http://theplaylist.blogspot.com/2010/02/rachel-weisz-tops-off-cast-for-jim.html
Rachel Weisz Tops Off Cast For Jim Sheridan’s ‘Dream House’
February 9th, 2010[Books] Idlewild
February 9th, 2010
It’s very hard for me to get into a new book series on my own. I don’t quite understand why this is the case, but it just is. I think the only time that I’ve found a completely new series of books to get into was when I picked up Peter J. Hamilton’s The Reality Dysfunction and found myself enjoying the whole series. Books like are pretty rare.
I tend to rely on the opinions and recommendations of friends for the most part. I guess it helps me minimize risk in terms of exploring a new series of books given these recommendations come from people that I trust. More or less.
Then there are those books that aren’t truly recommendations but are just books that a friend picks out since they seem to fit your tastes. This was one of those books and I was certainly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Idlewild is the first of a trilogy of science fiction books written by Nick Sagan, the son of THE Carl Sagan . This is definitely one of those cases when I’m glad the son took up the craft of his father, unlike other sons of famous writers like Brian Herbert .
Damn you Brian Herbert. Anyway.
Idlewild, Michigan is home to a school unlike any other - that where the better off can send their children to a completely different kind of private school. Here the teens are immersed in an artificial reality known as the IVR where they are taught their lessons in a virtual school where they can not only gain access to the best teachers ever programmed but they can re-live the greatest moments in history. Imagine learning about evolution alongside Charles Darwin or discussing the Theory of General Relativity with Albert Einstein . Such are the possibilities of a virtual school.
Our protagonist wakes up unable to move within this virtual world and also without his memory. He quickly realizes that someone tried to kill him and he may have killed someone himself as well. Thus a complex mystery begins to unfold as he tries to regain his memory without revealing to his peers what has happened to him. Solving the mystery of the attack on him is just the beginning for Idlewild holds even deeper secrets than meets the eye.
I certainly appreciated the tone of the book as based on the perspective of its protagonist, Halloween. He’s your more or less typical brooding teenager whose intellectual realizations and internal commentary smacks of the likes of Holden Caufield, which I rather enjoyed. Plus he wasn’t just trying to sound smart - this character does happen to be highly intelligent and some of the meanderings of his mind probably become rather difficult for your average, non-science fiction reader to keep up with at times.
The book presents the reader with some very interesting concepts about human evolution , surviving future challenges and perhaps even the question of humanity itself. Despite the brainier parts of the book, it’s a fairly simple read and I can imagine this being more targeted towards a younger audience. This is not to say that the older set can’t enjoy the books - I’m just saying it has a rather hit, vibrant tone that’s pretty fun.
Plus I like how the reveals were handled all throughout the book. Just when you think you have things figured out, Sagan goes on to jerk you around in a completely different direction. Plus nothing and no one is overly sacred - anyone is a liability that can be killed. No one is quite who they seem to be. In a world where people can escape into the IVR, what is truly real any more?
I know, the questions reek of The Matrix, but it’s not quite the same. I’d like to think of it as a nice update to the cyberpunk genre in a manner that is refreshing and can survive into the new future. It’s not a game-changing book or anythging like that, but it’s still a great read and more than worth picking up. I already have the other two books in the trilogy and I can hardly wait to get to the next title.
Oh wait - I already started on it yesteday, haha.
Idlewild gets 4 IVR domains out of a possible 5.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheGeekyGuideToNearlyEverything/~3/14aMYmvRuDU/books-idlewild.html
Jimmy Kimmel Never Told Sarah Silverman She Was Pretty
February 9th, 2010Jimmy Kimmel never told Sarah Silverman she was pretty. Aw. Sarah Silverman covers the most recent issue of Page Six magazine and opens up to the rag about how in love she is with her new boy and how much Jimmy Kimmel sucked. Basically. Yes. That was the interview. more Sarah after the hop… Sarah, who spent [...]
