THE GEEK HOLLYWOOD MINUTE

Today’s all chalk full of movie news. First up a little something about MARVEL taking out a mega-loan to start its own movie production company, so that it can 1) prevent the studios from creating stuff like Elektra (and the probably-shitty Fantastic Four), 2) actually make some bank on its films, 3) MAKE CAPTAIN AMERICA. You know, if I could go back in time, I would become a screenplay writer so that I could be tapped to write a Captain America movie that would 1) kick ass, 2) be marketable worldwide, 3) prove once and for all that he is the greatest superhero ever.

Next, in what I consider an odd bit of casting (in a movie that’s FULL of it), Hugh Jackman, best known to the world as Wolverine and Van Helsing, has been cast to play Jonathan Kent, Clark’s adoptive father, in the new Superman movie. Apparently, Brian Singer (the director of X-Men, X2, and Superman) only knows about 12 people in the entire world, because he’s also cast James Marsden (Cyclops) and, according to rumor, Famke Jansen (Jean Grey) in various minor roles in the film. Singer’s earned my trust through his amazing capture of the X-Men mythos, but I have to admit that between the odd cast, the fact that the movies apparently a sequel to Superman II, and my mixed feelings about the new suit (if you’ve not seen it, let me know), I’m starting to wonder if this is going to suck or not. Not that I really care, I’m not much for the Big Blue Boy Scout, but Uram’ll go positively apeshit if the movie blows.

Frankly, kids, this is going to be one of the hum-dingerest biggest summer movie seasons of all time. Whether or not it’s good hinges on the comeback of two monstrously huge franchise. Both have been lamented of late. Both seem to be ready to make up for their past transgressions. Why yes, I speak to you of Stars Wars III: Revenge of the Sith and Batman Begins.

Honestly, I realize that, contrary to popular belief, not everyone likes Star Wars and/or Batman. However, both these franchises are two of the five biggest American mythologies, and their importance to countless people is undeniable. That being said, let’s check some links.

Star Wars: RoTS
Reviews are pouring in on this one, and considering how much the fans hate Eps I and II, I’m positively BLOWN AWAY and EXCITED by every positive review. In honesty, I’m not reading anything with a spoiler on it, because I refuse to have any part of this ruined for me. I’ve been waiting for this movie for 25 years, and I can’t wait to see how the birth of the twins, the Jedi Purge, the Emperor’s rise to power, and the change from Clonetrooper to Stormtrooper occurs. I’ll be there at midnight on the 18^th, because even though I hold much disdain over the first two, Lucas has suckered me right back in.

If you’d like to know more, here are some links to some reviews,

ALL OF WHICH CONTAIN SPOILERS

The first is by KEVIN frakkin’ SMITH, of Dogma, Clerks, etc., fame. I read the first two sentences, and then stopped. But I can’t deny that the thought of Kevin Smith loving the movie makes me extremely happy. The 18^th can’t get here soon enough!

You can also check out THIS (spoilers) one and THIS (non-spolier) one, if you so desire.

Reviews aside, there’s tons of cool Star Wars stuff on the ‘net right now, including my new desktop wallpaper, which may be the Coolest Star Wars Picture I’ve ever seen.

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t link HERE to the ONLY Blog better than the Kingdom! This is a MUST READ for you, Grampy Staub. The rest of you might get a kick out of it, depending on your affinity for Star Wars. Just don’t read any comments. The dorks that post comments are really trying to ruin things, and they’re the type of people that give me a bad name. It is funny, though, when Darth Vader answers “Dear, Abby” type questions that usually result in someone having their trachea smashed by the Force. Really- go have a laugh or two.

Finally, there’s THIS, which is a Halloween Costume waiting to happen… My only concern is that my head is too big to actually fit into it... oddly, I was just remdinded of Revenge of the Nerds…

Batman Begins
While the Superman cast has left me scratching my head, the Batman Begins cast has me cheering. Just LOOK at this lineup: Christian Bale (American Psycho, Equilibrium) as Batman, Gary Oldman (Air Force One, Bram Stoker’s Dracula) as Lt. Jim Gordon, Morgan Freeman as Bruce Wayne’s tech-savvy mentor, Liam Neeson as Batman’s martial arts trainer/mentor, Katie Holmes as Bruce’s Hot-hot Girlfriend, Michael Caine (Austin Powers’s Fajah) as Alfred the Butler, Cillian Murphy (Momento) as the Scarecrow and Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai) as Ra’s Ah Ghul (the other bad guy).

Whew! That’s got the makings of a badass movie. I was watching Batman Returns last night, and I realized how much I already prefer the totally real-world looking Gotham City from THIS NEW TRAILER over the cool, stylized, Tim Burton Gotham.

It focuses on Bruce Wayne’s change from sissy to Batman, his return to Gotham after years of training, and an entire thematic arc about ‘fear.’ This one’s gonna be good.

Well, I guess that’s about it from me for now. In the meantime, I’ll see you at the movies (I’ll be the one with the m&m/popcorn)!

-apk