Re: [scifinoir2] Golden Compass disappoints at box office
yeah, and toning down the movie isn't going to help once people understand--or think they do--what's in the books... -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] While I personally do not have a problem with the anti-religious slant, you got to wonder when the people who decide to make it thought that it would be a Lord of The Rings or Narnia. It seems as if they did not take into consideration the ramifications of the religious issue until they had already committed to the project. knowing how American audiences and opinion groups are, you got to wonder what they were thinking [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i know of at least one person who is refusing to see the film based on the perceived anti-religious bias. i think that can't be discounted. i bet that can translate into at least 5 - 10 million in loss if Christian conservatives dediced to stay away. The FX on the trailers look better than Narnia (or at least as good), which was released at the exact same time of year as Golden Compass. And to be honest, a whole lot of people who took their kids to see Narnia hadn't read the books and knew little about the story. What they *did* know was that Narnia was at least in part based on Christian themes, which drew them in. in the same way, they heard that Compass was based on anti-religious themes, which i feel kept many away -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com Golden Compass disappoints at box office Sun Dec 9, 2007 10:27am EST http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN0835936220071209 http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN0835936220071209 By Dean Goodman LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Golden Compass, a costly fantasy starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, got off to a slow start at the North American box office and will likely fall short of opening-weekend expectations. New Line Cinema's $180 million film sold an estimated $8.8 million worth of tickets during its first day in theaters on Friday, according to data issued on Saturday by tracking firm Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com). After Saturday and Sunday sales are factored in, the film will come in at No. 1 with about $28 million when the studios issue their weekend estimates on Sunday, said Paul Dergarabedian at Media By Numbers, another tracking firm. New Line, a struggling Time Warner Inc unit hoping to launch another franchise along the lines of its blockbuster Lord of the Rings series, said last week it was hoping the film would open to between $30 million and $40 million. It's below expectations, but it's not an out-and-out debacle, said Dergarabedian. Conspiring against the movie, he said, were such factors as a soft marketplace and unrealistic expectations for an epic fantasy filling the holiday void left by the Narnia and Lord of the Rings smashes. A New Line executive did not return a call seeking comment. Based on the first book in British author Philip Pullman's acclaimed children's series His Dark Materials, writer/director Chris Weitz's film is set in an alternate world ruled by an oppressive religious authority. It features talking animals and a heroine played by youngster Dakota Blue Richards. Even though the film downplays the religious aspect, it has been savaged by such groups as the Catholic League and the U.S. Conference of Bishops. Opponents have cited Pullman's unflattering portrayal of the church and specifically the Catholic faith. Critics were also generally negative on the film, according to the web site Rotten Tomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com), which collates reviews. The film represents another disappointment for Kidman, who had yet to headline a live-action $100 million movie. Her most recent successes were 2005's The Interpreter ($72 million) and 2003's Cold Mountain ($96 million). She and Craig co-starred in the summer release The Invasion, which flopped with just $15 million. Craig had better luck reviving the James Bond franchise last year with Casino Royale ($167 million). New Line has also struggled. Its biggest movie of 2007, Rush Hour 3 ($140 million), earned less than half of its predecessor. Other films, such as Jim Carrey's The Number 23 and the wartime drama Rendition quickly came and went. Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Avatar: Black Sun
...unless it's cutesy CGI, which, unfortunately, is doing well in America -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] US adult audiences overall, do not take animation seriously and it will not deliver blockbuster numbers if it is in animation form unless they classify it as a family film Martin wrote: Agree with you, Keith. Also have to ask the simple question. Why? What can he put into the franchise that animation can't? Okay, that was two. [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net wrote: I am completely unsure what to think about Night doing an Avatar movie. It's one of those things where just trying to do a live action version makes one nervous already. And I just don't see anything in Night's past body of work (much of which i love) that makes me think he'll capture the tone of Avatar faithfully. I just don't know, but as is typical for me, think i'd rather see a feature length animated version than a live action film... -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com I forgot about the idiot king spilling all to Azula. I do love this show, but I never known when it is going to come on or how to get my husband into it, so I always end up seeing it on On-Demand, which is not bad, since there are no commercials, I agree that the show continues to evolve. I can't wait to see what these guys do next. If you ask me, it barely resembles the cute kids show it started out with. I can see why it continues to attract an increasing number of adults. Too bad this is the last season. What do you think about M. Night doing the live action version. [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net wrote: some spoilers yeah, i posted about it last week, when this aired. Last night was a rerun. i loved it. Watching all the forces attack the Fire Nation, then lose when the tables were turned. You know, they keep finding new ways to show how the Bending arts work. Did you see the Water Benders use the water to flip the tanks over? How about the way Kitara uses water like a whip or sword? And Toth is the girl! She is the first Earth Bender ever to learn how to bend metal--something previously though impossible. This show was almost as good as the season ender from last season when Azula zapped Ang with lightning while he was in the Avatar state. Almost... if you saw last season, you know the Fire Nation was prepared for the attack because the Earth King, fooled into thinking Azula was on his side, told her of the solar eclipse and the plan to use it for the attack. Azula came into Ba-Sing-Se in disguise, pretending to be one of the lady fighters from season one (the same group from which Socka's love originated). As for the solar eclipse, Socka discovered the upcoming eclipse in an ancient underground library that held all the world's knowledge. he tricked the serpent-bird guardian into getting the info, then spent weeks preparing for the attack. Azula so intimidated the leader of the Earth King's secret police (which really runs Ba-Sing-Se, not the king) that the secret police switched allegiance to her. They turned on the man who lead them and switched to Azula. Thus, armed with the knowledge of the invasion, and many Earth Benders (who may be the most overall powerful of the Benders) Azula had the Fire Nation ready for the att ack. Loved this show! Did you see Azula evade Ang while she was de-powered? That girl is amazing. Evil, but amazing. Azula is one of the best fighters around. Period. She is possibly only equaled or surpassed by her Uncle Iro (when she tried to zap her brother, Iro was actually able to reroute the lightning), her father the Fire Lord, and possibly, her brother, who seems to be finding his courage and confidence. Speaking of, did you see when Zuko confronted the Fire Lord, and *he* deflected his dad's lightning? Awesome! Iro is probably my favorite character. He is tragic and noble and funny, and has grown. You learned there was something different about Iro when he told the Fire Lord general that complete elimination of any of hte Bending arts would be a catastrophe. You got a clue that he alone among the Fire Nation leaders understood the need for balance, and might have been changing his ideas about the conquest. Iro and Zuko have grown in so many ways it's amazing, especially Zuko. all that anger and frustration, the way he betrayed the Avatar at the end of season two. (if you haven't seen the last two or three eps of last season, you *must* do so!) I'm thinking in the end, Zuko will have to confront Azula; and I wonder if Iro might not be the one to take on his younger brother the Fire Lord instead of Ang (the Fire Lord usurped the throne
Re: [scifinoir2] Neuromancer
yeah...(feeling old and despairing at the same time) that is so incredibly sad to me -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Keith, maybe it's what the youngsters today like. Short-attention spans seem to be de rigeur. he makes some good points, but i've seen enough modern music video directors' work to stand by my apprehension. that he uses Michael Bay as an example really worries me: i hate Bay's directing style. If i didn't already know he directed music videos, i'd have guess. What I see from a lot of such directors is a lack of understanding of telling a story slowly, a penchant for too many quick cuts and over active closeup shots that force the action down my thorad, instead of slow pans and long shots that fill the screen. Look at some of the old classics like Lawrence of Arabia or The Bridge on the River Kwai, and note the long pans and camera angles. Then contrast those to some of the stuff music video directors make. Of course, much of my feeling stems form the fact that i hate most modern music vidoes: I just don't get why you have to have about a dozen camera cuts in a dozen seconds, why the picture changes angles constantly, why the color hyperactively moves from black and wh ite to full color. That being said, I haven't seen any of this gentleman's work, movies or music videos -- Original message -- From: Daryle I met Garrett Wang at LAX Airport yesterday morning. It was a very cool conversation. If you¹re ever at a Trek con and see him there, by all means strike up a conversation with him. He asked if I knew about the project. Apparently he¹s being considered for one of the roles. As of yesterday, he hadn¹t read the book So I described it for him. So if he ends up in the movie I¹ll be pretty excited. I am all for this project being made, and Khan¹s Britney Spears work is completely irrelevant. He directed music videos, he didn¹t write the songs. Steven Spielberg directed ³1941² and ³A.I². If any of us had done those pictures, we¹d never work in Hollywood again. It¹s time for directors to branch out and do challenging work. That¹s enough of Brett Ratner doing everything. There is apparently a lot of backlash about Khan getting the project, which is rally interesting to me. Music video work is better than film school sometimes. His commercial work is really good! I don¹t know if any director would ever be ³good enough² to take this project on, and apparently Khan agrees. The following is from Joseph Khan¹s MySpace blog: ³Variety blew my cover over the weekend. This is the screenplay I've been working on for the last two years. As to the backlash. There's going to be a backlash. You have to be nuts or stupid to take on a monster like this. I knew what I was getting myself into. Stanley Kubrick could take this on and he'd have a 14 year old in Iowa blogging on how wack the cgi effects were in 2001, and then on the other hand a 45 year old child molestor completely insistant nothing will ever look as good as the visuals in his own head. And they'd both hate Torque. I could see how the combination of the Britney Spears director with William Gibson is a controversial choice. But the problem is, the summation of my career is not Britney Spears. I've done plenty of cred videos: Moby, Chemical Brothers, Korn, U2, Muse to name a few. The headlines sound attractively pessimistic to slap the successful pop example of my work to a supposedly nihilistic work like Neuromancer. It really just demonstrates how little most people know of the music video world and how it pertains to filmmaking. For instance, before David Fincher became the dark auteur that fanboys salivate over, he made his name doingPaula Abdul videos. And hard core Michael Bay with his rumbling guns and explosions madeMeatloaf videos, as well asThe Divinyls I Touch Myself. Those of you in the music video business know the score and understand why this is. I guess this is turning into a defense of myself, so I will defend myself. The other complaint lodged at me is that my movie Torque basically sucked. It's either a sell out piece of commercial crap, or an incompetant long form music video, or both, and it's a sure sign I'm clueless as a filmmaker. And to all of this, I'll say: they're wrong. Making your first movie under the Hollywood studio system is hard. It's the hardest thing I've ever done. I'm telling you honestly with no exaggeration: you have no clue what it's like to be put through that studio grinder and retain any sort of authorship. The politics, the pressure, the scapegoating, the interference, the pure physicality of an intense 70 day shoot, the budget hysterics, the permeating sense of fear and negativity from everyone. Torque is not 100% of what I wanted, but I'm proud of what it is, because at the end of the day, after going through this studio machine that blends movies together into mediocrity, it split
Re: [scifinoir2] Golden Compass disappoints at box office
well, i tend to think that Harry Potter generates less overt hostility than this supposed anti-religious Golden Compass does. I know lots of conservative Christians who are disturbed by the witchcraft aspects of Potter, but nonetheless let their kids read the books and watch the movies. In that case, they just write it off as fantasy and let it go. But again, when they hear that this stuff is supposedly overtly anti-religious, that's a different slant altogether, and i think that's making a difference. I agree part of it is that no one's heard of Golden Compass, but given the time of year, the FX, the aim at kids and families, it really should have done much better. Not Potter numbers, but better than this. It's the atheist thing scaring away families in large part -- Original message -- From: Mike Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Christians protest Harry Potter and it doesn't effect it's box office numbers. I just think that the movie didn't have the magical push of selling a billion books that Harry Potter has. It's all about branding and His Dark Materials doesn't have much of a brand behind it in order to translate it into movie ticket sells. The movie industry is suffering and so is the entertainment industry acorss the board. They need to stop making every book, 80's cartoon, and comic into a movie and find some original scripts. I can't remember the last movie that I've seen that wasn't a book, comic, video game, or TV show. On Dec 9, 2007 11:57 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: yeah, and toning down the movie isn't going to help once people understand--or think they do--what's in the books... -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] While I personally do not have a problem with the anti-religious slant, you got to wonder when the people who decide to make it thought that it would be a Lord of The Rings or Narnia. It seems as if they did not take into consideration the ramifications of the religious issue until they had already committed to the project. knowing how American audiences and opinion groups are, you got to wonder what they were thinking [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i know of at least one person who is refusing to see the film based on the perceived anti-religious bias. i think that can't be discounted. i bet that can translate into at least 5 - 10 million in loss if Christian conservatives dediced to stay away. The FX on the trailers look better than Narnia (or at least as good), which was released at the exact same time of year as Golden Compass. And to be honest, a whole lot of people who took their kids to see Narnia hadn't read the books and knew little about the story. What they *did* know was that Narnia was at least in part based on Christian themes, which drew them in. in the same way, they heard that Compass was based on anti-religious themes, which i feel kept many away -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com Golden Compass disappoints at box office Sun Dec 9, 2007 10:27am EST http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN0835936220071209 http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN0835936220071209 By Dean Goodman LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Golden Compass, a costly fantasy starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, got off to a slow start at the North American box office and will likely fall short of opening-weekend expectations. New Line Cinema's $180 million film sold an estimated $8.8 million worth of tickets during its first day in theaters on Friday, according to data issued on Saturday by tracking firm Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com). After Saturday and Sunday sales are factored in, the film will come in at No. 1 with about $28 million when the studios issue their weekend estimates on Sunday, said Paul Dergarabedian at Media By Numbers, another tracking firm. New Line, a struggling Time Warner Inc unit hoping to launch another franchise along the lines of its blockbuster Lord of the Rings series, said last week it was hoping the film would open to between $30 million and $40 million. It's below expectations, but it's not an out-and-out debacle, said Dergarabedian. Conspiring against the movie, he said, were such factors as a soft marketplace and unrealistic expectations for an epic fantasy filling the holiday void left by the Narnia and Lord of the Rings smashes. A New Line executive did not return a call seeking comment. Based on the first book in British author Philip Pullman's acclaimed children's series His Dark Materials, writer/director Chris Weitz's film is set in an alternate world ruled by an oppressive religious authority. It features talking
Re: [scifinoir2] DVDs Watched Over Thanksgiving
ditto, i teared up at that end of that movie too. Speaking of crying, yesterday and today my wife and I watched the miniseries Lonesome Dove for the first time on some cable channel named ION. Man, that was one gut-wrenching, poignant ride! So many people dying, women being raped or nearly so, marauding Indians, broken dreams, life cheap out in the wilds. A fine piece of film making, i must say, definitely one of the last great miniseries. Outstanding performances from Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall, Danny Glover, Dianne Lane, D.B. Sweeney, Robert Urich, Angelica Houston, Chris Cooper, Rick Schroeder, and a host of others. Sweeping in scope, amazing vistas and cinematography (note to music-video-directors-turned-film-makers: this is how to shoot a film!) The thing drew me in, and by the end i was very sad. My wife kept saying my gosh: what else can happen in this series? Who else is going to die or end up sad and broken? Powerful, stuff. Remember way back in the day, when everyone used to stay home and watch the great miniseries? From Roots (which started it all) to Rich Man, Poor Man, from Masada to North and South? Even the ones that weren't that good, that were over the top, got audiences. Back before VCRs, DVDs, and cable, this was one whole families still grouped around the television to share the event. Fun times, those... -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] I admit to crying at the ending. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: odd movie, made me kind of sad at the ending. Definitely has that late '60s/early '70s feel -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Works for me, too. Wish that someone would air Silent Running, for me. TCM had it on awhile back, but I missed it. Mike Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I kept it kinda old school and watched Close Encounters of the Third Kind still one of the best sci fi movies ever created. On Nov 26, 2007 3:56 PM, Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Keith, I recall seeing on a 1999 web site that an Eagle's max speed was just short of lightspeed. If so, then the issue of range is kind of moot. On another site, the show was referred to as a science fantasy, which would cover a lot of the glaring science goofs, such as the notion of nuclear waste exploding with enough force to hurl the Moon clear of Earth orbit. After seeing the pilot, I sat down and did the math necessary for that to happen. Not in the realm of a conventional clean-nuke blast, let me tell you. [EMAIL PROTECTED] KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net wrote: Love one of the early Space: 1999 eps where they're still in the Solar System. I think they're out near Neptune. There's an abandoned spaceship that has some kind of flesheating monster on it. The creature's like a giant squid or something, with one giant lighted eye in the center of its body. It pulls people in, thein a moment later, ejects a smoking corpse, as though the body'd been doused in acid. As a kid, i found that show to be scary. I suspect i might laugh at it nowadays. I do wonder why, if they were still in the Solar System, they didn't just abandon Moon Base Alpha in those funky spaceships and head back towards Earth? I guess their range was too limited and the Moon was moving too fast... -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED]yokozuna%40globalsoulmedia.com I watched the first 2 seasons of Sliders. This started off as a really fun and interesting show. It ended so terribly that it's easy to forget that. I am actually still on holiday this week, and so I will be watching the first 2 seasons of Space: 1999, and a bunch of anime I've been collecting for the past year and have not watched. On 11/26/07 3:58 AM, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com wrote: It seems as if a lot of us use the Thanksgiving holiday to chill out with some DVDs, We watched Mr. Brooks (loved it), Seraphim Falls with Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson, Spiderman III, and we got Ants for my little girl. What did you guys watch? Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Get easy, one-click access to your favorites. Make Yahoo! your homepage. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -- -- Blogs: The Greasy Guide http://greasyguide.com Your Online Destination for Urban Information Coming Soon Street Sweet NYC http://www.streetsweetnyc.com Get your fix on cupcake bliss. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without
Re: [scifinoir2] DVDs Watched Over Thanksgiving
yeah, it's intense all right... -- Original message -- From: James A. Landrith, Jr. [EMAIL PROTECTED] I saw Lonesome Dove when it originally aired on network TV. I loved it so much I bought it on VHS many years ago and yet still haven't watched the tapes. Too sad. Funny thing that... ___ Sent with SnapperMail www.snappermail.com .. Original Message ... On Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:11:20 + [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: ditto, i teared up at that end of that movie too. Speaking of crying, yesterday and today my wife and I watched the miniseries Lonesome Dove for the first time on some cable channel named ION. Man, that was one gut-wrenching, poignant ride! So many people dying, women being raped or nearly so, marauding Indians, broken dreams, life cheap out in the wilds. A fine piece of film making, i must say, definitely one of the last great miniseries. Outstanding performances from Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall, Danny Glover, Dianne Lane, D.B. Sweeney, Robert Urich, Angelica Houston, Chris Cooper, Rick Schroeder, and a host of others. Sweeping in scope, amazing vistas and cinematography (note to music-video-directors-turned-film-makers: this is how to shoot a film!) The thing drew me in, and by the end i was very sad. My wife kept saying my gosh: what else can happen in this series? Who else is going to die or end up sad and broken? Powerful, stuff. Remember way back in the day, when everyone used to stay home and watch the great miniseries? From Roots (which started it all) to Rich Man, Poor Man, from Masada to North and South? Even the ones that weren't that good, that were over the top, got audiences. Back before VCRs, DVDs, and cable, this was one whole families still grouped around the television to share the event. Fun times, those... -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] I admit to crying at the ending. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: odd movie, made me kind of sad at the ending. Definitely has that late '60s/early '70s feel -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Works for me, too. Wish that someone would air Silent Running, for me. TCM had it on awhile back, but I missed it. Mike Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I kept it kinda old school and watched Close Encounters of the Third Kind still one of the best sci fi movies ever created. On Nov 26, 2007 3:56 PM, Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Keith, I recall seeing on a 1999 web site that an Eagle's max speed was just short of lightspeed. If so, then the issue of range is kind of moot. On another site, the show was referred to as a science fantasy, which would cover a lot of the glaring science goofs, such as the notion of nuclear waste exploding with enough force to hurl the Moon clear of Earth orbit. After seeing the pilot, I sat down and did the math necessary for that to happen. Not in the realm of a conventional clean-nuke blast, let me tell you. [EMAIL PROTECTED] KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net wrote: Love one of the early Space: 1999 eps where they're still in the Solar System. I think they're out near Neptune. There's an abandoned spaceship that has some kind of flesheating monster on it. The creature's like a giant squid or something, with [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Pete Ross Returns to Smallville!
they'll probably kill him off. :( Well, since Pete Ross is a part of Superman canon, i guess he'll live, but can't say i'm that thrilled he's back. the most underused character in the entire series' run. And of course he pretty much never had a girl, and there was the unrecquited love for Chloe all those years. Pete Ross was the stereotypical neutered-best-friend-magical-negro character only there to basically be Clark's sometimes sidekick. talk about a token minority character. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Pete Ross Returns to Smallville! Sam Jones III reprising his role in an upcoming episode. December 6, 2007 - Clark Kent is about to be reunited with an old friend, as Sam Jones III returns to Smallville in the role of Pete Ross. IGN TV has the scoop on Pete's return, which will take place in an upcoming episode called Hero. Pete was a big part of the early seasons of Smallville, becoming the first person on the series -- outside of the Kent family -- to discover Clark's superpowers and alien heritage. Pete eventually moved to Wichita, and Jones left the show at the end of Season 3. Since that time there have been occasional rumors that Jones might make a guest appearance on the show, but Smallville producers previously said that scheduling issues prevented that from happening... until now that is. We've learned that in the episode Pete will have an encounter with kryptonite, which ends up giving him a superpower of his own. How this will affect his relationship with Clark remains to be seen... The air date for Hero is still to be determined, but look for it in 2008. http://tv.ign.com/articles/839/839971p1.html Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Who is Your Favorite Joker?
well, you can forgive a lot of Batman Begins because it's Bruce just starting out. So, the voice thing isn't that big a deal to me: just means he's trying to find what persona fits him better. Note, for example, that he's not really Batman all the time, either. You get the feeling the true man is Bruce, Batman the mask. That may change over time, but for the last years, the presentatin has been that Batman is real, and Bruce the mask. The next movie (or two?) may see a change to Batman being more dominant. Incidentally, that dual persona battle has been a big one for Batman and Superman particularly over the years. After the DC Crisis in the mid-80s, Superman was remade so that Clark was the real persona, Superman the mask. Clark didn't even find out he was an alien until well into adulthood. And like i said, Bats was the real persona during that time. Back and forth on that one... -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] That's Hard, while I thought it was a bizarre casting decision, I ended up really liking Keaton. I'm the biggest Christian Bale fan, but I hate the goofy voice change he does when he has the tights on. I guess its both of them Martin wrote: Okay, then allow me to toss in more. Who's your favorite Batman? Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com wrote: I love pointless nerd frippery :) Justin Mohareb wrote: This is exactly the sort of pointless nerd frippery I expect from the Sciffy channel. Or possibly my own blog. Mark Hammil's was totally awesome, though. JJ Mohareb On Dec 10, 2007 3:12 AM, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com wrote: I saw this poll on Scifi. I wanted to know what you guys thought. With Batman Returns about to premier, i wanted to know, Who is Your Favorite Joker? The Original - Cesar Romero Jack Nicholson The Cartoon Joker - Mark Hamil The New Joker - Heath Ledger -- Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy. http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Pete Ross Returns to Smallville!
I never blamed the actor. Look at the stories they gave him. While Chloe, Lana, Lex, and the others got meat roles, Pete literally stood around to pick up after Clark, becoming a foil to help him keep his secret. They did the thing that drives me nuts in TV, which used to be more common: make the Black guy in love with a white woman, but then let it sit with no action taken. And worse, he had one girlfriend to my knowledge the entire run he was on. Like I said, neutered magical negro. :( it was a purely standard racist decision by the network. I know i'm ranting, but notice how Pete was significantly smaller and less muscular than Clark? Yet all around, the white guys were big, strapping, or at least considered really good looking. Think about Lana's first boyfriend Whitney (now playing Flash Gordon), her second love, who's now on Supernatural, Johnathan Kent. Even Lex and his dad are powerful presences. Even my wife--who isn't subject to as many fits of crying hidden racism as I--once said, Why is Pete the smallest, least impressive, and frankly, less attractive man on the whole show? -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I never liked his character and sometimes blamed it on the actor. However, I was wrong. I've seen other work that he has done and he is actually rather good [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: they'll probably kill him off. :( Well, since Pete Ross is a part of Superman canon, i guess he'll live, but can't say i'm that thrilled he's back. the most underused character in the entire series' run. And of course he pretty much never had a girl, and there was the unrecquited love for Chloe all those years. Pete Ross was the stereotypical neutered-best-friend-magical-negro character only there to basically be Clark's sometimes sidekick. talk about a token minority character. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com Pete Ross Returns to Smallville! Sam Jones III reprising his role in an upcoming episode. December 6, 2007 - Clark Kent is about to be reunited with an old friend, as Sam Jones III returns to Smallville in the role of Pete Ross. IGN TV has the scoop on Pete's return, which will take place in an upcoming episode called Hero. Pete was a big part of the early seasons of Smallville, becoming the first person on the series -- outside of the Kent family -- to discover Clark's superpowers and alien heritage. Pete eventually moved to Wichita, and Jones left the show at the end of Season 3. Since that time there have been occasional rumors that Jones might make a guest appearance on the show, but Smallville producers previously said that scheduling issues prevented that from happening... until now that is. We've learned that in the episode Pete will have an encounter with kryptonite, which ends up giving him a superpower of his own. How this will affect his relationship with Clark remains to be seen... The air date for Hero is still to be determined, but look for it in 2008. http://tv.ign.com/articles/839/839971p1.html http://tv.ign.com/articles/839/839971p1.html Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Heroes finale
Did didn't show who did the deed you reference below. Just some figure running away... -- Original message -- From: B. Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peter Petrelli and Mohinder are still dumb as rocks. I liked the resolution to the Hiro and Adam storyline. Why did the sister with the Taskmaster like powers turn into a punk? We were having a bit of an ice storm during the finale so my DirecTv signal flickered off a couple a times at the end of the episode. S P O I L E R S P A C E Was Noah aka Horn Rimmed Glasses Dad the one to pull the trigger on Nathan Petrelli? --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: No body said anything about the Heroes Finale last week. Wow, things sure have changes since last season. Any thoughts? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Anyone Watch Tin Man?
god, why remind me? I reviewed Last Legion for y'all, know i have the review somewhere around here. that movie was *horrible*, unlike King Arthur, which always moves me, always leaves me wanting more... -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yeah, I think that was it. There was also a recent one, The Last Legion, that seemed to do the same thing. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: good point. Are you talking about Camelot, (I think that was the name), the Technicolor film from back in the day? I know at least one treatment of the Arthurian legend removed the magic. Now, King Arthur did also remove the magic, but i really like that movie.Watched it twice last week on FX -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Felt like one of the two or three movies I remember about the retelling of the Arthurian legend, in which all the magic was removed. It's like art without color. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hercules was just plain awful...the rest had their moments. I wasn't too fun of merlin, though. I found it to be dull, not having either the magic of the legends, nor a good tale sans magic. -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'll put it even with everything you you listed, save for Hercules (which I never was able to get into). None of them wowed or insulted me. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: cool, thanks for the comments. I'll watch it this weekend. Assuming you watched all the other scifi/fantasy miniseries of the last several years (The Odyssey, Gulliver's Travels, Arabian Nights, Hercules, Dinotopia, Merlin, etc.) how does it rank? I think some of the same team produced it as some of those others, no? -- Original message -- From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] I watched part one last night. I found it interesting and creative reimagining of the tale but it has a lot of the typical short comings of Sci-fi channel original programing. The script and the dialogue can tend to get a little awkward. There are some cheesy plot points and the direction and editing can feel ham handed. On the flipside, it's really pretty fun so far and the story is has been both intriguing and relatively well conceived. It's good enough to drive me to finish it this weekend before my girl has to go back to Mass for another ten days of work. I'll probably netflix it when it is released on DVD in the future. I probably will not buy it. Unless my kids really want it. Bosco --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Anyone? not hearing any reviews. I have the next week-and-a-half off from work, and wondering if i should watch the miniseries, or clear up the tape for Avatar and Legion of Superheroes -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Keith Johnson) When I realized Tin Man was a three-part miniseries, and that tonight would run it up against Heroes and K*Ville, i elected to record the whole thing and watch it this weekend in one long marathon. Anyone watch part one last night? How was it? Hoping it was as cool as the trailers led me to hope... [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead. I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said. You know these things that happen, That's just the way it's supposed to be. And I can't help but wonder, Don't ya know it coulda been me. __ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] 'Moonlight' On Path To Renewal
right wing religious conservatives aren't all racist. Many embrace people of all colors--long as they leave their own thoughts behind and completely embrace these peoples' views. And I've always noted that Blacks in America are actually in the main more conservative than most people think. Most people from the older generations in my family support the death penalty, harsh sentences, Three Strikes, bans on abortion, and any kind of rights for gays. The one thing that's always kept many black Christians from going all the way is indeed skin color: their knowledge that racism enters the picture. I think the beliefs that racism is fading, *and* the recent years' fear of homosexuality, sexual freedom, and general sin, allowed many Blacks to go all the way over to the far right. Look at the Brother (word used loosely) in Ohio who helped get Bush elected. I have friends who are black, love their color, but are absolutely far right wing. In their minds, the true Christian must be up in arms about homosexuals, immigration, fighting the godless Iraqis, and abortion. so while I think right-wing whites are sho' 'nuff more prone to have racists in their mists, since race is an aspect of being an Other, i also think this new Moral Majority of the last few years made some gains into bringing Blacks and Latinos into the fold, long as they drank the Kool-Aid. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I saw the Women's Murder Club or the first time on Saturday. I kind of like it. I remember there was a discussion on the list when the show first aired about whether the show was racist. While I have read the Angie Harmon is a right-wing, religious extremist and I tend to think of them as racist, I did not see any overt racism on the show. Martin wrote: Tracey, I admit that I haven't ventured near it since the pilot, secondarily because it failed to hook me right of, primarily because Women's Murder Club, airing opposite it, did. Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com wrote: I thought it was a weak Angel rip off, when I first watched it, but after the third episode, it began improving every week and I'm surprised to tell you that I like it. It still does not come close to Angel, but the storylines are getting better, they are starting to create their own unique and interesting mythology and the characters are starting to evolve. I remember there being at least one or two other ans on the list. 'Moonlight' On Path To Renewal http://www.syfyportal.com/news424510.html http://www.syfyportal.com/news424510.html By MICHAEL HINMAN Source: Hollywood Reporter Dec-04-2007 Garlic may not repel it, sunshine may not kill it, and Moonves won't cancel it. It looks like Moonlight is close to earning a second season renewal from CBS, one of two new shows network chief Les Moonves says he feels will make a return in 2008. Moonves spent some time talking to The Hollywood Reporter about the fall season, which has been dismal in terms of new shows for nearly all the networks. NBC probably took the biggest hit, but CBS hasn't fared too well either. In fact, the only other show that would probably earn a renewal is the comedy Big Bang Theory. That's Hall of Fame batting, Moonves said, saying two hits out of five swings was something he was proud of. Shows like Moonlight represented a risky move for the network, but probably not as risky as the musical Viva Laughlin, which only lasted a few episodes before CBS yanked it from the schedule. It was a Hail Mary pass, said Moonves, shifting his analogies from baseball to football. We took it. We'll continue to do that. We continue to feel very bullish about the network television business. Moonlight has been one of fall's most consistent genre series. Although it's the least-watched CBS program on Friday night, it still is doing almost as well as Heroes on NBC and Pushing Daisies on ABC in terms of overnight ratings. Its household rating fell to a series low in its third episode, but has never really come close since, sitting a little more than half a rating point off its series premiere numbers. Bionic Woman, on the other hand, has not been so lucky for NBC. That show has lost more than half of its premiere audience, and continues to post series lows. Moonlight airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. Yahoo! Groups Links There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Metropolis Remake Planned
Didn't Alexander suck? Of course, the director and writer matter more. I have no clue what tack they'll take for this one. Part of feels this is about as iffy as someone trying to remake Citizen Kane. -- Original message -- From: Mike Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] Producer Thomas Schuehly (Alexander) has acquired the remake rights to Fritz Lang's 1927 silent sci-fi classic Metropolis reports Variety. Considered one of the most expensive films of its time, the movie is set in 2026 in a massive city-state characterized by its monumental skyscrapers and art-deco architecture. The film depicts the class struggle between the wealthy society of planners and thinkers, who live in luxury high above the Earth, and the workers, who live underground, toiling to sustain the lives of the privileged. Schuehly and Mario Kassar are currently in negotiations with a number of top directors to helm the pic, with a final decision expected in the next few months. -- -- Blogs: The Greasy Guide http://greasyguide.com Your Online Destination for Urban Information Coming Soon Street Sweet NYC http://www.streetsweetnyc.com Get your fix on cupcake bliss. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Anyone Watch Tin Man?
