MovieCake

Serious Slice: Ben and Chris Discuss Banned Films

2011-05-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

Ben says: What makes a banned film become banned? In my research I've found out that it's never one specific thing. It can vary between genres, countries or the creative minds behind the films. I think the best way to start this is by discussing a banned film that stands out in your mind and try see why that film might have been banned. What's a banned film what comes to mind for you?

Chris says: I think the archetypal banned film for me is The Exorcist. All the furore surrounding it is still apparent today.

Ben says: That's the film that comes straight to my mind as well.
It has violence, religious connotations. And I think if I remember some disturbing connotations.

Chris says: I think our generation were always aware of it, our parents were young adults at the time of its release.

Ben says: I read (on wiki by the way, not reliable), that is was never actually banned.
It was just the uncut version which was banned

Chris says: It was shown for a bit and then pulled.

Ben says: The thing that surprised me most is that we look at those films now and we wonder what the big deal was.

Chris says: That's interesting because like you say, it's like the poster child for banned films.

Ben says: Even as kids when we watched them (which we all did), we, or I at least didn't see the big deal of them. I was never a normal child.

Chris says: Totally agree. Looking at gore films like Hostel and Saw I wonder what it'd take to get a film banned today.
Times have changed. We're not as sensitive as audiences as we used to be.

Ben says: We're so detached from gore now you could pull someone’s head off and put it on a plate and it'll only be a 15. Yet here's the big question: why has China banned time travel in films and tv?
There's no religious threats, no violence.

The quote they gave was:
"Myth, superstitions and reincarnations are questionable."

The loyalists say it stops abusements.

Chris says: I find this story funny. With the amount of human rights atrocities in China, I doubt the people care that they won't be able to watch The Time Traveller's Wife.

Ben says: Arguments for this say it's to protect cultural heritage and to honour the past.

Chris says: I think this can be explained by the following: China mucho loko.

Ben says: Think they've invented time travel and are getting paranoid other people might be on to them?

Chris says: Careful dude, they could be reading this.

Ben says: I for one, would very much like a time machine. There are too many famous people I'd like to go for a pint with. With my luck, I'll show up and they'll be t-total.

Chris says: I think Michael J Fox is going to stand in front of a tank in Tianaman Square to protest the ban.

Ben says: Can we borrow your time machine please China?
Bruce Cambell should go to. To support the case for accidental time travellers. First he was fighting zombies then he's in the future, the dude couldn't catch a break.

Chris says: I'm usually anti-censorship but with banned films it's not as clear cut. The Exorcist was ok but had some scenes that were obviously intended to shock and create notoriety. I.e. the crucifix dildo.

Ben says: Yeah and I understood Evil Dead being banned. i.e. the tree rape scene...

Chris says: Even in the context of the films they seem somewhat unnecessary.

Ben says: I guess there's a line to be drawn. Maybe ours (in the UK) isn't drawn near enough?

Chris says: They're intentionally pushing the boundary for the sake of it, not for the sake of entertainment. I think the BBFC are pretty much on the ball. Our 18 certificate is pretty broad so banned films are quite rare. The only banned films of recent times have all been never intended for major release anyway, so even if they weren't banned, people wouldn't have seen them.

Ben says: You say recent but we're not that far away from the 70's which brought us Straw Dogs (the rape scene what looked too pleasurable) or Caligula (check it out, mental).

Chris says: 70's is certainly not recent.

Ben says: Evil Dead was in the 80s

Chris says: I was born 1985.

Ben says: What I'm trying to say is that we had these around while we were growing up, it wasn't at all hush hush.

Chris says: I think the irony of these banned films like Evil Dead and Exorcist is that because they pushed the boundaries of good taste, filmmakers today can get away with a lot more.

Ben says: And further more even if films are banned now, would it not be easy enough to download them? Does banning a film doing any good other than giving it a 'bad boy' reputation?

Chris says: It definitely helps its future sales. The only reason people watch The Exorcist and Texas Chainsaw Massacre is because of the reputation that precedes them. And then you watch them and wonder what the fuss was about.

Ben says: Yeah, have you ever watched them recently? I get bored within 5 minutes. Forget suspence, they were just dull.

Chris says: Texas Chainsaw started the whole stupid teenagers in horror film plot device, so for that it should be deplored. One by one they went, like lambs to the slaughter. Oh where's Mary gone, I'll go and investigate alone. Oh where's Steve gone, I'll also go alone to investigate. People that stupid deserve everything coming to em.

Ben says: I'll be right back.... gasp, I'm dead.
I could say the same about my ex.

Chris says: I preferred the Texas Chainsaw remake.

Ben says: And I'm not even being sour, she was just stupid.

Chris says: Your ex got killed by Leatherface?

Ben says: She'd have been the first to go.
Actually, she wouldn't. She'd be left around for eye candy. Then people would get annoyed at her stupidity and cheer when she dies. Without the bitter remarks though....
And before we go too off topic: What makes a film banned?

Chris says: I think the main theme of most banned films is religion. Or rape.

Ben says: And violence, oh and time travel.

Chris says: In crazy China yes.

Ben says: Can't watch a time traveller. Doctor Who is a dangerous guy if you didn't know.

Chris says: Banned films certainly highlight the sensitivities of the society that bans them. And like I said mainstream society is a lot less sensitive to shocking imagery as it was say 30 years ago.

Ben says: What can really be banned in our society? Are we a society what has seen it all?

Chris says: I believe so. Religious people are different though, their sensitivities towards their beliefs are probably still the same. Hence films with strong blasphemous themes will always be controversial.

Ben says: Hell, if you put a religious symbol in anything there's always a religious nut to complain about it.
Mohammed, Jesus, Santa Claus....

Chris says: That's a triple threat. My money's on St Nick. Don't mess with a fat guy after a glass of brandy.

Ben says: I'm sure I saw him at my local last night.

Chris says: Nowadays I could watch a chicken peck a toddler to death and not even bat an eyelid if it was in a Eli Roth film.

Ben says: I don't even flinch when I see someone’s rib cage pulled open. In fact, I expect it.

Chris says: Gory effects nowadays are so OTT, they appear downright silly at times. So it's hard to be shocked by them.

Ben says: Personally, and I truly speak for myself here... CGI ruined so much I can't even descirbe how annoyed I am at it.

Chris says: I agree. It defies logic.

Ben says: CGI can be spotted like missing nipple.

Chris says: How is it that CGI blood is the norm? A bucket of fake blood is cheap but also realistic.

Ben says: Much more realistic. Even if I know it's fake at least I don't think when I watch it 'it's fake'.

Chris says: Is there any film you would personally ban?

