Movie Moan - Marvel Upon The Beard of Zach Galifianakis

Another week has passed by, and it's time for the latest edition of Movie Moan here at Think McFly Think.

Phil, Jamie and Ed have all had their fair share of movie-going experiences this week. Phil gives his insight into Terminator: Salvation, makes the brilliant suggestion as to why it should have been made 15 years ago and stumbles upon McG's vision of "evil people with beards" - which apparently no one else has noticed.

Meanwhile, Ed reviews the "surprise box-office smash" (even though it's been called that for months now thus how is it even remotely a "surprise?") comedy The Hangover and as the title of this week's show suggests marvels upon Zach Galifianakis' beard leading into a discussion about the fear and anticipation of Anchorman 2.

Speaking of Will Ferrell and bad ideas, Jamie sat through the box-office flop also known as Land of the Lost and thereby bitched about what didn't work (i.e. everything) and compares it to other shitty TV shows-turned-shitty movies.

Meanwhile, Ed starts the debate of when a favorite film-critic goes insane with a review and whether or not one can believe a word they say after-wards as well as which At the Movies guest-critics were actually worth a damn and which weren't. We're looking at you, Jay Leno!

Also in discussed is Phil's man-love for Starship Troopers, last week's MTV Movie Awards, Brian Blessed, a possible remake of the 80s action masterpiece Commando and the lack of a "final showdown" in Kill Bill Volume II.

Movie Moan - Marvel Upon The Beard of Zach Galifianakis

Is Gore Verbinski Off BioShock?

A few months back, news hit that the film adaptation of the video-game BioShock (under the direction of Pirates of the Caribbean helmer Gore Verbinski) had been delayed due to budget concerns. Even with that, all of the key principles swore up and down the project was not dead and would see the light of day. Honestly from then on, I've been of the opinion that it was only a matter of time before it ultimately fell apart or Verbinski would simply walk away.

And now it appears that it might be a case of the latter. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times recently, Verbinski explained:

The bottom line is it has to shoot out of the States for budget reasons and my schedule may be prohibitive. There's a great script and a really interesting cast. It really comes down to the financial model now. Big movies are just not being shot in the States. I'm weighing whether I can physically go the U.K. or Australia or one of those other places with a tax rebate for a year-and-a-half.

At least, Verbinski is being more direct than Bryan Singer has been lately with the "Will he or won't he?" regarding directing the next Superman film. That itself of course is doubtful.

I'll tell you what I don't doubt while we're on the subject. A studio is going to nabb down Verbinski to direct one of their blockbuster tentpoles (whether it's a sequel to a pre-existing franchise or starting a brand-new one) ASAP.

Movie Moan - Three of Us Saw Up, Guess Who Didn't

That's right, they finally got off their lazy asses and actually made an effort to add music to their show. Yes, we're all rather surprised really...

But in all seriousness, Phil, Jamie, Ed Hocken and Lou Sytsma are back with you folks on the latest edition of Movie Moan. On this week's epic adventure, three of our heroes have seen Up and one didn't. Here's a hint: he's British.

Besides fielding questions and discussing various aspects to the latest Pixar affair, Lou gives his reaction to Terminator: Salvation and everyone laments to the fact that the film is a box-office flop (and not an under-performer as Jamie had labeled it as last week) and the franchise as a whole is dead.

Meanwhile, Phil and Ed discuss the news of a Doctor Who film in development, 20th Century Fox's decision to make a prequel to Alien where everyone shoots out their ideas including spin-offs and cross-over projects with board-game movies and ask the eternal question, "What happened to Paul Reiser?"

As well as chatting up the latest bits on Iron Man 2, Tintin and Avatar, the guys discuss what they want to see from the (eventual) Batman III on this week's latest edition of "Memo to the Executives!"

Movie Moan - Three of Us Saw Up, Guess Who Didn't

News, Rumors & 100% Grade-A Internet Bullshit - May 30, 2009

- It's only seven months until James Cameron's Avatar will grace the silver screens despite the lack of actual footage or photos from the film (unless you count behind-the-scenes pictures of Cameron, Sam Worthington & Co. on set next to green-screens!) But MarketSaw got a hold of some concept art taken from the forthcoming book The Art of Avatar and confirmed by 20th Century Fox. I'm still waiting to see a trailer, but I really like what I see here!