thanks for the heads up. they did a Threshold marathon today. Looks like it's Roswell tomorrow -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Speaking of Firefly, did anyone notice that Skiffy is doing a sort of reverse-marathon with the show? Friday 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., rather than the usual span, if anyone's interested. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: god, why remind me? I reviewed Last Legion for y'all, know i have the review somewhere around here. that movie was *horrible*, unlike King Arthur, which always moves me, always leaves me wanting more... -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yeah, I think that was it. There was also a recent one, The Last Legion, that seemed to do the same thing. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: good point. Are you talking about Camelot, (I think that was the name), the Technicolor film from back in the day? I know at least one treatment of the Arthurian legend removed the magic. Now, King Arthur did also remove the magic, but i really like that movie.Watched it twice last week on FX -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Felt like one of the two or three movies I remember about the retelling of the Arthurian legend, in which all the magic was removed. It's like art without color. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hercules was just plain awful...the rest had their moments. I wasn't too fun of merlin, though. I found it to be dull, not having either the magic of the legends, nor a good tale sans magic. -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'll put it even with everything you you listed, save for Hercules (which I never was able to get into). None of them wowed or insulted me. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: cool, thanks for the comments. I'll watch it this weekend. Assuming you watched all the other scifi/fantasy miniseries of the last several years (The Odyssey, Gulliver's Travels, Arabian Nights, Hercules, Dinotopia, Merlin, etc.) how does it rank? I think some of the same team produced it as some of those others, no? -- Original message -- From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] I watched part one last night. I found it interesting and creative reimagining of the tale but it has a lot of the typical short comings of Sci-fi channel original programing. The script and the dialogue can tend to get a little awkward. There are some cheesy plot points and the direction and editing can feel ham handed. On the flipside, it's really pretty fun so far and the story is has been both intriguing and relatively well conceived. It's good enough to drive me to finish it this weekend before my girl has to go back to Mass for another ten days of work. I'll probably netflix it when it is released on DVD in the future. I probably will not buy it. Unless my kids really want it. Bosco --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Anyone? not hearing any reviews. I have the next week-and-a-half off from work, and wondering if i should watch the miniseries, or clear up the tape for Avatar and Legion of Superheroes -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Keith Johnson) When I realized Tin Man was a three-part miniseries, and that tonight would run it up against Heroes and K*Ville, i elected to record the whole thing and watch it this weekend in one long marathon. Anyone watch part one last night? How was it? Hoping it was as cool as the trailers led me to hope... [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead. I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said. You know these things that happen, That's just the way it's supposed to be. And I can't help but wonder, Don't ya know it coulda been me. __ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your
Re: [scifinoir2] Gellar Afraid of ‘Buffy’ Reprisal
There was an episode of The Tick animated series where a villian was going to use a giant laser to carve his name onto the moon. In typical Tick fashion, he and Arthur arrived too late to completely save the day: the villain (was it Chairface?) was able to carve a couple letters in the Moon before they stopped him. As Tick was celebrating a victory, Arthur is looking with chagrin at the Lunar surface. The cool thing is, in all subsequent eps, that carving was shown on the surface of the Moon! -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] My bad, for killing the surprise. Still, hope you enjoy it. And, to really make you happy, Halliburton is footing the bill. Just don't tell *them* that... Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: (sigh) The cat's out of the bag... Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Oh Yeah Martin wrote: Astro, is that plan still on to hack the SDI sytem once it comes online, to etch her image onto the Moon's surface? Oops. That was a secret, wasn't it? Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com wrote: Pour it on guys, the ego is blowing up Martin wrote: What you said. Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:cwbadie%40yahoo.com mailto:cwbadie%40yahoo.com wrote: I found out she's a natural blonde, Martin...Broke my heart too! She was one stunning brunette...but not as gorgeous as Tracey...(wink!) Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:truthseeker_013%40yahoo.com mailto:truthseeker_013%40yahoo.com wrote: Tracey, I didn't like her shift to blonde hair. I never do, and don't see the appeal in it. I know all about the Blonde Mystique, and have been snared by it a time or three, but I still don't like it. Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com wrote: I did not see her attractiveness until she did Gallactica [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net wrote: She could pull it off. I never could figure out why Lucy Lawless as Xena just turned me the hell on! I mean, she's pretty, but not on the level of Catherine Zeta Jones or Kristen Kreuk, but i couldn't tear my eyes away from her. Even as a blonde, something about Lawless gets me. Wish I knew why... Oh--back to the topic! Xena wouldn't be Xena without the actor who played Aries, and of course he tragically died a couple of years ago... -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:truthseeker_013%40yahoo.com mailto:truthseeker_013%40yahoo.com Would be tough to resurrect Xena, though. It's possible, but she did p*ss off a *lot* of gods and goddesses during her run. [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net wrote: i can see that. i'm still wondering if her age would be an issue. i could see a return to Xena, though, as a TV movie -- Original message -- From: Mike Street I have to agree with her on her comments. Buffy was SO LOVED that to bring it back and then have it be wack would hurt so many of the fans. This is probably the same reason we haven't seen a Xena movie. Sometimes we should let sleeping dogs rest. Buffy was great on so many level I was a fan and i personally don't want to see a movie version of it. On Dec 3, 2007 3:16 PM, wrote: part of Buffy's appeal was her youth, her innocence, her very physical being: the small and waifish girl who seemed so out of place in a world of monsters. It's Whedon's stock-in-trade, teh young vulnerable girl fighting overwhelming odds. Do you think that Gellar is starting to look a little old for that Buffy? I'm not saying she's old mind you, just wonder if she'd still be right for that particular role in a year or two. Will Buffy be married? Have kids? Will she have a regular 9-5 job? -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com Gellar Afraid of 'Buffy' Reprisal http://www.rabiddoll.com/index.php?p=82 http://www.rabiddoll.com/index.php?p=82 http://www.rabiddoll.com/index.php?p=82 http://www.rabiddoll.com/index.php?p=82 By Julie Pyle Fans might still be demanding a return from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but it doesn't look like that'll happen anytime soon. Especially now that Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played Buffy Summers for seven years, isn't sure she even wants to return to the role âââ¬Ã¦ even if it hits the big screen. I have to be honest. That thought really scares me,Gellar said
[scifinoir2] Ice storm causes blackouts, 17 deaths
I still don't get why most power lines are above ground. I get that installing, upgrading, and repairing underground lines would be a pain (a co-worker who used to live in NYC said streets were always being torn up to work on underground lines). But like anything, once you do it and get used to it, you make it work. It just seems rather silly to me that every single year we hear all these news reports about power lines being knocked down by freezing rain, snow, or high winds. The power to my house is brought in by lines that arc across the street from a pole near a neighbor's house. They hang low enough for someone to hit 'em with a rake or something, and in high winds, they move like pendulums. Or how about the great blackout just a few years ago that started with a single tree branch in Ohio on a power line, and ended up with NYC being in a blackout? The billions of dollars it'd cost to change this part of our infrastructure would be worth it to avoid the inevitable problems w e have every single year in so many parts of this country. Not to mention, power lines running overhead is just an ugly sight... ** Ice storm causes blackouts, 17 deaths By KEN MILLER, Associated Press Writer 5 minutes ago A wintry storm caked the center of the nation with a thick layer of ice Monday, blacking out more than 600,000 homes and businesses, and more icy weather was on the way. At least 17 deaths in Oklahoma and Missouri were blamed on the conditions, with 15 of them killed on slick highways. A state of emergency was declared for all of Oklahoma, where the sound of branches snapping under the weight of the ice echoed through Oklahoma City. You can hear them falling everywhere, Lonnie Compton said Monday as he shoveled ice off his driveway. The National Weather Service posted ice and winter storm warnings Tuesday for parts of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois. Missouri declared an emergency on Sunday and put the National Guard on alert. Oklahoma utilities said a half-million customers were blacked out as power lines snapped under the weight of ice and falling tree branches, the biggest power outage in state history, and utilities in Missouri said more than 100,000 homes and business had no power there. If you do the math, probably one out of three Oklahomans has no electricity at this point, said Gil Broyles, a spokesman for Oklahoma Gas Electric, the state's largest utility. Roughly 11,000 customers were blacked out in southern Illinois and more than 5,000 had no electric heat or lights in Kansas, where Gov. Kathleen Sebelius declared a statewide state of emergency. At O'Hare International Airport, about 100 flights were canceled by Monday afternoon, with delays of about 45 minutes, said Chicago Department of Aviation spokeswoman Karen Pride. No flights were canceled at Midway Airport, but a handful of flights were delayed about an hour, she said. Ice was as much as an inch thick on tree limbs and power lines in parts of the region. Schools across Oklahoma were closed and some hospitals were relying on backup power generators. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers sent 50 generators and three truckloads of bottled water from Texas to distribute to blacked-out areas of Oklahoma. Tulsa International Airport had no power for about 10 hours and halted flight operations for the day, and most morning flights at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City were canceled because of icy runways. Greyhound bus passengers were stranded overnight at a shelter in a church in Tulsa, and were joined by some local residents who had no heat. Portions of Interstate 35 and Interstate 44 were shut down early Monday afternoon in Oklahoma City after ice-laden power lines collapsed and fell into the roadways. Oklahoma utility officials said it could be a week or more before power was fully restored. This is a big one. We've got a massive situation here and it's probably going to be a week to 10 days before we get power on to everybody, said Ed Bettinger, a spokesman for Public Service Company. It looks like a war zone. The Oklahoma City suburb of Jones, a town of 2,500 people, had low water pressure because there was no electricity to run well pumps, and firefighters said an early morning fire destroyed most of the community's high school. Since the storm began, Tulsa firefighters have responded to dozens of structural fires, most attributable to the storm, said Sheryl Lovelady, a city spokeswoman. One person was killed by smoke inhalation in a storm-related fire, she said; she did not provide details. The icy weather stretched into the Northeast, where many schools across upstate New York were closed or started late because of icy roads. On ice-covered Interstate 40 west of Okemah, Okla., four people died in one huge cluster of an accident that involved 11 vehicles, said Highway Patrol Trooper Betsey
Re: Favorite Villain Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Heroes finale
The Borg started out scary, then were weakened in my opinion. When they were a mass intelligence with no individual leader, they were fearsome. When they brought in the Queen, with her posing and posturing, I lost interest. I also hated the way they were so weakened. some of the holes in their systems were stupid: the Borg only care about an active threat, so you can beam aboard any given Cube and chill out as long as you don't break anything? You can penetrate their electromagnetic shields with a shuttle or transporter beam? In the midst of a huge battle, Data put them to sleep give me a break!! -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] What about the Borg? are they two one dimensional? When they first came out, they blew me away. What about Agent Smith on the Matrix Daryle wrote: Hal not only counts, it counts as the best developed villain of all! Good choice! My short list has to include the Tyrell Corporation (yes, the whole corporation) of ³Blade Runner², The entire cast of ³Blake¹s 7², Elijah from ³Unbreakable², The Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor¹s character) from ³Serenity², and of course...the Cardassians. On 12/12/07 1:07 PM, Bosco Boscowrote: There's so many good villains to choose from. I'm a villain lover actually. In no particular order here's some faves off the top of my head. Darth Vader, Baron Harkonnen, The Reavers from Firefly/Serenity, Dr. John Whorfin, Spike, and The Others on Lost. Do Q and Hal count as villains? I count them as such I suppose. Bosco --- Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) wrote: One of my favorite villians is Ra's Al Ghul from Batman. He seems to be one of the more fleshed out villains. I love his back flash stories and how they reveal his motivations. his relationship with Batman is never Black and White. Mike Street wrote: I like well developed villains. I think Magneto is excellent cause he has a clear cut purpose, a past, and goal with what he's trying to do. Or the Joker cause he's nut's and can't tell right from wrong anymore. I do think the good guys are to GOOD. I always wanted the Legion of Doom to kick the good guys ass once and a while..just for a reality check. My favorite was when Batman got his ass kicked and was out and the Azreal came in to take his place and was kicking everyone ass. Them stupid Batman comes back to kick his ass. I was like this is bull shit. I personally like the eviler Batman and was hoping that Bruce Wane would retire for good. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead. I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said. You know these things that happen, That's just the way it's supposed to be. And I can't help but wonder, Don't ya know it coulda been me. __ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: Favorite Villain Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Heroes finale
the low point for me was the introduction of Hugh in TNG. The Borg that Geordi adopted, which developed full human emotions after being cut off from the Collective. That character destroyed the whole concept of the Borg. Then came Seven of Nine, the Baby Borg, the Queen--aagh!! -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I totally agree. . That first episode was fantastic and I liked first contact, but there after I became less enamored with them [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The Borg started out scary, then were weakened in my opinion. When they were a mass intelligence with no individual leader, they were fearsome. When they brought in the Queen, with her posing and posturing, I lost interest. I also hated the way they were so weakened. some of the holes in their systems were stupid: the Borg only care about an active threat, so you can beam aboard any given Cube and chill out as long as you don't break anything? You can penetrate their electromagnetic shields with a shuttle or transporter beam? In the midst of a huge battle, Data put them to sleep give me a break!! -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) What about the Borg? are they two one dimensional? When they first came out, they blew me away. What about Agent Smith on the Matrix Daryle wrote: Hal not only counts, it counts as the best developed villain of all! Good choice! My short list has to include the Tyrell Corporation (yes, the whole corporation) of ³Blade Runner², The entire cast of ³Blake¹s 7², Elijah from ³Unbreakable², The Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor¹s character) from ³Serenity², and of course...the Cardassians. On 12/12/07 1:07 PM, Bosco Boscowrote: There's so many good villains to choose from. I'm a villain lover actually. In no particular order here's some faves off the top of my head. Darth Vader, Baron Harkonnen, The Reavers from Firefly/Serenity, Dr. John Whorfin, Spike, and The Others on Lost. Do Q and Hal count as villains? I count them as such I suppose. Bosco --- Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) wrote: One of my favorite villians is Ra's Al Ghul from Batman. He seems to be one of the more fleshed out villains. I love his back flash stories and how they reveal his motivations. his relationship with Batman is never Black and White. Mike Street wrote: I like well developed villains. I think Magneto is excellent cause he has a clear cut purpose, a past, and goal with what he's trying to do. Or the Joker cause he's nut's and can't tell right from wrong anymore. I do think the good guys are to GOOD. I always wanted the Legion of Doom to kick the good guys ass once and a while..just for a reality check. My favorite was when Batman got his ass kicked and was out and the Azreal came in to take his place and was kicking everyone ass. Them stupid Batman comes back to kick his ass. I was like this is bull shit. I personally like the eviler Batman and was hoping that Bruce Wane would retire for good. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead. I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said. You know these things that happen, That's just the way it's supposed to be. And I can't help but wonder, Don't ya know it coulda been me. __ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Does Race Affect Your Intelligence?
right on. in a perfect world we could ignore ignorance and it'd fade away, like the gods in comic books who cease to exist when humans quit believing in them. But that's not the real world; repeat a lie often enough and it becomes truth.That's how Bush gained his power... And sometimes that silence would mean watching someone else get a job that a black person deserved, or a cop stopping people of color instead of whites, or teachers just assuming that black kids don't perform as well. Like i related in my story the other day, when my first grade teacher made the unconscious decision that i was fit for janitorial duty, my parents didn't stay silent. we have to speak up to challenge all such beliefs. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] The timing of the three recent articles is not peculiar in my opinion. The all were related to the Watson incident, which was followed by idiots putting out their data that genetically had lower IQs. After this being off the table for years, these guys were getting traction with new data. Then the guy in the article, squashing their data. Finally on Sunday, there are the revelation that Watson, the guy who jump started this nonsense is part Black. The articles all referred to the original Watson incident and his being fired a month later as a result of his comments. It is timely, in my opinion. But I get it, you do not want anybody to refute the idiots because you are not paying attention to the argument. Left unanswered, I think these theories gain power. While I believe most White males think this stuff, if there is data out there to support their bias against us that is not refuted, and it becomes the prevailing wisdom, things could get a whole lot worse for us.. and as you know, it is bad enough already Many of us growing up, in school, in college, in graduate school, in the workplace have been and continue to be faced with this perspective. I have experienced it personally growing and I have had to help others who come to me for career advice to deal with it. Silence to these contentions, in my opinion is worse than someone showing that they are false. I think we need to have people taking the wind or power out of these horrible theories when the resurface and get international exposure. While I doubt it has much impact on the Whites in power, it prevents them from being emboldened any further. Also, I know from talking to those who seek my assistance - who are often worn down from the attacks from so many different areas (teachers, peers, bosses) that it does make a difference in helping them to remember that it is not true about them. Daryle wrote: Okay then, let me, personally, be clear. I'm saying that the reality that either article was written is a waste of energy. I am saying that this is an argument that nobody asked for. I am also saying that the TIMING of this argument is a little peculiar. Nobody's been concerned about how intelligent we were for what, 40 years? Now, the year before an election, where a Black dude is running, there's a *question*? I don't buy this, and further, I'm saying that we should see that we are being sold. On 12/12/07 4:18 PM, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) wrote: Here is the thing guys. I'm confused. There was a scientific article on Slate that said that Blacks statistically 15 -20 points dumber than anyone else and the guys had the numbers to support it. So this guy response by tearing about those numbers and showing that those numbers are irrelevant and providing evidence from other tests that disprove his theory and you have a problem with this guy. He is saying that race does not determine intellect in the face of all the scientists that are saying that race determines intellect. Your response baffles me. I got to reread this article Daryle wrote: Key term here: diversionary. I totally agree. Race is the new ⤽gay marriageâ¤?. Anti-Christianity is the new ⤽immigrationâ¤?. Weâ¤^(TM)ve seen all of this before. Folks who write these articles should be ashamed of themselves. Itâ¤^(TM)s old hat at this point. Daryle On 12/12/07 2:12 PM, Martin wrote: (standing ovation) ravenadal wrote: I am so tired of this argument because it is diversionary. The truth of the matter is this: the only difference between uneducated white people and uneducated black people is that uneducated white people have jobs. The only difference between educated white people and educated black people is that educated white people have BETTER jobs. ~(no)rave! --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L.
Re: Favorite Villain Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Heroes finale
yeah, they drove me up the wall. Reminds me of all the cartoons that have to create kiddie versions of popular characters... -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baby Borg (heads exploding around the world at the concept...) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: the low point for me was the introduction of Hugh in TNG. The Borg that Geordi adopted, which developed full human emotions after being cut off from the Collective. That character destroyed the whole concept of the Borg. Then came Seven of Nine, the Baby Borg, the Queen--aagh!! -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) I totally agree. . That first episode was fantastic and I liked first contact, but there after I became less enamored with them [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The Borg started out scary, then were weakened in my opinion. When they were a mass intelligence with no individual leader, they were fearsome. When they brought in the Queen, with her posing and posturing, I lost interest. I also hated the way they were so weakened. some of the holes in their systems were stupid: the Borg only care about an active threat, so you can beam aboard any given Cube and chill out as long as you don't break anything? You can penetrate their electromagnetic shields with a shuttle or transporter beam? In the midst of a huge battle, Data put them to sleep give me a break!! -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) What about the Borg? are they two one dimensional? When they first came out, they blew me away. What about Agent Smith on the Matrix Daryle wrote: Hal not only counts, it counts as the best developed villain of all! Good choice! My short list has to include the Tyrell Corporation (yes, the whole corporation) of ³Blade Runner², The entire cast of ³Blake¹s 7², Elijah from ³Unbreakable², The Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor¹s character) from ³Serenity², and of course...the Cardassians. On 12/12/07 1:07 PM, Bosco Boscowrote: There's so many good villains to choose from. I'm a villain lover actually. In no particular order here's some faves off the top of my head. Darth Vader, Baron Harkonnen, The Reavers from Firefly/Serenity, Dr. John Whorfin, Spike, and The Others on Lost. Do Q and Hal count as villains? I count them as such I suppose. Bosco --- Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) wrote: One of my favorite villians is Ra's Al Ghul from Batman. He seems to be one of the more fleshed out villains. I love his back flash stories and how they reveal his motivations. his relationship with Batman is never Black and White. Mike Street wrote: I like well developed villains. I think Magneto is excellent cause he has a clear cut purpose, a past, and goal with what he's trying to do. Or the Joker cause he's nut's and can't tell right from wrong anymore. I do think the good guys are to GOOD. I always wanted the Legion of Doom to kick the good guys ass once and a while..just for a reality check. My favorite was when Batman got his ass kicked and was out and the Azreal came in to take his place and was kicking everyone ass. Them stupid Batman comes back to kick his ass. I was like this is bull shit. I personally like the eviler Batman and was hoping that Bruce Wane would retire for good. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead. I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said. You know these things that happen, That's just the way it's supposed to be. And I can't help but wonder, Don't ya know it coulda been me. __ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. [Non-text
Re: [scifinoir2] FW: Study finds humans still evolving, and quickly]
i wonder if any of the changes will allow us to live longer, become stronger, faster, or smarter? Or, are there those among us with a mutant resistance to pollution, mercury, steroids, etc., who can tolerate the jacked-up environment more? Maybe one day clean air, water, and blue skies will be anathema to some. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Original Message Subject: [AFAMHED] FW: Study finds humans still evolving, and quickly Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2007 08:24:34 -0500 Reply-To: Coates, Rodney D. Dr. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Study finds humans still evolving, and quickly By Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer 2:44 PM PST, December 10, 2007 http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-evolution11dec11,0,5882337.story The pace of human evolution has been increasing at a stunning rate since our ancestors began spreading through Europe, Asia and Africa 40,000 years ago, quickening to 100 times historic levels after agriculture became widespread, according to a study published today. By examining more than 3 million variants of DNA in 269 people, researchers identified about 1,800 genes that have been widely adopted in relatively recent times because they offer some evolutionary benefit. Until recently, anthropologists believed that evolutionary pressures on humans eased after the transition to a more stable agrarian lifestyle. But in the last few years, they realized the opposite was true -- diseases swept through societies in which large groups lived in close quarters for a long period. Altogether, the recent genetic changes account for 7% of the human genome, according to the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The advantage of all but about 100 of these genes remains a mystery, said University of Wisconsin-Madison anthropologist John Hawks, who led the study. But the research team was able to conclude that infectious diseases and the introduction of new foods were the primary reasons that some genes swept through populations with such speed. If there were not a mismatch between the population and the environment, there wouldn't be any selection, Hawks said. Dietary changes, disease changes -- those create circumstances where selection can happen. One of the most famous examples is the spread of a gene that allows adults to digest milk. Though children were able to drink milk, they typically developed lactose intolerance as they grew up. But after cattle and goats were domesticated in Europe and yaks and mares were domesticated in Asia, adults with a mutation that allowed them to digest milk had a nutritional advantage over those who didn't. As a result, they were more likely to have healthy offspring, prompting the mutation to spread, Hawks said. The mechanism also explains why genetic resistance to malaria has spread among Africans -- who live where disease-carrying mosquitoes are prevalent -- but not among Europeans or Asians. Most of the genetic changes the researchers identified were found in only one geographic group or another. Races as we know them today didn't exist until fewer than 20,000 years ago, when genes involved in skin pigmentation emerged, Hawks said. Paler skin allowed people in northern latitudes to absorb more sunlight to make vitamin D. As populations expanded into new environments, the pressures faced in those environments would have been different, said Noah Rosenberg, a human geneticist at the University of Michigan, who wasn't involved in the study. So it stands to reason that in different parts of the world, different genes will appear to have experienced natural selection. Hawks and his colleagues from UC Irvine, the University of Utah and Santa Clara-based gene chip maker Affymetrix Inc. examined genetic data collected by the International HapMap Consortium, which cataloged single- letter differences among the 3 billion letters of human DNA in people of Nigerian, Japanese, Chinese and European descent. The researchers looked for long stretches of DNA that were identical in many people, suggesting that a gene was widely adopted and that it spread relatively recently, before random mutations among individuals had a chance to occur. They found that the more the population grew, the faster human genes evolved. That's because more people created more opportunities for a beneficial mutation to arise, Hawks said. In the last 5,000 to 10,000 years, as agriculture was able to support increasingly large societies, the rate of evolutionary change rose to more than 100 times historical levels, the study concluded. Among the fastest-evolving genes are those related to brain development, but the researchers aren't sure what made them so desirable, Hawks said. There are other mysteries too. Nobody 10,000 years ago had blue eyes, Hawks said. Why is it that blue-eyed people had a 5% advantage in reproducing compared to non-blue-eyed
[scifinoir2] On Choosing Cable or Satellite - Consumer Reports Overview
I forget who asked the question about choosing satellite or cable. But the following is some info from Consumer Reports on what to think about when choosing cable or satellite. It list general facts about each. They haven't done a recent comparative review of the two choices, though, to tell you which is the better deal, but that seems to depend on your needs (for basic channels vs. HD, costs, premium on-demand, etc). I use Consumer Reports quite a bit for an early source of info when i'm making buying choices. I'll see what other reliable sources of advice may be out there. This info is up-to-date, published October of this year. There is a nice pros-and-cons summary at the end that might help. keith ** I. Television service - How to choose among cable, satellite, or fiber optic TV service providers Even if you're not in the market for a new TV, you might be wondering whether it's time to change your TV service. Ads from cable and satellite companies promising more HD programming, improved picture quality, easy recording, and more could tempt you to upgrade your package or even switch providers. Phone companies might be pitching you TV service too. Over the last year, Verizon and ATT began slowly rolling out fiber-optic networks that can handle TV services along with voice calls and Internet access. Verizon's service is called FiOS, and ATT's is U-verse. You might see such services referred to generically as fiber to the home, or FTTH. Verizon and ATT are now selling TV service in limited areas. It's unclear whether they'll ultimately offer it in all the markets where they sell phone service. Still, the prospect of more choices for viewers, plus more competition for cable and satellite providers, is a plus for consumers. Many cable customers might welcome another alternative, given their gripes over rising rates. Cable rates have almost doubled over the last decade, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Increases were lowest in the few markets with more than one cable company. Price isn't the only bone of contention for consumers. Despite the steady increase in HD availability, there still isn't enough programming for HDTV owners. Nearly 70 percent of the cable and satellite subscribers we surveyed characterized availability of HD content as average or poor and only 7 percent said it was excellent. In contrast, the vast majority of respondents were very satisfied with the quality of HD programming they get from cable or satellite. Those findings send a message: HD quality is fine but give us more channels. II. TV Service Providers - How to Choose Here are some factors that could make one service more suitable for your needs than another: Availability. Cable is widely available in most parts of the country, except for some rural regions. But only 2 percent of markets are served by more than one cable company, so you have no choice if you want cable but don't like your provider. Satellite service is available nationwide from DirecTV and Dish Network. You must be able to mount a dish antenna with an unobstructed view of the southern horizon. Fiber-optic service remains limited in availability. In 2007, Verizon's FiOS TV was offered in parts of California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. ATT's U-verse service was available in 21 metropolitan areas in California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Texas, and Wisconsin. The latest programming services' expansion is being slowed by the need to build the costly infrastructure for the fiber-optic service. Also, like the cable companies, they must apply for a franchise in each market. But that's starting to change. Several states have passed legislation allowing statewide service filings and Congress is debating a law that would allow nationwide filings. Consumer advocates--including Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports--are concerned that a move away from local control might allow phone companies to offer TV service in only selected parts of a market. Equipment costs. Only satellite has an up-front expense. With cable, there's nothing to buy. You rent a set-top box or CableCard from the cable company. HD digital-cable boxes usually rent for $5 to $10 a month, often the same as a standard-definition digital box. CableCards cost about $2 a month; you can use them only with a digital-cable-ready TV. One negative: CableCards don't support interactive services such as video on demand. Instead of a regular digital-cable box, you can rent one with an integrated digital video recorder, often for the same fee plus a $10-a-month programming charge. Most DVRs record about 30 hours or so of HD (more of standard definition) on a hard drive. You can pause and rewind, then fast-forward live TV or previously recorded shows. Renting gear rather than buying eliminates
[scifinoir2] Charisma Carpenter Says WGA Strike Hurting Her Income
Okay, here's a side effect of the writers' strike I couldn't have anticipated... *** Carpenter Says She Needs Help from Estranged Husband According to Charisma Carpenter, the writers strike is slaying her earning capacity.The former Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel star claims that the ongoing Writers Guild of America walkout has left her unemployed, and therefore without the means to afford the attorneys' fees pertaining to her current divorce proceedings, according to court documents filed Dec. 4.In turn, Carpenter has requested that estranged hubby Damian Hardy be required to pay her legal bills.Per her declaration, the last work the 37-year-old actress had was a Nov. 26 appearance on a TV show that has not yet been renewed or picked up. The nearly seven-week-long strike could go on for months and, even if it ends, the Screen Actors Guild contract is up for renewal in June and could prompt further labor action, she said. Carpenter briefly guest-starred on Fox's Back to You as the single mother of a bully who has been terrorizing the daughter of the bickering news anchors played by Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammar. Grammar's character, Chuck, wants to give the kid's mom a piece of his mind until he sees how hot she is, of course.The sitcom's status is still up in the air, along with the fate of myriad other freshman series, thanks to the strike. At the present time, [Hardy] has the ability to work full time and make more money than I am currently making, Carpenter states. [He] should be paying my attorneys' fees and costs. The court should uphold the spousal support waiver, but if it does not do so, it should award spousal support to me. The 2004 Playboy cover girl says that her and Hardy's prenup includes a waiver of spousal support by both sides in the event that their marriage fails to last seven years.But Hardy, who stated in a declaration filed Nov. 27 that he quit working for awhile to be a stay-at-home dad for their four-year-old son, Donovan Charles Hardy, maintains that he wasn't fully aware of what he was getting into before he agreed to the premarital arrangement. I do not recall any discussion regarding the waiver of spousal support, and no one explained to me what rights I was giving up regarding spousal support by signing the premarital agreement, Hardy stated.He claims that before the couple swapped vows in October 2002 he earned $18,000 a year working as a hotel bellman and supervisor. Meanwhile, Hardy stated, Carpenter is capable of making up to $500,000 a year (what he says she earned in 2004) as an actress. I have recently returned to work, but I am making less than $2,000 per month and I cannot afford to go to school at this time, Hardy, a high school graduate, said. A hearing on custody and financial issues is scheduled for Jan. 9 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Charisma Carpenter Says WGA Strike Hurting Her Income
