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‘Ghostbusters’ Reunion Eyed by Columbia

  • Uncategorized
  • September 5, 2008

ghostbusters-4444775After years of discussion, debate and rumor, it appears a third Ghostbusters film may finally be mounted in 2009.  Columbia told Varietyyesterday that they have hired Lee Eisenverg and Gene Stupnitsky, producers of NBC’s The Office, to pen a screenplay that would reunite the original quartet — Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson. The producers have previously worked with Ramis on Year One.

Previous attempts to make a third installment always got stalled over money, especially profit participation.  The top stars have demanded such a high percentage from dollar one that the studio could not reasonably expect to see any profit.  Currently, Columbia caps their profit participation to 25% so this is seen as a sticking point.

Should the financials be worked out, the movie would most likely be shot in 2009 for a 2010 release, which fits Columbia’s needs quite well as they lack a tentpole picture for that summer. Right now, they have The Green Hornet pencilled in for June 2010 but that has yet to start shooting as has their hope for 2011, Spider-Man 4.
 

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Review: Learn Spanish With Batman

  • Uncategorized
  • September 5, 2008

2050750441-5965211So there I was at the supermarket maintaining a half-century long tradition: hanging out by the magazine racks looking for treasure. Or at least something interesting to read. Nada. As usual.

But there was a dump next to the racks with a trade paperback titled [[[Learn Spanish With Batman]]]. Well, that seemed interesting. I picked one up, flipped though it and found that the stories were reprints from DC’s sundry Batman cartoon tie-ins. Top-rank stuff by top-tier people: Terry Beatty, Rick Burchett, Tim Levins, Scott Peterson, Dan Slott, and Ty Templeton. What the hell; I picked it up.

Truth be told, I took a couple years of high school Spanish. My first teacher would have done better as a guard at Guantanamo Bay. My second, Ron Manger, was vastly superior but it was probably too late. I picked up a lot more Spanish on the Chicago streets. So I approached Learn Spanish With Batman with my typical cynicism.

They reprinted the stories but certain key words in Spanish, lettered in a red color hold. The translation was off to the side in the appreciable borders. The whole thing was done by Berlitz, who have quite a track record when it comes to the foreign language racket.

Reading the 110 pages, I felt a few ancient memory cells being brought out of a coma. I don’t know how effective this process would be for someone without my slight Spanish language background but – to be fair – the book is obviously targeted to kids and pre-adolescents. I only fall into that category for a living.

It was a pleasurable experience; the stories were great fun and some actual knowledge got hammered into my leaden brainpan. There’s two volumes of Superman and another of Batman in the series thus far, and I’ll probably pick up the latter.

If you’re only interested in the stories, DC’s many trade paperback reprints are a better deal. But if you’d like to try a little experiment, or you’ve got kids or young siblings, I’d give this a try.

DeCandido Returns to ‘Farscape’

  • News
  • September 5, 2008

Saavy readers of Previews may have already picked up on this bit of news, but BOOM! sent out a release to ensure everyone was aware that Rockne O’Bannon was getting som ehelp turning Farscape into a comic book.  Here’s the release:

September 4th, 2008 – Los Angeles, CA – BOOM! Studios and The Jim Henson Company announced today that Keith R.A. DeCandido will be scripting the  Farscape miniseries from an original story by Farscape creator Rockne O’Bannon.

Using O’Bannon’s unique vision and richly detailed story, DeCandido will work with BOOM! Studios and The Jim Henson Company to bring fans the best comic this or any universe has ever seen!

Keith R.A. DeCandido has authored more than 30 novels, among them, the acclaimed  Farscape novel House of Cards, released in 2001. DeCandido also wrote three short stories in that universe for the show’s official magazine and role-playing game.

