I've always been a fan of time travel stories and movies. Everything from the classic H.G. Wells' The Time Machine and Back to the Future to the recent The Time Traveller's Wife. It's always fascinated me. What would you do if you were able to go back and be on that grassy knoll in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963? Or how about trying to get people to believe you on the eve of September 11, 2001? Think about it. How trippy, and ultimately frustrating, would that be?
Anyways, nothing monumental here. No great revelations or discoveries, but there is some clips provided by the sites that does make my brain perk up. Now I'm no physicist by any stretch, but I believe time travel to be possible. I have absolutely nothing to back it up, just a belief, faith if you will. I think we can go into the past because it's already been set, it's already happened, but not forward because it has not. It's got nothing to do with taking a trip around the sun at light-speed a la Star Trek. I don't know what it has to do with, I just don't think it's that.
Anyways, check out the first story (in a link within the second) about someone spotting a "hipster" in a photo taken set in circa 1940s. He looks a little out of the ordinary, given the wardrobe of the rest of the crowd, but as you can see when you scroll down, it's been satisfactorily explained for the most part. Also that piece reminds me of a scene in 12 Monkeys in which Madeline Stowe's character, who plays a psychiatrist, sees Bruce Willis' character, a patient of hers, in a photo taken in World War I.
As for the Charlie Chaplin DVD seen showing a woman walking by the camera, she appears to be talking on a cellphone-like device...in 1928! Check it out.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
It's Settled
This was such a stupid topic of inane conversation to begin with.
First of all, they're muppets. They're not real people. Second of all, who came up with this ridiculous theory? Third, even if they were real people and not just inanimate characters, isn't homosexuality in today's world supposed to be accepted? Isn't it the "norm" nowadays? And finally, they're beloved characters from a kid's show, do you really think for one second that the children watching this show even cared or moreover do they even fully understand what to be gay is?
And, like I said, wasn't all this ridiculous anyways? I was pretty upset (even as an adult who still has a guilty pleasure of watching classic clips on YouTube and sites of that variety) that they took Bert and Ernie off the air because a couple of uptight people didn't like that a pear-headed and football-headed buddies lived together.
Let's deal with the real issues of this show, such as:
Why is the Cookie Monster now the "Carrot Monster?" Why does Oscar the Grouch no longer live in a trash can? Apparently because it's an insult to homeless people?? Why can everyone all see Mr. Snuffalupagous now? Was it to prove to everyone that Big Bird wasn't on LSD?
Ah, why do they have to screw with my childhood?
First of all, they're muppets. They're not real people. Second of all, who came up with this ridiculous theory? Third, even if they were real people and not just inanimate characters, isn't homosexuality in today's world supposed to be accepted? Isn't it the "norm" nowadays? And finally, they're beloved characters from a kid's show, do you really think for one second that the children watching this show even cared or moreover do they even fully understand what to be gay is?
And, like I said, wasn't all this ridiculous anyways? I was pretty upset (even as an adult who still has a guilty pleasure of watching classic clips on YouTube and sites of that variety) that they took Bert and Ernie off the air because a couple of uptight people didn't like that a pear-headed and football-headed buddies lived together.
Let's deal with the real issues of this show, such as:
Why is the Cookie Monster now the "Carrot Monster?" Why does Oscar the Grouch no longer live in a trash can? Apparently because it's an insult to homeless people?? Why can everyone all see Mr. Snuffalupagous now? Was it to prove to everyone that Big Bird wasn't on LSD?
Ah, why do they have to screw with my childhood?
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
George Lucas Planning Yet Another Star Wars Trilogy?
Via Gizmodo.com, HotAir.com.
I don't know. I'm torn. Although it would make any true STAR WARS fan wet their bed, the last attempt, other than the the dark and satisfying Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (I still hate having to put in those prefixes) wasn't entirely, um, done right. Could I have made it better? No. Could Lucas have? Oh hell, yea!
