Does this mean Red Sonja is now officially dead?
March 18, 2010
If you listen to the Geek Actually Podcast you will know that for the last two weeks we have been discussing the casting confirmations and rumours of the new ‘Conan’ remake directed by Marcus Nispel. So far we have Jason Momoa (‘Stargate: Atlantis’) cast as Conan, Ron Perlman (‘Hellboy’) as his father (replacing the rumoured Mickey Rourke) and Stephen Lang (‘Avatar’) looks to be confirmed as Khalar Singh, the bad guy of the piece.
However, in a new piece of casting, Rose McGowan (‘Planet Terror’) has been added to the cast as a rumoured evil half-human/half-witch character. The reason that this is odd is she was cast to play the title character in the Robert Rodriguez produced remake of Robert E. Howard’s ‘Red Sonja’ (see the poster at the head of this post). Now she is cast in the ‘Conan’ remake, does this finally kill off the on again/off again production of ‘Red Sonja’?
Details of the character that she is playing in ‘Conan’ are sketchy at this time, I am hoping (I think hopelessly) that she isn’t playing the character mentioned above but instead is Red Sonja in some sort of crossover cameo to test run the character. I like the character of Red Sonja from the books and she deserves a better screen treatment than the awful 1985 Richard Fleischer film starring Brigitte Nielsen.
‘Conan’ started filming this month and is scheduled for release in 2011.
Golden Raspberry Awards – 2010 Nominations Announced
February 3, 2010
Just for the sake of balance, here is the recently released list of nominations for this years Razzies. To learn more and vote go to the official site here. I love the Razzies for their sense of humour (‘SPECIAL 30TH RAZZIE-VERSARY AWARDZ’ – gold!). I personally think that Madonna may have competition from Paris Hilton as worst actress of the decade!
WORST PICTURE OF 2009
All About Steve
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Land of the Lost
Old Dogs
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
WORST ACTOR OF 2009
All Three Jonas Brothers, Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience
Will Ferrell, Land of the Lost
Steve Martin, Pink Panther 2
Eddie Murphy, Imagine That
John Travolta, Old Dogs
WORST ACTRESS Of 2009
Beyonce, Obsessed
Sandra Bullock, All About Steve
Myley Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie
Megan Fox, Jennifer’s Body and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Sarah Jessica Parker, Did You Hear About the Morgans?
WORST SCREEN COUPLE OF 2009
Any Two (or More) Jonas Brothers, The Jonas Brothers 3-D Concert Experience
Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper, All About Steve
Will Ferrell and any co-star, Creature or Comic Riff, Land of the Lost
Shia Lebouf & Either Megan Fox or Any Transformer, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Kristin Stewart and either Robert Pattinson or Taylor Whatz-His-Fang, Twilight Saga: New Moon
WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF 2009
Candice Bergen, Bride Wars
Ali Larter, Obsessed
Sienna Miller, G.I. Joe
Kelly Preston,Old Dogs
Julie White (as Mom), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR OF 2009
Billy Ray Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie
Hugh Hefner (as himself), Miss March
Robert Pattinson, Twilight Saga: New Moon
Jorma Taccone (as Cha-Ka), Land of the Lost
Marlon Wayans, G.I. Joe
WORST REMAKE, RIP-OFF OR SEQUEL (COMBINED CATEGORY FOR 2009)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Land of the Lost
Pink Panther 2
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Twilight Saga: New Moon
WORST DIRECTOR OF 2009
Michael Bay, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Walt Becker, Old Dogs
Brad Silberling, Land of the Lost
Stephen Sommers, G.I. Joe
Phil Traill, All About Steve
WORST SCREENPLAY OF 2009
All About Steve, screenplay by Kim Barker
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, screenplay by Stuart Beattie and David Elliot & Paul Lovett, based on Hasbro’s G.I. Joe Characters.
