Category: Movies

Coffee Talk #533: Who Will Be the Star Wars Chosen One?

Millions of people love the original Star Wars trilogy and consider it a vital part of their nerd identity. Millions of people hate the latest Star Wars trilogy and consider it an affront to something dear to their hearts. With that in mind, there’s a tremendous opportunity for a director and/or writer to “save” Star Wars. At worst, he or she will be celebrated — fairly or unfairly — for not being George Lucas. At best, he or she will be the savior or all nerdkind. Who are some of the people you’d like to see considered for Star Wars Episode 7?…more

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Steve Nash’s injured leg, Bristol Pailin selling her car on Craigslist, or Jony Ive’s new influence on iOS, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Millions of people love the original Star Wars trilogy and consider it a vital part of their nerd identity. Millions of people hate the latest Star Wars trilogy and consider it an affront to something dear to their hearts. With that in mind, there’s a tremendous opportunity for a director and/or writer to “save” Star Wars. At worst, he or she will be celebrated — fairly or unfairly — for not being George Lucas. At best, he or she will be the savior of all nerdkind. Who are some of the people you’d like to see considered for Star Wars Episode 7?

Many sci-fi and comic-book geeks have been throwing Joss Whedon’s name around. The man has a ton of nerd cred between Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, and The Avengers. Many Star Wars fans were hoping that Timothy Zahn’s novels would be given the big-screen treatment, but RPadholic N8R informed us that won’t be the case. The usual suspects of Christopher Nolan, Darren Aronofsky, and Ridley Scott have been discussed by the sci-fi elite.

Who would you like to see as the director and writer of Star Wars Episode 7? Who will be the chosen one that saves the Star Wars movies? What are the chances of seeing Natalie Portman (in extended scenes) wearing Princess Leia’s metal bikini?

Today’s Poll: Star Wars Episode 7

As if Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm wasn’t big enough news on its own, the company also announced that Star Wars Episode 7 will be coming in 2015. This is huge, huge news for all of nerdkind. Some Star Wars marks are afraid of the upcoming movie; they feel that the original trilogy gets tarnished by every new film. Some, particularly fans of Timothy Zahn’s excellent Star Wars novels, are excited by the prospect of seeing cool characters like Grand Admiral Thrawn on the big screen.

How do you feel about Episode 7? Are you worried it will be as lame as Jar Jar Binks? Or are you excited for a movie that’s Han Solo cool? Please vote in today’s poll and expand on your choice in the comments section!

[poll id=”169″]

Bryan Singer to Direct X-Men: Days of Future Past

Marvel has announced that Bryan Singer will direct the upcoming mutant movie X-Men: Days of Future Past. (Presumably) based on one of the most popular storylines from the Chris Claremont era, Days of Future Past is a time-jumping tale that has the X-Men trying to prevent an alternate (and sucky) future where mutants are hunted by the government and placed in internment camps. X-Men fans should be delighted by the return of Singer; many felt that the movies he directed (X-Men and X2) were the best of the bunch. At the time of its release, many critics felt that X-Men was the best superhero movie to date.

The next few years should be busy for Marvel’s mutants. The Wolverine is set for a July 2013 release, while Days of Future Past is slated for July 2014. As a fan of the books, I’m really look forward to Singer’s take on the Claremont classic.

How about you? Are excited about Bryan Singer directing X-Men: Days of Future Past?

Source

Disney Buys Lucasfilm, Star Wars Episode 7 in 2015

In one of the most enormous moves in movie and pop-culture history, The Walt Disney Company has announced that it has acquired Lucasfilm for $4.05-billion. But wait, there’s more! The company has also announced that Star Wars Episode 7 is slated for 2015 and will kick off a new Star Wars trilogy. Here’s more from Disney CEO Robert Iger:

In 2015, we’re planning to release Star Wars Episode 7 — the first feature film under the “Disney-Lucasfilm” brand. That will be followed by Episodes 8 and 9 — and our long term plan is to release a new Star Wars feature film every two to three years. We’re very happy that George Lucas will be creative consultant on our new Star Wars films and that Kathleen Kennedy, the current Co-Chair of Lucasfilm, will executive produce. George handpicked Kathy earlier this year to lead Lucasfilm into the future. She’ll join Disney as President of Lucasfilm, reporting into Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn and integrating and building the Star Wars franchise across our company.

