Nitpicks & Rumors - 2005
Pick - Super Bowl Advertisements
The WSJ has an article about what's taking so long for Hollywood and movie theaters to ditch the severely antiquated film reel in favor of digital delivery. The high cost of the digi-projectors (and who gets to pay for them) is a big sticking point. Also everyone seems to be overly worried that these things will be breaking down all the time and it'll be expensive to fix 'em. Excerpt taken from Gizmodo
As interesting as this is, I wonder what kind of software is needed to use it...excerpts taken from Gizmodo and Create Digital Music. "We keep hearing about direct guitar-to-computer connections, but respected custom guitar maker Brian Moore is actually shipping one that works, right now: the iGuitar.USB. Plug a single USB cable into your computer, and you've got instant audio: no external power, breakout boxes, or drivers needed."
Pick - MySpace Buddy List Builder
One clever MySpace user looking to expand his buddy list recently figured out how to force others to become his friend, and ended up creating the first self-propagating cross-site scripting (XSS) worm. In less than 24 hours, 'Samy' had amassed over 1 million friends on the popular online community. According to BetaNews, the worm's code utilized XMLHTTPRequest - a JavaScript object used in AJAX Web applications and was spreading at a rate of 1,000 users every few seconds before MySpace shut down its site. Thankfully, the script was written for fun and didn't try to take advantage of unpatched security holes in IE to create a massive MySpace botnet. Taken from Slashdot.
If you purchased the Red Dwarf VII DVD then you know what I am talking about, if not...I will try my best to describe it. First click on this link to see a picture and come back.
As most people know, I cannot stand the assortment of boxes that companies try to release stuff in. I like the normal plastic cover. It's easier to store. Then you have garbage like the Slider DVD box, or the Simpsons. Why not release Quantum Leap, South Park, Viva La Bam, West Wing etc, in a one dvd spine sized box? Three disks still leaves room for a 14 page booklet!
Instead consumers are expected to tolerate crummy cardboard creations that can get damaged pretty quickly. Thanks a lot industry. At the very least, can't they make cases like the picture above? Then we could attempt to break down the cardboard ones into something reasonable. (though some cutting may lose bits of the text/pictures on the super pointlessly wide boxes.)
DVD Insight - Ferris Bueller
I was excited to know that there was going to be a Ferris Bueller's Day Off...Bueller…Bueller…Edition. But then I read that despite the new supplements, the 1999 DVD audio commentary from director John Hughes was not included. And there wasn't any deleted scenes (adding only one short clip is weak) or bloopers added into the mix either. Here are the included supplements:
Getting the Class Together: The Cast of Ferris Bueller's Day Off. 28 minute featurette combines movie shots, archival elements, and interviews. Locates notes from casting directors Jane Jenkins and Janet Hirshenson, actors Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara (from 1986), Jennifer Grey (from 1985 and today), Lyman Ward, Cindy Pickett, Jeffrey Jones, Edie McClurg, Ben Stein, Richard Edson, Kristy Swanson, and Jonathan Schmock, and director John Hughes (from 1986). It looks at how the various actors got their roles, aspects of their characters, and experiences during the shoot.
Making of Ferris Bueller's Day Off. 16 minute featurette with remarks from Stein, Broderick, Jones, Hughes (from 1986), McClurg, Ruck, Grey, and producer Tom Jacobson. We find out how quickly Hughes tossed off the script, Hughes' direction and other aspects of the filming, editing, the film's 1961 Ferrari, the parade sequence, and reactions to the flick.
Who Is Ferris Bueller? 9 minute featurette. Interviews from Hughes (in 1987), Jones (in 1985), Broderick (in 1986 and today), Grey, Jones, Ruck, Pickett, Stein, and Sara (in 1986) discussing the Ferris character as well as Broderick.
The World According to Ben Stein. 11 minutes featurette offers details from Stein (in 1986 and today). He chats about his life and career as well as reflections on Ferris.
Vintage Ferris Bueller: Lost Tapes. 10 minute featurette provides comments from the movie set. From Broderick, Jones, Ruck and Sara. They chat about the shoot, the story and the characters. These can be fun, and also includes a short deleted clip.
Class Album photo collection presents 18 posed publicity stills that feature actors Broderick, Ruck and Sara.
...so in other words, if you don't have the dvd, consider this one, and for those who have the older one...well...you could get this one...but maybe....just maybe...they will make a better release.