But, I won't get into what was right or wrong with the second trilogy *cough Jar-Jar Binks*cough
I just hope, if it's true, that it's not just a money-grab for more merchandise and it actually adds some value to the SW universe. Of course there will be the battle of the new fans versus the old-school ones. There will be people who think Lucas can do no wrong and anything he releases with the STAR WARS name on it will be box-office gold. Of course this is true. But, will it affect some fans allegiance (if not opening their wallets) or being a SW vehicle, will they go and see it in droves anyway? I tend to lean toward the latter. There's just something about the SW franchise that keeps people coming back for more. Is it nostalgia? Is it just good entertainment? Is it something in which people that saw STAR WARS in its original 1977 theatrical release can now share that experience with their kids? I think so, but I also think people just can't get enough of it.
That's why Lucas can go the STAR TREK route and make like nine or ten of these things and people would still go and see them.
The plot is still of course unrevealed, as is the potential cast, but if Lucas was smart, he would do what he did in 1974-cast nobodies with a couple of established stars. Yeah it was fine seeing Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, but wouldn't it be more apropo to create a litle more excitement from watching new characters blossom?
I wonder if the plot would be anything like these? Episode VII:The Hidden Circle, Episode VIII: The Republic in Crisis and Episode IX: Victory of the Force
Others have logical doubts...
And hopefuls have their reasons...
We'll see.
I don't know. I'm torn. Although it would make any true STAR WARS fan wet their bed, the last attempt, other than the the dark and satisfying Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (I still hate having to put in those prefixes) wasn't entirely, um, done right. Could I have made it better? No. Could Lucas have? Oh hell, yea!
But, I won't get into what was right or wrong with the second trilogy *cough Jar-Jar Binks*cough
I just hope, if it's true, that it's not just a money-grab for more merchandise and it actually adds some value to the SW universe. Of course there will be the battle of the new fans versus the old-school ones. There will be people who think Lucas can do no wrong and anything he releases with the STAR WARS name on it will be box-office gold. Of course this is true. But, will it affect some fans allegiance (if not opening their wallets) or being a SW vehicle, will they go and see it in droves anyway? I tend to lean toward the latter. There's just something about the SW franchise that keeps people coming back for more. Is it nostalgia? Is it just good entertainment? Is it something in which people that saw STAR WARS in its original 1977 theatrical release can now share that experience with their kids? I think so, but I also think people just can't get enough of it.
That's why Lucas can go the STAR TREK route and make like nine or ten of these things and people would still go and see them.
The plot is still of course unrevealed, as is the potential cast, but if Lucas was smart, he would do what he did in 1974-cast nobodies with a couple of established stars. Yeah it was fine seeing Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, but wouldn't it be more apropo to create a litle more excitement from watching new characters blossom?
I wonder if the plot would be anything like these? Episode VII:The Hidden Circle, Episode VIII: The Republic in Crisis and Episode IX: Victory of the Force
Others have logical doubts...
And hopefuls have their reasons...
We'll see.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
A Few Updates
Here are a few updates in the entertainment world:
Barbara Billingsley, aka "June Cleaver" Dies.
Barbara Billingsley, who gained the title supermom for her gentle portrayal of June Cleaver, the warm, supportive mother of a pair of precocious boys in Leave It to Beaver, has died. She was 94.Spokeswoman Judy Twersky said Billingsley died early Saturday at her home in Santa Monica, Calif. She had suffered from a rheumatoid disease.
She acted in a number of roles in movies from the mid-1940s to the mid-1950s, but it wasn't until Leave It to Beaver that she became a star. When the suburban situation comedy debuted in 1957, Jerry Mathers, who played Beaver, was nine years old and Tony Dow, who portrayed Wally, was 12. Billingsley's character, the perfect stay-at-home 1950s mom, was always there to gently but firmly nurture both through the ups and downs of childhood.The show ran until 1963, and much of its original cast returned for a 1983 TV movie, Still the Beaver, which was followed by a cable-channel series, The New Leave It to Beaver.
