Source: Vulture

Vulture has learned that Warner Bros. is negotiating to reteam with The Book of Eli’s Hughes brothers to have them direct a live-action remake of the cult favorite Akira, from a script by Iron Man scribes Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby. (Akira is being produced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s company, Appian Way, along with Andrew Lazar, who’s also currently producing an adaptation of DC Comics’ Jonah Hex for Warners.)

Source: Dailyrecord

“It has been really fun playing a goddess, I have to say. She’s wild. It is full-on flirtatiousness.”

This depiction of Hell is sumptuous, decadent and dark, all candlelight and high ceilings full of Gothic detail. In Greek mythology, Persephone is abducted by Hades and tricked into becoming his wife and Queen of the Underworld .

She is also the goddess of springtime and Rosario first thought of wearing robes and flowers. But the actress wanted to go for a modern look with “chipped nail polish and lace” rather than a T-shirt and mini skirt.

Instead, she wears a bustle and corset. She said: “It’s a little darker and grungier, a gothic image that I think is quite fascinating.

“It is fun to reinterpret the myths surrounding her and try to imagine her and place her in this world.

“She’s very bitter and angry. She is violent and aggressive and it’s fascinating because she also has innocence and sweetness and childlike qualities when she’s not being completely bitter.

“She is also very lustful.”

Comic book Resources has a interview with Denzel Washington on his his new film “Book of Eli” opening January 16th.   Here’s a few excerpts.

When asked how Eli was different from roles he has taken on in the past, Washington replied, “Most of the characters I play, there’s been some kind of evolution – spiritual evolution. Even Malcolm X, who went from hatred to a complete different doctrine.” The personal journey of the character is key to the decisions Washington has made in his choice of characters over his career. “Even something as dark as ‘Training Day,’ the first thing I wrote on my script was, ‘the wages of sin is death.’ So, in the original version of ‘Training Day,’ they had him dying in the smallest way – you heard about it on TV. I said no. In order for me to justify living in the worst way, I had to die in the worst way. So there was still, in my mind, a lesson to be learned or an evolution.” He continued this line of thinking by moving on to discuss “Man on Fire.” “Same thing; a very dark man meets this young angel who awakens him and he gives his life for her.”

From there, Washington made the connection to Eli. “He has this mission, and this mission has turned him into this violent killing machine. There’s coincidence that, at the moment when he’s about to chop whoever with this hatchet, this axe, this young girl says ‘Stop.’ Why was he sent through this town right before he makes it to where he’s supposed to go? He could’ve gone around and it [would have] been a whole different story, but in his spiritual evolution, this was a part of the process. He had to go down through the valley of the shadow of death.

Denzel Washington to star in the “The Book of Eli”, directed by Hughes Brothers

Source: Superhero Hype

Idris Elba was cast as Heimdall, the Asgardian who stands guard on the BiFrost Bridge.  He joins Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Colm Feore, Samuel L. Jackson, Stellan Skarsgard, and Stuart Townsend.

I think this is great. Elba is one of the premiere black actors and doesn’t get nearly the pub that he should.  He would’ve been my pick for any numerous black superheroes, but this is a perfect role for him. Props to Marvel for making this move.

It’s been a couple of years since I posted this, so I thought that it was time to bring it back.

In true blogger Halloween tradition, I decided to do a horror movie list. They aren’t the greatest horror movies you’ll find, but each of them have a certain charm that can’t be denied.

1. Blacula (1972)

How can you not include this movie on a list like this? It is a classic.

2. Scream Blacula Scream (1973)The only sequel on the list. But a horror movie with the Queen (IMHO) of Blaxploitation movies, Pam Grier, is definitely a movie you should see.

3. J.D.’s Revenge (1976)

I saw this movie one late night and was captivated. I just kept saying to myself, “That’s Col. Taylor?!?” (only Different World fans will understand.)

4. Petey Wheatstraw (1977)

Rudy Ray Moore BKA Dolemite, is a candidate to become the Devil’s son-in-law. To me, this movie was the epitome of black exploitation films. That being said, it’s pure classic comedy, with a little creepiness mixed in.

5. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Here’s two trivia freebies: Name the movie which starred the first African-American in the lead role in a horror movie? What movie was the first time a black actor was cast as the lead in a major motion picture that did not specify the part had to be played by a black actor? This movie is often overlooked as revolutionary for the black actor in Hollywood. On top of that, this is a George Romero masterpiece.

6. Def By Temptation (1990)

This bit of modern blaxploitation has some great memorable comedic moments. The movie is no masterpiece, but all the actors give great performances. It doesn’t have as much camp as the wacky so-called horror movies today, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

7. Candyman (1992)

Tony Todd still scares me till this day. I scared my little brother out of his mind by saying Candyman in the mirror several times. (I stopped before completing the ritual, not because I was scared).

8. Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)

This is actually one of my favorite Eddie Murphy films. Angela Bassett. It’s a pretty good vampire movie which harkens back to Blacula. Angela Bassett. Kadeem Hardison shows up again on this list in another Vampire flick, but he turns in a good performance just like he did in Def By Temptation, only this time he’s a ghoul. Angela Bassett. There’s one other reason I liked the movie, but I can’t think of it right now.

9. Spawn (1997)

Can’t have this list without a Demon. Spawn is a Demon, right? I think this movie is what contributed to the success of the Blade franchise by paving the way for mainstream acceptance, outside of the comic book world, an African-American superhero. I like Blade, but Spawn is just as good.