ha-ha! you're right! I thought it too! -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Keith, neither did I. Maybe it's wrong of us to always think that actors can always get work, when the only place they can work is in acting, where they need writers to craft scripts for them. I hope that all goes well for her. And, in all honesty, when I saw the subject line of this, an old Babyface song came to mind. I'll pay your rent... Don't look like that, Keith. You thought it, too... [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Okay, here's a side effect of the writers' strike I couldn't have anticipated... *** Carpenter Says She Needs Help from Estranged Husband According to Charisma Carpenter, the writers strike is slaying her earning capacity. The former Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel star claims that the ongoing Writers Guild of America walkout has left her unemployed, and therefore without the means to afford the attorneys' fees pertaining to her current divorce proceedings, according to court documents filed Dec. 4. In turn, Carpenter has requested that estranged hubby Damian Hardy be required to pay her legal bills. Per her declaration, the last work the 37-year-old actress had was a Nov. 26 appearance on a TV show that has not yet been renewed or picked up. The nearly seven-week-long strike could go on for months and, even if it ends, the Screen Actors Guild contract is up for renewal in June and could prompt further labor action, she said. Carpenter briefly guest-starred on Fox's Back to You as the single mother of a bully who has been terrorizing the daughter of the bickering news anchors played by Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammar. Grammar's character, Chuck, wants to give the kid's mom a piece of his mind until he sees how hot she is, of course. The sitcom's status is still up in the air, along with the fate of myriad other freshman series, thanks to the strike. At the present time, [Hardy] has the ability to work full time and make more money than I am currently making, Carpenter states. [He] should be paying my attorneys' fees and costs. The court should uphold the spousal support waiver, but if it does not do so, it should award spousal support to me. The 2004 Playboy cover girl says that her and Hardy's prenup includes a waiver of spousal support by both sides in the event that their marriage fails to last seven years. But Hardy, who stated in a declaration filed Nov. 27 that he quit working for awhile to be a stay-at-home dad for their four-year-old son, Donovan Charles Hardy, maintains that he wasn't fully aware of what he was getting into before he agreed to the premarital arrangement. I do not recall any discussion regarding the waiver of spousal support, and no one explained to me what rights I was giving up regarding spousal support by signing the premarital agreement, Hardy stated. He claims that before the couple swapped vows in October 2002 he earned $18,000 a year working as a hotel bellman and supervisor. Meanwhile, Hardy stated, Carpenter is capable of making up to $500,000 a year (what he says she earned in 2004) as an actress. I have recently returned to work, but I am making less than $2,000 per month and I cannot afford to go to school at this time, Hardy, a high school graduate, said. A hearing on custody and financial issues is scheduled for Jan. 9 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[scifinoir2] Planet Earth on Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is running the great nature series Planet Earth all day, until 10 pm EST. Then a three-hour block airs at 11 pm EST tonight. Fascinating stuff. Watching the elephant pulled down in the night by starving lions...the polar bear desperately and futilely trying to kill a walrus...the bat cave filled with literally millions of roaches...the almost never seen white snow leopard...the shark leaping from the ocean to grab a hapless seal--amazing. I'm buying the series as a Christmas gift for my brothers... [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Planet Earth on Discovery Channel
what's the crisis? -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Isn't it, though? If I weren't dealing with a major online crisis, I'd be better able to enjoy it. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Discovery Channel is running the great nature series Planet Earth all day, until 10 pm EST. Then a three-hour block airs at 11 pm EST tonight. Fascinating stuff. Watching the elephant pulled down in the night by starving lions...the polar bear desperately and futilely trying to kill a walrus...the bat cave filled with literally millions of roaches...the almost never seen white snow leopard...the shark leaping from the ocean to grab a hapless seal--amazing. I'm buying the series as a Christmas gift for my brothers... [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Will Smith Rules the Box Office with $77 mil
Scary that dreck like Alvin and the Chipmunks made so much! Love the reviewer's statement, ...it's like being hit over the head with a mallet every ten seconds for 90 minutes! -- Original message -- From: Mike Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] Will Smith's `I Am Legend' Opens to $77 Million in Ticket Sales By Andy Fixmer and Bradley Keoun Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- ``I Am Legend,'' the science-fiction thriller starring Will Smith, opened as the top film this weekend, garnering $76.5 million at the domestic box office for Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. studio. New releases ``Alvin and the Chipmunks'' from News Corp.'s Fox opened in second place with $45 million, box-office tracker Media By Numbers LLC said today in a statement. Time Warner's ``Golden Compass,'' the prior weekend's No. 1 movie, dropped to third with $9.03 million in sales, while Walt Disney Co.'s ``Enchanted'' fell to fourth from second with $6 million. Time Warner scored for a second-straight week with a movie debuting at No. 1 in U.S. and Canadian theaters, following the Dec. 7 release of ``The Golden Compass.'' As of Dec. 14, the world's largest media company had $1.7 billion in box office sales this year, the most among its competitors, according to researcher Box Office Mojo LLC. ``This is the perfect movie for Will Smith. It's sci-fi, yet it's an intelligent film,'' Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers, said in an interview. In ``I Am Legend,'' Smith portrays one of the last humans to survive a virus that turns people into flesh-eating monsters. Smith works on a cure during the day and hides from the demons in a barricaded New York townhouse at night, when they hunt. Exceeds Sales Estimate Ticket sales for the movie beat the $51.5 million estimate of Burbank, California-based Box Office Mojo. As of Dec. 14, ``I Am Legend'' received lukewarm response, with 65 positive reviews out of 110 tracked by RottenTomatoes.com. ``Alvin and the Chipmunks,'' based on the 1980s cartoon series, features a computer-animated version of the high-pitched singing trio. The movie received poor reviews, with New York Post's Lou Lumenick writing, ``For adults, it's like being hit over the head with a mallet every 10 seconds for 90 minutes. Two days later, I still had a headache.'' Luckily, children will drive ticket sales, Dergarabedian said. ```Alvin and the Chipmunks' will do very, very well,'' he said. ``It's irresistible to kids.'' ``The Golden Compass,'' made for about $150 million by Time Warner's New Line Cinema, missed the $35.4 million opening weekend estimate of Hollywood Stock Exchange.com, where participants bet play money on a film's performance. The film tells the story of a young girl who uses a unique ability to discern truth in a cosmic battle over free will. ``It didn't have that built-in fun factor that a `Narnia' or a `Lord of the Rings' has,'' Dergarabedian said. ``Something about that movie didn't compel audiences to go out in large numbers.'' `Enchanted' ``Enchanted'' stars Amy Adams as a princess banished from her fantasy world to modern New York. The film has taken in $92.3 million since its release Nov. 21. Susan Sarandon co-stars as the evil queen who engineers her departure. ``No Country for Old Men,'' with $3 million for Disney's Miramax studio, ranked fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were: ``The Perfect Holiday,'' which opened with $2.97 million for Yari Film Group; ``Fred Claus,'' from Time Warner's Warner Bros., with $2.31 million of sales; Sony Corp.'s ``This Christmas,'' with $2.3 million; ``Atonement,'' from NBC Universal's Focus Features, with $1.85 million, and ``August Rush,'' in its fourth weekend from Warner Bros., at $1.79 million. Among the top 10, ``Atonement,'' starring Keira Knightley, had the biggest surge, climbing from the prior weekend's 15th place after garnering seven nominations for Golden Globe awards on Dec. 13. Sales for the top 12 films rose 39 percent this weekend to $153.6 million from a year earlier, according to Encino, California-based Media By Numbers. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] [Fwd:Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend)]
So, *now* can Smith finally do a love story with a Black woman? :( (You know me Tracey: you knew i had to ask!) -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Original Message Subject: [NPHC] Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend) Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:18:08 -0500 From: Marva Smith's 'Legend' grows with $76.5M debut By DAVID GERMAIN, AP Movie Writer 51 minutes ago LOS ANGELES - For the last man on Earth, Will Smith sure has a lot of friends. The Warner Bros. tale I Am Legend, starring Smith as a plague survivor who may be the last living human, debuted with $76.5 million, the biggest December opening ever and a personal best for one of Hollywood's top box-office champs, according to studio estimates Sunday. It's no wonder Will Smith feels so lonely. Everyone else on Earth is in the movie theater, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. The 20th Century Fox family flick Alvin and the Chipmunks, starring Jason Lee in a big-screen take on the cartoon critters, opened a strong No. 2 with $45 million. The two films combined to give Hollywood a year-end surge after a drowsy fall season. Forty-five million acorns, said Chris Aronson, senior vice president for distribution at 20th Century Fox. Chipmunks are diurnal animals and they do hibernate, but not right now. Overall business soared, with the top 12 movies taking in $153.6 million, up 39 percent from the same weekend a year earlier, when Smith also was No. 1 with a $26.5 million debut for The Pursuit of Happyness. The previous No. 1 movie, New Line Cinema's fantasy The Golden Compass, nose-dived in its second weekend, coming in third with $9 million, down a dismal 65 percent from its less-than-expected $25.8 million debut a week earlier. The Golden Compass, which cost $180 million to produce, has done $90 million so far overseas but has proven a dud domestically with just $41 million. On the other hand, I Am Legend smashed Smith's personal debut record, easily exceeding the $52.1 million opening weekends of I, Robot and Men in Black II, his previous bests. I Am Legend outdid the $72.6 million premiere of 2003's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the previous best December opening. It's nice to be in the Will Smith business, said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros. He is just the No. 1 box-office star in the world today. Based on the Richard Matheson novel filmed twice before as Vincent Price's The Last Man on Earth and Charlton Heston's The Omega Man, I Am Legend casts Smith as a scientist trying to find a cure and fighting off the vestiges of humanity, people transformed by the plague into vampire-like creatures. Two Golden Globe nominees just hitting theaters did well in their second weekends. Focus Features' Atonement a tragic romance that led the Globes with seven nominations, including best drama and acting honors for Keira Knightley and James McAvoy pulled in $1.85 million in 117 theaters. That gave Atonement a strong average of $15,835 a theater, compared to $21,224 in 3,606 cinemas for I Am Legend. Fox Searchlight's Juno, a teen-pregnancy comedy whose three nominations included best comedy or musical and an acting honor for Ellen Page, grossed $1.44 million in 40 theaters for a $36,018 average. Atonement and Juno expand into nationwide release over the next three weekends. Another Golden Globe nominee, the Paramount Classics-DreamWorks foreign-language contender The Kite Runner, debuted strongly with $450,970 in 35 theaters for a $12,885 average. Spanning the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to modern times, the film follows an emigrant to America who returns home to rescue the son of a childhood friend. Francis Ford Coppola's first film in 10 years, Youth Without Youth from Sony Pictures Classics, had a so-so debut of $27,815 in six theaters, averaging $4,636. The film stars Tim Roth as an elderly language scholar whose youth is restored by a lightning strike. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday. 1. I Am Legend, $76.5 million. 2. Alvin and the Chipmunks, $45 million. 3. The Golden Compass, $9 million. 4. Enchanted, $6 million. 5. No Country for Old Men, $3 million. 6. The Perfect Holiday, $2.97 million. 7. Fred Claus, $2.3 million. 8. This Christmas, $2.3 million. 9. Atonement, $1.85 million. 10. August Rush, $1.8 million. -- Marva Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
Re: [scifinoir2] Planet Earth on Discovery Channel
same here. i haven't been this captivated since the old days of Wild Kingdom. I might buy the series for myself as well, but trying to save the ducats to buy parts for a new PC, or perhaps, a couple seasons of B5. Wanna get a flatscreen TV too, but with my taste in electronics (my rule is buy the best quality i can, with expectations to have it for years, and don't spare the expense) that'll be a while... -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] We watch every week! [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Discovery Channel is running the great nature series Planet Earth all day, until 10 pm EST. Then a three-hour block airs at 11 pm EST tonight. Fascinating stuff. Watching the elephant pulled down in the night by starving lions...the polar bear desperately and futilely trying to kill a walrus...the bat cave filled with literally millions of roaches...the almost never seen white snow leopard...the shark leaping from the ocean to grab a hapless seal--amazing. I'm buying the series as a Christmas gift for my brothers... [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Will Smith Rules the Box Office with $77 mil
what was wrong with the flick? How does it compare to The Omega Man? How does it compare to the book? aren't critics for the most part liking it? -- Original message -- From: Mike Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] I think it's a mixture of Will Smith, Zombies, and the hope for an action flick. Plus a lot of people are already on vacation. I saw the movie last night in Harlem and for the most part the audience hated it. THe acting was good but I thought the story could have used a lot of work. On Dec 16, 2007 5:01 PM, Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Either guns and zombies are big sellers, or there's nothing else out there worth watching... Mike Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] streetforce1%40gmail.com wrote: Will Smith's `I Am Legend' Opens to $77 Million in Ticket Sales By Andy Fixmer and Bradley Keoun Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- ``I Am Legend,'' the science-fiction thriller starring Will Smith, opened as the top film this weekend, garnering $76.5 million at the domestic box office for Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. studio. New releases ``Alvin and the Chipmunks'' from News Corp.'s Fox opened in second place with $45 million, box-office tracker Media By Numbers LLC said today in a statement. Time Warner's ``Golden Compass,'' the prior weekend's No. 1 movie, dropped to third with $9.03 million in sales, while Walt Disney Co.'s ``Enchanted'' fell to fourth from second with $6 million. Time Warner scored for a second-straight week with a movie debuting at No. 1 in U.S. and Canadian theaters, following the Dec. 7 release of ``The Golden Compass.'' As of Dec. 14, the world's largest media company had $1.7 billion in box office sales this year, the most among its competitors, according to researcher Box Office Mojo LLC. ``This is the perfect movie for Will Smith. It's sci-fi, yet it's an intelligent film,'' Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers, said in an interview. In ``I Am Legend,'' Smith portrays one of the last humans to survive a virus that turns people into flesh-eating monsters. Smith works on a cure during the day and hides from the demons in a barricaded New York townhouse at night, when they hunt. Exceeds Sales Estimate Ticket sales for the movie beat the $51.5 million estimate of Burbank, California-based Box Office Mojo. As of Dec. 14, ``I Am Legend'' received lukewarm response, with 65 positive reviews out of 110 tracked by RottenTomatoes.com. ``Alvin and the Chipmunks,'' based on the 1980s cartoon series, features a computer-animated version of the high-pitched singing trio. The movie received poor reviews, with New York Post's Lou Lumenick writing, ``For adults, it's like being hit over the head with a mallet every 10 seconds for 90 minutes. Two days later, I still had a headache.'' Luckily, children will drive ticket sales, Dergarabedian said. ```Alvin and the Chipmunks' will do very, very well,'' he said. ``It's irresistible to kids.'' ``The Golden Compass,'' made for about $150 million by Time Warner's New Line Cinema, missed the $35.4 million opening weekend estimate of Hollywood Stock Exchange.com, where participants bet play money on a film's performance. The film tells the story of a young girl who uses a unique ability to discern truth in a cosmic battle over free will. ``It didn't have that built-in fun factor that a `Narnia' or a `Lord of the Rings' has,'' Dergarabedian said. ``Something about that movie didn't compel audiences to go out in large numbers.'' `Enchanted' ``Enchanted'' stars Amy Adams as a princess banished from her fantasy world to modern New York. The film has taken in $92.3 million since its release Nov. 21. Susan Sarandon co-stars as the evil queen who engineers her departure. ``No Country for Old Men,'' with $3 million for Disney's Miramax studio, ranked fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were: ``The Perfect Holiday,'' which opened with $2.97 million for Yari Film Group; ``Fred Claus,'' from Time Warner's Warner Bros., with $2.31 million of sales; Sony Corp.'s ``This Christmas,'' with $2.3 million; ``Atonement,'' from NBC Universal's Focus Features, with $1.85 million, and ``August Rush,'' in its fourth weekend from Warner Bros., at $1.79 million. Among the top 10, ``Atonement,'' starring Keira Knightley, had the biggest surge, climbing from the prior weekend's 15th place after garnering seven nominations for Golden Globe awards on Dec. 13. Sales for the top 12 films rose 39 percent this weekend to $153.6 million from a year earlier, according to Encino, California-based Media By Numbers. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. [Non-text portions of this
Re: Favorite Villain Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Heroes finale
My vote would be for the Dominion, led by the Changelings on Deep Space Nine. Here were a people with a tragic past (as they tell it) of millennia of abuse at the hands of Solids, who finally decided to control others before they could be hurt. As a formerly oppressed people, they brought an unending pain to their new world view, and nothing was off limits: destroying whole planets or races, genetically engineering soldier and servant races, killing off clones (like Wayun (sp?)) and bringing new ones out of storage like a new set of clothes. Remember when they decided on their Scorched Earth policy on the Cardassian home world as punishment for the people rising up against them? The Changelings were frightening in their self-assured, calculating arrogance. heck, they put the arrogance of the Romulans to shame! -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I like Hathor and Nerte. The new replicators are interesting RaAyyMOND C wrote: Fav Group of villians: The Romulains. The Gouald. Fav female villians: Species alien. Hathor, from SG-1. Nerte, from SG-1. Fav male villian: Apophis Fav comic villain: THANOS of Titan. - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
RE: [scifinoir2] [Fwd:Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend)]
what about Enemy of the State? -- Original message -- From: Reece Jennings [EMAIL PROTECTED] How about 'Enemy of the State?' Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyhomesavers.com -Original Message- From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2007 6:17 PM To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] [Fwd:Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend)] So, *now* can Smith finally do a love story with a Black woman? :( (You know me Tracey: you knew i had to ask!) -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Original Message Subject: [NPHC] Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend) Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:18:08 -0500 From: Marva Smith's 'Legend' grows with $76.5M debut By DAVID GERMAIN, AP Movie Writer 51 minutes ago LOS ANGELES - For the last man on Earth, Will Smith sure has a lot of friends. The Warner Bros. tale I Am Legend, starring Smith as a plague survivor who may be the last living human, debuted with $76.5 million, the biggest December opening ever and a personal best for one of Hollywood's top box-office champs, according to studio estimates Sunday. It's no wonder Will Smith feels so lonely. Everyone else on Earth is in the movie theater, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. The 20th Century Fox family flick Alvin and the Chipmunks, starring Jason Lee in a big-screen take on the cartoon critters, opened a strong No. 2 with $45 million. The two films combined to give Hollywood a year-end surge after a drowsy fall season. Forty-five million acorns, said Chris Aronson, senior vice president for distribution at 20th Century Fox. Chipmunks are diurnal animals and they do hibernate, but not right now. Overall business soared, with the top 12 movies taking in $153.6 million, up 39 percent from the same weekend a year earlier, when Smith also was No. 1 with a $26.5 million debut for The Pursuit of Happyness. The previous No. 1 movie, New Line Cinema's fantasy The Golden Compass, nose-dived in its second weekend, coming in third with $9 million, down a dismal 65 percent from its less-than-expected $25.8 million debut a week earlier. The Golden Compass, which cost $180 million to produce, has done $90 million so far overseas but has proven a dud domestically with just $41 million. On the other hand, I Am Legend smashed Smith's personal debut record, easily exceeding the $52.1 million opening weekends of I, Robot and Men in Black II, his previous bests. I Am Legend outdid the $72.6 million premiere of 2003's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the previous best December opening. It's nice to be in the Will Smith business, said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros. He is just the No. 1 box-office star in the world today. Based on the Richard Matheson novel filmed twice before as Vincent Price's The Last Man on Earth and Charlton Heston's The Omega Man, I Am Legend casts Smith as a scientist trying to find a cure and fighting off the vestiges of humanity, people transformed by the plague into vampire-like creatures. Two Golden Globe nominees just hitting theaters did well in their second weekends. Focus Features' Atonement - a tragic romance that led the Globes with seven nominations, including best drama and acting honors for Keira Knightley and James McAvoy - pulled in $1.85 million in 117 theaters. That gave Atonement a strong average of $15,835 a theater, compared to $21,224 in 3,606 cinemas for I Am Legend. Fox Searchlight's Juno, a teen-pregnancy comedy whose three nominations included best comedy or musical and an acting honor for Ellen Page, grossed $1.44 million in 40 theaters for a $36,018 average. Atonement and Juno expand into nationwide release over the next three weekends. Another Golden Globe nominee, the Paramount Classics-DreamWorks foreign-language contender The Kite Runner, debuted strongly with $450,970 in 35 theaters for a $12,885 average. Spanning the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to modern times, the film follows an emigrant to America who returns home to rescue the son of a childhood friend. Francis Ford Coppola's first film in 10 years, Youth Without Youth from Sony Pictures Classics, had a so-so debut of $27,815 in six theaters, averaging $4,636. The film stars Tim Roth as an elderly language scholar whose youth is restored by a lightning strike. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday. 1. I Am Legend,
Re: [scifinoir2] Will Smith Rules the Box Office with $77 mil
'tis true -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Have you noticed that they never track by number of people. When the track by dollars and the prices are always going up, they can always distort the picture [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: what was wrong with the flick? How does it compare to The Omega Man? How does it compare to the book? aren't critics for the most part liking it? -- Original message -- From: Mike Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:streetforce1%40gmail.com I think it's a mixture of Will Smith, Zombies, and the hope for an action flick. Plus a lot of people are already on vacation. I saw the movie last night in Harlem and for the most part the audience hated it. THe acting was good but I thought the story could have used a lot of work. On Dec 16, 2007 5:01 PM, Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:truthseeker_013%40yahoo.com wrote: Either guns and zombies are big sellers, or there's nothing else out there worth watching... Mike Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:streetforce1%40gmail.com streetforce1%40gmail.com wrote: Will Smith's `I Am Legend' Opens to $77 Million in Ticket Sales By Andy Fixmer and Bradley Keoun Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- ``I Am Legend,'' the science-fiction thriller starring Will Smith, opened as the top film this weekend, garnering $76.5 million at the domestic box office for Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. studio. New releases ``Alvin and the Chipmunks'' from News Corp.'s Fox opened in second place with $45 million, box-office tracker Media By Numbers LLC said today in a statement. Time Warner's ``Golden Compass,'' the prior weekend's No. 1 movie, dropped to third with $9.03 million in sales, while Walt Disney Co.'s ``Enchanted'' fell to fourth from second with $6 million. Time Warner scored for a second-straight week with a movie debuting at No. 1 in U.S. and Canadian theaters, following the Dec. 7 release of ``The Golden Compass.'' As of Dec. 14, the world's largest media company had $1.7 billion in box office sales this year, the most among its competitors, according to researcher Box Office Mojo LLC. ``This is the perfect movie for Will Smith. It's sci-fi, yet it's an intelligent film,'' Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers, said in an interview. In ``I Am Legend,'' Smith portrays one of the last humans to survive a virus that turns people into flesh-eating monsters. Smith works on a cure during the day and hides from the demons in a barricaded New York townhouse at night, when they hunt. Exceeds Sales Estimate Ticket sales for the movie beat the $51.5 million estimate of Burbank, California-based Box Office Mojo. As of Dec. 14, ``I Am Legend'' received lukewarm response, with 65 positive reviews out of 110 tracked by RottenTomatoes.com. ``Alvin and the Chipmunks,'' based on the 1980s cartoon series, features a computer-animated version of the high-pitched singing trio. The movie received poor reviews, with New York Post's Lou Lumenick writing, ``For adults, it's like being hit over the head with a mallet every 10 seconds for 90 minutes. Two days later, I still had a headache.'' Luckily, children will drive ticket sales, Dergarabedian said. ```Alvin and the Chipmunks' will do very, very well,'' he said. ``It's irresistible to kids.'' ``The Golden Compass,'' made for about $150 million by Time Warner's New Line Cinema, missed the $35.4 million opening weekend estimate of Hollywood Stock Exchange.com, where participants bet play money on a film's performance. The film tells the story of a young girl who uses a unique ability to discern truth in a cosmic battle over free will. ``It didn't have that built-in fun factor that a `Narnia' or a `Lord of the Rings' has,'' Dergarabedian said. ``Something about that movie didn't compel audiences to go out in large numbers.'' `Enchanted' ``Enchanted'' stars Amy Adams as a princess banished from her fantasy world to modern New York. The film has taken in $92.3 million since its release Nov. 21. Susan Sarandon co-stars as the evil queen who engineers her departure. ``No Country for Old Men,'' with $3 million for Disney's Miramax studio, ranked fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were: ``The Perfect Holiday,'' which opened with $2.97 million for Yari Film Group; ``Fred Claus,'' from Time Warner's Warner Bros., with $2.31 million of sales; Sony Corp.'s ``This Christmas,'' with $2.3 million; ``Atonement,'' from NBC Universal's Focus Features, with $1.85 million, and ``August Rush,'' in its fourth weekend from Warner Bros., at $1.79 million. Among the top 10, ``Atonement,'' starring Keira Knightley, had the biggest surge, climbing from the prior weekend's 15th place after garnering seven nominations for
Re: [scifinoir2] Will Smith Rules the Box Office with $77 mil
i didn't like it when it was a cartoon back in the day, certainly don't want to watch this new movie. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I don't even put the chipmunks on for my daughter, for fear that we will have to watch all the time. god forbid that we have to go to the theater to see it. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Scary that dreck like Alvin and the Chipmunks made so much! Love the reviewer's statement, ...it's like being hit over the head with a mallet every ten seconds for 90 minutes! -- Original message -- From: Mike Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:streetforce1%40gmail.com Will Smith's `I Am Legend' Opens to $77 Million in Ticket Sales By Andy Fixmer and Bradley Keoun Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- ``I Am Legend,'' the science-fiction thriller starring Will Smith, opened as the top film this weekend, garnering $76.5 million at the domestic box office for Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. studio. New releases ``Alvin and the Chipmunks'' from News Corp.'s Fox opened in second place with $45 million, box-office tracker Media By Numbers LLC said today in a statement. Time Warner's ``Golden Compass,'' the prior weekend's No. 1 movie, dropped to third with $9.03 million in sales, while Walt Disney Co.'s ``Enchanted'' fell to fourth from second with $6 million. Time Warner scored for a second-straight week with a movie debuting at No. 1 in U.S. and Canadian theaters, following the Dec. 7 release of ``The Golden Compass.'' As of Dec. 14, the world's largest media company had $1.7 billion in box office sales this year, the most among its competitors, according to researcher Box Office Mojo LLC. ``This is the perfect movie for Will Smith. It's sci-fi, yet it's an intelligent film,'' Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers, said in an interview. In ``I Am Legend,'' Smith portrays one of the last humans to survive a virus that turns people into flesh-eating monsters. Smith works on a cure during the day and hides from the demons in a barricaded New York townhouse at night, when they hunt. Exceeds Sales Estimate Ticket sales for the movie beat the $51.5 million estimate of Burbank, California-based Box Office Mojo. As of Dec. 14, ``I Am Legend'' received lukewarm response, with 65 positive reviews out of 110 tracked by RottenTomatoes.com. ``Alvin and the Chipmunks,'' based on the 1980s cartoon series, features a computer-animated version of the high-pitched singing trio. The movie received poor reviews, with New York Post's Lou Lumenick writing, ``For adults, it's like being hit over the head with a mallet every 10 seconds for 90 minutes. Two days later, I still had a headache.'' Luckily, children will drive ticket sales, Dergarabedian said. ```Alvin and the Chipmunks' will do very, very well,'' he said. ``It's irresistible to kids.'' ``The Golden Compass,'' made for about $150 million by Time Warner's New Line Cinema, missed the $35.4 million opening weekend estimate of Hollywood Stock Exchange.com, where participants bet play money on a film's performance. The film tells the story of a young girl who uses a unique ability to discern truth in a cosmic battle over free will. ``It didn't have that built-in fun factor that a `Narnia' or a `Lord of the Rings' has,'' Dergarabedian said. ``Something about that movie didn't compel audiences to go out in large numbers.'' `Enchanted' ``Enchanted'' stars Amy Adams as a princess banished from her fantasy world to modern New York. The film has taken in $92.3 million since its release Nov. 21. Susan Sarandon co-stars as the evil queen who engineers her departure. ``No Country for Old Men,'' with $3 million for Disney's Miramax studio, ranked fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were: ``The Perfect Holiday,'' which opened with $2.97 million for Yari Film Group; ``Fred Claus,'' from Time Warner's Warner Bros., with $2.31 million of sales; Sony Corp.'s ``This Christmas,'' with $2.3 million; ``Atonement,'' from NBC Universal's Focus Features, with $1.85 million, and ``August Rush,'' in its fourth weekend from Warner Bros., at $1.79 million. Among the top 10, ``Atonement,'' starring Keira Knightley, had the biggest surge, climbing from the prior weekend's 15th place after garnering seven nominations for Golden Globe awards on Dec. 13. Sales for the top 12 films rose 39 percent this weekend to $153.6 million from a year earlier, according to Encino, California-based Media By Numbers. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Favorite Villain Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Heroes finale
yes indeed. and Jeffrey Combs as Wayun was great. I know at least a couple of his clones were killed by the one Founder who spoke for the race, due to failures in his performance. And Worf killed the last clone toward the end of the series. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I liked them as villains because on their behalf they had two villians by proxy - the Jem hadar (sp) and the clones ( can't remember them [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: My vote would be for the Dominion, led by the Changelings on Deep Space Nine. Here were a people with a tragic past (as they tell it) of millennia of abuse at the hands of Solids, who finally decided to control others before they could be hurt. As a formerly oppressed people, they brought an unending pain to their new world view, and nothing was off limits: destroying whole planets or races, genetically engineering soldier and servant races, killing off clones (like Wayun (sp?)) and bringing new ones out of storage like a new set of clothes. Remember when they decided on their Scorched Earth policy on the Cardassian home world as punishment for the people rising up against them? The Changelings were frightening in their self-assured, calculating arrogance. heck, they put the arrogance of the Romulans to shame! -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com I like Hathor and Nerte. The new replicators are interesting RaAyyMOND C wrote: Fav Group of villians: The Romulains. The Gouald. Fav female villians: Species alien. Hathor, from SG-1. Nerte, from SG-1. Fav male villian: Apophis Fav comic villain: THANOS of Titan. - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Writer Reveals Trek Details
love Spock, but i'm curious how Kirk will fit in, and why Shatner wasn't needed for much? Is it because they killed' Kirk in Generations, so he's technically dead during the time when Nimoy's Spock is to be featured? (I've always assumed that Kirk isn't really, permanently dead, given the possibilities of the Nexus) -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Writer Reveals Trek Details http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46451 Roberto Orci, co-writer of director J.J. Abram's highly anticipated Star Trek movie, told SCI FI Wire that the tightly guarded story for the upcoming franchise reboot depends heavily on the appearance of original series star Leonard Nimoy. Orci (Transformers) added that the movie will explore Trek history that hasn't been mined before and confirmed that the story will take place before the events of the original series. There were many, many elements of the story that we had talked about just theoretically if ever Star Trek were to come back, Orci said in an interview in November. There was lots of stuff we wanted to do, and that was a blessing. Normally you don't have that much investment and research for a project you get hired to do. If you are a fan of [classic] Star Trek, there is a lot of unexplored history. With the original series, there was so much that could have come before it. It felt like it has been The Next Generation and The Next, Next Generation for so long, it seemed like a fresh thing to go back to the source and to go back to what happened before it. The crux of the screenplay involves the appearance of Nimoy in his iconic role as Spock. I think a lot of people were speculating that we must have had multiple ideas [for the script], Orci said. The truth is that we took a gigantic gamble in terms of the movie we wanted to do, and it was essential that we had Nimoy. Frankly, I didn't understand any other way to do it. We didn't have a Plan B. I think that would have shown that we didn't have a true, singular vision of what we wanted to do, so it was essential for us to get Nimoy. It was a gigantic gamble, and I can't even believe that J.J. supported that kind of a gamble, but I think he understood it was the way to do it and a way to get the blessing for Star Trek, to show there is continuity for the spirit of what it was before. So when Nimoy said yes, not only as a fan was it was a relief, if that didn't work, I don't know where we would be! Orci, who previously tackled a beloved franchise with Transformers (which he co-wrote with partner Alex Kurtzman), said that adapting Trek was even harder because of the dedicated fan base watching every move. The dangers are that now you are opening up yourself to the fact that the fans know what you know about the characters, Orci said. They have their own ideas about what should be done and what is right for the franchise. So the goal with this movie is twofold. One is to make sure that the fans--who have been the stewards of the continuity and who are some of the most savvy and intelligent fans of any franchise ever--that they be satisfied with anything that has the name Star Trek on it. But, more importantly, the goal is really to introduce casual fans and people who don't know Star Trek at all to this universe and to connect it to today. ... The goal of Star Trek ... is that if you don't like sci-fi or know Star Trek, this will bring you into the world. Star Trek opens on Christmas Day 2008. --Tara DiLullo Bennett Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