Ben says: Jonas Brothers 3D. It offended me. Although I'm told the 3D was pretty good.

Chris says: You should write to the Daily Mail. Get a campaign going. How dare they promote chastity in today's teenage pregnancy rife culture.

Ben says: You know they won't be seen as cool in school if they don't have a bun in the oven.
Don't these people care!?
Did you know, must banned films are banned by people who have never seen them?
They just hear stuff and decide to campaign against it.

Chris says: Yeah like the Jerry Springer musical, which received 99 percent of its complaints pre broadcast. I would ban Passion of the Christ. Mel Gibson could teach the Saw production team a thing or two.

Ben says: I remember you saying you were scarred. It wasn't even the religious problems, maybe the racial ones, but it was ultimately the violence what putted you off it wasn't it? Mel Gibson is the ultimate religious nut. At least he preaches with film and violence and not with moaning like everyone else seems to do.

Chris says: Yeah, the level of realistic and sustained violence on screen was unprecedented. It made me physically nauseous in the cinema.

Ben says: Ironic. I think the way forward now is to push the boundaries again.

Chris says: I think the boundaries been reached already. I can't see where else we can go to shock people.

Ben says: I want to be shocked and appalled! I want to have something I can be disgusted at. I want something I can buy on DVD and watch over and over and scare myself shitless. Well there are some...
But it's usually snuff films.

Chris says: Just take a look at my internet history then.

Ben says: Or overly political films that are shocking to prove a point. I'm worried I might find something I like.

Chris says: I have a large collection of violent chicken pecking snuff films. It's finger breaking good.

Ben says: KPC? Kentucky Pecking Chicken? I think I've seen that one.

Chris says: I think that was Peking Chicken. You've been down the Chinese again.

Ben says: It was banned by chicken worshippers until the lizard people said they were being anti-semetic

Chris says: Nazi lizards. There's a b-movie in there somewhere. Unless Godzilla radically changes his political beliefs.

Ben says: Nazi Lizards Vs Godzilla on Ice?

Chris says: I'd certainly ban that.

Ben says: Unless it had Pikachu involved somehow. But that would be silly. Too fictional. Everyone knows Godzilla and the Nazi Lizards actually exist.

Chris says: It should be said that banning is a form of censorship though.

Ben says: Maybe it's the ice part that would be banned? It would be offending Hiations (people from Haiti). Isn't censorship impeding democracy though?

Chris says: It's certainly impeding freedom of expression. But should all forms of expression be allowed to be distributed? Sorry for playing Devil's advocate there.

Ben says: My view, my liberal view is that we should introduce these images, violent, political, sexual at a young an age as possible. Help people be excepting towards society rather than fear it.

Ben says: Well there's always the radical extremists out there. Violence to spur violence should be banned. I found that's what films like Green Street, the Business do. They just encourage chav culture.

Chris says: I dunno, I was a grown man. But after watching Passion of the Christ, I wanted to crawl back into the womb and hide.

Ben says: And who likes chavs other than chavs? If only we could...

Chris says: Maybe we should ban chavs then. It might have a domino effect and solve all of life's problems. We then would live in a Utopian society where the notion of banned films wouldn't exist.
Problem solved.

Ben says: Nah then neo chavs will spawn from underground chavs. It's a vicious cycle. We just have to hope the species dies on its own. I think the main key is toleration. Just because we don't like something it doesn't mean we can't tolerate it. Like I tolerate Godzilla. And Superman remakes. And so many other things. I don't want them banned though.

Chris says: So we can conclude that banning a film is usually a much ado about nothing but they do serve a purpose in highlighting the sensitivities of society. And of course banning a film often has an unintentional positive effect on the film's distribution as people try and watch it just to see why it was banned.

Ben says: Agreed. I would say that the banning of a film is through paranoia and the unknown. Ultimately. We could ban anything through fear. I suggest that if they ban anything they should ban the upcoming Justin Beiber film.

Chris says: Here, here.

Ben says: And I've been Ben Doran.
Saying quidditch is a dangerous sport, to be tried at home.

Chris says: And I've been Chris Curry. I'm off to delete my internet history before the Feds close in.

OMFG! Takashi Miike to create Ace Attorney film!

2011-05-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

In an interview with Huffington Post at the Cannes film festival, prolific Japanese director Takashi Miike (Audition, 13 Assassins) gave a not so subtle hint regarding his next film project.

"It is a very light comedy that I am filming now, a court drama based on a video game, on the Nintendo DS", Miike said.

OBJECTION!!!

It doesn't take a three digit IQ and a MENSA membership to realise that he is referring to the Ace Attorney series of games, which have a formidable cult following worldwide and especially in its native Japan. In the first three games of the series, you play as defense attorney Phoenix Wright who will most likely be the protaganist in Miike's film version. The game is mainly set in the courtroom where proceedings are played out Manga style with OTT expressions and witty dialogue. This adaptation will mark a bold new direction for the director who is most noted for making gory horror and action films.

Personally I greet this news with unbridled joy. I can't think of any news that could top this. Only news that I am related to some dying rich king about to scribe his will would come close and even then I'd still be thinking about this film. So it's definitely a film to keep on your film radar Cake fans, also try your best to see Takashi Miike's latest film 13 Assassins if your local cinema is showing it. Mine certainly isn't.

Chris Curry

Akira will have an all Asian cast

2011-05-17T16:14:00.000-07:00

There has been many a tales about the upcoming Akira film. The latest being that Keanu Reeves was confirmed for the lead role. This was in fact true, until that is, he turned it down.

There was a upstir over the authenticity of the film. The original manga and 1990’s film were both set in a post apocoplyptic Tokyo with biker gangs, and well, it was just a Japanese film.

Their original intentions after being given the rights was to revamp it and give it a Yank feel towards it. Set it in New York, then get an all American cast, then make it well, an American film.

The first sign of deterioration was that they then said it was going to be set in Japan after all but with American actors. Then after a large petition from George Takai and other outraged fans they’ve decided to drop the American actors as well.

The whole production has now gone into hibernation mood, and although the film hasn’t been cancelled there is now a thought process which likely revolves around ‘if our main fan base is pissed, then we don’t have a leg to stand on’.

So they’re now looking for Asian actors to forfill the roles, and there are many out there who can do the role. But the question is whether they use already established Japanese actors or American-Japanese and try make a cross-over culture film.

Personally, the latter would be the most sensible choice. If there is too much swing in either direction then there will be a feeling of exclusion from both sides. So a happy middle? Maybe.

