Jan 8 2009 Trailer for Non-Video Game-Based 'Street Fighter'
Guess what, Street Fighter--you aren't the only street fighting movie that outwardly states its premise in the title. There's also Fighting, starring Channing Tatum as a rising street fighter and Terrence Howard as an underground Don King with the hair of Shia LaBeouf, and here's the trailer:
Continue Reading " Trailer for Non-Video Game-Based 'Street Fighter' "
Nov 3 2008 More on the Case of Terrence Howard v. Marvel
Entertainment Weekly has another update to the ongoing debate on why Terrence Howard was cut out of Iron Man 2 (he wouldn't take a pay cut and wasn't that good at acting, apparently):
Hollywood insiders believe the exit stems from Terrence Howard's difficult behavior on the set of Iron Man. But those with intimate knowledge of the situation suggest a far more dramatic backstory: Howard was the first actor signed to the film and, on top of that, was the highest-paid. That's right: more than Gwyneth Paltrow. More than Jeff Bridges. More than Robert Downey Jr. And once the project fully came together, it was too late to renegotiate his deal. It didn't help that, according to one source, Favreau and his producers were ultimately unhappy with Howard's performance, and spent a lot of time cutting and reshooting his scenes. (Favreau could not be reached for comment, while Howard's publicist says: ''Terrence had a tremendous experience working on Iron Man.'')As such, when Favreau and screenwriter Justin Theroux went to map out the sequel they found themselves minimizing Howard's story line. Once Marvel learned that Favreau was thinking of curtailing the role, the studio went to the actor's agents with a new and drastically reduced offer — a number that's similar to what supporting cast members were paid for the first movie. The agents, according to sources, were so taken aback by this new figure — estimated at somewhere between a 50 and 80 percent pay cut — that they questioned it. Why did they blanch? Multiple sources say that Marvel execs never told Howard's reps that they had issues with the star's on-set conduct. (Marvel would not comment for this story.)
So much drama. Who's at fault here? Should Terrence Howard have taken less pay and done a better job acting? Should Marvel have at least told him before they recast his role? If I'm having a party, should I invite them both and risk them getting into an awkward argument when Marvel shows up with Don Cheadle? Is it possible Marvel found out that Terrence Howard is a skeleton wearing a magical flesh suit to blend in with the general population until he can ready his skeleton army? These are the questions we must answer before Iron Man 2 comes out.
Oct 29 2008 Misguided Petition Hopes to Save Terrence Howard's 'Iron Man 2' Role
Some people who care an enormous amount about Iron Man acting continuity have started a petition to get Terrence Howard back the role he lost to Don Cheadle. Here it is, in its entirety:
Terrence Howard will need to be in Iron Man 2, or else Continuity will destroy the entire Franchise. Show your support, and sign!
Two days later, this section was added for clarification:
Its obvious. You don't replace major characters in summer block buster movies. Just plain stupid
Well, that's a solid, well-written argument, except for that Dark Knight did replace a major character, and some would consider that movie both a blockbuster and not just plain stupid. Is that all you've got? Surely there must be more motivation for convincing Marvel to let Howard tkeep the role. Let's take a look at the webpage someone seriously made, HowardNotCheadle.com (via Latino Review):
Marvel is under the impression that just any person can play Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes. They are sadly mistaken.Marvel asked Terrence Howard to be Rhodey. He signed on to play Rhodey. Terrence Howard became Rhodey.
We were under the impression that when you signed a contract with someone, it was their word.
Yeah! I'm just a guy on the internet saying things, but what about that contract I've never read! We had your word, I assumed!
Yeesh. It's time to accept that there's probably a legitimate reason Terrence Howard was dropped from the film (like how he says crazy things), and that Don Cheadle is now Rhodey. Like all other casting changes, you'll probably eventually be OK with it. Just think how we once thought Michael Keaton was the definitive Batman, but now when you hear "Dark Knight", you just think Val Kilmer. You'll get used to it.
Oct 20 2008 Surprise, Terrence Howard, You Aren't in 'Iron Man' Anymore!
Remember last week, when the trade papers reported Don Cheadle had replaced Terrence Howard in Iron Man 2? Whup, it turns out that's when Terrence Howard found out too! Here's how Howard described it in an interview with NPR:
It was the surprise of a lifetime. There was no explanation. [The contract] just...up and vanished. I read something in the trades implicating that it was about money or something, but apparently the contracts that we write and sign aren't worth the paper that they're printed on, sometimes. Promises aren't kept, and good faith negotiations aren't always held up.
Come on, Marvel. That's the Hollywood equivalent of breaking up with someone by changing your relationship status on Facebook and hoping they get the hint. And then to immediately switch to "is now in a relationship with Don Cheadle"? Why not post a note on his wall that you'll be over tomorrow to pick up your military uniform and that Coldplay album he borrowed? You are ice cold, Marvel.