'300,' 'Watchmen' Director Zack Snyder Chosen to Helm Next 'Superman' Film
'300,' 'Watchmen' Director Zack Snyder Chosen to Helm Next 'Superman' FilmDarren Aronofsky might have been more adventurous and Matt Reeves might have been more Spielberg-ian, but as it turns out, the director of the second "Superman" reboot will end up more Dr. Manhattan-ish.
As first broken by Deadline yesterday evening, producers Christopher Nolan and David Goyer have selected "Watchmen" director Zack Snyder to helm the latest incarnation of "Superman. " Snyder, who's currently in theaters with "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole," confirmed last night that he'll start working on "Superman" as soon as he finishes his next movie, "Sucker Punch," out next March. The "Superman" film, with a script by Goyer from an idea by Goyer and Nolan, is expected to be released around Christmas 2012 (assuming the world hasn't ended by then). Snyder might not have been the most daring choice among the shortlist, but he's not the dullest either (that would have been Tony Scott). His career has been a curious one. He began as a music video director and did not direct his first film, 2004's "Dawn of the Dead" remake, until age 38. (As a contrast, Nolan made his first film when he was 28, and Bryan Singer, the director of "Superman Returns," was 23 on his first movie.) "Dead" wasn't a major hit, but "300," his next film, was, though it's probably best remembered for extreme slow-motion shots of men's abdominals.
"Watchmen" was his most high-profile film, his lifelong-passion project, and even though it was a slight disappointment at the box office, many admired it. "Legend of the Guardians" has done well in theaters so far, though it's worth watching how "Sucker Punch" does. Warner Bros probably wouldn't enjoy watching their "Superman" director having a film tank the year before they try to relaunch a franchise.It's understandable why Warners has had so much trouble with "Superman" films. You can argue there hasn't been a good one since "Superman II," back in 1980, with two bad Christopher Reeve sequels after that, an ill-advised "Supergirl" movie in 1984, and Singer's polarizing reboot attempt in 2006, which some loved and others found dull and cloying. (Superman has a super-son? Oh, and Kate Bosworth has to be the most boring Lois Lane imaginable.)
Superman projects have vexed filmmakers as varied as Tim Burton, Kevin Smith, McG, J.J. Abrams, and Brett Ratner. The main problem with "Superman" is that we have turned into more of an antihero culture. We like Batman because he's human and flawed and full of rage and guilt. We like Tony Stark because he's selfish and vain and a party guy.Superman is, by his very design, perfect and cheesy -- he's a relic, Ward Cleaver in a blue skintight suit. Singer attempted to capture that naïveté and bring it to today, but his Metropolis seemed as steeped in the '50s as the Steve Reeves films were. The reason the first two "Superman" films worked was that they were rooted in a recognizable place: Metropolis was late-'70s New York City, with all the grime and cynicism that came with it. Superman was an alien (he's the one who was out of place), an actual hero here to save the day, to give everyone faith again. To believe a man can fly, you must at first believe a man cannot.If Goyer and Nolan have figured out how to channel that spirit, maybe this new "Superman" can work. Apparently, Snyder's the guy they trust to find out.
Peter Jackson to Direct "The Hobbit"
The shooting of The Hobbit will begin in February with Sir Peter Jackson in the director's chair after co-financers gave the film the greenlight.
The announcement was made today by New Line Cinema and its parent company Warner Bros, but did not state whether the two-part adaptation of the JRR Tolkien novel would be shot in New Zealand, Stuff reported.
A New Line spokeswoman told NZPA however, no announcement on The Hobbit had been made, though it was expected later today.
It had been widely speculated that Sir Peter would direct the film after Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro quit in May due to delays on a starting date, in part due to financial problems with one of its backers, MGM.
The two-part film is expected to cost about US$500 million (NZ$660m) to make, and it will also be made in 3-D.
"There is no human being on the planet as qualified as Peter Jackson to direct these films," Warner Bros president Alan Horn said.
"Peter is incredibly talented and has the creative vision and experience to bring this beloved property to life in a way that no other film-maker could.
"And the team of Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have proven through their work on the Lord of the Rings trilogy that no one is more skilled at transforming Tolkien's written words into a vibrant, living language that makes the audience believe they are not merely visiting Middle Earth, but actually living in it."
