When is a found footage film not a found footage film? When de makers mysteriously bail on de concept two turds of de way thru de movie. Chronicle has distinktion of being de first (mostly) found footage superhero movie. And dat about all dat make it distinkt. It otherwise pretty standard fare.
Hey, it be like Peter Parker x 3!
Our protagonist, Andrew, be a high school nerd. His mother dying, his dad abusive, he bullied at school. It a miserable life for him – but very entertaining for everyone else so he decide to start filming it. He bring his camera everywhere, inkluding to a party he go to wit his cousin and jock friend. After leaving party, trio find weird hole in de ground, investigate, and diskover strange glowy crystal holding squiggly black ting. Having never watched a horror or science fiction movie in deir lives, dey trow caution to de wind and decide to touch it. Crystal changes color and dey get nose bleeds!
Weeks later, dey are showing off deir new teliknetik powers, moving objects wit deir minds. It all fun and games until someone gets hurt…
Someone gets hurt.
Andrew uses his power to trow tailgating truck into lake. Others tink dis is NOT cool and, after swimming into water and rescuing driver (instead of just using deir telikentic power to pull him out), dey agree to not hurt other people.
I believe I can fly. I believe I can touch de sky. I believe I can make others die.
Dey also teach demselves to fly and go hang out in de clouds – until dey almost get run over by a plane (Mighty crowded up dere!).
Wit great power come great irresponsibility
Dey celebrate by going to house party where Andrew trow up on girl. He humiliated and, next day at skool, he perform instrument-free dental surgery on bully who be picking on him.
Upset, Andrew fly away so he can be alone and film himself crying. But jock manage to find him – me not exaktly sure how. Mebbe he go to his favorite special place in de sky? Jock try to cheer him up. Andrew tank him by killing him wit lightning blast (Oh, yeah, he also apparently have lightning blast power).
Andrew start tinking he all special and superior, like Grover’s cousin ShaLaunda dat time she got her nails done. He put on fireman suit and rob bullies and gas station to get money for medicine for his dying mother.
It be at dis point in movie where direktor decide “Fudge it!” and drop de found footage look. But den seem to want to hedge his bets and inklude unnecessary security cam footage as well. And, finally, seem to realize he being inconsistent so he go back to found footage look for movie’s ending dat involve Andrew vs. cousins vs a lot of parked cars in high-flying aktion.
Stay down! Don’t move!
For some reason, despite all de damage and havok dey cause, police not at all inclined to shoot de boys. Every time dey toss around police cars and policemen, cops just keep yelling: “Stay down! Down move!” And, of course, dey move and trow around more cars and cops, and fall down some more and de cops yell: “Stay down! Don’t move!”
Dis process is repeated until cousin get as tired of dis movie as we do and simply impale Andrew wit a handy spear from a nearby statue.
Movie end wit cousin filming himself addressing Andrew as he arrive in Tibet. Why? Does he believe Andrew also have de superpower to watch movies from beyond de grave?
Verdikt: Dere come a point in every found footage movie where audience wonder “Seriously! Why de hell dey filming dis?”. It seem dat, late in film, direktor arrive at same conklusion and deeply regret de whole “found footage” ting.
The blue jello predates my involvement with the show. By the time Paul and I joined SG-1 in its fourth season, the gelatin was already de rigueur in most every mess scene, eventually, finding its way to Atlantis as well. So what’s the deal? Search me. I seem to remember someone saying it was simply something the prop department whipped up one day that stood out, both for its neon properties and sheer ridiculousness, quickly becoming a comically beloved visual staple.
9. O’Neill’s obsession with The Simpsons
O’Neill was full of Simpsons references and an admitted fan. Why? Well, because most of the show’s writers were fans as well, although nowhere near as huge a fan as Richard Dean Anderson. How big a fan was he? So big that he attended the table reading of a Simpsons episode and was totally blown away by the experience. Occasionally, he would even bring his daughter by my office to check out the various Simpsons-related dioramas and action figures that bedecked my shelf. Eventually, actor Dan Castellanetta guested on the show (Citizen Joe) and he and Rick hit it off. They had a great time working together and, months later, Dan showed his appreciation by writing a Stargate/RDA-themed Simpsons episode to which Rick lent his voice talents.