The full quote from the studios is:

"Production on Akira has not halted or been shut down, as the film has not yet been greenlit and is still very much in the development stage. The exploratory process is crucial to a project of this magnitude, and we will continue to sculpt our approach to making the best possible film."

So there you have it. Opinions below!

Ben Doran

New poster of Tintin! And he’s on top of the world (literally).

2011-05-16T15:53:00.000-07:00

The poster for Tintin has been released via Empire and it looks pretty epic.

Featuring the voices of Jaime Bell, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, the adaptation of the long running Tintin comic is director Spielberg's first venture into stop-motion 3D digital filming.

Combining three of Belgian artist Georges "Hergé" Remi's comic stories --The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure -- the film depicts Tintin's (Jamie Bell) first encounter with Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) and the discovery of a clue to the treasure of his ancestor Sir Francis Haddock. They set out to find it with protection from a prison escapee who tried to get the treasure as well as Detectives Thompson and Thomson (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost).

Directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by Peter Jackson, and written by Edgar Wright, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn is scheduled for theatrical release December 23rd, 2011.

Expect lots of cool effects and lots of talk on how amazing the technology was!

Ben Doran

Flintstones the Movie to be made by Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy

2011-05-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

Seth MacFarlane seems to of been after the rights to the Flintstones for some time, and now according to Deadline he has them. The people who owned the rights were very tentative in handing them over to the king of crude, and master of the poor melodrama (see the ‘serious’ family guy episodes).

However, this isn’t all. Not only will he be making a movie of the Flintstones but he’ll also be rejuvenating the old cartoon. Now, if anyone is familiar with Seth MacFarlane’s work you’ll know he likes his dads as main characters- Family Guy, American Dad, the Cleveland Show, so this isn’t exactly new territory for him.

What the challenge will likely be however is to reinvent the traditional and infamous cartoon for the new age. So many cartoons have done similar but haven’t necessarily been the big hits they once were.

Furthermore, MacFarlane’s cleanest and family friendly work so far as been the Cleveland Show which isn’t exactly family friendly. So whether he’ll be trying to reinvigorate it and try just update the old format, or give it a bit more of an adult theme remains to be seen.

But giving that the Flintstones is an already established brand I imagine that the it won’t stray too far from the original in terms of audience. It would be a fools move to take a name as profitable as the Flintstones and sabotage it with a misguided creative mind (looking at you Flintstones circa 1994 & 2000).

Ben Doran

Jack Bauer gets Romantic

2011-05-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

Kiefer Sutherland will be playing an Irish comedian in the and upcoming Fairy Tale of New York rom-com....

.....No, I’m not shitting you.

The picture will shoot later on this year and will be filmed in Northern Ireland and New York.

First time director Lee Cleary is at the helms of this one. And erm, it should be interesting shouldn’t it?

I hope I’m not alone in thinking that Kiefer Sutherland in anything but a kick ass action saga is wrong. Unless half way through we find out that New York is under threat by terrorists. In which case they have just the right man for the job, right?

This will probably be a tactical manoeuvre by Sutherland to prevent being type-casted which happens to so many actors out there.

On the plus side however, it does sound like a good premise for a rom-com and it’s surprising to think no one’s thought to exploit the popular Pogues song before now. The songs practically a movie in itself.

The problems of this of course are that we expect a lot more goddamn air time of that god damn song again. I liked it once, I think.

Ben Doran

Monsters 2 is without its Creator

2011-05-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

A sequel to Gareth Edwards 2010 debut film Monsters has been announced and is underway.

The original film delivered a large amount of quality for a very limited budget. Set in New Mexico in a world where creatures happen to come to Earth (though not much is explained about them), the film focuses on a journalist who is set the task to transport a tourist through the infected zone where the aliens inhabit.

The sequel however will only be supervised by Edwards and be delivered by two new directors hoping to deliver the same big blockbuster for a small price tag.

Screen Daily says: This story will continue by introducing a teacher living in a protected walled city, who has to go into the infected zone to find his long-lost brother, a former military man who is now a Col. Kurtz-esque figure. Niblo promises “lots more creatures” than the original.

It’s apparently sticking very closely to the feel of the original and will be funded by the British Film Institute and BBC films.

This sequel is stepping on dangerous grounds. With so many sequels in the past carrying on without a large proportion of their original creators input it so easily falls apart and fails to capture the imaginations the originals do.

Especially with British funding, most British backed films are done with a certain amount of ideology and enthusiasm that one British Director has done well, so can the other guys. This isn’t always true.

And also the plot itself doesn’t sound too originals. So it could go completely tits up, essentially.

A positive way to see this however is regardless of how successful the movie will be, or well they execute it it’ll likely be very entertaining. And we’re also guaranteed to see more monsters, which is always a bonus.

Ben Doran

MovieCake Returns!

2011-05-10T07:59:00.000-07:00

MovieCake will be back this Monday delivering you the movie news you all have a hunger for. MovieCake has gone through a trail period and will be making adjustments and tweaks to the sites appearance (as many loyal followers have noticed), and to our content.

What content you ask? Well, we will gradually be seeking out news from more independent and abstract films, to give MovieCake an edge over our competitors, as well as providing all the news you’ve become accustomed to*.

The Serious Slice segments will be changing slightly also. Chris and I have discussed it and we feel our topics have been too vague, so we will be aiming to give a more in depth analysis on more specific topics. We will be doing one more ‘vague’ topic on banned films on the 21^st May and from then on we’ll be discussing directors, actors, and anything what gives us a good concrete basis for debate.

We’ll gradually be experimenting with podcasts, videos, and festival coverage. But that may have to wait until I overcome my crippling camera shyness.

On another note, MovieCake is experimenting with merchandise! Tee’s are going for £15, a link to a picture is on our facebook page- facebook.com/moviecake. Comment below if interested.

In other news we now have a domain name- moviecake.net. So if you want to reach us just type that in and it’ll forward you here. Unfortunately no one on the MovieCake team knows html well enough to create a site so this blogger page will have to do for now.

Thank you all for being patient. Expect more fun news, entertainment, views, and cake for the future. Next week will be the week that MovieCake begins its transition into greatness. Great cakeness.

Ben Doran

*Which usually is comic book movie news. I know it, you know it, and I’ve said it. I’m not ashamed!

Warner Bros swap cash for Rotten Tomatoes. Reports that Apple have bought Orange are unconfirmed and presumed made up.

2011-05-04T13:27:00.000-07:00

Warner Bros has bought movie website/Facebook app Flixter today for an undisclosed sum The Guardian reports. Flixter also owns popular movie rating website Rotten Tomatoes, which many discerning moviegoers use as a guide to what movies are worth watching. Their average ratings compiled from reviews provided by multiple sources, from high-brow film critics in broadsheet newspapers to the lowliest online critic. The percentages they give are as set in stone as the Ten commandments and you know if a film gets a 20% it's likely a massive stinker and probably best to send a canary into the cinema first to see if the air quality will support human life.

