Category: Movies

Christian Bale’s Batman Audition With Amy Adams

Here are some bits of Christian Bale reading for the Batman role in Batman Begins. A lot of people are talking about the far-less-ridiculous-than-in-the-movies voice Christian Bale used in the auditions. That’s certainly an interesting topic for (nerd) discussion, but what really grabs me here is Amy Adams. (And yes, I would love for Amy Adams to actually grab me.) Adams read opposite Bale as a favor, but imagine what Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies would have been like with Adams onboard?

I’m a huge mark for Adams. I think she’s beautiful, talented, and absolutely delightful on film. Some would argue that Katie Holmes is physically more attractive and/or that Maggie Gyllenhaal has more range as an actress. (For the record, I can see the argument for the former, but vehemently disagree with the latter.) As the total package (not Lex Luger), Amy Adams trounces them both. She’s fantastic in dramas, comedies, musicals, etc. She’s just an utterly charming woman that would have given the Rachel Dawes character several additional layers. Ah, what could have been….

Now back to Christian Bale’s voice. While I agree that Batman and Bruce Wayne should have different voices, most fanboys would say that Bale took things too far. The voice he used in the auditions could have used a bit more gravel, rather than the 57 layers he added in the movies. It makes you wonder, who told him that voice was a good idea? Nobody stopped to say, “Dude. You sound like a dick.”? You mean to tell me that not a single person involved in pre-production or early production had a Kevin Conroy clip to play for him? In the immortal words of Chazz Michael Michaels, “It’s mind bottling.”

Check out the clip when you have a chance and let me know what you think in the comments section (please!). Do you agree that Amy Adams would have knocked it out of the park as Rachel Dawes? How much better is Christian Bale’s voice in the auditions than in the movies? Lastly, why is it so difficult to find saucy photos of Amy Adams on Internet?!?

Jeri Ryan vs. Paul Semel

Here’s a classic interview with Jeri Ryan conducted by RPad.TV friend Paul Semel. Many of you remember Jeri Ryan from her days on Star Trek: Voyager, where she played the lovable Borg designated Seven of Nine. Trekkers adored her for her beautifully bulging eyes and beautifully bulging…other parts that were accentuated by a skintight costume. The interview was originally done in 1998 for the now-defunct Bikini magazine. Semel has interviewed many celebrities in the past and is best known from his days with Gene Simmons’ Tongue magazine (had to be done Paul).

In the interview, Jeri Ryan discusses her infamous costume, how she almost didn’t pursue the Seven of Nine role, getting comfortable with her body, and more. Here are some out-of-context quotes:

Now I have to warn you, if we get into the sex questions I may dodge you, ’cause I have a son.

There’s a corset that goes under that thing, because you can’t wear conventional undergarments or they would show because the fabric is so skin tight.

The human body has two breasts, obviously. And you don’t want the uni-breast look. So that was one of the concerns when they were designing the costume.

Who wants to actually walk around looking like you’re wearing skin? ’Cause I’m not quite that enormously comfortable with my body. Or I wasn’t at the time. I’ve gotten substantially less self-conscious in the last year and a half, let me tell you. But yeah, you sort of look at it and go, “Kiss cheesecake goodbye, kiss hamburgers goodbye….”

I was very ambivalent about taking this role. I didn’t want to read for it originally, I had no interest in it. I didn’t know much about Star Trek, so I didn’t know what the writing was going to be like.

Be sure to check out PaulSemel.com for the full Jeri Ryan interview.

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to Star in The Fall Guy

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson confirmed via Twitter that he’ll be starring in The Fall Guy. The movie, which will be directed by McG, is an updated version of the popular ’80s action series. For those of you not familiar with The Fall Guy, the show was about a stuntman that moonlighted as a bounty hunter to make ends meet. The “unknown stuntman’s” adventures were filled with stunt-acular action. The original show starred Lee Majors. It will be fun to see if The Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment will be able to fill the shoes of the Six-Million Dollar Man.

Another reason for the show’s popularity was its leading lady: Heather Thomas. In the ’80s, she was pretty much the hottest woman alive. The vast majority of my friends had Heather Thomas posters on their walls back in the day and many of them watched The Fall Guy because of her. And yes, The Fall Guy news is a fantastic excuse to post a vintage Heather Thomas photo.

Now back to The Rock. This role is perfect for him. It takes full advantage of his physicality, pro-wrestling training, and comedic timing. McG’s Charlie’s Angels movies were great at blending action and comedy; The Rock is awesome at combining the two, making this a great pairing. It’s easy to see The Rock running, jumping, punching, kicking, and cracking jokes for 90 minutes in The Fall Guy, stylishly directed by McG. Hopefully the script is decent.