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/anythinghollywood/~3/MKKv7wiLtXI/
Eclipse Music Poll based on Stephenie Meyer’s Playlist!!
February 9th, 2010It has been a long time since we’ve talked music and done a poll. So here is the first music poll for Eclipse. We decided to take a look at what Stephenie used to inspire her writing. I must admit this is one of my favorite playlists that she created. I can see the progression [...]
It has been a long time since we’ve talked music and done a poll. So here is the first music poll for Eclipse. We decided to take a look at what Stephenie used to inspire her writing. I must admit this is one of my favorite playlists that she created. I can see the progression of the book through the song choices and I just love it! So as always there is a poll for everyone to tell us which song they think most represents Eclipse off of Stephenie’s playlist (click the songs titles to refresh your memory). And just for good conversation, which song do think best represents the ending?? Stephenie has 5 listed because she couldn’t decide can you? Let us know in the comments.
Now for my picks, and this was not easy!! These are in no particular order.
The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot-Brand New, is by far one of my favorites. I am pretty sure it is a Jacob song and I do have a soft spot for him. It just represents the feel of him giving it all up, the pack, Bella.
And if it makes you less sad
I’ll take your pictures all down
Every picture you paint
I will paint myself out
Mr. Brightside-The Killers, ahh jealousy! This song could be for either Jacob or Edward although my vote is it is an Edward song. There are so many moments of doubt that this song covers and it was interesting to waht that play out in the book. I am hoping for the same in the Movie!
Jealousy turning saints into the sea
swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibi
But it’s just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Hysteria-Muse. I really just love this song and it reminds me of craziness that each of the characters goes through.
And I want you now
I want you now
I’ll feel my heart implode
And I’m breaking out
Escaping now
Feeling my faith erode
~BME
Mexican Standoff- Elbow
Hamburg Song- Keane
Clocks-Coldplay
The Small Print- Muse
Stab My Back-All American Rejects
Overweight-Blue October (this is NOT the edited version, I couldn’t find it but if you can send it to me!)
Mr. Brightside- The Killers
Newborn-Muse
Love Me Like You- The Magic Numbers
Vindicated- Dashboard Confessional
Hysteria- Muse
Uninvited- Alanis Morissette
Yes Please-Muse
Infra Red- Placebo
The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot- Brand New
Luv-Travis
Blackout-Muse
It’s a Disaster- OK GO
The next five songs represent the end which one do you think works best??
This is How I Disappear- My Chemical Romance
Sleep- My Chemical Romance
Falling Away with You – Muse
Accident & Emergency- Patrick Wolf
The Well and the Lighthouse- Arcade Fire
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TwilightLexicon/~3/ESlQw8Rh5yc/
The Penguins Of Madagascar Operation DVD Premiere 2009 DVDRip XviD-VoMiT
February 9th, 2010I bet these Penguins doesn’t need some special introduction, we all know about them. VoMiT group has released dvdrip of “Operation DVD Premiere” with 118 minutes of Penguins action. Plot: In New York’s Central Park Zoo, resident penguins. Skipper, Kowalski, Private and Rico use their incredible cunning and ingenuity to maintain order and prevent [...]
This article has been published at RLSLOG.net - visit our site for full content.
I bet these Penguins doesn’t need some special introduction, we all know about them. VoMiT group has released dvdrip of “Operation DVD Premiere” with 118 minutes of Penguins action. 
Plot: In New York’s Central Park Zoo, resident penguins. Skipper, Kowalski, Private and Rico use their incredible cunning and ingenuity to maintain order and prevent their obnoxious lemur rivals King Julien, Mort and Maurice from gaining the upper hand. A spinoff of the popular Madagascar movie franchise, this collection features all-new adventures plus favorites from the Nickelodeon series “The Penguins of Madagascar. Watch out – the boys finally get their own DVD! Get more Penguins, more Madagascar and more fun with the world debut of The Penguins of Madagascar Operations. Their mission? To maintain order in the zoo. Their nemesis? Their obnoxious neighbor, King Julien. Join Skipper and the crew as they outwit anyone and everything crossing their path as they rule the zoo.
