Alan Rapp

…and the Bad News

Paul Gleason who will forever be remembered for his role as Principal Richard Vernon in the classic 80’s film The Breakfast Club passed away on Saturday of lung cancer.  He was 67.  Although most known for The Breakfast Club Gleason appeared in more than 60 films and even more television shows ranging from Dawson’s Creek, Seinfeld, Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence, and Die Hard. 

Also in sad, and extremely odd, news DC Comics has announced the dusting off and relaunching of Batwoman.  Batwoman?!  The character last seen almost three decades ago (when she died!) will return as a 52 year-old lesbian socialite involved with former Gotham Police Detective Renee Montoya in DC’s new “52” line which takes place a world where major heroes of the DC Universe are no longer active.  This isn’t the only DC character to get a radical new millennium make-over including the Blue Beetle as a Mexican teenager, Firestorm as African-American, and the Atom as Asian (wow, an Asian scientist, wonder who came up with that in no way politically incorrect stereotype).  Hoo-ray diversity.

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Paul Gleason who will forever be remembered for his role as Principal Richard Vernon in the classic 80’s film The Breakfast Club passed away on Saturday of lung cancer.  He was 67.  Although most known for The Breakfast Club Gleason appeared in more than 60 films and even more television shows ranging from Dawson’s Creek, Seinfeld, Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence, and Die Hard. 

Also in sad, and extremely odd, news DC Comics has announced the dusting off and relaunching of Batwoman.  Batwoman?!  The character last seen slmost three decades ago (when she died!) will return as a 52 year-old lesbian socialite involved with former Gotham Police Detective Renee Montoya in DC’s new “52” line which takes place a world where major heroes of the DC Universe are no longer active.  This isn’t the only DC character to get a radical new millennium make-over including the Blue Beetle as a Mexican teenager, Firestorm as African-American, and the Atom as Asian (wow, an Asian scientist, wonder who came up with that in no way politically incorrect stereotype).  Hoo-ray diversity.

…and the Bad News Read More »

The Good News…

A couple feel good items of interest for you today.  First for fans of the FX drama Rescue Me new episodes started airing last night.  The brooding meandering series has found some modest fan support over its first two seasons but hasn’t garnered the attention of FX hits such as The Sheild or Nip, Tuck.  The series centers on a New York firefighter (Leary) who is watching his life literally burn and spiral out of control.  It’s either quite excellent or easily dismissive given your taste (and if you want to taste you better try it while it’s hot because odds are this one’s not going to last much longer). 

Also of interest to true Sci-fi nerds out there – Blade Runner will get re-released this September on DVD as the film will get a limited run in theaters as well!  Then, as to not be out-Lucas’ed, Warner Home Video will release a brand new “final cut” DVD edition in early 2007 which will include all versions of the film from the first theatrical version, the international version, and the director’s cut.  The Sci-fi noir film is an adaption of Philip K. Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” and weaves a tale about a detective (Harrison Ford) tracking down four replicants (human looking robots) who have hijacked a ship and returned to Earth seeking their maker (William Sanderson, without his brothers Darryl and Darryl).  Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edwards James Olmos, and Daryl Hannah also star in what most agree is one of the finest Sci-fi films ever made.

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A couple feel good items of interest for you today.  First for fans of the FX drama Rescue Me new episodes started airing last night.  The brooding meandering series has found some modest fan support over its first two seasons but hasn’t garnered the attention of FX hits such as The Sheild or Nip, Tuck.  The series centers on a New York firefighter (Leary) who is watching his life literally burn and spiral out of control.  It’s either quite excellent or easily dismissive given your taste (and if you want to taste you better try it while it’s hot because odds are this one’s not going to last much longer). 

Also of interest to true Sci-fi nerds out there – Blade Runner will get re-released this September on DVD as the film will get a limited run in theaters as well!  Then, as to not be out-Lucas’ed, Warner Home Video will release a brand new “final cut” DVD edition in early 2007 which will include all versions of the film from the first theatrical version, the international version, and the director’s cut.  The Sci-fi noir film is an adaption of Philip K. Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” and weaves a tale about a detective (Harrison Ford) tracking down four replicants (human looking robots) who have hijacked a ship and returned to Earth seeking their maker (William Sanderson, without his brothers Darryl and Darryl).  Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edwards James Olmos, and Daryl Hannah also star in what most agree is one of the finest Sci-fi films ever made.