So it's definitely a good service then. A quick reference point to check whether a film is actually worth seeing. However, the main issue that arises from this acquisition is that of an obvious conflict of interest. A movie production company owning a movie reviews website does strike as a bit devious. Call me cynical but I can't see the next Harry Potter film getting a bad review on Rotten Tomatoes no matter how rubbish it may be. Most importantly when a movie website becomes biased it loses all credibility and the trust of its readership.

UPDATE

Warner Bros has bought MovieCake for the hefty sum of 50p and half a packet of chewing gum. We look forward to all Warner Bros products including the no doubt excellent final installment of the riveting Harry Potter series of magical films. We also praise Bugs Bunny for all his fabulous work and us folks at MovieCake hope that it is not all from that magnificent cartoon creation.

Chris Curry

Harry Potter Trailer Arrives!

2011-04-28T03:49:00.000-07:00

Easily the darkest Harry Potter we’ve ever seen, the most epic as well.

This is the final instalment of the Harry Potter franchise, and unlike its predecessors this one will pack more expelliarmus than it does quidditch.

In this instalment Harry and Voldermort finally come to the death match what they have been destined for ever since the fateful night Harry was scarred and Voldermort was vanquished.

Many die, some live, we see things we’ve not seen before. Also, you see Ron being a bad-ass and Voldermort with incredible PA system. But this knowledge is from the books alone and may not transpire to the film itself.

Boil the kettle, get some biscuits, enjoy this mighty trailer!

Ben Doran

Arnold Schwarzenegger will be in Terminator- its official he’s back.

2011-04-27T14:53:00.000-07:00

Have we not suffered enough? Did the Governator cartoon in production not wet enough whistles to keep the t-500s at bay? Is this James Cameron mocking us, grinning in the background saying ‘you need me for this, don’t you?’ Well thanks very bloody much.

But at least we can see the original terminator back in action, but the problem is Arny is now in is f-ing 60s. He’s old. He’s in peak condition but dammit it just isn’t cool to watch an OAP ex-governor of California go around shooting people up with sawn-off shotguns and riding round on Harleys. Wait a minute what the feck am I saying? It’s the most god damn coolest thing this side of planet Earth! Yeah baby.

The problem about all of this is of course how they plan on dealing with the series. With Arny back it could mean that they can use him as a catalyst to finally bring the current saga to an end. We already know judgement day hasn’t come so maybe it’s time to start a new judgement day and let Arny and the army of t-500s win or lose.

In the third film they made Arny look younger with CGI, and the likely scenario will be that they’ll do the same this time around too. The possibility of this completely breathing new life into an already beaten to death brand is nill however. Without James Cameron, the original director and creator of the series it’s essentially a name what is there to reinvigorate another name what will put bums in seats.

Arny is old now too, and jobless less we forget. This will be a class move where he’s cashing in, and if anyone knows how to cash in an embrace it without seeming blantently money hungry it’s Arny. So fair play on him.

Don’t expect this to be the thing the Terminator franchise needs though. Remember T3 was awful, and do was Salvation. Let’s hope this one at least is a bit tongue and cheek about the whole affair and doesn’t take itself too seriously for once, and doesn’t get too involved with its own mythology like so many before it has.

If they follow these easy guidelines provided by MovieCake then you will hopefully see a kick-ass summer blockbuster movie what will make us forgive the monstrosities what have gone before it. We may even go out and buy them on blu-ray! Or maybe not. Hell, if it makes me want to pick up T2 again without the need to watch it to ‘cleanse the pallet’ then it can be called a successful job.

Ben Doran

Hmm Zorro? Post-apocalyptic Zorro!

2011-04-27T14:32:00.000-07:00

What do you do with a brand and a franchise what has been done more of than any over brand of franchise and has been around since the 1920s? You send him into the future! The post-apocalyptic future!!!

Yes they have redone and rehashed the Mexican vigilante in black so many times MovieCake as lost count (although the first person who can tell us wins a free cupcake).

This time expect less Antonio Bandares swash buckling and whip slapping and more electronic laser-beams and abandoned robots being found in derelict graveyards found the a ‘Z’ embodied on them.

Or maybe it’ll be ‘ZoPAF’ as in Zorro of the Post-Apocalyptic Future, just to avoid confusion. I for one was never really a fan of Zorro. It was a vigilante who didn’t seem to have the charm it took for a lower-middle class white boy like my-self to really adhere to his seemingly rough and gallivant charms.

However the premise looks good. And for one, can’t get enough of post-apocalyptic films regardless of the cringingly-bad factor which they may possess.

Stay tuned for more on the ZED.

Ben Doran

Batman beaten up by Bane picture online

2011-04-27T03:50:00.000-07:00

Looks good doesn’t it? And how often do we want Christian Bale to be beaten up, even if it is just done by make up?

This is a make-up test what has just appeared online. The picture from speculation is Bruce Wayne after being beaten up by his latest enemy Bane. Whether this is an old test from Terminator Salvation or another one of his more recent films is yet to be said.

Enjoy.

Amazing Spiderman, plot and spoilers (Hidden bottom of page).

2011-04-27T02:53:00.000-07:00

Hands up who have read the Spiderman comics past and present! (ME!).

But to those who haven’t and want to know what we can expect in Marc Webb’s reincarnation of Spiderman I shall tell you. Then and only then will I drop the potential spoiler.

Before I Start the following information is from comics alone and may not be what appears in the film at all. The new Spiderman will rely heavily on the new Ultimate Spiderman comics which reinvent Spidey for a modern audience. Instead of being a photographer for the Daily Bugle he is a web designer. For the most of it (as far as I have read anyhow) he is in high school, and will be kept there.

What I know about the comics and the film show that they’ve not entirely lifted from the comics.

To not go into too much detail however, I’ll just tell you that the love interest in this will be Gwen Stacey not Mary Jane, which is from the original comics rather than the new ones. In the original comics Gwen dies and returns as a clone which then transfers into a more epic saga. In the new ones she lives with Peter and his Aunt May, with Peter going out with MJ while this is going on and no sexual connotations involved. Why does she live with Peter and his Aunt May? Well that is part of the spoiler. Highlight below.

In the comics Gwen’s dad is a police captain who dies after a Spiderman imposter robs a bank. This may result in Gwen hating Spiderman but going out with Peter at the same time which could cause a lot of conflict and interesting drama for the screen.