The.Penguins.Of.Madagascar.Operation.DVD.Premiere.2009.DVDRip.XviD-VoMiT
1.40 GB, vmt-penguinsop-xvid
Quality: 640 x 352, 1040 kbps, AC3 5.1 ch 448 kbps
Samples: Video Sample
Links: Wiki , NFO
Download: Part1 | Part2 | Part3 | Part4 , Torrent search
more at RLSLOG.net
http://www.rlslog.net/the-penguins-of-madagascar-operation-dvd-premiere-2009-dvdrip-xvid-vomit/
Hugh Laurie in Discussions to Star in Dark Comedy ‘Oranges’
February 9th, 2010Many fans have been waiting to see “House” actor Hugh Laurie make the jump to the big screen in a lead role, not counting voice roles (like in Monsters vs Aliens) or supporting roles (like in Street Kings or Stuart Little). Potentially some good news for Laurie fans, as the LA Times’ 24 Frames blog is reporting that Laurie is “in discussions” to play the lead role in a new project called Oranges (or The Oranges written by Jay Reiss and Ian Helfer). You may remember seeing it on the 2008 Black List. It’s a dark comedy about a man who has a romantic relationship with the daughter of a family friend, which turns their lives upside down. The LA Times also says that Anthony Bregman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Synecdoche New York) is producing the project, but it doesn’t seem to have a director yet (although IMDb lists …
Many fans have been waiting to see “House” actor Hugh Laurie make the jump to the big screen in a lead role, not counting voice roles (like in Monsters vs Aliens) or supporting roles (like in Street Kings or Stuart Little). Potentially some good news for Laurie fans, as the LA Times’ 24 Frames blog is reporting that Laurie is “in discussions” to play the lead role in a new project called Oranges (or The Oranges written by Jay Reiss and Ian Helfer). You may remember seeing it on the 2008 Black List . It’s a dark comedy about a man who has a romantic relationship with the daughter of a family friend, which turns their lives upside down.
The LA Times also says that Anthony Bregman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Synecdoche New York) is producing the project, but it doesn’t seem to have a director yet (although IMDb lists Julian Farino as director). They call this a “dark dramatic comedy” and say Laurie will be playing the “creepy/sympathetic older man” who gets into the relationship. As for the younger key role, they’ve heard its between Leighton Meester and Mila Kunis, but one of them hasn’t been chosen yet. So this isn’t officially confirmed casting news, but if everything stays on course, we could finally see Hugh Laurie finally starring in a feature film.
Although this isn’t the exact same, I’m kind of reminded of Robin Williams’ edgy appearance in the dark comedy World’s Greatest Dad , which is sort of becoming a cult hit. I hope this turns out to be more than just a cult hit, but from the sounds of it, it’s the kind of strong lead performance that will be remembered after premiering at a festival. Hopefully this comes together with Laurie on-board - we’ll keep you updated!
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/firstshowing/~3/DVEcni8BpeY/
Santa Barbara Film Fest: The Wild Hunt
February 9th, 2010One of the key strands of this year’s Santa Barbara Film Festival is a focus on contemporary Quebecois cinema, of which the big title is J’ai tué ma mère, one of the best examples of a young person’s nakedly autobiographical art that I can recall and a popular festival hit last year. Almost as popular [...]
One of the key strands of this year’s Santa Barbara Film Festival is a focus on contemporary Quebecois cinema, of which the big title is J’ai tué ma mère , one of the best examples of a young person’s nakedly autobiographical art that I can recall and a popular festival hit last year. Almost as popular (best debut at Toronto, audience award at Slamdance) is Alexandre Franchi’s (English language) The Wild Hunt, an attempt to conjure the resonance of Norse myth through the weekend games of a large group of live medieval role-players.
