. I can't conceive that creative folks couldn't cut together a kick-ass Indy trailer. But trailers are a dying art, and marketing folk insist on stuffing them with the same over-used editing effects. If I never see another fast computer zoom into somebody I'll be happy.

But I'll be there with my whip on.

I'm of a mixed mind about the Indiana Jones trailers. On the one hand, they are indeed rather muted and oddly low-key. On the other hand, we can all hope and pray that Spielberg simply wants to guard as much as he can for as long as he can. It's not like there are characters who we need to see in action other than Indy (as opposed to The Dark Knight, where everyone wants to see Ledger as The Joker or Eckart as Dent). We know who's in it and a couple locations and a smattering of the action beats. I suppose the rest can wait for three weeks.

If we recall, the War Of The Worlds trailers and ads gave away almost nothing. It wasn't until a few days before the movie came out that anyone had any idea about the general story or any plot beats Alas, in those three days, the critics and columnists seemed to give away most of the movie in this review and that article. Of course, that's where willpower comes in. Either way, if I can keep myself in the dark for three weeks, then I'll be happier for it (of course, it'll be easier as I'll be out of town and away from computers almost a full week before it opens).

Scott Mendelson

jeff, yeah, maybe 'jacob's ladder' was a bit of a fluke for lyne, though oddly enough, i've recently caught 'fatal attraction', '9.5 weeks', 'flashdance', and 'foxes' on our version of cable here over the past six months, and they're all better than perhaps they might have been, especially 'fatal attraction', which was actually quite well-conceived and engrossing (though dated), much better than i remembered. hard to tell if lyne managed to lift the material to various levels above stinky-poo (flashdance is still quite stinky-poo, but some of the dancing sequences are great). and remember back in the good old days when mickey rourke actually looked human? ahh.

crazycris, i'm glad you dig our little slice of heaven at the bottom of the world, i love it dearly

forgot to say: i despised 'indecent proposal'

forgot to ask: what exactly happened to lyne re: 'lolita'? i do remember hearing about some kafluffle, but i never saw the movie.

Lyne's Lolita got attacked the same way every version of Lolita gets attacked, for being kiddie porn. I think it's perfectly okay, with a pretty good Jeremy Irons performance.

Fatal Attraction is a decent movie until the test-audience-mandated ending comes along and it all turns into a big pile of crap.

Yeah, lame ending, what was the original supposed to be, do you know? didn't they film a few? i seem to recall one scenario where he actually gets arrested for killing alex or something like that... how often the ending lets down an entire film.

i can't believe they change endings based on test audience reaction (happy endings my ass), the ultimate cop out. same thing sorta happened with '28 days later', didn't it, boyle was forced to use that alternate happy ending when the one he had intended (which is on the dvd) is so much more authentically grim

Yeah, I believe the scripted ending (uh, spoilers?) was that Alex committed suicide in such a way as to frame him for murder and he's dragged off in cuffs, the end. Which is an appropriate ending for how big of a scuzzball he is. The ending they settled on turns Glenn Close into a slasher movie monster who won't stay dead.

interesting... the test audience would rather see the 'other woman' become an improbable psycho killer and get offed in a bath tub than the philandering hubby, who's a bit of a wanker, get framed and go to prison... brutal

Yes, I know who dies in Sex and the City but I'm sworn to secrecy.

I always thought this blog and its commenters had more class than to discuss possible spoilers. I'm sure there are many people here who would love to see SEX N THE CITY and not have it ruined by classless people.

In Sunday's NYT Michael Patrick King vociferously denies that anyone dies in the upcoming "Sex and the City" movie.
Is King deliberately fibbing, or did you just happen to read an early draft of the script, ED?
If you did see the final cut, is it really 135 minutes?
And if there is a death, I'd prefer to discover it on my own while watching the movie than on the "Hot Blog." I think all of my fellow MCN "S&TC" fans would probably agree with that sentiment.

Rich, anybody who is following the S&TC movies know Cynthia Nixon has mentioned somebody dies.

"forgot to ask: what exactly happened to lyne re: 'lolita'? i do remember hearing about some kafluffle, but i never saw the movie."

Those annoying "we know what's right for you!" christian family groups tried to get Lolita banned down here. Thankfully, they did not succeed. They tried it with Mysterious Skin, Irreversible, etc. They have managed to get a few films banned though. Most famously Baise-Moi and Ken Park, which is a relief because I so enjoy being told what I am and am not allowed to watch by bible bashing PTA members. ugh.