With funding secured, only the union and producers' locked in an ongoing industrial dispute seem to stand in the way.
Both sides have agreed to work together to update actors' conditions.
Representatives from the Screen Production and Development Association, the Actors' Equity union and the Council of Trade Unions met this week for discussions facilitated by Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee.In a joint statement, the groups said discussions were useful and productive.
File this next one under "What the...?"
'Glee' Cast Beats Out Beatles for Billboard Record
NEW YORK – The "Glee" cast has surpassed the Beatles for the most appearances on the Billboard Hot 100 chart by a non-solo act.The cast of the Fox television musical series about a high school glee club has six debuts on the chart this week. That gives it a total of 75 songs on the chart to the Beatles' 71.The show's soundtrack got a boost after this week's episode featuring the music of Britney Spears.Elvis Presley still leads overall with 108 songs to chart on the Hot 100. He's followed by James Brown with 91, then "Glee."The Beatles are sixth, behind Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. Lil Wayne, Stevie Wonder and Jay-Z round out the Top 10.Nielsen SoundScan says the "Glee" cast has sold 2.8 million albums and 11.5 million downloads.
Bill and Ted 3?
Keanu Reeves recently told MTV that a third installment to the excellent Bill and Ted series is in the works and he and original co-star, Alex Winter are working with the original screenwriters Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon to write the screenplay.A lot of people write off the Bill and Ted's movies as cornball teen flapdoodle for lowest common denominator stoners; but both movies (beside pioneering use of colloquialism "totally") are actually very clever buddy films that had iconic historical figures delivering lines like "hello my excellent friends", and the main characters Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) served as a precursor to ubiquitous Wayne's World duo, Wayne and Garth.
The Bill and Ted movies' cult following is testament to characters that have stood the test of time - or at least evidence that their charming slacker vibes continue to endear audiences 20 years down the track.Watch Keanu's recent interview with MTV where he talks about the pending sequel and you'll see that "that is why we NEED Eddie Van Halen."
http://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainment/news/keanu-reeves-is-making-bill-and-amp;-ted-3/23735.htm
Barbara Billingsley, aka "June Cleaver" Dies.
Barbara Billingsley, who gained the title supermom for her gentle portrayal of June Cleaver, the warm, supportive mother of a pair of precocious boys in Leave It to Beaver, has died. She was 94.Spokeswoman Judy Twersky said Billingsley died early Saturday at her home in Santa Monica, Calif. She had suffered from a rheumatoid disease.
She acted in a number of roles in movies from the mid-1940s to the mid-1950s, but it wasn't until Leave It to Beaver that she became a star. When the suburban situation comedy debuted in 1957, Jerry Mathers, who played Beaver, was nine years old and Tony Dow, who portrayed Wally, was 12. Billingsley's character, the perfect stay-at-home 1950s mom, was always there to gently but firmly nurture both through the ups and downs of childhood.The show ran until 1963, and much of its original cast returned for a 1983 TV movie, Still the Beaver, which was followed by a cable-channel series, The New Leave It to Beaver.
'300,' 'Watchmen' Director Zack Snyder Chosen to Helm Next 'Superman' Film
'300,' 'Watchmen' Director Zack Snyder Chosen to Helm Next 'Superman' FilmDarren Aronofsky might have been more adventurous and Matt Reeves might have been more Spielberg-ian, but as it turns out, the director of the second "Superman" reboot will end up more Dr. Manhattan-ish.
As first broken by Deadline yesterday evening, producers Christopher Nolan and David Goyer have selected "Watchmen" director Zack Snyder to helm the latest incarnation of "Superman. " Snyder, who's currently in theaters with "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole," confirmed last night that he'll start working on "Superman" as soon as he finishes his next movie, "Sucker Punch," out next March. The "Superman" film, with a script by Goyer from an idea by Goyer and Nolan, is expected to be released around Christmas 2012 (assuming the world hasn't ended by then). Snyder might not have been the most daring choice among the shortlist, but he's not the dullest either (that would have been Tony Scott). His career has been a curious one. He began as a music video director and did not direct his first film, 2004's "Dawn of the Dead" remake, until age 38. (As a contrast, Nolan made his first film when he was 28, and Bryan Singer, the director of "Superman Returns," was 23 on his first movie.) "Dead" wasn't a major hit, but "300," his next film, was, though it's probably best remembered for extreme slow-motion shots of men's abdominals.
