Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Michael Bay Trashes Megan Fox, Talks 'Transformers 3' and 3Dhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/michael-bay-trashes-megan-fox-talks-transformers-3-and-3d/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/michael-bay-trashes-megan-fox-talks-transformers-3-and-3d/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/03/michael-bay-trashes-megan-fox-talks-transformers-3-and-3d/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Seems like a small war is starting to brew between Michael Bay and Megan Fox, after the latter said some unflattering things about Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, telling the Early Show recently that she still doesn't understand the movie and that it's apparently made for geniuses. Bay, of course, is not one to take criticism lightly -- especially from some girl who was nobody until he dropped her into the first Transformers movie.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal about the situation with Fox, he says, "Well, that's Megan Fox for you. She says some very ridiculous things because she's 23 years old and she still has a lot of growing to do. You roll your eyes when you see statements like that and think, "Okay Megan, you can do whatever you want. I got it." But I 100% disagree with her. Nick Cage wasn't a big actor when I cast him, nor was Ben Affleck before I put him in "Armageddon." Shia LaBeouf wasn't a big movie star before he did "Transformers"-and then he exploded. Not to mention Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, from "Bad Boys." Nobody in the world knew about Megan Fox until I found her and put her in "Transformers." I like to think that I've had some luck in building actors' careers with my films."

We shouldn't worry whether this war of words will hurt either person's involvement in a third Transformers movie because according to Bay that's not happening anytime soon. On a third Transformers film, he says, "I just want to take some time off. It's been almost three years that I've devoted myself entirely to this world of robots. At some point, enough is enough-and I literally carried this movie on my back. ... I don't know who [would] want to take on my shoes with this franchise. We might just take a year down."

Continue reading Michael Bay Trashes Megan Fox, Talks 'Transformers 3' and 3D

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]]>cinematicalfeaturedmegan foxMeganFoxmichael bayMichaelBaytransformers 2transformers 3Transformers2Transformers3transformers: revenge of the fallenTransformers:RevengeOfTheFallenErik DavisFri, 03 Jul 2009 12:02:00 ESTActor Needed to Crush Hearts of Innocent Little Kidshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/02/actor-needed-to-crush-hearts-of-innocent-little-kids/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/02/actor-needed-to-crush-hearts-of-innocent-little-kids/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/02/actor-needed-to-crush-hearts-of-innocent-little-kids/#commentsFiled under:

Oh, the horrible human beings people become while trying to cut deals on Craigslist. With the holiday weekend approaching, and with news pretty slow, here's a story that certainly won't cheer you up. Apparently back in April, a single father put out an ad on Craigslist for an actor to come and literally steal his dog because it was becoming too overwhelming of a responsibility for him. Me describing it doesn't do the ad justice, so, here, read it yourself:

"My deceased aunt gave my two kids a Cocker Spaniel a few months back. The dog has been a terror and become overwhelming for me. I am a single father raising two young children. I cannot face telling the kids that the dog must go. I have found a good home for the dog, and just need someone to transport the dog, and play the villain.

Premise: You will be the dog walker hired by daddy (me) to walk Skittles. I will introduce you to the kids, and you will tell them you are going to help Skittles get her exercise when Daddy is too busy to walk her. At that point you will walk Skittles to your car and take her to her new family 20 minutes from my place. Then return holding just a leash. The story will be that Skittles broke free of the leash and took off. At this point prepare for crying, things being thrown at you, and possibly cursing. My kids are young and dramatic, their girls.

Pay will be $500. The job will take roughly 2 hours at best.

This job is ideal for an actor looking to diversify their role base, or someone who genuinely likes to make children cry. Acting experience is a plus, but not necessary. Please inform me of any prior experience in this kind of situation."

Continue reading Actor Needed to Crush Hearts of Innocent Little Kids

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]]>craigslistfeaturedErik DavisThu, 02 Jul 2009 13:32:00 ESTJeff Goldblum Confirms His Own Deathhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/01/jeff-goldblum-confirms-his-own-death/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/01/jeff-goldblum-confirms-his-own-death/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/01/jeff-goldblum-confirms-his-own-death/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Minutes after Twitter was buzzing with the shocking news of Michael Jackson's death, it was announced that Jeff Goldblum had also passed away, having fallen to his death while filming in New Zealand (heh, same thing happened to Tom Hanks a few years back). Mainstream outlets also picked up the story, allegedly confirmed by New Zealand police, and it took some TMZ appearances, photos, and a statement from his representative Stan Rosenfield that Goldblum was alive and well and nowhere near New Zealand to make things right again.

Although similar pranks also swirled around Harrison Ford, George Clooney, Rick Astley (come on, that was just an excuse to Rickroll some more), and Natalie Portman, the Goldblum rumor was one that really took hold. It's easy to see why, of course. The others are too preposterous, whereas Goldblum is just clear of the spotlight so that when The Fly comes on TV, you stop to wonder, "Hey, why doesn't he do more movies? What is he up to? I should look him up on IMDB." Of course, you never do, and so he's someone you could easily believe was off in New Zealand filming something risky, like Jurassic Park 4. Thankfully though, it was all a stupid Twitter prank.

