Lionsgate May Acquire Terminator Rights

Now that you've read the title lets assume you've asked, "For how much?" Well, apparently for the lowest common denominator. $15 million. (Halcyon was trying to sell it for $60-70 million. Ouch!) The Terminator rights aren't exactly being dogpiled by a lot of studios and my hopes of Warner Brothers acquiring it seems to be nowhere in sight. (So things are looking bleak for The Sarah Connor Chronicles.) The next in line is Summit, who is coming up in the ranks with the money they've made from the Twilight movies and a quality picture with The Hurt Locker. Despite Twilight I'd prefer Summit to grab the rights, but I have a strong feeling that's not happening.

So what say The Resistance out there? Is the studio that's given us the horrendous Saw series, Hostel, Delta Farce, the Transporter trilogy and bad documentaries really what we want for the series? And what of TSCC? Will it get a second go from Warner Brothers when the final decision is released this February?

You see that mushroom cloud? That's not Skynet. That's the franchise...

MOVIE REVIEW - Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day

EDIT: Synopsis fixed for the Boston-ites/hard core fans.

Oh, what a rush. The Boondock Saints doesn’t really have the greatest reputation among film critics, but I suppose the liberal media would slam movies like these. Being something of the year’s anti-Men Who Stare at Goats, I was pleased with the no holds barred approach of The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. So I’m going to side-step the educated, snob-a-thon critic bullshit this time and praise it for what it is: A movie that hangs its nuts without any intention of putting them away.

After going in to hiding, the death of a priest lures the MacManus Brothers back to Boston for more “gratuitous violence.” But it turns out to be the genesis of a much larger problem that goes back before their conception. Thus, Daddy MacManus steps in to confront his past. Among the returnees are newcomers Clifton Collins Jr. as Romeo and Julie Benz as Agent Eunice Bloom. I wasn’t too keen on their addition at first, but once the movie gets rolling you won’t want them to leave.

While the film attempts to answer some questions about the MacManus family we still get what we came for—More punishment than The Punisher could ditch out. The question of whether or not they’re doing right or wrong is never brought up again. Frankly it doesn’t need to be. Murphy and Connor are completely at piece with their job and firmly believe in destroying evil. What's important is this leads to more over-the-top action sequences, some hysterical dialogue and, yes, the return of the “fucking rope.” Add to the mix Rocco’s cameo (and his cat) which distinctly slams everything Men Who Stare at Goats stood for with, “I am so sick of all of this self help, twelve step, leftover hippie generation bullshit!” and you have a recipe for a man movie. What is a man movie you ask? Many have forgotten. Predator and Dirty Harry fit the bill, but man movies don’t quite jump at you like they use to. I blame George Lucas. I can’t think of any examples since Greedo shot first. That’s another rant for another day.

What’s important to come away with is accepting, and enjoying, how the film makes no apology for being the cinematic equivalent of a hardened assassin. It is an exercise in badassery (yup, my word again) and a non-to-subtle reminder of everything a guy wishes he would be. It spits at political correctness with a grimace and smirks while shooting bad guys. Sure there isn’t much character development, but how do you develop characters as hardened and devout as the MacManus Brothers? While the most interesting players tend to be the new kids and the talented Billy Connelly as “Il Duce” (Papa MacManus), we never lose that aspiring glance we give Connor and Murphy as they slide to their knees with two guns. Why? ‘Cause they’re just that damn cool.

I’m not here to say The Boondock Saints II is the greatest balls out action flick ever, or even of the year, but it is a satisfying sequel with no interest in social sensitivity. It doesn’t make me wonder how right or wrong their actions are like the first one, but I don’t think director Troy Duffy is too concerned with those questions here. No, this time it’s about gifting the fans and keeping The Saints true to their word. Lets top it off with a very surprising ending that begs for another sequel and the politically incorrect extermination of “evil men.” Bring back the MacManus Brothers. I’m ready for round three!

*** out of ****

Spider-Man 4 Not Happening. Reboot Launches in 2012.

Well it looks like all that tireless villain speculation for the fourth Spider-Man was just wasted bandwidth. Director Sam Raimi has left the project due to a weariness of the film's 2011 release date. Tobey Maguire has jumped ship with him. Beforehand John Malkovich had confirmed he would be the Vulture. But now there will be no Malkovich, no Vulture, no Raimi, no Maguire, NO SPIDER-MAN 4. (Just in case I couldn't make it clear enough.)

So what will happen with the Spidey franchise? Well for those hoping for the series to land in the laps of Marvel/Disney-- Keep praying. Sony still has rights to produce Spider-Man films and will be doing so in the form of a reboot. Oh. Shit. For those of you happy a sequel isn't happening, tell me, is this much better?

So instead of pushing back the Spider-Man 4 release date, Sony will be producing the reboot for a 2012 release. (They couldn't push Spidey 4 to that date? Are they really dumb enough to believe the world is ending that year or what?)

As the story goes James Vanderbilt wrote both Spider-Man 4 and a reboot script as a plan B. I suspect there were some anticipated script disagreements between the studio and Raimi. (I assume over villains.) So talks went nowhere, Raimi got fed up with Sony, not wanting a Spidey 3 repeat and now we'll get a potentially cheaper Spider-Man flick with a different director, different star and (thank Christ) no Dunst.

