Moviefone News

George Lucas On 'Star Wars': 'When I Make The Slightest Change, Everybody Thinks It's The End Of The World'

Alex Suskind — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 19:04:53 EST

George Lucas knows you "Star Wars" fans are pissed at him. You don't need to remind him. However, that won't stop the director from defending the infamous changes he's made to the original trilogy. "Changes are not unusual -- I mean, most movies when they release them they make changes. But somehow, when I make the slightest change, everybody thinks it's the end of the world," Lucas told the Hollywood Reporter. Lucas, who's been doing interviews of late to promote both "Red Tails" and "The Phantom Menace 3D," even took the time to address one of the biggest "Star Wars" controversies ever: The Han-Shot-First dilemma. In "Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope," the audience is introduced to Han Solo at the Mos Eisley Cantina, where he runs into a bounty hunter named Greedo. The original version showed Han shooting first, but in the 1997 re-release, Lucas changed the scene to show that Greedo was the one who shot first (which made Han seem like much less of a rogue). Despite the uproar, George still stands by the decision.

"The controversy over who shot first, Greedo or Han Solo, in 'Episode IV,' what I did was try to clean up the confusion, but obviously it upset people because they wanted Solo [who seemed to be the one who shot first in the original] to be a cold-blooded killer, but he actually isn't. It had been done in all close-ups and it was confusing about who did what to whom. I put a little wider shot in there that made it clear that Greedo is the one who shot first, but everyone wanted to think that Han shot first, because they wanted to think that he actually just gunned him down."

Lucas' defense will likely do little to dissuade "Star Wars" fanatics who have it out for the filmmaker. In fact, George's next quote will probably enrage them further: "If you look at 'Blade Runner,' it's been cut sixteen ways from Sunday and there are all kinds of different versions of it. 'Star Wars,' there's basically one version -- it just keeps getting improved a little bit as we move forward." Lucas goes on to discuss the changes he made to Yoda in "The Phantom Menace," along with his thoughts on "Hugo" and SOPA. You can read the entire interview over on THR. If you're interested in reliving the "Episode 1" experience (or, for some, inflicting pain on yourselves), you can check out "The Phantom Menace 3D" in theaters this weekend. [via THR]

'Spring Awakening' Movie: Lea Michele Sought For Lead Role

Christopher Rosen — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 17:13:58 EST

Remember three years ago when McG -- the man behind "Charlie's Angels" and next week's "This Means War" -- became attached to a big-screen version of the Broadway hit "Spring Awakening"? Well, apparently it's still happening, and he's got an idea about who should star. "We're talking to Lea Michele because she made the role of Wendla famous and we'll see if that pans out and works with the timing of her schedule on ['Glee']," he told E! Online. The 25-year-old "Glee" star originated Wendla on Broadway in 2006, and received a Drama Desk Award nomination for her efforts. "Awakening" -- a rock musical adaptation of the 1892 German play -- is about a group of teenagers discovering sex for the first time. The play was controversial at the time because of its depictions of teenage sex, as well as homosexuality, rape and suicide. "It's very similar to the [stage] production," McG said, when asked about the big-screen version. "We're probably going to shoot it in Eastern Europe and it's a very true adaptation of what it is with a little Baz Luhrman thrown in." Michele was rumored for the role of Eponine in Tom Hooper's upcoming adaptation of "Les Miserables," but it eventually went to stage actress Samantha Barks. You can currently see her on "Glee," where she plays Rachel Berry. Watch Michele perform "Mama Who Bore Me" from "Spring Awakening" above. [via E!]

'The Vow,' 'Safe House,' 'Journey 2,' 'The Phantom Menace': New Releases This Weekend

Christopher Rosen — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 16:24:33 EST