Or was it? Stephen Colbert paused to remember the actor on The Colbert Report, and Goldblum himself showed up to deny it ... only to finally confirm the rumors after all. The video is below the jump and, well, what can I say? We'll miss you, Jeff Goldblum.

Continue reading Jeff Goldblum Confirms His Own Death

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]]>featuredJeff GoldblumJeff Goldblum deathJeffGoldblumJeffGoldblumDeathStephen ColbertStephenColbertthe colbert reportTheColbertReportElisabeth RappeWed, 01 Jul 2009 12:15:00 ESTTony Scott's 'Unstoppable' Derailed?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/30/tony-scotts-unstoppable-derailed/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/30/tony-scotts-unstoppable-derailed/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/30/tony-scotts-unstoppable-derailed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A mere week after Sony canned Steven Soderbergh's Moneyball, another big-budget film may have bitten the dust. Fox is putting the breaks on Tony Scott's next project, Unstoppable, over budget concerns, and may can the project altogether.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film was set to begin shooting in fall, and Denzel Washington and Chris Pine were attached to play the leads. But none of the acting deals have been officially closed, and not even Scott is definitively signed to the project. Fox is growing more and more concerned about the cost of production on the thriller, which would be quite high -- after all, it centers around a runaway train loaded with toxic chemicals, and it's being stopped by the $20 million dollar Denzel Washington. While the film isn't in as much production peril as Moneyball, its budget is definitely a roadblock, and fat will have to be trimmed somewhere. Maybe they can make a smaller train, or just have it be an unstoppable semi-truck, or maybe some of the A-Listers can take a pay cut ... something like that.

This summer has seen a lot of big-budget films falter at the box office, so studio hesitations are understandable, and budget trimming has been a long time coming. Though I do love a good action flick, I'm neither here nor there about the plot of Unstoppable, but it would be a shame for Pine to lose his next big role, and kill his Captain Kirk Buzz. So let's hope they figure out how to cut some corners.

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]]>20th Century Fox20thCenturyFoxChris PineChrisPineDenzel WashingtonDenzelWashingtonTony ScottTonyScottUnstoppableElisabeth RappeTue, 30 Jun 2009 19:02:00 ESTLedger Wanted Out of 'Dark Knight' Role, Source Sayshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/30/ledger-wanted-out-of-dark-knight-role-source-says/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/30/ledger-wanted-out-of-dark-knight-role-source-says/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/30/ledger-wanted-out-of-dark-knight-role-source-says/#commentsFiled under: , ,



While the world mourns the loss of Michael Jackson, Vanity Fair has cooked up a somewhat controversial (and fairly random) look back at Heath Ledger's final days, with quotes from his agent, his vocal coach, director Terry Gilliam and Doctor Parnassus cinematographer Nicola Pecorini. The article, published in part on Vanity Fair's website, is broken into different paragraphs with titles like "How chronic insomnia may have led to his death" and "How his relationship failed." Did the world -- not to mention Ledger's fans, friends and family -- really need all these old wounds dug up and scraped for a little extra attention? Probably not.

Of all the quotes, the most fascinating seem to be the ones which talk about The Dark Knight, and how Ledger's pay-or-play deal allowed him to do whatever he wanted with the role of Joker seeing as he was to still receive a paycheck regardless of whether he remained in the movie. According to Pecorini, Ledger was actually hoping his performance was way too out there and that he'd get fired, allowing him to take a nice, long paid vacation. Ledger's agent, Steven Alexander, sort of backs up the statement with this one about the actor's attitude toward big summer movies, saying he "was always hesitant to be in a summer blockbuster, with the dolls and action figures and everything else that comes with one of those movies. He was afraid it would define him and limit his choices."

The article also delves into Ledger's rampant drug use, eventual sobriety and just how rough his break-up with Michelle Williams was. It also links off to a 2000 photo spread featuring the actor in some, um, interesting poses. Definitely an odd piece, and I'm sure some will be critical of Vanity Fair for running it. Check it out over here and let us know what you think.

[via The Playlist]

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]]>featuredheath ledgerHeathLedgernicola pecoriniNicolaPecoriniterry gilliamTerryGilliamthe dark knightTheDarkKnightErik DavisTue, 30 Jun 2009 12:02:00 ESTWatch Cinematical's Todd Gilchrist Debate Devin Faraci On G4!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/30/watch-cinematicals-todd-gilchrist-debate-devin-faraci-on-g4/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/30/watch-cinematicals-todd-gilchrist-debate-devin-faraci-on-g4/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/30/watch-cinematicals-todd-gilchrist-debate-devin-faraci-on-g4/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,



Optimus Prime's entire life has been leading up to this moment ... no, none of that Revenge of the Fallen stuff, but having Devin Faraci and Todd Gilchrist debate his latest installment on G4's Attack of the Show. Michael Bay's latest robotgasm has been at the center of a lot of debate and controversy all over this great Internet, and while CNN may ignore this crisis of fandom, G4 is right there to report on it.