However, also in the comics Mary Jane is shown Peters secret very early on. Like from the start. So this may result to Peter switching from Gwen to MJ. But that’s just speculation.

The real spoiler bit is this. Although we technically know Captain Stacey dies in action we don’t know when or to what relevance it will have on the plot or the sequel. In a passing with MTV Denis Leary the actor playing Gwen’s dad said this:

“I’m not allowed to say anything about the ending of ‘Spider-Man’ — or the ending of ‘Rescue Me,’ ” he told us at the opening festivities for the Tribeca Film festival. “It’s verboten! I can’t tell you!”

Yes we can read into it, even if it does sound elusive. But MovieCake believes that he will die in the film, and potentially quite near the end which will leave a lot open for a sequel (which they will be).

There you have it.

Any thoughts?

Ben Doran

Lights, Camera, Effects! Green Lantern given $9m to boost effects.

2011-04-27T02:48:00.000-07:00

Yep, it’s true. The studios are concerned that the mask of the Green Lantern aren’t up to spec so they are injecting some extra cash in to improve the entirely CGI suit of our hero. The catch? Well they’ve only 2-3 months until the film is released.

This isn’t particularly unusual for films. Captain America has had to shout up to the 11^th hour to get in some final scenes, and they’re still going now according to the rumour mill.

The consequences of all this however is in the fact that the last minute touch ups are showing concerns about the films graphical capabilities. Remember for a moment if you will that the Green Lantern will largely be green screen, with next to little real life images and in a lot of scenes the only thing none CGI will be a naked Ryan Reynolds.

This means that it could fall into the now benchmark of horror touch-ups as Clash of the Titans. Whose last minute 3D addition invented 3D-phobia for the 21^st century, but of course this isn’t 3D. This then brings to light the catastrophic horror that was the first trailer for the Green Lantern what the studios eventually apologised for.

Past lessons have taught us that when there is this much last minute tinkering it isn’t usually a good sign. Though the latest trailer shows more confidence graphically, there has been concerns about the mask. This could be all it is, just the mask. Yet then again, the mask could be the cover up to much more seep seeded issues.

Green Lantern is a space epic. It isn’t just your average super hero film. It’s also a risky business to add things in last minute. The likely hood of all these events will be brought about in its summer release. We can hope for now that the end product wows us, and if it does it will secure another franchise the DC universe can capitalise on, and if not the DC may think twice before rushing post-production again.

Ben Doran

Bill and Ted Script Finished. Excellent!

2011-04-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

The much anticipated third instalment is officially script ready. According to Alex Winter (Bill of Bill and Ted) who has Tweeted:

“@antmaurizio: Bill & Ted 3, less than 6 weeks away and counting? Movie is gonna kick some ass.” > Just got the script. And now to read…

You know what that means? It means we can actually have a kick-ass Bill and Ted movie. It means that we’re finally going to get to watch an aged Bill S Preston Esq and Ted ‘Theodore’ Logan reform as the Wyld Stallyns. EXCELLENT!

The sequel brings to question 2 things. 1, what will this film be about? And 2, what will the film be called?

The first has already been semi-answered by Keanu Reeves who has said that they are the same characters in the present day but they’ve not wrote the song that is meant to change the world for the better. Through frustration and lack of answers they somehow go back to their old time machine.

Personally, I’m expecting some deep life issues to be touched upon like we should always be excellent to each other.

The name? I think it should be called Bill and Ted’s Gnarly Suburban house. It could be about the adjustments of being a middle aged white man still trying to be cool in an ever changing social climate and they adjust to their place in the world by using the time travelling phone booth to visit other middle aged rock stars that should of died young- looking at you Mick Jagger. Just an idea, although they’d probably just need to catch a train rather than time travel. Meh.

Lastly, this is a personal favourite for me. It’s a film from my childhood which has shaped and personified me, dude. I would be in no way shape or form be any way as cool as I am today without the help from Bill and Ted, and robot Bill and Ted, and the alien things. And Death. Death definitely need to return. I miss Death.

Ben Doran

MovieCake has Rudd Love with his new film Our Idiot Brother.

2011-04-25T16:25:00.000-07:00

My brothers can probably relate to this, as unfortunately there is one in every family and in mine, it’s me. So that’s one reason why this film looks appetising, but it is also very tasty for two other reasons. 1, it is directed by the people who brought us Little Miss Sunshine. The fantastic film what made most of feel so engrossed in a movie we all wanted a broken yellow van at the end of it. And 2, it stars Paul Rudd, the man who MovieCake loves so much we may ask to have his children one day (even though there are no woman as of yet as MovieCake, we’d find a way).

Our Idiot brother is about a dude who ends up living back at his parents after selling weed to a police officer then needing a place to stay when he comes back home. Obviously hilarity flows through the film, and it looks like there is no need for the comedy to be fuelled by character chemistry alone. By the looks of it Rudd seems to have the comedy covered, my favourite sketch in the trailer is the fingers in the door gag, awesomely funny.

Also Paul Rudd sports the long-haired beard look quite well. So much so we would like to offer him a job a MovieCake, he’d fit straight in!

On another note, the trailer is below. It’s funny. And also doesn’t seem too sucky.

Ben Doran

Somewhere over the Rainbow... is another Wizard of Oz remake. This Time its Sam Raimi, and he Knows his Witches.

2011-04-24T17:15:00.000-07:00

There have been many, many, many Wizard of Oz remakes/reimaginings/sequels/alternative universes/plays/late-night-drinking-sessions-turned-into-a-sing-along-of-Wizard-of-Oz-because-your-girlfriend-was-drunk-and-said-she-wouldn’t-put-out-unless-you-sang-too-and-also-you-were-pretty-drunk-yourself-moments. However, this time Sam Raimi wants a piece of the Wicked Witch.

And who is the most wicked witch you could ever imagine, ever conjure upon the darkest of thoughts!? It’s none other than Hilary Swank.

Why Swank? Why else. She’s hot. So she’s got that kinky naughty side to her and also she’s a credible actor winning two Academy Awards.

BUT! The studios want the also hot, but obviously inferior (she has NO Academy Awards- the studios can do math!!) Michelle Williams to fill the curly toed shoes!

Raimi has walked away from a project before because of the suits interfering in his movies when push comes to shove. The last time he did so was with Spiderman 3 in which they wanted something he didn’t, and tried again in the forth Spiderman, which resulted with that project being booted and a remake/reboot of Spiderman without Raimi.

Yep movie making is a bitchy industry, man. The more reason these guys should chill out with a slice of cake. Why cake? Why not.