8. Pineapples
If you’re watching Stargate and ever happen to catch sight of a pineapple, there’s a good chance the episode you’re viewing was directed by long-time Stargate director Will Waring. The pineapples were his signature visual. More often than not, however, the fruit were so carefully camouflaged, most viewers would be hard-pressed to notice them. Still, there’s plenty of fun to be had in trying. I once asked Will “Why pineapples?” and he told me that on one of his first productions, he was camera operator on a scene involving a high speed chase. For some reason, he put a pineapple in the car’s back window as a gag – and then forgot to remove it for the actual shoot. As a result, for the entire high-octane chase sequence, there’s a pineapple clearly rattling around in the back window of our protagonist’s car. Nobody noticed – until the dailies. The director was livid and was prepared to fire Will – but the producer LOVED the pineapple gag. Will got to keep his job – and the signature pineapple was born.
7. The Big Wrench
Where Will Waring had his pineapples, director Martin Wood had his big wrench. You’ll often spot it in the background, in the hands of Martin’s buddy and Stargate SG-1 Fight Coordinator Dan Shea, as he makes adjustments to equipment or simply walks around with this huge, oversized calling card. Every once in a while, Martin would get into the big wrench background action as well, donning the persona of his onscreen alter-ego, Major Wood.
6. Peter DeLuise’s Hitchockian touch
Whereas Will had the pineapples and Martin had the big wrench, director Peter DeLuise had…Peter DeLuise. Before he was a director, Peter was an actor, and so it was only natural that he’d take a page out of Hitchcock’s book and make himself his own visual signature. He appeared as a host of background characters and even played the part of the young Urgo opposite his father Dom. Even in the most challenging of episodes, Peter found a way to make his trademark appearance. Once, we thought he’d missed his cameo – only to discover he’d found an ingenious way to make a subtle appearance. In one scene, as Teal’c sits in his darkened room, deep in meditation, we pull back to reveal he is surrounded by candles – several of which are assembled to spell out the initial “PDL”.
5. Jonas’s voracious appetite
Actors have their trademark “bits” as well and, for Jonas, it was food. Whether it was buttered toast in Night Walkers or the infamous banana scene in Descent (which, incidentally, ran about three minutes long in the director’s cut), he was always snacking. But he crossed the line in one episode where he showed up in the gate room sipping tea from a mug and had to be reminded – the tea mug was another actor’s trademark “bit” (see below).
4. Magnets
Every once in a while, whenever Carter tried to explain some scientific or technological wonder, Jack would try to tie it back to magnets. What was the deal with O’Neill and magnets? Well, this one was compliments of Creator/Exec Producer Brad Wright who once had someone pitch him some ridiculous scientific theory. When a dubious Brad asked him to clarify the faulty science, the other individual shrugged and offered: “Magnets?”. It eventually became the stock response to every befuddling question of logic.
3. The Wizard of Oz
This was another running joke that predated my involvement in the production but SG-1 was peppered with references throughout its ten-year run, culminating in the Wizard of Oz sight gag from the show’s 200th episode (200). Of course, by that point in the series run, the line-up had changed, offering a slightly altered version of the originals: Carter as Dorothy, Daniel as the cowardly lion, Teal’c as the tin man, and, of course, Jack as the scarecrow.
2. Indeed
If there is one word that perhaps appears in more episodes of Stargate than any other (beside, maybe, “stargate”), it’s “Indeed”, Teal’c's short and sweet one-word response to most anything he is asked – and sometimes not. Actor Chris Judge even took to inserting the odd “Indeed” on occasions where it hadn’t even been scripted. I knew we’d reached the point of no return when, while watching dailies one day, we watched as as someone asked Teal’c: “Have you seen him?” to which Teal’c replied: “Indeeed – I have not.”
1. What the hell is in O’Neill’s cup?
Seriously. This one is fairly subtle but after noticing it for the first time, I caught countless more. Whenever Jack has a cup or mug in his hand there will come a point in the scene where he’ll glance down, frown, and then attempt to pluck some mysterious foreign object out of his drink. Watch for it!