As you know from hanging around Cinematical, Gilchrist liked the film (and was quoted by Roger Ebert in his review). Faraci hated the film, and was one of the first to really call foul on the racist robots with his scathing Little Black Sambots piece. I know from reading the comments pouring into our 1-10 poll that our readers are divided right down the middle on the film's quality and whether or not its employing questionable racist stereotypes. Therefore, you may pick one of these men as your champion, and decide who (if either) comes out victorious, before realizing Transformers' massive gross doesn't care what you think.

Watch the video after the jump

Continue reading Watch Cinematical's Todd Gilchrist Debate Devin Faraci On G4!

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]]>Devin FaraciDevinFaracifeaturedg4G4 Attack of the ShowG4AttackOfTheShowTodd GilchristToddGilchristtransformers 2transformers revenge of the fallenTransformers2TransformersRevengeOfTheFallenElisabeth RappeTue, 30 Jun 2009 10:03:00 ESTGirls on Film: Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soonhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/girls-on-film-girl-youll-be-a-woman-soon/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/girls-on-film-girl-youll-be-a-woman-soon/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/girls-on-film-girl-youll-be-a-woman-soon/#commentsFiled under: , ,

They start as young cherubs, their round faces full of smiles and innocence. They play, and delve into anything cute and sweet. A few years pass and the Barbies are given up for boys. Life is still childlike, even with the first hints of attraction. But the good gets tired, and in a blink, it's given up for stripper poles, prostitution, degradation, and a feverish desperation to be seen as an adult -- mentally and physically.

Yes, the above path is a bit exaggerated. Young actresses often mix a little thrilling fare in with the sweetness. Nevertheless, there is almost always a swift and destructive crashing of the gate between adolescence and adulthood. One minute, the young actress is all song, dance, and smiling love, and the next, they're fighting for their own spot in the world of Mr. Skin.

We can't exactly blame them. We live in a world rife with contradictions about growing up and being taken seriously. The world of The Breakfast Club and slightly tougher teen fare was replaced with tween limbo and an elongation of sweet teen life. But at the same time, we chide those that take part in Disney's tween world, publish countdown clocks marking the days left until some young actress is legal, and as much as we might complain about them stripping for cred, our complaints fade if the project turns out to be good.

But what does it mean for actresses now and tomorrow? The path is murky.

Continue reading Girls on Film: Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon

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]]>Cinematicalcoming of ageComingOfAgeDakota Fanning and Kristen StewartDakotaFanningAndKristenStewartGirls on FilmGirlsOnFilmgrowing up in HollywoodGrowingUpInHollywoodOscars for prostituionOscarsForProstituionMonika BartyzelMon, 29 Jun 2009 20:02:00 ESTShocked By Sean Connery! ...and Other Retro Upsetshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/shocked-by-sean-connery-and-other-retro-upsets/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/shocked-by-sean-connery-and-other-retro-upsets/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/shocked-by-sean-connery-and-other-retro-upsets/#commentsFiled under: , ,



I constantly worry that I'm becoming desensitized to violence and horror thanks to watching so many damn movies, and having a penchant for those that are riddled with explosions and coarse language. (If Scott Weinberg has his way, I will have a healthy appreciation for the slasher flick as well. Speaking of which, have you read Horror Virgin yet?) As a kid, I was always sternly brought up to know that movies were fiction, and that violence was very real, and to know that guns, knives, grenades, etc. were no cheering or laughing matter unless Mel Gibson was using or running away from them.

Like much of the civilized world, I've been following the protests in Iran, and while I empathized with what was going on, I felt curiously detached from seeing images of real violence. I read comments from people who said they were shaking and vomiting from seeing people die on camera, and I wondered if I was a terrible person because I wasn't. Is it because I watch so much of it onscreen? Or am I saturated by it thanks to the real world -- I watched Columbine happen on television while living a few blocks away from it, to say nothing of the trauma of 9/11, and documentaries about Darfur and the Holocaust.


Continue reading Shocked By Sean Connery! ...and Other Retro Upsets

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]]>alfred hitchcockAlfredHitchcockGildaGlenn FordGlennFordMarniemovie violenceMovieViolencerita hayworthRitaHayworthSean ConnerySeanConnerysex in moviesSexInMoviestippi hedrenTippiHedrenElisabeth RappeMon, 29 Jun 2009 16:22:00 ESTUniversal Cuts Michael Jackson Scene from 'Bruno'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/26/universal-cuts-michael-jackson-scene-from-bruno/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/26/universal-cuts-michael-jackson-scene-from-bruno/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/26/universal-cuts-michael-jackson-scene-from-bruno/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



The decidedly un-PC Bruno has gone sensitive. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal has decided to err on the side of caution, and cut a Michael Jackson related skit from Sacha Baron Cohen's raunchy comedy. The edit was made just hours before its Los Angeles premiere. "We decided to take it out for tonight, and we'll reassess before the release whether to keep it out," said director Larry Charles at the premiere's afterparty.

