Maximum Ride Finds a Movie Scribe

Looks like Sony/Columbia Pictures is finally moving forward with the "Maximum Ride" film. Screenwriter Don Payne has been hired to write the movie adaptation of the best selling book series. His writing credits include the unimpressive "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" and "My Super Ex-Girlfriend."

As reported before, Avi Arad, producer of many Marvel super hero films, will produce with book series writer James Patterson taking over as Executive Producer.

Avi Arad and Don Payne? Sounds like a big hit or miss right now. I was not impressed with "Rise of the Silver Surfer" in the least bit and I attribute the writing to most of that. Hopefully this guy gets his act together and decides to pull a rabbit out of his hat. "Maximum Ride," as I've stated before, is my favorite book series. (With the exception of the last book...) I truly hope it is treated with care by whatever director gets the script.

Still no shooting or release date. I doubt there will be one until the script is finished.

TRAILER - Winged Creatures

This film caught my attention recently. I wasn't too interested in it at first and then I saw the cast. The film stars Guy Pearce, Kate Beckinsale, Guy Pearce, Forest Whitaker, Guy Pearce, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Jennifer Hudson and Guy Pearce. Did I mention Guy Pearce, man of men, is in this movie?

The story, which includes Guy Pearce, follows a group of individuals that survive a diner shooting. They slowly find that their lives have been changed and find their own means to recover from the traumatic event.

Yes, in typical fashion, this does sound like another indie flick hoping to get several nods at the Oscars-- But Guy Pearce is in it.

Seriously it does look quite good. I'd keep an out for this one:


The film was released at the LA Film Festival this past June. It is rumored for a limited release later this year.

Revealed Plot Information for Transformers 2 - Megatron Lives

Like it's a big surprise. According to CHUD Megatron will be resurrected by the Autobots in "Transformers 2: Rise of the Fallen," to get information on a new villain who goes by the name of Fallen. (Egad, the title of the movie!) Further reports suggest that Megatron will not be an alien jet in the upcoming sequel.

I know what you're thinking. A gun. I doubt Bay would allow Megatron to become a giant hand gun like he did in the original series after spouting about how silly it is. Frankly, he is correct in this case. However, in later, truer incarnations of Megatron, his alternate form was a tank. I've alway found that very appropriate for Megatron and it should keep some fans from crying out because, lets face, a tank is basically a giant gun on wheels. One can hope.

No one knows what Megatron's alternate form will be, but, so far, it seems he will not return as Galvatron. I think this is a horrible misfire on Bay's part. Megatron's demise in the first movie was a fantastic set up for Galvatron, but right now it doesn't look like we'll be getting that Megatron upgrade.

In any case, the sequel to one of last years worst and most overrated movies is well in to production. For those excited, high-five someone while jumping in the air. Please? It makes me laugh.

Will Wolverine Appear in "The Avengers"?

Comic Con is over and the news is slowing down rapidly, but that doesn't mean a few tidbits leak hear and there. MTV asked Hugh Jackman, who wasn't scheduled to appear at Comic Con, but came anyway, if he was interested in "The Avengers" movie Marvel has slated for a 2011 release. His answer:

"Any movie with Robert Downey Jr. I want to be in. I’m open to it. I love playing this guy [Wolverine]. The great thing about Wolverine is he’s still a fun character. He’s a tortured soul but he’s always got a quip. He’s always got a line. He’s like Dirty Harry and Mad Max. These aren’t nice guys but they get the job done. He marches to the beat of his own drummer. That’s why I love playing him.”

Hugh Jackman's Wolverine with Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man and Edward Norton's Hulk? Wow. Such a line up doesn't even need Captain America and Thor, but we all know we'll be getting them anyway. This is of course under rumor-control, but I'd like to see Jackman in "The Avengers." If Marvel was paying attention, I'd grab Jackman while he's still interested.

Hulk Round 2?

Though the box office reciepts weren't stellar and the movie isn't the greatest of the superhero franchise, "The Incredible Hulk" was a really fun gem that gave audiences a glimps at the real Hulk and the potential for a thought provoking franchise. It looks like Marvel sees this potential and will not let the Hulk go down without a fight.

Surprisingly,Kevin Feige, an executive at Marvel Studios, announced that the plan was to continue the series with Edward Norton. How about the source material from Marvel comics? Feige had a very interesting response for that:

"We still need to give the creative people room to stretch their legs. It's a hard balancing act. 'Planet Hulk' and 'World War Hulk' didn't have a lot to do with the movie, but it generated interest in the property."

"Planet Hulk?" "World War Hulk?" Now that doesn't mean it's going to happen, and I honestly have little faith that it would, but the prospect of the maybe is quite exciting.