RE: [scifinoir2] [Fwd:Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend)]
true, that's my point and my problem. -- Original message -- From: Reece Jennings [EMAIL PROTECTED] Will's wife was Regina King, and in Independence Day, Vivica Fox... 2 very fine Black women...except that these movies aren't really love stories... Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyhomesavers.com http://www.legacyhomesavers.com/ _ From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 12:22 AM To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [scifinoir2] [Fwd:Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend)] what about Enemy of the State? -- Original message -- From: Reece Jennings mcjennings124@ mailto:mcjennings124%40yahoo.com yahoo.com How about 'Enemy of the State?' Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyho http://www.legacyhomesavers.com mesavers.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com] On Behalf Of KeithBJohnson@ mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net comcast.net Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2007 6:17 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] [Fwd:Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend)] So, *now* can Smith finally do a love story with a Black woman? :( (You know me Tracey: you knew i had to ask!) -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com aladvantage.com Original Message Subject: [NPHC] Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend) Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:18:08 -0500 From: Marva Smith's 'Legend' grows with $76.5M debut By DAVID GERMAIN, AP Movie Writer 51 minutes ago LOS ANGELES - For the last man on Earth, Will Smith sure has a lot of friends. The Warner Bros. tale I Am Legend, starring Smith as a plague survivor who may be the last living human, debuted with $76.5 million, the biggest December opening ever and a personal best for one of Hollywood's top box-office champs, according to studio estimates Sunday. It's no wonder Will Smith feels so lonely. Everyone else on Earth is in the movie theater, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. The 20th Century Fox family flick Alvin and the Chipmunks, starring Jason Lee in a big-screen take on the cartoon critters, opened a strong No. 2 with $45 million. The two films combined to give Hollywood a year-end surge after a drowsy fall season. Forty-five million acorns, said Chris Aronson, senior vice president for distribution at 20th Century Fox. Chipmunks are diurnal animals and they do hibernate, but not right now. Overall business soared, with the top 12 movies taking in $153.6 million, up 39 percent from the same weekend a year earlier, when Smith also was No. 1 with a $26.5 million debut for The Pursuit of Happyness. The previous No. 1 movie, New Line Cinema's fantasy The Golden Compass, nose-dived in its second weekend, coming in third with $9 million, down a dismal 65 percent from its less-than-expected $25.8 million debut a week earlier. The Golden Compass, which cost $180 million to produce, has done $90 million so far overseas but has proven a dud domestically with just $41 million. On the other hand, I Am Legend smashed Smith's personal debut record, easily exceeding the $52.1 million opening weekends of I, Robot and Men in Black II, his previous bests. I Am Legend outdid the $72.6 million premiere of 2003's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the previous best December opening. It's nice to be in the Will Smith business, said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros. He is just the No. 1 box-office star in the world today. Based on the Richard Matheson novel filmed twice before as Vincent Price's The Last Man on Earth and Charlton Heston's The Omega Man, I Am Legend casts Smith as a scientist trying to find a cure and fighting off the vestiges of humanity, people transformed by the plague into vampire-like creatures. Two Golden Globe nominees just hitting theaters did well in their second weekends. Focus Features' Atonement - a tragic romance that led the Globes with seven nominations, including best drama and acting honors for Keira Knightley and James McAvoy - pulled in $1.85 million in 117 theaters. That gave Atonement a strong average of $15,835 a theater, compared to $21,224 in 3,606 cinemas for I Am Legend. Fox Searchlight's Juno, a teen
Re: [scifinoir2] [Fwd:Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend)]
Agreed, it's not what i'm looking for. I'm looking for a movie where the romance with a Sister is the focus--comedy or drama. I guess, though, we have stuff like Love Jones, Two Can Play that Game, Brown Sugar, etc., there's no dearth of Black romance at the movies. Though I would like to see a dramatic romance at the big screen soonLooking at the American Film Institute's list of the Top Passionate 100 Films of all time, i find only two on the list with Blacks: Porgy and Bess, and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Two out of one hundred! And looking at the list of the 400 nominated films, we get a whopping three additional: Carmen Jones, Jungle Fever (WTF?), and Mississippi Masala? Are these five films really the best of Black-oriented romance we have in the last century??? (the answer is no, of course, which is why lists like the AFI's have to be taken with a grain of salt, but still, the point is there...) -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I just love that movie. ...and Keith he had a Black wife with a former Black mistress. However, I know that does not count as a romantic comedy Reece Jennings wrote: How about 'Enemy of the State?' Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyhomesavers.com http://www.legacyhomesavers.com -Original Message- From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com [mailto:scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2007 6:17 PM To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] [Fwd:Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend)] So, *now* can Smith finally do a love story with a Black woman? :( (You know me Tracey: you knew i had to ask!) -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com Original Message Subject: [NPHC] Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend) Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:18:08 -0500 From: Marva Smith's 'Legend' grows with $76.5M debut By DAVID GERMAIN, AP Movie Writer 51 minutes ago LOS ANGELES - For the last man on Earth, Will Smith sure has a lot of friends. The Warner Bros. tale I Am Legend, starring Smith as a plague survivor who may be the last living human, debuted with $76.5 million, the biggest December opening ever and a personal best for one of Hollywood's top box-office champs, according to studio estimates Sunday. It's no wonder Will Smith feels so lonely. Everyone else on Earth is in the movie theater, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. The 20th Century Fox family flick Alvin and the Chipmunks, starring Jason Lee in a big-screen take on the cartoon critters, opened a strong No. 2 with $45 million. The two films combined to give Hollywood a year-end surge after a drowsy fall season. Forty-five million acorns, said Chris Aronson, senior vice president for distribution at 20th Century Fox. Chipmunks are diurnal animals and they do hibernate, but not right now. Overall business soared, with the top 12 movies taking in $153.6 million, up 39 percent from the same weekend a year earlier, when Smith also was No. 1 with a $26.5 million debut for The Pursuit of Happyness. The previous No. 1 movie, New Line Cinema's fantasy The Golden Compass, nose-dived in its second weekend, coming in third with $9 million, down a dismal 65 percent from its less-than-expected $25.8 million debut a week earlier. The Golden Compass, which cost $180 million to produce, has done $90 million so far overseas but has proven a dud domestically with just $41 million. On the other hand, I Am Legend smashed Smith's personal debut record, easily exceeding the $52.1 million opening weekends of I, Robot and Men in Black II, his previous bests. I Am Legend outdid the $72.6 million premiere of 2003's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the previous best December opening. It's nice to be in the Will Smith business, said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros. He is just the No. 1 box-office star in the world today. Based on the Richard Matheson novel filmed twice before as Vincent Price's The Last Man on Earth and Charlton Heston's The Omega Man, I Am Legend casts Smith as a scientist trying to find a cure and fighting off the vestiges of humanity, people transformed by the plague into vampire-like creatures. Two Golden Globe nominees just hitting theaters did well in their second weekends. Focus Features' Atonement - a tragic
Re: [scifinoir2] Writer Reveals Trek Details
i agree. i bet the writers will say that since young Kirk is being featured, it's *still* about Kirk. I just wonder, though, why old Spock and not old Kirk? Even if it's trully the type of story they wanted to tell, it is indeed a snub: can't be viewed any way but. Also, I thought the script and dialogue for Transformers sucked big time, so i'm not exactly comforted by the fact that one of its writers is behind this Star Trek script... -- Original message -- From: yinka oyekunle [EMAIL PROTECTED] When I watched Star Trek, I was always under the impression that Kirk was the main protagonist (I guess that it helped him doing all the star logs getting the girl... albeit being a green woman or something). It just seems like an odd I'd say purposefull move to not include Shatner. To me, it's like doing a remake of the old Batman tv show featuring Burt Ward (is that the actors name who played Robin) not featuring Adam West @ all. Anyone else have an idea as to why Shatner was snubbed? [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: love Spock, but i'm curious how Kirk will fit in, and why Shatner wasn't needed for much? Is it because they killed' Kirk in Generations, so he's technically dead during the time when Nimoy's Spock is to be featured? (I've always assumed that Kirk isn't really, permanently dead, given the possibilities of the Nexus) -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Writer Reveals Trek Details http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46451 Roberto Orci, co-writer of director J.J. Abram's highly anticipated Star Trek movie, told SCI FI Wire that the tightly guarded story for the upcoming franchise reboot depends heavily on the appearance of original series star Leonard Nimoy. Orci (Transformers) added that the movie will explore Trek history that hasn't been mined before and confirmed that the story will take place before the events of the original series. There were many, many elements of the story that we had talked about just theoretically if ever Star Trek were to come back, Orci said in an interview in November. There was lots of stuff we wanted to do, and that was a blessing. Normally you don't have that much investment and research for a project you get hired to do. If you are a fan of [classic] Star Trek, there is a lot of unexplored history. With the original series, there was so much that could have come before it. It felt like it has been The Next Generation and The Next, Next Generation for so long, it seemed like a fresh thing to go back to the source and to go back to what happened before it. The crux of the screenplay involves the appearance of Nimoy in his iconic role as Spock. I think a lot of people were speculating that we must have had multiple ideas [for the script], Orci said. The truth is that we took a gigantic gamble in terms of the movie we wanted to do, and it was essential that we had Nimoy. Frankly, I didn't understand any other way to do it. We didn't have a Plan B. I think that would have shown that we didn't have a true, singular vision of what we wanted to do, so it was essential for us to get Nimoy. It was a gigantic gamble, and I can't even believe that J.J. supported that kind of a gamble, but I think he understood it was the way to do it and a way to get the blessing for Star Trek, to show there is continuity for the spirit of what it was before. So when Nimoy said yes, not only as a fan was it was a relief, if that didn't work, I don't know where we would be! Orci, who previously tackled a beloved franchise with Transformers (which he co-wrote with partner Alex Kurtzman), said that adapting Trek was even harder because of the dedicated fan base watching every move. The dangers are that now you are opening up yourself to the fact that the fans know what you know about the characters, Orci said. They have their own ideas about what should be done and what is right for the franchise. So the goal with this movie is twofold. One is to make sure that the fans--who have been the stewards of the continuity and who are some of the most savvy and intelligent fans of any franchise ever--that they be satisfied with anything that has the name Star Trek on it. But, more importantly, the goal is really to introduce casual fans and people who don't know Star Trek at all to this universe and to connect it to today. ... The goal of Star Trek ... is that if you don't like sci-fi or know Star Trek, this will bring you into the world. Star Trek opens on Christmas Day 2008. --Tara DiLullo Bennett Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Morgan Freeman's Rama Close To Reality?
very good book, i do recommend it. there's a sequel also -- Original message -- From: ravenadal [EMAIL PROTECTED] Pulling several threads together, Rendezvous with Rama is one of the many books I own but have not yet read. Arthur C. Clarke is one of my favorite authors and I have owned this book for decades. Must be time to dust that puppy off. ~rave! --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: We were just talking about this last week... http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46413 Freeman's Rama Close To Reality? Morgan Freeman told SCI FI Wire that his long-held dream of producing and starring in a big-screen adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's SF novel Rendezvous With Rama is closer than ever to becoming a reality. That is going to happen, Freeman said in an interview while promoting his latest film, The Bucket List. Thank heaven, that is going to happen. We're looking for that to start in the next year. Rendezvous with Rama, which was published in 1972, follows a group of human explorers who intercept and try to unlock the secrets of an alien spaceship that has approached Earth. Freeman would play the commander of the Endeavor, the deep-space maintenance ship used to rendezvous with the alien craft. The story itself is the idea that we can be visited from outer space, Freeman said. The idea that we're the only living intelligent creatures is ... you can't really believe that. Well, you can, but if you think about it for a while, what if there are other intelligent creatures--and I firmly believe there are--what does that tell us? We're going to imagine that they're going to have to look something like us, and if they don't look like us what does that tell us about God? Freeman has had Rendezvous With Rama on his radar for nearly a decade, but this is the closest it's been to happening. It's listed not only as announced on the Internet Movie Database, but it's also on the Web site of Freeman's production company, Revelations Entertainment, which classifies it as in development. We have been in close contact with Arthur C. Clarke, Freeman said. As a matter of fact, I went to Sri Lanka just to have a sit-down with him. I'm very excited about this. When the people at [NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory] learned that we had this project we got calls from them. 'Any help you need, any help at all. ... ' Freeman added: So we've been trying to develop a script. It's a very large project. You have got to develop the script, and you have got to design spaceships. And because Arthur C. Clarke wrote it, and because it's so much real science involved, we can't take too many liberties. --Ian Spelling [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Speaking of Will Smith
yeah, yeah! :( -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] It does look good. I like Berg and the rest of the cast.. Keith will be disappointed, but not surprised. I still say if Black or Black romantic comedies are part of Smith's agenda, he is not going to risk that on a blockbuster. Justin Mohareb wrote: Has anyone heard anything about Hancock? His first Superhero flick. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html Looks cute. He DOES have a relationship w ith a white woman, so I dunno how well that'll go over. JJ Mohareb -- Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy. http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[scifinoir2] Blade Runner Final Director's Cut Available Today
Supposedly this is really, truly the last release of Blade Runner. If so, this is worth picking up. One of the greatest scifi movies of all time. Period. I listened to Ridley Scott on NPR yesterday, and he says he's finally completely happy with this cut of Blade Runner. He's cleaned up the soundtrack, the sound, and most of all, the video. Scott says he wasn't able to fight the studio over the years for the first few cuts, to his great shame and disappointment. Hence, the first version with Harrison Ford's voiceover narration (which both Ford and Scott hated doing), the happy ending, and the suggestion that Deckard is human. I'm not sure, but i think the final cut loses the voiceover. It definitely adds back the suggestion that Deckard is a replicant himself (Scott thinks he is, but Harrison Ford, ironically, argues that Deckard isn't a Replicant). Read the IGN review at the link below. It's long, but worth the read. It might be fun to shell out the extra dough for five-disc version instead of the two-disc set, so that you can actually see all the different versions and make your own decisions in the great voiceover or no voiceover debate. Either way, for those who love this film, you gotta buy this. For those who've never seen Blade Runner--you gotta buy this. A classic, with so much that influences film making to this day, a great retro/future look, fantastic acting (especially by Rutger Hauer). IGN review gives the film a 10 out of 10, and gives really high marks for audio and video presentation. I may have to delay buying Planet Earth in favor of this *** http://dvd.ign.com/articles/841/841607p1.html Quite prescient, this Bryant fellow, don't you think? Sci-fi fans have been looking for that definitive Blade Runner magic ever since many of them first laid eyes on this groundbreaking movie way back when. That it took a whopping 25 years for this film to be finally done in a manner that befits its director Sir Ridley Scott's vision is a cinematic travesty. As any fan of the movie can attest to, Blade Runner's long-running saga of home video release delays, poor quality video transfers and the existence of an incredible six different versions of film (not counting Scott's latest version, dubbed The Final Cut), only helped to compound the problem of the movie not getting the true recognition that it so richly deserves. In fact, the film only received a lukewarm response from most moviegoers when it was first released in 1982. Many did not understand the complex story (even with the last-minute addition of a voice-over narration holding the audience's hand) and for what it was worth, it had to go up against the phenomenon that was E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial that fateful summer. Having a dark and almost despondent story certainly did not help its case when compared against the sunnier feel-good fairytale of E.T. It was only years later that Blade Runner began to garner considerable attention when it was released onto the home video market. With the popularity of VHS growing during the '80s, a whole new generation of sci-fi fans got the chance to experience Blade Runner for what it really was and many soon realized the genius of Ridley Scott's dystopian view of the future ... Without a doubt, Blade Runner secures its place among the top five sci-fi movies of all time. Its marriage of two genres, film noir and science fiction, proves to be a happy union, foreshadowing the emergence of the cyberpunk culture as a legitimate film genre -- evidenced by the popularity of The Matrix trilogy years later. Its dark and complex subject matter may have turned off audiences when it was first released in 1982, but just like the best films, it has been able to stand the test of time and has emerged on an even stronger footing. This latest feature-laden box set of Blade Runner is the best homage anyone can pay to a now-classic sci-fi film. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
RE: [scifinoir2] [Fwd:Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend)]
oh indeed. Love Jones is better than most of the fluff romantic comedies the likes of Kate Hudson and Jennifer Lopez star in... -- Original message -- From: Reece Jennings [EMAIL PROTECTED] Good points, Keith. Good points... I remember 'A Warm December' with Sidney Poitier and Abby Lincoln. There are others...of course... Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyhomesavers.com http://www.legacyhomesavers.com/ _ From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 12:22 PM To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] [Fwd:Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend)] Agreed, it's not what i'm looking for. I'm looking for a movie where the romance with a Sister is the focus--comedy or drama. I guess, though, we have stuff like Love Jones, Two Can Play that Game, Brown Sugar, etc., there's no dearth of Black romance at the movies. Though I would like to see a dramatic romance at the big screen soonLooking at the American Film Institute's list of the Top Passionate 100 Films of all time, i find only two on the list with Blacks: Porgy and Bess, and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Two out of one hundred! And looking at the list of the 400 nominated films, we get a whopping three additional: Carmen Jones, Jungle Fever (WTF?), and Mississippi Masala? Are these five films really the best of Black-oriented romance we have in the last century??? (the answer is no, of course, which is why lists like the AFI's have to be taken with a grain of salt, but still, the point is there...) -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com aladvantage.com I just love that movie. ...and Keith he had a Black wife with a former Black mistress. However, I know that does not count as a romantic comedy Reece Jennings wrote: How about 'Enemy of the State?' Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyho http://www.legacyhomesavers.com mesavers.com http://www.legacyho http://www.legacyhomesavers.com mesavers.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of KeithBJohnson@ mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net comcast.net mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2007 6:17 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] [Fwd:Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend)] So, *now* can Smith finally do a love story with a Black woman? :( (You know me Tracey: you knew i had to ask!) -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com aladvantage.com mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com Original Message Subject: [NPHC] Best Ever December Opening (I Am Legend) Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:18:08 -0500 From: Marva Smith's 'Legend' grows with $76.5M debut By DAVID GERMAIN, AP Movie Writer 51 minutes ago LOS ANGELES - For the last man on Earth, Will Smith sure has a lot of friends. The Warner Bros. tale I Am Legend, starring Smith as a plague survivor who may be the last living human, debuted with $76.5 million, the biggest December opening ever and a personal best for one of Hollywood's top box-office champs, according to studio estimates Sunday. It's no wonder Will Smith feels so lonely. Everyone else on Earth is in the movie theater, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. The 20th Century Fox family flick Alvin and the Chipmunks, starring Jason Lee in a big-screen take on the cartoon critters, opened a strong No. 2 with $45 million. The two films combined to give Hollywood a year-end surge after a drowsy fall season. Forty-five million acorns, said Chris Aronson, senior vice president for distribution at 20th Century Fox. Chipmunks are diurnal animals and they do hibernate, but not right now. Overall business soared, with the top 12 movies taking in $153.6 million, up 39 percent from the same weekend a year earlier, when Smith also was No. 1 with a $26.5 million debut for The Pursuit of Happyness. The previous No. 1 movie, New Line Cinema's fantasy The Golden Compass, nose-dived in its second weekend, coming in third with $9 million, down a dismal 65 percent
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Morgan Freeman's Rama Close To Reality?
indeed. one of my greatest pleasures is seeing a well written and well acted movie with fresh new faces. I love Jamie Fox in Ray, but the greatest pleasure was the young actress who played his mother. it was so cool not to have Regina King, Angela Bassett, etc. Fine actresses indeed, but the suspending of disbelief is easier when you don't know the actor so well. It's why it's fun to see films made in other countries, including the rare African films that we get here in America. Seeing a movie with people i've never even seen, let alone heard of, from another country? that is fun. I was watching Devil in a Blue Dress a couple of weeks ago, and i kept thinking it would have been better with another actor besides Denzel Washington. He was good, of course, but i couldn never forget it was him playing the role. Don Cheadle as Mouse was cool because I'd only seen Cheadle on Picket Fences at that time, so he was basically an unknown to me. Of course, even with another actor as the star, the changed plot still jacked up the movie... -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I like Will, but think they need to expand beyond Smith, Freeman, Washington and Jackson when it comes to casting African American leads Martin wrote: I could see Will in that. But it wouldn't get Keith his love story. ravenadal [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:ravenadal%40yahoo.com wrote: Childhood's End is the Arthur C. Clarke book I would like to see made into a movie. Best yet: it could star Will Smith as Jan Rodricks, a brilliant young black man with a strong interest in astronomy and space exploration (brother of Maia Rodricks, the most beautiful woman in the world). Jan represents humanity's inability to ever be satisfied, to ever be truly content, or have its curiosity sated. It is admirable that Jan rejects the blandness and boredom of utopia in favor of taking risks (i.e., sneaking onto the Overlords' ship). It seems likely that there would be many more men and women like Jan in a world such as the Overlords'. Satisfaction in life, no matter how good, has never been one of humanity's strong suits. Jan is a symbol of that truth, and it is fitting that he is the last witness to the destruction and transfiguration of mankind. ~rave! --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: We were just talking about this last week... http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46413 http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46413 Freeman's Rama Close To Reality? Morgan Freeman told SCI FI Wire that his long-held dream of producing and starring in a big-screen adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's SF novel Rendezvous With Rama is closer than ever to becoming a reality. That is going to happen, Freeman said in an interview while promoting his latest film, The Bucket List. Thank heaven, that is going to happen. We're looking for that to start in the next year. Rendezvous with Rama, which was published in 1972, follows a group of human explorers who intercept and try to unlock the secrets of an alien spaceship that has approached Earth. Freeman would play the commander of the Endeavor, the deep-space maintenance ship used to rendezvous with the alien craft. The story itself is the idea that we can be visited from outer space, Freeman said. The idea that we're the only living intelligent creatures is ... you can't really believe that. Well, you can, but if you think about it for a while, what if there are other intelligent creatures- -and I firmly believe there are--what does that tell us? We're going to imagine that they're going to have to look something like us, and if they don't look like us what does that tell us about God? Freeman has had Rendezvous With Rama on his radar for nearly a decade, but this is the closest it's been to happening. It's listed not only as announced on the Internet Movie Database, but it's also on the Web site of Freeman's production company, Revelations Entertainment, which classifies it as in development. We have been in close contact with Arthur C. Clarke, Freeman said. As a matter of fact, I went to Sri Lanka just to have a sit-down with him. I'm very excited about this. When the people at [NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory] learned that we had this project we got calls from them. 'Any help you need, any help at all. ... ' Freeman added: So we've been trying to develop a script. It's a very large project. You have got to develop the script, and you have got to design spaceships. And because Arthur C. Clarke wrote it, and because it's so much real science involved, we can't take too many liberties. --Ian Spelling There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will
RE: [scifinoir2] Will Smith Rules the Box Office with $77 mil
ha-ha! if we had mice in my crawlspace, i'd be down there right now with a flashlight and traps! -- Original message -- From: Reece Jennings [EMAIL PROTECTED] Absolutely in that case, it's killing time. But in 8 years all I've had is a couple of field mice coming in from the cold. I had my mom's stuff packed into my basement, and when I cleaned it out a month ago, I found where she had packed away peanuts in the shells in boxes. The shells were there, but the peanuts were gone. I was wondering what the Micky and Minnie were eating... Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyhomesavers.com http://www.legacyhomesavers.com/ _ From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 8:05 PM To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [scifinoir2] Will Smith Rules the Box Office with $77 mil i try to be tolerant of Nature. After all, we encroach onto her domain. But, when i moved into my house last year, and my wife kept hearing scratching sounds in the crawlspace under the house, i had to take action. the problem with mice and rats, especially, is that they can multiply like crazy if not caught in time. My exterminator said lots of people wait a few weeks too long and end up with a whole mess of baby rodents running rampant in their homes. -- Original message -- From: Reece Jennings mcjennings124@ mailto:mcjennings124%40yahoo.com yahoo.com Sometimes it works in the animals' favor, though. I don't put down traps for the field mice that come inside during the winter...As long as they stay in the basement out of sight. I see one once in a while when I surprise them in the middle of the night. I'm sure my irregular sleeping patterns confuse them. Once a couple of weeks back, I went downstairs, and one of the little creatures came down after me, slid past my foot, and scurried into one of the far reaches of the basement. It was funny, because it was like he/she said, 'Scuse me!', and took off. Tom and Jerry! Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyho http://www.legacyhomesavers.com mesavers.com http://www.legacyho http://www.legacyhomesavers.com/ mesavers.com/ _ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com] On Behalf Of Astromancer Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 2:20 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Will Smith Rules the Box Office with $77 mil I remember she a real chipmunk on TV for the first time and I said to myself, That don't look like no Alvin...Because of cartoons like Alvin, Bugs Bunny, Yogi Bear, Woody Woodpecker (san sexual conotations), The animal thing was very confusing for me as a child...To this day, I'll never forgive Mother Nature...I'll never meet Yogi (sniff*) KeithBJohnson@ mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net comcast.net wrote: i didn't like it when it was a cartoon back in the day, certainly don't want to watch this new movie. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com aladvantage.com I don't even put the chipmunks on for my daughter, for fear that we will have to watch all the time. god forbid that we have to go to the theater to see it. KeithBJohnson@ mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net comcast.net wrote: Scary that dreck like Alvin and the Chipmunks made so much! Love the reviewer's statement, ...it's like being hit over the head with a mallet every ten seconds for 90 minutes! -- Original message -- From: Mike Street streetforce1@ mailto:streetforce1%40gmail.com gmail.com mailto:streetforce1%40gmail.com Will Smith's `I Am Legend' Opens to $77 Million in Ticket Sales By Andy Fixmer and Bradley Keoun Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- ``I Am Legend,'' the science-fiction thriller starring Will Smith, opened as the top film this weekend, garnering $76.5 million at the domestic box office for Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. studio. New releases ``Alvin and the Chipmunks'' from News Corp.'s Fox opened in second place with $45 million, box-office tracker Media By Numbers LLC said today in a statement. Time Warner's ``Golden Compass,'' the prior weekend's No. 1 movie, dropped to third with $9.03 million in sales, while Walt Disney Co.'s ``Enchanted'' fell to fourth from second with $6 million. Time Warner scored for a second-straight week with a movie debuting at No. 1 in U.S. and Canadian theaters, following the Dec. 7 release
Re: [scifinoir2] Writer Reveals Trek Details
i wouldn't be surprised about the ego thing, but still--it's Shatner! -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Keith, I heard that Sh*tner was attached o this early on, but got the gate, reportedly because his ego wouldn''t fit on the screen. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i agree. i bet the writers will say that since young Kirk is being featured, it's *still* about Kirk. I just wonder, though, why old Spock and not old Kirk? Even if it's trully the type of story they wanted to tell, it is indeed a snub: can't be viewed any way but. Also, I thought the script and dialogue for Transformers sucked big time, so i'm not exactly comforted by the fact that one of its writers is behind this Star Trek script... -- Original message -- From: yinka oyekunle [EMAIL PROTECTED] When I watched Star Trek, I was always under the impression that Kirk was the main protagonist (I guess that it helped him doing all the star logs getting the girl... albeit being a green woman or something). It just seems like an odd I'd say purposefull move to not include Shatner. To me, it's like doing a remake of the old Batman tv show featuring Burt Ward (is that the actors name who played Robin) not featuring Adam West @ all. Anyone else have an idea as to why Shatner was snubbed? [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: love Spock, but i'm curious how Kirk will fit in, and why Shatner wasn't needed for much? Is it because they killed' Kirk in Generations, so he's technically dead during the time when Nimoy's Spock is to be featured? (I've always assumed that Kirk isn't really, permanently dead, given the possibilities of the Nexus) -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Writer Reveals Trek Details http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46451 Roberto Orci, co-writer of director J.J. Abram's highly anticipated Star Trek movie, told SCI FI Wire that the tightly guarded story for the upcoming franchise reboot depends heavily on the appearance of original series star Leonard Nimoy. Orci (Transformers) added that the movie will explore Trek history that hasn't been mined before and confirmed that the story will take place before the events of the original series. There were many, many elements of the story that we had talked about just theoretically if ever Star Trek were to come back, Orci said in an interview in November. There was lots of stuff we wanted to do, and that was a blessing. Normally you don't have that much investment and research for a project you get hired to do. If you are a fan of [classic] Star Trek, there is a lot of unexplored history. With the original series, there was so much that could have come before it. It felt like it has been The Next Generation and The Next, Next Generation for so long, it seemed like a fresh thing to go back to the source and to go back to what happened before it. The crux of the screenplay involves the appearance of Nimoy in his iconic role as Spock. I think a lot of people were speculating that we must have had multiple ideas [for the script], Orci said. The truth is that we took a gigantic gamble in terms of the movie we wanted to do, and it was essential that we had Nimoy. Frankly, I didn't understand any other way to do it. We didn't have a Plan B. I think that would have shown that we didn't have a true, singular vision of what we wanted to do, so it was essential for us to get Nimoy. It was a gigantic gamble, and I can't even believe that J.J. supported that kind of a gamble, but I think he understood it was the way to do it and a way to get the blessing for Star Trek, to show there is continuity for the spirit of what it was before. So when Nimoy said yes, not only as a fan was it was a relief, if that didn't work, I don't know where we would be! Orci, who previously tackled a beloved franchise with Transformers (which he co-wrote with partner Alex Kurtzman), said that adapting Trek was even harder because of the dedicated fan base watching every move. The dangers are that now you are opening up yourself to the fact that the fans know what you know about the characters, Orci said. They have their own ideas about what should be done and what is right for the franchise. So the goal with this movie is twofold. One is to make sure that the fans--who have been the stewards of the continuity and who are some of the most savvy and intelligent fans of any franchise ever--that they be satisfied with anything that has the name Star Trek on it. But, more importantly, the goal is really to introduce casual fans and people who don't know Star Trek at all to this universe and to connect it to today. ... The goal of Star Trek ... is that if you don't like sci-fi or know Star Trek, this will bring you into the world. Star Trek opens on
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Morgan Freeman's Rama Close To Reality?