Seriously though, the potential Raimi Oz does have great possibilities. Expect a bizarre slapstick and horror filled journey if it gets made and Raimi doesn’t jump ship, or get thrown overboard. And if the actors chosen are the ones by Raimi then he’s going for broke and it could be an epic affair.

FYI. This will be called Oz, the Great and the Powerful. Or as MovieCake calls it- Oz 10,000: Return of the Green Witch Dude.

Ben Doran

Avengers finally getting Revenged!? (With Avenger Character Bios!)

2011-04-24T16:48:00.000-07:00

I’m sorry for my pun. I just the only one I could think of and I’m not in a creative mood this morrow I’m afraid!

The news on the desk this morning is that the Avengers have finally started filming. Joss Whedon (the guy who directed Buffy- the good one) will be taking helm, and as reported in his mighty blog yesterday:

“Tomorrow we start shooting (I THINK I’m legally permitted to say that). Day one. That’s right. We’ll be shooting the pivotal death/betrayal/product placement/setting up the sequel/coming out scene, at the following address:”

Yes, the long awaited, long anticipated, and strongly led cast will finally be setting their powers to ‘avenge’. Not that we’ve ever been sure just who the Avengers are exactly avenging, but that’s for a different day. Is it not?

So today the Weed himself will be in the director’s chair with the ensemble of Thor, IronMan, Captain America, the Incredible Hulk, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, Black Widow. All of whom you should know of but it case you don’t...

Thor is the film about a God banished to Earth, which may I add is in all good cinemas today. It has mostly good reviews and his fronted by the rising Chris Hemsworth.

Iron Man is about a rich dude who builds a mechanical suit and goes round saving people, usually drunk; played by the usually drunk Robert Downey Jr.

Captain America is about a soldier in the 1940’s who is injected with super serum making him super strong. He’s all patriotic and stuff and will be frozen in time to act as our fish out of water, played by the comedy and action able Chris Evans.

Hulk is a scientist who accidently transforms himself into a big green erm ‘hulk’. He’ll be played by a different actor for the third time since the movies have begun again. This time the man in green will be Mark Ruffalo. Usually found in more ‘indie flicks’.

Hawkeye will be played by Jeremy Renner of Hurt Locker and will be the new ‘Bourne’. Hawkeye doesn’t technically have any real powers but his good with arrows. Not the coolest dude.

Nick Fury is a badass played by a dude who can play a badass- Samuel L Jackson. Nick Fury ishead of S.H.I.E.L.D; an organisation in the Marvel comic universe that keeps tags and usually tells the superheroes where they are at and what to do. These dudes are responsible for the ‘avenger initiative’.

Lastly we have Black Widow. She briefly appeared in Iron Man 2 and will be played by Scarlett Johansson. One word- damn.

Wicked yo. Expect a shit load of action. Also coherent and well developed character arcs, seeing as that is exactly what the Weed as built a reputation for in the past 10 years.

Ben Doran

Serious Slice: Ben and Chris Discuss Movie Remakes

2011-04-23T02:59:00.000-07:00

Ben and Chris are getting a bit fed up remakes and reboots. Do we need another Crow movie? How many times can a Terminator ‘be back?’ Do apes make good wives? Find out in today’s Serious Slice.

Chris: OK let's begin. Have you watched any reboots recently?

Ben: The last one I remember watching was Terminator Salvation. I have to say, I wasn't very impressed.

Chris: Indeed, it hardly lived up to T2. Hell it didn't even live up to T3.

Ben: It's one of the main examples why reboots should just be banned entirely. It was definitely a project that had a lot of hard working people behind it but it just didn't feel like it had the same sort of love as the James Cameron ones.

Chris: And T3 had a female sexbot in it.

Ben: Ah yes the Mostow directed one. I mean the idea of a sex bot always sounds great on paper. Then when they get loose and are never sexually satisfied...

Chris: I agree, again we bring up Cameron but it's hard to deny he puts everything into his films.

Ben: No you're right. But his hand in modern effects are easily some of the most influential in modern times are they not?

Chris: It could be argued that while the first Alien film was Ridley Scott's, it was Cameron who turned it into the franchise.

Ben: My point is, maybe the name alone shouldn't be the life span of the film. Maybe without the original creative minds the sequels/reboots should just be laid to rest

Chris: Forget the effects, I'm just saying that great directors craft these great films and their memories spawn countless remakes and reboots made by lesser filmmakers.

Ben: Not always. Look at the original superman films. They were classics. They were then to be followed on, ‘sequalised’ from the originals years afterwards but with a different actor, different director.

Chris: They were originals though

Ben: A competent one Bryan Singer who brought us X-men.

Chris: I'm talking about reboots and the reboot of Superman was a big pile of poo.

Ben: But he failed because ultimately he wasn't the original talent behind the originals. Yeah because the original creative talent wasn't there anymore, it stunk harder than Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes. And that's saying something

Chris: Not just that, it loses the magic of the original, as we've seen it before. At least that film had sexy Helena Bonham Carter. I've never looked at chimps the same way since.

Ben: That was just the norm for me. Who wouldn't want an ape girlfriend? You'd never have to worry about farting in the room ever again.

Chris: Yeah, I think farting would pale in comparison to the shit slinging. Tron annoyed me a bit, almost a clone of the original. But wait, it was in 3D!

Ben: Let's not go into this again...

Chris: Oops sorry. It even had the main character being transported into an arcade ala the original.

Ben: At least they tried something different and kept at the roots of the originally by bringing something visually creative. Even if the plot was poor.

Chris: They could at least have updated it by having him sucked into an Ipad. That would also have metaphoric relevance.

Ben: Or a game phone.. They're popular now aren't they?

Chris: They're just a Game Boy reboot if you ask me.

Ben: And something's wrong with that, because?

Chris: The main point of a reboot or remake is that they save the studios time and money.

Ben: The Crow reboot has me concerned.... I mean Juan Carlos Fresnadillo as competent a director as he is, he isn't exactly Chris Nolan. He's a heavy back catalogue of shit to deal with and may well just be adding shit upon an already rotten shit.

Chris: Or a shit mountain if you will. Let's not delude ourselves in thinking they're providing what the fans want.

Ben: Well it's about branding most the time though. Rarely is the fans consideration taken into account.

Chris: But do we need a Crow remake?

Ben: Unless the film well and truly flops. Then they suddenly start listening. And no, we need a good Crow remake or none at all.

Chris: But do we? I was happy with the original.

Ben: If someone doesn't have some new amazing way to deliver it then they should leave it alone.

Chris: Exactly.

Ben: It was brilliant. It still stands the test of time if you ask me.

Chris: Unless it's a new and better interpretation then what's the point?

