In all the rush to turn every possible comic book into a feature film, it looks like producers are turning to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for a third time.  It you recall, the Ninja Turtles have been the focus of two previous film franchises.  First, the, to some, iconic 90s live action trilogy, and later the CGI animated version.  Both of those franchises have appeared dead for a while now.

So a third go is being made at it.  This time returning to live action, but focusing the story much more on the original comic than the live action originals, the cartoon series, or the CGI animated film.

This new version will go back to the spirit of the original comics that first spawned the characters in 1984. Unlike the previous films, this version may employ face replacement technology, which would allow the turtles to be much more expressive.

Really, facial replacement technology for turtles doing ninja maneuvers?  Is this something that needs to be made?  Understandably there’s a hope to cash in big on a franchise that is celebrating 25 years of existence, but to do what?  A darker version of a story about giant turtles fighting crime in New York City?  It’s one thing to respect what Chris Nolan is doing with the Batman film franchise, and it’s quite another to emulate it with every comic.  Will Archie and Jughead someday dead with meth addiction?

What’s amazing is that the turtle films really aren’t all that bad as kids’ entertainment.  Sure, they don’t exactly belong alongside the Harry Potter films in a quality lineup, but neither do they sink to the lows of the Power Rangers movies.  Reinventing the franchise for a third time seems forced, at best.  Not everything needs to be rebooted.  In fact, sometimes it would be nice to just boot the old girl up one more time, or perhaps better yet—let sleeping turtles lie.

Via | Victim of Culture

No related posts.

Before Amy Poehler was very well known, even to fans of the Upright Citizen’s Brigade TV show, she made a name for herself on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.  That name?  Stacey, the little sister of Andy Richter.  Now, in honor of the end of Conan O’Brien, we present three of those skits.  Catch the other two after the break.

No related posts.

Most trailer edits are let downs.  People slap on some song that doesn’t belong, or simply mimic Brokeback Mountain and consider it a day.  However, occasionally something genuinely good comes along.

The above video is a trailer edit of the Robin Williams comedy Mrs. Doubtfire recut as a horror film.  Funny concept?  Maybe, but what separates it from most is that it actually works.  It feels like a horror film trailer, and it isn’t just the music.  Well done.

Related posts:

1. Resident Evil CG movie trailer premiere It seems
2. Prince of Persia film first look Dying fo
3. Actor Bernie Mac dead at 50 Actor Be

Dying for your real, first look at the Prince of Persia film currently in production?  Well, you’ll have to wait a bit longer.  However, the above image shows a behind-the-scenes shot of actor Jake Gyllenhaal in the titular role.

He’s looking very Warrior Within, the second in the game series.  No idea what that means for the story, but hopefully it will turn out better than that game did.  Otherwise, he seems to have the look down and so far looks an excellent pick.  It will be interesting to see how the buzz develops around this one as it nears its 2010 release date.

Via | Game With A Brain

Related posts:

1. Resident Evil CG movie trailer premiere It seems
2. Ninja Turtles come back to life, or at least live action In all t
3. Mrs. Doubtfire as a horror film Most tr

Actor Bernie Mac, 50, has died apparently due to complications from pneumonia.  Mac was perhaps best known for his Fox sitcom The Bernie Mac Show, but had made multiple appearances in films.  Credits include Ocean’s Eleven and its two sequels, Mr. 3000, Head of State, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, Pride, and Transformers.

Mac was a dependable comedian in his roles.  That may sound like feign praise, but it is far from it.  He was so consistent that his appearance on screen was sort of a breath of fresh air.  He may not be the funniest person in the film, but he would be funny time and time again.  Not an ability many of his contemporaries shared.  He will be missed, and our prayers go out to this family.

No related posts.

It’s hard to get very excited for a Michael Bay movie trailer.  Yes, there will undoubtedly be a slow-motion explosion at some point in the Friday the 13th remake (even if Bay just produced it).  Still, this new trailer could possibly look worse, and that’s sort of a silver lining, right?

Actually, not really.  Jason now moves fast?  Really?  This is the direction they decided to go?  Supposedly along with this clip from Comic-Con came the news that Jason will be smarter and more clever with setting traps.  So, instead of making Michael Myers Vs. Jason, they just decided to combine the two characters, with a little of Freddy thrown in for good measure?  Can’t wait.  They should have just made this instead.

Related posts:

1. Resident Evil CG movie trailer premiere It seems
2. Mrs. Doubtfire as a horror film Most tr
3. Ninja Turtles come back to life, or at least live action In all t

It seems difficult to imagine someone improving on the lovingly crafted Resident Evil films.  After all, they take the continuity and character development of the games so seriously.  However, it looks like Capcom might have pulled off the impossible–a good Resident Evil movie!

From bringing back the voice actors of the game to making the film actually feel like a game, this just feels like Resident Evil.  Sure, parts of it look a little like Resident Evil meets 24 (and probably also Scooby Doo), but that’s half the fun.  At least it looks like an earnest attempt to make a real zombie, horror film.  No calls of racism on it yet.

Via | Game With A Brain

Related posts:

1. Friday the 13th (2009) premiere trailer  
2. Prince of Persia film first look Dying fo
3. Mrs. Doubtfire as a horror film Most tr

For fans of The Omen series (and really, who isn’t?) there’s good news.  Fox has announced plans to release the original film plus a box set on Blu-ray this September.  Fans will be able to purchase the original film separately, or a box set containing The Omen, Damien: The Omen II, The Final Conflict, and the 2006 remake The Omen: 666.

While the sequels and the remake may not be of the highest quality, the original Omen remains one of the best horror features of the 1970s.  Interestingly, the box set excludes the made-for-TV Omen IV.  One supposes it’s the type of film that may never see a Blu-ray release, and few will likely care.

Related posts:

1. Mrs. Doubtfire as a horror film Most tr
2. Resident Evil CG movie trailer premiere It seems
3. Prince of Persia film first look Dying fo

That’s the casting choice of Mike Judge, at least.  Judge has said he’d loved to a live action version of the couch-dwellers and have it star Johhny Depp and Sean William Scott.  Sound too bizarre to be true?  Scott thought so too, but obviously doesn’t rule out the idea.

In an interview on Ain’t It Cool News, Scott was asked about the potential pairing.  His personal take is that he’d love to work with Judge and thinks Depp would be a fantastic person to team with, though he obviously is doubtful of Depp’s participation.

OFFICE SPACE is a really solid comedy, but I don’t think Johnny Depp is going to want to work with me. [laughs] Not quite yet. But if Mike Judge asked me to work with Johnny Depp, I’d be all over that, even if it was Beavis and Butt-head. I haven’t seen “Beavis and Butt-head” in a long time, but that’s a pretty huge honor. What do you think about that?

Well, there’s always hope, one supposes.  However, the two seem a bit long in the tooth to take on the roles.  Who would you cast in the roles instead?

Related posts:

1. Ninja Turtles come back to life, or at least live action In all t
2. Mrs. Doubtfire as a horror film Most tr
3. Actor Bernie Mac dead at 50 Actor Be

While it isn’t exactly official yet, there is now word that Back to the Future is coming to Blu-ray.  A recent screening near Orlando surprised fans when produced Bob Gale premiered a new digital remaster of the film.  He said the new print had been struck for the eventual release of a Blu-ray version.

Gale told the audience, “What you’re going to be seeing today is the digital master for the upcoming high-definition Blu-ray version of ‘Back to the Future.”  Gale added that new, never-before-seen special features would accompany the eventual Blu-ray release.  One wonders if it will feature more of the original Eric Stoltz footage, that only briefly appeared in the DVD version.

No related posts.