Land of the Lost, written by Chris Henchy & Dennis McNicholas, based on Sid & Marty Krofft’s TV series
Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, written By Ehren Kruger & Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman, based on Hasbro’s Transformers Action Figures
Twilight Saga: New Moon, screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg, based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer
WORST PICTURE OF THE DECADE (3 SPECIAL 30TH RAZZIE-VERSARY AWARDZ)
Battlefield Earth (2000) – Nominated for 10 Razzies, winner of 8 (including Worst Drama of Our First 25 Years)
Freddy Got Fingered (2001) – Nominated for nine Razzies, winner of five
Gigli (2003) – Nominated for 10 Razzies, winner of seven (including Worst Comedy of Our First 25 Years)
I Know Who Killed Me (2007) – Nominated for nine Razzies, winner of eight
Swept Away (2002) – Nominated for nine Razzies, winner of five
WORST ACTOR OF THE DECADE
Ben Affleck – (Nominated for nine achievements,winner of two Razzies) Daredevil, Gigli, Jersey Girl, Paycheck, Pearl Harbor, Surviving Christmas
Eddie Murphy – (Nominated for 12 achievements, winner of three Razzies) Adventures of Pluto Nash, I Spy, Imagine That, Meet Dave, Norbit, Showtime
Mike Myers – (Nominated for four achievements, winner of two Razzies), Cat in the Hat, The Love Guru
Rob Schneider – (Nominated for six achievements, winner of one Razzie) The Animal, Benchwarmers, Deuce Bigalo: European Gigolo, Grandma’s Boy, The Hot Chick, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, Little Man, Little Nicky
John Travolta – (Nominated for six achievements, winner of the Razzies) Battlefield Earth, Domestic Disturbance, Lucky Numbers, Old Dogs, Swordfish
WORST ACTRESS OF THE DECADE
Mariah Carey – (The Single Biggest Individual Vote Getter of the Decade: 70+% Of ALL Votes For Worst Actress Of 2001), Glitter
Paris Hilton (Nominated for five Achievements, Winner of four Razzies) The Hottie & The Nottie, House of Whacks, Repo: The Genetic Opera
Lindsay Lohan – (Nominated for five achievements, winner of three Razzies) Herbie Fully Loaded, I Know Who Killed Me, Just My Luck
Jennifer Lopez – (Nominated for nine achievements, winner of two Razzies) Angel Eyes, Enough, Gigli, Jersey Girl, Maid in Manhattan, Monster-in-Law, The Wedding Planner
Madonna – (Nominated for six achievements, winner of four Razzies) Die Another Day, The Next Best Thing, Swept Away
The 2010 Oscar Nominations
February 3, 2010
Okay, the Oscar Nominations for this year (The 82nd Annual Academy Awards) have now been announced. A pretty predictable list as usual. I will say that opening it up to 10 best picture nominations is at the same time as being dumb at least allows films like District 9 and Avatar (genre films never get the oscar nod) to get included. I will say up front that I am pissed off that Moon didn’t get any love. Moon is, in my opinion, was one of the best films of the year. Here is a list of the main awards. For a complete list go to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences website. Remember to download our special annual post Oscar wrap up show which will be recorded straight after the broadcast on March 7th.
BEST PICTURE:
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air
BEST DIRECTOR:
Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker
James Cameron – Avatar
Lee Daniels – Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
Jason Reitman – Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino – Inglourious Basterds
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
George Clooney – Up in the Air
Colin Firth – A Single Man
Morgan Freeman – Invictus
Jeremy Renner – The Hurt Locker
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Sandra Bullock – The Blind Side
Helen Mirren – The Last Station
Carey Mulligan – An Education
Gabourey Sidibe – Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
Meryl Streep – Julie & Julia
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Matt Damon – Invictus
Woody Harrelson – The Messenger
Christopher Plummer – The Last Station
Stanley Tucci – The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Penelope Cruz – Nine
Vera Farmiga – Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal – Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick – Up in the Air
Mo’Nique – Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Neill Blomkamp and – District 9
Nick Hornby – An Education
Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche – In the Loop
Geoffrey Fletcher – Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner – Up in the Air
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Mark Boal – The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino – Inglourious Basterds
Oren Moverman and – The Messenger
Joel and Ethan Coen – A Serious Man
Pete Docter and Bob Peterson – Up
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
Ajami – Israel
El Secreto de sus Ojos – Argentina
The Milk of Sorrow
Une Prophéte – France
The White Ribbon – Germany
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of the Kells
Up
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Maurio Fiore – Avatar
Bruno Delbonnel – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Barry Ackroyd – The Hurt Locker
Robert Richardson – Inglourious Basterds
Christian Berger – The White Ribbon
FILM EDITING:
Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron – Avatar
Julian Clarke – District 9
Bob Murawski and Chris Innis – The Hurt Locker
Sally Menke – Inglourious Basterds
Joe Klotz – Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Green Lantern Concept Art
January 29, 2010
/Film has posted up a bunch of concept art pictures for the upcoming Martin Campbell film ‘Green Lantern’. If these are real, they are on the right track. We’ll discuss these in detail tomorrow on episode 69 of The Geek Actually Podcast.