I can definitely say I have no excitement for this project. It feels like a cheap business move and, well... it looks like a cheap business move. After Raimi and Maguire have successfully created a recognizable and iconic universe Sony's going to reboot it? Who specifically is afraid to pay up at Sony? I think this whole "reboot" idea is getting a little out of hand. When it was done with Batman Begins it was because the franchise was in need of rescuing. Not to mention it had been close to a decade since Clooney's Bat-shit. But to abandon a successful and recent franchise like Raimi's Spider-Man is just an odd and hasty move. Green over great I guess.

But I can't totally give Sony the middle finger. No Dunst is always a plus, right?

Trailer of Interest - The Vicious Kind

I tripped over this little gem not too long ago. Yeah, the trailer isn't all that well cut and it's one of those previews that tries to look too independent in order to get all the indie-cock sucking, snob-knobs hard. Regardless, I was particularly impressed with this Adam Scott in the lead role. Furthermore, J.K. Simmons. Yeah, in context that's a complete sentence. Deal with it.
The movie looks like it carries some fine character comedy and dry humor. It's got my attention on all fronts.
The flick has a limited release roll out starting December 11th.

HYPE-O-METER Scale 1-10: 8

Trailer of Interest - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Teaser)

So I wasn't too keen on the sixth film. It wasn't quite the blunder the fourth movie was, but as time goes by I look on it less and less fondly. After the incredible fifth entry and the "holy shit" trailers cut for the sixth film I expected a lot more.
It's really clear this trailer was cut from footage they were scraping at the bottom of the barrel for-- I mean how much have they really filmed by this point? I'm surprised they got the footage they did for such an early teaser-- And a good one at that. Oh, I don't think it's anything to wet your panties over just yet, but the potential is there. Lets get excited, yet again, and hope, yet again, these movies deliver.

HYPE-O-METER Scale 1-10: 7

Terminator Franchise Gets New Home in February

The Terminator franchise is still for sale and the bankrupt Halcyon, current owner of the franchise, apparently wasn't swooned with Joss Whedon's $10,000 bid. Originally, the franchise was estimated to be bought by January 2010, but now negotiations (with who?) seem to be set to end in February.

Anyone want to buy it? Hell, if I had the money, I would! Then I'd put The Sarah Connor Chronicles back in production faster than you can say, "I'll be back!"

It looks like Halcyon is really hurting though. They're selling every prop, set piece and lights (almost "trashed" by Bale) to movie collectors crazy enough to love a brick you might have seen on screen.

Was Terminator Salvation worth the pain guys? Regardless, I hope Warner Brothers gets the franchise, makes some badass movies and gives The Sarah Connor Chronicles a proper send off. No, I haven't given up hope. Nor should you.

SAVETHESCC.COM

How Cool Is This?

So movie mag Empire Magazine went all out with their 20th anniversary, asking twenty-seven actors to recreate iconic roles in stylish clothing. This is quite entertaining. Click on any of the below to enlarge.

Can we guess all the characters and movies kids?















And my favorite:
Solid pictures. I'm not big on celebrity photo shoots, but this is easily the coolest shoot I've ever had the good fortune of flipping through. Bravo Empire. Do more!

The Harry Potter 7 Trio

And in a rather uninspiring picture. I suppose we always start with lame pictures don't we? But with this being the final film(s) I thought it would be fun to compare their last adventure with their first:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows


Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone


Well Ron doesn't look like a deformed horse anymore and I want to give Ms. Watson a round of applause for growing up so, SO well. Finally I can admit she's attractive without feeling like Roman Polanski. (I'd say Michael Jackson, but that ship has sailed hasn't it?)

Now I'm going to compare the Harry Potter franchise to one that's trying to be like it:



Failure's a bitch.

Potter 7, November 2010.

It Speaks For Itself...

But I'll say it anyway...

Badass!

I'm sure the general, non-comic book geeks out there are wondering who the silver Iron Man is. The answer is War Machine, piloted by Col. Rhodes played by Terrance-- Oh... Right... Played by Don Cheadle.

REALITY CHECK Now as awesome as this is I do want to skeet some of my doubt on this post. As the time draws nearer for Iron Man 2 I begin to have the same weary feeling I had for X-Men Origins: Wolverine. What type of weary feeling you ask? Lets just say my concerns came to fruition.

It's very possible Iron Man 2 will NOT walk in the footsteps of great super-sequels like X2, Spider-Man 2 and, of course, The Dark Knight. Something about the amount of villains, heroes and recent knowledge of Mr. Downey Jr.'s hand in writing the thing stinks.

But until its release, I'll enjoy the really swank poster. You should as well.

Spanish Trailer Gets Creative With Lost Promos

Been keeping up with the plethora of Lost Season Six footage? If you have you're lying because none has been released. As show-runners Damon Lindelof and Carton Cuse have said, they're keeping a tight lid on the Lost spoilers and showing no new footage until the season airs. So what do we get in the meantime. Trailers like this:



Wow. Pretty terrible right? I understand the need to use old footage, but does that excuse a shitty trailer? There is an absurd shitstorm of fanmade trailers that are lightyears more exciting than what ABC has regurgitated here.

In the meantime check out this Spanish trailer to Season Six. Like the American promos they don't give us any new footage, but the superimposed chess theme works well. Very cool:



Why isn't this ours? Good work ABC. My girlfriend should enjoy the Radiohead-ness as well. The final season premiers Feb. 2nd, 2010.