Tom Hanks has dropped out of Frank Darabont's film adaptation of Fahrenheit 451. by Larry_Chimp_Man
I'm a big fan of Tom Hanks as well as Frank Darabont. Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 is also one of my favourite novels. You'd think I'd be upset Tom Hanks has dropped out of the movie adaptation due to other commitments. I'm not.
I'm completely against a Fahrenheit 451 adapted for the silver screen. The book's main message is the importance of literature and I can't see that being portrayed on film. A movie adaptation will most likely focus on the themes of censorship and propaganda, not the eradication of the written word. I have no doubt that a Fahrenheit 451 adaptation would be a great film, it just wouldn't share the same punch found in the Bradbury novel.
Frank Darabont's Fahrenheit 451 will be delayed until the director can find a new Guy Montag. Who would you like to see in the role? Post a comment with your pick.
Hills star Lauren Conrad has confirmed that the idea of a Hills movie has been tossed around. by Larry_Chimp_Man
Lauren Conrad has bigger plans for The Hills. The reality-tv star has mentioned in a video-interview with MTV that she thinks a Hills movie could work.
The Hills is a guilty pleasure of mine. The show is ripped straight out of a bad tabloid but I get a kick out of it, no matter how obviously staged it appears to be. The girls aren't the brightest of the bunch and watching them attempt problem solving is always an enjoyable experience. The Hills definitely has its flaws and is by no means a great reality-tv series (are there any?), I just enjoy shutting my brain off every so often and taking it in.
However, I would like to think that a film adaptation of The Hills wouldn't work. First off, reality TV will never be a hit at the cinema and I, for one, would refuse to go watch 90 minutes of The Hills on the big-screen. I go to the theatre as an escape from reality or for an adventure in storytelling, not for four chicks bickering over a wonky curling iron. Second, I don't see The Hills having a big enough fan-base to make an impact at the box-office. There are quite a few fans of the show but not enough to swarm theatres upon release. On the flipside, I'm sure shooting a show like The Hills is dirt cheap and a movie wouldn't require too much funding either.
While I think it's a bad idea I'm sure die-hard Hills fans would love to see a movie adaptation. What do you guys think? Is a Hills movie the way to go? Post a comment and let me know what you think.
Fox has released what appears to be a teaser poster for this summer's currently untitled X-Files sequel. by Larry_Chimp_Man
Twentieth Century Fox has released the first official poster for what's presently being called X-Files 2. Check it out below.
It's a pretty simple poster but conveys all the information it needs to; Mulder, Scully, an X, and the release date. I'm glad Fox refused to use colour on this poster. I'm a big fan of black and white posters but it's quite rare to see them these days. The grain on the poster is also quite well done.
What do you guys think of the poster? Post a comment and let me know your thoughts on it.
With Seth Rogan co-writing the film, and Judd Apatow getting a producer credit, one would think that Drillbit Taylor would be somewhat enjoyable. It almost is. Using a familiar formula, this story involves a tall-skinny kid, a fat-loud kid, and a smallish-uber-dork kid and how they deal with the start of their high school 'careers'. Only this time, instead of raunchy talk about girls and sex they're dealing with something every Hollywood high school has: the bully.
I found the movie somewhat enjoyable as it has its funny points, however they come too few and far-between and weren't able to keep me interested in the flick. The movie drags on for 100 minutes and continually slows down during its runtime. Once you figure out how it will conclude, which most could solve in the first 10 minutes, you'll want to speed to the end ASAP and head home.
Drillbit Taylor doesn't provide a new role for Owen Wilson as it feels quite a bit like a character we've seen before from the actor. Wilson’s character appears confused for most of the film, using nothing but lies and luck to get by. His performance really sags and he fails to carry any weight in the movie.
