Nov 20 2009 Dustin Hoffman Possibly Escaped the Focker Sequel Hole
Has Dustin Hoffman resisted the endless Focker sequel allure that has attracted such talent as Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel? Perhaps!
Sources tell EW.com that there has been strife between Hoffman and the studio over the size of the part, the scheduling of the days on set and other difficulties. Hoffman had tentatively agreed to appear in what was to be a very funny cameo at the end of the film. That seems to have now fallen apart, due to either salary issues or scheduling problems, or both.
I'll feel marginally better about the once-great actor's career until a week from now when I'm writing about how he's doing Tootsie 2: Re-Dressed.
Nov 6 2008 New 'Tale of Despereaux' Trailer Bans Soup, Rats
Here's the new trailer for Tale of Despereaux, the animated movie involving difficult-to-spell CGI rodents and soup that isn't Ratataouille. Summary!
Once upon a time, in the faraway kingdom of Dor, there was magic in the air, laughter aplenty and gallons of mouthwatering soup. But an accident left the King broken-hearted, the Princess filled with longing and the townsfolk without their soup. Sunlight disappeared. The world became gray. All hope was lost in this land…until Despereaux Tilling was born.A modern fairy tale from visionary filmmaker Gary Ross, together with directors Sam Fell & Rob Stevenhagen, The Tale of Desperaux tells the story of several unlikely heroes: Despereaux (Matthew Broderick), a brave mouse banished to the dungeon for speaking with a human; Roscuro (Dustin Hoffman), a good-hearted rat who loves light and soup, but is exiled to darkness; Pea (Emma Watson), a Princess in a gloomy castle who is prisoner to her father’s grief; and Mig (Tracey Ullman), a servant girl who longs to be a Princess, but is forced to serve the jailer (Robbie Coltrane).
My issue with this movie is that, if you watch the trailer, you see its entire plot hinges on the king banning rats and soup from his kingdom, which makes no sense. How do you ban rats? Tell them they're banned? Make little "no rats" signs? There's no way to ban rats. As far as I'm concerned, rats have always been banned. I have never willfully accepted co-habitating with rats. For me, a rat ban does not work as a plot device.
And don't even get me started on banning soup. No legitimate king would ever ban soup. Monarchies are too historically rooted in Panera Bread franchises to ever allow that kind of drastic change.
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Oct 24 2008 'Last Chance Harvey' Trailer, Because Your Parents Need Dramedy Too
Here's the trailer for Last Chance Harvey, a romantic dramedy with Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson showing you can still find quirky, indie rock-soundtracked love even when you're an old person. I suggest watching it because it provides a rare glimpse into a future "what if?" scenario where we continue to let Zach Braff make and star in movies into his sixties.
Continue Reading " 'Last Chance Harvey' Trailer, Because Your Parents Need Dramedy Too "
Feb 12 2008 'Kung Fu Panda' Trailer is Big, Clumsy
Like pretty much all of Dreamworks Animation's efforts, Kung Fu Panda must have began with the great idea of getting big name voice cast to take on the roles of goofy animated animals. They succeeded in this noble effort, getting Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, and Angelina Jolie to star, but it seems like that's all there is to it.
Outside of hearing stars' disembodied voices, the film relies entirely on the premise that it's hilarious how fat and clumsy this schlub is. It might be moderately funny the first time, but how many times can you watch a cartoon panda fall over and laugh? I hope your answer is at least seven times, twice in slow motion, because that's pretty much all the content you're going to find here.
I watched this thing several times, and I've determined it's impossible not to roll your eyes when "Kung Fu Fighting" starts playing. And remember the end of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (and Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze), when Master Splinter finally breaks his solemn facade to give the audience a long-awaited "cowabunga"? Well, I don't want to ruin anything, but get ready to laugh--again!
Oct 29 2007 'Kung Fu Panda' Trailer Panders Fast as Lightning
It looks like Dreamworks is already sending out their cease and desists, but for the time being, you can check out the teaser trailer to their latest CGI masterpiece, Kung Fu Panda (AKA Shrek the Panda) at /Film.
I never understand why they forcibly remove the free advertising they're getting. It's like they don't want us to see how they got the lead voice actor, Jack Black, to ham it up in live-action antics, like Seinfeld with Bee Movie only even more patronizing. Or how they cleverly found a little-known Kung Fu-themed song, "Kung Fu Fighting," to subtlely broadcast that, indeed, this movie does involve Kung Fu.
Kung Fu Panda Teaser Trailer [/Film]
Sep 5 2007 Mr. Magorium Makes Olfactory Advertisement
Fox and the LA Times announced a special Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium advertisement on September 9th that will treat readers to the "universally beloved" scent of frosted cake, reminding all who smell it to "be young and have fun." The disillusioned press release explains that Mr. Magorium...
"is the story of the strangest, most fantastic, most wonderful toy store in the world and the equally fantastic and wonderfully innovative ad will debut in the paper's annual Fall Movie Sneaks section."
The unique scented inks in the ad place the Mr. Magorium marketing department only two decades technologically behind scratch 'n sniff stickers. Though, unfortunately, the team still trails farts by millenniums.
Smell Mr. Magorium [ComingSoon]
Jun 29 2007 Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium Trailer
243-year-old magic toymaker Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) decides to retire, putting his hot, boy-haircut-sporting associate (Natalie Portman) in charge. Unfortunately, he also employs a stodgy accountant (Jason Bateman), who fulfills accountant stereotypes by denying the existence of magic and fun. There must be a larger conflict somewhere, but I didn't notice it.
If Rip Taylor ever gets wind of Hoffman's performance, he's going to be seriously pissed he didn't get the part.