On a side note, many of you know that RPad.TV pal Justin Leeper is an actor and stuntman. He’s a pretty cool guy, but he’d even cooler if he pursued a part-time career in bounty hunting. I think you should all join me in encouraging Justin to become a real-life version of The Fall Guy.

Anyway, what do you think of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson starring in The Fall Guy. How many of you are too young to remember the show (don’t answer that, as it will only depress me). Who would you pick to reprise Heather Thomas’ role?

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Star Wars Meets…Les Miserables?!?

Here’s an excellent video that mashes up Star Wars and Les Miserables. It features the confrontation between Valjean and Javert, but with lightsabers and Force powers. As a Star Wars nerd and a fan of Les Miserables (the musical, not the book…that I haven’t finished), I found the video utterly awesome. The actors sing well and the addition of lightsabers is hilarious! It makes you wonder though. How interesting would the Paris Uprising of 1832 have been if everyone had lightsabers?

As you know, most of the best fight scenes in cinema feature one of two things — music (see West Side Story) and lightsabers (Kenobi vs. Skywalker I). Combining the two is sheer genius. Check out the clip below and let me know what you think (please). What other musicals would benefit from lightsabers? How about Cats or A Chorus Line?

Anime Legend Hayao Miyazaki to Retire (Studio Ghibli)

Hayao Miyazaki — the legendary Studio Ghibli director, artist, and producer — is set to retire. At the Venice Film Festival, Studio Ghibli president Koju Hoshino announced Miyazaki’s intention to retire. Hoshino didn’t provide details, as a press conference in Tokyo will be held this week to provide more fanfare and give Miyazaki the spotlight he deserves.

Miyazaki’s movie catalog is borderline ridiculous. The animated films he has directed include My Neighbor Totoro, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, and so much more. He has entertained and delighted millions of children (of all ages) from all over the world. With so many amazing movies, it’s tough to pick a Miyazaki favorite. I have a soft spot in my heart for Porco Rosso; it’s delightfully strange (though easy to understand) and has so much heart.

Many American reporters have called Hayao Miyazaki “The Japanese Walt Disney.” Certainly both mens’ careers have parallels, but stylistically they’re very different. Disney’s movies were modern fairytales and today many of them are criticized for various issues (racism, weak portrayals of women, etc.). Miyazaki’s movies are generally more cerebral. Several of them deal with the futility of war, something that stems from his childhood during World War II. Environmentalism is a theme in several of his films. Many of his movies have strong female characters that are a stark contrast to the numerous “Disney Princess” characters. While both men have made movies that were critically acclaimed and are loved worldwide, the comparison always felt funny to me.

Anyway, how do you feel about Hayao Miyazaki’s retirement? Any of you getting misty eyes by the animation master putting down his pencil? What’s your favorite Miyazaki movie? Leave a comment below and let me know (please!). 

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Justin Timberlake as the Riddler???

Superstar Justin Timberlake has revealed his desire to play the Riddler in the upcoming Batman movie. Following the news that Ben Affleck will be playing the Dark Knight, the next Batman film has been getting a ton of buzz. Here’s what Timberlake had to say in a recent radio interview on the Jim & Kim Morning Show (via People)

I ain’t playin’ Robin. I have no aspiration to ever be a superhero in a movie. Now, villain! I’ll tell you the villain I want to play more than anything because I grew up loving Batman, funny enough, is the Riddler.

The Riddler was like a sociopath. He was proper crazy. So if I’m gonna play crazy, I wanna play proper crazy… I’m ready. The Riddler. Give me a call!

I actually like this idea. Timberlake has a smugness that would work well for the Riddler. The villain, after all, thinks he’s smarter than everyone else in the world. The casting would work for Timberlake’s detractors as well; the Riddler is supposed to be annoying and many Timberlake haters find him to be an annoying actor. After Jim Carrey’s portrayal of the Riddler in the terrible Batman Forever, the bar is set pretty low. Timberlake could become a nerd hero for restoring the Riddler’s intellectual greatness.

On the off chance that Timberlake plays the Riddler, what do you think of the casting? Could you see him pulling off the enigmatic Batman rogue? Or would you keep thinking, “Backstreet’s back baby!!!”? Leave a comment and let me know (please!).

