Movie Moan - The Naked Moan

On this week's Movie Moan, Phil and Jamie discuss the casting rumor(s) for Green Lantern as well as the new revelation regarding the ending to Terminator: Salvation.

Also on topic is the news of Transformers 3 being announced, both Moaners eat crow and call whether or not the film will be released for 2011 or 2012. Phil goes into detail on a film series close to his heart - The Naked Gun and the prospects of a fourth direct-to-video installment ever seeing the greenlight (and where our dear Leslie Nielsen stands in all of this!)

And because they love to go on off-topic bullshit (mostly Jamie), our heroes chat about Resident Evil, the Super Mario series and Kung-Fu(!?!)

Movie Moan - The Naked Moan

'New Moon' Logo Confirms Name, Date

Nothing too Earth-shattering here, but the logo for the sequel to "Twilight" has been released.

The sequel, based on the incredibly popular book "New Moon" by Stephanie Meyer, will come out just under a year after its predecessor.

"Twilight, which was released Nov. 21, 2008, has earned $191 million in domestic box office. Much more revenue was expected to stream in starting today when the movie was released on DVD (an unusual move, as DVDs typically are released on Tuesdays.) 

The logo confirms the sequel will arrive in theaters on Nov. 20, 2009 -- six days before Thanksgiving.

In addition, the logo confirms previous reports that the sequel will be called "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," instead of just "New Moon," as the book is called.

George Lucas would be proud of the new name.

Update on Sun, March 22, 2009 by Sean Gerski

According to Summit Entertainment, more than three million "Twilight" DVDs were sold yesterday.

New 'Crank: High Voltage' Poster Debuts on Twitter

As newspapers lay dying and DVRs help people skip commercials more easily than ever, movie studios are forced to discover new ways to market their movies.

Increasingly, this means finding a way to make a mark online, but the question remains of how to do it.

With Twitter's presence reaching critical mass recently, everyone has been wondering how best to utilize the site. Well, those behind the marketing of the movie "Crank: High Voltage" discovered a new method.

The movie, which is a sequel to the 2006 Jason Statham action vehicle "Crank," recently became the first movie to have its poster debuted through Twitter.

By releasing the poster, shown at right, through Twitter instead of through the usual channels, the movie got some buzz as the "Tweet" was "Retweeted" from person to person (if you don't know what I am talking about, I highly suggest you sign up for Twitter, it's a great tool).

As for the movie itself, I enjoyed the original for what it was -- a high-octane action ride (or whatever the original's poster might have said). However, I did not expect a sequel. Well, certainly not a sequel starring Jason Statham, since his character, Chev Chelios, died at the end of the movie following a very long drop from an airplane.

Now, normally, I would post a spoiler warning before I told you his character died, but as you can plainly see at the top of the poster, Chev "was dead ... but he got better."

"Crank: High Voltage" will arrive in theaters April 17.

MovieMoan: The Original Series Episode 5 - Gawd, we even moan about 'Aliens'

Hey folks, I know the last Youtube MovieMoan spectacular promised that the next videos would be about how the Alien film series completely failed to live up to it's potential with parts 3 & 4.  Unfortunately (and I've been wrestling with this all week), the show sucked and would not make a good video for your enjoyment....

...Except perhaps this little bit.  Jamie and myself were joined by our good friend Darren J Seeley during which he pointed out a plot hole in my second favourite film ever, 'Aliens' which has been bugging me ever since.  Watch this and see if you can figure out the mystery.  Solutions in the comments section if you please.  Enjoy:-

And the next videos are all about the Superman movies so you can be sure that I will be cooking a full three course meal this time, so to speak:)

The Naked Gun 4? - YES PLEASE!!!

 

I know it's hard for us to remember but there was a time when spoof movies weren't something to be afraid of.  They didn't come down the cinematic waste tube every couple of months, be completely devoid of humour, effort, and in a few recent cases, actual spoofing.  Spoof movies in the 80's and 90's were sporadic, some were incredibly funny and almost all of them featured Leslie Neilsen.

The Naked Gun film trilogy, a spin-off from the short lived TV series 'Police Squad' (taken off the air for requiring too much attention from the viewer), is fondly remembered as among the best of the spoof movies, and just plain comedy films in my opinion.  Watching them back now, it strikes me how, rather than going for the easy gags of just mimicking whatever action/cop/whatever hit movie was around at the time (though the 'Untouchables' spoof during the opening scene of Naked Gun 33 1/3 was pretty awesome), they really tried to tell a good story, with great characters, awesome villains like Ricardo Montablan and Robert Goulet, and the perfect mix of both slapstick humour and incredible one liners.  We haven't seen the like of these films in a long time....