The scene involves Cohen's gay Austrian interviewing an unsuspecting LaToya Jackson about a number of topics, but focusing on her brother, Michael. As I haven't seen the film, I don't know what the jokes are, but THR says that they center on Jackson's high-pitched voice, and his one-time white glove trademark. It's already screened for critics, none of whom found the scene particularly offensive, but Universal was concerned it would upset his grieving family and fans. However, Universal might restore it for the film's wide release, as a studio spokesperson also confirmed that they were still undecided about whether it should stay or go. The film opens in two weeks, and cutting the scene out of every print would be expensive, and possibly delay the film a'la Spider-Man 2.

What do you think, readers? Is Universal making the right call to err on the side of caution or good taste? Or should they leave Bruno alone, and trust audiences will be less sensitive about Jackson in the coming weeks?

More Bruno: Check out this hilarious report from the Bruno premiere on Moviefone Minute.

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]]>Brunolarry charlesLarryCharleslatoya jacksonLatoyaJacksonMichael JacksonMichaelJacksonsacha baron cohenSachaBaronCohensasha baron cohenUniversalElisabeth RappeFri, 26 Jun 2009 15:03:00 ESTIranian Protestors Inspired By 'Lord of the Rings' http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/26/iranian-protestors-inspired-by-lord-of-the-rings/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/26/iranian-protestors-inspired-by-lord-of-the-rings/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/26/iranian-protestors-inspired-by-lord-of-the-rings/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Ever since it was first published in 1954-1955, J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings has been embroiled in politics, much to the dismay of its author. Proponents of the political left and the right have taken turns deriding or laying claim to the fantasy epic. Peter Jackson's film adapation didn't escape political scrutiny either. Time magazine's Richard Corliss did a rather famous review of The Two Towers claiming that the film now evoked the War On Terror, and that Saruman looked "eerily" like Osama bin Laden, and USA Today's Michael Medved insisted Viggo Mortensen had tainted the role of Aragorn because he openly declared his anti-war sentiments.

The latest political controversy that the series finds itself embroiled in is the Iranian electoral protests. Time has a piece from an anonymous Iranian resident reporting that the government is using film to try and quell public unrest. "In normal times, Iranian television usually treats its viewers to one or two Hollywood or European movie nights a week. But these are not normal times, so it's been two or three such movies a day. It's part of the push to keep people at home and off the streets, to keep us busy, to get us out of the regime's hair. The message is 'Don't worry, be happy.'"

All television channels in Iran are owned by the state, so the government is choosing its films very carefully. One of their offerings has been a Lord of the Rings marathon, ostensibly picked because its length and epic content will keep people glued to their television. "We're glued to the trilogy. We are riveted. A child in the room loudly predicts that Lord of the Rings will put an end to the nightly shouts, that people will not take to the rooftops and windows because this film will keep them occupied."

Continue reading Iranian Protestors Inspired By 'Lord of the Rings'

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]]>featurediranian electionsIranian elections 2009IranianElectionsIranianElections2009j.r.r. tolkienJ.r.r.TolkienMir-Hossein MousaviMir-hosseinMousaviPeter JacksonPeterJacksonPresident Mahmoud AhmadinejadPresidentMahmoudAhmadinejadThe Lord of the RingsTheLordOfTheRingstolkienViggo MortensenViggoMortensenElisabeth RappeFri, 26 Jun 2009 11:02:00 ESTDavid Yates Teases 'Deathly Hallows' Splithttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/24/david-yates-teases-deathly-hallows-split/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/24/david-yates-teases-deathly-hallows-split/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/24/david-yates-teases-deathly-hallows-split/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

With so many disappointments this summer, it's easy to forget that we'll finally get to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and that we'll finally start hearing more about the final chapter as it makes its way to the big screen.

But of course, the biggest question about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows still centers on where they'll make the split between Film 1 and Film 2. Director David Yates dropped a hint to the LA Times, and if you haven't read the book, here be spoilers:

"We're here in the forest, we've just finished the scene where Harry, Hermione and Ron are captured by the Snatchers after being chased through the woods. The Snatchers are brutal and scary but they aren't the most intelligent of creatures.They're trying to figure out exactly who it is they've caught ... Things can change when you edit, of course, but the idea now is that it will be not long after the sequence that we are filming here today. That's what we're experimenting with. We've had three or four different ideas about where to cut off the seventh film. Traditionally, the movies have ended with a death or a bereavement, some sort of passage or arrival. This time we think we will end with more a cliffhanger. Again, though, that's the thought as of this moment."

I haven't read Deathly Hallows since it came out (and oh, I still remember pulling an all nighter at ComicCon for fear someone would spoil it) , so I had to go back and check this part out. The book is chock full of cliffhangers, but ending it here would definitely give Part 1 a terrifying conclusion, the kind I'm still disappointed Peter Jackson didn't go with in The Two Towers.