The weekend before Valentine's Day means one thing: TONS of new releases. From romance ("The Vow") to action ("Safe House") to nostalgia ("The Phantom Menace"), all four quadrants will be served this weekend. Which film will emerge victorious? Let's investigate together! NATIONWIDE RELEASES "The Vow" What's the story: A happily married couple (Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum) have their world torn apart following a car accident that leaves the wife with severe memory loss, forcing the husband to try his hardest to win back her heart. Box office projection: Sky's the limit on this one -- especially because it looks like a cross between "The Notebook" and "Dear John," this despite the fact that Nicholas Sparks isn't involved. "Between the ages of 12 and 16, girls don't go to a movie alone," said a Sony source to Vulture earlier on Thursday. "They bring seven of their friends, and if they like it at all, they go more than once. So when people mistake it for a Nicholas Sparks movie, all I can think is, ‘Fuck, yeah!'” Tracking is off the charts here, McAdams and Tatum are romcom veterans, and the trailer features Taylor Swift. Expect bank. $39.2 million [SHOWTIMES & TICKETS] "Safe House" What's the story: A young CIA agent (Ryan Reynolds) operating a safe house in South Africa winds up going on the run with a rogue agent named Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington). Action, action and more action ensue. Box office projection: Following a summer of disappointment with "Green Lantern" and "The Change-Up," Ryan Reynolds could use a sure thing. It's good, then, that he teamed up with Denzel Washington for "Safe House." Since 2000, only one wide-release Washington-led film failed to open with more than $20 million ("Deja Vu," which hit $16 million on opening weekend). Translation: expect "Safe House" to hit somewhere between $20 and $30 million, and for Reynolds to breath a sigh of relief. $25.1 million [SHOWTIMES & TICKETS] "Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace" What's the story: You loved it the first time (probably), then hated it: "The Phantom Menace," y'all! Now in 3D. Box office projection: While there doesn't seem to be a lot of pent-up gottaseeit surrounding the re-release of "The Phantom Menace," it's still a "Star Wars" property and still in 3D. Fans -- even haters -- will want to see the film in its souped-up glory. That doesn't mean they still won't hate Jar Jar Binks, however. $17.5 million [SHOWTIMES & TICKETS] "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" What's the story: A sorta sequel, sorta reboot of "Journey to the Center of the Earth," Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Josh Hutcherson star in "Journey 2," a 3D spectacle about finding the lost continent of Atlantis. Box office projection: Despite 3D and The Rock, "Journey 2" feels like the weakest of this weekend's four new wide releases. That doesn't mean it'll be a washout -- and never underestimate the drawing power of The Rock -- but don't be surprised to see it finish in fourth place. $13.3 million [SHOWTIMES & TICKETS] LIMITED RELEASES Woody Harrelson opens "Rampart" in five theaters, while the Oscar-nominated animated film "Chico & Rita" also gets released.

Awards Show Challenge: Best Sound Mix

Eric Larnick — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 15:16:02 EST

On Sunday February 26, the biggest stars in Hollywood gather to bestow Oscars on the best movies of the year. With Billy Crystal hosting the festivities once again, movie fans will be watching how many Academy Awards are racked up by "The Help," "Hugo" and more. And since we won't know who wins the big gold until that 8pm ET start-time on February 26, this is your chance to test your award show expertise. Every weekday between now and February 24, we'll post new questions about what will happen on Hollywood's big night. (Right there on the right side of your screen) Submit your best guesses and you'll automatically be eligible for a daily prize of two free movie tickets. The grand prize -- a YEAR'S worth of free movie tickets -- will be awarded to a user with the most correct predictions. Want to Win Free Movie Tickets For a Year? Keep Playing Awards Show Challenges Click here for rules.

Ridley Scott On Possibly Reuniting With Harrison Ford For 'Blade Runner' Follow-Up: 'Nothing Would Please Me More'

Christopher Rosen — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 15:15:09 EST

Let director Ridley Scott clear up those rumors about Harrison Ford potentially coming back for the follow-up to "Blade Runner." "Don't know yet. Don't know yet," Scott told EW.com when asked about Ford's possible involvement. "I'm not sure that that's going to be a story point, so I don't know. But if it were, nothing would please me more. Honestly." So you're telling us there's a chance? Of course, before Ford could even get involved in the next chapter of "Blade Runner," Scott would have to figure out whether it was a prequel or a sequel -- something he has yet to do. Scott's non-denial of the Ford story is in stark contrast to what Alcon Entertainment president Andrew Kosove said in a recent interview: "It is absolutely patently false that there has been any discussion about Harrison Ford being in 'Blade Runner.'" Once Scott and Alcon get on the same page, you can probably expect some forward progress on the project. Until then, just stay excited for "Prometheus," a Ridley Scott maybe-prequel film that actually exists. [via EW]

Wes Anderson Ja Rule Mash-Up: 'The Royal Tenenbaums' And More Get Mixed (VIDEO)

Alex Suskind — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 14:41:54 EST

Bless you, Internet, for bringing everyone the video mash-up that hip-hop and Wes Anderson fans have been waiting for. Introducing Every Wes Anderson Slow-Shot, Set to Ja Rule. (A clip that's sure to confuse hipsters by thinking, "Should I like this ironically or not at all?") Anderson's films are best known for -- among other things -- featuring slow-motion shots set to unquestionably cool/catchy songs. (In "The Royal Tenenbaums," Gwyneth Paltrow arrives via Green Line bus as Nico's "These Days" plays in the background; "The Darjeeling Limited" has the three Whitman brothers walking to the tune of "Strangers" by the Kinks.) So, what glorious Ja Rule cuts have Slacktory.com subbed in for this clip? Check out the list below. "The Royal Tenenbaums" / "Down Ass Bitch" and "Suicide Freestyle" "The Darjeeling Limited" / "Me," "Race Against Time" and "Thug Lovin'" "The Life Aquatic" / "Daddy's Little Baby" "Bottle Rocket" / "Father Forgive Me" "Rushmore" / "Rock Star," "Can I Get A ..." and "Mesmerize" Fingers crossed that a Tarantino / 50 Cent mashup is in the works.

