Tag: Movies

Coffee Talk #565: Your Star Wars Standalone Movie

Disney CEO Bob Iger has confirmed that there will be standalone Star Wars movies along with a new trilogy. The initial rumor was that diminutive Jedi master Yoda would be getting his own film. This was followed by rumors of movies starring a young Han Solo and Boba Fett, respectively. Who would you like to see in a standalone Star Wars movie? Who do you think should get the spotlight?

Han Solo and Boba Fett are obvious choices. They’re both “cool” characters and easy to sell to Star Wars fans. Personally, I’d like to see something…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, injuries in LA Laker land, injuries in LA Clipper land, or practicing for your driving exam, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Disney CEO Bob Iger has confirmed that there will be standalone Star Wars movies along with a new trilogy. The initial rumor was that diminutive Jedi master Yoda would be getting his own film. This was followed by rumors of movies starring a young Han Solo and Boba Fett, respectively. Who would you like to see in a standalone Star Wars movie? Who do you think should get the spotlight?

Han Solo and Boba Fett are obvious choices. They’re both “cool” characters and easy to sell to Star Wars fans. Personally, I’d like to see something different and unexpected. It’s probably not going to happen, but how about a movie about lesser-known Jedi like Adi Gallia or Ki Adi Mundi? The latter could star in an action-comedy — dude’s head cracks me up every time and Andy Dick has already played the character. Other ideas (that will never happen) include a subtitled Star Wars art-house film starring Wookiees on their home planet Kashyyyk. This movie would be a thoughtful look at a unique and noble race that’s often dismissed as the savages of the Star Wars universe. I’d call it Lost in Chewbacca…or something.

Anyway, why don’t you guys give it a go? Which character would you like to see have his or her (or its) own Star Wars movie? Kindly pick your character and describe your movie in the comments section.

Fast & Furious 6 Extended Trailer

As many of you know, I’m a total mark for the Fast & Furious series. It’s probably my favorite franchise when it comes to big, dumb fun. Plus, I believe in supporting Hollywood’s only action star that regularly plays Dungeons & Dragons (Vin Diesel) and I’m completely mesmerized by Paul Walker’s crappy acting. Fast Five was the pinnacle of the series for me. It had the best elements of all the previous, plus Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. It’s also one of the only American action movies that has a cool Asian guy that gets the girl.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, this landed:

Wow. Car chases! Sexy girls! A cat fight! Paul Walker’s crappy acting! This is going to be awesome.

Yoda Getting His Own Star Wars Movie?

[Update 4:24PM PT] The initial rumor about the upcoming Disney Stars Wars movies was that they’re being based on an old plot by George Lucas. The latest rumor, courtesy of Ain’t It Cool News, is that Yoda will be getting his own film. Can you imagine a two-hour movie full of a diminutive, back-flipping Jedi spouting English with funky syntax? While you’re thinking about it, here’s a quote from the article:

Well, to start with they’re going to focus on established characters and do solo films. The first Stand Alone film is going to center upon YODA.

Yoda is pretty awesome, but I don’t know about him carrying a whole movie. My initial reactions are that he’s better in a supporting role and that this rumor is bunk. Still…stranger things have happened, especially in a galaxy far, far away.

Do you think Yoda can carry an entire movie? Would you watch it?

Update: Disney CEO Bob Iger has confirmed that there are plans for standalone movies that are separate from the next trilogy. He didn’t confirm that Yoda would be the first subject.

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Superman Unbound Trailer

Here’s the trailer for Superman Unbound, DC’s upcoming animated film based on Geoff Johns’ acclaimed Superman: Brainiac run. In addition to Superman and Brainiac, Kal-El’s cousin Kara Zor-El is a prominent player in the story. This makes me happy, because Supergirl is totally hot. More seriously, I really enjoy Superman storylines that cover Kryptonian history. Hearing about Kandor, Zod, and the like fleshes out Superman’s Kryptonian heritage. A lot of writers focus on his wholesome upbringing in Smallville, but dude is an alien and it’s fun to explore that side of him.

Kindly check out the trailer when you have a chance and let me know if you’re interested in Superman Unbound. How do you think it’ll measure up against DC’s other excellent animated features like Batman: Under the Red Hood and The Dark Knight Returns?

Noobz Available Now

The videogame movie Noobz is now available through iTunes and Google Play. If you want to check out the movie and support this site then kindly pick up the digital or physical version through Amazon (using the links in this sentence). Directed by and starring Blake Freeman, Noobz is a road-trip movie about a group of friends competing in a Gears of War tournament. The movie also stars the excellent Jason Mewes and the sexy Zelda Williams, with cameos by Adam Sessler and the legendary Casper Van Dien.

I’m a fan of Freeman and a total mark for Mewes. From my time on the set and chatting with Freeman, I appreciate that he treated gaming in a respectful and realistic way in Noobz. There are too many movies that have faked gaming and/or looked down on it. For several reasons, I hope this movie does well.

I’ll be watching the movie later this week. For now, check out the Noobz interviews below.

Today’s Poll: Who Makes the Best Hercules?

