Info on the storyline for the upcoming Smurfs movie (GAH!) from Sony Pictures Animation has come out in the form of details about a couple of the parts being cast.   This movie will be a hybrid of live action and animation, and will center on a couple of kids who find a Smurf  attempt to get him back to his friends.  EW.com has the story:

…the doll her dad brought home from Belgium is actually a living, breathing Smurf. And not just any Smurf — Clumsy Smurf! Sophie tries to get her mom and dad to embrace Clumsy as a member of the family, but ultimately realizes what he really wants is to reunite with his fellow Smurfs.

Great, this should hold me over until somebody pitches a live-action Gummi Bears movie….

Terry Gilliam Accepting An Award

Terry Gilliam is giving his failed epic The Man Who Killed Don Quixote another go nearly 10 years after giving up on the first attempt.  Gilliam has rewritten and updated the script along with Tony Grisoni, who also cowrote the original version.

Says Gilliam:

“I’m not so much a filmmaker as someone who gets possessed by an idea and it doesn’t leave me until I make the film,” Gilliam told Variety. “I commit myself to it so fully.”

Gilliam is also in talks with Johnny Depp, who had been set to star in the first ill-fated attempt as a modern-day ad exec who travels back in time and is mistaken for Sancho Panza by Don Quixote. Scheduling concerns are seen as the biggest obstacle to Depp’s participation this time.

Lost in La Mancha, which chronicles the original disaster of a production, still brings tears to my eyes whenever I see it.

Source: Variety.com

Lost in La Mancha

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

The Complete Monty Python’s Flying Circus 16-Ton Megaset

That's right, I'm smokin', whaddya gonna do about it?

According to Variety, Martin Scorsese is set to direct a biopic of the Chairman of the Board himself, Frank Sinatra.  Scorsese will also produce.

Per Variety:

Although no actor is attached to star in the film, Schulman said Leonardo DiCaprio is an obvious candidate because he has become Scorsese’s go-to actor over the past decade, having starred in the director’s past four features: “Gangs of New York,” “The Aviator,” “The Departed” and the upcoming “Shutter Island.” Because any music in the film will come from Sinatra’s recordings, it will not be necessary to cast an actor who is a proficient singer.

Apparently the process of acquiring the rights to the music and story was a royal pain and this has been in development for a couple of years now.

Source: Variety.com

Nothing But The Best

Live At the Meadowlands (with Bonus CD)

Frank Sinatra Mug Shot – Fine Art Print / Poster – 20.00 x 35.00

I can see why she was so popular with the gents! ROWR!

Producer Ed Bass is set to make his directorial debut with a film about the best little female serial killer in America, Belle Gunness.  According to Wikipedia, the esteemed Ms. Gunness “may have killed both of her husbands and all of her children (on different occasions)”.  I’m sorry, immediate family can’t be grounds for the serial killer label.  I want my serial killers to have cross-familial designs!

Says Bass:

“It’s classic theme: a woman looking for love and never quite finding it,” Bass said. “And when she finally does find love, it eludes her.”

Of course, because serial killers are always looking for love.  The insurance money didn’t have anything to do with it, promise.

Source: Collider.com

The Mistress of Murder Hill: The Serial Killings of Belle Gunness

Bobby (Widescreen Edtion)

While She Was Out

Preacher: Gone To Texas

Collider has an exclusive interview with director Sam Mendes.  He popped out a nugget regarding the Preacher adaptation that has been rumored.

For fans of Garth Ennis’ comic book, Sam says John August is still writing the script. He also said he’s directing two plays and the earliest he’s making his next movie is in 2010. That means while “Preacher” is on the horizon, it’s not happening anytime soon.

So basically, it still might not see the light of day for many years, but at least someone is working on it.  It would be a shame if this movie doesn’t get made, since I absolutely loved the comic by Garth Ennis.

Source: Collider

Preacher Vol. 1: Gone to Texas

Preacher Vol. 2: Until the End of the World

Preacher Vol. 3: Proud Americans

I Saw What You Did and I Know Who You Are

According to Variety.com, Joel Silver’s Dark Castle is remaking 1965′s I Saw What You Did and I Know Who You Are! by William Castle.

The original Castle pic, which starred Joan Crawford, was based on the Ursula Curtis novel “Out of the Dark” and revolved around two girls who innocently pass the time making prank phone calls to unsuspecting people until they call the wrong guy.

Patrick Lussier will direct and Lussier and Todd Farmer will share writing duties.

Dark Castle’s first film was a remake of House on Haunted Hill, William Castle’s 1959 classic.

Source: Variety.com

I Saw What You Did

House on Haunted Hill (Color + B&W)

House on Haunted Hill

Return to House on Haunted Hill (Unrated)

Yes, ma'am. Whatever you say, ma'am.

Yes, that’s right, everyone’s favorite steriod-filled hour of power is making it’s jump to the big screen.  According to Variety.com:

Johnny Ferraro, creator of the “American Gladiators” TV franchise, is bringing a live-action adaptation of the property to the bigscreen.The film will be based on the TV show that first aired in 1988 and has been on the air every year except one during the past 20 years….

Former Legendary Pictures chief marketing officer Scott Mednick is producing “American Gladiators.” The goal is to create an action story that takes place inside the world Ferraro has created.

“I look forward to creating a compelling story that launches a whole new set of characters,” Mednick said.

Apparently the show started off as a movie idea, sort of a Running Man-esque type of thing I suppose, but then some bigwig had the brilliant idea of actually making the game show a reality.  Now the show will return to it’s original fictional roots.  Hopefully it will continue to devolve until it no longer exists at all.

Source: Variety.com via Filmdrunk.com

American Gladiators (The Original Series): The Battle Begins

Gladiator: A True Story of ‘Roids, Rage, and Redemption

American Gladiators Ultimate Workout

JCVD takes a little "me time"

Jean-Claude Van Damme has a new teaser trailer out for his new movie The Eagle Path and it is a double-handful of awesomeness, let me tell you.  I tell you this guy can act!  His range is incredible.  I stand in awe.  From Twitchfilm.net:

A military veteran and former mercenary, Frenchy (Van Damme) works as a taxi driver, hiding somewhere in East Asia, haunted by his past. After his driving shifts he often frequents the Eagle’s Nest, a seedy bar that houses a caged eagle. In the midst of the chaotic Asian traffic Frenchy picks up a beautiful female passenger who will change him forever.

Where does he come up with those unique story lines? Video of the trailer after the jump…

Van Damme Four-Feature Film Set

Van Damme Action Pack Quadruple Feature (Timecop / Hard Target / Street Fighter / The Quest)

Van Damme Collector’s Set (Kickboxer/Replicant/Universal Solider)

Jcvd