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Ben Affleck is Batman (Plus Poll)

Ben Affleck will be the next Batman. That’s right, the man that dazzled as the Fashionable Male employee in Mallrats, received critical acclaim for his writing in Good Will Hunting, fizzled in Gigli, fizzled some more in Jersey Girl, pulled a career 180 with The Town, and cemented his turnaround with Argo will be donning the Batman tights in 2015. Here’s a quote on the casting from Warner Bros. president Greg Silverman (via Variety):

We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics’ most enduringly popular Super Heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill, and then some.

Affleck is no stranger to superhero movies, having starred in Daredevil. However, that movie doesn’t help his case. While Daredevil had several solid performances, Affleck’s wasn’t one of them. There where many scenes where I couldn’t tell if he was acting like a blind man or acting like a mentally-handicapped man. Charming performances by Colin Farrell and Michael Clarke Duncan, as well as Jennifer Garner’s sai-wielding hotness, couldn’t compensate for Affleck’s wretched performance as the titular hero.

I’m still not sure how I feel about this. Initially, I was stunned by the news. Several moments later, I still don’t know what to make of it. While I’ve enjoyed Affleck’s work in Kevin Smith’s movies and admire his recent films, I still think of him as a hunky doofus. Like most comic-book fans, “hunky doofus” isn’t what comes to mind when I think Batman. I have no doubt that Affleck could ace the role of Bruce Wayne, but I fear his Batman moments will result in numerous scenes that are unintentionally funny.

What do you think of Ben Affleck playing Batman? Kindly vote in today’s poll and expand on your choice in the comments section.

[poll id=”186″]

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Watch Olivia Munn Dislocate Her Shoulder!

My sexy friend Tricia just sent me a video of Olivia Munn dislocating her shoulder…and it is awesome!!! In the video, the woman formerly known as Lisa is playing around on a makeshift swing indoors. Generally speaking, swings are used outdoors and supported by sturdy metal poles. That’s not the case with this homemade concoction and the results are fantastic — first there’s a wicked snap that’s quickly followed by a sickening thud. And there’s our dear Olivia Munn, splattered on the floor with a dislocated shoulder. Ha!

Yes, I know that we’re not supposed to revel in the misfortune of others, but it’s Olivia Munn! Besides, she posted the video on Twitter, so fair game, right? Now please excuse me, as I’m going to watch this video 50 times in a row.

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What If…Thor Played Hulk Hogan?!?

A Hulk Hogan biopic is inevitable, but who in the world would be able to portray him on the silver screen? What actor has the combination of muscles, mass, and charisma to play the man that changed pro-wrestling forever and for better? If Hulk Hogan had his way, it would be Chris Hemsworth training, saying his prayers, and eating his vitamins in a Hulk Hogan movie. In an interview with the Canadian Press, the Hulkster said:

I think we need a serious, serious actor that knows what he’s doing. You know who I thought would be good? That guy that did that action movie, Thor (Chris Hemsworth).

I love it! Hemsworth has the charm and the physique to pull off Hulk Hogan. However, I wonder if he can mask his Australian accent while doing over-the-top promos in an American voice. I also wonder if comics fans that are wrestling marks will be able to block out memories of Hemsworth’s role as Thor while seeing him play Hulk Hogan. It would certainly be difficult for me. In my head, I see a mashup going something like this:

Wucha going to do, brother?!? When the largest arms in Asgard run wild on you?!?

And also:

Well you know mean Loki, Mjolnir is the mightiest hammer in the world, brother! And there’s no way Andre the Frost Giant can wield it, brother!

So what do you think of the idea of Chris Hemsworth playing Hulk Hogan?

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Charles Dance to Star in Witcher 3

CD Projekt RED has announced that Charles Dance will voice the Emperor of Nilfgaard in Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This is completely awesome. Why is this completely awesome? Because Charles Dance is completely awesome! That’s why. In recent years, fantasy nerds have marveled at Dance’s portrayal of Tywin Lannister in HBO’s Game of Thrones. While he has been brilliant as that character, Dance’s brilliance to the nerd community goes back a long ways. Many of you RPadholics know and love Dance from The Golden Child, in which he played Sardo Numspa (Brother Numsie!). Lastly, Dance completely owned in Last Acton Hero as Benedict, one of the coolest bad guys to grace the silver screen.

I was already looking forward to Witcher 3, but now that Sardo Numspa/Benedict/Tywin Lannister has been revealed as one of the game’s voice actor, I want the game even more. To celebrate this awesome news, let’s take a look back at some of Charles Dance’s best scenes.