Kitsch Futuristic Kitchen Film

Seen above is a 1967 short film titled 1999 A.D. in which the inevitable advances of the future are demonstrated. This clip of ‘the kitchen of the future’ showcases a world of automation, maximized health, and a push-button culture; themes we see throughout the film.

Found via Paleo-Future.

Kill Bill II: A Deleted Scene

The above scene was cut from Kill Bill 2, and while it’s not my favorite it does fetaure a fun fighting scene! Below are two cool posters I overlooked from Kill Bill 2, the Japanese posters always look so cool to me:

And yes I’m still in mourning the poor box office that Grindhouse suffered…

Navajo Joe

I know it sounds like a long lost cause at this point, but I’ve found myself thinking a few times of late just how much fun Grindhouse was – it’s been a long time were I’ve had that sort of silly fun watching a film. This got me to thinking about Quentin Tarantino’s love of, well let’s just say the low art of cinema.

A few years ago one of the cable channels (maybe it was Ovation or IFC?) gave Tarantino an entire block of time for his own film marathon of sorts. And one of the films he dragged out was none other than Navajo Joe!

Before this I had never heard of the film before, but for some odd reason it’s stuck in my mind when I think of Tarantino. It’s a 1966 Italian/Spanish Spaghetti Western, directed by Sergio Corbucci. But the kicker is that it stars Burt Reynolds, playing a Native American! The film features a very campy soundtrack and goes on forever, and of course the focus is good old fashioned revenge Here’s the trailer:

Read more…

Beckinsale as Barbarella

Everyone thinks of the Jane Fonda film when they first hear Barbarella, but for me the name always reminds me of the French comic books which have held up better over time. I just found out that it’s now looking like Kate Beckinsale has been cast as for the lead role in the remake of Barbarella, which would be a pretty good choice.

If this new film is good or bad will ride on the script and then the director, but I think Beckinsale has a good shot at making the role her own as long as they try to do something new (i.e. by going back to comic books rather than the film).

My favorite film with Beckinsale is Haunted from 1995, which i think is an under rated gem of a film, and one of the best haunted house movies that I’ve watched in a long time.

Update: Sorry folks! This turned out to be a rumor…

Grindhouse Review

If you’re a true fanboy at heart you’ll have to see Grindhouse in a movie theater. Yes I know that the DVD will have all of those extra scenes and the director’s comments giving you every reference that will make you want to search IMDB high-and-low. But in a movie theater you’ll get that one special thing you won’t get at home: audience participation!

Half the fun of watching this film was hearing everyone next to me applauding, cheering, laughing, gasping, or saying “ewwwwww….” in unison. The charm of both films is that they don’t take themselves too seriously, and you even get the sense that the actors up on the screen are having as much fun playing their parts as you are watching them. To me the critical test was at the end of three hours I found myself wanting to see several more hours of the film. In fact if there was premium cable channel that showed nothing but Grindhouse 24/7 I dare say that I might never leave my apartment.

The other half of watching this fim for any fanboy will be looking at the wondeful detail that’s up on the screen. Every other scene seems to have a reference to some old slasher film or features a character actor that you haven’t seen in a few years. By the way while both films owe quite a bit to horror films of the 60s and 70s, there are references to quite a few other things to be found, for example the soundtrack had a bad 80s low budget synth feeling to it. And of course you have that non-stop Rodriguez action and quite a bit of clever Tarantino dialogue to wash down your Pepsi and popcorn with as you watch the film.

I’d rate the film as “a must see, and bring a few friends while you’re at it”…

The Latest Transformers Pics

Wow! I don’t know if there will be a plot or even good acting, but the special effects looks fun on this film. To see the above image larger, just click on them.

If 300 Were Rated PG

Tonight we dine in heck! And on a related note 300 continues to do well at the box office:

Spartans conquer world box office
‘300’ brings in $48 million overseas

The Spartans have conquered the world, as “300” completely dominated the international box office over the weekend, with $48 million from 5,000 playdates in 33 markets.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Avast yee fanboy, we got Pirate pics on on the blog deck. Oh you already seen Pirates one and duo? Well laddy Pirates Three has all that and then some, we got a danty pirate lady and a kung fu dude too! If you want ninjas and giant gilla monsters you’ll have ta wait until the forth installation in the series…

Jackie vs Jet: Kings of Kung Fu

This looks like it might be a fun film:

Jackie vs Jet in Kings of Kung Fu

“The much anticipated movie “J & J Project” or “双Ｊ计划” starring kung fu star Jackie Chan (成龙) and Jet Li (李连杰) has changed the title into “Kings of Kung Fu” or “功夫之王”. The movie will start shooting in late April or early May.

The movie tells a story about an American boy Jason who travels back into ancient China with special mission. Jason meets with action master Lu Yan (鲁彦) played by Jackie Chan and Jin Yanzi (金燕子), plus a silent monk played by Jet Li. They overcome many difficulties and defeat the evil power. In the end, they finish the redemption of saving the Monkey King. It is the first time that the two action superstars cross swords and is worthy of attention.

Renowned American director Rob Minkoff of “Lion King” will helm the movie and the screenplay is written by John Fusco. The Chinese kung fu, legends and myths from Western angel must be fresh and interesting to Chinese audience. It is still not dicided yet who will play the two key female roles in the movie – Jin Yanzi and Bai Fa Mo Nv (白发魔女 or White Devil).”

3001 A Space Odyssey

“Color Me Kubrick” is a new film that stars John Malkovich, Kubrick fans are going to love all the inside jokes in this film:

“For months Alan Conway, a perfect stranger, passed himself off as one of the greatest film directors of all time, Stanley Kubrick. Conway knew nothing of the filmmaker or his films, but this didn’t prevent him from using and abusing the credulity of those who thought they had come in contact with the mythical and equally discreet director.”

