Disney Buys Marvel: Great News for Superhero Films?

It was just announced that Disney bought Marvel Corporation for a reported four billion dollars and already speculation is running rampant on how that will change the world of Spider-man and his fellow superheroes. Many feel that being owned by the Mouse House will curb the edge of the comics and force them to be more family friendly. Disney has stated this will not happen but time will tell.

At the same time, my family and I love Universal Studios in Florida and the Marvel area is one of our favorites -- especially the Spider-Man ride. Some fans of that theme park fear that Disney pulled this move as part of their war against their rival theme park. Will Universal be forced to give up the Marvel franchise or do it voluntarily so they won't have to pay a rental check to their main competition? I'm still irate that Universal closed down the kick-butt Back to the Future Ride for a Simpsons Ride. If they close down their entire Marvel area, we may have to stop visiting.

One positive thing about this purchase is that the films and TV shows based on Marvel heroes will receive a huge boost of financing and hopefully creativity from the powerful Disney entertainment machine. If nothing else, I look forward to seeing what the result of that partnership will bring in the future.

For now, I'll spend the next few days kicking myself for not owning Marvel stock.

ABC "V" mini-series remake delayed because it sucks (apparently)

According to VancouverFilm, Warner Bros has shut down production of their TV remake of the classic 80s alien invasion mini-series "V". But, it's only for two weeks, or so they say. Reports state that execs aren't happy with the quality of the scripts -- not something we're used to hearing from TV execs.

Apparently the break is to give writers time to improve the scripts. Two weeks? That's all it'll take? Really? If they dint get it right the first time, what makes WB think they can do it right in just two weeks?

Note to the head honchos at WB: better increase that special effects budget big time. Just sayin'.

The new production will star Lost's Elizabeth Mitchell, Party of Five's Scott Wolf (god help us) ), Firefly's Morena Baccarin and Morris Chestnut (who?). If all goes right (cough, cough) it's scheduled to air this fall.

Believe it or not, this is one rare time when I am looking forward to a remake. But I hate that it's on ABC. I'm still pissed at them for dropping Eli Stone and The Unusuals (best cop show in years).

Find out more about the original "V" series here: http://bit.ly/10KLbx

Megan Fox as new Catwoman in Batman 3? God help us!

According to the UK paper, The Sun, Megan Fox, the actress who can't act is set to slip into a leather catsuit in the upcoming new Barman sequel. And as far as I'm concerned, that is NOT good news. Based on this report, be prepared to bring your No-Doze to the theater -- again. Shooting is scheduled to start next year with the film slated for release in 2011.

As everyone knows, an action film is only as good as it's villain. That's why Batman Begins -- with the wisp-of-air banality of Ras al Ghul (Liam Neeson) -- was so god-awful boring and Dark Knight was only bearable when the Joker (Heath Ledger) was on screen. Now, we're not only faced with a lame villain in Catwoman, but a lame actress with Megan Fox.

While she may be hot, the girl can not act and she has so little personality she doesn't even register. Fox has as much presence on screen as a pile of marshmallows. Now add that to the total lack of acting ability and befuddled personality of Christian Bale, and we're looking at yet another Olympian-sized snorefest that may even rival the insomnia-curing Batman Begins.

Thanks ONLY to an excellent turn by Ledger as Joker (as well as the PR generated by his tragic and untimely death) The Dark Knight became the fourth highest-grossing movie of all time. My concern is that the next film will ride the popularity of TDK and be another huge hit. That means we'll be forced to suffer through even more years of Fox and Bale cluttering up more films with their lack of talent and personality.

Like I said, "god help us all".

Star Trek 2009 DVD on the way!!

The DVD for JJ Abram's Star Trek (greatest action film in many a moon) is on the way. Sadly, it won't be available until next November.

You can pre-order though by going here:

http://bit.ly/KpaiM

'Defying Gravity' -- Need more sci fi and less 'Grey's Astronomy'

So far I like the new ABC "Defying Gravity", but NOT for it's yawn-inspiring Grey's Anatomy-in-space soap-opera interaction between the characters. It's for the sci-fi aspect of the show and the cool effects. I suspect many other guys out there feel the same way so cut back on the chick-flick emotional baggage and focus more on the Beta story line and exploring planets. That is if the show hasn't already been cancelled. KH

Bryan SInger to direct a Galactica film -- good news or bad?

It's been announced that Bryan Singer will direct a film based on the recent Battlestar Galactica TV series on SyFy. But is that good news or bad news?

Singer did a fantastic job on both "X-Men" and especially "X-Men 2" (the BEST superhero film ever made) but then he totally screwed up on his chick-flick soap opera "Superman Returns". So will we get the intensity and excitement of the X-Men films or merely hours of people staring longingly at each other like we were forced to suffer in Superman?

At this point, it could go either way. Hopefully, if the creators of the BG series are in charge, it will be the former.

Another possible horrifying report is that the film MAY be based on the original cheesy series from the 70s and NOT SyFys recent "re-imagining". God he'p us all if that's true!

Check out "Infestation: -- best giant bug movie in years!

For fans of fun - and funny - low budget giant monster bug films, watch "Infestation". It just aired edited on SyFy (hate that name) but it's coming out on DVD in October. Worth a rent.

Well written, witty dialogue, great CGI effects (for a SyFy movie) and it is expertly directed by Kyle Rankin, winner of the first Project Greenlight competition. Check it out.

Check it out: http://bit.ly/155KSY

TV show cliffhangers are an insult to fans!

