What's New?
Current Events and News from the Mainstream.
Time to set some dates and times. Word has come in on several Marvel comic projects and more importantly when the company is aiming for release:
2004: Blade: Trinity, Man-Thing
2005: Fantastic Four, Elektra, Iron Man, Ghost Rider, Luke Cage
2006: Black Widow, DeathLok, Dr. Strange, Iron Fist,
The Hulk 2, Namor: The Sub-Mariner, Nick Fury, Punisher 2, X-Men 3
2007+: Spider Man 3, Black Panther, Captain America, Thor
Meanwhile, some project start of shooting dates for Summer 2005 release movies have now been set and here's a shortlist:
Aeon Flux : 07/19/2004
Bewitched : 08/15/2004
Black Dahlia : 05/24/2004
Mission Impossible 3 : 06/01/2004
The Ring sequel : 05/14/2004
The Pink Panther : 05/15/2004
King Kong : 0Aeon Flux : 07/19/2004
Finally due to their competition at Cannes, the runtimes have been announced for four major movies. Michael Moore’s documentary “Farenheit 911” clocks in at 110 minutes, “Shrek 2” charms in 92 minutes, “Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2” runs around 100 minutes, and "Troy" comes in at 155 minutes.
Thanks to 'James', 'Movieman' & 'Antoine'.
Plot: Adaptation of the third book in J.K. Rowling's popular children's novels about Harry Potter, a boy who learns on his eleventh birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical powers of his own. Fearing punishment from Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon after 'inflating' Petunia's sister, Harry lunges out into the darkness with his heavy trunk and his owl Hedwig. As it turns out, Harry isn't punished at all for his errant wizardry. Instead he is mysteriously rescued from his Muggle neighborhood and whisked off in a triple-decker, violently purple bus to spend the remaining weeks of summer in a friendly inn called the Leaky Cauldron. What Harry has to face as he begins his third year at Hogwarts explains why the officials let him off easily. It seems that Sirius Black--an escaped convict from the prison of Azkaban--is on the loose. Not only that, but he's after Harry Potter. But why? And why do the Dementors, the guards hired to protect him, chill Harry's very heart when others are unaffected?
Angel gets Bitten to Death!
In a surprise decision, Zap2it reports that the WB Network has confirmed that the current fifth season run of "Angel" will be its last - a sudden move which has raised a few eyebrows in the industry and shock amongst fans of the Buffy-verse.
Thus the remaining eight episodes of "Angel" will be the last to air and will have to wrap up some long-standing storylines such as Angel's future, along with more recent twists like the gang's working for the evil law firm of Wolfram & Hart. Then again maybe not - the WB hasn't entirely closed the book just yet though with the possibility of TV movies still there. Here's the official statement from the network:
"For the last seven years 'Angel' and 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' have been cornerstones of our network. The sum total of the work done on those shows has produced some of the proudest moments in our history
Like some of the great series that are leaving the air this year, including 'Frasier' and 'Friends,' the cast, crew, writers and producers of 'Angel' deserve to be able to wrap up the series in a way befitting a classic television series and that is why we went to Joss to let him know that this would be the last year of the series on The WB.
We have discussed continuing the 'Angel' legacy with special movie events next year, which is still on the table. In a perfect world, all of these details would be completed before this information went to the press so that we could be definitive about the show's ongoing future. But in any case, we did not want to contemplate this being the last year of 'Angel' without giving the show the option of crafting their own destiny for this character and for this series".
Soon after the announcement, creator Joss Whedon spoke out about the decision over on The Bronze site: "To answer some obvious questions: No, we had no idea this was coming. Yes, we will finish out the season. No, I don't think the WB is doing the right thing. Yes, I'm grateful they did it early enough for my people to find other jobs. Yes, my heart is breaking.
As far as TV movies or whatever, I'm not thinking that far ahead. I actually hope my actors and writers are all too busy. We always planned this season finale to be a great capper to the season and the show in general. (And a great platform for a new season, of course.) We'll proceed ahead as planned". Thanks to 'Gav', 'Jessica', 'Brian', 'Marcus', 'Ramy', 'John', 'Tony', 'Zhmike' & 'Joshua'
Star Wars Episode III "More Action Packed"!
