Thursday Links - Eddie, Thandie, Cruise, Murdoch, Ice Cube Trailer, More...
(Sorry Sex And The City fans... couldn't resist :o))- Eddie Murphy back in 4th Beverly Hills Cop movie! - SMH... but I guess it was inevitable, especially since Stallone gave us another Rocky AND another Rambo movie.
- 'I was so incredibly self-conscious' - Thandie Newton on playing Condoleezza Rice, being unknown in Africa and how she had to struggle for her sense of entitlement.
- Who woulda thunk it? Rupert Murdoch likes Obama to win it all! The founder and defender of the unabashedly conservative right-wing Fox News said he expected Obama to win in a landslide (and might actually vote for him) citing widespread unhappiness with the current administration and his disenchantment with Republican contender John McCain.
- Despite their competitors' obvious commitment to bringing film content directly to the consumer via in-home digital download services, Blockbuster still wants you to drive to their store to use the movie download kiosk! Way to stay ahead of the curve there Blockbuster!
- On a related note, NetFlix Thinks It Has 5 Years Of DVD-By-Mail Left before converting to mostly digital distribution. Are you listening Blockbuster?
- 'Bourne' movies viewed as art AND science at New York's Museum of Mordern Art - A panel of filmmakers and neuroscientists to talk about memory, identity and the mysterious workings of the brain at the Museum of Modern Art's World Science Festival this Friday, when all 3 Bourne flicks will be screened. I'm definitely curious and just might check it out.
- Will Smith's best pal, Tom Cruise launches a web site devoted to, what else, himself! A little late in the game, but I guess now is as good a time as any, given his supposed slide in recent years.
- The Great Debaters 2-Disc Special Collector's Edition is now available for sale. It's a feature-rich 2-disc set and worth a look, especially if you still haven't seen the film. Check it out HERE.
- And lastly, check out the trailer for Ice Cube's next film, titled, The Longshots, co-starring Keke Palmer (Akeelah and the Bee), and directed by former Limp Bizkit frontman, Fred Durst, retelling the true story of Jasmine Plummer who, at the age of eleven, became the first female to play in a Pop Warner football tournament, in its 56-year history. I gotta say, Ice Cube's facial hair dramatically alters my perception of him in this clip. I suddenly want to take him a little more seriously as an actor. And I'm not being facetious. Overall, it looks like what we would expect - a formulaic inspirational story wrought with cliches and mawkishness. BUT, I'll still check it out when it's released in July. Here's the trailer:
And that's news to me. Happy Thursday!
Happy Thursday Tambay!
As a hardcore movie buff I'm a bit divided about the new technology...as far as film distribution goes. It seems, slowly but surely more and more people will choose to have their cinematic experiences at home, or other venues outside of the theater. Sadly, I am one of those individuals. It takes a lot to get me out to the movie house these days. Over the weekend I decided to get together with my best friend and have what we used to call a "movie extravaganza". We went to the theater, loaded up on popcorn and watched two movies back to back (Ironman and the new Indiana Jones flick). I was a bit disappointed by the experience overall, a feeling that was only compounded by the ridiculous cost of the outing. I guess I will just have to accept the fact that things have changed. In the meantime I will continue to have movie nights a mi casa :o) It will be interesting to see what the future holds...
- P
Hey P - you lazy bum ;o) get your butt to the theatre!
But seriously, I'm with you all the way. I've sat in a movie theatre probably not a lot more than 5 times so far this year, which isn't much, considering that we're almost half-way through, AND I actually do love watching movies! It's mostly because there really hasn't been much of anything I want to see, so I suppose it's more about the lack of good content, and less about my desire to watch what I want at home... or maybe it's a little bit of both.
I did see Indiana Jones yesterday evening actually, and it SUCKED!!!! Quite disappointing and not at all worthy of my time and money. What a waste of funds and talent - who knew that a $200 million film directed by Steven Spielberg would be so tedious to watch. And the fact that they're thinking of making a 5th one... big sigh...
I'm always behind the tech curve, but I think Blockbuster should hang it up, or join the club.
I actually don't want Netflix to go all digital. I like ignoring my queue and being surprised by what shows up in my mail.
It's the little things...
LOL! Love the cartoon! You cheeky sausage!!
Especially apt seeing as most critics are men. They just won't (or refuse) to get it...
:P
@ FK - I'm soooo ready for digital! I actually cancelled my Netflix account several months ago. Could rarely ever get what I wanted because someone else always had it.
@ UK - I've seen a few bad reviews from female critics. If I'm able to be convinced, I actually might shell out the $12 to see it, so that I can talk about it. The "strong sexuality" and "graphic nudity" warnings from the MPAA are certainly enticing :o)
I tend to ignore critis and go with my own gut instinct.
Half the time you're having to rely on critics' own personal tastes, or they want to be contrary in the face of what they know will be an obvious commercial success (like SATC), or they don't want to be the lone voice championing a challenging movie (like Coppola's Youth Without Youth or Guy Richie's Revolver), or they'll go all out and be absolute movie whores and champion something they know will be a huge hit (like Indy 5).
You're obviously curious so just go and see it.
:p
Here's a male critic who actually didn't think it was that bad - not brilliant, but certainly not too bad, either.
http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,2282766,00.html
Cheeky sausage! Love it...
I wrote about that Ice Cube film a few months ago...it sounded like a big yawn then, and after viewing the trailer, my opinion has not budged, but has been reaffirmed.
@ I.W. - not even a little bit? You mean O'shea's facial hair did nothing for you?