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'Snow White' Adds Another Dark, Survival Story to Her Pile of Upcoming Adaptations

By Dawn Taylor (Subscribe to Dawn Taylor's posts), Posted Sep 29th 2010 1:06PM
Filed under: Movie News, Cinematical


The fairy tales wars are heating up. In addition to multiple Red Riding Hood films in the works, there's now a second Snow White picture on the table, which could go head-to-head against Brett Ratner's recently-announced project, as well as Disney's latest spin titled 'Snow and the Seven'. The insane box office generated by the 3-D 'Alice in Wonderland ' means that studios are looking to replicate that success and feed off certain public domain fairy tales, so alongside Disney's own 'Cinderella' and 'Sleeping Beauty' projects, other potential fairy tale movies are now making the rounds as well.

The Hollywood Reporter shares that a project called 'Snow White and the Huntsman' is hitting executive offices at the studios, looking for a home. Written by Evan Daugherty with Rupert Sanders, director of the upcoming 'The Low Dweller', it's reportedly hit up every studio except Disney, who already have their own Snow White movie in the pipe.

If you recall the original fairy tale, the Huntsman is the fellow who's ordered by the Queen to take Snow White into the woods and kill her. Instead, he takes pity on her and lets her live. This new re-imagining of the tale reportedly has him acting as a mentor, teaching Snow White how to survive -- which could be very interesting, especially if it involves bear traps and martial arts.

It reads like it will be a very gritty retake, considering the pedigree of the writer and the director. Daugherty's first script, titled "Shrapnel," has been picked up by John McTiernan to direct, and Sanders' background is in dark, atmospheric commercials (you can check out his work at his website)

So what do you think? Are you ready for the onslaught of fairy tale re-tellings? And how about an action-packed, kung fu Snow White?

'Newsies' Getting Its Own Broadway Musical

By Dawn Taylor (Subscribe to Dawn Taylor's posts), Posted Sep 22nd 2010 4:15PM
Filed under: Movie News, Cinematical
One thing that the folks at Disney do better than anyone else (with the possible exception of Steve Jobs) is to figure out ways to wring money out of their existing products. The latest property to be adapted as a new revenue source? The 1992 musical 'Newsies,' which brought us a singin', dancin' teenage Christian Bale, leading a labor strike by downtrodden newsboys at the turn of the last century.

'Newsies' was not a box-office success. In fact, it was a huge, expensive flop. Yet, Oscar-winning composer Alan Mencken ('Beauty and the Beast,' 'Aladdin') has confirmed that he's collaborating with Harvey Fierstein ('Torch Song Trilogy,' 'La Cage aud Folles') to update the musical for the Broadway stage. Menken co-wrote the original film's songs with lyricist Jack Feldman. (Check out a clip -- and an adorable, very young Bale -- after the jump.)
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Everything You Need to Know About 'The Hobbit' in 2 Minutes

By Dawn Taylor (Subscribe to Dawn Taylor's posts), Posted Sep 15th 2010 1:45PM
Filed under: Fandom, DIY/Filmmaking, Peter Jackson, Movie News, Cinematical
You know, I keep meaning to read 'The Hobbit.' People tell me that I should, and I pick it up occasionally to make that old college try, but other things keep me from it, like writing my dissertation about Eric Rohmer. Well, and those new episodes of 'Mad Men.' Okay, and arguing on message boards about plot inconsistencies in the 'Saw' movies. Plus, it's 320 pages long, and I'm sort of busy a lot of the time! (Okay, not really.)

Fortunately, 'The Hobbit' has now been condensed for you and me all 'Reader's Digest'-like, by the Brothers Grim and Grimy, who previously compacted Dante's 'Inferno' and 'Call of Cthulu' in a similar fashion.

It's a great primer for the in-the-works Peter Jackson film version of the book, giving you all the basics about the little dude who finds a magic ring, tries to pass himself off as a ninja from the future, fights giant spiders, and pisses off a dragon when he tries to steal a "totally pimp cup." And that's just the first half!

Really, I can't believe I never read this. It sounds awesome! The little dude abides. Watch the video after the jump.
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Seth Green's New 'Star Wars' Show: Dave Chapelle Meets 'Spongebob Squarepants'

By Dawn Taylor (Subscribe to Dawn Taylor's posts), Posted Sep 14th 2010 1:45PM
Filed under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Cinematical

Seth Green, who seems determined to carve out a niche for himself as a geek-god of nerd culture, recently spoke about the new 'Star Wars' TV series that he's creating with 'Robot Chicken' partner Matt Senreich. Stopped on the red carpet at the season premiere party for Cartoon Network's 'Clone Wars,' the pair offered a few tidbits designed to tweak the interest of fans of the beloved franchise.

Among the revelations: Green and Senreich are producing the whole first season of the show, then looking for distribution – and they won't be sharing anything with the public until they find a home for the project. Also, while the show had been previously compared, rather cryptically, by George Lucas to 'Spongebob Squarepants,' that seemed to befuddle Senreich when he was asked about it. "[W]hat kind of Spongebob are we talking about?," he responded. " Are we talking about the 4 year olds who watch it because it's goofy? Or the college age kids who watch it because it's hilarious?"