Continue reading David Yates Teases 'Deathly Hallows' Split

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]]>David YatesDavidYatesHarry Potter and the Deathly HallowsHarry Potter and the Half Blood PrinceHarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallowsHarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrinceElisabeth RappeWed, 24 Jun 2009 16:32:00 ESTMichael Bay Defends 'Transformers' Racial Stereotypeshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/24/michael-bay-defends-transformers-racial-stereotypes/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/24/michael-bay-defends-transformers-racial-stereotypes/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/24/michael-bay-defends-transformers-racial-stereotypes/#commentsFiled under: ,

Among the criticisms leveled at Michael Bay's rock 'em, sock 'em Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen are charges that two of Bay's secondary robot characters, Mudflap and Skids, promote offensive racial stereotypes. The director doesn't disagree -- he just doesn't see anything wrong with it.

Lest you think that these critics are being hopelessly, knee-jerkingly PC, consider the following: The comic-relief robots have enormous jug ears and bug eyes. One of them has a gold tooth. They speak in a high-pitched, rapid-fire drawl that calls to mind Chris Tucker and the Wayans brothers (as reported here by Erik Davis, the voices were done by black actor Reno Wilson, and comedian and voice talent Tom Kenny, who also voices Spongebob Squarepants). Their "street" dialogue runs along the line of one of them suggesting "popping a cap" in another robot.

"We're just putting more personality in," Bay told the Associated Press. "I don't know if it's stereotypes - they are robots, by the way. These are the voice actors. This is kind of the direction they were taking the characters and we went with it."

Mudflap and Skids are hardly the only thing that critics are finding wrong with Bay's sequel, but in a film that's chock-a-block full of things to hate, it still stands out as one of the most egregious botches. In her review in the New York Times, critic Manohla Dargis wrote that the characters speak with "conspicuously cartoonish, so-called black voices that indicate that minstrelsy remains as much in fashion in Hollywood as when, well, Jar Jar Binks was set loose by George Lucas."

"I purely did it for kids," the director said. "Young kids love these robots, because it makes it more accessible to them."

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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' Premiere Photos

    Actress Megan Fox is interviewed during the "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" world premiere in Tokyo in this June 8, 2009 file photo. While many of the 23-year-old's peers might want to avoid the label "sex symbol" for fear it would obscure their acting talent, Fox, whose new "Transformers" sequel debuts in theaters on June 24, 2009, is just the opposite. Picture taken June 8, 2009. REUTERS/Michael Caronna/Files (JAPAN ENTERTAINMENT)

    Reuters

    TV personality Kim Kardashian arrives at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival's premiere of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" at the Mann Village Theatre on June 22, 2009 in Westwood, California. 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival - "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" Premiere - Arrivals Mann Village Theatre Westwood, CA United States June 22, 2009 Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com To license this image (16849092), contact WireImage.com

    Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

    TV personality Kim Kardashian arrives at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival's premiere of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" at the Mann Village Theatre on June 22, 2009 in Westwood, California. 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival - "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" Premiere - Arrivals Mann Village Theatre Westwood, CA United States June 22, 2009 Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com To license this image (16849086), contact WireImage.com

    Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

    TV personality Kim Kardashian arrives at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival's premiere of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" at the Mann Village Theatre on June 22, 2009 in Westwood, California. 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival - "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" Premiere - Arrivals Mann Village Theatre Westwood, CA United States June 22, 2009 Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com To license this image (16849083), contact WireImage.com

    Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

    Singer Ciara arrives at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival's premiere of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" at the Mann Village Theatre on June 22, 2009 in Westwood, California. 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival - "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" Premiere - Arrivals Mann Village Theatre Westwood, CA United States June 22, 2009 Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com To license this image (16849152), contact WireImage.com

    Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

    Singer Ciara arrives at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival's premiere of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" at the Mann Village Theatre on June 22, 2009 in Westwood, California. 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival - "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" Premiere - Arrivals Mann Village Theatre Westwood, CA United States June 22, 2009 Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com To license this image (16849148), contact WireImage.com

    Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

    Singer Ciara arrives at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival's premiere of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" at the Mann Village Theatre on June 22, 2009 in Westwood, California. 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival - "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" Premiere - Arrivals Mann Village Theatre Westwood, CA United States June 22, 2009 Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com To license this image (16849144), contact WireImage.com

    Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

    Singer Ciara arrives at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival's premiere of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" at the Mann Village Theatre on June 22, 2009 in Westwood, California. 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival - "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" Premiere - Arrivals Mann Village Theatre Westwood, CA United States June 22, 2009 Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com To license this image (16849142), contact WireImage.com

    Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

    Singer Ciara arrives at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival's premiere of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" at the Mann Village Theatre on June 22, 2009 in Westwood, California. 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival - "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" Premiere - Arrivals Mann Village Theatre Westwood, CA United States June 22, 2009 Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com To license this image (16849141), contact WireImage.com

    Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

    Musician Mark Hoppus arrives at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival's premiere of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" at the Mann Village Theatre on June 22, 2009 in Westwood, California. 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival - "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" Premiere - Arrivals Mann Village Theatre Westwood, CA United States June 22, 2009 Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com To license this image (16849123), contact WireImage.com

    Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Continue reading Michael Bay Defends 'Transformers' Racial Stereotypes

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]]>MichaelBayTransformers2Dawn TaylorWed, 24 Jun 2009 13:32:00 ESTShia LaBeouf Still Wants to Be 'Y: The Last Man'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/23/shia-labeouf-still-wants-to-be-y-the-last-man/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/23/shia-labeouf-still-wants-to-be-y-the-last-man/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/23/shia-labeouf-still-wants-to-be-y-the-last-man/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I spoke too soon. We all did. After the heartening news that Shia LaBeouf wasn't interested in being the last man on earth (to which every other guy on the planet yelled "Fool!!"), he's hastily amended his brush-off to Collider.

While he still feels the part of Yorick is too "Sam Witwicky" and stresses that he wants to do something that's "foreign," he's still very interested in Y: The Last Man. He just wants to wait a few years, and he'll have the time to get the Witwicky out of his system.

"I love Y! Y is my favorite comic book ... Brian K. Vaughn, Neil Gaiman, the guys who write the Criminal series, these are all my favorite, this is my favorite stuff to read. It's the stuff that I love. Y: The Last Man is my favorite comic book. It's also DJ Caruso's favorite comic book. We DO want to make it ... Absolutely, man! In fact, that's what's going on right now. Vaughn and Ellsworth and DJ are writing the script now. The script is not ready to be shot. DJ is making a different movie right now. He's making Jack and the Beanstalk. There's just other things going on with DJ and I wouldn't want to make the movie with anybody else because he loves it like I do. But I don't think Vaughn is trying to give it to anybody else. I think that it is something that's very realistic, it's just not in the pipe for the next year."

Well, I'm pleased that he's a fan of the series and who knows? Maybe a few years will see me warm up to him, and be delighted that he was the first pick for the last man.

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]]>brian k. vaughanbrian k. vaughnBrianK.VaughanBrianK.Vaughndj carusoDjCarusoSam WitwickySamWitwickyshia labeoufShiaLabeouftransformers 2transformers 2 revenge of the fallenTransformers2Transformers2RevengeOfTheFallenY: The Last ManY:TheLastManyorick brownYorickBrownElisabeth RappeTue, 23 Jun 2009 14:02:00 ESTMichael Bay Trashes 'Transformers' Marketing and English Language in Leaked Emailhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/22/michael-bay-trashes-transformers-marketing-and-english-languag/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/22/michael-bay-trashes-transformers-marketing-and-english-languag/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/22/michael-bay-trashes-transformers-marketing-and-english-languag/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,



I sincerely hope that Michael Bay never retires from moviemaking to go live in a monastery or something, because the world would be far less entertaining without his histrionics.

The latest saga comes via his e-mail account and TMZ. Back in May, Bay flamed Paramount Studios for failing to promote Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen to his satisfaction. According to Bay, he's encountering people on the street who have no idea that his Transformers sequel will be coming out this summer, and that the film has taken a back seat to Star Trek and G.I. Joe.

"I have been waiting, and waiting for the 'anticipation' of an 'event movie' to make it into the 'public zeitgeist.' You all talk so glowingly about Transformers being the movie of the summer but unfortunately this has not gotten to the public ... You can feel in your gut the presence of a big movie coming. Right now we are not an event. We are just a sequel which is very different." Bay went on to name-drop Jerry Bruckheimer and "my good friend Steven," who would never stand or expect such poor promotion of their films."

As TMZ points out, Bay backtracked a little in an e-mail on June 6, and thanked everyone for their hard work ... but mimicked the nasty tone of his earlier missive before giving them them a big e-mail bear hug. "You have treated me so well. Paramount is like family." Which is probably why they keep on loving you, Michael, and forgiving your rants about a 23 flash frame cut of Megatron.

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]]>michael bayMichaelBayParamounttransformers 2transformers revenge of the fallenTransformers2TransformersRevengeOfTheFallenElisabeth RappeMon, 22 Jun 2009 18:02:00 ESTIs Christopher Nolan Returning for 'Batman 3'? The Rumor Mill Says Nohttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/18/is-christopher-nolan-returning-for-batman-3-the-rumor-mill-sa/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/18/is-christopher-nolan-returning-for-batman-3-the-rumor-mill-sa/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/18/is-christopher-nolan-returning-for-batman-3-the-rumor-mill-sa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

It's hard to believe it's been a year since The Dark Knight, and the Batman 3 rumor mill just hasn't stopped grinding. Someone, somewhere, is always trying to flog a rumor of who will be Catwoman, Penguin, Riddler, or Robin. When they get tired of fantasy casting, they ponder when Christopher Nolan will abandon this Inception thing, and get going on Batman 3.

