Who Knew Wolverine Could Sing and Dance

So It's all over the winners were announced and the Oscars has been something that it hasn't been in years...entertaining. The musical numbers by Hugh Jackman and guest were actually pretty good, and there were so many funny moments. Seems that the few films I didn't see had a bigger impact on the academy than I thought. For instance Penelope Cruz winning for Vicky Christina Barcelona and Sean Penn for Milk, and there were a few surprises, neither of my picks for both of the screenplay categories and the director category where right, go fig. Two of my second picks won, Ben Button for visual effects and Kate Winslet for The Reader, she deserved it. Then there were the no brainers, Ledger for The Joker, WALL-E for animated feature, and Slumdog Millionaire for best picture, no surprises there. For me the highlights of the show was the decision to get rid of the "oscar clip" for the acting nominees, instead five former winners in each acting nominee presentation came onto the stage each describing one of the actors and actresses performances. It was a great choice to take the Oscars in a new direction and the result was some truly emotional responses. And how about the little movie that could, Slumdog Millionaire. Everyone thought Button was going to sweep, but Slumdog won every category it was nominated in except for one. The last time an independent film arose from obscurity and earned a place in film history was in 2000 with American Beauty. I am so glad Slumdog won because now anyone who hasn't seen it will want to, and it is a film that should be seen by everyone. Congratulations to all the winners.

DreamWorks Signs Distribtution Deal With Disney

As was rumored last week, Dreamworks has found a new home at Disney. The two companies have entered into a long term distribution agreement which will include six films a year. You can read the full press release, Although I didn't.

The Walt Disney Studios Enters Exclusive Long-Term Distribution Agreement With DreamWorks Studios; Steven Spielberg & Stacey Snider Align With Disney to Distribute and Market Their Live-Action Motion Pictures

BURBANK, Calif., Feb. 9  — The Walt Disney Studios has agreed to enter into an exclusive long-term distribution arrangement with filmmaker and DreamWorks Studios co-founder Steven Spielberg, and partner Stacey Snider, chief executive officer of DreamWorks, to distribute all upcoming live-action motion pictures produced by DreamWorks under their partnership with Reliance BIG Entertainment, part of The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, it was announced today by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.

Under the terms of this arrangement, Disney will handle distribution and marketing for approximately six DreamWorks films each year. The first DreamWorks motion picture to be released under the Touchstone Pictures banner is scheduled to hit theaters in 2010.

DreamWorks principals Spielberg and Snider partnered with Reliance BIG Entertainment last fall to form a new motion picture company. In addition to being a partner in DreamWorks, Reliance will also distribute the new company’s projects in India.

Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, “We’re both thrilled and honored to be marketing and distributing all of DreamWorks’ signature upcoming live-action motion pictures, and to begin a new relationship with such respected colleagues as Steven, Stacey, and their creative team at DreamWorks. Steven has made some of the biggest and most loved films of all-time, and continues to be one of the great icons of our industry. Stacey has an impeccable reputation and a phenomenal track record for making a wide variety of quality films. Their motion pictures will be the perfect complement to the already robust slate of Disney and Touchstone films being made by Oren Aviv and his team.”

Bob Iger, president and CEO, The Walt Disney Company, added, “We are tremendously pleased to join forces with Steven Spielberg, whose artistic vision and commitment to quality filmmaking are legendary. DreamWorks has had a great creative and commercial track record under the leadership of Steven and Stacey Snider and I am delighted they’re now associated with Disney.”

Steven Spielberg said, “Disney is the birthplace of imagination and has always been as close to the worldwide audience as any company ever has. I am so pleased that industry leaders like Bob Iger and Dick Cook reached out to become our distribution partner. This is a major step forward for us and Reliance.”

Stacey Snider added, “Under Bob Iger and Dick Cook’s leadership, The Walt Disney Company represents the highest standard of quality in our industry. Everyone at DreamWorks is thrilled to be embarking upon this new and exciting partnership and we look forward to our future with their great team.”

About The Walt Disney Studios

The Walt Disney Studios is a unit of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) and produces and distributes motion pictures under the following banners: Walt Disney Pictures(which include live-action movies, animated feature films from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios) as well as Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures and Miramax Films. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International serves as the Studio’s international distribution arm. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment distributes Disney and other film titles to the rental and sell-through home entertainment markets. Disney Theatrical Group is among the world’s most successful commercial theatre enterprises producing or licensing live entertainment events that reach a global annual audience of more than 20 million people in more than 40 countries, and the Disney Music Group distributes original music and motion picture soundtracks under its three record labels: Walt Disney Records, Hollywood Records and Lyric Street Records.

About DreamWorks Studios

Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider and The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group announced the formation of a new motion picture company which will be led by Spielberg and Snider. The new company is a continuation of DreamWorks Studios which was formed in 1994 by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. The company won three consecutive Best Picture Academy Awards with “American Beauty,” “Gladiator,” and “A Beautiful Mind” (co-produced with Universal). Among the company’s other successes have been such films as “Saving Private Ryan” (co-produced with Paramount), “The Ring,” “Minority Report” (co-produced with 20th Century Fox), “War of the Worlds,” “Dreamgirls,” and “Transformers” (all co-produced with Paramount). Snider joined DreamWorks Studios in 2006 as Co-Chairman and CEO. Snider has overseen the company’s business strategy as well as the creative and financial aspects of all film development and production.