No offense to Captain America but, technically, wasn’t Thor de “First Avenger”? Dis de first qwestion dat cross monster’s mind, followed by “Dis entire movie a period piece?” and “Did me forget to buy cake mix for Grover’s potluck supper next Toosday?”.
Monster sit down to watch Captain America wit an open mind and, while me pleasantly surprised by rip-roaring first half, overall movie make it abundantly clear dat Captain America be a flawed hero. He not as cool as Iron Man or as mighty as Thor or even as interesting as Spiderman. At de end of de day, he about as awesome as Linoleum Girl or Unsweetened Oatmeal Man. Still, Cap’s alter-ego, Steve Rogers be a very interesting charakter – for about half de movie anyway and, at de point when it become less about Steve and more about action and speshul effekts, dis film flounder for me like, well, a flounder.
Hey, Scarecrow, you’re in the wrong movie!
Movie open on diskovery of crashed ship in Antarctika. Inside, men find frozen star spangled shield. What it be? What it mean? Well, for answer to dat, we flashback to…
1942 where evil nazi (As opposed to what? Good-hearted, lovable nazi?) kill old village priest and steal glowy cube. What it be? What it mean? Well, for answer to dat, we go to…
Steve Rogers, a skinny, sickly guy who want to enlist in de army but refused because he TOO skinny and sickly. He get bullied, beaten up, and generally feel bad about staying behind with all de girls while lucky guys go off to war. He get taken in by kindly German scientist who offer him opportunity to serve. Steve agree to undergo experimental serum treatment and, before you can say “Hulk smash!” he be transformed into dreamy hunk!
MUCH better!
Monster here must make speshul mention of spektacular visual effekts dat transform aktor as handsome and ripped as Cookie Monster into gawky geeky Grover-looking guy. It truly a fascinating achievement.
Anyhoo, spy kill German scientist and we treated to transformed Steve chasing down bad guy and saving de day. Suddenly, skinny/sickly Steve (moderately) super fast, (moderately) super strong, and (moderately) super agile. He obviously destined for great tings! He destined for…
BROADWAY!
Gotta dance!!!
Seriously, dude.
Okay. Serious.
BUT when Steve find out his old buddy Bucky be captured by nazi’s, he decide he want to go reskue him. And because he display such great onstage dancing ability (????), he happily dropped behind enemy lines in his Broadway attire and shield.
As Captain America, he infiltrate nazi facility and face off against super-nazi called The Red Skull. Why he be called Red Skull? What dat mean? For de answer to dat…
“Skullsy McScarlet” already taken.
You have to watch de movie instead of reading dis review but let’s just say he be called Red Skull for a very good reason. Dat has someting to do wit him having a red skull.
Captain America so awesome, he reskue Bucky and bunch of prisoners, den walk dem all de way back from Germany.
Government suddenly realize full potenshul of Captain America and cast him in off-off-Broadway produktions of “Kick Nazi Ass!”. He go on various missions where he…Kick Nazi Ass! He lead team against Red Skull lab and nazis armed wit energy weapons dat demolecularize people but, for some mysterious reason, bounce off Cap’s shield.
Cap showdown wit Red Skull on super jet carrying atomic bombs, each one carefully labeled so grievous error not made like dropping New York atomic bomb on Chicago. How embarrassing would DAT be?
Captain America steer jet safely into ocean where it crash and he lost until…flashforward to…
Steve wake up and freak out. He find himself in modern day Times Square where he shocked to hear it be 70 years later! And de Chicago Cubs still haven’t won a World Series!
Verdikt: A movie dat start surprisingly strong and interesting but become less so as focus shift from charakter to action and speshul effekts. Ultimately, it straightforward and kind of bland – like its hero.
Last night, Paul and I got together with our former Stargate script coordinator Alex Levine who, since moving to Toronto, has been busy forging a successful writing career. He has worked on a various productions, most notably Flashpoint and the critically-acclaimed Orphan Black (Check it out!). He’s come a long way from his very first script, a little Atlantis episode called Inquisition and, in hindsight, I now regret being so critical of his spellchecking abilities.