"Watchmen" was his most high-profile film, his lifelong-passion project, and even though it was a slight disappointment at the box office, many admired it. "Legend of the Guardians" has done well in theaters so far, though it's worth watching how "Sucker Punch" does. Warner Bros probably wouldn't enjoy watching their "Superman" director having a film tank the year before they try to relaunch a franchise.It's understandable why Warners has had so much trouble with "Superman" films. You can argue there hasn't been a good one since "Superman II," back in 1980, with two bad Christopher Reeve sequels after that, an ill-advised "Supergirl" movie in 1984, and Singer's polarizing reboot attempt in 2006, which some loved and others found dull and cloying. (Superman has a super-son? Oh, and Kate Bosworth has to be the most boring Lois Lane imaginable.)
Superman projects have vexed filmmakers as varied as Tim Burton, Kevin Smith, McG, J.J. Abrams, and Brett Ratner. The main problem with "Superman" is that we have turned into more of an antihero culture. We like Batman because he's human and flawed and full of rage and guilt. We like Tony Stark because he's selfish and vain and a party guy.Superman is, by his very design, perfect and cheesy -- he's a relic, Ward Cleaver in a blue skintight suit. Singer attempted to capture that naïveté and bring it to today, but his Metropolis seemed as steeped in the '50s as the Steve Reeves films were. The reason the first two "Superman" films worked was that they were rooted in a recognizable place: Metropolis was late-'70s New York City, with all the grime and cynicism that came with it. Superman was an alien (he's the one who was out of place), an actual hero here to save the day, to give everyone faith again. To believe a man can fly, you must at first believe a man cannot.If Goyer and Nolan have figured out how to channel that spirit, maybe this new "Superman" can work. Apparently, Snyder's the guy they trust to find out.
Peter Jackson to Direct "The Hobbit"
The shooting of The Hobbit will begin in February with Sir Peter Jackson in the director's chair after co-financers gave the film the greenlight.
The announcement was made today by New Line Cinema and its parent company Warner Bros, but did not state whether the two-part adaptation of the JRR Tolkien novel would be shot in New Zealand, Stuff reported.
A New Line spokeswoman told NZPA however, no announcement on The Hobbit had been made, though it was expected later today.
It had been widely speculated that Sir Peter would direct the film after Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro quit in May due to delays on a starting date, in part due to financial problems with one of its backers, MGM.
The two-part film is expected to cost about US$500 million (NZ$660m) to make, and it will also be made in 3-D.
"There is no human being on the planet as qualified as Peter Jackson to direct these films," Warner Bros president Alan Horn said.
"Peter is incredibly talented and has the creative vision and experience to bring this beloved property to life in a way that no other film-maker could.
"And the team of Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have proven through their work on the Lord of the Rings trilogy that no one is more skilled at transforming Tolkien's written words into a vibrant, living language that makes the audience believe they are not merely visiting Middle Earth, but actually living in it."
With funding secured, only the union and producers' locked in an ongoing industrial dispute seem to stand in the way.
Both sides have agreed to work together to update actors' conditions.
Representatives from the Screen Production and Development Association, the Actors' Equity union and the Council of Trade Unions met this week for discussions facilitated by Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee.In a joint statement, the groups said discussions were useful and productive.
File this next one under "What the...?"