Re: Sex and the City (spoiler warning)

I also read the King's article and am confused myself. I don't think the writers would kill off one of the girls. That would be tragedy and heart-breaking, not to mention not business-wise.

end of spoiler

Have you gotten the chance to see the new clip from Sex and the City with Samantha telling how much she loves 'to color'? Hilarious. Can't wait for the movie.

"The First Avenger: Captain America"? AYFKM?

Why is there a movie out directed by and starring HELEN HUNT?

Who on earth is a HELEN HUNT FAN?

GUESS WHO'S PARTYING AGAIN?

I OWN.

KNOW THAT.

WHATS UP MOTHERFUCKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS?

DRINK UP, BITCHES.

BE A MAN. BE A GOD.

COMMAND THE ALL.

BE SUPERIOR, DON'T BE WEAK.

OWN YOUR DESTINY.

I NEED TO BE FAMOUS
I NEED TO BE FAMOUS
I NEED TO BE FAMOUS

I NEED TO FUCKING BE KING.

IT SUCKS FUCKING DICK NOT BEING FAMOUS

I NEED FAME
FAME
FAME
I NEED TO BE SOMEONE
EVERYONE HATES ME
I HATE MYSELF BUT YET I HAVE THE BIGGEST FUCKING EGO EVER

IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE TO ME THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE FAMOUS AND 0THERS ARE NOT.

FAME IS GOD.
FAME IS KING.
FAME IS ALL.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS FUCKED-UP TOWN FOR 12 YEARS, AND I'VE NOT REALIZED MY DREAM.

I'M CONSIDERING APPLYING FOR EVERY REALITY SHOW UNDER THE SUN, BECAUSE, REALLY, FUCK THE CONVENTIONAL MEANS.

I CAN TAKE ACTING CLASSES OR DO STANDUP TILL THE COWS COME HOME, THIS IS A *CLOSED TOWN* TO ANYONE OVER A CERTAIN AGE WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT FAMILY NAME.

ANYONE WITH ANY PULL ON SURVIVOR, AMAZING RACE, BIG BROTHER, TILA TEQUILA, *ANYTHING*, FUCK IT, I'VE GIVEN UP ON IMPROV, CLASSES, STUDENT FILMS, YOUTUBE.... I WANT THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE.

I USED TO CARE ABOUT ACTING INTEGRITY AND FILM AND AUTEUR THEORY, AND I HAVE ******THREE****** COLLGE DEGREEES, BUT THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO FUCKING WAY TO EVEN GET A PA JOB IN THIS TOWN WITHOUT THE RIGHT ENTREE, AND I'M STUCK FUCKING DUBBING TAPES AND SHIT FOR A DECADE PLUS.

I NEED TO BE FAMOUS.

SOME PEOPLE ARE FAMOUS AND CAN FUCK MODEL PUSSY, AND YOU CANNOT.

HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?

FUCK INTEGRITY.

SELL THE FUCK OUT AND COMMAND ALL.

PUSSY OWNS ALL.

Keep blaming your age and your name.

Or realize everyone hates you.

Oh god, just pull the trigger already.

Nah, let him suffer.

But we suffer too!

All heart, guys!

I really don't give a shit, though it's entirely disingenuous that you folks likely label yourselves as Democrats, even liberals; What would Barrack think of you wishing ill on people like that? Is that the hope and optimism of which he speaks?

Just face the facts: You're typical selfish, self-absorbed, heartless LA assholes who tow the corporate line politically but it's all window dressing. You're no different than Christians who cheat the system or trendy vegans whose principles stop shy of their shoe and handbag collections. Fairweather poseurs.

Just admit you're selfish, unpleasant individualists out to make yours, and vote Republican.

You can probably catch the repeat of THE FACTOR in a little bit.

Swap out some of those mirrors for windows, Lex.

I don't know what that means; Is that some sort of pot-kettle remark?

Besides, you know I don't vote.

Since you asked, it means kindly stop projecting your self-loathing on all the rest of us.

I'm a Republican, Lex.

Kill yourself!

That was kind of witty, BP. If I can be straight-faced for just a sec, I'm always a little curious why you in particular are so hostile toward me; Again, I don't really care, I hate myself more than you ever could.