Nicholas McVay is an Award Winning Director!
November 19, 2009
Nicholas ‘The Little Geek’ McVay had his film ‘The Chicken Wing Stand’ selected to represent his school in the ‘Making Movies 2009: Sydney Regional Film Festival’. The screening was last night at the Leichardt Palace Cinema here in Sydney.
It was a big night and all the selected films were screened on the big screen. Nicholas was awarded a certificate and a trophy for his film. It was all very exciting and we will play the film on this weeks episode of Geek Actually, however our audio listeners won’t be able to see what our live viewers see.
So I am proud to now present ‘The Chicken Wing Stand (Festival Version)’. Make sure you check out Nicholas’ YouTube channel to see his other films.
Nicholas’ YouTube channel is http://www.youtube.com/user/NickyMcVay
Australian’s Denied Jennifer’s Body
November 1, 2009
It has just come to my attention that the new Diablo Cody scripted horror film ‘Jennifer’s Body’ starring Megan Fox is not going to get a release in Australian cinemas. An article in the Sunday Herald today states that 20th Century Fox has decided to not release the film in Australian cinemas because is was a financial failure in the United States.
I quite frankly think this is crap considering the film cost $16 million (US) to make and according to Box Office Mojo, it took $16 million (US) at the US box office, not a stellar take but it has at least covered costs. It is still being opened in foreign markets (it opens in the UK this week) and all the money made now would be heading towards profit. It has already made another $2 million (US) in overseas dollars. It does not make sense that they wouldn’t try and recoup as much money as possible. It would not be the first time that an American movie made more money outside of the US, just look at the box office take for any of the modern Woody Allen movies.
So what is the real reason? I don’t know. But I can say that Fox has messed things up again because rather than save money on holding back the release, they will now lose money from people looking for pirate copies.
Spielberg Wants Downey Jr for Harvey
September 16, 2009
We have had much discussion on the podcast about Steven Spielberg’s ‘Harvey’ remake and who he should cast. We even set up a poll and discussion thread about it in our forum (go here to see that thread). We mainly talked about who could play the Elwood P. Dowd character so immortalised by James Stewart. Names like Jim Carrey, Bill Murray and Hugh Laurie were all thrown around, but now Spielberg has said that he wants Robert Downey, Jnr. According to a Variety (click here to see the original article) article about his upcoming ‘Lincoln’ project, they dropped this:
“Spielberg is presently focusing on his “reimagining” of ”Harvey,” with Robert Downey Jr. possibly playing the man who sees an invisible rabbit.”
I hadn’t even considered Downey Jr. I like this, I can see this as possible. Robert Downey Jr. is quite possibly one of my favourite actors working today and he would bring a sharp sense of humour and charm to ‘Harvey’.
What are your thoughts? Shoot over to the forum (here) and tell us what you think or comment below.
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.
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.
The Beatle’s Yellow Submarine Setting Sail Again
August 20, 2009
Variety reports today that Robert Zemeckis is in negotiations with Disney to produce and direct a remake of the psychedelic 1968 cartoon, “Yellow Submarine”. The new film would be rendered in the same MoCap (Motion Capture) CG as Zemeckis’ “The Polar Express”, “Beowulf” and this years “A Christmas Carol”.
Now before anyone starts jumping up and down about the voice acting, I know that two of the original Beatles are dead, but in reality that really shouldn’t matter considering that the Beatles did not supply the voices to the original film, they only appeared as themselves in the last few minutes. The rest of the film was voice by actors, mimicking the Beatles.
My biggest concern with this film is the time and place issue. The original 1968 film was an LCD trip that spoke to the 60’s “it” crowd. Today the film is looked back on with fond memories, but is it really relevant to today’s audience?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this remake, I speak to the people who lived that era in particular. Head over to the forum, I have created a topic for this in the film section, and tell us what you think. I will be bringing this up in this weeks show, so voice your thoughts on this and we’ll read a few of them out on air. The link is at the bottom of the post.
For those who haven’t seen the original film, this is how Variety summed it up:
“The storyline of the original took place in Pepperland, an undersea paradise protected by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. When the band is captured by the music-hating Blue Meanies, a soldier is sent to Liverpool to fetch the Fab Four, who hop in the submarine and save the day.”
Read the original article at the link above or head over to the forum and have your say by clicking here.