It took three years, but activists have reconstructed the only motion picture featuring Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino, two the biggest matinée idols of the 1920's. "Beyond the Rocks" is a 1922 melodrama that was long presumed lost. But when the eccentric Dutch collector Joop van Liempd died in 2000, leaving 2000 film canisters behind, curators from the film museum in Amsterdam began sifting through their disintegrating contents. Eventually they pieced together the work, which is missing only seven of its 80 minutes. The film was shown in Amsterdam this week; in a videotaped introduction, director Martin Scorsese noted that it was one of the first movies to feature two major stars. "That alone makes the discovery and noteworthy event," he said. Taken from "The Week," April 15, 2005, Vol 5, Iss 203, pp. 4.
Paramount & Warner Special Editions
Digital Bits reported on 10.18.04 that Paramount is considering for re-release as Special Collector's Editions in 2005. This information is extremely tentative, but you might keep your eyes peeled for new SCEs of Face Off, Airplane, The Truman Show, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.They also noted that Warner is currently working on a box set of all four live-action Batman films, which will include a new Batman Special Edition. The set is being timed for release to coincide with the new Batman Begins film next year.
Punisher 2
Tom Jane Punisher 2? These questions were asked and answered here in an interview…Will The Punisher be easier the 2nd time around?No, probably not. No, that movie was really hard to make. I didn’t want to do it, I turned it down twice. I did. Certainly a sign I’m supposed to do it.Have they talked about what type of action sequences they’ll throw you into?Yeah. I know that the scene at the end of the first Punisher where I go up and take everybody out, that’s going to be the opening of Punisher 2 where he’ll be taking out another set of guys in another place – whole other context.
Sam Raimi
Sam Raimi on a Spider-Man 2.5 DVD: Now Sony said to me, we want to release a 2.5 because they want to make more money. The movie was really the best I could make it; I said if you really want to spend money and really give the kids a few more action scenes. They said fine, it's the kid's choice if they really want to spend that money and I think it's fair. .. It may not seem like a lot to you, but it's a lot to me. There's like 6 seconds new of the train sequence. It's going to be like 8 seconds new of some water fight you never saw. It's like 12 seconds new on this battle building. For me, 12 seconds is 6 shots that have to be all figured out. In that 2 seconds, the amount of animation of in the tentacles. How Spidey is going to movie and it's very complicated to me.Sam Raimi on the fate of the Spider-Man films: I know how quickly things turn in Hollywood and after the third, that will be it. I've got a few ideas…I was working on it yesterday with my brother. We are writing the story right now and we are starting by determining what Peter Parker's journey is as a human being. What deficits does he have; where was he at the end of the last film and what is it that he still has to learn? How will the relationship with the woman that he loves evolve from this point forward? And what will be their new obstacles? Will it come from outside forces or will it be something from within that destroys their love? I think that Amy Pascal who is really my boss, chairman of Sony. I've never asked her, but I get the feeling she just wants this one to be the final one. She's very emotionally attached to them and wants us to have a sense of completion to it, for the audience. And feels that's what the audience wants and they don't want to see a Spider-Man 4. That they would probably would like to see a Spider-Man 3, but probably not really anymore. So she wants to make it complete and final without setting up new things at the end, like the end of the second one. The shooting date's in flux. I think by January 2006, I know that sounds like a long way away, but not for me.Sam Raimi on the announcement of Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash: As fun as that sounded, I think they are two different worlds. Evil Dead and Freddy and Jason; maybe at another time that would be a better combination. Rami is currently the Executive Producer of “The Grudge.”
Sicko
The unofficial title of Michael Moore’s new movie is “Sicko,” a critical look at health maintenance organizations (HMOs).Michael Moore tells Variety he met with Harvey Weinstein and they plan to start working now on Fahrenheit 9/11½. "We want to get cameras rolling now and have it ready in two-three years," Moore told columnist Army Archerd. "Fifty-one percent of the American people lacked information (in this election) and we want to educate and enlighten them.”Entertaining information can be comically reviewed at the pathetic anti-Michael Moore site.
Kevin Smith
An Evening With Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder, has been in production, see here. Mallrats 10th anniversary DVD may potentially be out. Also in the works is a sequel for Clerks, inspired from the recent 10th anniversary dvd release…(April shooting) then Fletch Won (sometime filming in October), then Ranger Danger. Those are the next three confirmed films to be in production.
Weebl & Bob
Taken from the Weebl & Bob site, I have it on good authority that pre-orders for the DVD will start on the 7th of Decamber. Actual shipping will start on the 10th or the 11th. This means if you are wanting the DVD for Christmas then you should be ok. We intended to have everything ready today but banks have been messing us about. Sorry.
