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. | Director Chuck Russell is making a movie adaptation of the classic Mandrake the Magician comic book series. Lee Falk wrote the original comics, while Thomas Dean Donnelly has written this adaptation. He has previously written Sahara and A Sound of Thunder and is currently wirting/developing the new Conan film. The story revolved around Leon Mandrake, a magician who uses his various abilities, including illusions and hypnotism, to fight crime. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is starring as Mandrake, while the popular Las Vegas illusionist, magician and entertainer Criss Angel is rumored to have a role as the character Theron, but I’ve also read he’s only serving as a consultant to the film. Perhaps he’s doing both and we’ll see him in a cameo appearance? Apparently, MMA fighter Randy Couture also has a role in the film as a yet to be explained character named Jed. While I am a bit of a former comic book nut, I really don’t know much about this series. However, Russell is an interesting, if not always successful filmmaker. The films he directed that I enjoyed include A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 and The Blob (1988) … The Mask, Eraser, and The Scorpion King were alright … but, I absolutely hated Bless the Child (2000). |
Month: May 2008
Jada Pinkett Smith’s ‘The Human Contract’ Trailer
Jada Pinkett Smith, the wife of Will Smith, has done pretty much everything in the entertainment industry. She has a long list of movies under her belt, good ones I might add, she has written for her “All of Us” TV series and was a lead singer in a band. But now she can add “movie director” to that list. From what I see in the trailer, The movie actually looks pretty decent. The story revolves around a successful corporate type harboring a deep, dark secret, who befriends a free-spirited stranger. This stranger encourages him to ditch his stuffy lifestyle and live life in reckless abandon. The movie stars Jada, Paz Vega, Jason Clarke, Idris Elba and Ted Danson. There is no distributor on board and thus no release date. Check out the trailer below.
Platinum Dunes will make ‘Ouiji’ Bored …
The ever so popular and brilliant Michael Bay and his company Platinum Dunes will be bringing us a movie we’ve all been waiting for … Ouija Board. Yes, the classic Hasbro board game, which for decades has had thousands of American ‘tweens gathered for slumber parties to tempt the powers of the dark side, is being made into a “movie” and aren’t we all excited?
As just one of a handful of Hasbro board games being slated for the big screen treatment, Ouiji will have Elf writer David Berenbaum writing the screenplay. Having written The Haunted Mansion and The Spiderwick Chronicles, one would expect some weird kid’s movie featuring the Ouiji game, but the movie is apparently being touted as a supernatural thriller. Not much is known aside from this.
Today’s Past in the Movie … May 31
May 31 †¦ What occurred in movie-land today in years past?
Events on this day:
1790 – U.S. Copyright Law is enacted. I’d say this is movie relevant in today’s world.
1982 – Rocky III records $16,015,408 box office on opening weekend.
Born on this day:
1908 – Don Ameche (Actor: Heaven Can Wait, Trading Places, Coccoon)
1922 – Denholm Elliott (Actor: Indiana Jones & the Raiders of the Lost Ark)
1930 – Clint Eastwood (Actor/Director: Dirty Harry, Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby)
1949 – Tom Berenger (Actor: The Big Chill, Major League, Platoon, Sliver)
1961 – Lea Thompson (Actress: All the Right Moves, Back to the Future trilogy)
1976 – Colin Farrell (Actor: Phone Booth, The Recruit, Daredevil, In Bruges)
1977 – Eric Christian Olsen (Actor: The Hot Chick, Dumb & Dumberer, Beerfest)
Died on this day:
1977 – William Castle (Producer/Director: House on Haunted Hill, 13 Ghosts)
Verizon Wireless ‘Dark Knight’ Trailer
A third trailer for The Dark Knight has popped up on Youtube and It seems to be the same as the last trailer, only this time comes with a new opening which looks wicked! It’s also apparently a mobile download from Verizon Wireless, so it’s a little crappy. Still definitely worth a look. Check it out below.
Robert Downey Jr. is the hardest working guy in Hollywood!
By now you should’ve seen Ironman unless you live in a cave. Hopefully you caught Charlie Bartlett earlier this year. And now with Tropic Thunder on the horizon plus a Hugh Hefner bio-pic…Robert Downet Jr. is the hardest working guy in show business! I just learned of another picture he has on the way called the Soloist.
In the Soloist, Downey Jr. plays a LA Times columnist Steve Lopez who stumbles along a musical genius Nathaniel Ayers. Ayers, played by Oscar winner Jaimie Foxx, is a homeless man living in LA’s skidrow. The Soloist based on articles by Lopez and directed by Joe Wright (Atonement). The Soloist is in post production and is due in theaters November 21, 2008.
Brand New ‘Hellboy 2: The Golden Army’ Poster
Only one word can describe this … SEXY!!
Robert Rodriguez finishes casting for ‘Shorts’
Just received this info…
“The multi-generational ensemble cast includes two-time Emmy nominee Jon Cryer (TV’s “Two and a Half Men†), Oscar nominee William H. Macy (“Fargo†), Leslie Mann (“Knocked Up†), and three-time Emmy winner James Spader (TV’s “Boston Legal†), as well as young stars Jimmy Bennett (upcoming “Star Trek†), Kat Dennings (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin†), Trevor Gagnon (TV’s “The New Adventures of Old Christine†), Leo Howard (upcoming “G.I. Joe†), Devon Gearhart (upcoming “Changeling†), Rebel Rodriguez (“Planet Terror†), and Jake Short and Jolie Vanier making their feature film debuts.
“Shorts†is set in the suburb of Black Falls, where all the houses look the same and everyone works for BLACK BOX Unlimited Worldwide Industries Incorporated, whose Mr. Black’s BLACK BOX is the ultimate communication and do-it-all gadget that’s sweeping the nation. Other than keeping his parents employed, however, Mr. Black’s BLACK BOX has done nothing for 11-year-old Toe Thompson (Jimmy Bennett), who just wants to make a few friends†¦until a mysterious rainbow-colored rock falls from the sky, hits him in the head and changes everything. The Rainbow Rock does Mr. Black’s BLACK BOX one better: it grants wishes to anyone who holds it.”
I love Kat Dennings, and William H Macy. This movie should be a pretty good time for the family, but I dont see Danny Trejo listed on this cast list..i am certain its just some mistake!
‘The Germs’ being immortalized in new biopic …
Rodger Grossman has spent 10 years trying to get this movie done, and finally its coming to fruition. Shane West and Bijou Phillips star. Punk is something I hold close to my heart, and it really excites me to see a feature full length about such a legendary punk band …
“Actor Shane West portrays Crash, who died of a heroin overdose at age 22 in 1980. The other actors who play the Germs’ members were taught to play instruments by Pat Smear, the band’s original guitarist and music producer on the film, and their recordings were used in the movie.”
Shane West has actually toured with The Germs doing vocals for them, so this role isn’t much of a stretch for him. We are sitting down to talk to Rodger tonight, and will post the interview tomorrow. For screening dates, and other info go check out their MYSPACE page..
New West Memphis 3 video …
For those of you that don’t know, The West Memphis 3 are 3 young gentlemen that are wrongfully imprisoned in Arkansas. They were charged with committing heinous murders for 3 young boys. I am personally connected to the case in ways that I wont go into, but here is a new video for everyone to watch. New evidence has come out that clears them, however there is a lengthy process to free them. Watch the video, and then go to http://WM3.org for more info.