me too, especially when he first showed up and was kinda freaked by the rather strange people in the town... -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I loved him on Picket Fences [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I was watching Devil in a Blue Dress a couple of weeks ago, and i kept thinking it would have been better with another actor besides Denzel Washington. He was good, of course, but i couldn never forget it was him playing the role. Don Cheadle as Mouse was cool because I'd only seen Cheadle on Picket Fences at that time, so he was basically an unk nown to me. Of course, even with another actor as the star, the changed plot still jacked up the movie... [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Speaking of Will Smith
i know it seems i'm picking on Smith, but after all this time, how much more profit does he need to take some risks? So many actors and actresses, once they've reached a certain level, start doing the alternation bit: make a crowd-pleasure for dough, then make a film for the love of the craft and an intelligent script. Robert Redford's been doing that for years. He'd make something like Sneakers or Indecent Proposal in order to fund Quiz Show or Milagro Beanfield War. Smith has been pulling twenty plus million a picture for several years now. Surely he can test the waters and do something as revolutionary as make a love story with a black woman -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Consider this. Maybe his agenda is purely profits. If that is the case, I seriously doubt if he would touch Black on Black romance. I honestly can not tell what his agenda is. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: yeah, yeah! :( -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com It does look good. I like Berg and the rest of the cast.. Keith will be disappointed, but not surprised. I still say if Black or Black romantic comedies are part of Smith's agenda, he is not going to risk that on a blockbuster. Justin Mohareb wrote: Has anyone heard anything about Hancock? His first Superhero flick. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html Looks cute. He DOES have a relationship w ith a white woman, so I dunno how well that'll go over. JJ Mohareb -- Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy. http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Jackson back in 'Hobbit' via NL, MGM
This is the best news i've heard in ages, surpassing my excitement over the Blade Runner DVD! I wonder why Jackson wants to do two films and how he'll divide them? Can't wait for the Battle of Five Armies, and can't wait to see Smaug! I'm really hoping that this time the Elven sword Glamdring glows more than it did in the LOTR movies. It's supposed to constantly emit the blue light when in the presence of Orcs. And fingers crossed: we absolutely, positively *must* get lucky enough to have Ian Mckellan back as Gandalf! -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie2960ff97697ea62 71399e8be7399978 Dec 19, 2007 NEW YORK -- The eagerly awaited prequels to the Lord of the Rings trilogy will finally hit the big screen. MGM and New Line have pacted to co-finance and co-distribute The Hobbit and a sequel to the film. New Line will handle distribution in North America, and MGM will distribute the J.R.R. Tolkien adaptations internationally. Putting aside what once seemed like irreconcilable differences over the filmmaker's profit participation, Rings writer-director Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation over the nearly $3 billion-grossing Rings trilogy. Jackson and Fran Walsh will executive produce the films, to be shot simultaneously, and New Line will manage their production. Preproduction will begin soon, and principal photography is tentatively set for 2009. The release of the first film is slated for 2010 and the sequel in 2011. Jackson, MGM chairman and CEO Harry Sloan and New Line co-chairman and co-CEOs Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne jointly made the announcement Tuesday morning. I'm very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line, Jackson said. 'The Lord of the Rings' is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey. Said Sloan, Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life, and we full-heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making 'The Hobbit.' Now that we are all in agreement on 'The Hobbit,' we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film. We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with the 'Hobbit' movies, Shaye said. We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Lynne said, Peter is a visionary filmmaker, and he broke new ground with 'The Lord of the Rings.' We're delighted he's back for the 'Hobbit' films and that the Tolkien saga will continue with his imprint. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Harry Sloan, who has been instrumental in helping us reach our new accord. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Blade Runner Final Director's Cut Available Today
i hear you! i have so many DVDs i need to buy now: this one, Deep Space nine, Battlestar Galactica, Avatar, Justice League, and on and on -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is on my gift list, especially when I saw the packaging. If my wife takes the hint and gets me this I will probably buy another copy of the DVD in regular ol¹ packaging so that I can actually WATCH the dangone thing. Great stuff. This is one of my favorite movies of all time, right behind ³Brazil², and I wish Universal would do a special anniversary release of that. On 12/18/07 12:44 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Supposedly this is really, truly the last release of Blade Runner. If so, this is worth picking up. One of the greatest scifi movies of all time. Period. I listened to Ridley Scott on NPR yesterday, and he says he's finally completely happy with this cut of Blade Runner. He's cleaned up the soundtrack, the sound, and most of all, the video. Scott says he wasn't able to fight the studio over the years for the first few cuts, to his great shame and disappointment. Hence, the first version with Harrison Ford's voiceover narration (which both Ford and Scott hated doing), the happy ending, and the suggestion that Deckard is human. I'm not sure, but i think the final cut loses the voiceover. It definitely adds back the suggestion that Deckard is a replicant himself (Scott thinks he is, but Harrison Ford, ironically, argues that Deckard isn't a Replicant). Read the IGN review at the link below. It's long, but worth the read. It might be fun to shell out the extra dough for five-disc version instead of the two-disc set, so that you can actually see all the different versions and make your own decisions in the great voiceover or no voiceover debate. Either way, for those who love this film, you gotta buy this. For those who've never seen Blade Runner--you gotta buy this. A classic, with so much that influences film making to this day, a great retro/future look, fantastic acting (especially by Rutger Hauer). IGN review gives the film a 10 out of 10, and gives really high marks for audio and video presentation. I may have to delay buying Planet Earth in favor of this *** http://dvd.ign.com/articles/841/841607p1.html Quite prescient, this Bryant fellow, don't you think? Sci-fi fans have been looking for that definitive Blade Runner magic ever since many of them first laid eyes on this groundbreaking movie way back when. That it took a whopping 25 years for this film to be finally done in a manner that befits its director Sir Ridley Scott's vision is a cinematic travesty. As any fan of the movie can attest to, Blade Runner's long-running saga of home video release delays, poor quality video transfers and the existence of an incredible six different versions of film (not counting Scott's latest version, dubbed The Final Cut), only helped to compound the problem of the movie not getting the true recognition that it so richly deserves. In fact, the film only received a lukewarm response from most moviegoers when it was first released in 1982. Many did not understand the complex story (even with the last-minute addition of a voice-over narration holding the audience's hand) and for what it was worth, it had to go up against the phenomenon that was E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial that fateful summer. Having a dark and almost despondent story certainly did not help its case when compared against the sunnier feel-good fairytale of E.T. It was only years later that Blade Runner began to garner considerable attention when it was released onto the home video market. With the popularity of VHS growing during the '80s, a whole new generation of sci-fi fans got the chance to experience Blade Runner for what it really was and many soon realized the genius of Ridley Scott's dystopian view of the future ... Without a doubt, Blade Runner secures its place among the top five sci-fi movies of all time. Its marriage of two genres, film noir and science fiction, proves to be a happy union, foreshadowing the emergence of the cyberpunk culture as a legitimate film genre -- evidenced by the popularity of The Matrix trilogy years later. Its dark and complex subject matter may have turned off audiences when it was first released in 1982, but just like the best films, it has been able to stand the test of time and has emerged on an even stronger footing. This latest feature-laden box set of Blade Runner is the best homage anyone can pay to a now-classic sci-fi film. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ * Your email settings:
[scifinoir2] Ever Seen the Horror Film Black Sheep?
All the jokes about sheep put me in mind of this film i've been hearing about for months, Black Sheep. With taglines like There are forty million sheep in New Zealand. They're all pissed off and The violence of the lambs, it sounds like a hoot. It's supposed to be very violent, very gory (the sheep routinely eat human entrails), and very funny. Sounds like a blast, reminds me of an updated version of camp classics like The Food of the Gods or Night of the Lepus, but with more blood, and FX courtesy of WETA! Check out the trailer, it's hilarious. http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/blacksheep/internationaltrailer/ Synopsis: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_sheep/about.php This blood-soaked horror comedy is the story of Henry Oldfield (Nathan Meister), a New Zealander with an unfortunate phobia...of sheep. When Henry was a boy, his father was killed in a herding accident on the land, and Henry fled to the big city. Now, years later, he has returned to sell his half of the farm and--at the behest of his therapist--to face his fears. Meanwhile, Henry's sadistic older brother Angus (Peter Feeney) has taken over the family business, and become widely known for his controversial genetic experiments on the animals. When two animal activists release one of Angus's genetically-altered lambs, Henry's trip quickly turns into his worst nightmare, as the lamb's zombie-like bite turns sheep and people into vicious flesh-eaters. Henry joins forces with one of the animal activists (Danielle Mason), and together they try to escape the sheep and find an antidote for the virus. Director Jonathon King cleverly plays on the silliness of the normally docile, dimwitted lamb as terrifying monster, and his shots of the sheep swarming over the hills induce equal parts thrills and laughter. However, the storyline could perhaps have benefited from a bit less action, and a bit more plot, as the suspense and jokes begin to fizzle by the end. The excellent WETA WORKSHOP (known for its work on the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) delivers hilariously gory special effects. Faces are eaten off, humans throw their own limbs, and heads explode, culminating in a raucous bloodbath that will likely earn BLACK SHEEP cult status among the EVIL DEAD crowd. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Connecticut -- Winter Wonderland -- PG language
great! reminds me of my feelings when i left Texas for Illinois. It was 108 degrees when I left Texas, only 83 when I got to O'Hare Airport. I reveled in the cool weather, the change in color of the leaves. When it snowed on Thanksgiving Day--Thanksgiving!--i called everyone back home in Fort Worth to tell them how beautiful it was. I got into making snowmen, tramping through the winter wonderland of the woods, having snowball fights. But by Christmas, I was sick as hell of slipping and sliding, of my car spinning out around corners, of my skin freezing soon as it was exposed to the air. Worst of all: the beautiful snow turning to dark-as-mud slush soon as it started melting, people tracking it inside, pushing the mess to the side of the road and their walks. Yuck! The one good thing I can say about Chicago winter? It was so freakin' cold, I never caught a cold! -- Original message -- From: Reece Jennings [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dear Diary AUG 12 Moved to our new home in Connecticut. It is so beautiful here. The forests and valleys are gorgeous. Can hardly wait to see them covered in snow. I love it here. Oct 14 Connecticut is the most beautiful place on earth.The leaves have turned all colors and shades of orange and red. Went for a ride through the valleys and saw some deer. They are so graceful, certainly they are the most wonderful animal on earth. This must be paradise. I love it here. NOV 11 Deer season will start soon. I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill such a gorgeous creature. Hope it snows soon. I love Connecticut. DEC 2 It snowed last night. Woke up to find everything blanketed with white. It looks like a postcard. We went outside and cleaned the snow off the steps and shoveled the driveway. We had a snowball fight (I won), and when the snow-plow came by, we had to shovel the driveway again. What a beautiful place. I love Connecticut. DEC 12 More snow last night. I love it. The snow-plow did his trick again to the driveway. I still love it here. DEC 19 More snow last night. Couldn't get out of the driveway to get to work. I am exausted from shoveling. Damned snow plow. DEC 22 More of that white shit fell last night. I've got blisters on my hands from shoveling. I think the snow-plow hides around the curve and waits until I'm done shoveling the driveway. Asshole! DEC 25 Merry Christmas. More friggin' snow. If I ever get my hands on the son-of-a-bitch that drives that snow-plow, I swear, I'll kill the bastard. Don't know why they don't use more salt on the roads to melt the ice. DEC 27 More white shit last night. Been inside for 3 days except for shoveling out the driveway after that prick with the snow-plow comes by. Can't go anywhere. Cars stuck in a mountain of white shit. The weatherman says to expect another 10 tonight. Do you know how many shovelfuls of snow 10 is? DEC 28 The weatherman was wrong. We got 34 of that f**king white shit this time. At this rate it won't melt till next October. The snow-plow got stuck up the road and that bastard came to the door asking to borrow my shovel. I beat the shit out of him with it. JAN 4 Finally got out of the house today. Went to the store to get some food and on the way back a damned deer ran out in front of my car and I hit it. Did about $3000 worth of damage. Those beasts should be killed or something. Wished the hunters had killed them all last November. May 3 Took the car to the garage in town. Would you believe the thing is rusting out from all the fucking salt they put on the roads? MAY 10 Moved to Florida. I can't imagine why anyone in their right mind would ever live in that God-forsaken state of Connecticut. Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyhomesavers.com http://www.legacyhomesavers.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
RE: [scifinoir2] Re: Morgan Freeman's Rama Close To Reality?
yes indeed. it's quite an experience, isn't it? Speaking of foreign films, you plan to see The Kite Runner?I've heard great things about the book and the film, and of course its major claim to notoriety is the danger to the young actor for doing that gang rap* scene... -- Original message -- From: Reece Jennings [EMAIL PROTECTED] You're so right about the other-country movies. I have become a searcher for African movies. There have been some really fantastic ones. And there's the added experience of getting a glimpse of other cultures and daily lives...to be taken with a little salt, because movies tend to bias things in the director's perspectives...and the editors, of course... But it's good to see just the same... Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyhomesavers.com http://www.legacyhomesavers.com/ _ From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 12:28 AM To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Morgan Freeman's Rama Close To Reality? indeed. one of my greatest pleasures is seeing a well written and well acted movie with fresh new faces. I love Jamie Fox in Ray, but the greatest pleasure was the young actress who played his mother. it was so cool not to have Regina King, Angela Bassett, etc. Fine actresses indeed, but the suspending of disbelief is easier when you don't know the actor so well. It's why it's fun to see films made in other countries, including the rare African films that we get here in America. Seeing a movie with people i've never even seen, let alone heard of, from another country? that is fun. I was watching Devil in a Blue Dress a couple of weeks ago, and i kept thinking it would have been better with another actor besides Denzel Washington. He was good, of course, but i couldn never forget it was him playing the role. Don Cheadle as Mouse was cool because I'd only seen Cheadle on Picket Fences at that time, so he was basically an unknown to me. Of course, even with another actor as the star, the changed plot still jacked up the movie... -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com aladvantage.com I like Will, but think they need to expand beyond Smith, Freeman, Washington and Jackson when it comes to casting African American leads Martin wrote: I could see Will in that. But it wouldn't get Keith his love story. ravenadal [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:ravenadal%40yahoo.com com mailto:ravenadal%40yahoo.com wrote: Childhood's End is the Arthur C. Clarke book I would like to see made into a movie. Best yet: it could star Will Smith as Jan Rodricks, a brilliant young black man with a strong interest in astronomy and space exploration (brother of Maia Rodricks, the most beautiful woman in the world). Jan represents humanity's inability to ever be satisfied, to ever be truly content, or have its curiosity sated. It is admirable that Jan rejects the blandness and boredom of utopia in favor of taking risks (i.e., sneaking onto the Overlords' ship). It seems likely that there would be many more men and women like Jan in a world such as the Overlords'. Satisfaction in life, no matter how good, has never been one of humanity's strong suits. Jan is a symbol of that truth, and it is fitting that he is the last witness to the destruction and transfiguration of mankind. ~rave! --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: We were just talking about this last week... http://www.scifi. http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46413 com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46413 http://www.scifi. http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46413 com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46413 Freeman's Rama Close To Reality? Morgan Freeman told SCI FI Wire that his long-held dream of producing and starring in a big-screen adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's SF novel Rendezvous With Rama is closer than ever to becoming a reality. That is going to happen, Freeman said in an interview while promoting his latest film, The Bucket List. Thank heaven, that is going to happen. We're looking for that to start in the next year. Rendezvous with Rama, which was published in 1972, follows a group of human explorers who intercept and try to unlock the secrets of an alien spaceship that has approached Earth. Freeman would play the commander of the Endeavor, the deep-space maintenance ship used to rendezvous with the alien craft. The story itself is the idea that we can be visited from outer space,
Re: [scifinoir2] Speaking of Will Smith
Well, that brings us full circle back to my question: why does a man who's pulled in well over a hundred million in up front salary in the last few years not take a stand and fight for a Black woman as his love interest in a film? -- Original message -- From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] Will Smith actually owns his own production company Overbrook Entertainment. I think he pretty much does whatever he wants to at this point. This is from the IMDB: Graduate of Philly's legendary Overbrook High School, whose alumni include Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Lear, Wali Jones, Walt Hazzard, The Dovells, The Orlons, DeeDee Sharp, etc. and in tribute to his student years there, his production company is called Overbrook Entertainment. The company produce the following movies: Ali, Showtime, I-Robot, Hitch, Saving Face, ATL, and Pursuit of Happiness. Bosco --- Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Agreed. Most at his level have made just that move, but for some reason (perhaps kids as you suggest) Smith hasn't taken the plunge. If he does, it will be interesting to see what he does. Justin Mohareb wrote: At this point, it's pretty much possible for an established star to put their own production company together, pick a project they want, and get it done themselves. I'm pretty sure he could put something together for a couple million dollars if he wanted to. Look at some of the stuff Clooney has done (Good Night, Good Luck) or the Bobby Kennedy movie. These were projects the creators believed in, so they made them happen. Maybe when his kids are older. JJ Mohareb On Dec 18, 2007 4:39 PM, Mike Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:streetforce1%40gmail.com wrote: Hummminteresting concept. But I'm sure he still a slave to corporate. Now that you bring this up I can't even remember a movie of his that has a black female as his co-star. I was sure that he would link up with a Gab. Union, Janet, Halle, or one of them sisters for a role. But i guess cause he's in sci-fi so much that a lot of his roles didn't call for a love interest or they went the safe route with a Spanish chick. But maybe he will shock us all -- Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy. http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead. I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said. You know these things that happen, That's just the way it's supposed to be. And I can't help but wonder, Don't ya know it coulda been me. __ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Speaking of Will Smith
i guess i just feel Black people who make it have an obligation to show the world all aspects of our people, and one that's rarely shown in Hollywood films is Black-on-Black love. If he'd never done a romance, i'd be fine, but i still find it offensive his only romantic comedy wasn't with a sister. but that's just me, confused in a world where black-on-black love is a bad thing at the box office. it's his business, like i said, there's always Love Jones -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] As I said, I can not tell what his agenda is. Maybe it is just to make money. I read once that he was interested in politics. I see Happyness, Ali, and Bagger Vance as attempts to get serious, but he does not do this type of work often . What I would say, is that I do not think romance is a genre that all actors are interested in focusing on. Romance do not draw as many Oscars or do they make as many blockbusters. These are two things we know he is interested in. So, why would you expect him to put it above his obvious interest in biopics. Something else you should consider is that he has never taken on the producer role yet. For some reason Will Smith and romance seem important to you. Why specifically him, when he is not even putting on the director's or producer's hat like others. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i know it seems i'm picking on Smith, but after all this time, how much more profit does he need to take some risks? So many actors and actresses, once they've reached a certain level, start doing the alternation bit: make a crowd-pleasure for dough, then make a film for the love of the craft and an intelligent script. Robert Redford's been doing that for years. He'd make something like Sneakers or Indecent Proposal in order to fund Quiz Show or Milagro Beanfield War. Smith has been pulling twenty plus million a picture for several years now. Surely he can test the waters and do something as revolutionary as make a love story with a black woman -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com Consider this. Maybe his agenda is purely profits. If that is the case, I seriously doubt if he would touch Black on Black romance. I honestly can not tell what his agenda is. [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net wrote: yeah, yeah! :( -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com It does look good. I like Berg and the rest of the cast.. Keith will be disappointed, but not surprised. I still say if Black or Black romantic comedies are part of Smith's agenda, he is not going to risk that on a blockbuster. Justin Mohareb wrote: Has anyone heard anything about Hancock? His first Superhero flick. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html Looks cute. He DOES have a relationship w ith a white woman, so I dunno how well that'll go over. JJ Mohareb -- Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy. http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Jackson back in 'Hobbit' via NL, MGM
McKellan said a few years ago he wanted to do it, and was concerned when all the legalities would be worked out, given that one never knows how long one has on this Earth. -- Original message -- From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unless I am completely misinformed, Ian McKellan as Gandalf is a done deal. B --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is the best news i've heard in ages, surpassing my excitement over the Blade Runner DVD! I wonder why Jackson wants to do two films and how he'll divide them? Can't wait for the Battle of Five Armies, and can't wait to see Smaug! I'm really hoping that this time the Elven sword Glamdring glows more than it did in the LOTR movies. It's supposed to constantly emit the blue light when in the presence of Orcs. And fingers crossed: we absolutely, positively *must* get lucky enough to have Ian Mckellan back as Gandalf! -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie2960ff97697ea62 71399e8be7399978 Dec 19, 2007 NEW YORK -- The eagerly awaited prequels to the Lord of the Rings trilogy will finally hit the big screen. MGM and New Line have pacted to co-finance and co-distribute The Hobbit and a sequel to the film. New Line will handle distribution in North America, and MGM will distribute the J.R.R. Tolkien adaptations internationally. Putting aside what once seemed like irreconcilable differences over the filmmaker's profit participation, Rings writer-director Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation over the nearly $3 billion-grossing Rings trilogy. Jackson and Fran Walsh will executive produce the films, to be shot simultaneously, and New Line will manage their production. Preproduction will begin soon, and principal photography is tentatively set for 2009. The release of the first film is slated for 2010 and the sequel in 2011. Jackson, MGM chairman and CEO Harry Sloan and New Line co-chairman and co-CEOs Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne jointly made the announcement Tuesday morning. I'm very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line, Jackson said. 'The Lord of the Rings' is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey. Said Sloan, Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life, and we full-heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making 'The Hobbit.' Now that we are all in agreement on 'The Hobbit,' we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film. We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with the 'Hobbit' movies, Shaye said. We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Lynne said, Peter is a visionary filmmaker, and he broke new ground with 'The Lord of the Rings.' We're delighted he's back for the 'Hobbit' films and that the Tolkien saga will continue with his imprint. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Harry Sloan, who has been instrumental in helping us reach our new accord. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead. I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said. You know these things that happen, That's just the way it's supposed to be. And I can't help but wonder, Don't ya know it coulda been me. __ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Speaking of Will Smith
amen! -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] I see and hear what you're saying, Keith. And, if he's worried about finding a marketable Black female lead, someone should mention to him that he's *married* to one... [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i know it seems i'm picking on Smith, but after all this time, how much more profit does he need to take some risks? So many actors and actresses, once they've reached a certain level, start doing the alternation bit: make a crowd-pleasure for dough, then make a film for the love of the craft and an intelligent script. Robert Redford's been doing that for years. He'd make something like Sneakers or Indecent Proposal in order to fund Quiz Show or Milagro Beanfield War. Smith has been pulling twenty plus million a picture for several years now. Surely he can test the waters and do something as revolutionary as make a love story with a black woman -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Consider this. Maybe his agenda is purely profits. If that is the case, I seriously doubt if he would touch Black on Black romance. I honestly can not tell what his agenda is. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: yeah, yeah! :( -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com It does look good. I like Berg and the rest of the cast.. Keith will be disappointed, but not surprised. I still say if Black or Black romantic comedies are part of Smith's agenda, he is not going to risk that on a blockbuster. Justin Mohareb wrote: Has anyone heard anything about Hancock? His first Superhero flick. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html Looks cute. He DOES have a relationship w ith a white woman, so I dunno how well that'll go over. JJ Mohareb -- Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy. http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Chow Yun-Fat Joins Dragonball
Has potential in the hands of the right director and writer. Please just don't give us a Street Fighter type debacle! Hope it's better than the Mortal Kombat film; the first was pretty decent. Not enough fighting, but what there was of it was good. Second movie sucked. Guilty pleasure: I watched every ep of the Mortal Kombat TV series. I've watched all the adult Goku DBZ cartoons as well. They're funny: have that Speed Racer vibe where the actors groan and sigh and sweat drops literally form on their foreheads like every other scene. They're powers are off the chain. DBZ isn't all that respectful of women though: Goku's first master always has girlie mags aground (and that's in the sanitized US broadcasts) and Goku is basically never at home with his wife. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Not a big Dragonball fan, but I love Chow. I think he is one of the most underused and misused actors in Hollywood. I also would not mind seeing more of James Marsters. http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46590 Chow Joins Dragonball Chow Yun-Fat is the latest to join 20th Century Fox's live-action adaptation of Dragonball, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Chow will play Master Roshi. He rounds out a cast that includes Justin Chatwin, James Marsters, Emmy Rossum and Jamie Chung. Dragonball, based on the Japanese manga, is shooting in Mexico City and Los Angeles. The film, directed by James Wong, follows Goku (Chatwin), a warrior alien who protects the Earth from an endless stream of rogues bent on dominating the universe and controlling mystical objects known as Dragon Balls. Stephen Chow is producing. Master Roshi is Goku's mentor, helping him achieve the highest state of fighting and spiritual powers. Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
RE: [scifinoir2] Are Your Emails Not Getting Posted
no, a couple of mine were simple short responses to e-mail that had been posted by others, contained no profanity or anything, but just sat there... -- Original message -- From: Reece Jennings [EMAIL PROTECTED] Not that I know of. Maybe it's because I'm black. LOLLOL!!! No paranoia here! Maybe it because KEITH is black, so they're assuming I am because I like him! But I like you, too, Tracey. Maybe it's our choice(s) of words and/or topics...? Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyhomesavers.com -Original Message- From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:38 AM To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Subject: [scifinoir2] Are Your Emails Not Getting Posted Everyday, for about a week, about 30 emails per day are being sent to the Spam file. I try to approve emails that get put in this file about 4 times a day. Yesterday I started noticing many that I approve never getting posted. I know off the top of my head that at least 4 of Keith's and 6 or Maurice's emails did not get posted. Is this happening to anyone else? Tracey Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Speaking of Will Smith
Yeah and Brown Sugar, and Two Can Play That Game, and others. I guess i can't expect Smith to risk all on a Black female as a love interest when he wouldn't do Bamboozled Still think it's sad, a missed opportunity to make a positive statement about blacks to whites--and to blacks--and about himself. But hey, his life... I say again, it's why i support the likes of Tyler Perry as much as possible. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I feel ya. Love Love Jones Need more of that. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i guess i just feel Black people who make it have an obligation to show the world all aspects of our people, and one that's rarely shown in Hollywood films is Black-on-Black love. If he'd never done a romance, i'd be fine, but i still find it offensive his only romantic comedy wasn't with a sister. but that's just me, confused in a world where black-on-black love is a bad thing at the box office. it's his business, like i said, there's always Love Jones -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com As I said, I can not tell what his agenda is. Maybe it is just to make money. I read once that he was interested in politics. I see Happyness, Ali, and Bagger Vance as attempts to get serious, but he does not do this type of work often . What I would say, is that I do not think romance is a genre that all actors are interested in focusing on. Romance do not draw as many Oscars or do they make as many blockbusters. These are two things we know he is interested in. So, why would you expect him to put it above his obvious interest in biopics. Something else you should consider is that he has never taken on the producer role yet. For some reason Will Smith and romance seem important to you. Why specifically him, when he is not even putting on the director's or producer's hat like others. [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net wrote: i know it seems i'm picking on Smith, but after all this time, how much more profit does he need to take some risks? So many actors and actresses, once they've reached a certain level, start doing the alternation bit: make a crowd-pleasure for dough, then make a film for the love of the craft and an intelligent script. Robert Redford's been doing that for years. He'd make something like Sneakers or Indecent Proposal in order to fund Quiz Show or Milagro Beanfield War. Smith has been pulling twenty plus million a picture for several years now. Surely he can test the waters and do something as revolutionary as make a love story with a black woman -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com Consider this. Maybe his agenda is purely profits. If that is the case, I seriously doubt if he would touch Black on Black romance. I honestly can not tell what his agenda is. [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net wrote: yeah, yeah! :( -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com It does look good. I like Berg and the rest of the cast.. Keith will be disappointed, but not surprised. I still say if Black or Black romantic comedies are part of Smith's agenda, he is not going to risk that on a blockbuster. Justin Mohareb wrote: Has anyone heard anything about Hancock? His first Superhero flick. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/ http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html http://gamera-spinning.livejournal.com/1455030.html
Re: [scifinoir2] Speaking of Will Smith
well, Jada tried really hard to get him to do Bamboozled but he refused. I saw an interview where she straight out said Will should have done it, that he shouldn't have been so careful of ticking off certain people in Hollywood. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] OK, my line is next. What did I say? I still think he is more focused on biopics. But it does make you wonder more about why he caved. Personally, I'd be more afraid of pissin off Jada than the studios. Perhaps she agreed with his decision. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Well, that brings us full circle back to my question: why does a man who's pulled in well over a hundred million in up front salary in the last few years not take a stand and fight for a Black woman as his love interest in a film? -- Original message -- From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:ironpigs3%40yahoo.com Will Smith actually owns his own production company Overbrook Entertainment. I think he pretty much does whatever he wants to at this point. This is from the IMDB: Graduate of Philly's legendary Overbrook High School, whose alumni include Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Lear, Wali Jones, Walt Hazzard, The Dovells, The Orlons, DeeDee Sharp, etc. and in tribute to his student years there, his production company is called Overbrook Entertainment. The company produce the following movies: Ali, Showtime, I-Robot, Hitch, Saving Face, ATL, and Pursuit of Happiness. Bosco --- Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com wrote: Agreed. Most at his level have made just that move, but for some reason (perhaps kids as you suggest) Smith hasn't taken the plunge. If he does, it will be interesting to see what he does. Justin Mohareb wrote: At this point, it's pretty much possible for an established star to put their own production company together, pick a project they want, and get it done themselves. I'm pretty sure he could put something together for a couple million dollars if he wanted to. Look at some of the stuff Clooney has done (Good Night, Good Luck) or the Bobby Kennedy movie. These were projects the creators believed in, so they made them happen. Maybe when his kids are older. JJ Mohareb On Dec 18, 2007 4:39 PM, Mike Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:streetforce1%40gmail.com mailto:streetforce1%40gmail.com wrote: Hummminteresting concept. But I'm sure he still a slave to corporate. Now that you bring this up I can't even remember a movie of his that has a black female as his co-star. I was sure that he would link up with a Gab. Union, Janet, Halle, or one of them sisters for a role. But i guess cause he's in sci-fi so much that a lot of his roles didn't call for a love interest or they went the safe route with a Spanish chick. But maybe he will shock us all -- Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy. http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead. I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said. You know these things that happen, That's just the way it's supposed to be. And I can't help but wonder, Don't ya know it coulda been me. __ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Ever Seen the Horror Film Black Sheep?