They, instead, described their project as "surreal" and Senreich called it "short form comedy":

Seth chimed in saying, "The best analogy I think is that it's Star Wars without the wars."

"But that's not entirely true, either," Matt corrected him.

"How about this, then. It's the funniest television since Lucille Ball?"

"Could be."

"Or maybe like... Jon Stewart on steroids mixed with Dave Chapelle?"

"I can see that."

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Sony and Disney Partnering on 3D Blu-ray for 'Alice in Wonderland'

By Dawn Taylor (Subscribe to Dawn Taylor's posts), Posted Sep 8th 2010 4:40PM
Filed under: Disney, Tech Stuff, Home Entertainment, Movie Marketing, Features, Movie News, Cinematical
Did you like Tim Burton's re-conflagrated 3-D Alice in Wonderland? Yes? No? Either way, you have to admit one thing -- it looked amazing. And it'll look even more amazing on Blu-ray.

As reported by Nikki Finke's Deadline blog, Walt Disney Studios has partnered with Sony to market their 3-D products, starting with Blu-ray releases of Disney's Alice and the animated comedy Bolt for the holiday season.

In flawless press-release speak, Disney's Lori MacPherson said, "We are excited to partner with Sony on 3D offerings and to offer consumers their first chance to experience one of 2010's top 3D films and the amazing spectacle of Wonderland in their very own homes."

Their innovative, comprehensive marketing concept is this -- if you buy a new 3D Bravia HDTV (retail price: $2,900-$4,699). you'll receive a copy of either Bolt or Alice in 3D (retail price: Somewhere aroung $50).

I suppose if you were planning to spend around $3,000 for a television anyway, it's a nice bonus to get a movie for free. Of course, if you have that kind of money to drop on a TV, there's something wrong with you if that's where you decide to save a few bucks.

So what do you think? Would a free Blu-ray disc tip you towards Sony's 3D television? Have you tried out the new 3D TVs and are they cool? Is starting your 3D library with a Disney film likely to make you think warm thoughts about the rest of their catalog? How effective a marketing ploy is this, anyway?

The Best Ways to Save Money on Entertainment

By Dawn Taylor (Subscribe to Dawn Taylor's posts), Posted Sep 1st 2010 6:02PM
Filed under: Newsstand, Home Entertainment, Features, Movie News, Cinematical
This may come as a surprise to you, but money's tight. I know! Why hasn't anyone mentioned this before? I'm as shocked as you are.

Okay, knee-jerk sarcasm aside, the financial gurus at Kiplinger's have put together a little slide-show presentation on ways that you and I can save a few of our precious entertainment dollars. Some are old news -- like last-minute "rush" tickets for live theater -- but most are just common sense stuff that we all should keep in mind.

For instance: Go to the library. Yes, they have books, but they also have DVDs. I recently told my hairstylist this, and it was news to him. Seriously -- I thought everyone knew that the library (and the entire library system, if you live in an area that allows inter-branch borrowing and online requests) is a ridiculously good resource for movies. They're free, people. Check it out.

Other tips: Keep an eye on discount days at your local theater. And trade babysitting nights with other parents, so you can save that extra money when you go out to the cineplex. Go to matinees! And, if you're a student, don't be shy about using your student ID for marked-down tickets.

Kiplinger also jumps on the Redbox bandwagon and tells you to skip the video store for their $1-per-night kiosks. In many cases, like if you want to watch a popular recent release, that's a good idea. But personally, I can't give up my local video rental store entirely -- Redbox has its advantages, but foreign films, classics and obscure horror aren't well stocked. Besides, I know people who own video stores, and they need your money.

You can check out the whole list of suggestions here. What are some ways you've managed to save on entertainment recently? Got any tips - leave them in the comments section.

Scenes We Love: Undercover Brother

By Dawn Taylor (Subscribe to Dawn Taylor's posts), Posted Sep 1st 2010 4:32PM
Filed under: Comedy, Scenes We Love, Cinematical
In 2002, most of us had no idea that Neil Patrick Harris was a comic genius. It had been five long years since the former Doogie Howser had surprised audiences with his creepy-clever turn in Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers -- five years in which Harris had taken guest appearances in made-for-TV movies and sitcoms, done one season in a little-seen comedy of his own opposite Tony Shalhoub (Stark Raving Mad, from producer Steven Levitan, creator of Modern Family), voiced cartoon characters, and made a name for himself on Broadway in productions of Sweeney Todd, Assassins, Proof and Cabaret.

While most people can recall Harris playing a deranged, drugged-up version of himself in 2004's Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, they may have well missed him in an earlier, equally surprising role in Undercover Brother. It would be another three years before How I Met Your Mother made him an A-list TV star, but the first faint glimmer of that career trajectory can be seen in these two films.
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