The End is Near

This impressive abomination (yeah, that's right) was done last night with a hologram of the King himself...



...thus kicking off the beginning of the end of the world. It's only a matter of time before you're hearing "Hey, wanna go see the new Humphrey Bogart flick!?" and "Yo, Hitler was being SUCH a prick on Real World last night!"

Save the women and children first.

- Rob Society

New Planet, Same Stupidity

And now for a post a little different than the norm...

Astronomers recently discovered a planet outside of our solar system that they believe could potentially support life. It has Earth-like temperatures and "possibly water in liquid form" (Annoying statement...it wouldn't be "water" if it were ice or steam). The average temperature on the planet, named 581 c, is estimated to be somewhere between 32 and 104 degrees, further supporting the theory that it could sustain life. It's a very interesting story, with a gravitational pull stronger than Earth's and an 13 day orbit around it's Red Dwarf star. Read more about the story here, http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/04/25/habitable.planet.ap/index.html.

But here's where I get pissed off. Why are we as a species so close-minded when it comes to the possibilities of alien life? Why must any other form of existance need to comply by Earth-life's need for water, temperature, and gravitational standards. Just because all that we know is matter that consists of the 117 elements that we've discovered doesn't mean that there can't be something else in the grand scheme of the universe that our minds can't even comprehend, let alone verbalize.

Obviously the traditional image of aliens is very well known: lanky, human-like bodies, large eyes, a cerebral center of some sort. Most other alien images are variations on the theme. But why couldn't an alien be gaseous, for example. Or even just an essence? It doesn't have to be tangible in any way, and again, we as a species might not even be capable of recognizing it as life, since our brains aren't able to accept the unknown in that manner.

It's just very frustrating to me to see some of the most intelligent minds in science stuck to this theme of matter and elements and qualifications for a planet to be "life-sustaining." Sure, if they're just looking for somewhere that the human race can move to after we destroy our own planet, I guess looking for these types of criteria is the best thing to do. But if we're actually toying with the idea of extraterrestrial life, then we seriously need to just open up our minds.

The Crow/Batman Crossover Movie Announced!

Oh, no...wait. MAH' BAD. This image just popped up on pretty much every website ever made. I think I found it over here, but I could be wrong. So it's allegedly a makeup/color test for Heath Ledger's Joker. I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, it definitely fits in with Nolan's Batman universe and the gritty, realistic feel to the characters that thrive in it. Depending on how Ledger plays it, it has the potential to work perfectly. On the other hand, I'm kind of a sucker for the purple suit and the acid-squirting flowers.



I wonder what their plan is for explaining why the Joker has 6 fingers on his right hand? Is it just me? Anybody?

- Rob Society

UPDATE - Ok, so I'm an asshole (nothing new there) and it turns out this image is fake. This one fooled everyone because a) it was photoshopped really well, and b) it looks infinitely better than the other Heath Ledger-as-Joker photoshop jobs that have been floating around for months (samples of the shit in question here and here). Here are the original images used.

"How long do you think it would take to train an army?" - Jack Shepherd

Alright so the last five episodes of Lost are on their way, and ABC has shown no shame in promoting them during every primetime and weekend commercial break. Needless to say, I get chills every time I see one. But today I got to thinking...am I really excited because of the scenes they are showing (of course I am, but for the purpose of this post...)? The Lost creators notoriously show misleading information and minor details in their promos, leaving the major revelations for the episode, where they belong. So is it the anticipation for these upcoming scenes that's gettin me all tingly? Or is it just the effin' awesome Requiem for a Dream theme pumping in the background? God damn it feels like a war is brewing on that island and I can't friggin' wait.

Listen and Enjoy.




-Vincenz

Gray skies ahead for the Hulk...

Well, gray skintones at least, according to recent rumors from Marvel heads. But gray skies should be involved as well. And rain. Hulk Shower!

-Vincenz

"Lowered Expecta-a-tions...."

