Monday, July 31, 2006

A Dark, but Satisfying Nite...

I have to tell you my breath was almost stolen this evening when I read the following. Read on and then read what is probably one of the best hopes for the era of REALLY SATISFYING COMIC BOOK MOVIES.

"Sequel To Be The Dark Knight

SCI FI Wire has learned that the upcoming Batman Begins sequel will be titled The Dark Knight and has confirmed widespread rumors that Heath Ledger will play the Joker.

Warner Brothers is expected to announce the title and casting on Aug. 1.

Christopher Nolan, who directed the hit film Batman Begins, will again direct. Christian Bale, who played the Caped Crusader in the first film, is expected to reprise the role, though that has not been confirmed. —Patrick Lee, News Editor"

Now, I have LONG been a Batman fan, and last years "BATMAN BEGINS" provided us with what was probably one of the most satisfying comic book/graphic novel movie incarnate films we've seen in a long time. The feel, the actors, the lines of progression in that film are some that should be hallmarks to great comic book movie storytelling. That the majority of the cast are on their way back is great, as is the director which just makes my heart soar. The only way it can get better? They bring in what is Batman's best arch-enemy: The Joker. The Tim Burton Film, "BATMAN" provided the Joker as well, however they KILLED HIM! The Joker is one of those characters that can never and should never die, and I hope that they have the sense here to realize that keeping the Joker around for more than one storyline is THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

I look forward to seehing where Heath Ledger can take us in the vein of clear and unabashed evil that the Joker persona demands. Look for more soon!

A Blacker Hole (in St. Louis...)

A dear and best friend of mine, Carl(o) Besasie has been an actor/director of independant films and commercials since he graduated from film school in the early 90's and when I saw this new DVD release, I immediately thought of him. It's a movie, that apparently aired on the Sci-Fi Channel, that has a St. Louis-based research team's nightmare come true! It also reminded me of a game that friends and I play called "Half Life", which not so strangely, has an experiment go "awry" and is the hotbed for gooney and horrific creatures that feed on - you guessed it - the people! Read on below and be sure to also check out the details to one of Carl's films in apparently the same genre, "Go to Hell".

"The Black Hole:

Plot Outline: An atomic research experiment goes awry in St. Louis, Missouri unleashing not only a big black hole, but also a creature from beyond that feeds on electricity through the streets of this Midwest city."

Tell me more about what YOU think of movies like this one. Do you watch them? Do you think they're a waste of time and effort? Chime in now!

My - That's Strange - Queer, One Might Even Say...

While strolling thru the new DVD release list this evening for a brief instant, I saw an upcoming title that I hadn't seen or heard anything about - "QUEER DUCK".

Does this strike anyone odd? How about if I tell you that it stars JM J. Bullock? Still, not all that odd - Queer basically = JM J. Bullock as he'd be the first to admit most likely.

But wait - what's this? Simpson Writer Mike Weiss? Wait a seco-- STAR WARS' Mark Hamill? Late Nite's Conan O'Brien? X-Files' David Duchovny? What the hell is this? For those that are interested, here's the link to the IMDB Listing, and I've provided the quick detail I found on the web here: Very interesting. That's an interesting power house of Gaydom.

"Queer Duck: The Movie Made-for-DVD spin-off of the animated series, a satirical spoof of gay stereotypes as illustrated through the absolutely fabulous life of Seymour Duckstein (voiced by JM J. Bullock) and his friends, Bi-Polar Bear, Openly Gator, and Oscar Wildcat. Written and produced by former The Simpsons writer Mike Reiss, is features the voices of Maurice LaMarche, Jackie Hoffman, Kevin Michael Richardson, and Mark Hamill, with guest voices by Conan O'Brien, Bruce Villanche, Andy Dick, and David Duchovny. Details: Color, 72 mins, Paramount, widescreen. Supplements: 5 original "Queer Duck" shorts; "Getting Behind Queer Duck" making-of featurette; "The People Behind the Voices" interview featurette with the voice cast; "Getting the Right Homosexual" featurette on casting JM J. Bullock; "How to Find a Partner If You're Bi... Um Coastal" featurette on writer Mike Reiss and director Xeth Feinberg; "Character Assassination" featurette on the celebrity voice cameos. Optional subtitles."

Child Rape = Oscar Bid Opportunity? Huh?

I have always been hard-pressed to like Dakota Fanning. I'm not sure if it's the screaming child, or the cutsy-blue-eyed child in perioll syndrome there, but I just have never really had time for her in general. I tolerated her in WAR OF THE WORLDS with Tom Cruise, and MAN ON FIRE often made me want to have more of the characters on screen set ablaze, but in general, feh - it's another child actor.

I just read something online that really makes one think about the accomplishment we want to prescribe to our children and I was wondering what YOU think. A link from the ever-lovin' IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base) provided this:

"Fanning Hoping 'Hounddog 'Will Win Her an Oscar
Child actress Dakota Fanning is set to shock fans in new movie Hounddog, because she has shot child rape scenes and appears semi-naked. The controversial film written and directed by Deborah Kampmeier is a dark and violent story set in American's rural south - and the 12-year-old's mother and agent are convinced her gritty performance is Oscar-worthy. Agent Joy Osbrink tells the New York Daily News, "It's not just the rape scene - the whole story is challenging Dakota as an actress. And I've never been so proud of her in my life. I've seen the dailies, and in every scene she gets better and better." "

Now I understand the desire for an Oscar. I even understand the fact that Dakota is probably been "in the business" long enough now, in enough movies, television appearances, etc, that she can undergo this experience and come up pretty rosey in general. I just have to wonder though - does a child actor NEED to get an Oscar for playing a "gritty semi-naked child rape" scene? I also understand that they even SAY "it's not just the rape scene" however it's in the first sentence of the Oscar-bid based sentence of this publicity item that millions will surely see.

What do YOU think? Am I just "fanning the flames of Dakota hatred" or do I have a point?

Chime in here and let me know if you'd like to see her score Oscar gold now!