I also regret all those lunch trays I broke over his head for not distributing my scripts in a timely manner.
But before meeting with Alex, it was another heartfelt reunion of sorts. Yes, I’ve missed a number of Toronto residents since moving back to Vancouver but, perhaps, none more than Buca, without a doubt one of my Top Restaurants worldwide. Last night, we dined on crispy sweetbread, various house cured meats including elk tongue, goat cheese and foie gras ravioi, an unbelievable tiramisu, and these two standout “standout” items:
Warm bread knots with rosemary, olive oil, garlic, and sea salt.
Burrata, tomato, basil, and truffle. The best pizza I’ve had outside of Tokyo.
This morning, after breakfast with our former Toronto neighbors John and Nancy, Paul and I got together with Jay and hammered out a structure for the feature. Sometime, in the next couple of weeks, we’ll send him the outline for both it and the JM series/pilot. Also, sometime in the next little while, I’m going to start looking into all of your (no doubt) terrific suggestions for potential shows/movies. Thanks for submitting!
All in all a very productive afternoon, however the highlight of the day was the five minutes I spent on FaceTime with Jelly.
Jelly (File picture – Copyright, Library of Congress)
Another dinner tonight and then, tomorrow morning, it’s off to Montreal!
So far, this trip has been marked by seating issues, a late cancellation, general misfortune, and the mid-brush realization that what I’d packed was not, in fact, toothpaste but a topical ointment for rashes. All in all, an inauspicious start to this east coast swing.
Back on the west coast, meanwhile, my pug Jelly is apparently missing me something terrible. This according to Akemi who claims she seems downcast and considerably less vocal – although her appetite remains as healthy as ever. My french bulldog Lulu, on the other hand, is coping just fine. Last night, she seized the opportunity of my absence to lay claim over my spot on the bed.
Given her general stubbornness, I have a feeling it’s going to be very tough to take it back.
Met up with my Toronto buddies Tara and Trevor last night. Catching up with them over mini turkey burgers, flatbread, and scotch almost makes me want to come back and shoot a series here in Toronto.
Today, it was meetings, meetings, and meetings (in that order). We hammered out a pretty solid structure for the JM series (note: it doesn’t stand for either Joseph Mallozzi or Jason Momoa) and will be starting work on the overview and pilot when we get back to Vancouver. We have a dinner meeting tonight and then, tomorrow, we start breaking the film script! In addition, a couple of other opportunities have cropped up in the last 48 hours including a partnership to pursue some established properties.
Which is where you all come in. Again, I need your input. What book, graphic novel, or anime series do you think would make a great television series (or movie)? List away. If your idea is a good one and we do end up securing the rights and making the series (or movie), you automatically win yourself a set visit!
With some time to kill this afternoon, I visited one of my favorite Toronto haunts:
SOMA Chocolatemaker (Welcome to SOMA chocolatemaker). Akemi, no doubt, misses it even more than I do so I picked her up a little something(s) for dog-sitting while I’m away:
I’m hoping they’ll actually make it back to Vancouver.
Note from my sis: Andria asked me to thank Sparrow_hawk, gforce, and astrumporta for their support of The Missing Children’s Network!
Hey, Stella – hope the doggy surgery went well today!
Dis less a movie den it be a student film project gone terribly wrong. Poor akting, lame dialogue, weak direktion, and cheap produktion values be de least of it’s problems. No, biggest issue monster have wit Superheroes Must Die be it’s unforgivable stoopidity and fakt dat it make about as much sense as Lost in czechoslovakian.
Not-so-fantastic Four.
Group of superheroes wake up in remote town minus deir superpowers. Foursome made up of bad aktress, bad aktor, worse bad aktor, and bad aktor who spend entire movie walking around wit half a mask because it got torn and he can’t be bothered to just take it off. It turn out dis situation compliments of arch-villain, Rickshaw. Yes, he be named after a two wheeled passenger cart for trotting tourists around. “But how dis possible?”dey ask. Rickshaw supposed to be dead. How he capture dem? What he do to dem?
Don’t hold your breath waiting for any answers.
Rickshaw (aka Cackles McCackleson).
