May 19 2009 Martin Luther King Jr.: DreamWorks Owns Your Life
Will Smith, time to start putting on a little weight. DreamWorks has acquired the "life rights" of Martin Luther King Jr. and plan to make a biopic with Steven Spielberg serving as a producer. From Variety.
King, who was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis at the age of 39, copyrighted his speeches, books and famous works during his lifetime. The DreamWorks project marks the first film to be authorized by King's estate and gives the producers the right to utilize King's intellectual property -- including his famous "I Have a Dream" speech delivered during the 1963 March on Washington -- to create the definitive portrait of his life."We are all honored that the King Estate is giving us the opportunity to tell the story of these defining, historic events," Spielberg said. "It is our hope that the creative power of film and the impact of Dr. King's life can combine to present a story of undeniable power that we can all be proud of."
I told this news to someone and their reply was, "Tyler Perry?" First I laughed, but the more I think about it, the more I'm worrying. With his recent part in Star Trek--and seeing how everyone in that is so hot right now--could Tyler Perry end up somehow playing Martin Luther King Jr. That couldn't happen, could it? He'd be too insistent that the drama of King's life be interspersed with out-of-place drag comedy to ever get the role, right? Tell me that's the case.
May 15 2009 Sanctity of 'Kung Fu Panda' Has Been Compromised!
Nickelodeon is making it a TV show! From THR:
Nickelodeon has ordered "Kung Fu Panda: The Series," a new CG-animated comedy based on last year's boxoffice hit.The kids network has ordered 26 episodes of the series, Nick's second co-production with DreamWorks Animation SKG. The two companies also partnered on "The Penguins of Madagascar," which premiered March 28 on Nick and ranked as the most-watched series premiere in the network's history (6.1 million viewers). Since then, "Penguins" has become the second most-popular program among kids 6-11 on television, behind only "SpongeBob SquarePants."
I can think of (look up) over a hundred examples of films being turned into TV series in the past--sometimes with brilliant results (M*A*S*H), other times not (there was a Ferris Bueller series?). So let's just say "at least it's not a Shrek," OK?
Jan 5 2009 'Monsters vs. Aliens' Will Have 3-D Trailer--Thanks, Beverage Makers!
On February 1st, the biggest match-up in Superbowl history won't just be on the field--it will also be in your head, as your brain tries to marry the images of your left and right eye into a three-dimensional image! As some sort of horrible promotional merger between re-branded Pepsi, Dreamworks Animation, and Sobe (yes, Sobe is still a purchasable beverage), one of the many Superbowl commercials will be the first 3-D trailer for Monsters vs. Aliens (followed by a questionably-anticipated sequel commercial with dancing geckos). Just pick up 3-D glasses wherever you see the appropriate Pepsi/Sobe standee and prepare to be entertained.
Welcome to the future: scheduling visits to soda kiosks to properly watch commercials. Here's the commercial for the commercial:
Continue Reading " 'Monsters vs. Aliens' Will Have 3-D Trailer--Thanks, Beverage Makers! "
Dec 3 2008 Studio Logos: What's the Story?
If you've ever watched the studio logos opening a feature film and wondered, Columbia Pictures Lady: friend or foe?, I've got something for you. Neatorama has put together an informative piece on several of the big Hollywood studio logos, the histories behind them, and their variations throughout the years, laying out the stories behind the MGM lion, the Paramount mountain, and more. Sadly, the Nickelodeon Studios logo was left off the list, so we may never learn the full story behind a clusterfuck of orange shit.
Dec 2 2008 Ooze Wants to See a 'Monsters vs. Aliens' Poster?
I've been trying to cut back on audibly sighing at these things, but this Monsters vs. Aliens poster just violently threw me off that wagon. Back to being the internet's exhaust port.
Monsters vs. Aliens Poster [IMPA]
Nov 21 2008 'Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' Trailer Hides Prehistorical Inaccuracies
Man, how many times have I seen a girl I was attracted to, mugged her, and entered into a suicide pact with her, only to have her re-steal what I rightfully stole and leave me to a violent demise, heartbroken and alone? Probably one hundred times. That's why this Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs trailer really speaks to me:
Continue Reading " 'Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' Trailer Hides Prehistorical Inaccuracies "
Nov 20 2008 'Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' Poster Fulfills Your Celebrity-Voiced Talking Animal Needs
I hope that female rat-squirrel thing sexually confuses a lot of kids, like how the female gremlin in Gremlins 2: The New Batch did with me. God, she was so beautiful: those full lips, that sexy body--but also, a horrible gremlin. Or, in this case, a rat-squirrel thing. What's a pre-adolescent to think? Good luck, kids.
New Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Poster [Coming Soon]
Nov 4 2008 'Monsters vs. Aliens' Trailer: Classic Match-Up
Monsters versus aliens: classic match-up. Brute size and strength versus advanced technology. Unless we're talking about Aliens aliens, then it's brute size and strength versus acid blood and a smaller mouth inside the normal mouth. And sometimes are greatest "monsters" are in fact man (HITLER!). Still though, classic match-up, and it's just the battle you'll find inside DreamWorks' aptly-titled CGI comedy, Monsters vs. Aliens. Here is the trailer:
Continue Reading " 'Monsters vs. Aliens' Trailer: Classic Match-Up "
Aug 14 2008 'Madgascar', 'Kung Fu Panda' Will Keep Happening
Dreamworks has announced they have plans for at least one more Madagascar and probably another Kung Fu Panda, because that would be easier than inventing more animals-with-celebrity-voices as characters:
DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg expects at least one additional "Madagascar" sequel, the executive said Wednesday during a preview of the upcoming "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa."The animation studio also has begun talks aimed at creating a sequel to its summer hit "Kung Fu Panda."
Calling ["Escape 2 Africa"] the "second chapter in one story," Katzenberg said, "there is at least one more chapter. We ultimately want to see the characters make it back to New York."
I think what he means is, "We still have the rights to Reel 2 Real's I Like to Move It, and we're confident having some African animals sing along with it will continue to sell for reasons even we aren't entirely sure of," but nice try.
Jul 31 2008 New 'Madagascar 2' Trailer Still Likes to 'Move It' Despite How Obnoxious Moving It Is
All the "I Like to Move It" singing and dancing that made the first trailer unbearable but now twice as enraging! The secret? Topical airport security jokes.
(Thanks Kyle and Chris.)
Jun 26 2008 'Kung Fu Panda 2' Being Made, Will Probably be Called 'Fu 2' or Something
Alright. Since it's now received many glowing reviews and ended up with a respectable 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, maybe I was wrong about Kung Fu Panda. While I'll still never see it, perhaps it isn't a black & white turd thrown at cinema walls with the hope that the familiar voices of celebrities will pacify you until the animated poop can streak its way down into a waiting DVD case. (I never actually said this, but I thought it.) But a sequel!? From the Animation Guild blog:
But down on the lower levels, artists are working. A story crew has started early work in Kung Fu Panda, the Sequel, even while animators are hand-drawing new material for the DVD of Kung Fu Panda, the original.
This is definitely going to be a black & white turd thrown at cinema walls with the hope that the familiar voices of celebrities will pacify you until the animated poop can streak its way down into a waiting DVD case.
May 19 2008 'Blackbeard' Pirate Movie Will Probably Have a Humorous MPAA Rating
With the recognition of Talk-Like-a-Pirate Day, the existence of ironic pirate tattoos and apparel, and pirate references often being confused with humor, I rank pirates alongside ninjas and robots as something that's fun in moderation (and Lego sets) but really obnoxious as a prominent cultural obsession. Now a movie about Blackbeard is in the works, and in a shocking change of heart, I've decided I might be able to forego my bitterness to give it a chance. Mostly because Barry Josephson--owner of a pirate museum and voted Most Likely to Become Mikey's Dad from The Goonies in high school--and the writer of Amistad and Gladiator are involved, and will likely ensure it's not a tongue-in-cheek wreck. From Variety:
DreamWorks is bringing a project on the life of legendary pirate Blackbeard to the bigscreen.David Franzoni, who wrote "Amistad" and "Gladiator" for the studio, will pen "Blackbeard," which delves into the life of British buccaneer Edward Teach.
Barry Josephson ("Enchanted") is producing alongside motivational speaker and former Philadelphia 76ers prexy/co-owner Pat Croce, who wrote "Pirate Soul," a book that chronicled the golden era of piracy, which spanned 1690-1730.
If LucasArts announces another Monkey Island video game, I will officially pronounce this Year of Me Not Hating Pirate Stuff That Much. At least until I realize how annoying it is that I've created a second pirate holiday.
Pirate pic sets sail at DreamWorks [Variety]
May 9 2008 Ugh, New 'Kung Fu Panda' Trailer
The best trailer for WALL-E yet.
Kung Fu Panda Trailer 2 [Yahoo!]
