Articles by robert-greenberger
Tue Apr 28, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
Review: 'Star Trek' Season One on Blu-ray
All eyes are on what J.J. Abrams and his team have done to reinvigorate public interest in Star Trek
By the time Enterprise was canceled and Nemesis got ignored at the box office, everyone agreed it was time to let the entire behemoth rest. Some argued forever, others wisely knew Paramount would never let it go so bet on three to five years.
What everyone seems to have forgotten is what Roddenberry got away with back in the 1960s. Today, we’re reminded of that once more with the release of the first season of the Original Series on Blu-ray. The 29 episodes that NBC aired during the 1966-1967 television season have been carefully restored, remastered, and augmented for today’s technology and audiences.
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Mon Apr 27, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
Review: 'The Wrestler' DVD
In our world, there are costumed champions fighting the good fight against costumed evil doers, done in public and for our entertainment. We call them professional wrestlers but given their names, attire, and storylines, they truly are comic books brought to life. Unlike comic heroes, though, these players age and fade away, to be replaced by a new generation with new names, not retreads.
Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight was the first real look at what happens to an over-the-hill hero. The body is slower to heal, the acrobatic daring-do that came so effortlessly leaves the body drenched in sweat.
Wrestlers, especially those doped up on steroids, watch their bodies break down and get reduced to the independent circuit for a few hundred bucks a night or signing autographs at lightly attended local events. It’s a sad life, ripe for exploration as a film and Darren Aronofsky wonderfully covers this in The Wrestler
Mon Apr 27, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
Review: 'X-Men' Animated DVDs Volumes 1-2
In the 1970s, Chris Claremont was arguably the first comic book writer to advance Stan Lee’s style of writing for the Marvel super-heroes, delving deeper into his characters and exploring what it meant to be born a mutant in a world that feared the different. As a result, much as everyone glommed onto Spider-Man in the 1960s, Chris’ X-Men in the 1970s became the new standard for popularity.
Television was slow to recognize the resurgent popularity in super-heroes, not really adding a comic book to screen adaptation for years until Batman: The Animated Series debuted in the wake of the wildly successful Tim Burton film. With its critical acclaim and ratings success, the networks began looking for other series and they finally learned how popular Professor Xavier’s students had become in the intervening years.
Marvel Animation produced a very faithful comic book adaptation which debuted October 31, 1992 and ran for five seasons, totaling 76 episodes. It was the tipping point in making the franchise a big deal for merchandise and eventually, the long-awaited live-action film version.
The first 33 episodes have been collected into two volumes, released Tuesday by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, cannily in time for the Wolverine hysteria. The first volume of X-Men
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Sun Apr 26, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
Review: 'Mission: Impossible' Season 6
The concept behind Mission: Impossible
Season six, airing 1971-1972, was the season that should not have been. Paramount Pictures wanted the show canceled and placed into profitable reruns but CBS saw ratings upticks at the end of season five and wanted the series back. Nimoy wanted out, saying he was bored. It was time to change everything up.
The penultimate season, coming out on DVD Tuesday, saw numerous alterations from the departure of Nimoy, Warren, and Elliot to a domestic focus. Lynda Day George, an attractive red-head doubled as femme fatale and makeup expert, tightening the focus to just a quartet of regular agents. Other IMF agents turned up largely as supernumerary fillers (with Elliot making one final appearance). The producers gave up on deposing fictional presidents around the world and sent the Impossible Missions Force against “the syndicate” (code for organized crime).
Watching these 22 episodes, collected in production order not airdate order, shows how far television writing has come. The characters are all ciphers despite their loyalty and apparent friendship for one another. We know nothing more about them in season six than we did in the previous five. The targets for each mission were also ciphers, all surface characterization and little else. Each episode has a case, a complication, and a resolution with variety seen in the way of additional complications or locales.
Given the tighter team, Jim stopped flipping through pictures to select his team and we went right to the briefing scene. As the season progressed, each of the four got a chance to shine, notably Greg Morris, moved up to co-starring status. In between roles as a laconic thug, he also shone in “Blues” where he displayed his own golden throat. Even Lupis got to do more than the heavy lifting this season, as he displayed technical know-how. However, he was also the agent to fumble the most often, although this gave us a chance to see his iron will power when he was caught and drugged with truth serum in “Double Dead”. Based on airdate, the season effectively opened and closed with a spotlight on Graves’ Jim Phelps, who had to be blind in one episode then suffered from amnesia in another. As for the newcomer, Casey was well highlighted, especially in “The Bride” where she had to play innocent as well as strung-out and finally, dead.
