Author: Timothy

  • “Shrek Forever After” Below Expectations

    Shrek Forever After performed below expectations at the weekend box office. The prior Shrek films garnered more success despite the latest movie having an inflated price. It’s argued that it could be the ticket prices, or movie-goers are already tired of 3-D, or that Shrek isn’t a strong franchise anymore. Others and I had mentioned the hiked up price is a bad idea despite the film being in IMAX 3-D, and it looks to be the case.

    The ticket prices reached a point where it’s competitor is the actual purchase of the movie itself. The distance between the experience of a movie theater and a home theater is edging closer; especially with talk of 3 -D TVs in development. Plus there’s the fact of watching films from the comfort of your own home and without inconsiderate movie-goers to put up with. The performance of Shrek Forever After should be used as a lesson that ticket prices shouldn’t be so obscenely high. It’ll only push movie-goers towards other options.

    Source: (The Week)

  • The Film Academy Sues GoDaddy

    The Film Academy is suing GoDaddy.com under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act over domain names that abuse the Oscars’ trademark. The Academy stresses that domains in question might be monetized by users by using a “CashParking” program provided by GoDaddy; users along with GoDaddy profit from advertising revenue on parked domains.

    Benefiting from the trademark of another in such a way is a sketchy practice that shouldn’t be valid with a capitalistic and free market ethos. Frankly, I’d like to see the Academy win this lawsuit.

    Source: (Hollywood Reporter)

  • Comic-Con’s Future

    Comic-Con’s continued growth has organizers looking at other possibilities while San Diego plans on expanding their convention center to suit Comic-Con’s needs. A labor union in Anaheim recently warned organizers that a move there could jeopardize future events when there’s heated labor disputes.

    This works in San Diego’s favor even though Anaheim is still on the table — but will organizers really want to take the chance? The only con with San Diego is that Comic-Con is outgrowing the convention center, but with plans for expansion, it shouldn’t be a continued problem. The location works perfect for the event: hotels, bars, malls, and a trolley system that helps ease parking issues. All of these are within walking distance of the convention center. It’s convenient.

    Maybe I’m biased, but I firmly believe that Comic-Con should stay in San Diego. It was conceived here, and it should continue being held here. Each year it helps significantly boost our economy. We should carry through with the plan of expanding the convention center. It’s a San Diego landmark the city should work hard to keep.

    Source: (LA Weekly)

  • After These Messages

    We’ll be right back.  (Watching Lost)

  • James Franco Scores Lead in Planet of the Apes Prequel

    James Franco is set to star in the prequel of Planet of the Apes. Entitled Rise of the Apes, the film will take place in modern-day San Francisco; the premise being the conflict between man and ape after an experiment that creates apes with equal intelligence of humans. Franco will play a scientist caught in the middle of the fray.

    James Franco does have the screen presence and acting chops to carry the film, but I’m disappointed about some of the decisions for the movie. The apes will be done entirely in CG instead of actors in suits — which may make it hard for actors to interact with each other. I would have preferred the suits for that alone, but hopefully they can pull it off better than the CG-fest that the Star Wars prequels were. Or even better: hope they change their mind during pre-production and bring the suits back. Use CG to enhance the effect, not to entirely create it.

    Source: (Flick Sided)

  • Select Movie Theaters Increase Ticket Price

    Select theaters will begin selling adult tickets for $20 each for IMAX, starting with the new Shrek film. Do I even need to expound on why this isn’t a good idea? Maybe shooting yourself in the foot to combat piracy is a good way to get sympathy purchases? Prices are already ridiculous. At this rate, theaters won’t compete with home theaters or piracy anymore. Smooth.

    Source: (The Wall Street Journal)

  • NBC Unveils “The Cape”

    NBC recently released a trailer to their new show, The Cape:

    “The Cape” is a one-hour drama series starring David Lyons (“ER”) as Vince Faraday, an honest cop on a corrupt police force, who finds himself framed for a series of murders and presumed dead.  He is forced into hiding, leaving behind his wife, Dana (Jennifer Ferrin, “Life on Mars”) and son, Trip (Ryan Wynott, “Flash Forward”).  Fueled by a desire to reunite with his family and to battle the criminal forces that have overtaken Palm City, Faraday becomes “The Cape” his son’s favorite comic book superhero — and takes the law into his own hands.  Rounding out the cast are James Frain (“The Tudors”) as billionaire Peter Fleming – The Cape’s nemesis – who moonlights as the twisted killer: Chess; Keith David (“Death at a Funeral”) as Max Malini, the ringleader of a circus gang of bank robbers who mentors Vince Faraday and trains him to be The Cape; Summer Glau (“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) as Orwell, an investigative blogger who wages war on crime and corruption in Palm City; and Dorian Missick (“Six Degrees”) as Marty Voyt, a former police detective and friend to Faraday.

    There’s a Batman influence on The Cape, but a little humor to not take itself too seriously. The fact that the premise isn’t, “My family was murdered and I must avenge them,” is a huge plus; it’s not typical; the hero will have to wrestle with the conflict of not reuniting with his wife and son.  

    It’s also good to see Summer Glau back on a television show, and even better that it’s on NBC — Fox is notorious for killing off shows that have a cult following. And unfortunately for Glau, that’s been every show on the Fox network that she acted in. Hopefully the Fox curse won’t follow her — The Cape looks promising.

     NBC’s The Cape

  • Spider-Man Reboot

    Sony plans on rebooting Spider-Man, which I consider a good thing since the prior films never really captured Spider-Man’s personality. They insisted that they want to distance the new film from the trilogy and focus on Peter Parker during his high school years. Again, I consider this a good thing.

    So why are they bringing in a screenwriter from the former films? Scriptwriter Alvin Sargent has been hired to polish the screenplay written by Jamie Vanderbilt. Does this means all of Spidey’s witty quips will be practically nonexistent and replaced with drama? Spider-Man does have his drama, but without his sarcasm, comic fans won’t be nearly as happy with the reboot.

    If Sony is smart, they would look at the recent success of Iron Man 2 and realize that a gritty drama is unnecessary. Fit the mood of the source material. If it worked for readers, it’ll work for viewers. Also, cast Logan Lerman as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. He’s right for the part and you know it.

    Source: (Heat Vision Blog)