Another Remake: Swamp Thing – this time in 3D!
August 31, 2009
Wes Craven directed the original “Swamp Thing” movie in 1982 starring Dick Durock, Louis Jourdan and Adrienne Barbeau and it later got a sequel in 1989 called “The Return of Swamp Thing”, this time directed by Jim Wynorski and again starring Durock and Jourdan. Andrienne Barbeau didn’t return for the sequel and the female lead was taken by Heather Locklear. Why am I taking about these two terrible films?
/Film has reported that Joel Silver, Über producer of the Lethal Weapon films, Die Hard 1 & 2 and The Matrix Films, is planning a remake of the DC comic “Swamp Thing”. To quote Mr Silver, “I’m developing a picture now that I’d like to do, I’ll hopefully do Swamp Thing, which is a movie we’ve had for a long time. We think that would be great to do in 3D.”
“Swamp Thing”, even if the title, the comic book origin or the original films seem to say otherwise, is a very deep and subtle story and quite frankly, very hard to film. This is not “Hulk Smash!” territory and in fact, Ang Lee would have been much more suited to this than the Hulk. “Swamp Thing” is a deep, introspective, environmentally aware book that walks a fine line between drama and thriller (almost horror territory). I think that Silver is the wrong producer for this material, he is as subtle as a brick to the head. I love Joel Silver movies, no one blows shit up as well as Silver, but this film would need a careful, delicate hand at the helm. “Swamp Thing” is a tragic character. Joel Silver was attached to produce the “Wonder Woman” movie at one point and that is much more his speed.
For those who haven’t read “Swamp Thing”, not to be confused with Marvel comics other swamp creature “Man-Thing” which was turned into a truly excruciating movie in 2005 by Brett Leonard, it is about a scientist who is trying to help the environment in the Louisiana swamps, he has invented a formula that can basically grow trees in a desert and he is killed by a rival who wants the fame and glory of the invention. The scientist is covered in chemicals during a fire at the lab and he falls into the swamp, what emerges is a shambling mass of vegetation in the shape of a man that seeks revenge. As the books have gone on, Alan Moore (Watchmen) kind of reinvented the characters origin by saying that an elemental was born when the scientist died, but the elemental has all of the personality and memories of the scientist. This elemental Swamp Thing now protects his swamp home, the environment and humans from various supernatural or terrorist threats.
What do you think of a new “Swamp Thing” movie? Should it be in 3D? Who should direct it? Discuss this in the forum here: http://geekactually.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=43&sid=4a39c284c0a8bb95223ac377f092764b.
Geek Thoughts: Will Wii drop its price now?
August 31, 2009
The last two weeks bring some interesting developments in the console wars.
Ps3 finally coming out with both its price drop and also its slim model in one
swift and powerful blow, finally we see the titan of the previous generation pull its special move out and force the whole industry to adapt.
So, then we see the rest begin to fall into line… Microsoft announces its own counter attack with their elite console dropping a further 100 dollars(aus$) bringing their top of the range console to Ps3’s level and removing its 60gb model from production. This leaves one competitor unchanged so far.. Nintendo.. With its long standing placing at the top of the pile it begs the question…How long can they stay strong? Will they react aggressively to this news?
Well, speculation is high and in my opinion they can not maintain its price tag for long even with its hold tightly on the social market. I honestly believe that before the November – Christmas push we will see a drop of 50 to a 100 Australian dollars otherwise we may see the motion master topple and fall from its pedestal..
well its a thought anyway..
Thoughts people?
http://geekactually.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=42&sid=c9fb18937891b4a73c4c939b78de7c38
Geek Actually Episode 49 – Some Say Too Fast
August 29, 2009
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
David McVay is joined by Josh Philpott
Recorded live on Ustream.
To start the show, we answer our mail bag including a negative review that is a little too personal to let slide past. We also read a letter form a listener who has experienced the cracked Mac problem.
Game News This Week: Batman – Arkham Asylum is coming soon and it looks good, we look at the cost of Xbox Live gaming and Australia is getting an Xbox price drop.
In “Great Internet Tech War of 2009″ News: Apple, AT&T and Google answer the FCC’s questions and Apple fires back at Microsoft’s Laptop Hunter Ads with a couple of ads of their own.
Tech News This Week: McAfee declares Jessica Beil the most dangerous celebrity on the web, Microsoft appeals the injunction against Word, Apple releases Snow Leopard (beware the fakes) and Nokia is releasing a netbook (sorry I mean mini-laptop).
Entertainment News This Week: Australia may lose “Green Lantern”, Spielberg to make Michael Crichton’s “Pirate Latitudes”, Foxtel gets slapped on the wrist, David Fincher signed to make the Facebook movie and has McG lied about Moon Bloodgood’s boobs again?