Thru a series of video recordings, Rickshaw inform “heroes” dey must perform series of tasks in order to save hostages. If dey refuse to participate, whole town rigged to blow!
So, basically, dis entire movie based on classic “stoopid villain” premise. You know what me talking about. Instead of just killing de hero, villain has to create super elaborate set-up for entertainment purposes. In dis case, his NOT ours.
Uncle Sham
Heroes have to split up into two teams. One team end up having to fight egregious over-aktor dressed up like Uncle Sam. Dey rush him and he push dem down. Really hard me guess because dey mysteriously incapacitated. Uncle Sham pull out knife and stabby-stabby worse bad aktor.
Meanwhile, other team have to split up. While one guy fight skinny circus strongman on trampoline, other have to save hostages strapped to explosives. He attempt to save dem by putting out fuse wit his fingers. It not work (obviously) so he use axe to cut end off fuse. Whew! Dat was close! Only, for some reason, fuse light up again. What can dey do? Use axe again? Maybe yank fuse out of explosives (monster’s first choice)? No. How about run away and let hostages explode?
Second group meet up wit first group and Half-Mask plow into Uncle Sham, demonstrating dat he de only one who got to keep his super powers. Super strength! But it later revealed he didn’t lose his super powers because he never had super powers to begin wit. Even tho…er…he supposedly super strong.
Anyhoo, it too late for stabbed guy. At dis point, remaining heroes finally get around to checking in on second group of hostages. Who also get blown up. Heroes realize it not matter what dey do because Rickshaw going to blow up hostages anyway!
We mistreated to maudlin flashbacks in failed retroactive effort to make us care about dese charakters.
Back in his hideout, villain do de old “cross out dead character’s picture wit red marker” gag – and cackle. Oh, how he love to cackle.
Remaining tree heroes show up at second spot where another tree hostages rigged up to blow. Also in room are a gun and tree coffins wit deir names on it. Only tree coffins because, according to one hero, Rickshaw guessed other hero would already be dead after not completing last task. Uh, right. Dat and produktion not able to afford turd wooden box. Rickshaw tell dem dey must kill demselves to save hostages. Half-Mask grab gun, step up to his labeled coffin, and put gun up to his chin. It look like he about to kill himself. But, instead, he shoot hostages! Dis be a very surprising moment because…it make absolutely no sense! Why he pretend to shoot himself first? Not for benefit of hostages because dey hooded (so dat produktion can save on extras and re-use same tree aktors). What de Fudgee-o?
Dey rush off to next stop where one of heroes’ sisters rigged to blow up. Rickshaw tell dem dey must kill each other and he will let sister go. Of course, at dis point, we already know Rickshaw not letting anyone go. He already killed all de hostages. Heroes already stated he already going to kill all de hostages anyway. So time to try and save hostage instead of playing useless game, right? Right?!!
Nope. Brother suddenly and mysteriously very bitter about fakt he be a sidekick. He get himself killed. Presumably to save his sister. And – surprise surprise – she get blown up anyway.
In final round, Half-Mask and girl superhero must fight to death. Half-Mask seemingly kill himself but it really only a ploy to help him triangulate Rickshaw’s position. Uh, how he do dat? By pulling out a map, connecting a bunch of x’s, and deducing point of intersektion be Rickshaw’s hideout. Me repeat: WHAT DE FUDGEE-O?!
Hey, buddy – viewers suffering A LOT more.
Half-Mask beat up a bunch of henchmen in bear suits. Why dey wearing bear suits? Because it make dem look more fearsome? He get drop on Rickshaw and shoot him. But, wit his last dying breath, Rickshaw pull out remote and trigger timer dat will blow up entire town in tree minutes.
A badly wounded Half-Mask check out security monitors and notice girl superhero. Instead of eskaping town, she race to other place and locate Half-Mask’s ridiculous “triangulation” map. She end up finding him.
As timer tick down, dey limp out of HQ. Sadly too late to save demselves, but happily right on time to save US from crappy sekwel.
A cheese omelet stuffed wit stoopidity. Dis movie aktually make Monster nostalgic for Supergirl.