The pleasure in rewatching these shows is to see how far we’ve come in terms of storytelling or in seeing familiar faces in guest roles. One of the most preposterous but oddly satisfying stories, “Encore”, features William Shatner as a 65-year-old criminal duped into thinking 35 years have vanished all so the IMF team can find where he hid a body. It’s the most elaborate plot of the season and Shatner manages to sell it.
Other actors it’s neat to see at various points of their career include Elizabeth Ashley, Harold J. Stone, James Gregory, Richard Jaekel, Herb Edelman, Joie Don Baker, Billy Dee Williams, Leon Russom, Donald Moffat, Victor French, Gerald S. O’Laughlin, Fritz Weaver, Demond Wilson, Steve Forrest, Anthony Zerbe, Kevin McCarthy, Warren Stevens, William Windom, and of course, Christopher George.
The ratings were strong, especially with the show in the Saturday at 10 p.m. slot, finishing the season 32nd which made CBS happy. You can relive those adventures if you’re a diehard M:I fan but this was not the sharpest season by far. The six-disc set comes with zero in the way of extras.
Thu Apr 16, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
Kurtzman/Orci Productions Names President, Production Slate
Comic adaptations, Matt Helm, originals all on tap
Hollywood’s hottest dynamic duo, Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci have named Bobby Cohen as president of Kurtzman/Orci Prods, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The pair have set up their own shop based on their commercial heat after working on The Transformers, Star Trek and related genre offerings.
"Alex and Bob started at DreamWorks as writers and have steadily evolved into a super-talented, multitasking filmmaking duo," DreamWorks principal Steven Spielberg said in a release. "Their taste for unique stories is unparalleled, which is why we're excited to have them on the DreamWorks team."
On their own, they produced Paramount’s fall hit Eagle Eye and their second offering will be June’s The Proposal, starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.
Among their proposed slate of projects includes the adaptation of Platinum Studios' Cowboys and Aliens which K/O have written; an adaptation of Platinum’s Atlantis Rising with Len Wiseman (Underworld) set to direct for a summer 2011 release; Deep Sea Cowboys, based on an article from Wired; 28th Amendment, an original thriller written by K/O and to be directed by Florian Henckle von Donnersmarck (The Lives of Others); an adaptation of the espionage novels starring spy Matt Helm; and, The Big One: An Island, an Obsession and the Furious Pursuit of a Great Fish, adapted from Pulitzer Prize winner David Kinney’s non-fiction book.
Wed Apr 15, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
Showtime Orders Final Season of 'The Tudors'
Final 10 Episodes due in Spring 2010
Showtime’s The Tudors has been renewed for a fourth and final season according to Variety. The series’ third season launched just two weeks ago and comes in the wake of the premium channels’ decision not to buy four new series. Showtime did not launch a new series in 2008 and the pressure is on to launch successful projects in order to grow and remain competitive with HBO and Starz.
Jonathan Rhys Myers returns as King Henry VIII for the final ten episodes which will shoot in Dublin starting in June and air next spring. Creator/showrunner Michael Hirst will be writing all the scripts as he has for the previous thirty installments.
The third season opened April 5 and the ratings showed a cumulative audience of 1.3 million once all airings were totaled. The first two seasons, which we positively reviewed, are available on DVD.
Wed Apr 15, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
'Lost' rules the Internet
Nielsen study shows growth in Online Viewing
While the networks and studios try and figure out how to make serious profit from airing their productions online, a new study shows that ABC’s Lost is the king of the net. According to Nielsen VideoCensus statistics, there were 35.8 million video streams of full-length episodes, clips and other shortform content.
The report stated that “130 million unique users watched 9.7 billion streams, up nearly 39% from March 2008 and up nearly 9% from February's benchmark.” Viewers watched 169.3 minutes in February compared with 190.3 minutes in March.
As to where people watch the content, YouTube is the top spot with 5.47 billion video streams and 89.4 million unique viewers for March with Hulu in second place with 348 million streams and 8.9 million unique visitors, followed in popularity by Yahoo, Fox Interactive Media, MySpace and the Nickelodeon suite of sites.
Of the networks, ABC ruled the roost with CBS slowly gaining ground. As for the programs themselves, with Hulu not offering show specific breakdowns, the numbers indicate Grey's Anatomy was number two with 19.7 million streams and 1.2 million unique viewers trailed by Dancing With the Stars, Family Guy, The Office, The Simpsons and House.
Wed Apr 15, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
'Firefly' stars reunite for 'V'; Sheen joins 'Twilight Saga: New Moon'
Hollywood casting Round-up
Spring is in the air... and lots of actors are finding work.
Frost/Nixon’s Michael Sheen has joined the cast of The Twilight Saga: New Moon. The now-filming sequel has added Sheen as Aro, the head vampire of the Italian Volturi vampire clan. Summit Entertainment will release the eagerly awaited adaptation of the Stephenie Meyer best-seller on November 20.