i haven't seen it yet... -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I've been too afraid. Don't know why. Did you like it? [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: All the jokes about sheep put me in mind of this film i've been hearing about for months, Black Sheep. With taglines like There are forty million sheep in New Zealand. They're all pissed off and The violence of the lambs, it sounds like a hoot. It's supposed to be very violent, very gory (the sheep routinely eat human entrails), and very funny. Sounds like a blast, reminds me of an updated version of camp classics like The Food of the Gods or Night of the Lepus, but with more blood, and FX courtesy of WETA! Check out the trailer, it's hilarious. http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/blacksheep/internationaltrailer/ http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/blacksheep/internationaltrailer/ Synopsis: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_sheep/about.php http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_sheep/about.php This blood-soaked horror comedy is the story of Henry Oldfield (Nathan Meister), a New Zealander with an unfortunate phobia...of sheep. When Henry was a boy, his father was killed in a herding accident on the land, and Henry fled to the big city. Now, years later, he has returned to sell his half of the farm and--at the behest of his therapist--to face his fears. Meanwhile, Henry's sadistic older brother Angus (Peter Feeney) has taken over the family business, and become widely known for his controversial genetic experiments on the animals. When two animal activists release one of Angus's genetically-altered lambs, Henry's trip quickly turns into his worst nightmare, as the lamb's zombie-like bite turns sheep and people into vicious flesh-eaters. Henry joins forces with one of the animal activists (Danielle Mason), and together they try to escape the sheep and find an antidote for the virus. Director Jonathon King cleverly plays on the silliness of the normally docile, dimwitted lamb as terrifying monster, and his shots of the sheep swarming over the hills induce equal parts thrills and laughter. However, the storyline could perhaps have benefited from a bit less action, and a bit more plot, as the suspense and jokes begin to fizzle by the end. The excellent WETA WORKSHOP (known for its work on the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) delivers hilariously gory special effects. Faces are eaten off, humans throw their own limbs, and heads explode, culminating in a raucous bloodbath that will likely earn BLACK SHEEP cult status among the EVIL DEAD crowd. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
RE: [scifinoir2] Re: Morgan Freeman's Rama Close To Reality?
rape scene. In Afghanistan, a man playing in such a role gets him into a heap of trouble with the locals... -- Original message -- From: Reece Jennings [EMAIL PROTECTED] I googled it. It looks like a great movie! I might try to check it out. Thanks! Is that a rap scene, or a rape scene? Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyhomesavers.com http://www.legacyhomesavers.com/ _ From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 9:34 PM To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [scifinoir2] Re: Morgan Freeman's Rama Close To Reality? yes indeed. it's quite an experience, isn't it? Speaking of foreign films, you plan to see The Kite Runner?I've heard great things about the book and the film, and of course its major claim to notoriety is the danger to the young actor for doing that gang rap* scene... -- Original message -- From: Reece Jennings mcjennings124@ mailto:mcjennings124%40yahoo.com yahoo.com You're so right about the other-country movies. I have become a searcher for African movies. There have been some really fantastic ones. And there's the added experience of getting a glimpse of other cultures and daily lives...to be taken with a little salt, because movies tend to bias things in the director's perspectives...and the editors, of course... But it's good to see just the same... Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyho http://www.legacyhomesavers.com mesavers.com http://www.legacyho http://www.legacyhomesavers.com/ mesavers.com/ _ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com] On Behalf Of KeithBJohnson@ mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net comcast.net Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 12:28 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Morgan Freeman's Rama Close To Reality? indeed. one of my greatest pleasures is seeing a well written and well acted movie with fresh new faces. I love Jamie Fox in Ray, but the greatest pleasure was the young actress who played his mother. it was so cool not to have Regina King, Angela Bassett, etc. Fine actresses indeed, but the suspending of disbelief is easier when you don't know the actor so well. It's why it's fun to see films made in other countries, including the rare African films that we get here in America. Seeing a movie with people i've never even seen, let alone heard of, from another country? that is fun. I was watching Devil in a Blue Dress a couple of weeks ago, and i kept thinking it would have been better with another actor besides Denzel Washington. He was good, of course, but i couldn never forget it was him playing the role. Don Cheadle as Mouse was cool because I'd only seen Cheadle on Picket Fences at that time, so he was basically an unknown to me. Of course, even with another actor as the star, the changed plot still jacked up the movie... -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com aladvantage.com I like Will, but think they need to expand beyond Smith, Freeman, Washington and Jackson when it comes to casting African American leads Martin wrote: I could see Will in that. But it wouldn't get Keith his love story. ravenadal [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:ravenadal%40yahoo.com com mailto:ravenadal%40yahoo.com wrote: Childhood's End is the Arthur C. Clarke book I would like to see made into a movie. Best yet: it could star Will Smith as Jan Rodricks, a brilliant young black man with a strong interest in astronomy and space exploration (brother of Maia Rodricks, the most beautiful woman in the world). Jan represents humanity's inability to ever be satisfied, to ever be truly content, or have its curiosity sated. It is admirable that Jan rejects the blandness and boredom of utopia in favor of taking risks (i.e., sneaking onto the Overlords' ship). It seems likely that there would be many more men and women like Jan in a world such as the Overlords'. Satisfaction in life, no matter how good, has never been one of humanity's strong suits. Jan is a symbol of that truth, and it is fitting that he is the last witness to the destruction and transfiguration of mankind. ~rave! --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com ups.com mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: We were just talking about this last week... http://www.scifi. http://www.scifi
Re: [scifinoir2] Shatner Trek Cameo Possible?
at the risk of whining, why should Shatner's death be an impediment? The whole point of the Nexus was its time-manipulating capabilities. Surely they could come up with a good enough storyline that the Nexus' energies somehow resurrected Kirk. After all, the damn energy field created a whole sentient echo of Guinan, and kept Kirk alive and ageless for seven decades inside it. oh and i guess he's right about us Trekkies being sticklers. It's funny that Kirk's now a PhD in astrophysics, as Kirk was actually chosen by Starfleet precisely because he wasn't a brain! For a while, Starfleet had been dissatisfied with its captains. Too many were getting killed or failing on missions, they felt. After looking at its command requirements, Starfleet realized they'd been focusing on candidates who leaned heavily towards being intelligent and thoughtful. But this was making them weaker, in a way. So, Kirk's class was one of the first where things like insight, daring, confidence, etc., were given more weight. Kirk was always intelligent at hell. He beat Spock at chess once, after all! But a genius? Not the interstellar lover! -- Original message -- From: Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] Whining Child Syndrone wins again... Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Shatner Trek Cameo Possible? http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46494 Roberto Orci, co-writer of director J.J. Abrams' highly anticipated Star Trek movie, told SCI FI Wire that there's still a possibility that original star William Shatner may appear in the movie, though that's less of a possibility than before. The film is currently in production. There are two things, Orci said in an interview in November. One, from our point of view, we are still hoping to find a way. Secondly, one of the difficulties that was brought up and discussed with Shatner when we all met him and pitched him ideas is that Trek fans are sticklers for their canon. [And,] unfortunately, Shatner's Capt. Kirk was killed in Star Trek VII [1994's Generations]. There was no such problem bringing back Shatner's co-star, Leonard Nimoy, as an older Spock, joining a cast of new actors to inhabit the roles of the Star Trek crew. But Kirk's death complicates the matter of bringing Shatner back, said Orci, who wrote the screenplay for Star Trek with his Transformers partner Alex Kurtzman. The difficulty there is not just ignoring that or explaining it in an unsatisfactory way merely to get him back in, Orci said. So that is the struggle: the rigors of canon and not phoning it in just to have a cameo. Still, it could happen, he said. From my point of view, it's a very long shoot, and things change. It's just whether we can figure it out. Another possible problem: The ongoing writers' strike prohibits members of the Writers Guild of America--which includes Orci, Kurtzman and Abrams--from making any changes to the script until the strike is settled. For his part, Shatner has not been shy in expressing his disappointment at not being cast in Star Trek. How could you not put one of the founding figures into a movie that was being resurrected? he told TV's Extra last month. That doesn't make good business sense to me! In any case, Orci had nothing but praise for Chris Pine, the actor who will play the young version of Kirk. Chris Pine has two things which are very difficult to find simultaneously, Orci said. He has the maverick nature of an extremely motivated, cocky guy who doesn't play by the rules, who is intelligent enough and can command sufficient respect to be an astronaut. Remember, these people are all astronauts! But Pine conveys the intelligence of a starship captain, Orci added. It's difficult to find a good-looking guy who you would believe can fill the old Kirk shoes of getting into a fistfight while also having a Ph.D. in astrophysics, he said. That's a tough one, because you need that, as he has to face the intelligence of Mr. Spock [played in his younger years by Zachary Quinto]. Chris has a great sense of humor but is also able to get serious on a dime, to step in and out of leadership while being fun. Star Trek is slated for release on Christmas Day 2008. (Read more about Star Trek in the current issue of SCI FI Magazine.) --Tara DiLullo Bennett Yahoo! Groups Links Akin, but no matter what you think, I am concerned for your life, so Ill only say this once; if you talk too much or ask too many questions, you might say something that interests the Community, and you really, really dont want to get them interested. - The Side Street Chonicles by C.W. Badie - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to:
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Ever Seen the Horror Film Black Sheep?
please let us know your thoughts. if it's not super gory i may have to see it. -- Original message -- From: B. Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] This has been on my Netflix for a while. I'll have to move it up the list. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i haven't seen it yet... -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I've been too afraid. Don't know why. Did you like it? [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: All the jokes about sheep put me in mind of this film i've been hearing about for months, Black Sheep. With taglines like There are forty million sheep in New Zealand. They're all pissed off and The violence of the lambs, it sounds like a hoot. It's supposed to be very violent, very gory (the sheep routinely eat human entrails), and very funny. Sounds like a blast, reminds me of an updated version of camp classics like The Food of the Gods or Night of the Lepus, but with more blood, and FX courtesy of WETA! Check out the trailer, it's hilarious. http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/blacksheep/internationaltrai ler/ http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/blacksheep/internationaltra iler/ Synopsis: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_sheep/about.php http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_sheep/about.php This blood-soaked horror comedy is the story of Henry Oldfield (Nathan Meister), a New Zealander with an unfortunate phobia...of sheep. When Henry was a boy, his father was killed in a herding accident on the land, and Henry fled to the big city. Now, years later, he has returned to sell his half of the farm and--at the behest of his therapist--to face his fears. Meanwhile, Henry's sadistic older brother Angus (Peter Feeney) has taken over the family business, and become widely known for his controversial genetic experiments on the animals. When two animal activists release one of Angus's genetically-altered lambs, Henry's trip quickly turns into his worst nightmare, as the lamb's zombie-like bite turns sheep and people into vicious flesh-eaters. Henry joins forces with one of the animal activists (Danielle Mason), and together they try to escape the sheep and find an antidote for the virus. Director Jonathon King cleverly plays on the silliness of the normally docile, dimwitted lamb as terrifying monster, and his shots of the sheep swarming over the hills induce equal parts thrills and laughter. However, the storyline could perhaps have benefited from a bit less action, and a bit more plot, as the suspense and jokes begin to fizzle by the end. The excellent WETA WORKSHOP (known for its work on the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) delivers hilariously gory special effects. Faces are eaten off, humans throw their own limbs, and heads explode, culminating in a raucous bloodbath that will likely earn BLACK SHEEP cult status among the EVIL DEAD crowd. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Ever Seen the Horror Film Black Sheep?
didja check the trailer? -- Original message -- From: Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] All jokes aside, huh? Oh my gosh, that's hilarious!!! [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: All the jokes about sheep put me in mind of this film i've been hearing about for months, Black Sheep. With taglines like There are forty million sheep in New Zealand. They're all pissed off and The violence of the lambs, it sounds like a hoot. It's supposed to be very violent, very gory (the sheep routinely eat human entrails), and very funny. Sounds like a blast, reminds me of an updated version of camp classics like The Food of the Gods or Night of the Lepus, but with more blood, and FX courtesy of WETA! Check out the trailer, it's hilarious. http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/blacksheep/internationaltrailer/ Synopsis: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_sheep/about.php This blood-soaked horror comedy is the story of Henry Oldfield (Nathan Meister), a New Zealander with an unfortunate phobia...of sheep. When Henry was a boy, his father was killed in a herding accident on the land, and Henry fled to the big city. Now, years later, he has returned to sell his half of the farm and--at the behest of his therapist--to face his fears. Meanwhile, Henry's sadistic older brother Angus (Peter Feeney) has taken over the family business, and become widely known for his controversial genetic experiments on the animals. When two animal activists release one of Angus's genetically-altered lambs, Henry's trip quickly turns into his worst nightmare, as the lamb's zombie-like bite turns sheep and people into vicious flesh-eaters. Henry joins forces with one of the animal activists (Danielle Mason), and together they try to escape the sheep and find an antidote for the virus. Director Jonathon King cleverly plays on the silliness of the normally docile, dimwitted lamb as terrifying monster, and his shots of the sheep swarming over the hills induce equal parts thrills and laughter. However, the storyline could perhaps have benefited from a bit less action, and a bit more plot, as the suspense and jokes begin to fizzle by the end. The excellent WETA WORKSHOP (known for its work on the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) delivers hilariously gory special effects. Faces are eaten off, humans throw their own limbs, and heads explode, culminating in a raucous bloodbath that will likely earn BLACK SHEEP cult status among the EVIL DEAD crowd. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Akin, but no matter what you think, I am concerned for your life, so Ill only say this once; if you talk too much or ask too many questions, you might say something that interests the Community, and you really, really dont want to get them interested. - The Side Street Chonicles by C.W. Badie - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [scifinoir2] Connecticut -- Winter Wonderland -- PG language
whe n i lived there, actually i lived out in Wheaton, I bought a piece of crap '72 Chrysler New Yorker. Bought it from a co-worker at Bell Labs for three hundred bucks. Car was in such bad shape the thermostat would slide toward H soon as you stopped at a light. You had to get it moving and the wind streaming past the engine block for it to cool down. The thing was, bad as all that was, i didn't yet understand the concept of salting the roads Chicago style. Damn car all but rusted out from under me! -- Original message -- From: Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] I get along fine in the winter...One rule of thumb...When it gets cold, Chicago becomes an indoor town. Plenty to do inside and you learn the value of public transportation (for now, that is)... [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: great! reminds me of my feelings when i left Texas for Illinois. It was 108 degrees when I left Texas, only 83 when I got to O'Hare Airport. I reveled in the cool weather, the change in color of the leaves. When it snowed on Thanksgiving Day--Thanksgiving!--i called everyone back home in Fort Worth to tell them how beautiful it was. I got into making snowmen, tramping through the winter wonderland of the woods, having snowball fights. But by Christmas, I was sick as hell of slipping and sliding, of my car spinning out around corners, of my skin freezing soon as it was exposed to the air. Worst of all: the beautiful snow turning to dark-as-mud slush soon as it started melting, people tracking it inside, pushing the mess to the side of the road and their walks. Yuck! The one good thing I can say about Chicago winter? It was so freakin' cold, I never caught a cold! -- Original message -- From: Reece Jennings [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dear Diary AUG 12 Moved to our new home in Connecticut. It is so beautiful here. The forests and valleys are gorgeous. Can hardly wait to see them covered in snow. I love it here. Oct 14 Connecticut is the most beautiful place on earth.The leaves have turned all colors and shades of orange and red. Went for a ride through the valleys and saw some deer. They are so graceful, certainly they are the most wonderful animal on earth. This must be paradise. I love it here. NOV 11 Deer season will start soon. I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill such a gorgeous creature. Hope it snows soon. I love Connecticut. DEC 2 It snowed last night. Woke up to find everything blanketed with white. It looks like a postcard. We went outside and cleaned the snow off the steps and shoveled the driveway. We had a snowball fight (I won), and when the snow-plow came by, we had to shovel the driveway again. What a beautiful place. I love Connecticut. DEC 12 More snow last night. I love it. The snow-plow did his trick again to the driveway. I still love it here. DEC 19 More snow last night. Couldn't get out of the driveway to get to work. I am exausted from shoveling. Damned snow plow. DEC 22 More of that white shit fell last night. I've got blisters on my hands from shoveling. I think the snow-plow hides around the curve and waits until I'm done shoveling the driveway. Asshole! DEC 25 Merry Christmas. More friggin' snow. If I ever get my hands on the son-of-a-bitch that drives that snow-plow, I swear, I'll kill the bastard. Don't know why they don't use more salt on the roads to melt the ice. DEC 27 More white shit last night. Been inside for 3 days except for shoveling out the driveway after that prick with the snow-plow comes by. Can't go anywhere. Cars stuck in a mountain of white shit. The weatherman says to expect another 10 tonight. Do you know how many shovelfuls of snow 10 is? DEC 28 The weatherman was wrong. We got 34 of that f**king white shit this time. At this rate it won't melt till next October. The snow-plow got stuck up the road and that bastard came to the door asking to borrow my shovel. I beat the shit out of him with it. JAN 4 Finally got out of the house today. Went to the store to get some food and on the way back a damned deer ran out in front of my car and I hit it. Did about $3000 worth of damage. Those beasts should be killed or something. Wished the hunters had killed them all last November. May 3 Took the car to the garage in town. Would you believe the thing is rusting out from all the fucking salt they put on the roads? MAY 10 Moved to Florida. I can't imagine why anyone in their right mind would ever live in that God-forsaken state of Connecticut. Maurice Jennings Have you or someone you know been threatened with foreclosure? KEEP your home and Stop Foreclosure in its Tracks! Get a Free, No Obligation Evaluation = http://www.legacyhomesavers.com http://www.legacyhomesavers.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Akin, but no matter what you think, I am concerned for your life, so Ill only say this once; if you talk too much or ask too many
Re: [scifinoir2] Jackson back in 'Hobbit' via NL, MGM
A friend sent the below, stating that the second film is actually more new material, and not simply the second half of the book? Man, i was assuming Jackson was *directing* the pictures! I really hope he does, though function as executive producer is okay i guess. :( I'm intrigued by what time of connecting material they could have between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. Not sure how that turn out, but I do think that it might be better not to release the two films a whole year apart, especially if the second one is something rather new. I think an idea like Tarentino's Kill Bill films might work, where the films are separated by only a few months. It'd keep the momentum going. I would really, really love to see someone try to tackle The Silmarillian, which is a fantastic book of Middle Earth lore that's truly biblical in scope and style. In case you haven't read it, it details the creation of the world and the coming of the first gods, including Morgoth, the dark lord who was actually Sauron's master, the creation of West of the world, the breaking of the Earth, the backstory of Aragon's people the Numenoreans (the long-lived), and on and on. [from Tyrone] This is definitely exciting, however I was hoping for it to read that Peter Jackson would be directing the Hobbit films. But regardless, his involvement is a good thing. I have a little more information on this project and it seems that the Hobbit will be one complete film. The second film is a sequel that links the Hobbit to the LOTOR trilogy. While this sounds like a shaky film invented to cash in on the franchise, I think there is more to it. I read that Jackson and team will be using notes, manuscripts, and other key story plot points from Tolkien himself that were used as a foundation that connects both storylines. Sounds wierd, but obviously the Tolkien family approves and with PJ as Exec Prod, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I think it may even be an excellent idea cause Jackson and team will be able to really utilize their talent and imagination on the sequel. The can fill in gaps with their own ideas and with Jackson's knowledge of the material he maybe be ab le to add something special to the film. This is exciting news! -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie2960ff97697ea62 71399e8be7399978 Dec 19, 2007 NEW YORK -- The eagerly awaited prequels to the Lord of the Rings trilogy will finally hit the big screen. MGM and New Line have pacted to co-finance and co-distribute The Hobbit and a sequel to the film. New Line will handle distribution in North America, and MGM will distribute the J.R.R. Tolkien adaptations internationally. Putting aside what once seemed like irreconcilable differences over the filmmaker's profit participation, Rings writer-director Peter Jackson and New Line have settled all litigation over the nearly $3 billion-grossing Rings trilogy. Jackson and Fran Walsh will executive produce the films, to be shot simultaneously, and New Line will manage their production. Preproduction will begin soon, and principal photography is tentatively set for 2009. The release of the first film is slated for 2010 and the sequel in 2011. Jackson, MGM chairman and CEO Harry Sloan and New Line co-chairman and co-CEOs Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne jointly made the announcement Tuesday morning. I'm very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line, Jackson said. 'The Lord of the Rings' is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey. Said Sloan, Peter Jackson has proven himself as the filmmaker who can bring the extraordinary imagination of Tolkien to life, and we full-heartedly agree with the fans worldwide who know he should be making 'The Hobbit.' Now that we are all in agreement on 'The Hobbit,' we can focus on assembling the production team that will capture this phenomenal tale on film. We are very pleased we have been able to resolve our differences and that Peter and Fran will be actively and creatively involved with the 'Hobbit' movies, Shaye said. We know they will bring the same passion, care and talent to these films that they so ably accomplished with the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Lynne said, Peter is a visionary filmmaker, and he broke new ground with 'The Lord of the Rings.' We're delighted he's back for the 'Hobbit' films and that the Tolkien saga will continue with his imprint. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Harry Sloan, who has been instrumental in helping us reach our new accord.
Re: [scifinoir2] Speaking of Will Smith
how long before his rep has grown enough to do that? -- Original message -- From: Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] I think Smith has done his research and knows what we know about the market. He is a smart man, so he is going to put his money into what sells...maybe later, if he has such a mind to do so, he'll do the films you talk about...By then, his reputation alone will pull the audience he need for success...The Happyness film is a quasi-example of that... Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Keith: I decide to read what I missed before on Smith's Profile on Internet Movie Database and I saw that the man has really stepped up his activity as a producer in recent years. In addition to Hancock, he has eight flicks in various stages of production. With just a cursory glance, none look like they are Black or Black love, but some look interesting. Just some food for thought.. All of your points are valid, but there is one thing I do not get the impression that you have considered. Black on Black love in film does not even a high profile topic within the Black community or among Blacks in the entertainment industry. I guess I'm saying that for years people have been saying that there are no positive Black stories in Hollywood and a few people took some risks and we are starting to see these stories. We had to hear it or a long time before there was noticeable movement in that area. With two biopics, I would include Smith among those people who is seeking to address that issue. I also wonder if most African Americans feel that niche is being filled with the Black films we see that barely make it to the big screen. I do not see the same type of push in Holly weird (even among Blacks) for that type of story. I could be way off base. Is it true, do Black in Hollywood not really push for the Black on Black thing? Speaking of that..it just hit me...with the exception of McMillan adaptations, Angela Bassett is always paired with a white male. I take that back, she had a non-existent relationship with the Black guy on Alias. I say non-existent, because you did not know about it until they were deep into it. Please note: I was moving out of the country at the time, so it is possible I missed some episodes that covered when they were getting together. If that is the case please let me know [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Well, that brings us full circle back to my question: why does a man who's pulled in well over a hundred million in up front salary in the last few years not take a stand and fight for a Black woman as his love interest in a film? -- Original message -- From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:ironpigs3%40yahoo.com Will Smith actually owns his own production company Overbrook Entertainment. I think he pretty much does whatever he wants to at this point. This is from the IMDB: Graduate of Philly's legendary Overbrook High School, whose alumni include Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Lear, Wali Jones, Walt Hazzard, The Dovells, The Orlons, DeeDee Sharp, etc. and in tribute to his student years there, his production company is called Overbrook Entertainment. The company produce the following movies: Ali, Showtime, I-Robot, Hitch, Saving Face, ATL, and Pursuit of Happiness. Bosco --- Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com wrote: Agreed. Most at his level have made just that move, but for some reason (perhaps kids as you suggest) Smith hasn't taken the plunge. If he does, it will be interesting to see what he does. Justin Mohareb wrote: At this point, it's pretty much possible for an established star to put their own production company together, pick a project they want, and get it done themselves. I'm pretty sure he could put something together for a couple million dollars if he wanted to. Look at some of the stuff Clooney has done (Good Night, Good Luck) or the Bobby Kennedy movie. These were projects the creators believed in, so they made them happen. Maybe when his kids are older. JJ Mohareb On Dec 18, 2007 4:39 PM, Mike Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:streetforce1%40gmail.com mailto:streetforce1%40gmail.com wrote: Hummminteresting concept. But I'm sure he still a slave to corporate. Now that you bring this up I can't even remember a movie of his that has a black female as his co-star. I was sure that he would link up with a Gab. Union, Janet, Halle, or one of them sisters for a role. But i guess cause he's in sci-fi so much that a lot of his roles didn't call for a love interest or they went the safe route with a Spanish chick. But maybe he will shock us all -- Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy. http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com
Re: [scifinoir2] Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
i am worried, still, that Jackson isn't going to direct. The only hope is that he, Fran, and the rest have major influence on the script and tone. And i can at least take heart in the fact that WETA will handle the FX, as I've never been impressed with the effects in the Spider-Man films, which have always been too obviously CGI... -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit Spider-Man director Sam Raimi will return to his genre roots to helm Drag Me to Hell, a supernatural thriller he wrote with his brother, Ivan Raimi, Variety reported. After Drag Me to Hell, Raimi is expected to helm the Hobbit films for New Line and MGM now that Peter Jackson, who will executive-produce the movies, has made it clear he won't direct them, the trade paper reported. Hell, a morality tale about the unwitting recipient of a supernatural curse, will go into production early next year. It will be financed through Ghost House, a joint venture Raimi and Rob Tapert formed several years ago with Mandate Pictures. Raimi and Tapert will produce with Grant Curtis, and Josh Donen will executive-produce with Mandate's Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake. Tapert said the Raimis wrote the script well before the formation of Ghost House. It was originally written under the title The Curse and completed right after the siblings collaborated on 1992's Army of Darkness, which Sam Raimi directed. http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46618 Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
For the needed combination of action, whimsy, drama, and true magic, I think I prefer Guillermo del Toro to sub for Jackson in directing these films. Wonder why he wasn't considered, or was he? -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit Spider-Man director Sam Raimi will return to his genre roots to helm Drag Me to Hell, a supernatural thriller he wrote with his brother, Ivan Raimi, Variety reported. After Drag Me to Hell, Raimi is expected to helm the Hobbit films for New Line and MGM now that Peter Jackson, who will executive-produce the movies, has made it clear he won't direct them, the trade paper reported. Hell, a morality tale about the unwitting recipient of a supernatural curse, will go into production early next year. It will be financed through Ghost House, a joint venture Raimi and Rob Tapert formed several years ago with Mandate Pictures. Raimi and Tapert will produce with Grant Curtis, and Josh Donen will executive-produce with Mandate's Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake. Tapert said the Raimis wrote the script well before the formation of Ghost House. It was originally written under the title The Curse and completed right after the siblings collaborated on 1992's Army of Darkness, which Sam Raimi directed. http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46618 Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
...or Alfonso Cuaron -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Keith Johnson) For the needed combination of action, whimsy, drama, and true magic, I think I prefer Guillermo del Toro to sub for Jackson in directing these films. Wonder why he wasn't considered, or was he? -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit Spider-Man director Sam Raimi will return to his genre roots to helm Drag Me to Hell, a supernatural thriller he wrote with his brother, Ivan Raimi, Variety reported. After Drag Me to Hell, Raimi is expected to helm the Hobbit films for New Line and MGM now that Peter Jackson, who will executive-produce the movies, has made it clear he won't direct them, the trade paper reported. Hell, a morality tale about the unwitting recipient of a supernatural curse, will go into production early next year. It will be financed through Ghost House, a joint venture Raimi and Rob Tapert formed several year s ago with Mandate Pictures. Raimi and Tapert will produce with Grant Curtis, and Josh Donen will executive-produce with Mandate's Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake. Tapert said the Raimis wrote the script well before the formation of Ghost House. It was originally written under the title The Curse and completed right after the siblings collaborated on 1992's Army of Darkness, which Sam Raimi directed. http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46618 Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] USA Cancels Dead Zone
if i have anything to look forward to, it's that I only watched the first season of both the Dead Zone and The 4400, so i have a lot of good times coming up on DVD. Dead Zone surprised me with later seasons in how dark and complex it seemed to be, especially with the minister and his connection to the evil politician. What was that about, and what do you think the show has lost? -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I only saw a few of the episodes of the last season but it lost something. i could not watch it anymore http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46619 USA Cancels Dead Zone USA Network has officially canceled The Dead Zone, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Dead Zone ran for six seasons. It was based on characters from Stephen King's book and was created by the late Michael Piller and his son, Shawn. Its premiere set a record for a series debut on basic cable, with 6.4 million viewers. The Dead Zone starred Anthony Michael Hall and Nicole de Boer. (USA Network is owned by NBC Universal, which also owns SCIFI.COM.) Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
yeah, he's gotta direct! -- Original message -- From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] I thought the reason Jackson wasn't directing was because he had another project in the works and it would take to long to get to the Hobbit. Seems like the same might be true of Raimi. I say we start a petition to bring Jackson back to the helm B --- Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit Spider-Man director Sam Raimi will return to his genre roots to helm Drag Me to Hell, a supernatural thriller he wrote with his brother, Ivan Raimi, Variety reported. After Drag Me to Hell, Raimi is expected to helm the Hobbit films for New Line and MGM now that Peter Jackson, who will executive-produce the movies, has made it clear he won't direct them, the trade paper reported. Hell, a morality tale about the unwitting recipient of a supernatural curse, will go into production early next year. It will be financed through Ghost House, a joint venture Raimi and Rob Tapert formed several years ago with Mandate Pictures. Raimi and Tapert will produce with Grant Curtis, and Josh Donen will executive-produce with Mandate's Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake. Tapert said the Raimis wrote the script well before the formation of Ghost House. It was originally written under the title The Curse and completed right after the siblings collaborated on 1992's Army of Darkness, which Sam Raimi directed. http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46618 Yahoo! Groups Links I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead. I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said. You know these things that happen, That's just the way it's supposed to be. And I can't help but wonder, Don't ya know it coulda been me. __ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
dude, what happened with your fiance? If too painful to discuss i understand -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Gymfig, I kinda have to disagree about that assessment of The Hobbit. When I read it as a child, I took it for nothing more than elegant, beautiful words. I read it a second time, after coming through the shock of losing my fiancee, and it hit me at a visceral level, particularly the point when Bilbo returned to the Shire, feeling the same and yet fundamentally different, as any journey of great import will do to a person. That last reading was twenty-four years ago, and I can't even bring myself to *touch* the book. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The hobbit is a children's book. It is not a serious film about love and lost. I don't think that there is a director out there that could capture that. If Henson were alive I think that he could have done it. I think the person that directed the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe could do a great job. I heard the movie was great. **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
no words to respond to that, dude. wow -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] She was murdered in a robbery at her dad's restaurant back in '84. They did get the guy, fear not, and executed him in '95. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: dude, what happened with your fiance? If too painful to discuss i understand -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Gymfig, I kinda have to disagree about that assessment of The Hobbit. When I read it as a child, I took it for nothing more than elegant, beautiful words. I read it a second time, after coming through the shock of losing my fiancee, and it hit me at a visceral level, particularly the point when Bilbo returned to the Shire, feeling the same and yet fundamentally different, as any journey of great import will do to a person. That last reading was twenty-four years ago, and I can't even bring myself to *touch* the book. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The hobbit is a children's book. It is not a serious film about love and lost. I don't think that there is a director out there that could capture that. If Henson were alive I think that he could have done it. I think the person that directed the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe could do a great job. I heard the movie was great. **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] 4400 Is Canceled
as far as the schedule? I hear that, it's why i lost track of both it and Deadzone. And even freakin' reruns aren't shown in order anymore, so you can't catch up on the off season like you used to be able to do.. -- Original message -- From: Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] They kept bouncing it all over the place...No wonder why no one watched it Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Nah I think it was a case of nobody was watching this show. I can¹t think of 25 people I know, including this list, who were watching it. 4400 just seemed like a miniseries gone wild to me. Dead Zone as well. I really liked the first 2 seasons of Dead Zone, but it just seemed to fall off. On 12/21/07 9:55 AM, Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: So, Skiffy's influence spreads, I see. :( Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com wrote: Peters: 4400 Is Canceled http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46613 http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0amp;id=46613 Scott Peters, creator of USA Network's The 4400, announced on the show's official forum that the series has been canceled. It's with great sadness that I pass along to you the information I've just received: The 4400 has been canceled, Peters wrote on Dec. 18. We've had a great time bringing you this story and submersing you in the lives of all these incredible characters. Thank you especially to the folks on the board here whose tireless devotion to the show is nothing short of remarkable. Cast member Jacqueline McKenzie posted her own reaction to the news on her MySpace.com page. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone here for writing those petitions! she said, referring to a fan campaign to save the show. I know I speak for all the cast: We really appreciate the support and dedication of our fans! Thank you! Peters, who is also an executive producer, said that he broke the news to cast member Joel Gretsch. We had a great talk about what we all accomplished and how much we'll miss our family that is our crew and our cast ... and our fans, Peters wrote. But at least we got to go out with a bang! I had an awesome time directing the last episode. I think I got to make almost every single cast member cry (on camera). How much fun was that? Peters helmed the final episode of the series, The Great Leap Forward, which aired on Sept. 16, 2007. The show ran for four seasons on USA. (USA Network is owned by NBC Universal, which also owns SCIFI.COM.) Yahoo! Groups Links There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Akin, but no matter what you think, I am concerned for your life, so Ill only say this once; if you talk too much or ask too many questions, you might say something that interests the Community, and you really, really dont want to get them interested. - The Side Street Chonicles by C.W. Badie - Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: USA Cancels Dead Zone
How did John end up being able to walk without a cane? Did his former love finally get with the evil senator? Was there an ending to the series, or is it just to be cancelled with no resolution? -- Original message -- From: tdemorsella [EMAIL PROTECTED] I really liked it until the last season. They got rid of the preacher, the black buddy and the sheriff. They made his relationship with his son sappy and the darkness was reduced. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: if i have anything to look forward to, it's that I only watched the first season of both the Dead Zone and The 4400, so i have a lot of good times coming up on DVD. Dead Zone surprised me with later seasons in how dark and complex it seemed to be, especially with the minister and his connection to the evil politician. What was that about, and what do you think the show has lost? -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I only saw a few of the episodes of the last season but it lost something. i could not watch it anymore http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=46619 USA Cancels Dead Zone USA Network has officially canceled The Dead Zone, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Dead Zone ran for six seasons. It was based on characters from Stephen King's book and was created by the late Michael Piller and his son, Shawn. Its premiere set a record for a series debut on basic cable, with 6.4 million viewers. The Dead Zone starred Anthony Michael Hall and Nicole de Boer. (USA Network is owned by NBC Universal, which also owns SCIFI.COM.) Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Comics to Film
that was Bowfinger, a really good, underappreciated film where Steve Martin wants to shoot a film with Eddie Murphy, but can't afford him (he can barely afford a film camera). i don't think Murphy's playing himself in the film, but he is playing a famous actor. Martin can't afford the actor, but wants to shoot the film, so he gets a small, cheap crew, and starts secretly shooting the actor from hiding, then splicing those long furtive shots into a movie. For all the troublesome stuff--closeups, actual speaking roles--he finds a nebbish who looks remarkably like the actor, then uses this lookalike to shoot the scripted parts. It was an enjoyable film, but sometimes I feel as if i'm the only one who saw it. -- Original message -- From: tdemorsella [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have trouble liking Graham in films too. However, I liked her in Committed, lost in Space, and a movie whose name escapes me starring Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Interesting thing about ³From Hell². It is arguably the Hughes Brothers¹ greatest film. It was also their last. I think this is a great Johnny Depp performance, and if I¹m not mistaken, was the first of the whole ³Johnny does an accent well² roles. Heather Graham did not belong in this picture by any stretch of the imagination. To be fair, though, I have only seen two films where she DID belong, one was ³Lost In Space² (or as I like to call it, ³this group of actors all decided they wanted Ferraris and wanted a movie studio to pay for them all in cash² because this movie was absolutely not meant for anyone to really see it.), and ³Committed². Casey Affleck and the dark haired Wilson brother are also in ³Committed² making it one of the best parades of B-listers in recent film history. Truly something Showtime should be playing again and again. I¹m going to go out on a limb and suggest a picture that will make many of you cringe, but is worth seeing on DVD in the privacy of your own home, especially if you have like 8-13 year old kids in said home: ³The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen.² or, in Hollywood-ese: ³LXG². Yes, I know. Why? Because if you¹ve ever read the books, you¹ll see that they were trying to make this movie a slick version of those books. The adventure and excitement are actually IN this picture. The effects (and Sean Connery) kill it. This is a better comic book movie than either Fantastic Four picture. On 12/21/07 12:06 PM, Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am vaguely remembering that I saw this but I may have to revisit it to refresh. B --- ravenadal [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:ravenadal%40yahoo.com wrote: Oh yeah! I forgot the Hughes Brothers' excellent From Hell, starring Johnny Depp. ~rave! --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com , Bosco Bosco ironpigs3@ wrote: I just saw the trailer for Hellboy 2. It looks to be every bit as good as the first one. I'll miss John Hurt but I think this could be truly fun B --- Daryle yokozuna@ wrote: I still hold Spider-Man 2 as the best ever made. I think ³American Splendor² was pretty well done, and recently I saw, for the first time in its entirety, ³The Punisher². The acting, well, is pretty horrible, but if you can stand the X-Men movies, Punisher¹s worth a rental. On 12/20/07 4:41 PM, Bosco Bosco ironpigs3@ wrote: On an earlier thread someone mentioned that the latest Batman film was their favorite comic adaptation. I really like it as well and it got me to thinking about some of my other faves. I think V for Vendetta is my personal favorite and I loved, loved, loved Hellboy. I really dug the most recent Batman as well as the first Spiderman. I wasn't so fond of the X-Men though I did like them. Anyone else got some pics or recommends. I am thinking of updating my netflix queue Bosco __ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead. I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said. You know these things that happen, That's just the way it's supposed to be. And I can't help but wonder, Don't ya know it coulda been me. __ __ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs I got friends who are in prison and
Re: [scifinoir2] Ever Seen the Horror Film Black Sheep?