In a piece passed wildly around the net, Batman on Film is reporting that Nolan is very uninterested in returning to Gotham City. The story goes that Heath Ledger's death upset him greatly, and dismantled any and all plans he had for a third installment. The Joker was set to return (is that really a surprise?), and now there's simply no story. While Nolan and David S. Goyer are working on ideas, it's unlikely you'll see anything before 2012 at the earliest, with 2013 being more likely.

Continue reading Is Christopher Nolan Returning for 'Batman 3'? The Rumor Mill Says No

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]]>Batman 3Batman3christian baleChristianBaleChristopher NolanChristopherNolandavid s. goyerDavidS.Goyerheath ledgerHeathLedgerthe dark knightTheDarkKnightWarner BrosWarnerBrosElisabeth RappeThu, 18 Jun 2009 11:02:00 ESTMichael Bay's Korean Damage Control http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/17/michael-bays-korean-damage-control/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/17/michael-bays-korean-damage-control/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/17/michael-bays-korean-damage-control/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Michael BayNever keep hundreds of people waiting in the rain for hours. Michael Bay, Shia LaBeouf, and Megan Fox did just that in South Korea on June 9. An estimated crowd of 600 fans and press lined up in Seoul early to see the red-carpet premiere of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, according to Screen Daily, and were then disappointed when the Transformers entourage arrived 80 minutes late, spending only a few minutes with the crowd. Members of the press were further distressed when the group arrived 30 minutes late to a scheduled news conference the next day, and some staged a walk-out.

Bay has now issued a written apology, explaining that "traveling from another country, and not allowing enough time for airport delays, city traffic and hotel check-in," and that the press conference delay was due to the "serious pain" he was experiencing from a pulled back muscle. (The group traveled directly from the premiere in Tokyo, Japan.) Damage control was necessary, not only because it's the right thing to do, but because bloggers had started a campaign to boycott the film in theaters, while local distributor CJ Entertainment insists that interest in the film remains high.

As in the U.S., Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen opens in Korea on June 24. The first Transformers made even more money outside the U.S. than within, so it makes sense to court international audiences, but this incident demonstrates once again that no one likes to be shortchanged or taken for granted.

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]]>damage controlDamageControlfeaturedmichael bayMichaelBaysouth koreaSouthKoreatransformers revenge of the fallenTransformersRevengeOfTheFallenPeter MartinWed, 17 Jun 2009 14:02:00 ESTGirls on Film: A Desire for Varied Female Protagonists is Not a Political Agendahttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/15/girls-on-film-a-desire-for-varied-female-protagonists-is-not-a/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/15/girls-on-film-a-desire-for-varied-female-protagonists-is-not-a/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/15/girls-on-film-a-desire-for-varied-female-protagonists-is-not-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Credit: brunkfordbraun

By now you've probably caught fellow Cinematical writer Dawn Taylor's posts about desiring female Pixar leads and wanting some Bechdel rule-abiding women in Star Trek. Both posts got their share of positive comments, but they also got a slew of knee-jerk reactions and vitriol. I don't want to rehash what Dawn already expressed well, nor get into another argument about specific female characterizations. Instead, I want to look into this neverending trend where any desire for a strong female character leads to complaints and accusations of a political agenda.

Ask for a certain type of female protagonist, discuss inequalities, gripe about the proliferation of poorly developed female characters, and in a flash, comments will pour in with a myriad of political catchwords like: feminist agenda, feminist rants, equality of the sexes, affirmative action, sexist conspiracy, and political correctness. These will be joined by painfully inaccurate sentiments that equate a desire for female success with wanting "every unfulfilled desire," Hollywood bending to charity and catering to specific audiences, wanting to exclude men from film, a lack of acceptance at the equality already reached, and of course, that including strong female protagonists is somehow sacrificing or tainting good work. (All of the reactions mentioned in this paragraph can be found in the comments on Dawn's two posts.)

The fact of the matter is: Wanting interesting and diverse female protagonists is not a political agenda. It's a widespread human trait found in both sexes: the desire to find camaraderie and others who are relatable and recognizable.

Continue reading Girls on Film: A Desire for Varied Female Protagonists is Not a Political Agenda

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]]>BechdelCinematicalGirls on FilmGirlsOnFilmNia VardalosNiaVardalosPizarMonika BartyzelMon, 15 Jun 2009 21:15:00 ESTSpike TV to Show 'Kung Fu Killer' As Part of Carradine Marathonhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/13/spike-tv-to-show-kung-fu-killer-as-part-of-carradine-marathon/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/13/spike-tv-to-show-kung-fu-killer-as-part-of-carradine-marathon/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/13/spike-tv-to-show-kung-fu-killer-as-part-of-carradine-marathon/#commentsFiled under: ,

Spike TV will jettison its regular schedule today and instead run a David Carradine marathon, honoring the actor who died in Bangkok last week at age 72 under odd circumstances.

