Category: Comedy

Mandalay reaches ‘Full Metal Panic’

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It seems as thought Hollywood is gradually moving it’s eyes towards Anime and Manga as a source of new material, much in the same way it has with comic books and graphic novels. So long as it’s done properly, I find this to be a positive step towards a renewed “freshness” in Hollywood filmmaking.

Mandalay Pictures has picked up rights to ‘Full Metal Panic’ and plans to develop a big screen adaptation. The original series mixes comedy, action and teen romance.

The property derives from writer Shoji Gatoh’s series about a teenage anti-terrorist commando named Sousuke Sagara who is given the mission to protect a high-school girl with mystical powers. — HR

I’ve not read the Manga series or seen the anime, but ‘Full Metal Panic’ is certainly a story that would appeal to the ‘tween audiences. The story takes place in a world virtually void of adults.

Born as a serialized novel from Gatoh and the illustrator Shiki Douji, “Panic” was developed in the early 2000’s as a Japanese anime by the Asian firm Kyoto Animation and eventually also yielded a spinoff series. — HR

According to Hollywood Reporter, Zac Efron has been possibly connected to the project, which makes sense considering his target audience. I’m less interested in this potential adaptation as I would be more sci-fi/mature-themed sources, but it may surprise us anyway.

[source: Hollywood Reporter]

Keaton (Diane) and Goldblum Join ‘Morning Glory’

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I know. Â  When I saw that Keaton and Goldblum had joined ‘Morning Glory,’ I thought, “OMG! Michael Keaton and Jeff Goldblum, together at at last. Â  Bruce Wayne and Ian Malcolm are gonna kick some ass!” Â  Then, I realized ‘Morning Glory’ already had Harrison Ford on board, and my childhood nostalgia almost caved in my skull just from thinking about it. Â  Then, I realized something else. Â  It’s not Michael Keaton. Â  It’s Diane Keaton.

Okay. Â  Two out of three ain’t bad. Â  We still have Goldblum and Ford together in the same picture.

JJ Abrams is producing this film about  an aspiring news producer (Rachel McAdams) who tries to save a failing morning show by getting control of its feuding anchors. Ford and Keaton will play the dueling on-air personalities. Goldblum will portray McAdams’ boss.   I think I’d rather see Keaton play the boss and have some on-screen sparring between Ford and Goldblum.

Roger Michell (‘Enduring Love’ and ‘Changing Lanes’) is taking director’s duties when the film begins production next month in New York. Â  My dreams to see Jeff Goldblum and Michael Keaton in a buddy-cop movie live on.

Source: Variety

DVD Review: ‘Bedtime Stories’

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When I first saw Adam Sandler was beginning to go the way of childrens films over his far greater ‘R’ rated movies, a little tear came to my eye and I had to take a moment to weep. Gone were the days that my favorite adultchild actor would be making shampoo and conditoner fight, fighting imaginary giant penguins and trying to take it to Bob Barker. What I found when I watched ‘Bedtime Stories’ was a suprisingly fun movie that everyone in the family can enjoy, and my daughter has been enjoying multiple times now that we have it on DVD/Blu-Ray.

Adam Sandler plays Skeeter Bronson who was raised in the hotel business and when his dad gets bought out is made the promise of eventually taking over the hotel. Fast forward to 2008 and he is still in the hotel business but not running it, instead the takes up a toolbox and fixes problems around the hotel with very little respect. When his sister has to go out of town he is asked to watch his niece and nephew for a week, and thats where things get crazy. As he is telling them a bedtime story in which the kids take part and make up their own versions that eventually start to come true. Is that pure coincidence or devine intervention? You wont find out in the movie but that doesnt matter, its fun and enjoyable to watch.

Russell Brand, Keri Russell, Guy Pearce(strange role for him), Courney Cox and even Lucy Lawless make up Sandlers supporting cast and everyone does a great job. The incredibly beautiful Keri Russell makes you fall in love with her in every movie and this one is no different!

Definitely go out and buy this one for your kids, its one that they can watch multiple times and still doesnt get old. We got the DVD/Blu-Ray combo which has both versions of the movie in the package as well as a digital copy. The DVD has some great special features which include deleted scenes, outtakes, a special feature on Bugsy, and if you have Blu-Ray Disney BD-Live.

Jake Kasdan to Make Magic with ‘Bruce Dickenson’

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Jake Kasdan (Walk Hard), son of Lawrence Kasdan, has signed on to make ‘Burt Dickenson: The Most Powerful Magician on Planet Earth’ his next project. Chris Bender and J.C. Spink are producing the film for New Line. John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein wrote the script.