I'm just racking my brain to thing of an incident where we had particularly cross words or what I might have said specifically to you to warrant such vitriol. Like, jeff I understand, but with you I'm always a little taken aback, like, Wow, this dude (gal?) REALLY dislikes me. Other than my general obnoxiousness, I'm just curious if there's some other factor that makes me especially grating to you.

Carry on.

Why can't you just be that guy ^^^ all the time?

No Lex, it's just your general obnoxiousness. And understand, I don't really mind obnoxious. Annoying trolls can be funny. But with you, it's just the same tired shit over and over, which wasn't funny the first time. You're the Carrot Top of blog comedians.

And then you'll talk about "breaking character" or some shit...jeezus. Lame internet characters, just what the world needs more of!

If you think people are too self-righteous like you say they are, then say that, or say something light, or whatever. I don't care, just your lame caps SUCK and ARE NOT INTERESTING OR BONERIFIC.

I mean, I like reading this site, and you just piss on it. Which again, if you pissed interestingly, would be fine with me. But your comedy is just like watching some old hobo pissing on hooker vomit. Just kind of unappealing.

Wouldn't much bother me if the S&TC foursome went down in a DC-10... and by that, I mean crash.

LexG: Helen Hunt OWNS your sorry ass. She has an ACADEMY AWARD, to say nothing of MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS from sitcom residuals. She is FAMOUS. She is a GODDESS. Gaze upon her deeds, and her money, and DESPAIR.

BTW: Then She Found Me is a pretty damn good movie.

Funny stuff, Joe, but we all know Helen Hunt doesn't own anything. I won't even capitalize it in this paragraph, so far removed is Helen Hunt from owning. If I'm being charitable, I'll say she's an acquired taste on any sized screen; There is just something about her that seems to rub many, many people the wrong way (as an actress).

One of the most embarrassing movies of recent years is A GOOD WOMAN, in which Hunt plays a scheming vixen who sets her sights on, and seduces, SCARLETT JOHANSSON'S man. Yes, the dude has SCA-JO, and he leaves her for HELEN HUNT. That's inept casting at best, and unbridled vanity at worst.

Er... Lex... did you ever actually see A Good Woman? You know, the movie based on Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan? The one where Hunt played Johansson's mother?

Yes, I saw the movie; Your post just now reminded me of that "twist," but it doesn't change the fact that for a good portion of the movie, Hunt is presented as a viable foil for sexy Johansson, and the fucking dork in the movie at some point leaves THE HANSS for THE HUNT. The "mom" twist is revealed at the 11th hour, but she's a shitty mom in the movie nonetheless and NO DUDE WHO HAS SCARLETT JOHANSSON would LOOK TWICE at GRANDMA HUNT.

Which would NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVER happen.

There are many published reviews who commented at the time on the incredible arrogance and miscasting that would allow for scenes in which Hunt is MISTAKEN for ScarJo.

You can't OWN The Lex, Leydon. I'll mail you a copy of my fucking Blockbuster receipt if I can dig it up.

"I NEED TO BE FAMOUS" by Lex G

If you really NEED that, then all you'll ever have is your 15 minutes. So if you really want fame for real instead of just Attention, stop 'needing' it so much and start working for it.

Get out of LA. Create something someone wants to buy. Then you have something more lasting, and you get some money to boot.

You staying in LA is not good for LA or Dave's Blog. I mean you don;t want to become the Bicycle Bob of 2008.

And if you really hate yourself, other people will too. You have to be liked in LA at least until you do get somewhere or have a protector, so you are defeating your abilities to get somewhere already. You are not the kind of guy who is "good in a room", but you must be that guy if you want attention of any duration. But then, Maybe you don;t want fame as much as you say you do.

Helen Hunt is an acquired taste, I agree. But she can be almost a beauty when she doesn't SPEAK and uses her ability to emote and be vulnerable. She can do that well, but she needs roles with better existential depth, and less pissed off blond.

Lota: Have you seen Then She Found Me?

last Hunt movie I saw was Bobby...meh

but I will see Then She FOund me sometime when I get around to it. busy lately.

Bicycle Bob? Now that's a blast from the past, circa 2005.

He pops back every so often under what must be his real name, like just this last weekend re: Iron Man.

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