Vanessa Hudgens On 'Journey 2,' Breaking Out Of The 'High School Musical' Shell And Her 'Robot Chicken' Cameo

Alex Suskind — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:57:28 EST

The first thing you notice about Vanessa Hudgens during interviews is her expert media training. Not that you should be surprised. Hudgens started acting at the age of 15, became a Disney mega-star after appearing in three "High School Musical" films, and is part of the never-ending tabloid rumor mill (particularly after a nude photo scandal back in 2007). As a result, she often stays on point when talking to the press. However, during our conversation, Hudgens spoke about some of the things she's not typically known for: voicing a character on the raunchy Adult Swim show "Robot Chicken," participating in a Funny or Die video about cats, and taking a very un-Hudgens-like role as a pregnant teen in the upcoming film "Gimme Shelter." Granted, that doesn't mean she has given up fun movies for good. In her latest project, "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," which hits theaters this Friday, she travels to a lost island where her and co-stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Josh Hutcherson and Michael Caine stumble upon Atlantis, flying bees and Captain Nemo's Nautilus from Jules Verne lore. Moviefone spoke to Vanessa about "Journey 2," Adult Swim and her love of "The Neverending Story." For "Journey 2," it's cool to see a Jules Verne story being presented to an entirely new generation of kids. Did you read "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" when you were younger? I didn't, no. I knew about "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and thought the idea was really interesting. It definitely ignited the imagination, but I didn't know that much about Jules Verne. Actually my dad was the one who was extremely excited when he heard that they were making [a movie based on Verne's] "The Mysterious Island." He sent me a long text message [telling me] how I needed to go out and get it. I am sure he was happy you got to crawl through Captain Nemo's makeshift gravesite. I know! It was awesome. So epic. My screening was interesting because there was actually a school trip in the theater, and they were very much along for the ride -- cheering, laughing. Were there any movies that did that for you as a kid? Oh, absolutely. I always used to watch "Labyrinth" and "The Neverending Story." Those were like my two favorite movies that I would watch over and over and over again. The sets in this movie are very ambitious -- Captain Nemo's Nautilus, Atlantis, the gravesite. How much of that was green screen? They built a lot of the sets. A lot of it was Hawaii, so we'd be out in the jungle touching the mud, which I actually love; it was so much fun for me. Some of it would be stages, Captain Nemo's tomb was a built stage. Some of the stages were incredible. The Atlantis set, which they built in the middle of Hawaii -- how, I have know idea -- I was very impressed [with]. So it depended on the scene. The bee chase was all on a green screen. But it was fun to mix it up. I was just stunned every day. I would see previews that our director had made beforehand; we got an idea of what things were going to look like. But nothing can prepare you for our version of Atlantis in the middle of the jungle. Switching gears, you have 'Gimme Shelter' coming up soon, where you play a pregnant teenager who runs away from home. Do you find that you still get typecast into the rolls you are more famous for, like "High School Musical," even though you may not be looking for that particular type of character? [The lighter films] are definitely the projects that come along a lot easier. But I feel like doing such different things [and] I am not afraid to go the extra mile and dive into a character. I think word is starting to get out there. The parts that I've been doing recently are completely different, and I've been given the opportunity to do them, so I am very thankful. When that first photo of you came out for "Gimme Shelter," there seemed to be a very positive reaction to it. Yea! It was awesome. I think cutting my hair off shocked everybody -- even myself. See, I have been waiting for you to do more comedy. I was looking at your IMDb page and saw that you had a guest spot on "Robot Chicken." How did that come about? My boyfriend at the time had done an episode, and I had run into Seth [Green, the show's creator] a bunch of times here and there, and we really hit it off. And I am such a big fan of the show, so he invited me on. It was just fun. Like, why not? [The show] is very communal. Do you watch any of the other Adult Swim shows? Yes! I haven't been watching a ton of TV recently, but I used to watch "Robot Chicken" all the time. I just love it, because it's so silly and ridiculous and raunchy, and it's stop-motion animation so they get away with so much. Then you also recently did the Funny or Die video, "Cool Baby, Lame Baby." How did you get involved with that? I just met with Funny or Die and just threw around a few ideas. I was just trying different things. OK, so comedy, musicals, drama; you just did a one-off performance of "Rent," on stage in Los Angeles. Are you interested in doing more stage work? I love doing theater. That's where my home is. If the opportunity came up to do an original or do something with a great director, and the timing is right, then I would totally be on board. But right now I am focusing on film.