- In an odd (but nonetheless smart) move to play on the popularityof the character overseas, Sony and Paramount have opted to release The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn in the international markets at the end of October and early November 2011. The film will then open state-side on December 23 where it will no doubt butt-heads with Warner Brothers' The Hobbit - a move that is not-so-smart by comparison.

- I think Kevin Smith is going to prove his critics wrong with his action-comedy A Couple of Dicks. It sounds like a project "main-stream"enough for him to gain a wide audience while sticking to his sense of humor. That, and I'm curious to see him handle action - he's definitely got it in him, in my opinion. Along with Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan as the leads, Sean William Scott and Adam Brody have joined the production which starts shooting on Monday.

Alien Prequel Confirmed! Kill Me.

As if the news of a Robert Rodriguez produced Predator reboot wasn't enough for ya. Bloody Disgusting (the good folks who broke said news-item awhile back) received word from the same tipster regarding another long-time sci-fi/horror property that 20th Century Fox owns headed for a "franchise revival!"

That's right. We're talking about the Alien series. As per their sources, the new project will be produced by Ridley and Tony Scott with Carl Rinsch (a director unknown to most audiences but with numerous television commercials and music videos under his belt - not coincidentally produced by Scott Free Productions) at the helm.

Meanwhile, Collider got the word straight from the mouth of Tony Scott (while doing press for this forthcoming remake of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3) who confirmed the news as well as revealing that the next Alien film will be a prequel to big-brother Ridley's 1979 original.

Now I'm all for Rinsch getting his chance to make it in "the big leagues" especially with the helpful hands from the Brothers Scott. But for fuck's sake, an Alien prequel?

One would assume the front-loaded "success" of X-Men Origins: Wolverine (a film that despite opening to $85 million in 3 days will fail to break the $200 million mark) would have been enough for the studio to know when they've gone too far. I mean seriously audiences aren't that stupid to need to know the explanation of the every little detail in a film. They actually can use their imaginations and fill in the blanks.

So come Summer 2011-2012, we'll witness High School Nostromo, the $250 million budget prequel about the teenaged Ripley, Dallas, "wacky" foreign-exchange/android student Ash & Co. sing, dance and learn important life-lessons. And they'll be joined by their wise-cracking talking-cat Jonesy for comic-relief.

Exclusive: Trouble for Expendables

Despite the obvious "Aren't they too old?" argument, Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables has had many of us intrigued. Just from everything we've heard, it sounds like a good old fashion (albeit 1980s "old" and sadly not R-rated) action romp. That, and one can't help but resist seeing an action film featuring Stallone, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren and Terry Crews with apperances from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mickey Rourke to boot!

But now TMT has received word from a source that the production has hit a couple of speed-bumps. Chief among them film editor Paul Trejo has been fired - "creative differences" being the reason given. Another problem lies in the Brazilian crew (currently on location down in New Orleans) half of whom have quit due to exhaustion.

According to our tipster, the cause of said actions lie within constant on-set rewrites from Stallone featuring additional stunts - more so than was originally intended which has also caused the film to have gone well over budget.

What Now for the Terminator Franchise?

Despite the inclusion of Christian Bale (star of the insanely-popular Batman films), a PG-13 rating and a prime Memorial Day release-date, Terminator Salvation failed to meet its projections this past weekend at the box-offce.

The fourth installment of the franchise (the first in a proposed trilogy) churned out $65 million in its 5 day opening. Compare that to its main competitor that weekend Fox's Night at the Museum sequel which grossed $70 million in 4 days(!) not to mention Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines which earned $73 million back in 2003.

The question arises: "What now for the Terminator franchise?"

Long story short, it's done. Now comes spin-control from the key principals. As of a few weeks back, MGM has a "first right to refusal" deal where the producers will present a "packaged deal" for a fifth Terminator film. In fact, said project was already officially announced last December with a Summer 2011 date set as well as the return of Bale as John Connor and its director McG back at the helm.

There's no doubt the meeting will still take place. And you can bet your ass the producers will spend the next few months (if not the rest of 2009) talking up a storm about how Terminator 5 is "definitely" going to happen. But it will ultimately amount to just that - talk.

Warner Brothers and Sony (who are distributing Salvation in the US and foreign territories and paid a fortune to do so) had been previously fighting tooth-and-nail to pertain the rights for the next film. It's safe to assume said fights will quickly cease.