ha-ha! Too true! So, Scary Tracey, did you watch the trailer yet? -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Now that I think about it, it's not really that far fetched. I mean, after Deity-knows-how-many-centuries of us shaving these poor guys bald in order to make pricey sweaters for ourselves, they'd *have* to be p*ssed off... Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: No the description on Netflix kind of terrified me. after I got done laughing at the concept of killer sheep [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: didja check the trailer? -- Original message -- From: Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] All jokes aside, huh? Oh my gosh, that's hilarious!!! [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: All the jokes about sheep put me in mind of this film i've been hearing about for months, Black Sheep. With taglines like There are forty million sheep in New Zealand. They're all pissed off and The violence of the lambs, it sounds like a hoot. It's supposed to be very violent, very gory (the sheep routinely eat human entrails), and very funny. Sounds like a blast, reminds me of an updated version of camp classics like The Food of the Gods or Night of the Lepus, but with more blood, and FX courtesy of WETA! Check out the trailer, it's hilarious. http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/blacksheep/internationaltrailer/ Synopsis: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_sheep/about.php This blood-soaked horror comedy is the story of Henry Oldfield (Nathan Meister), a New Zealander with an unfortunate phobia...of sheep. When Henry was a boy, his father was killed in a herding accident on the land, and Henry fled to the big city. Now, years later, he has returned to sell his half of the farm and--at the behest of his therapist--to face his fears. Meanwhile, Henry's sadistic older brother Angus (Peter Feeney) has taken over the family business, and become widely known for his controversial genetic experiments on the animals. When two animal activists release one of Angus's genetically-altered lambs, Henry's trip quickly turns into his worst nightmare, as the lamb's zombie-like bite turns sheep and people into vicious flesh-eaters. Henry joins forces with one of the animal activists (Danielle Mason), and together they try to escape the sheep and find an antidote for the virus. Director Jonathon King cleverly plays on the silliness of the normally docile, dimwitted lamb as terrifying monster, and his shots of the sheep swarming over the hills induce equal parts thrills and laughter. However, the storyline could perhaps have benefited from a bit less action, and a bit more plot, as the suspense and jokes begin to fizzle by the end. The excellent WETA WORKSHOP (known for its work on the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) delivers hilariously gory special effects. Faces are eaten off, humans throw their own limbs, and heads explode, culminating in a raucous bloodbath that will likely earn BLACK SHEEP cult status among the EVIL DEAD crowd. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Akin, but no matter what you think, I am concerned for your life, so Iâll only say this once; if you talk too much or ask too many questions, you might say something that interests the Community, and you really, really donât want to get them interested. - The Side Street Chonicles by C.W. Badie - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
that's why i said Raimi wouldn't be my first choice. I'd go with one of the two Mexican directors who've shown with Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, Children of Men, and Harry Potter that they can balance all the aspects required of such a film as one based on The Hobbit -- Original message -- From: tdemorsella [EMAIL PROTECTED] Personally I want Jackson, but I was trying to come up with someone who had the imagination for it. I agree he is probalby way to dark, but i do not think he is any worse than Raimi --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 12/21/2007 10:27:58 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: What about Tim Burton? Tracy, If I could I would come through this computer and slap you silly for that. LOL!!! Johnny Depp would be an awful choice for Bilbo. Bilbo would be a drunken hairy odd little man with peculiar tastes. Depp would basically be playing himself. You do understand that if we get Burton we also get Helen Bohman Carter. She would revise her role in Merlin. *Shudder* **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
Burton can be a bit too--what's a good word...?--artificial-seeming to me. All the riotous colors, the crazy angles of Willy Wonka all turned me off so that I never saw the film. I was the same way with 'The Grinch, which I unfortunately did see: it was over-the-top, over saturated with bright colors, loud, insufferably long, boring, and just a waste of time. Taking an absolute classic like the cartoon (which is, by the way, my second favorite Christmas cartoon of all time, after Charlie Brown Christmas) and stretching it from 27 minutes to two hours? Bad, bad idea! -- Original message -- From: tdemorsella [EMAIL PROTECTED] I agree, but if the can get Jackson, who has the imagination and vision? By the way, how was Willy Wonka. Depp's Michael Jackson performance in the trailers hs just creeped me out --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Burton's tastes run a bit to the more gothic and outre side; he's perfect for stuff like Nightmare Before Christmas and the dark Batman, but I don't think he'd have quite the right touch of whimsy for *this* particular film. It's a tricky mix to get the humour, action, drama, FX, and magic down pat -- Original message -- From: tdemorsella [EMAIL PROTECTED] What about Tim Burton? --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Gymfig@ wrote: The hobbit is a children's book. It is not a serious film about love and lost. I don't think that there is a director out there that could capture that. If Henson were alive I think that he could have done it. I think the person that directed the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe could do a great job. I heard the movie was great. **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Comics to Film
haven't seen that one. Another film that didn't do much box office is Show Time. It's really, really funny in the first two-thirds, as it's a good send up of reality shows (who knew back then those monsters would so dominate television?!), and DeNiro and Murphy play off each other well. But when the film veers into completely cliched cop movie territory (bar fight with bad guys, screaming commanding officer demands your gun and your badge so they have to solve the crime outside of official channels) it loses all the charm it'd built up. William Shatner has a great bit part as himself, giving tips on acting to a rapt Eddie Murphy (who wants to be an actor) and a completely put off DeNiro, who thinks the whole reality show he's stuck in is a nightmare. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I had heard great things about it from the critics, so i rented it a year ago. I really liked it. There is another Murphy film I like with Jeff Goldblum in which Murphy is some time of Ghandi - like guru that is exploited for shopping TV shows. Have you seen it? I really liked it too [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: that was Bowfinger, a really good, underappreciated film where Steve Martin wants to shoot a film with Eddie Murphy, but can't afford him (he can barely afford a film camera). i don't think Murphy's playing himself in the film, but he is playing a famous actor. Martin can't afford the actor, but wants to shoot the film, so he gets a small, cheap crew, and starts secretly shooting the actor from hiding, then splicing those long furtive shots into a movie. For all the troublesome stuff--closeups, actual speaking roles--he finds a nebbish who looks remarkably like the actor, then uses this lookalike to shoot the scripted parts. It was an enjoyable film, but sometimes I feel as if i'm the only one who saw it. -- Original message -- From: tdemorsella I have trouble liking Graham in films too. However, I liked her in Committed, lost in Space, and a movie whose name escapes me starring Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Daryle wrote: Interesting thing about ³From Hell². It is arguably the Hughes Brothers¹ greatest film. It was also their last. I think this is a great Johnny Depp performance, and if I¹m not mistaken, was the first of the whole ³Johnny does an accent well² roles. Heather Graham did not belong in this picture by any stretch of the imagination. To be fair, though, I have only seen two films where she DID belong, one was ³Lost In Space² (or as I like to call it, ³this group of actors all decided they wanted Ferraris and wanted a movie studio to pay for them all in cash² because this movie was absolutely not meant for anyone to really see it.), and ³Committed². Casey Affleck and the dark haired Wilson brother are also in ³Committed² making it one of the best parades of B-listers in recent film history. Truly something Showtime should be playing again and again. I¹m going to go out on a limb and suggest a picture that will make many of you cringe, but is worth seeing on DVD in the privacy of your own home, especially if you have like 8-13 year old kids in said home: ³The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen.² or, in Hollywood-ese: ³LXG². Yes, I know. Why? Because if you¹ve ever read the books, you¹ll see that they were trying to make this movie a slick version of those books. The adventure and excitement are actually IN this picture. The effects (and Sean Connery) kill it. This is a better comic book movie than either Fantastic Four picture. On 12/21/07 12:06 PM, Bosco Bosco wrote: I am vaguely remembering that I saw this but I may have to revisit it to refresh. B --- ravenadal wrote: Oh yeah! I forgot the Hughes Brothers' excellent From Hell, starring Johnny Depp. ~rave! --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Bosco Bosco wrote: I just saw the trailer for Hellboy 2. It looks to be every bit as good as the first one. I'll miss John Hurt but I think this could be truly fun B --- Daryle wrote: I still hold Spider-Man 2 as the best ever made. I think ³American Splendor² was pretty well done, and recently I saw, for the first time in its entirety, ³The Punisher². The acting, well, is pretty horrible, but if you can stand the X-Men movies, Punisher¹s worth a rental. On 12/20/07 4:41 PM, Bosco Bosco wrote: On an earlier thread someone mentioned that the latest Batman film was their favorite comic
Re: [scifinoir2] Comics to Film
i thoroughly disliked it. Too long, too boring, too many plotlines, FX and CGI the worst of all the films--which is saying something, since as i said yesterday, the CGI has always disappointed me in teh Spidey films. The cardinal sins are that the Sandman really isn't used all that much in the film (not as much as we probably expected), and the amount of time Peter's atually in the black suit is incredibly short--at least, compared to what those eleventy million trailers led us to believe. He gets the suit, does that stupid Saturday Night Fever thing, punches out Osborn, and then dumps the symbiote. The way all those trailers were structured, i thought the bulk of the movie was going to deal with him slowly coming to realize the suit was changing him for the worst. in the comics, it was weeks or months before Peter tried to dispose of the symbiote. It was creepy: he'd put the suit on the chair next to his bed, then, while Peter was asleep, it would engulf him then go out web swinging all night, Peter still sound asleep inside. He'd wake up the next morning tired and sore, wondering what the hell was wrong. And after that, the next phase of the symbiote's life just left me cold. the whole Eddie Brock I-hate-Peter-WE-hate Peter arc was so quick I couldn't buy it either. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I just saw Spiderman 3 a few weeks ago. Why did he feel so compared to tell so many potentially good stories in one film? Daryle wrote: I still hold Spider-Man 2 as the best ever made. I think ³American Splendor² was pretty well done, and recently I saw, for the first time in its entirety, ³The Punisher². The acting, well, is pretty horrible, but if you can stand the X-Men movies, Punisher¹s worth a rental. On 12/20/07 4:41 PM, Bosco Boscowrote: On an earlier thread someone mentioned that the latest Batman film was their favorite comic adaptation. I really like it as well and it got me to thinking about some of my other faves. I think V for Vendetta is my personal favorite and I loved, loved, loved Hellboy. I really dug the most recent Batman as well as the first Spiderman. I wasn't so fond of the X-Men though I did like them. Anyone else got some pics or recommends. I am thinking of updating my netflix queue Bosco __ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
for some reason I feel del Toro's immersion in fantasy (Pan's Labyritnth, Hell boy) would work, combined with his natural ebullience and childlike sense of wonder. To use wholly inaccurate words, i just feel he's a more mature fantasy director than Raimi would be, even though both are on the dark side. I've never seen any Potter film past the first one, but my other choice Cuaron got props for his work on the Potter film he did -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] The think del Toro is dark on the order of Raimi and Burton, however, I won't argue against the idea that he has vision. Children of men is fantastic, but I can't see what about his work makes you think he would be good for the Hobbit. I've only seen one Harry Potter all the way through, but I would say the imagery could work. What do you think of that guy's storytelling? [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: that's why i said Raimi wouldn't be my first choice. I'd go with one of the two Mexican directors who've shown with Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, Children of Men, and Harry Potter that they can balance all the aspects required of such a film as one based on The Hobbit -- Original message -- From: tdemorsella [EMAIL PROTECTED] Personally I want Jackson, but I was trying to come up with someone who had the imagination for it. I agree he is probalby way to dark, but i do not think he is any worse than Raimi --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 12/21/2007 10:27:58 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: What about Tim Burton? Tracy, If I could I would come through this computer and slap you silly for that. LOL!!! Johnny Depp would be an awful choice for Bilbo. Bilbo would be a drunken hairy odd little man with peculiar tastes. Depp would basically be playing himself. You do understand that if we get Burton we also get Helen Bohman Carter. She would revise her role in Merlin. *Shudder* **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Comics to Film
yeah it was great! Murphy playing the arrogant-then-ultimately-paranoid superstar, and the nerdy lookalike at the same time was great. This movie was the first time i got a hint that Murphy might have acting skills beyond simply telling jokes onscreen. -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have Bowfinger on DVD and watch it a few times a year. The scene with Kip crossing the freeway and the instance where the MindHead rep (Terrance Stamp) tells Kit that under no circumstances should he show it to the Laker Girls always leaves my ribs sore from laughing. Chubby Rain? Fake Purse Ninjas? Why not - gotta be better than the garbage Hollywood feeds us now... __ James Landrith [EMAIL PROTECTED] cell: 703-593-2065 * fax: 760-875-8547 AIM: jlnales * ICQ: 148600159 MSN and Yahoo! Messenger: jlandrith http://www.linkedin.com/in/jlandrith http://www.jameslandrith.com http://www.multiracial.com http://www.multiracial.com/abolitionist/ __ that was Bowfinger, a really good, underappreciated film where Steve Martin wants to shoot a film with Eddie Murphy, but can't afford him (he can barely afford a film camera). i don't think Murphy's playing himself in the film, but he is playing a famous actor. Martin can't afford the actor, but wants to shoot the film, so he gets a small, cheap crew, and starts secretly shooting the actor from hiding, then splicing those long furtive shots into a movie. For all the troublesome stuff--closeups, actual speaking roles--he finds a nebbish who looks remarkably like the actor, then uses this lookalike to shoot the scripted parts. It was an enjoyable film, but sometimes I feel as if i'm the only one who saw it. -- Original message -- From: tdemorsella [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have trouble liking Graham in films too. However, I liked her in Committed, lost in Space, and a movie whose name escapes me starring Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
why do you think LOTR bored you at the theatre? what was the difference in your home viewing experience? -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] And here is where the fandom line is sort of drawn. I have said this before, and I will say it again. I saw LOTR in a theater and I have never had such a good sleep outside of my own bed. I tried again with the second picture, and again, fell asleep. These just aren¹t my kind of stories. I can appreciate the production value, but I simply have never cared about these stories. So last year I watched all three on DVD, stayed awake, and was amazed at what I saw. Peter Jackson is a great filmmaker and tells stories better than many of his contemporaries. Raimi has done stories that I DO care about, and I have to say that he is remarkably inconsistent. Consistently FUNNY, but not exactly a string of classics. I like Sam himself more than the pictures he¹s done. WITH THE EXCEPTION of Spider Man 2. On 12/22/07 11:15 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i gotta disagree on Hellboy. That movie rocked. And some of the pieces: the initial magic working with Nazis, the religious dude, the look and feel of their headquarters, all show a deft hand with set design, FX, and even CGI. It's not a direct one-to-one correlation with the world of the Hobbit, but my point is the basic skillsets and abilities shown there can be adapted. I mean, after Blood Simple (think that was it) and The Frighteners, I never would have pegged Jackson to be right for LOTR, but New Line saw something in him... -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:Gymfig%40aol.com In a message dated 12/22/2007 1:44:29 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net writes: for some reason I feel del Toro's immersion in fantasy (Pan's Labyrinth, Hell boy) would work, combined with his natural ebullience and childlike sense of wonder Pan had other theme intertwined in the movie. The Hobbit is not a mature prequel. Maybe he could do Tne Simarillion. Hellboy was a cheap comic book adaptation. It is good for the Sci Fi channel or FX. I don't see The Hobbit being a sci fi or FX kind of movie. The tone is too different. **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
we just disagree on this, which is cool. i seem to like Del Toro, Cuaron, and their work more than you do. i think Hellboy is way more than simple CGI... -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 12/22/2007 11:16:13 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The Frighteners, I never would have pegged Jackson to be right for LOTR, but New Line saw something in him... True but Jackson has talent. Hellboy is typically CGI. Nothing to write home about. **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Comics to Film
me too, and no evidence of sentience in Galactus, and that battle between him and the Surfer--gawd that movie sucked! I'm still most pissed at the Surfer's source of power being changed--gawd that movie sucked! There's a better Reed Richards to be depicted. I really like Ian as Reed, but they've written Reed as too uncertain, too much of a wimp. That is *not* Reed Richards. He's always been distracted, absent-minded, overly analytical, dense in the ways of romance at times, but he was never uncertain and unsure unless someone like Doom had one of his loved ones in danger. Reed might have been a bookwarm, but that's not the same as a wimp. -- Original message -- From: Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] I agree about the choice of Alba as Sue Richards too...plus I was major pissed that they turned Galactus into a frickin' cloud monster!!! [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: although many applaud or at least tolerate the FF movies because they have a sense of fun, i've found them to be trash. Alba can't act, is the wrong choice for Sue, and the scripts have sucked. Galactus was a bitter disappointment, the change to the source of the Surfer's power was laughably pitiful, and the Doctor Doom's character needs to go. i do agree that the whole thing needs to be re-written, and maybe McDuffie could do a job to save what is to me a wasted opportunity so far. I didn't see Awake. Alba doesn't do enough for me in any department to go see a movie in which she's starring. -- Original message -- From: Daryle I thought Peter's dance was a highlight of the picture. That is to say, the whole picture was bad. I don't think anyone will be able to do a better picture than Spider Man 2. I'd hand the franchise off to another director at this point and let Raimi co-produce. When I hold Spiderman 3 against Rise of the Silver Surfer, I have to say that Rise is a better picture. Tim is trying to build a sense of friendship between the four, whereas Spiderman is just rehashing the same relationships and trying to dazzle us with effects. I do think that if there is to be a third Fantastic Four picture, Dwayne McDuffie and/or Reggie Hudlin simply HAVE to be brought in to write the script. Black Panther and Fantastic Four are simply two of the best books out right now, and Dwayne's writing in Justice League of America is GREAT stuff. Now that the basic stories have been told with these two franchises, it's time to take them to the next level, and I can't think of any better writers to handle the material. I believe a Dwayne McDuffie script can make Jessica Alba a better actress in the suit. Speaking of Alba, did anybody catch this movie with her and the Anakin Skywalker guy? It's a horror movie, and not just because the two of them are the stars (ba-DUM-bum). The movie is supposed to be about being awake during surgery, in fact I think it's called Awake or something like that. On 12/22/07 10:49 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Well, which was worse: Peter's strut down the street, winking at women, or Reed Richards' elasticized dance routine in Rise of the Silver Surfer? Both left me gagging. As for which movie was the worst, that's a tough one. I have no desire to see FF2 again, but it's shorter than Spidey 3, so maybe i'd choose it as a shorter term pain. But then, even at its worse Spidey 3 has better writing, acting, and character development than FF2, so i think it'd be my choice between the two. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) I always loved the symbiote story and they trivialized it and treated it like an afterthought while totally destroying it with that strut you call the Stupid Saturday Night Fever thing. Up until now, I felt that Raimi was fantastic storyteller of the larger than life. After Spidey 3, I'm terrified at the thought of him helming the Hobbit [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i thoroughly disliked it. Too long, too boring, too many plotlines, FX and CGI the worst of all the films--which is saying something, since as i said yesterday, the CGI has always disappointed me in teh Spidey films. The cardinal sins are that the Sandman really isn't used all that much in the film (not as much as we probably expected), and the amount of time Peter's atually in the black suit is incredibly short--at least, compared to what those eleventy million trailers led us to believe. He gets the suit, does that stupid Saturday Night Fever thing, punches out Osborn, and then dumps the symbiote. The way all those trailers were structured, i thought the bulk of the movie was going to deal with him slowly coming to realize the suit was changing him for the worst. in the comics, it was weeks or months before Peter tried to dispose of the symbiote. It was creepy: he'd put the suit on the chair next to his bed, then, while Peter was asleep, it would engulf him then go out
Re: [scifinoir2] Comics to Film
sorry! I think Astro stirred me up, bringing up the Galactus cloud and all! -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Keith, spot on with your analysis of Reed. And the therapy bill's in the mail, for bringing back the horror of that movie... [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: me too, and no evidence of sentience in Galactus, and that battle between him and the Surfer--gawd that movie sucked! I'm still most pissed at the Surfer's source of power being changed--gawd that movie sucked! There's a better Reed Richards to be depicted. I really like Ian as Reed, but they've written Reed as too uncertain, too much of a wimp. That is *not* Reed Richards. He's always been distracted, absent-minded, overly analytical, dense in the ways of romance at times, but he was never uncertain and unsure unless someone like Doom had one of his loved ones in danger. Reed might have been a bookwarm, but that's not the same as a wimp. -- Original message -- From: Astromancer I agree about the choice of Alba as Sue Richards too...plus I was major pissed that they turned Galactus into a frickin' cloud monster!!! [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: although many applaud or at least tolerate the FF movies because they have a sense of fun, i've found them to be trash. Alba can't act, is the wrong choice for Sue, and the scripts have sucked. Galactus was a bitter disappointment, the change to the source of the Surfer's power was laughably pitiful, and the Doctor Doom's character needs to go. i do agree that the whole thing needs to be re-written, and maybe McDuffie could do a job to save what is to me a wasted opportunity so far. I didn't see Awake. Alba doesn't do enough for me in any department to go see a movie in which she's starring. -- Original message -- From: Daryle I thought Peter's dance was a highlight of the picture. That is to say, the whole picture was bad. I don't think anyone will be able to do a better picture than Spider Man 2. I'd hand the franchise off to another director at this point and let Raimi co-produce. When I hold Spiderman 3 against Rise of the Silver Surfer, I have to say that Rise is a better picture. Tim is trying to build a sense of friendship between the four, whereas Spiderman is just rehashing the same relationships and trying to dazzle us with effects. I do think that if there is to be a third Fantastic Four picture, Dwayne McDuffie and/or Reggie Hudlin simply HAVE to be brought in to write the script. Black Panther and Fantastic Four are simply two of the best books out right now, and Dwayne's writing in Justice League of America is GREAT stuff. Now that the basic stories have been told with these two franchises, it's time to take them to the next level, and I can't think of any better writers to handle the material. I believe a Dwayne McDuffie script can make Jessica Alba a better actress in the suit. Speaking of Alba, did anybody catch this movie with her and the Anakin Skywalker guy? It's a horror movie, and not just because the two of them are the stars (ba-DUM-bum). The movie is supposed to be about being awake during surgery, in fact I think it's called Awake or something like that. On 12/22/07 10:49 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Well, which was worse: Peter's strut down the street, winking at women, or Reed Richards' elasticized dance routine in Rise of the Silver Surfer? Both left me gagging. As for which movie was the worst, that's a tough one. I have no desire to see FF2 again, but it's shorter than Spidey 3, so maybe i'd choose it as a shorter term pain. But then, even at its worse Spidey 3 has better writing, acting, and character development than FF2, so i think it'd be my choice between the two. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) I always loved the symbiote story and they trivialized it and treated it like an afterthought while totally destroying it with that strut you call the Stupid Saturday Night Fever thing. Up until now, I felt that Raimi was fantastic storyteller of the larger than life. After Spidey 3, I'm terrified at the thought of him helming the Hobbit [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i thoroughly disliked it. Too long, too boring, too many plotlines, FX and CGI the worst of all the films--which is saying something, since as i said yesterday, the CGI has always disappointed me in teh Spidey films. The cardinal sins are that the Sandman really isn't used all that much in the film (not as much as we probably expected), and the amount of time Peter's atually in the black suit is incredibly short--at least, compared to what those eleventy million trailers led us to believe. He gets the suit, does that stupid Saturday Night Fever thing, punches out Osborn, and then dumps the symbiote. The way all those trailers were structured, i thought the bulk of the movie was going to deal
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
i agree, i'd probably need therapy after seeing an Ang Lee rendition of The Hobbit. I was actually depressed after Hulk. it was such a brooding, downbeat movie. I'm all for well done angst in comic films. Indeed, it's those movies with realistic human drama that are the best, even in the cape-and-cowl genre. But Hulk--i came out of it feeling like i needed a shower and a stiff drink. And I don't drink! -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] After The Hulk, Ang Lee needs to stay at home. mind you, I loved Crouching Tiger, but I really want to know what he was thinking when he formed his vision for that one. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 12/22/2007 11:00:29 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: they're good examples of story, acting, plotting, action, FX, CGI, and that all-important, all-evasise look of a film. They may be okay directors but they don't have the it factor. I don't expect Scorsese to do the Hobbit. It is not his style. I don't expect Eastwood to do it either. I can see Ang Lee doing it. He has don different genres of film. These directors have not. **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] NT Times - Hoover Planned Mass Jailing in 1950
the media lost its backbone, integrity and courage a long time ago. It's been coming for a long while: the emphasis on ratings instead of good reporting...the proliferation of models reading the news (watched CNN lately? They have more Asian/Amer-Asian female anchors than you would believe, all young; and Fox News is obssessed with blondes)...the old requirements of reporters who are well educated/traveled/experienced going out the window...corporate ownership of news divisions, with staff reductions, consolidations, and budget decreases in order to turn a profit... freakin' *entertainment* divisions of said corporations controlling the news divisions...megalomaniacs like Rupert Murdoch stamping their one-sided viewpoint on everthing from print to radio to television...and finally, the backing down in terror of the insane jingoistic xenophobic berserker rage sweeping America after 9-11. The media lost its backbone indeed, with even liberal groups like the New York Times and CNN backing down on telling the truth about how Bush and his coterie were fuc up the world. MSNBC fired Donahue because he was upsetting the administration and his bosses were gutless. Donahue was required to have *two* conservatives for every *one* liberal he had on his talk show. Seriously. The New York Times buried whole stories casting doubt on the whole Al-queda/Hussein/WMD crap inside its paper. Everyone from ABC News to CBS warped stories critical of the administration so as not to offend. The Fourth Estate let us down, and i'll never forgive them for that. While many of us were typing and screaming and voting like demons to stop this insanity, the press cowered in a corner and through action or inaction, helped it take place. Sorry, I'm ranting, I know, but I'm getting angry just typing this. Journalism is the one that got away, the career i should have chosen instead of IT. Corny as it sounds, I still remember my days as my high school's editor, and I adhere(d) to the old principles of Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why. Journalists must tell the truth and get the facts, and dig for the story--popular or not. If you don't have truth--the facts--and don't have the courage to speak them in times when the whole world is against you, then you're no good to me. You should listen to or watch Bill Moyers' special Buying the War, which he did for PBS earlier this year. I have it on my iPod and have listened to it several times. He speaks of many specific examples of how the media backed down on this whole Iraq thing. He's the one who interviewed Donahue about how he was treated by MSNBC. Amazing, disturbing, and infuriating report. Our media has a long way to go to get back to what it was--if it ever will. Now there's this whole debate about whether corporate-controlled, profit-driven media will ever again be truly effective, or if this new world of citizen journalists (bloggers and the like) is the new future of journalism... -- Original message -- From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] What's amazing about this is not Hoover's desire to suspend habeas corpus is news. The man was a backwards facist and represents all the things foul that draw this country down from the moral high ground. What's amazing is that habeas corpus has been suspended and no one really cares. It wasn't even news worthy. So much for the theory of a liberally biased media. Bosco --- Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/washington/23habeas.html?_r=1oref=slogin A newly declassified document shows that J. Edgar Hoover, the longtime director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, had a plan to suspend habeas corpus and imprison some 12,000 Americans he suspected of disloyalty. Hoover sent his plan to the White House on July 7, 1950, 12 days after the Korean War began. It envisioned putting suspect Americans in military prisons. Hoover wanted President Harry S. Truman to proclaim the mass arrests necessary to âprotect the country against treason, espionage and sabotage.â The F.B.I would âapprehend all individuals potentially dangerousâ to national security, Hooverâs proposal said. The arrests would be carried out under âa master warrant attached to a list of namesâ provided by the bureau. The names were part of an index that Hoover had been compiling for years. âThe index now contains approximately twelve thousand individuals, of which approximately ninety-seven per cent are citizens of the United States,â he wrote. âIn order to make effective these apprehensions, the proclamation suspends the Writ of Habeas Corpus,â it said. Habeas corpus, the right to seek relief from illegal detention, has been a fundamental principle of law for seven centuries. The Bush administrationâs decision to hold suspects for years at Guantánamo Bay,