Jean Dujardin Funny Or Die Video: 'Artist' Star Cast As Every Villain (VIDEO)

Christopher Rosen — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:13:22 EST

While Hollywood waits to see if Jean Dujardin has what it takes to become a star here in America, the Best Actor frontrunner has apparently taken fate into his own hands. The "Artist" star teamed with Funny or Die for a new video that pokes fun at what roles wait for him in the future -- at least if the careers of other imports like Michael Nyqvist and Mathieu Amalric are any indication. In the clip, Dujardin -- a star on par with George Clooney in his native France and a gifted comic performer -- auditions to play the villain in many, many, many Hollywood productions, from "Sherlock Holmes 3" to "Bridesmaids 2." "None of you gets a bouquet," he sneers in his adorable French accent. Forget Kristen Wiig; let's cast Dujardin in the "Bridesmaids" sequel and get on with it already. Watch above.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone Meet At Hospital For Shoulder Surgeries (PHOTO)

Christopher Rosen — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 12:28:19 EST

Just when you thought the Internet couldn't get any better, Arnold Schwarzengger goes and tweets a photo of himself and Sylvester Stallone at the hospital getting shoulder surgeries. "After all the action, stunts & physical abuse shooting 'The Expendables 2' and 'The Last Stand,' it was time for a little tune up on my shoulder," Schwarzengger wrote on Twitter. "Look who was coincidentally waiting in line behind me for his shoulder surgery. Now we're ready for another round of great times and action when we shoot 'The Tomb.'" The former California governor ended his tweet with the hashtag "#greattobeback." Arnold (who turns 65 in July) and Stallone (who turns 66 during the same month), will next team for the aforementioned film "The Tomb," an action thriller about a master prison architect (Stallone), who must escape from one of his creations with the help of a wily inmate (Schwarzenegger). That's great and all, but OMG WILL YOU JUST LOOK AT THIS PICTURE ALREADY!

Phantom Menace Reissue Nostalgia: 13 Writers Remember Their First Date With Jar Jar