Alright, so a couple months ago we got that friggin' awesome Fantastic Four 2 trailer, right? Wedding of Reed and Sue, Ben somehow crying (is that a brow I see? No, he still looks like a crowning baby), even Chris Evans' Johnny Storm getting a legitimately in-character (and funny) joke to lighten the seriousness of the situation: the arrival of the Silver Surfer. The effin' Silver Surfer, people, and he looks great in these early shots. This short two minute trailer is better than anything the first movie even THOUGHT of offering...and then I began to notice what this meant. With the arrival of the the Surfer, there's no doubt that Galactus could be far behind, right?

Right?

Wrong, dammit. Well not exactly, but might as well be...

Galactus has had a couple incarnations in the comic books, and each has been original and interesting enough to warrant a chance in the movie. In both, the surfer arrives as a herald of the coming disaster. In the classic Marvel Universe, we have Galactus the planet-eater, a being the size of a galaxy who could crush the earth in his hand like a tennis ball. The Ultimate Universe brought us Galactus the infestation, millions of bug-like entities (modeled in honor of the Classic Galactus' unique helmet) that swarm a planet and eat it from the inside out. And according to early reports, Fantastic Four 2 bring us Galactus the...storm cloud? What?

A storm cloud. With a voice. Probably booming.

What a mess.

As I worry more about the fate of this movie, I'll leave you with a fantasy of what could've been...



-Vincenz

"New and improved Joker products!"

As production begins on The Dark Knight (sequel to Chris Nolan's Batman Begins), it's only a matter of time before photos of the actors and set designs show up on the internet. One particularly intriguing detail will undoubtedly be the look of Heath Ledger's Joker. Amidst general pessimism about this casting choice from many, the contributors to this page continue to have the utmost faith in whatever Ledger and Nolan bring to the character. Of course, when the pair use words like "scary" and "psychotic" to describe their Joker, who can argue? Those concepts are the very essence of the Joker thriving within the pages of the very best Batman graphic novels. It seems that as time has gone on, the performances have gotten closer and closer to the real deal.

1966: Cesar Romero plays the Joker in the campy Adam West Batman series. I grew up with this version in reruns. He's more silly than demented, but then again we're talking about a guy who refused to shave his mustache for the role (1960's solution: just paint over it!).










1989: Jack Nicholson's take on the villain is about as perfect for that movie as you could get. My earliest memory of being in a movie theater is from this film, largely due to this performance. But let's face it...no one, not even the 'Ew they got that gay guy from Brokeback Mountain' Ledger haters, wants to see Nicholson's performance rehashed.








1995: Tommy Lee Jones appears in Batman Forever taking on the role of the Jok-- oh wait...that was supposed to be Two Face? Seriously? Wait...seriously?













Which brings us to today, when news broke that Heath Ledger's Joker "will have gray skin with lots of scarring" and will wear "raggedy" clothing that's more thrown together than a true costume. Ledger has insisted that his take on the character will be a sinister one, adding, "I definitely have an image in my head and I definitely have something up my sleeve." Talking like a clown already. I like.

- Rob Society

"Wait, who's Dwigt?"

Variety reported Monday that Clive Owen is officially reprising his role as Dwight in Sin City 2. About effin' time. The main focus of the plot will be on Frank Miller's novel A Dame to Kill For, in which Dwight is the male lead alongside Mickey Rourke's Marv. There was much speculation as to whether or not Owen would be back for the role, since the tale takes place prior to The Big Fat Kill, at a point in his life where, without giving things away, Dwight doesn't quite look the same. But come on, we already met the character through Clive Owen's voice, it would be a slap to the face to change actors in a movie where makeup and computer effects can change character traits flawlessly and effortlessly. No word yet on who will play opposite Owen as Ava, the titular Dame (recent rumors have suggested Rachel Weisz).