For our feature reviews this week Josh and David review “The Hurt Locker”, arguably the best movie about the Iraq war. “The Taking of Pelham 123″ is then reviewed from two different directons, Josh hasn’t seen the original 1974 film so takes the new film on it’s own merits, David has seen the original and compares the two. Final verdict, the new film is very average. Not bad, not good, just very average.
Finally, Nicholas ‘The Little Geek’ McVay has animated lego to an excerpt from a past show and it is very cute. Watch the video here
As always this episode carries an explicit tag due to small amounts of bad language.
Listen or download it here or subscribe to it on iTunes
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The Geek Actually Podcast is recorded live on Ustream every Saturday Morning 11am Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10). If you still just want to listen to the audio podcast, it will go out as normal on Sunday. Want to catch up with the video but missed the show on Saturday? Go to geekactually.com/live, the repeat runs all week.
New Apple Ads Take Aim at Microsoft Laptop Hunter Ads
August 27, 2009
Just a quick one to let you know that two new Apple Get-a-Mac ads have shown up at apple.com. The first one guest starring Patrick Warburton as “the top of the range PC” and it is very funny and the second is not quite as strong with PC disguised as Mac. These particular ads are taking direct aim at Microsoft’s current “Laptop Hunter” ads.
Now I know not everyone is a Mac fan, but even if you are not a Mac fan, this has been a very strong and funny campaign that is now four years old and still going strong. I absolutely love Justin Long and John Hodgman as the two characters (the UK version has different actors and it isn’t as strong).
If you want to check out the two new ads (and a collection of older ones) go to apple.com
Michael Crichton and Steven Spielberg Take on Pirates
August 27, 2009
/Film is reporting today that Micael Crichton had one last book written before he died. The book, called Pirate Latitudes, is being released in November. It turns out that Spielberg is already developing it into a film. Spielberg is producing and may direct it, apparently Spielberg has always wanted to direct a pirate movie and this fits him like a glove. Spielberg and Crichton have had a long relationship and had many great successes together including the Jurassic Park movies and televisions E.R.
According to /Film, the official plot synopsis is:
“The Caribbean, 1665. A remote colony of the English crown, the island of Jamaica holds out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Devoid of London’s luxuries, Port Royal, its capital, is a cutthroat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses. In this steamy climate, life can end swiftly by dysentery — or dagger. But for a daring soul like Captain Edward Hunter, this wild outpost in the New World can also lead to great fortune, if he abides by the island’s code. In the name of His Majesty King Charles II of England, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking and the law of the land rests with those ruthless enough to make it.Word in port is that the Spanish galleon El Trinidad, fresh from New Spain, is awaiting repairs in nearby Matanceros. Heavily fortified, the impregnable Spanish harbor is guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, a favorite commander of King Philip IV. With the Jamaican governor’s backing, Hunter assembles a crew of ruffians to infiltrate the enemy island and commandeer the galleon and its fortune in Spanish gold. The raid is as perilous as the bloodiest tales of Matanceros legend, and Hunter will lose more than one man before he makes it onto the island’s shores, where dense jungle and the firepower of Spanish infantry stand between him and the treasure.With the help of his cunning band, Hunter hijacks El Trinidad and escapes the deadly clutches of Cazalla, leaving plenty of carnage in his wake. But the danger — and adventure — are only just beginning. . . ”
I’m pretty excited about this, I do like Crichton’s writing and I am a huge Spielberg fan and I love pirates! More info on this as it comes to hand. You can read the /Film original posting by clicking the links.
Christopher Nolan’s Inception – New Teaser Online
August 26, 2009
Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight”) is notorious for keeping secrets, his new film, “Inception”, is no different. Plot descriptions have been sketchy, and the teaser doesn’t really tell us anything. However the teaser has me intrigued. My first thoughts turned to “The Matrix” but an interesting article over at InContention.com (click the link to read the whole article) seems to have an inside source that let the plot out of the bag.
To quote from the article, “In a nutshell, the source says “Inception” takes place in a world where we have developed a means by which we can enter people’s dreams. Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Cobb has been described as a “CEO type,” but he is also something of a criminal. He dives into people’s dreams to extract information.”
My mind immediately jumped from “The Matrix” to “Dreamscape”. If you haven’t seen the 1984 Joseph Ruben (director of the original, “The Stepfather”) directed sci-fi film “Dreamscape” the plot is about a research group that has discovered how to use psychics to enter peoples dreams. Originally intended to help people, the bad guys start to use the process to kill people in their sleep. The basic premise, if you die in your dream, you die in real life.