Mike Ryan — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 12:20:26 EST

What a difference 13 years makes. This weekend, Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace is being re-released in theaters, this time with an added third dimension, and not many seem to care. Contrast that to what happened in 1999, when the original release was caught up in a sixteen-year storm of hype. To help excavate our suppressed collective memories, Moviefone asked 13 writers -- including one who was there with George Lucas at the premiere at Skywalker Ranch -- to take us back to what we all thought was going to be a very glorious day. Kurt Loder, Movie Critic, Reason Online Who could forget their first exposure to The Phantom Menace? For a talented man, Lucas has a minimal flair for gripping dialogue ("Hold me like you did by the lake on Naboo"), nifty plot devices (a galactic tax dispute?), colorful character names (Nute Gunray? Shmi Skywalker?), or, Lord knows, comic embellishment (Jar Jar Binks!). There's also the matter of little Jake Lloyd, the brevity of whose subsequent career -- one more movie and out -- strongly suggests the existence of a just and vengeful God. I don't recall any mass longing for a Star Wars prequel before Lucas made this thing. Can there really be one to see it again, in super-cool 3D? No, wait -- don't tell me. Rider Strong, Director, Actor Phantom Menace was my rite of passage. I was "lucky" enough to see it early. MTV was hosting an advance screening at Lucas Ranch, and since I was on a TV show at the time, my brother and I were invited. This was the greatest thing to ever happen to me. It was our Call to Adventure. A limo picked us up. But for us, it was more than a limo: it was a gleaming white ship, there to carry us into a glorious future. One in which burning questions that had lingered since our childhood would surely be answered (Who was Anakin Skywalker? What were the Clone Wars? How do you make the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs?), one in which new landscapes and species would unfurl before us and inspire our imagination ... We were so young. Immediately, everything was wrong. Our driver got lost. We arrived late, after the movie had started. We scrambled into the theater in darkness, like Luke entering the cave on Dagobah. And as we raised our faces to the screen, I thought, we must have walked into the wrong theater -- this is a parody of a Star Wars film, isn't it? It was then that we felt the strange, numbing loss of our childhood. And Jar Jar laughed. In a daze, we actually spoke to George Lucas afterwards, which ranks up there with the most awkward post-screening experiences of my life. We kept it neutral: "That was really ... something." Then we heard him say the chilling words, "I don't think I can let anyone else direct the next two films." It was over. There was no going back. We went into that theater mere children. We emerged men. Aware that we could no longer count on an earlier generation to entertain us. It was up to us to find new filmmakers, and yes, somehow, some way, to make better movies ourselves. Sean Fennessey, Editor, GQ.com I saw it alone, two weeks after it opened for the same reason I don't watch ball games in bars: I hate crowds and I love to obsess. I wanted to be unencumbered, experience the origin story as a child might. No influence, isolated, allowing the chance for wonder. And it worked, sort of. I specifically recall, in this order, enjoying it; thinking Jar Jar was racist, and perhaps the epitome of Lucas's weird, latent race problems; having my breath stolen during the pod race; thinking Darth Maul was devoid of motivation; and wishing Liam Neeson was my Dad (some things change, others not so much). Funny thing: Natalie Portman didn't register at all, just three years after becoming the Most Important Teenage Girl Ever in The Professional/Beautiful Girls. I was 16, so those seem fairly perceptive thoughts. On the other hand, I went back and saw it again twice more in theaters. Dan Kois, Senior Editor, Slate I saw it at the Uptown, the giant-screened theater in Washington DC. I remember being pissed off because I was not a big enough Star Wars fan to wait in line for the prequel, yet there I was, forced by the sheer giganticness of this event to wait in line for like an hour just to get a halfway decent seat. I am not lying when I say I remember zilch about the movie itself. I think it was too early for everyone to have an opinion about Jar Jar or the kid or anything, so I think I just thought, Well, that was fine. I didn't know my entire generation was getting angry. Meredith Woerner, Senior Reporter, io9 Emotionally flattened after my high school crush called Han Solo "stupid" at the theatrical re-release of The Empire Strikes Back, I was determined that my next Star Wars screening wouldn't end with me furiously stewing in my own tears. Two years later, after multiple failed attempts to win my friends over ("Who wants to start a Cantina Band?!"), The Phantom Menace finally arrived. After a few desperate pleas and promises of endless white-cherry slushies, I'd persuaded my best friend Katie Harrington to ditch class and catch a matinee. Despite the fact that she would only address this new chapter in sci-fi filmmaking as "that movie about the guy with the red face," I promised that the origin story of the world's most feared villain would entertain and amaze! This was my chance. Together George Lucas and I would bridge the gap between my friends and my inner nerd. There was no doubt that Darth Vader's secret history would charm my friends, leading to late night Leia bun-braiding sessions. First I would turn Katie, and her joy would infect the others. Spreading throughout our high school like a virus. And then I would be their God, because I saw it first. I strutted into the theater, drunk with promise and righteous in my faith in the Force. We drove home in silence. The first thing I can remember saying was "Well ... it looked cool." The droid army was absolutely intimidating. Yoda didn't look like a pile of spoiled lunchmeat. And it certainly wasn't weird that Samuel L. Jackson was on the Jedi council ... at all. I had developed Stockholm Syndrome -- I'd become a full-fledged Lucas apologist. "No, that was just bad. Really bad." Kate paused, "And you're not allowed to pick out any movies anymore." Will Leitch, Contributing Editor, New York Like everyone else, I was so excited to see The Phantom Menace -- egged on in part by the public boosting of Kevin Smith, someone else I was dumbly a much bigger fan of 1999 than I am now -- that I read up on everything I could about the movie before I saw it. I've never quite figured out whether or not that was a mistake. Would I have hated it as much had I not been clued in of the Jar Jar horrors, or the "wait, who cares?" Baby Vader plotlines, those wretched midichlorians ... if I had gone on with my fanboy blinkers still on? Was I cued up to hate them? I might have been. Or maybe they're just so objectively horrible that it wouldn't have mattered. But I walked into that theater knowing how disappointed I was about to be. (OK, fine: The pod race has two non-awful moments, and Darth Maul has his one good scene. But otherwise: Yelch.) So, I try not to know anymore. I know I'm not alone in feeling like that movie took part of my childhood away. As I near 40, I'm still, stupidly, angry about it. Erik Davis, Editor, Movies.com The Phantom Menace hit theaters while I was in college, somewhere between my senior and super-senior year, at a time when I was struggling to commit to adulthood while all my friends graduated and began their lives by interning as future alcoholics. It was a 2pm screening, and of course I skipped class, but everyone skipped something the day this film came out just because you had to. I didn't obsessively follow every square inch of the making of The Phantom Menace, so they really sold me on the trailers. Even the posters gave me chills. Growing up a Star Wars nerd with all the action figures and junk, this