Running from 2 p.m. through 3 a.m. EST/PST time, the marathon will consist of repeat showings of both Kill Bill films, as well as one airing of the 2008 Spike TV miniseries Kung Fu Killer, which teamed Carradine with his Kill Bill co-star Daryl Hannah.

Kung Fu Killer is a rather unfortunate legacy for Carradine, but since Spike TV owns the thing -- as well as broadcast rights for Kill Bill -- it's easy to see why they'd drag it out now. Still, it's just not very good, and it's too bad that they don't have a better Carradine property that would honor him more appropriately.

Set in 1929, the flick follows an American-born monk name White Crane (Carradine) who returns to his home monastery in China after roaming the earth, Kwai Chang Caine-style, for a couple of decades. But wouldn't you know it -- a bunch of bad guys kill all the monks, and White Crane vows vengeance on the crime boss responsible, who also plans to kill oodles of people with a deadly gas if White Crane doesn't stop him.

Continue reading Spike TV to Show 'Kung Fu Killer' As Part of Carradine Marathon

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]]>davidcarradineKillBillkungfuspiketvDawn TaylorSat, 13 Jun 2009 12:32:00 ESTIs Danny Boyle Going Back to Mumbai?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/12/is-danny-boyle-going-back-to-mumbai/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/12/is-danny-boyle-going-back-to-mumbai/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/12/is-danny-boyle-going-back-to-mumbai/#commentsFiled under: ,

Danny Boyle, who snapped up a Best Director Oscar for last year's Slumdog Millionaire, has signed on with Fox Searchlight and Pathé Pictures for three more movies. The two companies were also behind Slumdog and its overwhelming success and have also had to deal with the ensuing fallout over what has (or in some cases, hasn't) happened to its young stars. (You can read some previous Cinematical posts on the Slumdog situation here, here, and here.)

According to the Los Angeles Times, "the director already has identified a possible initial production under the first-look deal, a drama about Aron Ralston, the American mountain climber who amputated part of his arm when it was pinned in a 2003 back-country hiking accident." However, Slumdog Millionaire's Oscar-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy told the Telegraph something a little different. The UK paper reports that Beaufoy is adapting Suketu Mehta's book Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found.

"It was only decided a couple of weeks ago, but I will be writing the script for Danny... Maximum City is a non-fiction work, so it will be a huge challenge to find the story in it. It is a wonderful book and I used it in my initial research for Slumdog. There are some great characters in the book, but no stories, so my job will be to get the fictional out of a non-fictional story."

So, which will it be for the director? And since the controversy over the fates of Slumdog's two youngest stars has never been fully addressed by the studios or Boyle to the satisfaction of movie-goers, would it be all that wise for Boyle to return to Mumbai for the setting of his next movie?

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]]>controversydanny boyleDannyBoylemumbaisimon beaufoySimonBeaufoyslumdog millionaireSlumdogMillionaireJenni MillerFri, 12 Jun 2009 19:15:00 EST'G.I. Joe' Director Fired? Biggest Stinker of 2009? Do Tell!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/11/g-i-joe-director-fired-biggest-stinker-of-2009-do-tell/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/11/g-i-joe-director-fired-biggest-stinker-of-2009-do-tell/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/11/g-i-joe-director-fired-biggest-stinker-of-2009-do-tell/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



It's no secret around these parts that G.I. Joe is -- how shall we say ... the one-legged monkey of this summer's crop of movies. Already the butt of lots of jokes online and off, G.I. Joe and its small amount of marketing materials (including a trailer or two and 578 character posters) haven't exactly impressed more than four people (and some suggest those four people don't even really exist). Now I really hate to crap on a film before it hits theaters because a lot of people worked hard to make the thing and a whole ton of money was spent in the process, but the news just doesn't seem to get better when it comes to the live-action G.I. Joe adaptation no one really asked for.

The latest comes from a message board poster over at producer (and Cinematical's number one fan) Don Murphy's site. Latino Review found the post, which goes into lots of detail regarding G.I. Joe director Stephen Sommers and how he was canned and replaced with a "fixer" director after the film tested poorly. Normally a message board poster wouldn't be the greatest source for a story like this, but LR did some checking with people and say it's the truth. Of course Paramount will try to deny there's anything going on here (which kinda reminds me of all the hoopla surrounding Lexi Alexander on Punisher: War Zone), but if it is indeed true, then it kinda looks like Cobra is going to fall before they get to rise.

But give it two years for the bad taste to go away, and I'm sure someone will try to reboot the franchise. Read the detailed message board post after the jump. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra hits theaters on August 7.

UPDATE: Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura spoke to Latino Review and claims there's no truth whatsoever to this story. Read his response over here.

Continue reading 'G.I. Joe' Director Fired? Biggest Stinker of 2009? Do Tell!

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]]>cinematicalg.i. joeg.i. joe director firedG.i.JoeG.i.JoeDirectorFiredstephen sommersStephenSommersthe rise of cobraTheRiseOfCobraErik DavisThu, 11 Jun 2009 12:32:00 EST