Ben: It's a money maker that's why they’ve been so many 'sequels'. It's the one film I'd wish they'd leave alone. It was so original at the time, being the youngster I was then I as well I was utterly taken it by the mood, the story, and the characters. And ever since then they just made cheap versions of that first film

Chris: We need to raise the point that for every rubbish remake, the money spent could have been used to finance an original production. So they're also stifling creativity.

Ben: They seem to forget that there was a graphic novel what it was based on. But is there enough creativity out there? Better yet is there enough faith to put behind creativity?

Chris: There could be a superb script out there that was nearly greenlit but instead the studio chose to go with Son of the Mask.

Ben: From a studio's perspective, why put money behind a creative maybe when you can finance a generic money earner?

Chris: And they do that because the studio heads are wimps. They're like grandmas at the betting table, only willing to risk very little and always going for the sure thing.

Ben: They have to. There's more money at stake...

Chris: But remakes don't always bring in the cash.

Ben: They do more than some creative originals, unless a director has made a name for himself somehow there's no chance.

Chris: It's just that the studios are more likely to fund something that has already proved itself at the box office. But a remake also saves time in story/script development because they just copy the old version.

Ben: It's a recognisable product the customer can relate to.

Chris: Exactly it's a product, not a piece of artistic entertainment.

Ben: You can't say Hollywood isn't green. They do like recycling.

Chris: And that's the problem. I'm hoping the next time Tron is remade, I might be able to actually enter the digital world myself.

Ben: Think Nintendo are working on that So what's our solution?

Chris: One solution would be to stop paying to see remakes. Don't give money to studios for playing it safe. Give the original storyteller a chance. And for God's sake, don't buy Tron, which is out now on Blu-ray & DVD at all good stockists.

Ben: And definitely don't get it on Blu-ray to take advantage of its ground breaking visual effects!! We've established that they want to keep with recognisable names. I think if a remake is made they should at least have a credible director involved i.e. Chris Nolan, albeit it doesn't solve anything. Look at MCG and Terminator Salvation.

Chris: At least Terminator Salvation continued the story arc of Terminator. It was more a sequel really.

Ben: It shouldn't have been a sequel though. I think that's the one time it should have been rebooted

Chris: It's remakes that are carbon copies of the original I despise.

Ben: They've got carried away in their own mythology like the Matrix did

Chris: Take Nightmare on Elm Street.

Ben: I enjoyed the sequels, even if they were camp.

Chris: Freddy Kreuger must have been turning in his grave at that one.

Ben: The remake was okay if you ask me

Chris: The sequels were good. But the remake was terrible.

Ben: It just wasn't brilliant as it should have been.

Chris: It was confused and just a lesser version of the original, never mind the fact that Robert Englund wasn't in it.

Ben: Nah, it was just a film what couldn’t be original anymore; it used up all its originality.

Chris: The only reboot I want to see is Evil Dead. Oh yeah baby.

Ben: No! Without Bruce Campbell? Are you mental? And no Sam Raimi? No way ho-zay.

Chris: Obviously Sam Raimi would be making it. And Bruce Campbell would be in it, if he'd stop pretending he's too old.

Ben: You know they actually are remaking it, don't you?

Chris: Yeah for the last seven years.

Ben: Bruce Cambell is producing, they've been recent developments on it!

Chris: I was still in nappies when they announced that, damn incontinence.

Ben: So here's the question: should reboots and remakes be given the boot?

Chris: I think they should if Hollywood keeps producing modern updates of the original which are just simply an update. If the filmmaker at least attempts to put their own spin on it and it lives up to the original then I'm all for it. I like the idea of bringing classic films to a whole new generation but they should reflect the new generation and not just be a celebration of the original, which is what a lot of reboots seem to be.

Ben: And they need to have a good amount of time between them, unlike Scream 4.

Chris: Again the studios playing it safe.

Ben: I think a story rarely needs to be retold or carried on. And some just need to be left alone completely, Planet of the Apes being one, Dawn of the Dead being another.

Chris: You wouldn't see a book being rewritten would you? Let's have the Bible rewritten by JK Rowling.

Ben: Jesus did have magical powers, didn't he?

Chris: Jesus defeats Satan with an Expelleosis. Expelleamus?

Ben: Don't you mean Jesus defeats 'he who shall not be named'?

Chris: What about Pride and Prejudice rewritten by Tom Clancy. Mr Darcy wouldn't be such a wet blanket in that one.

Ben: 1984 written by Darren Shan? That would be a cool one.
I think reboots shouldn't be given the boot, but more a new pair of socks. Or maybe some sandals?

Chris: Interesting analogy.

Ben: I try.

Chris: The problem is that they're the same boots but they've stood in dog shit. I thank you. So, there's no definite conclusion here is there?

Ben: I think there is.

Chris: Go on then dude, the floor's all yours.

Ben: I would say to not just remake a film because it's a brand you can make money off. Because the money may go completely if people lose faith of the brand. Studios need to take faith in the creative industry. Make money by cutting costs not originality, if they want recognisably brands then create them, if it's anyone job, it's theirs. There's so much untapped potential out there.

My last word: Creativity. It's compromised. It's undiscovered. It's also the future of film.

Chris: I think there needs to be more risks taken in the film industry. It seems to be just remake after remake at the moment. And if it ain't a remake, it's a sequel. And if it ain't a sequel it's an adaptation. It is certainly not a golden age for original screenplays.

Ben: There are a few good films, but it seems very rare when we see them.

Chris: I once watched a TV programme about Hollywood execs. Even when they are presented with an original screenplay they need to have another film to compare it to. Say like Under Siege was obviously pitched as Die Hard in a submarine. And that's what they like to hear. They only like originality if it is comparable to something which has gone before, preferably something that was a box office hit. Creativity is the only loser here. And if the money isn't put behind creative film projects then I can't see the remakes stopping anytime soon. Maybe it's about time we saved Hollywood.

Ben: Two men mission? Right here on MovieCake.

Chris: I'm ready.

Ben: Let's do it. And I've been Ben Doran. Stay classy MovieCake fans!

Chris: I've been Chris Curry. Have a good Easter everyone. And remember to watch Prince William's wedding, which is a reboot of Princess Diana's wedding.

Ben: A spiritual sequel to the Queens wedding.

The New 'Jason Bourne' is Jeremy Renner

2011-04-22T03:46:00.000-07:00

Arguably Renner has been on our screens way too much since his break-through in the Hurt Locker. Yet he’s never really been seen since he has broken out. The films he’s appeared in since are The Town, where he is a secondary character, Mission Impossible: Ghost Recall, Thor as Hawkeye (for, like a millisecond) and the upcoming Avengers film.