'Glee' Cast Beats Out Beatles for Billboard Record
NEW YORK – The "Glee" cast has surpassed the Beatles for the most appearances on the Billboard Hot 100 chart by a non-solo act.The cast of the Fox television musical series about a high school glee club has six debuts on the chart this week. That gives it a total of 75 songs on the chart to the Beatles' 71.The show's soundtrack got a boost after this week's episode featuring the music of Britney Spears.Elvis Presley still leads overall with 108 songs to chart on the Hot 100. He's followed by James Brown with 91, then "Glee."The Beatles are sixth, behind Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. Lil Wayne, Stevie Wonder and Jay-Z round out the Top 10.Nielsen SoundScan says the "Glee" cast has sold 2.8 million albums and 11.5 million downloads.
Bill and Ted 3?
Keanu Reeves recently told MTV that a third installment to the excellent Bill and Ted series is in the works and he and original co-star, Alex Winter are working with the original screenwriters Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon to write the screenplay.A lot of people write off the Bill and Ted's movies as cornball teen flapdoodle for lowest common denominator stoners; but both movies (beside pioneering use of colloquialism "totally") are actually very clever buddy films that had iconic historical figures delivering lines like "hello my excellent friends", and the main characters Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) served as a precursor to ubiquitous Wayne's World duo, Wayne and Garth.
The Bill and Ted movies' cult following is testament to characters that have stood the test of time - or at least evidence that their charming slacker vibes continue to endear audiences 20 years down the track.Watch Keanu's recent interview with MTV where he talks about the pending sequel and you'll see that "that is why we NEED Eddie Van Halen."
http://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainment/news/keanu-reeves-is-making-bill-and-amp;-ted-3/23735.htm
Saturday, October 9, 2010
John Lennon's 70th
NEW YORK – Beatles fans worldwide are coming together to celebrate John Lennon's 70th birthday.On the day when the Liverpool Lad would have become a septuagenarian, fans will visit Central Park's tranquil Strawberry Fields and attend a nearby benefit concert in Manhattan.The memorial to the slain ex-Beatle and peace activist includes a mosaic donated by the city of Naples, Italy. A plaque lists 121 countries that endorse Strawberry Fields as a Garden of Peace.
The 2.5-acre site is named after the Lennon song, which observes that "living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see."The birthday celebration got started on Friday in England, where Google UK released a video "doodle" to a Lennon soundtrack.
The 2.5-acre site is named after the Lennon song, which observes that "living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see."The birthday celebration got started on Friday in England, where Google UK released a video "doodle" to a Lennon soundtrack.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Nowhere Boy
Some Beatles fan I am. A movie released last year depicting the "tumultuous upbringing in Liverpool" of John Lennon, entitled, Nowhere Boy, got right by me. The 1994 release of Backbeat that depicted the Hamburg days of the Fab Four (before they were that) mainly focused on the relationship of former member, Stuart Sutcliffe and his German girlfriend, Astrid Kirchherr. A very good film, regardless. As a side note, the actor that played Paul McCartney, Gary Bakewell, also played him in the TV-movie, The Linda McCartney Story (2000) about McCartney's relationship with, and death of, wife Linda.
I guess I should find this "Nowhere Boy," huh?
I guess I should find this "Nowhere Boy," huh?
Rock Star: KISS? Really?
Really? Are Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley really going to allow themselves to be put through the ringer of of this whole "Rock Star" show on CBS? You know, the one that had INXS looking for a new singer? Apparently the story goes that this is for "replacements" after Simmons and Stanley "retire," so that new characters can carry on the band name. Seriously.
Even I think this is the epitome of ridiculousness. I know Stanley keeps saying that KISS is not just a band but a phenomenon. While this may be true, do they really expect their fans to embrace a whole new band? Like their history and 19 studio albums (along with countless live and compilations) should be attributed to strangers? Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.
I'm sure I'll check it out (if it is true) only for the novelty of it. But this is just stupid.
More...
Even I think this is the epitome of ridiculousness. I know Stanley keeps saying that KISS is not just a band but a phenomenon. While this may be true, do they really expect their fans to embrace a whole new band? Like their history and 19 studio albums (along with countless live and compilations) should be attributed to strangers? Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.
I'm sure I'll check it out (if it is true) only for the novelty of it. But this is just stupid.
More...
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