10. Gothika (2003)

Alright, it’s not a great movie, but it’s Halle Berry locked in an insane asylum for the brutal murder of her husband. She hacked away at him with an axe. The movie is beautifully shot and a technical achievement in cinematography. It also has (Spoiler) possession, ghost, psychopaths, and torture.

Honorable Mention

Blade (1998)

I put this here because it’s one of my favorite movies of all time, but this list already had too many vampire movies on it.

So you will probably begin to get sick of me now since we are less than a month from the release of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”, but I’m hoping it will be worth it.

There’s been lots of HP-related news lately, and it would take way too long to post everything, but what I will post is an extended clip of the “Tom Riddle Orphanage” scene, which previously debuted at the MTV Movie Awards a few weeks ago.

Extended Orphanage scene from \"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince\"

Also, the Official HBP website is now live, and it looks amazing!! Check it out at www.harrypotter.com

C’mon Potter fans, tell me what you think!!

(On a side note, for Potter fans planning to attend DragonCon, Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) has been confirmed to attend!!

It’s taken me a few days to get my thoughts together.  Actually, I enjoyed the movie so much that I didn’t think it would be fair to write a review so soon after seeing the movie.  So, I waited until now since I have had time to digest everything and for the initial shock to wear off.  Let me start by saying it was difficult to not get hopes up for this movie. Star Trek wasn’t completely original (time travel, Khan-like revenge), but it did it in such a refreshing way.  Let me get to it.

Casting was perfect.  Chris Pine didn’t try to imitate Shatner’s Kirk, in fact, he made the role his own.  Zachary Quinto shed his Sylar skin, and became Spock.  The best casting, however, was Karl Urban as McCoy, and Simon Pegg as Scotty.  Karl Urban had the mannerisms and the vocal inflection down.  It went beyond an imitation. Simon Pegg brought his quirkiness and comedic timing to a character that always seemed to bring humor the crew.  Any movie with Bruce Greenwood (Capt. Christopher Pike) is automatically 10 times better.  He brought a gravitas and authority to his role as the no nonsense Captain/Academic .Without going on about everyone, everyone performed their roles well.  Oh, Eric Bana’s measured performance as the snarky villainous Nero was scary. 

The effects were great.  ILM who provided the effects didn’t any models in the space scenes.  If I didn’t know that, I wouldn’t have been able to tell.  The only problem that I had was J.J. Abrams overuse of flare.  I know he was going for a style, but after so many, it wasn’t special. 

Star Trek, to me, is the best Sci-Fi movie since the Matrix, and the best action movie since Transformers.  I expect there will be more.  And I can’t wait.

Great start for Trek it opens with 72.5 million for the weekend (76.5 million if you count Thursday) .   It fell short of my prediction of 90 million,  I guess I was a victim to fanboy hype.     It also got a boost from the Imax showings.   The weekend BO was pretty close to industry expectations meaning it was a successful weekend.  

If your still puzzled by what happened take a look below  at other Trek films and the opening weekend BO adjusted for inflation.   In comparison to the other films its a hit.   

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979): $34,668,706 (opening weekend)/ $239,115,674 (cume)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982): $35,038,451 / $192,290,437
Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (1984): $35,629,102 / $163,237,856
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986): $32,671,686 / $212,328,919
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989): $31,267,457 / $93,951,918
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991): $30,976,050 / $127,720,425
Star Trek: Generations (1994): $39,707,107 / $129,980,545
Star Trek: First Contact (1996): $49,896,339 / $149,493,266
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998): $33,761,058 / $107,451,468
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002): $22,918,195 / $53,387,173

Wolverine dropped 68% over the weekend with 50% being the make or break point for the second weekend.   Does this mean it doesn’t have the legs to be a big hit?    I think the answer to the questions is it depends.    A 68% drop is huge and looks bad until you factor in the fact that Star Trek was released the next weekend.     

This was one of the most anticipated movies of the Spring/Summer movie season.  I’ll make this review short.  Fanboys are going to hate it.  Fans of the Wolverine comics aren’t going to like it.  Fans of the X-Men series of movies are going to like it.  As far as the story goes, its fits into the story line of the X-Men trilogy of movies.  It gives the origin of our favorite mutant, Wolverine.  Questions about his past that were raised in the first movie are answered.  As with most origin stories, the action sequences were spread out by exposition.  But, when there was action, it was impressive.  Its easy to tell that they spent much time on getting the effects just right.  Hugh Jackman was his typical brooding Logan.  Liev Schrieber was excellent as Sabretooth.  Most of the other acting was okay.  However, Will.i.Am’s performance left little to be desired.  I was looking forward to him as Wraith, but he just didn’t do it for me.   One performance that stood out to me was Taylor Kitsch as Remy Lebeau/Gambit.  When I first saw him as Riggins on Friday Night Lights, I thought to myself, “He’d make a great Gambit.”  He did.

Problems:  No matter how good CGI gets, you can’t take years off an old man’s face and make him young again without it looking wierd.  No matter how far the stories of the X-Men are off base, at least they try to stay true to characters and their powers; however, Deadpool was so far off base as to make me almost completely dismiss Ryan Reynolds performace in the first part of the movie.  How do you have that much destruction at a Nuclear Power plant and not upset one of the reactors?  If I use an adamantium bullet and put a whole in your head, how do the wholes get filled in with adamantium?  I could go on, but I said I’d be short.

Fans of the series of movies and who have less than a passing knowledge of X-Men and Wolverine will enjoy the movie.  Everyone else, its going to be hit and miss.