However, Drillbit Taylor does have its redeeming qualities. The scenes where Wilson and the kids are paired together is where the movie shines the most. The Mexican Judo, hold-back technique, and mind-over-pain training scenes all end with humorous results. The three kids who play the main targets of the bully do show some promise in future movies, especially Troy Gentile who plays the overweight kid. Drillbit Taylor does try its best to make you laugh, and there are a few good jokes found in the film. One Sentence Review: The movie's tag-line is, "You get what you pay for" and I'm glad I watched the movie for free. | 6.1/10
A Second Opinion - larry_chimp_man: As much as I tried to enjoy the Steven Brill-directed Drillbit Taylor I couldn't buy into the poorly done cookie-cutter of a film. I found myself hating the majority of the film's characters the more I got to know them and Owen Wilson is garbage with one of his most disappointing performances. However, Leslie Mann is fun to watch as always. The film's plot points are obvious from the get-go but feel cheap and poorly executed when pulled off later in the flick. Drillbit Taylor is also severely lacking the funnies. The one or two laughs that escaped from my mouth while watching this flick were more out of pity than amusement. Avoid Drillbit Taylor at all costs. One of the worst of 2008 so far.
Have you seen Drillbit Taylor? Post a comment with your review.
Simon Pegg has revealed that a North American DVD release of Spaced will hit this July. by Larry_Chimp_Man
Finally. I've been waiting for Spaced to hit DVD in North America for what seems like ages. The UK discs have been out for years but I, like many fans over here, don't have a region-free player. Thankfully I no longer have to fret. Simon Pegg has revealed that a North American DVD release of Spaced will hit shelves this July.
While Pegg didn't drop too many specifics about what would be found on the discs he did give out some juicy details. There will be quite a few commentary tracks on the disc. Director Edgar Wright has recorded a few along with Pegg. Kevin Smith, Quentin Tarantino, Diablo Cody, and Matt Stone have also recorded commentary tracks for the DVD.
Pegg also stated that he will be in San Diego for this year's Comic-Con to promote his upcoming films along with the Spaced DVD release. Hopefully I see him there this summer.
Fox will release Batman: The Movie in HD this summer. by Larry_Chimp_Man
In what appears like an attempt to cash in on the success of The Dark Knight Fox has announced the release of Batman: The Movie on Blu-ray. The film will hit the format two weeks before TDK is released this July.
Fox isn't skimping out when it comes to the extras on this disc. The Blu-ray will ship with a scaled Batmobile, feature two commentary tracks, an isolated score track, six featurettes, pop-up trivia, a Batmobile 360-degree interactive tour, trailers, and six different galleries.
While I can't say I've been waiting anxiously for Batman: The Movie to hit Blu-ray I'll have a hard time resisting this purchase. The scaled Batmobile alone is almost a good enough reason to drop $40 on this disc.
Adam West's Batman: The Movie will hit shelves on July 1st.
Actor Hugh Jackman is teaming up with writer Marc Guggenheim to create an original comic series for Virgin Comics. by Larry_Chimp_Man
You'd think that, with his excellent portrayal of Wolverine in the X-Men films, Hugh Jackman wouldn't feel the need to prove himself in the world of comics. Well, apparently he does. The Australian-born actor has struck up a deal with Virgin Comics to co-write a comic series titled Nowhere Man along with writer Marc Guggenheim.
According to to Jackman's assistant, John Palermo, Nowhere Man focuses on a protagonist similar to Will Smith's character in I Am Legend. The comic is set in a futuristic world where society has traded privacy for safety. It doesn't sound like a terribly original idea but could stand out if executed well. Virgin plans to release the story in comic book form first and then pump out a video game and film if all goes well.
Virgin seems to be signing quite a bit of celebrity talent lately. Nicholas Cage has a book with the publisher as does porn-star Jenna Jameson. Directors Guy Ritchie and John Woo also have comic titles to their names. Even spiritual guru Deepak Chopra has a comic series out with Virgin. Celebrities sell, even in comic book land.
What do you guys think about celebrities getting mixed up in comics? Should actors and directors stick to what they know or branch out and explore their talents in other areas? Post a comment and let me know what you think.
While Virgin refused to announce a release date for Nowhere Man we here at MediaZEALOT will be sure to post the date as soon as its revealed.
Gamestop has started taking pre-orders for a MGS4 Limited Edition. by Larry_Chimp_Man
Konami has not yet officially announced a special edition MGS4 package. There has been speculation that one will be released but no official announcement has been made. However, Gamestop must know something we don't as the video game retailer has started taking pre-orders for a deluxe special edition Metal Gear Solid 4.