...So I jumped out of my chair with excitment when I popped over to AICN today to find a glowing script review for “THE NAKED GUN: WHAT 4? THE RHYTHM OF EVIL.”  You can read all about it here.

There are so many reasons why it seems this film shouldn't get made:-

*Neilsen is really getting on in age.  The studio will probably not want him headlining the film and a cameo role would piss off the die-hard fans.

*Having a fresh new cast take the reigns seems to defeat the point of it being Naked Gun 4.

*Priscilla Presley looks hideous now (sorry, had to be said).

*I don't know what will make the public react worse; doing the OJ Simpson jokes but not having him in the film, or OJ actually making an appearance.

*Who, below the age of 20, even knows about 'The Naked Gun' movies?

*Who's gonna pay to see a fourth?

*Who the hell is nearly as passionate about this as me?

And they are good questions to be sure.  All I know is that if Naked Gun 4 could be as funny as the script review suggests, I want it in my life.  This isn't like Beverly Hills Cop 4.  This is MEANT to be ridiculous.

I can't wait to find out Jamie's views on this during this week's podcast. 

Bryan Singer Might Stick with the Thriller Genre

Some would argue that Bryan Singer just got out of "director's jail" upon the release of Valkyrie last Christmas after the "Meh" reception from his Superman Returns. While others would say he still hasn't gotten out as well as those of the opinion Singer hasn't come close to getting "jailed"...yet.

Nonetheless, Valkyrie turned out be a surprise critical and box-office success (given it's nearly two years of bad publicity) and it appears the director is opting to stay in the "thriller" genre instead of heading back to mega-budget tentpoles such as the oft-mentioned Superman follow-up.

Singer is said to be eyeing the Mark Wahlberg-attached project The Prisoners from a "buzzed about" spec script detailing a Bostonian out to track down his daughter's kidnappers.

Even though I'm a fan of Singer's X-Men films and Superman Returns and would love to see him "go all Wrath of Khan" on the Unleashed sequel, it's a smart move. The man knows how to make a solid thriller - you could hear a pin drop when I saw Valkyrie with a packed audience, and we already knew the damned ending going into it!

Avatar Footage Screened to Time Magazine

James Cameron's 3-D sci-fi epic Avatar is probably the 3rd most anticipated "Geek movie" of 2009 - the other two being Watchmen which opened three weeks back and J.J. Abrams' Star Trek "requel" which has another two months till release.

That said, I'm still waiting to see photos or actual footage from said top-secret film before I hype myself up or anything. Don't get me wrong, it's exciting to see Cameron back behind the camera and returning to the genre that made him rich and famous to begin with - before "the boat movie" that is.

Hell, I remember hearing Cameron talk about Avatar on Sci-Fi Buzz back in the mid-90s and being amazed at the prospects of an entire film made up of 100% computer-generated actors. Don't laugh, kids. It was a much bigger deal back then!

Now in a piece detailing 3-D technology and its future in films, Time Magazine reveals that they've seen footage from Cameron's epic:

I couldn't tell what was real and what was animated--even knowing that the 9-ft.-tall blue, dappled dude couldn't possibly be real. The scenes were so startling and absorbing that the following morning, I had the peculiar sensation of wanting to return there, as if Pandora were real.

That sounds all well and good. But I just hope this isn't a repeat of what happened with Watchmen where everyone (well...most people) nerdgasmed themselves into believing it was going to be this huge money-maker...and as it turned out the general public didn't give a shit.

Nonetheless, I'll definitely be first in line this Christmas - probably take my dad. He's the one who got me into science-fiction and Cameron to boot.

Multiple Sources Say Chris Pine Has Been Offered Green Lantern

A photo manipulation of Chris Pine as Green Lantern as created by Zedin of BlueTights.net.Apparently, actor Chris Pine has been offered the role of Hal Jordan/Green Lantern and now it is up to him whether to accept or decline the role.

Pine, who basically is an unknown commodity to most movie-goers, is due to hit theaters in May as James T. Kirk in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" movie.

If the movie hits big, Pine could potentially have a wide array of roles from which to select. However, if the movie flops or if Pine is not well received, Pine could see his choices shrivel up.

It is common knowledge in Hollywood that a smart actor has his next movie lined up before his current movie hits the theater. 

For Pine, taking "Green Lantern" would be the right move. Headlining two franchises gives Pine a shot at avoiding being known as just one character. For Harrison Ford, getting cast as Indiana Jones allowed him to avoid being typecast as Han Solo. Unfortunately for Mark Hammill, no such second role materialized and he never really escaped Luke Skywalker's shadow (outstanding vocal career aside). And if Pine wants to look even closer to home, William Shatner never really escaped being typecast as James T. Kirk.