The big question is, will Norton want to return? He was denied a writing credit, even though most of the first movie was rewritten by him, and he desperately fought for a cut of the film that didn't make it in theaters. (But we'll probably see it on DVD.) Those are some big things Marvel will have to reconcile with. Frankly, I think they should just let Norton direct the sequel.

"I Am Legend" Prequel for Smith?

"I Am Legend" was not one of my favorite movies of the fall season last year. It wasn't bad, it simply wasn't everything it was built up to be. It was a loss of potential and waste of character study. Although, it did have a few scares and Will Smith was, as usual, stellar. A sequel or prequel is not something that interests me. However, money talks over a barely noticed movie blog and at $584 million worldwide, it was only a matter of time before more information on an "I Am Legend" follow up was announced.

Francis Lawrence, director of the film, recently confirmed that a prequel was in the workshop. Not only that, but Will Smith has communicated a desire to return as well. Currently, Lawrence is working on another story that will develop Robert Neville in a different light.

So where could this go? The creation of the zombie creatures? Everything just before the outbreak-- Because lets face it, everything we really needed to know was shown in flashbacks of the recent film. Would a prequel reveal that much more? Hopefully we'd get to see more of the dog.

More on The Venom Spin-Off

Last February is was announced that a solo Venom film would be moving forward at Sony Pictures. Very little followed the announcement, with no word if Topher Grace will return or who would write it.

As it turns out the initial draft was written by Jacob Estes ("Mean Creek"), but the Studio wants to take the character in a different direction. Supposedly, since "Spider-Man 4" isn't due until 2004, Sony hopes this will refresh the franchise until the Wall-Crawling hero returns. And for those hoping for something better than Topher Grace making sexual connotations out of Spider-Man's famous lines, fear not, Sony is looking to find someone else to play the villain turned anti-hero in this film.

There's no release date yet, but chances are Sony will rush this thing in to production and get it in theaters before "Spider-Man 4."

Venom is a cool character, but something sounds wrong about this movie. Venom's own movie? Can anyone really imagine that? All I can think of is a "Scorpion King" quality film with a CGI Venom laying waste to the city as he fights some other creature. There's simply something about that entire idea that feels..."off."

Poll Results - What Did You Think of "The Dark Knight?"

Well this was an interesting little landslide of a poll. Not surprising though. An an usually high number of people voted this time around. 52? That has to be a record. I didn't think 52 people visited my site. Maybe they don't. Maybe someone was cheating. Who knows, but as it stands "The Dark Knight" won over a lot of people's hearts.

45 (86%) people thought the film was Incredible.

6 (11%) stiffs thought it was on Good.

1 (1%) dingbat thought it was Average.

And, rightly so, the last two options (Overrated, Awful) were left at 0%.

It seems "Dark Knight-mania" has caught on hard. I agree, it is one more incredible film. I'll get a review out for it one of these days.

Thundercats: CG or Live Action?

It was recently revealed in an interview that Tyrese Gibson ("Transformers") may be playing "someone" from Warner Brothers' upcoming, big screen adaptation of "Thundercats."

(For those who weren't boys that grew up in the late 80s or had no idea what Toonami was, "Thundercats" follows heroic, cat-humanoids from the planet Thundera. In the animated series, Lion-O, and his team of Thundercats, now reside on Third-Earth where they must do battle with Mumm-Ra, an evil, mummified sorcerer.)

Sounds like fun, no? If feline-humanoids with swords and ripping muscles don't get some basement nerds' attention, the fact that one of these cat-like humans is a sexy gal, filled to the rim with fur, cat ears, a tail and D-cups, should be enough to get them to make the scary trip to the theater. Who doesn't want to watch Lion-O screaming "Thundercats-Hoooo!" while hitting that, right?

Humor aside, Gibson was very coy with the subject. Though it seems to be proof that the Thundercats film is moving forward it begs one to wonder-- Is this live action? Or is Gibson simply going to lend his voice to a CG character? Granted, a live action movie seems like a ridiculous feat, but that hasn't stopped Hollywood before, right?

On a different subject, video game director (or designer...?) Jerry O'Flaherty will be given the director's chair for this. It seems fitting that a video game director might do a CG adaptation of the film, so that's points for the CG argument. But if this is live action... God help us all. Of course, no matter what it is, we all know we'll see it to keep our nostalgia burning. More as it comes.

TRAILER - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Teaser 2)

I have no idea how long this will remain, so let me know if the link goes to hell. I'll find another one. The new "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" teaser was unveiled tonight. Don't worry, it's much more impressive than the previous "teaser." I'm not totally overwhelmed or in awe from it, but it is a creepy little preview that gives us an idea for how this movie will feel. Enjoy:


November.