Elisabeth Shue takes a detour from her usual dramatic fare to appear in Alexandre Aja's remake of Piranha 3D. The actress will play "Sheriff Julie Forester, a take-charge authority figure in the community of Lake Victoria" according to Moviehole, and the mother of one of the lead characters. Look for this in March 2010
While we weren’t looking, the cast for the revamp of V has filled out with some very familiar names which improve our hopes for the ABC pilot. The formal network announcement will be May 19 but we’re crossing our fingers. The proposed series, based on Kenneth Johnson’s original concepts, now features Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Morena Baccarin (Firefly), Joel Gretsch (The 4400), Morris Chestnut (Ladder 49), Alan Tudyk (Firefly), Scott Wolf (Party of Five) David Richmond-Peck (The Day The Earth Stood Still), Laura Vandervoort (Smallville), Lourdes Benedicto (The Nine), and Christopher Shyer (The Day).
Finally, the seaons finale for Smallville will guest star Impulse (Kyle Gallner) and Black Canary (Alaina Huffman).
Wed Apr 15, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
Dark Horse and Image join Diamond's Final Order Cutoff Program on April 20
Diamond officially announced the participation of Dark Horse Comics and Image Comics, including Image Central and Top Cow Productions, in the Diamond “Final Order Cutoff” program, or “FOC” for short. Dark Horse first announced the intent to participate in this program at last fall’s Diamond Retailers summit in Las Vegas to a roar of applause heard throughout the casino.
The final FOC dates will be tied to the calendar day twenty days before the Diamond on-sale date for comics, and approximately three months for graphic novels. Dark Horse and Image will begin including FOC dates as early as the May 2009 edition of Diamond’s Previews catalog.
"We are pleased to announce this move to the FOC,” Dark Horse President, Mike Richardson stated. “As every comics retailer knows, times are tough. It is important that Dark Horse not only support them with great product, but with our best efforts to make their ordering decisions as easy as possible. This system will help every retailer who orders Dark Horse product and should lead to better business for all of us."
“We’ve been enthusiastic about implementing FOC for quite some time now,” Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson said. “FOC allows retailers to test the waters with our all of our new projects, whether they’re by seasoned veterans or comics’ newest names with limited risk while still getting all the benefits of supporting a series from the floorboards up.”
Additionally, Dark Horse and Image products that have not shipped yet are also eligible for adjustments under the new FOC system. A list of qualifying Dark Horse and Image titles can be downloaded from the Vendor Tools section of Diamond Online’s Retailer Services Area.
The switch to FOC Dates also means a change in the schedule for both companies’ weekly e-mailers. Retailers will now receive the weekly Dark Horse Dispatch and Image Comics e-mailer on Mondays, starting April 20. Each will include an attachment with a list of their respective titles on FOC that week, customized to each retailer. Retailers will then be able to adjust orders for either publisher on the My Account page of Diamond Online’s Retailer Services Area, or by contacting their Diamond Customer Service Representative.
Wed Apr 15, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
Paramount Allows Early Boarding on the Enterprise
FIlm Unspools May 7 at 7 p.m.
Paramount Pictures has tweaked its release plans for Star Trek, allowing theaters to show the first screening on Thursday, May 7, beginning at 7 p.m. According to Coming Soon, this improves on the normal midnight screening used to create an event.
Tue Apr 14, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
21 year old Zac Efron to play 11 year old Jonny Quest
Feature Film Heating up on Hollywood Radar
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that High School Musical star Zac Efron has been signed to play Jonny Quest in a live-action feature film. The movie, written by Dan Mazeau, is said to be a terrific young Indiana Jones style adventure. Mazeau was recently named one of the 10 screenwriters to watch by Variety.
Also looking to join the cast as a brawny Race Bannon is Dwayne Johnson.
The 21 year old Efron is about a decade too old for the character, based on the Hanna Barbera series form the ‘60s. He’s taking on the title part to distance himself from teen musical roles and establish himself as a leading player so for him it s a canny move.
“I'm more dismayed by news that folks at Warner Bros. are thinking of jettisoning the name Jonny Quest altogether,” Geoff Boucher wrote. “Why? I hear the thinking is that the vintage animation roots of Quest will somehow pair it in the public mind with Speed Racer, which was a major Warners pile-up as blockbuster films go, considering the investment, expectations and critical reception. I'm not surprised because, well, unnuanced thinking in Hollywood is commonplace, and instead of spending the time needed to judge individual properties by their own merits, lots of decision-makers act like my grandmother at the racetrack.”