Slobby Erik (Ricky Mabe – really reminds me of someone and it’s bugging me I can’t remember who. Please help..) is pissed that his girlfriend Lynne (Kaniehtiio Horn) disappears to the woods on the weekends to cavort with beserkers, knights and elves, and heads off to bring her back. The problem is that as the Viking princess, she’s rather important to their game and currently a prisoner of the sinister Shaman (Trevor Hayes) and his crew. Aided by his rather-too-into-it brother Bjorn (Mark Anthony Krupa), a busty pixie-haired referee (Claudia Jurt) and a gawky red-haired knight with the flat sloping face of a young Max von Sydow (Kyle Gatehouse), his interference, or love quest, as the players designate it, causes the fantasy of the Shaman’s Wild Hunt – a frenzied night-time rampage initiated by the blood-letting of a “virgin” – to tip over into frightening reality.
The film-makers are D&D veterans and this is no easy mockery of the fantasy games depicted, but humorous mileage is gotten out of the incongruities of Thor’s hammer being kept under a sink, slippages between the archaic language of the game and contemporary idiolect and pythonesque touches such as the king’s charge “in the name of my name”; the sunshine, river and forest are photographed to maximum aesthetic effect (perhaps a shade overdone) and the varied costumes and the backwoods village compound, complete with Viking longship and stone amphitheatre, are all superb.
The slide from fantasy to real-life violence, however, is undercut by some easy and obvious sound design and misses out on the sickening chill that should have made it truly disturbing: blood-lust, suicide and revenge may be fine and noble in myth but look supremely ugly in real life, even if it’s movie real life. With committed playing (though Horn struggles with a part woefully underwritten) the film manages its humour far better than its conflict, and rather than evoking the ancient stories’ lessons as to how to live an enriched and honourable life, it ends by leaving an unpleasantly sour taste in the mouth.
Rating: 7.1/10
Related Posts
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/screencrave/~3/crDPnJm8vbo/
A Jaws 3D Remake – No, We’re Not Kidding (Well… Maybe)
February 9th, 2010Just when you thought it was safe to go into the theater… Universal Pictures has apparently given up on trying to make original motion pictures based on new ideas because the only thing they seem eager to do lately is remake their classic monster movies. First they unwrapped the Mummy from his tomb, then they announced [...]
Just when you thought it was safe to go into the theater…
Universal Pictures has apparently given up on trying to make original motion pictures based on new ideas because the only thing they seem eager to do lately is remake their classic monster movies. First they unwrapped the Mummy from his tomb, then they announced the Creature from the Black Lagoon would be rising from the murky depths once more, The Wolfman comes out this weekend and most recently they announced the leads for The Thing prequel .
Think they’re done? Not by a long shot, my friends.
Now comes some information via an unconfirmed source from Cinema Blend inside Universal Pictures that they intend to go into the water once more and bring Jaws back to the big screen. Oh yeah, of course they are talking about 3D as well. This isn’t the first time the studio has attempted a 3D version of the greatest horror film ever set in the sea: Back in 1983, when 3D glasses had blue and red lenses, Jaws 3D came out and was set in the Sea World theme park in Orlando, Florida.
Now, it’s bad enough that they might remake a complete classic that doesn’t need to be remade but check out whose name is being thrown around to replace Richard Dreyfuss in the role of scientist Matt Hooper: Comedian Tracy Morgan ( Cop Out ). Oh man… Let the party begin! I wonder if I can buy tickets for this movie on Fandango yet *eye roll*?
Now this is from an unconfirmed source who contacted Cinema Blend, so file this under rumor and possible B.S. But really, considering the recent spate of reboots AND 3D mania it doesn’t seem out of the question.
I surely hope that doesn’t happen. Hooper is a scientist and if Morgan is cast to play him, it will be the 3rd worst casting of a person to play a scientist I have ever seen. The first would be Tara Reid as Dr. Aline Cedrac in Alone in the Dark and second is Denise Richards as Dr. Christmas Jones in The World is Not Enough. Talk about an actor stretching their ability past what they are able to do!
