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Review: The Mystery of Sherlock Holmes is Why They Felt the Mystery Didn’t Matter
24 December 2009 9:39 PM, PST
Three Torches (Out of Five) It could've been a whole lot worse. When I saw the previews for the new Guy Ritchie-directed movie adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, I thought, "Oh, good God, they've turned him into a Matrix-like action hero!" The truth is, the scenes where Holmes uses his understanding of anatomy to pummel an opponent in slow, perfectly-choreographed motion are a very small part of the film (distracting and unnecessary though they may be). No, this movie more or less hews closely to the Sherlock Holmes we know and love: the anti-social detective (Robert Downey Jr.) who, along with his hapless companion Dr. »
Review: Review: Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus is a Failure (But a Fascinating One!)
24 December 2009 9:38 PM, PST
Two and a Half Torches (Out of Five) Put a fork in Terry Gilliam. I think his career as a major film director is done. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, his most eagerly awaited film in years because it happened to be the last movie Heath Ledger ever made, is also his most inaccessible, and not in a good way. Once word gets out, it will almost certainly be a massive box office flop (despite the Heath Ledger buzz). And since the budget was somewhere between $25 and $45 million, I have a hard time believing that any investor will be willing to indulge him again, especially considering his history of making expensive, often self-indulgent failed films. And this is a total shame, for two reasons. First, I'm a huge Gilliam fan, who is responsible for several of my all-time favorite fantasy films: Time Bandits and The Adventures of Baron Maunchausen. »
From the Palantir! No Origin for Magneto, Emma Watson Beats Angelina, and Fantasy is Free
23 December 2009 9:02 AM, PST
This is old news, but I suppose it must be said: Avatar is a massive hit, and its prospects are growing better by the hour. Even more interesting to me, surveys find that every single demographic gives the movie an "A"! Speaking of which, Stephen Spielberg liked Avatar a lot, saying it's as revolutionary as Star Wars. The first issue of the returning Realms of Fantasy magazine is available for free download. The X-Men: First Class project means that the Magneto: Origins movie is now off the table -- the Xavier/Magneto origin will now be part of the former film. A (dubiously sourced) rumor says that Taylor Swift will play Supergirl. 28 Star Wars mashups. »
Starz Renews Spartacus For a Second Season (Before the Show Even Premieres!)
21 December 2009 4:31 PM, PST
How confident is the premium cable network Starz in the new series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which debuts January 22nd? They've just renewed it for a second season. They're doing it preemptively as a vote of confidence in the show, Starz executive vice president of programming Stephan Shelanski told Daily Variety. They also wanted to give the writers and producers a head start on next year's production. The title for the second season, which was given a 13-episode order (like the first season), will be Spartacus: Vengeance. The show stars Lucy Lawless and Australian actor Andy Whitfield, who plays the gladiator (and future rebellious slave) Spartacus in the time of Ancient Rome. »
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