I just finished the season finale of "In Plain Sight" on USA and once again I am irritated as hell. And I'm sure I'm not the only one. They ended with yet another idiotic cliffhanger.

Why do shows insist on wasting our time like that?

There are two reasons producers will stick a cliffhanger on the end of a show finale:

1. They want to draw viewers back for the season opener the next year.

2. They fear the show may be cancelled and use the ending as an act of desperation to try and get it renewed.

And both reasons are total BS!

Here's the problem:

The first reason is a HUGE insult to fans of the series. If someone enjoys the show, they'll be back the next year no matter what happens. So just end the story in that episode instead of making us wait months to see it end. If people don't like the show, a cliffhanger will merely push them away and support their belief that watching the show is a waste of time.

The second reason is just plain idiotic and historically NEVER works. I don't know of a single show that was canceled but then brought back just because the last episode had a cliffhanger. Not one. And again, ending a series that way is a BIG insult to the fans.

I blame the people who created that whole "Who Shot J.R." crap on the series "Dallas" years ago. Those dimwits are the ones who started this lunacy and now we're forced to suffer through it.

So to all you producers out there -- STOP IT!!

Here's a novel idea: Instead of relying on some cheap trick to bring back viewers, use creativity, imagination and a damn good script to bring them back. And end the series finale in the same episode!!

Told you! G.I. Joe IS a stinker.

G.I. Joe hit theaters and as I suspected earlier, it is being destroyed by critics. Told you so.

I'm waiting for DVD then maybe I'll see it. I suggest you do the same.

Meryl Streep not worthy of an Oscar for 'Julie & Julia'

The new film "Julie and Julia" was just released and people are already talking about Meryl Streep winning an Oscar for her portrayal of chef Julia Childs. Sorry, but not only do I say no, I also say she should not even be considered.

No offense to Ms. Streep (I'm a big fan), but roles where actors are merely imitating other celebrities should NOT be eligible for Oscars. Imitation my be the sincerest form of flattery, but it is not acting by any means. If it was, Rich Little and the other countless comedians out there who rely on celebrity imitations in their act should have been up for Oscars years ago.

I also think the Academy should take back the Oscars won by Jamie Foxx for "Ray" and Reese Witherspoon for June Carter Cash and so on. It's an insult to the actual actors out there who lost to the imitators.

'See' The Middleman Lost Episode!

Cast members of The Middleman got together and read the final unproduced episode of the show -- "The Doomsday Armageddon Apocalypse" -- at Comic-Con last month. Sit back and enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27vivrrPlIE&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaintitcool%2Ecom%2Fnode%2F41921&feature=player_embedded

BTW, the DVDs of the series were just released. Do yourself a favor and pick them up: The Middleman: The Complete Series

BRING BACK 'THE MIDDLEMAN'!

You heard me. 'The Middleman" was one of the best-written and funniest shows ever aired and ABC Family cancelled it this past year.

And I am STILL irritated about it!

Guess they had to spend more time promoting teen pregnancy with their "Secret Life of an American Teenager" series.

Yeah, THAT'S what I want my kids watching on a "family" network.

G.I. Joe not being shown to critics. Can you say 'Stinker'?

The new action film "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" isn't being shown to critics before its release. That only means one thing: It must REALLY suck.

The only time studios refuse to pre-screen films to critics is when they know they have a potential bomb on their hands and they want to rush it into the theaters to try and recoup some of their production costs before reviews tear it to shreds.

In this case it's a ridiculous $300 million dollars!! Seriously? They spent $300 mil on this thing? For that amount, the characters better come right off the screen and dance in the aisles.

Devoid of any original ideas, Spielberg to remake 'Harvey'

Director Steven Spielberg -- creator of some of the most successful and imaginative films ever made -- is now devoid of all original ideas. Or at least, that's the impression he gives by his recent announcement. Spielberg will be doing a modern redo of 'Harvey', the tale of a man and a six-foot, three-and-one-half-inch tall invisible rabbit.

Originally a long-running Broadway play, 'Harvey' is best known for the classic film starring James Stewart. In fact, that film is so near perfect, one wonders why Spielberg is wasting his -- and our -- time making a new one. There isn't a SINGLE thing he could do that would make his film better than the original. And if you can't make it better, do NOT try.

Forget this one, Steven. There are thousands and thousands of original scripts and exceptional books out there. Find them and make them. Forget the remakes -- especially this one.

PLEASE.

It's an even worse idea than the fact that you're now developing an Indiana Jones 5(!!).

Could Pirates 4 be the disaster the Mayans warned us about?

Pirates of the Caribbean 4 may finally have a director - and it is NOT good news. Now that director Gore Verbinski is out to direct the highly-anticipated "Bioshock" film, Variety reports that Rob Marshall(!!) may sign to direct. WHY? Marshall's previous ("Chicago") and current ("Nine") works include film versions of successful broadway musicals(!!).

Is the world ready for "Pirates 4 -- The Musical"?

Reports say Disney rushed the selection of Marshall because they need to get the film into production quickly before Johnny Depp begins filming "The Long Ranger" (seriously?). And without Depp, another film would be a waste of time and a soul-sucking bomb.

Rumor has it none of the other stars or major characters will appear in the new film. So now we're looking at a new quickly produced movie made by a director with no action film experience and only starring one actor from the first three.

Looks like the film may end up being a soul-sucking bomb even WITH Depp. Hell, it's being released in 2012 which might mean THIS could be the world-ending disaster the Mayans warned us about.