I’m not saying that Christopher Nolan is remaking “Dreamscape”, but it is a very similar idea and I am down with that, I enjoyed “Dreamscape” a lot in the 1980s, it has dated a bit now and Christopher Nolan is a director with a lot of visual flair and a knack for dealing with the psychological aspects of a story.
It would seem that I am not the only one with this interpretation, as CHUD has also written a story that examines the similarities between the two films. Anyway, watch the teaser, it won’t tell you anything, but it looks good visually.
What do you think of this teaser? Are you interested in seeing the film? What do you think of the “Dreamscape” conclusion? Talk it out in the forum by going here.
PS3 Firmware Update 3.0 coming…
August 25, 2009
It’s a nice update from what I have seen and will make it easier for us to navigate through and find out ‘Whats New’ for Playstation. Also they added more avatar pics to choose from yay?.. But what I like the most was the new dynamic themes which are being made by companies like ‘Media Molecule’ who did ‘Little Big Planet’. It’s cool having sackboy running around a planet while your going through the XMB .
For more info check out the vid.
Geek News: Bioshock Movie may have new director!
August 25, 2009
Recent talks have surfaced that the Bioshock movie (previously to be a Gore Verbinski epic) may not be as dead in the water as previously stated. The movie had been given an budget of around 160mil, but had the plug pulled pre-production by universal saying the movie needed to be more cost effective.
Well fans of the series can raise a curious eyebrow over news that we may have a new director, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo. Plus Gore Verbinski is still working on the project but just as a producer. For those who don’t know Juan’s work he is best remembered for his work on the zombie horror 28 weeks later, which I thought was a brilliant sequel to follow the work of Danny Boyle’s interesting take on the genre. I’m still tossing up whether I’m excited over this, but I will say I’m glad to see the project back in the news.
For those of you who haven’t played the next gen epic, shame on you.. This is truely one of the most developed titles we have had in years, the plot centres on Jack, a lone surviver of a plane crash who finds the entrance to an underwater city that has fallen into disarray and is left to find out what happened to turn this utopia into the frightening nightmare it has become. The games art deco post 1950’s futuristic world has to be one of the most the game industries most immersive experiences and though the game has a few issues it was one of my favourite games of its year and personally I welcome the idea of a film, I know that sounds weird coming from me but I think that it has potential to be great in the right hands.. that and I’m not going to be able to stop them right?
Thoughts?
http://geekactually.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=32&sid=a2eb6cf4919baa01046df5c5baff0816
Fincher/Sorkin Facebook movie is a go project
August 25, 2009
The film adaptation of the book “The Accidental Billionaires” written by Ben Mezrich has finally been given the greenlight from Columbia Pictures. The film, which has been retitled “The Social Network”, like the book is about the creation of Facebook.
When I first heard about ‘the Facebook movie’ I groaned and thought it was a really dumb idea. Later I read more about the book and thought they might have an interesting story here and it was written by the same writer as “Bringing Down the House” (filmed as “21″), things were looking up. Then I found out that it was going to be produced by Scott Rudin, Kevin Spacey and Dana Brunetti, Basically the same team that brought us “21″, a film that I really enjoyed. I got really excited when I found out that Aaron Sorkin (“The West Wing”, “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”, “The American President”) was writing the screenplay, Sorkin is one of my favourite writers. Wow, now I am really excited but still no greenlight fom a studio. Finally, as a stroke of brilliance, David Fincher (“Fight Club”, “Seven”, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) is signed to direct. This is a dream team.
Well the film has now got its greenlight and production is set to start in October with a budget of $47 million. Now I wait with baited breath to find out who gets cast in this film. So far so good behind the camera, this film could be destroyed by a weak cast.
How excited are you about this film? Does a biopic on the creation of Facebook grab you or do you think it is a waste of time? COmments below or start a conversation in our forum.
Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island Delayed
August 24, 2009
I don’t know about you but I was eagerly awaiting Martin Scorsese’s new film Shutter Island starring Leonardo Di Caprio, but CHUD reported today that it has been delayed until February 19th, 2010. According to their article on CHUD, the decision Paramount made was based on the failing economy and the studio is nervous to release the film at this time.
If this report is accurate (I haven’t read it anywhere else yet), it is a blow for the film which has been recieving early oscar buzz. By moving the film to February it misses oscar qualification for this year and won’t be eligible until the March 2011 oscars. A film must be released in either New York or Los Angeles by the end of December to qualify.
This is the second film in two years to get this treatment, remember The Soloist last year? The moving of The Soloist (with Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr) killed that film and I fear that the same fate now awaits Shutter Island. I’ll have to keep an eye open on this one to confirm the story.
What are your thoughts of the film Shutter Island and the news of its moved release date?