Check out the trailer here and the official website here.

New Transformers Pics

Also check out the updated Transformers website for other goodies…

Tarantino Presents: Hell Ride

It’s great to see Quentin riding high again, I’m already spotting Grind House posters but this project with Larry Bishop looks like fun:

Tarantino and Bishop Start “Hell Rider”

“Biker-movie veteran Larry Bishop, is set to begin filming this spring on “Hell Ride.” The movie will be a blood and sex-soaked tale of motorcycle revenge and retribution under the “Quentin Tarantino Presents” banner.The “chopper opera” has Bishop starring, writing, directing and producing along with Tarantino.

Bishop will play bad-ass biker Pistolero, (named after the original title for Robert Rodriguez’s “Desperado”) who along with his brother The Gent and Comanche, hit the road to avenge the death of Pistolero’s old lady Cherokee Kisum, by the 666ers a rival motorcycle gang. Production is scheduled to start late April in Los Angeles.”

The Day that Hollywood Stood Still

Is there nothing else left for Hollywood to ruin? Running in and out of rehab is nothing to be ashamed of in Tinsel Town, but coming up with a new idea for a film must be some sort of unspoken sin. Anyway it looks like the classic science fiction film “The Day the earth Stood Still” is set to be ruined, I mean “reinvisioned” by Fox:

The Day the Earth Stood Still Being Remade for 2008 – Confirmed!

“Apparently Box Office Mojo, the best website for all things box office earnings, has updated their schedule for summer 2008 and included a listing of The Day the Earth Stood Still to open on May 9th, 2008 (one week after Iron Man). The original is a sci-fi classic 1951 movie about an alien and a robot that land on Earth to try and save the world from being destroyed. IMDB doesn’t even have a listing for this remake, but Box Office Mojo claims it’s being produced by Fox, fast-tracked for a spot in 2008′s busy summer.”

Here’s a trailer for the “classic version” of the film:

Barbarella Remake?

I like the idea of a new Barbarella, but I don’t quite trust Dino De Laurentiis after that Flash Gordon remake:

New Barbarella In Works

“Dino De Laurentiis confirmed to Variety that he is planning a remake of the classic campy 1960s space opera Barbarella, which Peter Weber (Hannibal Rising) will direct. De Laurentiis describes the new film as “female James Bond in outer space.” The movie isn’t green-lighted yet. The original 1968 Barbarella, directed by Roger Vadim and based on a French comic book, made a star of a young Jane Fonda. ”

Latest Grind House Trailer

I can’t wait to see this film! You can tell by all the silly touches that Tarantino and Rodriguez have a true love for the medium:

…also don’t forget to visit the official Grind House website!

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Decrepit

Not only aren’t there any new ideas left in Hollywood, it seems there aren’t any new actors either! It’s looking like they’re going to cast Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in a new film that will start shooting in ’07. Ford is now 64 years old, and while he still has that dapper look (see the recent photo above) he’s moved well past the “Admiral Kirk” zone. Like the latest Rocky film this seems to be part of a new formula where ” It ain’t over ’til it’s over and over and over again!” Anyway here’s the breaking news:

Lucas: Indy IV Films In ’07

“George Lucas on Dec. 29 said that filming of the long-awaited fourth Indiana Jones movie will begin next year, the Associated Press reported. Harrison Ford, who appeared in the three earlier films, is set to star again. Lucas said he and director Steven Spielberg recently finalized the script for the film.”

Pulp Xmas

Something for you Quentin Tarantino fanboys:

Read more…

Grind House: Latest Trailer

I’d say that this is on the top of my “must see on opening day” list for 2007!

Sparta 300: Latest Trailer

I have no idea if this film has any sort of plot, but man it looks real slick:

Sparta 300: Latest Trailer

“Based on the epic graphic novel by Frank Miller, 300 is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite.”

First Grindhouse Pictures

The first official batch of photos are now online for the upcoming film Grind House, which features two feature length films from Robert Rodriguez (Planet Terror) and Quentin Tarantino (Death Proof):

First Look: ‘Grindhouse’

Terabithia = Giant Tree People!

Disney is working on a new kids fantasy film called ‘A Bridge to Terabithia’, and the latest trailer is now out:

A Bridge to Terabithia

The movie has a sort of ‘Escape to Witch Mountain’ meets ‘Lord of the Rings’ sort of feeling to it, and seems to feature a giant walking tree creature and ogre thrown n for good measure.

007’s Next Mission?

007’s Next Mission Revealed?

“The follow-up to Casino Royale will reportedly be based on the Ian Fleming short story Risico, which appeared in his 1960 book For Your Eyes Only.

“Bosses were so pleased with how well Casino Royale has been received that work has already commenced on Risico at Pinewood Studios,” claimed a source for the British tabloid The Sun. “Some of the same characters will crop up again. But one of the main aspects will be to develop Bond’s complex personality.”

The problem with Risico is that its basic plot and characters was already used for the 1981 film version of For Your Eyes Only. In Fleming’s Risico, 007 is sent to Italy to investigate a heroin ring and crosses paths with the likes of Colombo and Kristatos, both of whom were featured in the Roger Moore movie.”

Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix Trailer

The latest Harry Potter trailer is up for viewing and in this new film there’s an on screen kiss and even some Matrixlike flying around on broomsticks:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Trailer

Terry Gilliam 1986 MTV Interview

This is not-so-clever interview by MTV VJ Mark Goodman with Terry Gilliam on his “new film” Brazil from 1986:

Ah yes the good old 80s when MTV showed music videos and directors made films that weren’t remakes. When the film came out I managed to watch it quite a few times as I made it the subject of a term paper for a film class, I knew the film was good but little did I know it would be a future classic.

Read more…