John Woo
John Woo is going to direct a He-man movie. He has also been at work on a Spy Hunter movie as well…I guess this could mean that Flash Gordon will make a comeback.
X-Files Movie Sequel
"TV's The X-Files" Rumors persist that series creator Chris Carter is looking into another X-Files movie.
Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles has been prepped for DVD. There have been plans to turn the release into an educational affair, along with all the entertainment of course, by providing extras for every episode that ties it into the history which was woven into the fictional "Indy" story. According to LucasFilm honcho Rick McCallum, "what we're going to try to do is produce historical documentaries about each of the historical characters." The project itself sounds like a huge effort, but may be reaching a wrap up within the next year or so (2005/2006), so don’t be surprised to see a set released in the near future. I am guessing that with Indiana Jones 4 a possibility in 2007, it may even extend that far. Anyway, here is a list of episodes by “Chapter.” Chapters (1. My First Adventure, 2. Passion for Life, 3. The Perils of Cupid, 4. Travels With Father, 5. Journey of Radiance), 6. Spring Break Adventure 1916, (7. Love’s Sweet Song), 8. Trenches of Hell 1916, (9. Demons of Deception), 10. The Phantom Train of Doom 1916, 11. Oganga-The Giver of Life 1916, 12. Attack of the Hawkmen 1917, 13. Adventures in the Secret Service 1917, (14. Espionage Escapades), 15. Daredevils of the Desert 1917, 16. Tales of Innocence 1917, 17. Masks of Evil 1918, 18. Treasure of the Peacock’s Eye 1919, (19. The Winds of Change), 20. Mystery of the Blues 1920, (21. Scandal of the 1920’s), 22. Hollywood Follies 1920
I Love the...
Great, just great. As if television already hasn’t been so absorbing…another block will consume me. VH1 is unleashing I Love the 90’s Part Deux starting on January 17th. Ugh. I know I would be in absolute trouble if the original 90’s, 70’s and both 80’s compilations were placed on DVD. Actually, I am very very surprised that this has not happened yet.
Jolly Green Giant
The voice of the Jolly Green Giant is gone. Elmer "Len" Dressler Jr. died of cancer on October 16. Taken from AdJab
Ken Jennings
Comedy Central has announced that it has hired “Jeopardy!” champion Ken Jennings to host a new game show on its network. A name or concept for the show has not been revealed to keep someone from stealing the idea. Taken from ShortNews and MSNBC
Granddaddy
Why is Granddaddy always placing people in animal costumes for videos. STOP IT! Remember their first video Crystal Lake with the guy in the bear suit chasing him everywhere?Grandaddy: Nature AnthemIn any event, this clip here is awesome to view. Seriously, wait for the ending when he is about to answer the question.
Madonna
A Belgian composer has openly accused pop star Madonna of stealing his melody and using it in her 1998 smash hit "Frozen." The composer, Salvatore Acquaviva, claims Madonna may have heard the melody when meeting with Acquaviva's producers. Speaking on Belgium television, Acquaviva described hearing "Frozen" for the first time. "I was in the bath. I was listening to the radio, and thought that's strange, I know that Melody. I said it's not possible." Taken from ShortNews 5.25.05 and Yahoo.
Sting Reduction
Sting admitted that he "stretched" the truth when he once bragged that he and his wife Trudi Styler could make love for eight hours at a time. "what I didn't say," he told Britain's ITV, ''was that this included four hours of begging and then dinner and a movie." Uncle John's 17th edition Slightly Irregular Bathroom Reader pp. 261
January Tidbits
Kevin Kline was the first choice to star in the 1989 Batman film (over Michael Keaton). Other actors offered the role include Alec Baldwin, Charlie Sheen, Pierce Brosnan, Mel Gibson, Bill Murray, and Tom Hanks.
Will Smith originally had been offered the role of the main character Neo, in the Matrix.
Meg Rgan was the first choice for Pretty Woman.
Bill Murray was strongly considered for the role as Forest Gump.
The Pentagon insisted that the name of Ewan McGregor's character in the film "Black Hawk Down," a real-life Army Ranger named John Stebbins, couldn't be used in the film. Stebbins was one of the heroes of the battle, but by the time the script was submitted for approval, he had been court-martialed for molesting a 12-year-old boy. McGregor's character was renamed Danny Grimes.
Uncle John's 17th edition Slightly Irregular Bathroom Reader pp. 225-226, 371
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