Anyway, IESB.net claims that word out of the Warner Brother's halls is Pine sits atop a short list for the Hal Jordan role.

IESB.net wrote: "Word is WB is looking for a man's man under 30. Names like Jon Hamm and Nathan Fillion have popped up, but again they are looking for under 30. I think Hamm would be a fantastic choice but by the time a sequel rolls around he'd be pushing 40 (which I think would only make him sexier and more distinguished). Sam Worthington's name has also been floating around but Chris Pine seems to be the top choice."

Soon after, Latino Review's "elmayimbe" wrote the following on Twitter: "I just confirmed w/my sources that THE OFFICIAL OFFER is out to Pine, but he has has not accepted/declined yet."

For now, it seems, Warner Bros. is on bended knee, offering Pine the ring. He just has to accept.

Update on Thu, March 19, 2009 by Sean Gerski

Corona Coming Attractions also is confirming the information through its source:
"A deep cover source contacted us mere moments ago to say that Warner Bros. has made an offer to Chris Pine to play Green Lantern. Pine is about to hit the big leagues when Paramount's Star Trek opens in May."

'Green Lantern' To Start Filming In September

According to Production Weekly, filming on "Green Lantern" is going to start mid-September in Australia.

Production Weekly previously reported that "Green Lantern" has set up production offices at the Tribeca West complex in West Los Angeles.

Yesterday, a "spy" for Aint It Cool News sent a submission telling them Ngila Dickson will provide costumes for the movie.
"Best known for her incomparable work on 'Lord of the Rings,' Dickson is a good choice for the film, should this rumour pan out," wrote Aint It Cool News. "And even if it shouldn't pan out, she'd still be a good choice. GL begins pre-production in Sydney next month."

Screen Hub said the filmmakers had been scouting in Australia and that Sydney and Melbourne were in the running for the production. A few days ago, Screen Hub wrote, "blue chip production 'The Green Lantern' is a confirm for Sydney."

Screen Hub also put the movie's budget at $150 million in U.S. currency.

As far as casting the lead character, producer Donald De Line talked to ComingSoon.net last week and they asked him to address the rumors about going very young with Hal Jordan. De Line responded that Jordan would be "late 20s, early 30s."

De Line also confirmed that the movie has a production designer and a costume designer, but he did not specify who they are.

Update on Thu, March 19, 2009 by Sean Gerski

In an interview with DarkHorizons.com yesterday, De Line confirmed a few details.
"The status is, funnily enough, we are leaving for Australia Wednesday night with Martin Campbell, our director, to go scout in Sydney and Melbourne, and we plan on starting to shoot mid-September in Australia," said De Line, adding "we don’t have a soul cast" and reiterating that the story is "the Hal Jordan version of the Green Lantern."

Two CBS Shows Receive Multi-Year Extensions

CBS announced today that two of its Monday night sitcoms, "The Big Bang Theory" and "Two and a Half Men," will be around for a few more seasons.

"Two and a Half Men" is oft-maligned for its quality, but there is little doubt about its popularity. The show, now in its sixth season, is TV's highest-rated comedy with 15.1 million viewers. It also is the top-rated show among adults 18-49, with a 5.1 rating. Honestly, I find the numbers kind of amazing, as I don't know anyone who actually watches it (or at least anyone who will admit to it).

Conversely, "The Big Bang Theory" is a show few people seem to really love or really hate. However, the sophomore series is up 20 percent this year in viewership, topping the 10 million viewer mark. In its second season, the show has found firmer comedic footing by focusing more on the Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) characters, and less on Leonard (Johnny Galecki).

According to HitFix.com, the shows were paired together in the renewal process by Warner Bros. Television and Chuck Lorre Productions. A three-year renewal will carry "Two and a Half Men" through the 2011-12 season, and a two-year extension will take "The Big Bang Theory" to the 2010-11 season.

"The Big Bang Theory" airs at 8 p.m. ET on Mondays and "Two and a Half Men" airs at 9 p.m. that same night. Sandwiched in between is "How I Met Your Mother," which has yet to be renewed. Unlike previous seasons, however, "How I Met Your Mother" should have an easy time getting renewed for the following season. It's averaging more than 11 million viewers and the show's creators signed a lucrative syndication deal with Lifetime last September.

According to Variety, Lifetime outbid TBS, ABC Family, FX and Comedy Central for exclusive cable TV rights for "How I Met Your Mother" at a cost of $82.5 million (or about $750,000 an episode multiplied by 110 half hours). In fact, it was the second biggest license fee ever paid out by a cable network for a sitcom in the first cycle, bested only by the $800,000 an episode FX paid for "Two and a Half Men."