Of course, there's always the chance he's skewing the facts to make himself seem innocent, but I have to believe we'd get straight talk from any man so strangely frank about his need for a woman to clean herself with baby wipes.
Oct 14 2008 Cheadle Supplants Howard in 'Iron Man 2'
Ut oh, Iron Maniacs, sounds like there's going to be some casting holes in the Iron Man sequel! According to the Hollywood Reporter, Terrance Howard--who played JIm Rhodes, the man who would later become War Machine--has been replaced by Don Cheadle:
Don Cheadle is stepping in to replace Terrence Howard in "Iron Man 2," Marvel Studios' sequel to its summer blockbuster.Marvel had no comment, but sources close to the deal said negotiations with Howard fell through over financial differences, among other reasons. Marvel, which had wanted to work with Cheadle, then decided to take the role in another direction and approached the actor, who is shooting Antoine Fuqua's "Brooklyn's Finest" with Richard Gere and Ethan Hawke.
What's the deal, Marvel? You think all respected black actors are the same? You can just trade them around like your Pokeyman cards and no one will notice or care? Granted, my parents still maintain that Denzel Washington is in the Ocean's movies, but still, not cool. It will take me at least one to two scenes to get over this jarring switch--and that's one to two more than it took to get over the Holmes-to-Gyllenhaal switch in The Dark Knight.
Nov 8 2007 AM Poster Post: 'Awake' Poster has Awoken
Awake is about a guy waking up from his anesthesia during surgery, where he overhears the surgeons are plotting to kill him. So why does this poster, with a shaft of dramatic light illuminating the giant heads of Alba and Christensen, look so much like an alien abduction movie?
A better poster would be the Operation game board--that guy was always awake during surgery--with Hayden Christensen's head on it. And his red nose is lit up, and on it says "SURGEON MURDERERS ATTACKING ME!" I think that would really get the point across.
'Awake' Poster Premiere! [Cinematical]
Nov 5 2007 'Iron Man' International Trailer Has a Woman
A new international trailer for Iron Man has been released that, though shorter, shows off more of the relationship between Tony Stark and Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts. The only logical reason for the inclusion of a larger female role for international audiences is, unfortunately, that Marvel Studios thinks America is gay.
How did you get this idea, Marvel? Was it the insane popularity of the Broadway version of The Producers? It's funny and entertaining, all right? It doesn't mean anything. Is it the number of Express Men permeating our nation's malls? Come on, everyone needs a dress shirt sometime. Don't judge. Canada is just a close friend, nothing more. Haven't you seen how much we love sports and beer? Granted, we have no excuse for the continued popularity of Madonna, but at least point the finger at France first. Have you seen these guys?
Also, the inclusion of Black Sabbath's Iron Man in only the U.S. Trailer implies Marvel thinks America want the most literal interpretation of heavy metal we can get.
'Iron Man' International Trailer [YouTube]
Oct 29 2007 'Awake' Trailer is Its Own Anesthesia
Clay has got it all: Terrence Howard complimenting him, Jessica Alba bathing clothed with him, a mom who for some reason hates the idea of him marrying Jessica Alba. But, wouldn't you know it, he needs some sort of undefined chest surgery that might kill him.
Such is the plight of Hayden Christensen in Awake. And as if that's not bad enough, he ends up being one of these freaks who stays awake during the anesthesia, allowing him to hear Terrence Howard and Fisher Stevens plot to kill him during surgery and steal his fortune.
Aside from the obvious issue, that it's a plot salvaged from a rejected Days of Our Lives storyline, you might be wondering how they can build a movie around a motionless protagonist. The answer to that (I think) is by sending out a ghost/surgeon version of himself to get Jessica Alba to help him.
Yeah, I don't know either. The trailer is under the cut.
NOTE: That is Fisher Stevens, right? For some reason, the IMDB doesn't list him as part of the film. And you know that if Fisher Stevens is separating himself from a project, it must be worse than the Super Mario Bros. movie, Short Circuit 2 and every episode of Early Edition.
Oct 19 2007 AM Poster Post: 'Perfect Holiday' Involves Black Arts
Queen Latifah, who is apparently an old fashioned train conductor, has been trapped in a Christmas bulb with Hustle & Flow. She dreams of one day capturing Black Santa and his family in a snow globe, likely as revenge. If these events eventually transpire, she would consider it the perfect holiday. It's unclear if this has anything to do with her last holiday, Last Holiday.
Jun 26 2007 'Iron Man' Cast Photo
People in comic books grow facial hair
Here's a new cast photo from Iron Man. It doesn't come out for a year! Get excited! Okay, that'ts enough, snap out of it. It's time to go to work and the shit's not going to shovel itself.