"Words cannot describe how thrilled I am to be returning to  Farscape. Writing House of Cards was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my career, and I was always sorry I didn’t get to do more work in the universe," said DeCandido.  "Re-immersing myself in the wild and wacky world of FARSCAPE has been a true joy, as the show remains just as brilliant in 2008 as it was at the turn of the century. (more…)

Country First, by Michael Davis

  • News
  • September 5, 2008

Martin Luther King was never a prisoner of war like John McCain. Nelson Mandela never flew a combat mission over Viet Nam like John McCain. Gandhi was never a commanding officer like John McCain.

According to right wing rhetoric, none of these people would be able to lead in America for they would be attacked for their lack of experience. What all of these people share with Barack Obama is the ability to inspire other people.

I am not suggesting that Obama is in any way in the league of those above, but there is something to be said for inspiring people.

Some people like the Republicans don’t see that. This from The party of Lincoln, as they like to say. The “party of Lincoln.” Wow, that is saying something. They always bring that up when they want to make a point.

Lincoln was President in 1861. It’s now 2008. That party is over.

How over? Lincoln is known for one thing and one thing only to the masses: he freed the slaves. He gave black people their freedom in this country. Did you see the sea of faces at the Republican convention? There were thousands of people there, and I’m not kidding when I say this: it looked like you could count the black people on two hands. How is it possible that the Republican Party frees black people from bondage and black people stay away from the Republican Party like Stevie Wonder stays away from driving the Indy 500?

I watched the “Country first” video that the RNC produced and showed at the convention. When images of Ronald Regan, Barbara Bush and McCain were on the screen the crowd went wild. When images of Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks were seen… nothing.

No applause. No reaction. Nothing. (more…)

New Yorkers get to Experience ‘The Hourglass and the Poisoned Pen’

  • News
  • September 5, 2008

Andrew Pepoy, creator of The Adventures of Simone and Ajax, appearing here regularly, notified us that a stage play he helped conceive will be coming to New York at month’s end.  Here’s the official release:

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL AND CHICAGO TAP THEATRE PRESENT THE HOURGLASS AND THE POISONED PEN A SUPERHERO TAP DANCE OPERA 

SEPTEMBER 27 AND 28 AT THE MANHATTAN MOVEMENT AND ARTS CENTER (248 W. 60th ST.)

CHICAGO – When Super-heroes, live theater and tap dancing collide, the result is Chicago Tap Theatre’s The Hourglass and the Poisoned Pen.  Part story ballet, part summer blockbuster and all rhythm, this is the production that set Chicago on fire. The Hourglass and the Poisoned Pen is the sixth story show created by Chicago Tap Theatre, and the first revision of a previous production.  The show was created with the assistance of famed comic book artist and writer Andrew Pepoy (Batman, Fables, Simpsons). With a cast of eleven male and female dancers, all of whom excel in both tap and other forms of dance, and moments of intense action, irresistible humor and heartfelt emotion, choreographer and director Mark Yonally not only creates a whole new world for The Hourglass through his choreography – he also creates a unique new spin on the art of tap dance.

Follow the exploits of Elizabeth, as she and her best friend Daphne become The Hourglass and The Second Hand.  They duke it out with the nefarious Conductor and her violin-playing Trio of Terror. Ultimately, Elizabeth’s lame boyfriend, the vile Nick Prickley, gets possession of the source of the Conductor’s skills, the last sliver of wood from the Tree of Knowledge, which grants great and terrible powers. (more…)

‘Zits” Pierce gets the Spotlight

  • News
  • September 5, 2008

Zits is one of the most consistently entertaining comic strips running today and a large reason behind the strip’s success is the varied supporting cast. The strip, introduced in 1997 and produced by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman, has focused on 15-year-old Jeremy Duncan, his loving but seemingly clueless parents, and his friends. 

Among them is Pierce, last name unknown, who lives up to his name with piercings over most of his body, complete with braces for maximum metal. Now, readers will enjoy a spotlight on Jeremy’s band mate in Pierced, the thirteenth collection of strips from Andrews McMeel Publishing.  The 128-page book, part of the Zits Sketchbook subset, will be on sale in October, retailing for $12.99.