Tue Apr 14, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
Dabel Brothers continue 'Warriors' saga in 'Jailbreak'
Original Miniseries Follows Adaptation
The Dabel Brothers adapted the Paramount Pictures gang film The Warriors and now they have announced plans for an original sequel. Jailbreak will be a four-part event, beginning this July. According to a release, the series picks up shortly after the end of the 1979 film, when the Warriors plan to break one of their members out of jail.
The adaptation of Walter Hill’s stylish movie, based on Sol Yurick’s novel, saw its debut in February and wraps up in June so the sequel follows immediately. Written by Erik Henriksen, penciled by Todd Herman and Herb Apon, inked by Nick Nix, and colored by Jeremy Treece, the first issue will feature a cover by Tom Feister.
As described by Paramount Home Video, which has the ultimate director’s cut on sale, the film is about: “A battle of gigantic proportions is looming in the neon underground of New York City. The armies of the night number 100,000; they outnumber the police 5 to 1; and tonight they're after the Warriors - a street gang blamed unfairly for a rival gang leader's death. This contemporary action-adventure story takes place at night, underground, in the sub-culture of gang warfare that rages from Coney Island to Manhattan to the Bronx. Members of the Warriors fight for their lives, seek to survive in the urban jungle and learn the meaning of loyalty. This intense and stylized film is a dazzling achievement for cinematographer Andrew Laszlo.”
Tue Apr 14, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
William Hurt joins the hunt for 'Robin Hood'
Veteran Actor Joins All-Star Cast
William Hurt, seen here as General "Thunderbolt" Ross from last year's Incredible Hulk movie, has been added to the cast of Ridley Scott’s untitled Robin Hood, formerly known as Nottingham. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he will appear as William Marshall, the Earl of Pembroke, a historical figure who was one of the most powerful men in Europe. Marshall was a servant to the Plantagenet kings and one of the best jousters of the era.
The feature, due May 14, 2010, stars Russell Crowe in a “retelling of the origins of the legend's key characters.” Production began on the film recently and the cast includes Cate Blanchett as Lady Marion, Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Eleanor, Mark Strong as Sir Godfrey, Oscar Issac as King John, Léa Seydoux as French Princess Isabella, and the Merry Men: Scott Grimes as Will Scarlet, Kevin Durand as Little John, Alan Doyle as Allan Adayle.
Mon Apr 13, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
Edgar Wright Greets his Fans
Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World has been shooting for a little while now and director Edgar Wright has begun video blogging about the experience. Take a look at his welcome to fans.
Blog One - Introduction - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World from Scott Pilgrim The Movie on Vimeo.
Mon Apr 13, 2009 — by Robert Greenberger
Review: 'Max Fleischer's Superman 1941-1942'
From 1941 through 1942, Max and Dave Fleischer rewrote the rules for animation and people have been trying to match those results ever since. When no one had previously tried adventure in animated form, the Fleischers took their lessons from Popeye and applied them to Superman with astounding results.
The seventeen shorts, released by Paramount Pictures, were the closet anyone would come to bringing Superman to a live action feature film until Richard Donner achieved that goal in 1977 (and people have been trying to match that goal ever since).
Warner Home Video has previously included the cartoons as part of their mammoth tin can set of Superman features but now there’s a two-disc set, Max Fleischer's Superman: 1941-1942
The fluid action and rousing Sammy Timberg music remain indelibly etched in my mind from first experiencing these in the 1970s. The plots are very simple, given the standards of the day, so there’s a threat, Lois gets in trouble, and Clark becomes Superman to save the day. Repeat seventeen times. Given their short running time, there was no attempt at anything more than the most surface of characterization and the comics offered little in the way of recurring villains at the time (yes, including Lex Luthor). What they could have borrowed from the radio series, along with voice actor Bud Collyer, was kryptonite but chose not to do so.
Interestingly, there’s a warning on the box reading that the DVD set “is intended for the Adult Collector and Is Not Suitable for Children”. Hogwash. This is over-reacting to the mindset that children are fragile and the sight of Superman battling a dinosaur or a gang of robots would ruin their psyche. If anything, this is a perfect vehicle for introducing smart heroic adventures to children as they seek outlets for such fare.
The extras are culled from elsewhere but are worth watching if they’re new to you. First, there’s The Man, The Myth, Superman which does a nice job surveying heroes prior to the Man of Steel’s arrival in Action Comics #1. Second is First Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series which clearly establishes how the brothers went from Koko the Clown to Superman and easily surpassed other animation studios. Trailers for other animated offerings and the Green Lantern featurette round out the set.
Bottom line: if you do not own these in any other manner, buy this set. If you already have all seventeen episodes, there’s little reason to buy them again.