-Vincenz

"Only After Disaster Can We Be Resurrected" -Tyler Durden

At least that's what Marvel hopes. With such spot on casting choices such as Jessica Alba as Sue Storm, Ben Affleck as Daredevil, and David Hasselhoff as Nick Fury, the House of Ideas can't always crank out winners. But Marvel is obviously trying to correct prior wrongs with some recent decisions, such as Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark. But their most recent choice is both effin' amazing and slightly unnerving at the same time.

It's pretty clear that Marvel treats its movie franchises on two separate tiers. We have the Spider-Man, the X-Men, and even the Blade films receiving preferential treatment, while the Daredevils, Punishers, and Ghost Riders are shat upon. (And then there's Howard the Duck - I'm still holding out for the remake, I really think a CG Howard would really add to the deep emotional gravitas of the character). But stuck somewhere in Purgatory is Bruce Banner, a.k.a. the Hulk.

Ang Lee's Hulk was a high-concept blockbuster art house studio independent mess. How hard could it be to turn one of Marvel's simplest characters into an entertaining movie? Bruce Banner experiments, Bruce Banner fucks up, Bruce Banner Hulks, and Hulk Smashes. Simple as that. Please. Ang Lee tried to add a touch of spirituality and greater sense of meaning to the film, but why? We don't need this metaphysical redemption shit, the is he or isn't he dead cloud of energy ending. Eric Bana as Bruce? A laudable actor, but a little too chiseled and suave for the geeky, depressive mess that is Banner. And the Hulk himself? Looks fantastic in stills, like a train wreck in motion. The guy weighs a couple tons, for God's sake, when he lands on the ground the earth should shatter. We should feel every step when he runs, but instead he prances like a fucking ballerina. Honestly, get some animators that have studied weight distribution and physics, it's an insult to people who don't even know the basics of animation.

But the franchise is getting a reboot. Not a sequel, thankfully, but an honest to God second chance. New writer (David S. Goyer of Blade and Batman Begins fame), new director (Louis Leterrier (the dog), Transporter director), new story, and most importantly, a new Bruce:



Ed Norton (Fight Club, The Illusionist) could be a great choice for the scrawny, nerdy Bruce Banner if we really want to (and I really want to) explore his depression and building insanity at his inability to control his transformation, but again, we still have to worry about the Hulk himself. The action set pieces can only do so much to balance out the drama that Ed Norton will infuse into the role of Banner, but I'd like to see the Hulk have a little more character himself. Hulk speak! Hulk know words! Hulk want dialogue! Hopefully this new story is worth the effort, because I'd love to see Marvel succeed at resurrecting this franchise (and make the Hulk gray...much cooler).

-Vincenz

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"Edward Norton is a rare talent and one of the most versatile actors in the business. His ability to transform into a particular role makes him the ideal choice to take on the character of Bruce Banner/The Hulk." - Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios President of Production

You see what he did there? He equated Ed Norton's ability to transform for roles to the Hulk's transformation. That guys a smooth-smoothie!

So does this mean we can all look forward to more of these?



- Rob Society

Yippee-Ki-Yay.

Somewhere in California, Arnold Schwarzenegger is watching this trailer and wondering why nobody invited him back for True Lies 2. At least, that's how half of me feels while watching it. The other (better) half of me and my man-crush on John McClane says it looks like the best thing since the first Die Hard and I know where I'll be on June 29th.


I could probably do without that overrated grizzly bear popping up at the end. How about a familiar face instead...



Hey, a guy can hope.

- Rob Society

He Lives! He Walks! He Conquers!

So it's old news that Jon Favreau has made one of the best casting decisions ever by picking substance abusing millionaire Robert Downey, Jr. to play substance abusing billionaire Tony Stark in next May's Iron Man movie. But now we have a sweet confirmation that the ball is rolling (in the right direction, too) in the form of this first image.



This is most likely his first attempt at designing the suit before upgrading to the red and gold. It's modeled after the original Iron Man design from his first outing in Marvel's Tales of Suspense in 1963.



Annnd needless to say, it looks fuckin awesome.

- Rob Society