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is living the high life. He recently won the WWE Championship and has been confirmed as Hercules. The 2014 mythological-action movie is being directed by Brett Ratner, so expect Rush Hour in loincloths (not really). Seriously though, the news made me think about other portrayals of the Greek/Roman hero. Arnold Schwarzenegger brought unintentional comedy to new heights in Hercules in New York. Thanks to the power of syndication, millions of people around the world love Kevin Sorbo from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. How will The Rock’s version of Hercules compare to those two? Kindly vote in today’s poll and use the comments section to talk about the best Hercules ever!

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Paul Giamatti as Rhino in Amazing Spider-Man 2?

My friend Jennie posted a link to this story about Paul Giamatti being in negotiations for the role of Rhino in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. While he might seem like an unusual choice for a comic-book movie villain, Giamatti is a huge fan of the Rhino character and has been anxious to play the role for years. With some luck, he’ll be joining Jamie Foxx (Electro) in the next Spidey film.

I’m a huge, huge fan of Giamatti. Sideways is one of my favorite movies of all time and I’m a huge fan of his work in American Splendor. I’ve also enjoyed Giamatti’s comedic roles, such as Pig Vomit in Private Parts and Bob Zmuda in Man on the Moon. Many people believe that he’s one of the best character actors alive today and I agree with those people. If he’s a mark for Rhino then he should get the part. He’s talented enough to rock the hell out of it. Besides, it would make Sideways even funnier, since it would be a road-trip movie starring Rhino and Sandman.

What do you think of Paul Giamatti taking on Spider-Man as Rhino? Are you as jazzed as I am? Or do you think a dramatic actor measuing 5′ 9″ is no match for Spidey?

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GI Joe: Retaliation is Ninja-tastic

The latest trailer for GI Joe: Retaliation is awesome on several levels. Initially, it focuses on the conflict between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. Generally speaking, cool things happen when Arashikage ninja go at it. In addition to a slick showdown between these two, a thrilling chase seen is shown, with Snake Eyes and Jinx escaping from a bunch of nameless, faceless ninja clad in red (the official color of cannon fodder?). The pair hurtle down zip lines, but really, the cool thing here is Jinx. Menacing ninja are cool, but sexy female ninja are even cooler. London explodes for a few seconds. Lastly, the trailer wraps up with some action featuring Bruce Willis and current WWE Champion, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

I’m hoping that Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow get lots of time to shine. That’s probably wishful thinking with Johnson and Willis being featured so prominently. *sigh* Some of my favorite GI Joe comics were ones that focused on the Arashikage Clan. The family has a rich and colorful history that ends in tragedy. The fall of the Arashikage Clan also ties together great characters like Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, and Zartan. That wish aside, the trailer is pretty sweet. This movie looks like big, dumb fun.

Check out the trailer when you have a chance and let me know what you think of it (please!).

Rogue, Iceman, and Kitty in Days of Future Past

Director Bryan Singer revealed that Ellen Page, Anna Paquin, and Shawn Ashmore will be in the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past. Presumably, they’ll be reprising their respective roles of Kitty Pryde, Rogue, and Iceman. The cast is becoming awesomely impressive, with Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, and Jennifer Lawrence already confirmed. At the very least, the movie won’t be hurting for star power.

Page has the most challenging role, depending on how close to the comics Singer keeps the movie. She was charming in her small role in X-Men: Last Stand, but Days of Future Past will require her to play a broken and tragic character. Thankfully, she has the acting chops to kill it as alternate-future Kitty Pryde. I suppose Jackman will be working the most since he can play present-day and future versions of Wolverine, thanks to the character’s healing factor slowing down the aging process. That’s a convenient way to maximize an actor’s time.

Anyway, how do you feel about Singer getting talent from every X-Men film every made for Days of Future Past?

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Frank Darabont Writing Godzilla Movie

From the writer that brought you The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile comes…a Godzilla movie! That’s right, renowned scribe Frank Darabont is currently rewriting a script for Godzilla, set for release in 2014. While he’s best known for his outstanding dramas, Darabont has lots of nerd cred from his work on The Walking Dead, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3. In a roundtable interview with iO9, Darabont spoke about bringing Godzilla back to his roots as a terrifying force of nature:

What I found very interesting about Godzilla is that he started off definitely as a metaphor for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And some of the atom bomb testing we were doing in the South Pacific in the subsequent years. The giant terrifying force of nature that comes and stomps the sh*t out of your city, that was Godzilla. Filtered through the very fanciful imaginations of the Japanese perception. And then he became Clifford the Big Red Dog in the subsequent films. He became the mascot of Japan, he became the protector of Japan. Another big ugly monster would show up and he would fight that monster to protect Japan. Which I never really quite understood, the shift.

What we’re trying to do with the new movie is not have it camp, not have it be campy. We’re kind of taking a cool new look at it. But with a lot of tradition in the first film.

While I loved the “Clifford the Big Red Dog” version of the Toho monster as a kid, as I grew up I came to appreciate Godzilla being an allegory for the repercussions of using atomic weapons. I’m intrigued by Darabont’s take on Godzilla. He’s a uniquely skilled writer that can write a compelling monster movie that people will take seriously.

What do you think of Frank Darabont penning Godzilla? Are you interested in his upcoming film? What’s your favorite Godzilla movie of all time?

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