The story centers on a Burt Dickenson, one half of successful two-man team who accidentally kills is partner and loses his inner magic. He has to find a way to rekindle it to fight his rival, a magician named Xander Storm. — HR

The movie sounds like it could be a lot of fun. The premise appears to one that takes the old school of magic and pits it in a rivalry against the new school of mentalism and illusions. In other words, expect a hilarious ‘Zoolander’ style approach to the likes of David Copperfield meets David Blaine/Criss Angel, with the humor of ‘Walk Hard’.

[source: Hollywood Reporter]

Christina Ricci is Born to be Sandler’s Star

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‘Born to be a Star’ is the newest comedy in the works from Adam Sandler, who co-wrote and is producing the film with Jack Giarraputo.

The story centers on a small-town nerd who stumbles upon a family secret: His quiet and demure parents were famous porn stars in the 1970s. This motivates him to leave Northern Iowa for Hollywood, hoping to follow in their footsteps and fulfill his destiny as the biggest adult-film star in the world. — HR

Tom Brady (The Animal, The Hot Chick) is set to direct the “adult” comedy and Christina Ricci has been tapped to play the lead role of the innocent girlfriend.

[source: Hollywood Reporter]

‘The Hangover’ Already Set to Get Sequelized

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This is pretty unprecedented. Â  Normally, when a film gets a sequel set before it even comes out, it’s a huge tentpole studio movie in the vein of ‘Iron Man’ or ‘Star Trek.’ Â  However, Todd Phillips, along with Scot Armstrong (‘Old School’ and ‘Semi-Pro’), has been set by Warner Bros. to pen a sequel to his new film, ‘The Hangover.’

‘The Hangover,’ which doesn’t come out until June 5th, follows three friends after a wild bachelor party in Vegas. Â  It is so wild, in fact, that they have no clue what happened, and they set out to piece together how they came to be in possession of a cop car, a tiger, and a baby. Â  Of course, they also have to find the groom, who has gone missing.

If you haven’t seen the trailer, yet, do yourself a favor right now! Â  You will not laugh louder than when you see Mike Tyson, yes, that Mike Tyson, air drumming to Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight. Â  Very funny stuff.

Phillips will be back as director on the sequel. Â  Warner hopes to launch production on the film later this year.

Source: Variety

Paul Weitz in Talks to Direct ‘Little Fockers’

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So, Jay Roach isn’t directing ‘Little Fockers.’   Yeah, we knew that last month.   Unfortunately, we then said Peter Segal would be stepping into the director’s position.   Now, that has been proven inaccurate, as well.

Word came down today that Paul Weitz (‘About a Boy’ and ‘In Good Company’) is in talks to direct the third installment of the adventures of Gaylord Focker.   Note, he is in talks for the job.   Nothing is set in stone at this point.

We will let you know as soon as anything official comes out.   Weitz just recently wrapped production on the horror fantasy flick, ‘Cirque du Freak.’

Source: Variety

‘Scott Pilgrim’ Pics Galore

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Edgar Wright has been updating his own website on a daily basis every since production began on ‘Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World.’Â   Today, we catch you up on all the photos he’s posted.

There are a couple of production stills where we see some filming actually going on.   However, most of these pics are just candid, behind-the-scenes shots.

Check ’em out: Continue reading ‘Scott Pilgrim’ Pics Galore

International Red Band Trailer for ‘Bruno’ Hits! Respek!

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Didn’t get a chance to catch the ‘Bruno’ footage at SXSW (sorry, Sam Raimi returning to horror won out), but buzz was it was absolutely hilarious and twice as offensive as ‘Borat.’Â   In fact, word came earlier this week that ‘Bruno’s first viewing by the MPAA garnered the film an NC-17 rating.

Today, we bring to you the international, red band trailer.

Check it out:

“That is such a Samantha thing to say.”

It’s red band, people, so don’t watch it at work.   It is, however, very hilarious.

‘Bruno’ comes out on July 10th.

Source: Trailer Addict

Sony Prez confirms ‘Men in Black 3’

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Rory Bruer, president of Sony, apparently revealed that the studio is moving forward with a third installment in the ‘Men in Black’ franchise. After a long period filled with rumors about another movie, Sony has confirmed that they are developing the script now and hope to bring everyone together to make the popular and profitable franchise a trilogy. Bruer, who spoke at ShoWest, made this announcement along with similar news about ‘Ghostbusters 3’ and ‘Spider-Man 4’. Not much else is known at this point and there’s no confirmation on whether Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith will return, but it seems unlikely that the project would happen without at least one of them.

[source: JoBlo]