The Good News… Read More »

This Week

So what’s out there this week.  Well today we’ll take a look at the films scheduled to be released this Friday which includes a new romantic comedy with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, the second film this year about troubled young gymnasts, and more water attacking film audiences.  All that and more; read on.

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Here’s what’s scheduled to hit theaters this week.  Want to know more, just click on the title for film info including a full cast list.  Want a closer look, just click on the poster to watch the trailer.

The Break-Up

In what appears to be another War of the Roses-lite comedy Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) breaks up with her longtime boyfriend (Vince Vaughn).  Since neither is willing to move out of the condo they both stay trying by various and nefarious means to force the other to leave.  The film supports a fine cast that includes Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy), Ann-Margaret, new Iron Man director Jon Favreau, John Michael Higgins, and Jason Bateman but director Peyton Reed hasn’t tickled America’s funnybone since his first film project – 2000’s Bring It On.

Banlieue 13 [13th District] (Limited Release)

The near future of Paris is the setting for this French thriller that involves an undercover member of the elite police force (French action star Cyril Raffaelli) and a criminal (David Belle) attempting to infiltrate a gang in order to defuse a neutron bomb.  Directed by first-timer Pierre Morel and written by Luc Besson who teamed-up to give us The Transporter and Danny the Dog (Morel served as cinematographer on both).  Early reports on the film’s look and plot compare it to a French Escape From New York.  The film also stars Tony D’Amario, Larbi Naceri, Dany Verissiom, and Francois Chattot.

Peaceful Warrior (Limited Release)

The latest from writer/director Victor Salva (Jeepers Creepers, Clownhouse, Powder) is an inspirational and emotional tale of a young collegiate gymnast (Scott Mechlowicz) who strikes up a student/mentor relationship with a gas station sage (Nick Nolte) who teaches him the “way of the peaceful warrior.”  The film is based on Dan Millman’s semi-autobiographical book of the same name.  The supporting cast for the film includes Amy Smart, Ashton Holmes, Beatrice Rosen, Paul Wesley, Agnes Bruckner and even Millman himself gets a cameo.

Taepung [Typhoon] (Limited Release)

Korean blockbutster action film about a North Korean pirate’s mad plan involving creating a typhoon by nuclear means in order to use it to attack the Korean Peninsula.  The film was written and directed by Kyung-Taek Kwak (Champion, Chingoo) and stars Dong-Kun Jang, Jung-Jae Lee, Mi-yeon Lee, Chattapong Pantannaunkul, and David Mc Innis.  Are audiences going to be too water-logged by Poseidon to give this subtitled special effects flick a chance?

This Week Read More »

X3: The Lamest Stand

  • Title: X-Men: The Last Stand
  • IMDb: link

x-men-the-lamest-stand-poster

I have this vision in my head of Brett Ratner and Bryan Singer.  Singer who directed the first two films was originally attached to this one and Ratner was scheduled to direct Superman Returns.  One left, then the other and then they were suddenly attached to each other’s films.  Here’s my thought – Ratner and Singer both in their new offices laughing hysterically to themselves that they’ve detached themselves from a horrible project and put the noose around the other guy’s neck while they have moved on to brighter pastures.  Then they each sit down in their new offices in their cushy chairs basking in their sense of accomplishment and read the script in front of them only upon finishing to exclaim, “Oh shit!”

The fallout from Alkaline Lake has left Cyclops (James Marsden) a broken man who is drawn back there after months by a voice in his head only to find his love Jean Grey (Famke Jensen) resurrected but not quite the same.  It seems Jean is the most powerful mutant on the planet and also has been schizophrenic since childhood; the repressed personality of the Phoenix is now in control.  Professor X (Patrick Stewart) had been keeping Jean’s mind together by caging the other personality deep within her mind but now it has been unleashed.

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