Being his first major lead role, MovieCake would like to offer Jez Ren big congratulations. It’s about time in our opinion. Renner has proven himself to be one the more talented of the waiting to make it in Hollywood actors out there. More importantly he’s one of those who have actually been noticed. Concern did arise for a brief time when he was being casted as side roles, secondary characters. Renner is a strong, intense and capable actor, it’s about time that he got his chance, now he has.

As many know already the Bourne franchise was practically doomed after its director and lead actor decided to call it a day. But seeing as Bourne was not their intellectual property the studios have alot to play with. So what can we expect of Bourne this time around?

Well according to Deadline he will play: “an operative from a covert government program that is even more dangerous than the Treadstone brainwashing program that hatched Bourne.”

So instead of recasting Bourne they have decided to just have Bourne in the universe of other more dangerous threats and conspiracies. This could absolutely go tits up for lack of better words. Keeping a franchise going with a different lead and a different creative team is one thing but to essentially make a completely different story from the original is another.

However, we could just see this as a friendly spin-off. In which case, it could well work. Maybe they’ve finally realised the problems of recasting Bourne, especially after Matt Damon made the role so iconic. This also helps expand the universe whilst keeping the tone the same. Having this universe more importantly helps allow for sequels and franchise galore. And without any real source material to go from it can allow for more originality and creativity.

On the other hand it could be a total fail. Wanting to hard to be like another film that has gone before it while not quite hitting the spot that everyone expects. With the brand of Bourne there are expectations in place. The trilogy was a complete success, each film was as strong as the one before it despite people having favourites. It is also big shoes for Renner to fill. Will people be happy with Renner in the shoes or Damon?

You may be able to tell we’re not really sure what to expect from this. The Tony Gilroy-directed picture could be the best action picture in years yet it could also be the one which puts the nail in the reboot/remake coffin.

Look out for this Saturdays Serious Slice: Ben and Chris Discuss the Reboot, where Chris and I discuss scenarios like this in more detail.

Ben Doran

Len Wiseman's wife to star in Len Wiseman's Total Recall remake?

2011-04-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

Fans of nepotism can rejoice today as Deadline reports that Kate Beckinsale has been offered the part of Lori in the reboot of Total Recall, which is directed by her husband Len Wiseman. Like Tim Burton it seems Wiseman has a burning desire to cast his wife in nearly every film he directs. As you will recall he made his name by directing the Underworld films, which starred Beckinsale, well her arse to be more precise.

Maybe Wiseman is living up to his name on this one though. I mean giving your wife a starring role in your film is a no-brainer really. Not only does it secure extra income for the family, you can hold it over her head at any given time.

The following is a fictional (but probably true) example of such a moment in the Wiseman household.

Len: Oh do I have to do the dishes?

Kate: It's your turn Len.

Len: But I gave you the starring role in my last two films remember.

Kate: Yeah I guess you're right. Ok I'll do the dishes.

Len: And.......action.

And do we really need another reboot? Me and Ben will be discussing this on the next Serious Slice on Saturday but here's a preview. No. We don't need another reboot. I may be willing to give Total Recall Reboot a chance though if it outdos the original and I can already think of one way it can do this. Give the woman with three breasts, four breasts instead. There you go, a simple way to outdo the original.

In other news Spy Kids 4 disproves the existence of God. More on that never.

Chris Curry

Chainsaw Massacre 2 in 3D. Whoopidy-do!

2011-04-21T15:55:00.000-07:00

When will you stop butchering movies with 3D? Seriously though, we all know exactly what we can expect from a 3D film, especially this type of 3D film.

Woah! Scary chainsaw coming out of the screen!! Scary!!! Woah!!! NOT!*

Bloody Disgusting report:

John Luessenhop is in talks to direct Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures' Leatherface 3D, the sequel to the Platinum Dunes (not involved this time around) produced Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake that was released via New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures.

We also reported that Debra Sullivan, Adam Marcus and Stephen Susco have turned in drafts the third Chainsaw flick that supposedly picks up immediately where Tobe Hooper's original left off before flashing forward 35 years. An update to the story is that Kirsten Elms (writer of Gold Circle and director F. Gary Gray's Hair of the Dog) was hired to re-tool the script under the guidance Luessenhop. This is the freshest piece of news.

Luessenhop directed the 2010 Takers starring Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen and Matt Dillon.

I’ve got to the point where I really don’t care if I see another 3D film again. And I’m pretty damn certain that I don’t want to see another Leatherface film again. So two things done to death, what I don’t want to see, and I can only assume there are those who would like to see this unholy marriage come together

There it is. Crap on crap with some nuts in for texture.

*No one says it anymore, they should.

Ben Doran

First look at Shockwave in Transformers.

2011-04-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

And more.

Below is the first picture released of Shockwave in the upcoming Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, which is in no way associated with Pink Floyd. Or so I’m told.

The other pictures show Bumblebee, Deceptacon and Sam with his Megan Fox replacement. And who really can replace Megan Fox? Looks wise that is. Well maybe Mila Kunis. And acting credentials? Well.. Anyway it’s a Megan Fox replacement regardless.

The new Michael Bay film promises to be awesome on a scale of 1 to awesome. That’s a whole lot of awesome. He’s also responded to the fact that not many people really enjoyed the second instalment. So expect more action, less whiney Shia Labeouf, and less Megan Fox. Sounds good? Good.

Ben Doran

Crow Remake is having legal issues

2011-04-20T15:37:00.000-07:00

This is taken straight from Deadline

Apparently there are issues regarding the remake of the Crow regarding distribution rights.

It doesn’t seem to have any major impact on the film that is in production with Bradley Cooper in talks to be replacing Brandon Lee’s version of the original (see Cake Belly at bottom of the page).

What this could mean however is that there may be way more reincarnations of the Crow if the Weinsteins company have their way. As Weinstein co media’s Bert Fields says:

"Mr. Kavanaugh was not going to honor that contract. Apparently, he's going to sell these rights to others. He made a bunch of threats"

"Some people may submit to that kind of arrogant conduct, but we're not going to do it. If anybody tries to buy these distribution rights in The Crow, they are buying nothing but a lawsuit and they will get sued."

There’s a lot of back on forth going on at the moment. Looks like Kavanaugh is wanting to use the rights to make spin-offs with the occasional indie anime (which should of been done by now in this authors opinion. Either way, can it really be as bad as all the other rubbish we’ve had from the Crow franchise so far?

You can expect the Juan Carlos Fresnadillo directed piece to be in production soon. Any events change on this MovieCake will let you know asap.

Ben Doran