Moving on to the obvious VFX for the shark, it would most likely be entirely CGI and because it’s cheaper to convert a film in post to 3D than to film with special cameras, chances are the 3D will not be all that impressive. But why should a little thing like cinematic integrity stop Universal from making a quick buck? Let’s assume they spent $100 million on the production and another $25 million to market, with worldwide sales thrown into box office numbers now, Universal would most likely recoup their investment to the tune of $200 million or more. Why is that? The extra cost for 3D of course! All those extra $3 per ticket fees add up mighty quick – just ask James Cameron.
I’ll go on record right now saying that if Universal goes through with this Jaws 3D remake, then I will not go see it. I don’t care who they get to direct or star in it. Speaking of directors, who wants to take bets that they tap an unknown or little known director to cut his (inexpensive) teeth on this film?
What are your thoughts on a possible Jaws remake in 3D? Does it make you sad to know that almost all original ideas in Hollywood are disappearing fast?
Source: Cinema Blend
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScreenRant/~3/y25JeVPxuhc/
Donald Glover is Magic
February 9th, 2010You guys watch Community? OK, well, it’s good and you should watch it if you don’t, but if you do, you know Donald Glover, who plays Troy. During his downtime, Don recorded a mixtape under the name Childish Gambino and released it on his website for free. And it’s sick. His lyrics are tight and [...]
You guys watch Community? OK, well, it’s good and you should watch it if you don’t, but if you do, you know Donald Glover, who plays Troy. During his downtime, Don recorded a mixtape under the name Childish Gambino and released it on his website for free. And it’s sick. His lyrics are tight and funny and his skill level is surprisingly good.
Rapping over bands like Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective, Childish Gambino tells us what it’s like to be the most fashionable young TV actor in the game. On my favorite track, “My Girls”, he also gives some insight to what it’s like to date a dude whose job lends to a player lifestyle. You can download parts 1 and 2 of his mixtape “I Am Just a Rapper” here and here .
Listen to “New Prince (Crown On the Ground)” here:
New Prince (Crown On the Ground) by Childish Gambino
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/film/SNFf/~3/TBCORa-bMuU/
My Movie Crush: Michael Treanor in ‘3 Ninjas’
February 9th, 2010
This is the first entry in a new column reminiscing on my adolescent movie crushes, in which I explore my memories of the objects of my obsession. Join me.
Sometime in the early ’90s, my young adolescent existence went from nerdy and tomboyish to boy-crazy, nerdy and tomboyish. Once it happened, I started noticing cute boys everywhere and I found that my girl friends did, too. We would have sleepovers and hang outs and talk for hours about the objects of our obsessions, pick which ones were our favorites (making sure to choose diplomatically, in case two girls picked the Justins and nobody picked the Lances), and replay particularly swoon-worthy scenes in our heads (i.e. “Remember that time Jonathan pretended to be a girl to get on the soccer team!?”). Only these boys weren’t the cootie-carrying classmates we went to school with; they were the dreamy, pretty, charismatic nice boys the likes of which could only be found in fantasy land. These were our movie crushes.
To kick-off this new column celebrating our collective childhood movie crushes, I’m taking it back to the first onscreen boy that ever made my heart beat with (innocent!) romantic palpitations. (Check out Jessica Barnes’ Michael Biehn post for a much more respectably nerdy first crush.) The year was 1992, his name was Michael Treanor, and he was one of the young stars of a major motion picture that had girls the world over swooning while simultaneously asking their parents to sign up for karate lessons: 3 Ninjas .
Filed under: Fandom , Home Entertainment , Stars in Rewind
Continue reading My Movie Crush: Michael Treanor in ‘3 Ninjas’
Permalink | Email this | Comments
http://www.cinematical.com/2010/02/08/my-movie-crush-michael-treanor-in-3-ninjas/