Readers will be treated to the complex character who is actually very courteous and was recently revealed to actually take out all the metal and put on preppy clothing for a change-of-pace. He’s extremely loyal and is almost militant in his care for animals and insects of all kinds.
 

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‘The Lone Ranger’ gets 75th Anniversary DVD Set

  • News
  • September 5, 2008

loneranger-75thanncoll-f-5425595Among characters celebrating anniversaries this year is the Lone Ranger and to commemorate the occasion, Genius Entertainment will release The Lone Ranger – 75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition on November 11. Season 1 and 2 of the classic Clayton Moore/Jay Silverheels television series will be collected on 13 discs.

Extras include three bonus episodes from the 1960s Filmation animated series, a classic episode of Lassie which features The Lone Ranger, an original Lone Ranger radio show broadcast from 1950, an 88-page Commemorative Book, a complete episode guide, reprints of rare comic books and photos, and limited edition collectibles.

The cost will be $119.93 but no doubt a must have for collectors.

The character, currently controlled by Classic Media, is enjoying renewed comics popularity with Dynamite Entertainment’s series featuring art from John Cassady.

 

‘Watchmen’ Lawsuit Explained for You

  • News
  • September 4, 2008

In a story that has had more twists and turns than the graphic novel it’s based on, the legal battle over the movie rights to Watchmen is in the final stretch.  Gary Allen Feess, a federal judge, set a trial date of January 6th for the copyright suit between 20th Century Fox and Warner Brothers.  The date is two months before the film’s scheduled release.

The comics readers, wary of anyone attempting to adapt Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ seminal graphic novel, was set ablaze once they saw the trailer in front of The Dark Knight.  Unfortunately shortly after the trailer was released the fate of the film was almost immediately put in doubt when a federal judge’s ruling allowed Fox to seek to block the release.  Fox claims that the film infringes on their rights stemming from their attempt to adapt the acclaimed graphic novel in the early ’90s.

They key to this story legally is the concept of "turnaround".  When a studio abandons a property they put it into turnaround, basically saying that another studio can take the property and develop it but they have to compensate the original studio for development costs plus interest. 
(more…)

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‘Ghost Rider 2’?

  • News
  • September 4, 2008

ghost-rider-superhero-2445428While promoting Bangkok Dangerous, actor Nicholas Cage told a roundtable full of reporters that he and Marvel Studios have begun talks about a sequel to 2007’s Ghost Rider. If the story goes forward, Cage indicated Hell’s bounty hunter would next be found in Europe, working with the Catholic Church. The first Ghost Rider film was written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson and made on a $110 million budget.  Worldwide, it grossed $228,738,393 while earning mostly poor reviews. It did, though, perform fairly well on home video, a determining factor these days.

But first, Cage will begin shooting Kick-Ass in Toronto in the next few weeks. "I play a guy named Damon and I’m the father of Mindy, who is Hit Girl and I’m Big Daddy and I’m training my daughter to become a super-hero."

Beyond that, the lifelong comic book fan confirmed he will do a voice role for next year’s Astro Boy CGI film.  He also lent his support to the long-stalled Sub-Mariner film which has languished at Universal Studios for over a decade. The most recent Subby news is almost two years old with the studio thern announcing director Jonathan Mostow was signed to rewrite David Self’s script and direct.
 

ComicMix Radio: Storm Clouds Build Over Watchmen

According to the media, lawyers are gearing up for a “frenzied fight” over the screen rights to the biggest graphic novel of all time, plus:

  • Barack sells out at Image
  • It’s now a world without Don LaFontaine
  • Robert Englund tells us about the rebirth of V
And on Saturday, catch ComicMix Radio as we are joined by Joss Whedon, taking us through the future of his work in comics and Serenity. Then, just like now, all you need  to do is Press the Button!

 

 

 
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