Movie Moan - One More Week Until Avatar Day

That's right. We refuse to stop bitching about "Avatar Day," folks. Of course, the fact that none of us will be able to see it could be the reason.

That aside, the guys at Movie Moan (Phil, Ed & Jamie) are here with you once again to bullshit about the week of film-news along with their pal Lou joining them for another edition.

The death of John Hughes (and memories from his work over the years), Bryan Singer's decision to direct a Battlestar Galactica film, the Wolverine sequel actually getting a good writer in the form of Chris McQuarrie and Steven Spielberg possibly producing Halo are among the topics up for discussion.

Phil and Jamie give their thoughts on G.I. Joe, Ed reviews The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard and nobody give their full thoughts on District 9. Ed and Jamie loved it, but those damn British film-distributors have blocked Phil from seeing it for another two weeks. So we won't go into a full discussion on the Neill Blomkamp-directed/Peter Jackson-produced science-fiction epic until then.

Movie Moan - One More Week Until Avatar Day

When Good Writers Take the Money & Run: The Wolverine 2 Story

It appears that Jackman's first reaction to a Wolverine sequel is the same as everyone else. Suicide by eye-poking.Makes you wonder just who needs X-Men more at this point: 20th Century Fox or Hugh Jackman.

I mean that studio burns through franchises like my one-year-old niece burns through diapers. And I can't think of a single film of Jackman's that was deemed a commercial hit that didn't involve him sporting the adamantium claws outside of Christopher Nolan's The Prestige.

Earlier this week, Jackman confirmed that a sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine was indeed moving forward with plans to adapt the popular "Logan in Japan" comic-book mini-series. Now comes official confirmation from the trades that Fox has hired a legitimately solid writer in the form of Chris McQuarrie.

I don't know how to feel on this latest development. Is this a case where the big-cheeses at Fox like Tom Rothman realize they had better deliver a good film this time out and thus brought on McQuarrie? Or did the Oscar-winning Usual Suspects screenwriter just need the money that badly? You decide.

Superman Franchise - While We're Waiting...

We're all waiting to see what develops from the rumors two weeks back (as per IESB) that Warner Brothers was fast-tracking the next Superman film. So during this down-time (or the "Wait and see" period), I thought it'd be interesting to revisit an item from not too terribly far back.

For those wondering how actor Matthew Bomer might have fared as the Man of Steel back when Brett Ratner was involved with the franchise (he was said to be Ratner's top-choice for the role), you're in luck. An ad campaign for the 2010 Toyota Prius kicked off in Japan a few months back with Bomer in the red-and-blue suit suit (and glasses to boot) as Krypton's last son.

At the moment, said campaign consists of newspaper ads as well as two television commercials - both of which you can enjoy below.

I brought this up because A) it's been a slow news-day and B) I'm rather surprised this wasn't picked up more upon first arrival. Especially considering what passes as "news-items" like the recent fake PSA with Megan Fox that was nothing more than a plug for Jennifer's Body. That's not a strike against the film, Fox or said commercial, mind you.

If you haven't already noticed, a number of us here at Think McFly Think are Superman nuts and looking forward to the (eventual) next cinematic outing of Supes, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olson & Co. Of course by the time things finally move forward, we'll move on to another franchise for us to obess over. Perhaps the Star Trek sequel?

Will there be more ads? Possible. But a definitive answer on the matter remains to be seen.

Godzilla Returns?

Roland Emmerich must be rolling in his grave.

The good folks over at Bloody-Disgusting have learned exclusively that Legendary Pictures (the production company behind the recent wave of Batman and Superman films as well as the forthcoming Where the Wild Things Are and Ninja Assassins) are trying to get a new Godzilla reboot off the ground. Apparently, there's still a market for $200 million monster movies.

It was the first time I can remember being let down by an "event" film as a kid. Sony spent a year and a half playing the Hell outta the teasers for their Emmerich-directed Dean Devlin-produced Godzilla. Once the film finally hit during its Memorial Day 1998 opening weekend, the toxic word-of-mouth spread and it wound up being quiet the box-office under-performer for its day.

At the moment, no other details are known on the potential reboot. But let's hope that whomever ends up in calling the shots on this doesn't try to "Americanize" it (i.e. setting it in New York like the '98 turkey!)

No Jack Ryan in Clooney's Future

There goes our chance to see him mugging in front of the camera as Jack Ryan #4.

At the start of last month, word spread that George Clooney was actively pursuing the role after a string of flops. Plus, he doesn't have the Ocean's films with his pal Stephen Soderbergh to fall back on anymore. That is until the inevitable announcement of Ocean's 14, perhaps. Although I gotta admire the guy for going after projects that scream "Off-beat!" and by default have turned audiences away.

When they weren't asking the Twilight actors what their favorite color was (and then proclaiming it as "Breaking News"), MTV Movies Blog was able to get an update from producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura on the untitled Jack Ryan reboot:

"It's for a young Jack Ryan. I love George, but it's not written for a man of his age. It's written for a guy in his early 30s."

Of course, there are plenty of actors who fit that description (i.e. Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, James Marsden too!) More specific information would have been nice. But the basic point is clear. They want someone who can carry this into a franchise and not just walk off after one film. I'm looking at you, Alec Baldwin.