Re: [scifinoir2] Comics to Film
minor spoilers--but it doesn't matter The Surfer is *supposed* to be strengthened by the Power Cosmic, imparted to him by Galactus. The silvery material covering him makes him invulnerable to most injury, but outside of that material, the Power gives him innate powers of super strength, immortality, matter/energy manipulation, a complete lack of need for food or air, etc. The board allows him to fly at FTL speeds and helps him navigate, but it is *not* the *source* of his powers, merely an extension of them: a peripheral, if you will. It's akin to the relationship between Mjolnir and Thor. The Power Cosmic is fully integrated into the Surfer's body, not just in the board. In the movie, they said the Surfer's powers *all* originated from the board, as evidenced by the scan tape that showed energy surging from it into the Surfer's body when Doom was attacking him. So, by simply separating him from the board, they greatly weakened him. That is absolute crap. Why in the world did the idiot writer have to rewrite things like that? Too stupid to work within the confines of the established comic lore? -- Original message -- From: Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sorry too...Um, what is the source of the Silver Surfer's power? [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: sorry! I think Astro stirred me up, bringing up the Galactus cloud and all! -- Original message -- From: Martin Keith, spot on with your analysis of Reed. And the therapy bill's in the mail, for bringing back the horror of that movie... [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: me too, and no evidence of sentience in Galactus, and that battle between him and the Surfer--gawd that movie sucked! I'm still most pissed at the Surfer's source of power being changed--gawd that movie sucked! There's a better Reed Richards to be depicted. I really like Ian as Reed, but they've written Reed as too uncertain, too much of a wimp. That is *not* Reed Richards. He's always been distracted, absent-minded, overly analytical, dense in the ways of romance at times, but he was never uncertain and unsure unless someone like Doom had one of his loved ones in danger. Reed might have been a bookwarm, but that's not the same as a wimp. -- Original message -- From: Astromancer I agree about the choice of Alba as Sue Richards too...plus I was major pissed that they turned Galactus into a frickin' cloud monster!!! [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: although many applaud or at least tolerate the FF movies because they have a sense of fun, i've found them to be trash. Alba can't act, is the wrong choice for Sue, and the scripts have sucked. Galactus was a bitter disappointment, the change to the source of the Surfer's power was laughably pitiful, and the Doctor Doom's character needs to go. i do agree that the whole thing needs to be re-written, and maybe McDuffie could do a job to save what is to me a wasted opportunity so far. I didn't see Awake. Alba doesn't do enough for me in any department to go see a movie in which she's starring. -- Original message -- From: Daryle I thought Peter's dance was a highlight of the picture. That is to say, the whole picture was bad. I don't think anyone will be able to do a better picture than Spider Man 2. I'd hand the franchise off to another director at this point and let Raimi co-produce. When I hold Spiderman 3 against Rise of the Silver Surfer, I have to say that Rise is a better picture. Tim is trying to build a sense of friendship between the four, whereas Spiderman is just rehashing the same relationships and trying to dazzle us with effects. I do think that if there is to be a third Fantastic Four picture, Dwayne McDuffie and/or Reggie Hudlin simply HAVE to be brought in to write the script. Black Panther and Fantastic Four are simply two of the best books out right now, and Dwayne's writing in Justice League of America is GREAT stuff. Now that the basic stories have been told with these two franchises, it's time to take them to the next level, and I can't think of any better writers to handle the material. I believe a Dwayne McDuffie script can make Jessica Alba a better actress in the suit. Speaking of Alba, did anybody catch this movie with her and the Anakin Skywalker guy? It's a horror movie, and not just because the two of them are the stars (ba-DUM-bum). The movie is supposed to be about being awake during surgery, in fact I think it's called Awake or something like that. On 12/22/07 10:49 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Well, which was worse: Peter's strut down the street, winking at women, or Reed Richards' elasticized dance routine in Rise of the Silver Surfer? Both left me gagging. As for which movie was the worst, that's a tough one. I have no desire to see FF2 again, but it's shorter than Spidey 3, so maybe i'd choose it as a shorter term pain. But then, even at its worse Spidey 3 has better writing, acting, and
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
yeah, see, that's one of my problems with younger filmmakers: no establishing shots. Just like a good story (which it is) a good movie should slowly build to action and adventure. If you just get on with it, you end up focusing more on action and less on things like plot, acting, and the all-important, oft-neglected thing called suspense or build up. And when that happens, you go down this road of having to top each subsequent film with more outrageous action, more expensive FX, louder music, more frenetic camera shots, as audiences get inured to the effects of what came before. LOTR succeeds because it's an engaging *story* with good writing and a good *adventure*, that is supported and bolstered by the action and FX. The Two Towers arguably is the most overall action intense of the three films, and it's my least favorite. I much more remember the little things of suspense: Gandalf's battle with the Balrog, but more importantly, the reaction of the Fellowship when he fel l...the moment in the first film when the Dark Riders entered Barliman's tavern, preceed by mist, the owner cowering in terror behind the bar...the scene of overwhelming sadness and resignation at the meeting in Rivendale when Frodo says I will take the Ring. But...I do not know the way. Maybe it is generational, but this tendency to ignore slow build ups, long camera pans, and suspense in favor of immediate action and gratification just doesn't always work for me. The best films--scifi or fantasy--from Blade Runner to The Matrix, succeed because they have something behind the action and FX. If you just jump into things, you have all gloss but no substance. Off the soapbox now! :) -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Lord Of The Rings movies bore me because they move entirely too slow. There are entire scenes dedicated to establishing shots. I know I'm Generation X and I'm used to MTV style editing and all that, but I just think the entire first movie could have been covered in 30 minutes and then we could have gotten on with the second film, which is where the action sort of was. When I saw these movies in a theater I immediately sympathized with people who don't like Star Trek. If you've never cared about any of the Trek series, and the first time someone sits you down to watch it, it's the first movie, you are going to fall asleep. Because it is a long and drawn out story about people with whom you have no connection whatsoever. I didn't grow up reading Tolkien. I grew up reading Asimov and watching old Flash Gordon. When my friends in high school played DD, I was reading Douglas Adams. It's why I don't get Beowulf. It's why I've never played Zelda. So when I watched the movies on DVD, I was able to study the filmmaking. I could stop and check the details. I could go get a sandwich. Take a phone call. I was impressed by what I saw, because it was like someone had taken all this time to put all this data on screen. It was made, in my opinion, to stop and take it all in. Freeze frame, slow-mo. The LOTR movies are the best argument for HD that I can imagine. On 12/22/07 1:26 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: why do you think LOTR bored you at the theatre? what was the difference in your home viewing experience? -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] And here is where the fandom line is sort of drawn. I have said this before, and I will say it again. I saw LOTR in a theater and I have never had such a good sleep outside of my own bed. I tried again with the second picture, and again, fell asleep. These just aren¹t my kind of stories. I can appreciate the production value, but I simply have never cared about these stories. So last year I watched all three on DVD, stayed awake, and was amazed at what I saw. Peter Jackson is a great filmmaker and tells stories better than many of his contemporaries. Raimi has done stories that I DO care about, and I have to say that he is remarkably inconsistent. Consistently FUNNY, but not exactly a string of classics. I like Sam himself more than the pictures he¹s done. WITH THE EXCEPTION of Spider Man 2. On 12/22/07 11:15 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i gotta disagree on Hellboy. That movie rocked. And some of the pieces: the initial magic working with Nazis, the religious dude, the look and feel of their headquarters, all show a deft hand with set design, FX, and even CGI. It's not a direct one-to-one correlation with the world of the Hobbit, but my point is the basic skillsets and abilities shown there can be adapted. I mean, after Blood Simple (think that was it) and The Frighteners, I never would have pegged Jackson to be right for LOTR, but New Line saw something in him... -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:Gymfig%40aol.com In a message dated 12/22/2007 1:44:29
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
definitely a generational thing. I won't watch a movie on DVD at home unless i can be assured of watching it in one sitting with minimal interruptions. Don't take phone calls, prepare my food ahead of time. I get that stopping and examining the film is cool (do it myself). But they're meant to be digested at one sitting, with all those things you mentioned fllowing together to make a good whole. -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Lord Of The Rings movies bore me because they move entirely too slow. There are entire scenes dedicated to establishing shots. I know I'm Generation X and I'm used to MTV style editing and all that, but I just think the entire first movie could have been covered in 30 minutes and then we could have gotten on with the second film, which is where the action sort of was. When I saw these movies in a theater I immediately sympathized with people who don't like Star Trek. If you've never cared about any of the Trek series, and the first time someone sits you down to watch it, it's the first movie, you are going to fall asleep. Because it is a long and drawn out story about people with whom you have no connection whatsoever. I didn't grow up reading Tolkien. I grew up reading Asimov and watching old Flash Gordon. When my friends in high school played DD, I was reading Douglas Adams. It's why I don't get Beowulf. It's why I've never played Zelda. So when I watched the movies on DVD, I was able to study the filmmaking. I could stop and check the details. I could go get a sandwich. Take a phone call. I was impressed by what I saw, because it was like someone had taken all this time to put all this data on screen. It was made, in my opinion, to stop and take it all in. Freeze frame, slow-mo. The LOTR movies are the best argument for HD that I can imagine. On 12/22/07 1:26 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: why do you think LOTR bored you at the theatre? what was the difference in your home viewing experience? -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] And here is where the fandom line is sort of drawn. I have said this before, and I will say it again. I saw LOTR in a theater and I have never had such a good sleep outside of my own bed. I tried again with the second picture, and again, fell asleep. These just aren¹t my kind of stories. I can appreciate the production value, but I simply have never cared about these stories. So last year I watched all three on DVD, stayed awake, and was amazed at what I saw. Peter Jackson is a great filmmaker and tells stories better than many of his contemporaries. Raimi has done stories that I DO care about, and I have to say that he is remarkably inconsistent. Consistently FUNNY, but not exactly a string of classics. I like Sam himself more than the pictures he¹s done. WITH THE EXCEPTION of Spider Man 2. On 12/22/07 11:15 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i gotta disagree on Hellboy. That movie rocked. And some of the pieces: the initial magic working with Nazis, the religious dude, the look and feel of their headquarters, all show a deft hand with set design, FX, and even CGI. It's not a direct one-to-one correlation with the world of the Hobbit, but my point is the basic skillsets and abilities shown there can be adapted. I mean, after Blood Simple (think that was it) and The Frighteners, I never would have pegged Jackson to be right for LOTR, but New Line saw something in him... -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:Gymfig%40aol.com In a message dated 12/22/2007 1:44:29 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net writes: for some reason I feel del Toro's immersion in fantasy (Pan's Labyrinth, Hell boy) would work, combined with his natural ebullience and childlike sense of wonder Pan had other theme intertwined in the movie. The Hobbit is not a mature prequel. Maybe he could do Tne Simarillion. Hellboy was a cheap comic book adaptation. It is good for the Sci Fi channel or FX. I don't see The Hobbit being a sci fi or FX kind of movie. The tone is too different. **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join (Yahoo! ID
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
although we're diammetrically opposed (see my two responses), and I really lament the decline in filmmaking quality among some--those damn fast cameras!--i was impressed with how you stated your feelings. You always have insightful things to say about movies and pop culture. Obviously you think about these things a great deal. I may not always agree with you, but i always get food for thought from what you say. -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Lord Of The Rings movies bore me because they move entirely too slow. There are entire scenes dedicated to establishing shots. I know I'm Generation X and I'm used to MTV style editing and all that, but I just think the entire first movie could have been covered in 30 minutes and then we could have gotten on with the second film, which is where the action sort of was. When I saw these movies in a theater I immediately sympathized with people who don't like Star Trek. If you've never cared about any of the Trek series, and the first time someone sits you down to watch it, it's the first movie, you are going to fall asleep. Because it is a long and drawn out story about people with whom you have no connection whatsoever. I didn't grow up reading Tolkien. I grew up reading Asimov and watching old Flash Gordon. When my friends in high school played DD, I was reading Douglas Adams. It's why I don't get Beowulf. It's why I've never played Zelda. So when I watched the movies on DVD, I was able to study the filmmaking. I could stop and check the details. I could go get a sandwich. Take a phone call. I was impressed by what I saw, because it was like someone had taken all this time to put all this data on screen. It was made, in my opinion, to stop and take it all in. Freeze frame, slow-mo. The LOTR movies are the best argument for HD that I can imagine. On 12/22/07 1:26 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: why do you think LOTR bored you at the theatre? what was the difference in your home viewing experience? -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] And here is where the fandom line is sort of drawn. I have said this before, and I will say it again. I saw LOTR in a theater and I have never had such a good sleep outside of my own bed. I tried again with the second picture, and again, fell asleep. These just aren¹t my kind of stories. I can appreciate the production value, but I simply have never cared about these stories. So last year I watched all three on DVD, stayed awake, and was amazed at what I saw. Peter Jackson is a great filmmaker and tells stories better than many of his contemporaries. Raimi has done stories that I DO care about, and I have to say that he is remarkably inconsistent. Consistently FUNNY, but not exactly a string of classics. I like Sam himself more than the pictures he¹s done. WITH THE EXCEPTION of Spider Man 2. On 12/22/07 11:15 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i gotta disagree on Hellboy. That movie rocked. And some of the pieces: the initial magic working with Nazis, the religious dude, the look and feel of their headquarters, all show a deft hand with set design, FX, and even CGI. It's not a direct one-to-one correlation with the world of the Hobbit, but my point is the basic skillsets and abilities shown there can be adapted. I mean, after Blood Simple (think that was it) and The Frighteners, I never would have pegged Jackson to be right for LOTR, but New Line saw something in him... -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:Gymfig%40aol.com In a message dated 12/22/2007 1:44:29 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net writes: for some reason I feel del Toro's immersion in fantasy (Pan's Labyrinth, Hell boy) would work, combined with his natural ebullience and childlike sense of wonder Pan had other theme intertwined in the movie. The Hobbit is not a mature prequel. Maybe he could do Tne Simarillion. Hellboy was a cheap comic book adaptation. It is good for the Sci Fi channel or FX. I don't see The Hobbit being a sci fi or FX kind of movie. The tone is too different. **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/join
Re: [scifinoir2] Comics to Film
According to Wikipedia (insert grain of NaCl here), this is the rationale for the Galactus Cloud: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactus 20th Century Fox's rationale for having the character as a cloud was to keep him discreet.[65] Visual effects studio Weta Digital convinced Fox to add physical hints of the comic book incarnation, such as a shadow and the fiery mass within the cloud resembling a helmet.[65] Director Tim Story claimed he made Galactus a cloud so that the future Silver Surfer spin-off film would have a chance to be unique and introduce the character as he normally appears.[66] J. Michael Straczynski, the spin-off's writer, confirmed Galactus is in his script and that You don't want to sort of blow out something that big and massive for one quick shot in the first movie. -- Original message -- From: Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is the result of having the script done by a non-fan...I'm necessarily a fan, but I am in a funk over the cloud thing... [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: minor spoilers--but it doesn't matter The Surfer is *supposed* to be strengthened by the Power Cosmic, imparted to him by Galactus. The silvery material covering him makes him invulnerable to most injury, but outside of that material, the Power gives him innate powers of super strength, immortality, matter/energy manipulation, a complete lack of need for food or air, etc. The board allows him to fly at FTL speeds and helps him navigate, but it is *not* the *source* of his powers, merely an extension of them: a peripheral, if you will. It's akin to the relationship between Mjolnir and Thor. The Power Cosmic is fully integrated into the Surfer's body, not just in the board. In the movie, they said the Surfer's powers *all* originated from the board, as evidenced by the scan tape that showed energy surging from it into the Surfer's body when Doom was attacking him. So, by simply separating him from the board, they greatly weakened him. That is absolute crap. Why in the world did the idiot writer have to rewrite things like that? Too stupid to work within the confines of the established comic lore? -- Original message -- From: Astromancer Sorry too...Um, what is the source of the Silver Surfer's power? [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: sorry! I think Astro stirred me up, bringing up the Galactus cloud and all! -- Original message -- From: Martin Keith, spot on with your analysis of Reed. And the therapy bill's in the mail, for bringing back the horror of that movie... [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: me too, and no evidence of sentience in Galactus, and that battle between him and the Surfer--gawd that movie sucked! I'm still most pissed at the Surfer's source of power being changed--gawd that movie sucked! There's a better Reed Richards to be depicted. I really like Ian as Reed, but they've written Reed as too uncertain, too much of a wimp. That is *not* Reed Richards. He's always been distracted, absent-minded, overly analytical, dense in the ways of romance at times, but he was never uncertain and unsure unless someone like Doom had one of his loved ones in danger. Reed might have been a bookwarm, but that's not the same as a wimp. -- Original message -- From: Astromancer I agree about the choice of Alba as Sue Richards too...plus I was major pissed that they turned Galactus into a frickin' cloud monster!!! [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: although many applaud or at least tolerate the FF movies because they have a sense of fun, i've found them to be trash. Alba can't act, is the wrong choice for Sue, and the scripts have sucked. Galactus was a bitter disappointment, the change to the source of the Surfer's power was laughably pitiful, and the Doctor Doom's character needs to go. i do agree that the whole thing needs to be re-written, and maybe McDuffie could do a job to save what is to me a wasted opportunity so far. I didn't see Awake. Alba doesn't do enough for me in any department to go see a movie in which she's starring. -- Original message -- From: Daryle I thought Peter's dance was a highlight of the picture. That is to say, the whole picture was bad. I don't think anyone will be able to do a better picture than Spider Man 2. I'd hand the franchise off to another director at this point and let Raimi co-produce. When I hold Spiderman 3 against Rise of the Silver Surfer, I have to say that Rise is a better picture. Tim is trying to build a sense of friendship between the four, whereas Spiderman is just rehashing the same relationships and trying to dazzle us with effects. I do think that if there is to be a third Fantastic Four picture, Dwayne McDuffie and/or Reggie Hudlin simply HAVE to be brought in to write the script. Black Panther and Fantastic Four are simply two of the best books out right now, and Dwayne's writing in Justice League of America is
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
so true, and thanks to you too! -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wow, what a wonderful compliment! Thank you! I talk a lot about popcorn movies, but I really love the art of filmmaking. When done right, it's a beautiful art form. Many cinematographers and sound mixers I admire got started on some really crappy films. And a lot of times in those movies they do some really creative work that slips by the studios and makes it to the screen. When a director has a good eye (or trusts their DP) -- I think it shows. You have an eye for the written word and how it is brought to life, which is really, really important. Too many stories are lost in the process of comic penciling and filmmaking. So to me, we aren't really opposing as much as we are coming to the same point from different angles. It's like if the two of us collaborated on the same picture, it would have a serious -- but funny -- script with solid effects, really balanced camera work -- and the best looking female cast in the history of cinema! On 12/24/07 3:10 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: although we're diammetrically opposed (see my two responses), and I really lament the decline in filmmaking quality among some--those damn fast cameras!--i was impressed with how you stated your feelings. You always have insightful things to say about movies and pop culture. Obviously you think about these things a great deal. I may not always agree with you, but i always get food for thought from what you say. -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Lord Of The Rings movies bore me because they move entirely too slow. There are entire scenes dedicated to establishing shots. I know I'm Generation X and I'm used to MTV style editing and all that, but I just think the entire first movie could have been covered in 30 minutes and then we could have gotten on with the second film, which is where the action sort of was. When I saw these movies in a theater I immediately sympathized with people who don't like Star Trek. If you've never cared about any of the Trek series, and the first time someone sits you down to watch it, it's the first movie, you are going to fall asleep. Because it is a long and drawn out story about people with whom you have no connection whatsoever. I didn't grow up reading Tolkien. I grew up reading Asimov and watching old Flash Gordon. When my friends in high school played DD, I was reading Douglas Adams. It's why I don't get Beowulf. It's why I've never played Zelda. So when I watched the movies on DVD, I was able to study the filmmaking. I could stop and check the details. I could go get a sandwich. Take a phone call. I was impressed by what I saw, because it was like someone had taken all this time to put all this data on screen. It was made, in my opinion, to stop and take it all in. Freeze frame, slow-mo. The LOTR movies are the best argument for HD that I can imagine. On 12/22/07 1:26 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: why do you think LOTR bored you at the theatre? what was the difference in your home viewing experience? -- Original message -- From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] And here is where the fandom line is sort of drawn. I have said this before, and I will say it again. I saw LOTR in a theater and I have never had such a good sleep outside of my own bed. I tried again with the second picture, and again, fell asleep. These just aren¹t my kind of stories. I can appreciate the production value, but I simply have never cared about these stories. So last year I watched all three on DVD, stayed awake, and was amazed at what I saw. Peter Jackson is a great filmmaker and tells stories better than many of his contemporaries. Raimi has done stories that I DO care about, and I have to say that he is remarkably inconsistent. Consistently FUNNY, but not exactly a string of classics. I like Sam himself more than the pictures he¹s done. WITH THE EXCEPTION of Spider Man 2. On 12/22/07 11:15 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i gotta disagree on Hellboy. That movie rocked. And some of the pieces: the initial magic working with Nazis, the religious dude, the look and feel of their headquarters, all show a deft hand with set design, FX, and even CGI. It's not a direct one-to-one correlation with the world of the Hobbit, but my point is the basic skillsets and abilities shown there can be adapted. I mean, after Blood Simple (think that was it) and The Frighteners, I never would have pegged Jackson to be right for LOTR, but New Line saw something in him... -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:Gymfig%40aol.com In a message dated 12/22/2007 1:44:29 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net writes: for some reason I feel del
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
the series was sombre at times, but the movie felt more so to me. It was actually downright depressing. Good series that, even though the Hulk was drastically depowered. Good series, that is, until the horrible TV movie when they brought that idiotic version of Thor onto the scene. Ever see that one? Really, really awful! -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Angst that you described is the Angst I always felt when watching the Bill Bixby Series, so while I too needed a stiff drink, it felt more of the same for me. However, the CGI was absolutely horrible-- especially when the Hulk turned into a bouncing green ball. Martin wrote: LMNAO!!! [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i agree, i'd probably need therapy after seeing an Ang Lee rendition of The Hobbit. I was actually depressed after Hulk. it was such a brooding, downbeat movie. I'm all for well done angst in comic films. Indeed, it's those movies with realistic human drama that are the best, even in the cape-and-cowl genre. But Hulk--i came out of it feeling like i needed a shower and a stiff drink. And I don't drink! -- Original message -- From: Martin After The Hulk, Ang Lee needs to stay at home. mind you, I loved Crouching Tiger, but I really want to know what he was thinking when he formed his vision for that one. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 12/22/2007 11:00:29 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: they're good examples of story, acting, plotting, action, FX, CGI, and that all-important, all-evasise look of a film. They may be okay directors but they don't have the it factor. I don't expect Scorsese to do the Hobbit. It is not his style. I don't expect Eastwood to do it either. I can see Ang Lee doing it. He has don different genres of film. These directors have not. **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Raimi Helming Hell, Then Hobbit
my living room is rather narrow and long, and we watch TV across the narrow width, so I don't quite get the theatre experience. Even if i did, and even when i get that much-desired 50 plasma TV, i still don't see the theatre being replaced for me. I love the movie going experience: the crowds, talking to people in line, being part of an opening-day phenomenon, sharing the action, sadness, and humour with a large crowd. that's what makes movies fun to me, so that even if the movie itself sucks, the overall experience can be enjoyable. -- Original message -- From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] That is how we do our movie nights. My daughter is always asking for us to turn the living room back into the Movie theatre. Because of how we watch our movies, I do not enjoy the theatre as much as in the past [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: definitely a generational thing. I won't watch a movie on DVD at home unless i can be assured of watching it in one sitting with minimal interruptions. Don't take phone calls, prepare my food ahead of time. I get that stopping and examining the film is cool (do it myself). But they're meant to be digested at one sitting, with all those things you mentioned fllowing together to make a good whole. -- Original message -- From: Daryle The Lord Of The Rings movies bore me because they move entirely too slow. There are entire scenes dedicated to establishing shots. I know I'm Generation X and I'm used to MTV style editing and all that, but I just think the entire first movie could have been covered in 30 minutes and then we could have gotten on with the second film, which is where the action sort of was. When I saw these movies in a theater I immediately sympathized with people who don't like Star Trek. If you've never cared about any of the Trek series, and the first time someone sits you down to watch it, it's the first movie, you are going to fall asleep. Because it is a long and drawn out story about people with whom you have no connection whatsoever. I didn't grow up reading Tolkien. I grew up reading Asimov and watching old Flash Gordon. When my friends in high school played DD, I was reading Douglas Adams. It's why I don't get Beowulf. It's why I've never played Zelda. So when I watched the movies on DVD, I was able to study the filmmaking. I could stop and check the details. I could go get a sandwich. Take a phone call. I was impressed by what I saw, because it was like someone had taken all this time to put all this data on screen. It was made, in my opinion, to stop and take it all in. Freeze frame, slow-mo. The LOTR movies are the best argument for HD that I can imagine. On 12/22/07 1:26 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: why do you think LOTR bored you at the theatre? what was the difference in your home viewing experience? -- Original message -- From: Daryle And here is where the fandom line is sort of drawn. I have said this before, and I will say it again. I saw LOTR in a theater and I have never had such a good sleep outside of my own bed. I tried again with the second picture, and again, fell asleep. These just aren¹t my kind of stories. I can appreciate the production value, but I simply have never cared about these stories. So last year I watched all three on DVD, stayed awake, and was amazed at what I saw. Peter Jackson is a great filmmaker and tells stories better than many of his contemporaries. Raimi has done stories that I DO care about, and I have to say that he is remarkably inconsistent. Consistently FUNNY, but not exactly a string of classics. I like Sam himself more than the pictures he¹s done. WITH THE EXCEPTION of Spider Man 2. On 12/22/07 11:15 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i gotta disagree on Hellboy. That movie rocked. And some of the pieces: the initial magic working with Nazis, the religious dude, the look and feel of their headquarters, all show a deft hand with set design, FX, and even CGI. It's not a direct one-to-one correlation with the world of the Hobbit, but my point is the basic skillsets and abilities shown there can be adapted. I mean, after Blood Simple (think that was it) and The Frighteners, I never would have pegged Jackson to be right for LOTR, but New Line saw something in him... -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 12/22/2007 1:44:29 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: for some reason I feel del Toro's immersion in fantasy (Pan's Labyrinth, Hell boy) would work, combined with his natural ebullience and childlike sense of wonder Pan had other theme intertwined in the