The limited edition, as described on Gamestop's Site, comes in a collectable metal box and is loaded with extras. Found in the package is a blu-ray disc containing two making of documentaries, four chapters from the graphic novel, and a Metal Gear soundtrack CD. Gamers who pre-order from Gamestop will also receive a limited edition art book. It is unclear whether or not pre-order of the limited edition will grant access into the MGS4 online beta. Gamestop lists the special edition at a price of $84.99.
While I'm a total sucker for limited editions I'm a bit disappointed by the extras found in the MGS4 special edition. Don't get me wrong, the blu-ray disc loaded with extras is cool, but it's not as exciting as a mini Master Chief helmet or Grand Theft Auto safety deposit box. It's going to be hard for me to justify paying an extra $35 for a tin case and an extra DVD considering most games sell similar packages for only $10 extra. However, this may all be speculation on Gamestop's part. Nothing has officially been announced by either SCEA or Konami and, if true, the price may change closer to release.
What do you guys think of this package? Would you pay the extra $35 for the content found in the special edition?
Metal Gear Solid 4 hits shelves on June 12th. Click HERE to pre-order the game over at Amazon.
The top-selling party game is headed to the Nintendo Wii. by Larry_Chimp_Man
Harmonix announced today that they will release their well-received Rock Band franchise on the Wii for a June 22nd release. The game will ship in a special edition bundle with a drum kit, mic, and wireless guitar. Stand-alone instruments will also be available for those who don't wish to buy the full set or need an additional guitar for bass. The game will ship with 63 songs along with five bonus songs for Wii gamers.
I'm glad Harmonix is finally releasing this game for the Wii. The console is, without a doubt, the next-gen party system and it wouldn't make sense for a game like Rock Band not to have a Wii release. It'll be interesting to see what the game's instruments look like and if they differ in design to those found on the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3.
Rock Band on the Wii hits shelves on June 22nd, 2008.
Flash drives are some of the most boring gadgets. They are often a plain, solid colour and feature nothing more than a company name or logo as eye candy. Mimoco has taken steps to change all that with some uber-cool Star Wars licensed designer USB flash drives.
Mimoco has already released a successful first wave of the drives and a second has just hit shelves. The Vader, R2-D2, Chewie, and Stormtrooper drives from series 1 will be followed up by Han, Leia, Luke, and Boba Fett in series 2. To top it all off, each drive comes preloaded with bonus content such as wallpapers, icons, and sound effects accessible on both a Mac and PC. The drives ship in 1gb, 2gb, and 4gb capacities. Click HERE to check them all out on Mimoco's official site.
These are pretty sweet and could start an awesome trend. I'd love to get my hands on some licensed USB drives to add some personality to data storage. What do you guys think of these? What licenses would you like to see turned into USB flash drives? Is there a market for them? Would you pay an extra $10-$20 for a designer flash drive? Post a comment and let me know what you think about these drives.
UPDATE: Apparently Mimoco also has a line of Halo Flash drives. While they aren't as well done as the Star Wars drives they are still pretty sweet. You can check them out HERE.
Robert Kirkman puts his milestone plans in motion with a very strong 49th issue of Invincible. by Larry_Chimp_Man
I hated this issue. Not because of the way it's written, not because of a plot point I didn't agree with, certainly not because of the art. No, I hated this issue because I can't read what happens next for a whole month.
Invincible #49 wraps up the Image crossover against Doc Seismic while setting up events that'll no doubt lead the way for a huge milestone issue 50. Mark's world will be undergoing major changes in the coming months and that all kicks off with issue 49.
Robert Kirkman's fun writing style is on display once again with this issue and it's a treat to read. The Kentucky-based writer is full of surprises and has a knack for throwing his readers curveballs. This issue is no different. Book 49 ends with a bang and, as I mentioned earlier, it's going to be a tough month waiting for issue 50 to hit shelves.
Penciller and Inker Ryan Ottley is also stellar as always. Ottley is quickly climbing his way to number one on my list of favourite artists and it's issues like this that prove his worth. His work is so crisp and defined and it's hard not to ignore his perfectly expressed character work. The man somehow continues to improve with each issue and it's always a thrill when eying each issue of Invincible.
One Sentence Review: Excellent issue that ends with a bang. | 9.2/10
What did you guys think of this issue? How do you think the end of issue 49 is going to affect Mark? Post a comment and tell me all about it.
Invincible's milestone 50th issue hits comic shops in April. Check back to MediaZEALOT every week for new comic reviews.
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