Wow. Just wow. Between Lucasfilm, Marvel, and Pixar, Disney now owns some of the most beloved pop-culture franchises in the world.

That said, I’m also scared of this acquisition. Iger saying that Disney plans to release a Star Wars film every two to three years sounds like a recipe for over-saturation. Of course it’s impossible to say how successful this acquisition will be. For now, I’d love to hear your initial reaction to Disney buying Lucasfilm, as well as your thoughts on a new Star Wars trilogy. Share your feelings — don’t let go of them like a Jedi — in the comments section (please!).

Source

Arnold Schwarzenegger to Reprise Conan Role

Legendary action star Arnold Schwarzenegger will return to one his earliest roles, Conan the Barbarian, in the upcoming movie The Legend of Conan. The film is being produced by Fredrik Malmberg and Chris Morgan. Remember that iconic scene of Conan sitting on a throne looking pensively grim? The new movie takes place after that. Malmberg told Deadline:

The original ended with Arnold on the throne as a seasoned warrior, and this is the take of the film we will make. It’s that Nordic Viking mythic guy who has played the role of king, warrior, soldier and mercenary, and who has bedded more women than anyone, nearing the last cycle of his life. He knows he’ll be going to Valhalla, and wants to go out with a good battle.

Sadly, the 1984 sequel Conan the Destroyer is being ignored as Conan canon. It would have been fun to see an old Grace Jones and the now-MILFy Olivia D’Abo.

Seriously though, I’m intrigued by the premised of a movie about an old Conan but fear this will turn out to be garbage. John Milius’ Conan the Barbarian was a dramatic and powerful action movie. I worry about this sequel being too soft and light.

What do you think of Arnold Schwarzenegger taking up the sword again? Are you interested in The Legend of Conan?

Source

New Noobz Trailer in the House!

Here’s the latest trailer for Noobz, a road-trip movie about competitive gaming starring Jason Mewes and Zelda Williams. If the subject matter and stars aren’t enough reasons to watch it, Noobz also features Adam Sessler and the great Casper Van Dien. That reminds me, I have to call director Blake Freeman about casting me in Noobz II: Even Nerdier. Anyway, check out the trailer and share your thoughts on it in the comments section (please!). Continue reading “New Noobz Trailer in the House!”

Denny’s to Feature Food and Drinks Based on The Hobbit

You’ve seen the first television commercial for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, now wash it down with some Shire Sausage at Denny’s! The restaurant chain has announced a line of food of beverages based on the upcoming movie. I’m pretty sure the Hobbit Hole Breakfast was not what JRR Tolkien had in mind when he wrote the book, but let’s just go with it. Here’s a clip from the press release:

Denny’s new “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”-themed menu will feature a diverse selection of eleven new breakfast, lunch and dinner menu offerings including the “Hobbit Hole Breakfast,” “Frodo’s Pot Roast Skillet,” and “Build Your Own Hobbit Slam,” which includes new limited time holiday favorites such as “Pumpkin Patch Pancakes,” “Shire Sausage,” and “Seed Cake French Toast.”

Normally, I ignore restaurant tie-ins with movies, but this one is so cheesy (not in the dairy-product sense) that it makes me smile. I don’t even like Denny’s all that much, but I sure as hell am going to order some of these dishes when they become available on November 6, 2012.

Any of these Hobbit-themed concoctions sound good to you?

Source (PDF)

Iron Man 3 Trailer: Tony Stark’s Darkest Hour

The new Iron Man 3 trailer is out and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it! Called “Tony Stark’s Darkest Hour,” this trailer shows off some of the tribulations Tony Stark/Iron Man will be facing in the movie and teases his new villain: The Mandarin. Played by the outstanding Ben Kingsley, The Mandarin is one of Iron Man’s most powerful foes. In addition to his keen intellect and deadly martial arts skills, The Mandarin has ten rings that allow him to do a variety of things: elemental blasts, psionic energy manipulation, gravity control, disintegration beams, etc.

He’s also Chinese…and Ben Kingsley is not. As talented as Kingsley is, it’s weird that a Chinese villain with a Chinese name will be played by a British man of Indian descent. Changing the race of Nick Fury or The Kingpin is one thing, since those characters aren’t tied to specific ethnicities, but this guy’s name is The Mandarin…and it’s because of his Chinese background, not because he hurls tiny oranges at Iron Man.

Anyway, when you have chance, check out the clip and let me know what you think (please!).