the illustrated man Tagged Articles at Cinematical

300 fans (and if the Cinematical reader comments are any indication, that would be all of you), take note. Variety is reporting that much of the creative team behind that "abs n' stabs" action extravaganza is reuniting for a new film called The Last Photograph. Photograph is based on an original idea by 300 director Zack Snyder, and is billed as a drama about "a photograph that becomes the catalyst for a journey two men undertake through war-torn Afghanistan." 300 co-screenwriter Kurt Johnstad will write the film for Snyder to possibly direct. The producers of the film intend to develop the film and then put it up for auction.

Reading between the lines of the Variety article, it seems like Snyder wants to direct the project, but doesn't know if he'll have time. And he doesn't know if he'll have time because he's involved with, like, everything! He's currently shooting the highly anticipated Watchmen (check out an update from Snyder on the film's progress here). He intends to direct an adaptation of Ray Bradbury's The Illustrated Man (read more about that project here). He may direct Army of the Dead, a "zombies in Vegas" flick you can learn more about right here. And he's co-writing and might direct an action fantasy film called Sucker Punch (which you can read more about here). Though I admired the look of the film, I was no fan of 300. On the other hand, I really loved Snyder's remake of Dawn of the Dead. So consider me cautiously optimistic about all the Snyder in our future.

Back in June, Warner Bros. and Amazon.com got together to promote "DVD Decision 2006," which would allow the movie fans to vote on which WB titles they'd most like to see released this year. And yes, the results are in.

On December 19th you can pick up Lucille Ball in Best Foot Forward (1943)*, Rod Steiger in Ray Bradbury's The Illustrated Man (1969), Sophia Loren in Michael Anderson's Operation Crossbow (1965), Judy Garland in Presenting Lily Mars (1943), Kirk Douglas and Henry Fonda in Joseph L. Mankiewicz's There Was a Crooked Man... (1970), and James Garner in Up Periscope (1959). And then on January 30th we get the original Angels in the Outfield (1951)*, Kirk Douglas and Faye Dunaway in Elia Kazan's The Arrangement (1969), Clark Gable in Raoul Walsh's Band of Angels (1957), gymnast Kurt Thomas in the insipid Gymkata (1985), Albert Finney in Michael Crichton's Looker (1981), and Greer Garson & Walter Pidgeon in Mervyn LeRoy's Madame Curie (1943).

Ah, but here's what the Amazon page doesn't tell you: Which movies didn't make the cut! Fortunately for you I have a PhD in Googlizing, so I was able to put together a list of the losers -- almost all of which will most likely be on DVD by the end of next year, anyway. (By the way, those two *asterisked* titles are Amazon.com exclusives, just so you know.)