wasn't just another movie to go see with my buddies - it was a long-awaited sequel to a movie franchise that changed my childhood. And then the movie happened. I didn't hate The Phantom Menace after that first viewing, but I didn't love it. It didn't blow me away, it didn't alter the way I watch movies, it didn't seduce me with its characters or universe, and I didn't long to see Natalie Portman hook up with a 10-year-old whiny, moppy-haired kid. Jar Jar Binks was annoying and unnecessary, and the political chatter was a bore. But I dug Darth Maul. Everyone did. Darth Maul was -- and still is -- the greatest thing about Episode I. He's scary and menacing, and you're frightened by him. The dude rocks a duel lightsaber, which totally kicked my world's ass when I first witnessed the ferociously-paced fight scene between Maul, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon -- perhaps the film's greatest sequence -- and one of the best Star Wars lightsaber battles the series has to offer. I guess I walked away with mixed feelings. It felt familiar, yet distant. I wanted more, but I didn't. If it achieved anything, watching this film really put me in touch with that tug-of-war between becoming an adult and remaining a naïve kid who wants to sleep with his toy Millennium Falcon. It wasn't that Lucas made a bad film, it was that he didn't make me feel 10 years old again. But maybe that wasn't his objective. When Lucas made the original Star Wars movies, he made them for the 10-year-old inside of him. With the prequels, he made them for the 10-year-old standing next to you at Toys "R" Us. Mark Graham, Managing Editor, VH1 Growing up, I was never what you would describe as a raging Star Wars geek (although, I will admit that getting an AT-AT for Christmas in 1980 is undeniably one of my fondest memories of childhood). Still, I remember a palpable sense of excitement coursing through my veins when my brother and I went to a movie theater in the northern suburbs of Detroit in the summer of '99 for an opening night showing of The Phantom Menace. Sadly, that sense memory is trumped by the crushing weight of disappointment that washed over me as I sat dumbfounded in the theater as Liam Neeson prattled on about midichlorians to Jake Lloyd. This scene, more than anything Jar Jar related, is what really killed my enthusiasm for the Star Wars series. In the first three films, The Force was presented as this cool, mystical, spiritual thing that enveloped us all; it was something that everyone in the universe could tap into, whether you lived on Tatooine or in Rochester, MI. For reasons that are still indefensible, Lucas felt the need in The Phantom Menace to turn The Force into something that exists first and foremost in the biological realm, which was both boring from an expositional perspective and, speaking of my personal emotional reaction to this reveal, kind of soul-crushing. Lucas lost me, as a fan, in that scene, and although I did end up seeing both Episode II and Episode III in the theater -- I'm a completist, what can I say? -- I have never revisited any of the six films in the series outside of the theater environment since. And I never will. Erin McCarthy, Associate Editor, Popular Mechanics I saw The Phantom Menace on a field trip with my 10th-grade English class. Why did my teacher want us to watch a Star Wars film for class? I can't remember -- presumably it had something to do with a book we were reading, maybe A Separate Peace -- but at the time I didn't care, because it was pretty awesome to leave school to see a movie. And if not for that field trip, I might not have seen The Phantom Menace. Because although I had seen the other films and had a totally sweet Star Wars mattress (not a sheet set, a MATTRESS) at my dad's growing up, by 16 I was more interested in films starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Anyway, my recollections of the movie itself are vague, but I remember finding little Anakin annoying, though I liked the pod race. I hated stupid, nonsensical, weird-looking Jar Jar. I was obsessed with Natalie Portman's crazy face paint and costumes, and I found the big battles to be quite fun. My favorite, though, was the fight between Qui-Gon Jin and Darth Maul. It was AWESOME. In the end, I think my overall reaction was favorable. Not because the movie was any good, but because I got out of school to see it, and because my teacher used (a botched version of) Yoda's excellent quote -- "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. I sense much fear in you" -- in a softball question on our final exam. I aced it, and I haven't seen The Phantom Menace since. And I'm totally OK with that. Eric Gillin, Director, Hearst Digital Media Men's Network My thoughts, in order that they came: 1.) Those "plot" segments I always skipped in videogames sure reached puberty in a hurry. 2.) When George Lucas looks at actors, I bet he sees action figures instead of people. 3.) Natalie Portman does a very serviceable Carrie Fisher impersonation. 4.) Quandary: if these CGI aliens seem like obvious racial stereotypes, am I racist for thinking that or are the people who created them in the first place racist? 5.) If you look closely, I'm pretty sure you can see the shipping containers filling up with Anakin Skywalker Pod Race Playsets in the actual movie. 6.) Liam Neeson sure gives you his money's worth, even if the film sucks. 7.) A double-headed light saber! Coooool. 8.) Sad, but as the years pass, millions of people will prefer this Star Wars to the older version, if only because this is the one they saw first. 9.) Episode I was a soulless piece of corporate shillery passed off as mindless entertainment to sell total crap. It's an artistic insult to Episode IV, which accidentally produced the metal lunchbox, bedsheets, thermos, coloring books, action figures, hand puppets, and breakfast cereals I had as a kid. Matt Singer, Film Critic, IFC and Time Out The strongest memory I have of Phantom Menace is not of the film itself but of the craze for its action figures, which everyone was convinced were going to be worth a fortune someday, like the original Kenner action figures of the 1970s. The summer after Phantom Menace opened, I was working in a comic book store in New Jersey, where I was about as popular with the ladies as Jar Jar was with the fanboys. One day, another employee ran into the store in a state of giddy excitement -- the local JC Penny's, of all places, had gotten their hands on the supposedly rare 12-inch Darth Maul doll. Several of us ran back with him to buy these invaluable items, confident in the fact that we had just bought ourselves the sweetest-looking retirement fund a nerd could want. Current asking price of that figure on eBay? $10. Current number of bids? 0. Matt Patches, Movies Editor, Hollywood.com I was a young nerd in his early teens when The Phantom Menace finally hit theaters, but even then, it felt like I'd been following its evolution from myth to actual movie for eons. Every bit of photographic evidence that made its way in front of my eyes added fuel to my burning desire to see the movie. When the pictures eventually came to life? When I was actually watching pod racing, outer space dogfights and lightsaber battles in motion? I flipped, obviously. The Phantom Menace made about as much narrative sense to me as a Stan Brakhage film, but the movie felt like an undiluted injection of imagination. I enjoyed the heck out of it (and I still kind of do) for the reasons people loathe it -- TPM is a live-action cartoon. "Unfaithful" to the original trilogy? Maybe, but not even the unexpectedly lame goofball antics of Jar Jar Binks (which even irked youthful me) could take away from watching a new Star Wars unfold on the big screen. S.T. VanAirsdale, Editor, Movieline My first reaction was to never see it. Mike Ryan is the senior writer for Moviefone. He has written for Wired Magazine, VanityFair.com, GQ.com, New York Magazine and Movieline. He likes Star Wars a lot. You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter

Awards Show Challenge: Best Sound Editing

Eric Larnick — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 11:00:18 EST

Bill Murray Golfs At Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Steals The Show (PHOTOS)

Jordan Zakarin — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 10:13:38 EST

It has been over thirty years since he featured as Carl Spackler in "Caddyshack," but Bill Murray still knows how to be a star on the golf course. Murray, equal parts avid golfer and theatrical spectacle on the links, returns this week to the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the annual star-studded tournament featuring the top names in golf and entertainment swinging clubs side-by-side. Always one of the biggest draws, the Oscar-nominated actor won last year's tournament with partner DA Points and his face plastered all over this year's event, including on the tickets. Points, whose share of the victory marked his first PGA tournament win, was taken aback when he became aware of all the Murray-centric hoopla. "I got the program, and I looked at the tickets, and I thought: 'Wait a minute. Didn't I win?'" Points told reporters on Tuesday (via the New York Times). "There are pictures of Bill everywhere. I'm like driving down the highway, I see a billboard, and there is Bill. There is Tiger [Woods]. I'm like, 'Where am I?'" He was reportedly smiling as he spoke, but that didn't mean he was being entirely facetious. "Honestly, it's a little disheartening because it was my first win (on the PGA Tour) and I've been around a while," he said [via the San Jose Mercury News]. "But the celebrities obviously make this a larger-than-life event sometimes. Yeah, I'm a little bummed I didn't get a picture somewhere, but at the same time, Bill also won (the Pro-Am), but he's been coming here a long time and is a well-deserving champion." Unfortunately for Points, it doesn't sound like it's going to get much better; Woods is drawing attention for his partnership with Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Tony Romo, while Murray, who is partnering this year with rocker Darius Rucker (yes, formerly of Hootie and the Blowfish), has consolidated the support of the celebrity contingent at the event. "No, we aren't going after [Murray]. We have to stick together," comedian George Lopez told the Miami Herald on Wednesday. "It's much better when a celebrity wins rather than a Fortune 500 guy. It's the slobs versus the snobs." PHOTOS:

'Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World' Poster: Count The Ways Keira Knightley Is A Future Manic Pixie Dream Girl

Christopher Rosen — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 10:11:01 EST

There are at least 10 reasons to be extremely excited for "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World," the upcoming disaster-themed romantic dramedy scheduled for release this June. It stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley, features a supporting cast comprised of Patton Oswalt, Connie Britton, Adam Brody, Gillian Jacobs, Rob Corddry and Melanie Lynskey (you love them!), and is written and directed by Lorene Scarfaria, the Fempire member behind "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist." Then there's the plot, which sounds like "Melancholia" by way of Judd Apatow: as an asteroid heads toward Earth, a recently-dumped man (Carell) goes looking for his high school sweetheart with his young neighbor (Knightley) in tow. "[E]ven though it's about the end of the world, it's weirdly one of the most optimistic films I've ever been a part of," Knightley told Moviefone earlier this year. "It's a life-affirming piece. That's the thing, you make films about the end, and what they become about is what's important in life, and therefore they become about life itself as opposed to death, which is quite interesting. Hopefully, it's an optimistic one." Sounds great! If only the poster made it look like that movie, instead of the latest in a long line of films focusing on bummed dudes being saved by Manic Pixie Dream Girls. To wit: 1. Knightley's "quirky" hair. 2. And is she wearing a pink sun dress? 3. With a military jacket? 4. Also, she's holding vinyl records. 5. Of course she has a pair of Converse. 6. Meanwhile, Carell is dressed like a dork. 7. With a cute dog. 8. And a sad-sack look on his face. 9. He probably likes the "Garden State" soundtrack. "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World," which should still be awesome -- but could use a new poster -- arrives in theaters on June 22. PHOTO: [via Yahoo!]