TheForce.Net reports that Dreamwatch magazine has just published an interview with fight coordinator Nick Gillard who spoke quite a bit about the film's lightsaber battles in the last prequel:
"It's going to be the best prequel. I can't see how it won't be. Episode III has got everything the other films had and more! The movie is 60 to 70 per cent fighting. Ewan [McGregor, Obi-Wan Kenobi] had 1,000 moves to learn, as opposed to the three pages he had to learn in The Phantom Menace.
There's tons of fighting in this one. Episode III also ties in beautifully with all the other movies. And when I read the script, I was really surprised by how emotional it is. Everyone working on the film took so much care with it. Nobody wants to get it wrong". "Star Wars: Episode III" is scheduled to open May 2005.
Troy
Plot: Based predominantly on Homer's "The Iliad". Throughout time, men have waged war. Some for power, some for glory, some for honor and some for love. In ancient Greece, the passion of two of history's most legendary lovers, Paris, Prince of Troy (Bloom) and Helen (Kruger), Queen of Sparta, ignites a war that will devastate a civilization. When Paris steals Helen away from her husband, King Menelaus (Gleeson), it is an insult that cannot be suffered. Familial pride dictates that an affront to Menelaus is an affront to his brother Agamemnon (Cox), powerful King of the Myceneans, who soon unites all the massive tribes of Greece to steal Helen back from Troy in defense of his brother's honor.
In truth, Agamemnon's pursuit of honor is corrupted by his overwhelming greed - he needs control of Troy to ensure the supremacy of his already vast empire. The walled city, under the leadership of King Priam (O'Toole) and defended by mighty Prince Hector (Bana), is a citadel that no army has been able to breach. One man alone stands as the key to victory or defeat over Troy - Achilles (Pitt), believed to be the greatest warrior alive. Arrogant, rebellious and seemingly invincible, Achilles has no allegiance to anyone or anything, save his own glory. It is his insatiable hunger for eternal renown that leads him to attack the gates of Troy under Agamemnon's banner - but it will be love that ultimately decides his fate. Two worlds will go to war for honor and power. Thousands will fall in pursuit of glory. And for love, a nation will burn to the ground.
Spiderman 2
Plot: Peter Parker faces new challenges and struggles with "the gift and the curse," desperately trying to balance his dual identities as the web-slinging superhero Spider-Man and his life as a college student. Tormented by his secrets, Peter finds that his relationships with all those he holds dear are in danger of unraveling. His life-long yearning for M.J. (Kirsten Dunst) becomes even stronger as he fights the impulse to reveal his secret life and declare his love. His friendship with Harry Osborn (James Franco) is complicated by the young Osborn's bitterness over his father's death and his growing vendetta against Spider-Man. Even Peter's beloved Aunt May (Rosemary Harris), who has fallen on hard times after the death of Uncle Ben, begins to have doubts about her nephew. Peter's life is about to become even more complicated as he encounters a formidable new foe -- Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina). Peter must use all the powers at his disposal to try to stop this diabolical madman in his octagonal tracks.
Batman: Intimidation
Based on the DC comics character created in 1939, several incarnations of Batman have graced the silver screen, most notably the recent films beginning in 1989 with Michael Keaton then Val Kilmer & George Clooney - all have worn the mantle of the Dark Knight.
Director Christopher Nolan is currently developing a fifth Batman movie at Warner Bros. Principal photography on the film is expected to begin in early 2004. The movie is written by David Goyer and Nolan, and will follow the early career of The Dark Knight, played by Christian Bale.
Quote from The Daily Show recently - Guy Pearce: "Chris Nolan seems to think I'd make a good Batman", Jon Stewart: "When did you turn that down?", Guy Pearce: "I haven't yet".
Mission Impossible III:
Pennsylvania's The Cosmopolite Herald indicates Marc Blucas (Riley from "Buffy") is amongst several young actors in talks with Tom Cruise for a key part in the next film, likely a younger relative of Ethan Hunt.
Hot Couples in the News
Ashton and Demi? (Ewww)
Jay Z and Beionce (Musically talented babies in their future?)
Ben and Jennifer Lopez (Splitzville for good)
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Fred (Scoobies in love)
Ms. Spears and Justin? (Never again, she's recently divorced, and he's recently defiled by Janet Jackson)
Brad and Jennifer (Couple of the year)