Now comes the fall-back defense of "Well, DVD sales will save it!" Uh, no. Salvation will certainly do solid business on DVD/Blu-Ray. But this isn't a situation like Batman Begins and Austin Powers where the first film does respectable box-office, but trully soars in home-video sales thus causing said studio to invest in a sequel. There have now been two films in this franchise that were box-office under-performers (and expensive as Hell to produce, no less) and one television in the form of The Sarah Connor Chronicles that was a flop.

As for the foreign box-office, it'll do well. But I seriously doubt it's going to be a repeat of T3 where the international grosses save it. Rise of the Machines had one major factor in its corner that Salvation lacked - Arnold Schwarzenegger whose still a mega-star overseas. Although I wouldn't be surprised if the TV spots cut for the foreign markets showcase the Arnold "cameo."

If anything, we'll be spending the next couple years hearing rumors about "how so and so is talking about maybe possibly doing another Terminator film" not unlike how we've constantly heard rumors of Alien 5 ever since the release of Alien: Resurrection back in 1997.

Movie Moan - The Best Kind of Cancer

Even though it's Memorial Day weekend, Phil, Jamie and Ed return for another edition of Movie Moan. It's true, folks. They just didn't have anything else better to do...

On this week's show, our heroes give their thoughts on Coraline, Wall-E, their thoughts on the cinematic future of 3-D and the lack of Billy Zane in Back to the Future Part III.

Also Phil and Ed pick Jamie's brain a part and ask him every question known to man about Terminator: Salvation (which he was able catch on the opening night and they didn't...yet!) in addition to trailer reactions to The Gamer, Surrogates and Sherlock Holmes.

All of that, and yet another edition of "Memo to the Executives" where the X-Men franchise is discussed.

Movie Moan - The Best Kind of Cancer

Is This 'The End' for Smallville?

Contrary to what some morons think, I don't hate Smallville nor do I have any "bias" against its Man of Steel (to be) Tom Welling. He's fine in the role, but what episodes I caught were very "Meh!" That, and I think a character as iconic as Superman belongs on the silver screen. But maybe that's just me.

With last week's season finale being quiet un-popular amongst the fanbase (two friends of mine who regularly watch the series hated it), all eyes are on the forthcoming ninth season to see if the damage can be repaired. And it's become increasingly apparent that it's now or never to do so.

The Hollywood Reporter previously heard rumors that the CW was planning on placing Kevin Williamson's Vampire Diaries in their prime Thursday night slot next to Supernatural. That would result in Smallville being dumped on Friday nights - aka "where shows go to die."

And now they have confirmed (along with Entertainment Weekly's TV-Insider Guru Michael Aussiello via his Twitter account and Deadline Hollywood Daily's Nikki Finke here) that Smallville is indeed headed in that direction.

There's flat out no way of (effectively) spinning this. If this schedule sticks (and to be fair, the network won't officially make announcements until tomorrow), it's done after this season. No network in their right-mind would dump a consistently-performing series on Friday nights if they knew there was a realistic chance it could survive.

Let's hope the current executive producers/show-runners will give Smallville the proper finale (and final season overall) its fans are hoping for...

More Ghostbusters III Non-News from Aykroyd

I'm sure Dan Aykroyd is a very kind-hearted and sweet person in real life. But God.dammit! am I sick of him talking about the "status" of Ghostbusters III.

No offense to him personally. But every answer he gives to the press is a variation of the following:

1. "Right now, Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky are writing the script as we speak. Of course, they write for 'The Office' and already worked with Harold [Ramis] on his new film ['Year One']. So I'm curious to see what these kids have cooked up."

2. "Yeah, everyone is coming back."

3. "This one will involve the old group, but also a younger set of characters that we train to 'pass the torch.' As you can imagine, we have a quiet a handful of fresh talent for us to sort through to see who will be joining us in this new go-around."

4. "Hopefully, we'll be filming within a year or so."

The LA Times recently caught up with the Man Who Was Elwood Blues where upon he basically reiterated examples 1-4. But also added that production could move forward as soon as winter and his desire for "several female members" this time out. Again where haven't we heard this before?

Am I being a dick? Probably. But until we hear something genuinely new regarding the film (which I have no doubt will get made - especially with the current batch of 80s nostalgia projects in development), I won't waste my time covering it.