The Apocalypse On Hold

I've bitched about how over-exposed he's become in the market. But dammit is Seth Rogen one likeable and talented guy. So far, we've seen his strengths play out on screen as an actor/comedian, screenwriter and producer. And we'll eventually see him direct. Mark my words on that, folks.

The one project of his I'm looking forward the most is Jay & Seth vs. The Apocalypse with the basic plot of Rogen and Jay Baruchel as two idiots who become the last humans alive on Earth after a nuclear holocaust and proceed to stay into their shitty house instead of facing whatever is outside.

The two (along with Rogen's writing partner Evan Goldberg) produced a fake trailer as a presentation to show off how the feature-length version would be for potential investors. And after a string of smash-hits like Knocked Up, Superbad and Pineapple Express, it got fast-tracked with plans to have the film out by 2010.

There in lies a problem as Rogen is currently up to his ass on The Green Hornet with Michel Gondry for next summer and he's recently confessed to MTV Movies Blog that there is currently no script for Jay & Seth although there's plenty of material for the would-be film in outline form.

Another problem is that Rogen is currently wearing a bit thin with audiences. His last three films (Zack & Miri Make a Porno, Observe & Report and now Funny People) have under-performed at the box-office. Thus there is a fear that any momentum behind Jay & Seth might lag if people tire of Rogen. Let's hope not.

And you haven't seen it, here is the original trailer for Jay & Seth vs. the Apocalypse for your enjoyment.

When There's No More Room in Hell, Frank Darabont Will Walk the Earth

I love Frank Darabont (If I had a say in the matter, he would write the next Superman film. Are you listening, Warner Brothers?!?), and I love zombie films (George Romero's Dawn of the Dead remains one of my all-time favorites!) So the union of the two fills my nerd heart.

As per the trades, AMC has every intention of continuing their current hot-streak after Mad Men and Breaking Bad. The network has lined up Darabont to write and direct a "series adaptation" of the comic-book The Walking Dead. The material isn't exactly the most original in the zombie holocaust department. But I'm a sucker for the genre, and Darabont will certainly have fun with the material and make something worthwhile out of it.

Plus, we'll have just as much a blast spotting out Darabont alumni Bill Sadler and Jeffrey DeMunn in the cast as seeing KNB work their magic with the zombie makeup effects.

David Mamet Adapting Diary of Anne Frank

I feel like we're in the middle of a commercial for a used-car lot: "All Holocaust movies must go now!"

Odd how there's a sudden resurgence in the market. Stanley Kubrick's unmade The Aryan Papers has a possibility of happening now (more like wishful thinking on the part of his family, to be honest) and now the trades report that Disney plans on taking another crack at The Diary of Anne Frank. I seem to remember a made-for-TV version was made a few years back under ABC.

So, what's up with this latest incarnation? The Mouse has lined up David Mamet to write and direct. Color me interested. Granted he wasn't the first person to come to mind. But I'm intrigued nonetheless.

However, my only request would be for this adaptation to be done entirely with unknown actors and in German with English subtitles. That's right. Fuck you retards who complained about films like Pan's Labyrinth and 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days because you "didn't wanna read during a movie!"

Your Childhood Hates You

You didn't expect a Back to the Future reference?You can thank Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (the year's top box-office draw in the U.S.) and G.I. Joe (which also made a couple of bucks) for instigating this.

The trades report that Warner Brothers and producer Dan Lin (behind such other "Sure things" as Justice League: Mortal and that Tomb Raider reboot we've heard diddily-dick about since it was first announced) are moving forward on a movie based on the Lego toy-line. I know what you're thinking. "I was worried they weren't ever gonna make it for awhile there!"

Details on the project are being kept closely guarded besides the intention of it being a blend of live action and animation. I can imagine how this was pitched to the WB executives: "We'll do it like Avatar - except for kids!"

Maybe it will be presented in IMAX 3-D and the audience can build their own Lego sets during the screening.

Could "Lost" Kubrick Project Finally Happen?

Perfect "You say tomato, I say tomahto!" scenario here, folks. When Schindler's List was released in December 1993 to universal acclaim (i.e. commercial, critical, awards, etc.), Stanley Kubrick probably thought to himself, "Fuck."

I say that because the legendary director had long been developing The Aryan Papers, a WWII set drama concerning a Jewish woman and her nephew posing as Catholics in order to avoid prosecution from the Nazis. Upon seeing Spielberg's film, Kubrick and Warner Brothers shelved the project basically citing that List stole its thunder. Mind you, his productions are notorious for having long shoots (an understatement) and there's a high probability Papers might not have graced the silver screen until 1998-1999. Alas, we'll never truly know.

Now years later, the Times report that Kubrick's family is now seriously pushing to get the project made. Various drafts of the script exist and there's plenty of test footage shot for reference. Of course, Warner Brothers hasn't exactly piped up with comments on their end. So, this is just 100% the family speculating/hoping.

As great as A.I. was, Spielberg was unfairly given criticism on both ends of the aisle. Plenty bitched that he was merely imitating the coldness of Kubrick's style/work while not bringing enough of his own take on the material and vice versa.

So were this to actually pick up steam and happen (I'm not holding my breath), the best thing for them to do is hire a well-known director who will not just film Kubrick's script and instead make the material their own.