Strangest Movie Duos: Harrison Ford, Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, And More (PHOTOS)

Alex Suskind — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 09:19:57 EST

This weekend, "Safe House" -- starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds -- opens in theaters. This may seem strange for those familiar with each star. After all, Washington, an Oscar winner, has been in films such as "Training Day," "Malcolm X" and "Glory," whereas People's Choice Award-winner Reynolds has starred in "The Green Lantern," "Van Wilder" and "Blade: Trinity." Obviously, "Safe House" is not the first movie to tinker with the "opposites attract" method. Putting two random actors together in front of a camera is a quick way to guarantee either big box office numbers ("Rush Hour") or one giant flop of a film ("Hollywood Homicide"). In honor of the Ryan-Denzel connection, Moviefone presents the Strangest Movie Duos in action films.* *We included action-comedy in there, because no one does "strange movie duo" like an action-comedy. PHOTOS:

'Reservoir Dogs': Jason Reitman Sets Stage Reading Of Tarantino Classic With All Black Cast

Alex Suskind — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 08:55:54 EST

After holding stage readings of "Shampoo" (with Bradley Cooper, Kate Hudson and Olivia Wilde), "The Apartment" (with Steve Carell and Natalie Portman) and "Princess Bride" (with Paul Rudd and Mindy Kaling), director Jason Reitman may have stumbled upon his best idea yet: A recreation of "Reservoir Dogs" with an all-black cast. "If we were going to make it an all-black cast, we wanted to make sure we started with an all-white cast," Reitman told EW. "What makes the 'Reservoir Dogs' script work so well is, despite the fact that it was cast with all white actors, it really is a script that could feature any race." So, who has Reitman recruited to play the iconic roles? Terrence Howard will take over ear=slicing duties for Michael Madsen as the loose cannon Mr. Blonde; Howard's "Red Tails" co-star Cuba Gooding Jr. tackles Tim Roth's undercover police officer, Mr. Orange; Anthony Mackie from "The Hurt Locker" is set for Steve Buscemi's Mr. Pink; and Anthony Anderson will play Chris Penn's character, Nice Guy Eddie. (Actually, screw a stage reading; let's make a movie of this!) However, there are a few parts that still need actors. Here are a few suggestions that Reitman should seriously consider:

Laurence Fishburne as Harvey Keitel's Mr. White
Donald Glover as Quentin Tarantino's Mr. Brown (can't wait for the 'Like a Virgin' discussion)
Michael B. Jordan ("Chronicle") as Kirk Baltz's Officer Marvin Nash
James Earl Jones as Lawrence Tierney's Joe Cabot
Morgan Freeman as Steven Wright's K-Billy DJ -- Super Sounds of the '70s

The stage reading is set to happen on Feb. 16 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Sorry folks, tickets are already sold out. For more information on the series, Film Independent and LACMA, click here. [via EW]

'Caught In Flight': Naomi Watts To Play Princess Diana In New Film

Christopher Rosen — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 08:07:00 EST

Apparently Jessica Chastain can't star in every movie. Late in 2011, Thompson on Hollywood reported that Chastain was attached to star in "Caught in Flight," a new drama about the last two years of Princess Diana's life. "There's some talks about that," Chastain told E! on the red carpet of the Golden Globes in January, "but next I'm going to Kathryn Bigelow's new film." About that: Ecosse Films has announced that Naomi Watts, not Chastain, will star as the late princess in "Flight," with production scheduled to begin shooting later this year. "It is such an honor to be able to play this iconic role -- Princess Diana was loved across the world and I look forward to rising to the challenge of playing her on screen," Watts said in a statement. When it was first discussed last year, "Flight" -- which comes from "Downfall" director Oliver Hirschbiegel -- was set to focus on Diana's long-time love affair with Dr. Hasnat Kahn, the "love of her life." There's no mention of Kahn in the new reports, however "Caught in Flight" will apparently show "how finding true personal happiness for the first time allowed [Princess Di] to evolve into a major international campaigner and humanitarian." As for Chastain, this is hardly a setback: the Oscar-nominated actress is set to co-star in Bigelow's untitled drama about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, and was recently cast with Joel Edgerton in "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby," an ambitious project that tells the story of a relationship, from both its sides, over the course of two films. She's also planning to lead "The Heiress" on Broadway. Watts was last seen playing J. Edgar Hoover's faithful secretary in "J. Edgar." [via Variety]