Warner Bros. Developing a New Tom and Jerry Movie

Despite the critical drubbings that they took, films like Garfield and Alvin and the Chipmunks,which took classic childhood cartoon characters and inserted CGI versions of them into the real world, still made big bank. Desperately wanting to make too much of a good thing, Warner Brothers is now developing a Tom and Jerry film, which, unlike the disastrous 1992 Tom and Jerry film, will have a CGI version of the cat and mouse doing battle in live-action settings. According to Variety, the movie will be “an origin story that reveals how Tom and Jerry first meet and form their rivalry before getting lost in Chicago and reluctantly working together during an arduous journey home.”

I’m not terribly excited about this idea for a couple of reasons. First of all, do we really need to know the origin of Tom and Jerry’s rivalry? Isn’t it kind of obvious why they would be at odds with each other from the beginning? Secondly, the Homeward Bound-esque element of the plot sounds like it might get in the way of the over-the-top violence that was a hallmark of the original series, which would be a disappointment. These are, after all, the characters whose feud inspired their ultra-violent counterparts, Itchy and Scratchy, on The Simpsons. And finally, do we really need more contemporary actors putting words/voices into the mouths of CGI version of beloved childhood characters (assuming that that’s the way they go with this film)?  I vote no, but the American public keeps voting yes with their wallets, so I suppose these films will keep on coming.

Is a Tom and Jerry movie a good idea?

A Robosapien Movie? WTF?

Remember that toy that was hot for Christmas called Robosapien? Of course you do. They made a new version every year. that spawned into other similar “robo” themed toys? No? Well trust me, it was big!

So big that they are basing a new movie around the toy. So while you are still trying to figure out what toy I am talking about and why they are making a movie, Quiet Earth has the plot synopsis:

An inventor working for Kinetech Labs has designed a robot for search and rescue missions that has the ability to mimic human actions and emotions. After discovering that the robot’s advanced microchip is actually going to be used by Kinetech for military applications, the inventor programs the robot to flee, whereupon it is damaged. Twelve year old Henry finds the broken robot, fixes him up and names him Cody. With no memory of his past, Cody becomes Henry’s best friend, helping him win over his love interest, battle bullies and partake in some crazy fun. Cody quickly becomes a valuable part of Henry’s family as he helps them forge better relationships with one another, and even surprises them by remodeling their home.

Yes this is real,  and has FAIL written all over it.

Talking During The Film Might Get You Shot

Holy Tapdancing Jesus! I have been annoyed at disruptive movie patrons before but NEVER would I think of taking it this far. A man in South Philly was so annoyed by an annoying kid at a theater, that he SHOT his father for not shutting the whippersnapper up.

ScreenRant reports:

It’s been reported that 29-year old James Joseph Cialella Jr, who went to a screening of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button on Christmas Day, pulled out a gun and shot another man in the arm because he and his family (yes, that’s right, his family was there) for being too noisy. The incident took place at the UA Riverview Stadium 17 theater in South Philadelphia.

Cialella became annoyed when the family, which was sitting near the front, wouldn’t stop talking. He told them to be quiet, but because of this apparently the young son decided to be a smart ass and became even noisier, making comments and the like. Cialella then threw popcorn at the young boy in an attempt to get him to stop annoying him. But since that failed he decided that next logical step must be to pull out his gun (a Kel-Tec .380 handgun to be precise) and shot the father in the arm.

We have all wanted to stand up and address those annoying people who think it is there job to offer commentary during a film. Tell them off. Throw popcorn.

The theater staff is usually quite willing to ask someone to leave if they are disrupting the movie (kicking out one paying jackass is better than refunding a theater full of annoyed patrons when you do nothing) so I have to question the mental stability of a man who is willing to escalate things to this extreme. Shushing, Commenting, Popcorn… GUN. Seems he skipped a few logical steps in this conflict.

I quote the noble Reverend Book when I say that there is a Special Hell reserved for Child Molesters and People who Talk During the Movie.

I would be just as annoyed with the parent who LET their kid carry on like this. If my kid was the one disrupting everone, he would get put in his place in a hurry. But the shooter’s logic at least extended that far as to blame the father for not being a parent.

But for all you jackasses out there who think its funny to comment at the screen. You are not. And next time you will think twice about speaking up wondering if there is some unstable psychopath watching the movie with you just waiting to shoot you for your antics.

2009 Movie Preview Images Online

There are a whole lot of new images from a whole lot of movies. Nothing outlandish or groundbreaking. Kinda more of the same we have seen but worth a stroll through the gallery.
Coming Soon says:

Entertainment Weekly has published new photos from 15 releases in 2009, including: Public Enemies; Terminator Salvation; Where the Wild Things Are; Watchmen, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3; Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince; Up; Year One; Land of the Lost; X-Men Origins: Wolverine; and Angels & Demons.

You can see the EW gallery here