A few days ago, I offered a rundown of some of the upcoming high-profile movies poised to hit the big screen in the coming weeks (May 26, 2013: Upcoming movie releases to look forward to! Or not!). Today, I’d like to alert you to some of the smaller upcoming releases that have captured my interest…
THE KINGS OF SUMMER
Release Date: May 31, 2013
What it’s about: A coming-of-age comedy about three boys who run away from home to live in a tree house in the woods.
What it’s got working for it: Has a Stand By Me vibe.
What it’s got working against it: I think it’s a mistake to market this movie as a comedy given that everything I’ve seen so far suggests some fairly subdued humor.
SHADOW DANCER
Release Date: May 31, 2013
What it’s about: An Irish mother is arrested and sent back to Belfast as an undercover operative. To save her family, she must betray it…
What it’s got working for it: One helluva a set up.
What it’s got working against it: It looks very dark. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
VIOLET & DAISY
Release Date: June 7, 2013
What it’s about: Two young female assassins get more than they bargained for on their latest hit.
What it’s got working for it: Potentially/delightfully weird and over-the-top.
What it’s got working against it: Potentially/ridiculously weird and over-the-top.
BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO
Release Date: June 14, 2013
What it’s about: The line between fact and fiction blurs when a British sound engineer travels to Rome to work on an Italian horror film.
What it’s got working for it: Looks like an awesome homage to cinema giallo.
What it’s got working against it: Alternately, could turn out to be plain weird and inaccessible.
A HIJACKING
Release Date: June 21, 2013
What it’s about: Somali pirates hijack a cargo ship and demand a ransom for the captive crew. The CEO of the shipping company engages the pirates in a battle of wills while the lives of his employees hangs in the balance.
What it’s got working for it: Looks gritty, smart, and suspenseful.
What it’s got working against it: Also looks kinds of bleak.
BYZANTIUM
Release Date: June 28, 2013
What it’s about: Two female vampires arrive in a small coastal town
What it’s got working for it: Moody, atmospheric. A gorgeous-looking movie. Female vampires are a bonus!
What it’s got working against it: Style over substance?
COPPERHEAD
Release Date: June 28, 2013
What it’s about: “Copperheads” = northerners who opposed the American Civil War.
What it’s got working for it: Directed by Ron Maxwell (Gettsyburg, Gods and Generals).
What it’s got working against it: Might be a little dry.
Mailbag:
Magsol writes: “In this case, ownership becomes even more complicated. It was Aaron Sorkin who created the character, and Schiff who brought it to life, but Sorkin left after season 4 to pursue other interests and was in no way involved in the writing after that point. Hence, the new direction for the Ziegler character was entirely John Wells’ doing; Schiff was the only constant throughout.”
and
M Reed writes: “The two leads of Supernatural were recently discussing that it puzzles them that new writers come in and retcon history regarding the characters of Sam and Dean Winchester and that they don’t blame the audience for complaining about these sudden changes in the history of the characters.”
Answer: Ah, but these are very different situations. In this case, we’re not talking about the writer who created the characters and developed them over the course of those early seasons.
M Reed also writes: “In the case of SG1 yit gets even more complicated.”
Answer: True, given that Jack O’Neil(l) was a character who predated the series. Still, the Jack the fans came to know and love was created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, then brought to life and shaped by Richard Dean Anderson.
M Reed also writes: “Who really owns the characters of O’Neil(l) and Jackson?”
Answer: Oh, that one’s easy. MGM!
shinyhula writes: “I’d think studio interference would cause the most problems on set than divas.”
Answer: Well, interference, either by a studio, network, or anyone involved in the production, would be a bad thing. In a more general sense, studio/network notes can change the creative direction as well, but like cast input, it’s not really a big issue and can be addressed – so long as it’s not something that crops up at the 11th hour (or worse, some time after!).
Ryan “Stitch” Nixon writes: “Personally, the editing was the biggest downfall, they spent so much money I do not understand the cutting it down to LESS than 2-hours when most superhero films now are pushing 2.5 to 3 hours.”
Answer: Hmmm. While I’m sure a 2.5 – 3 hour version of the movie would have made it “better” in the sense that it would have done a better job of reflecting the original script, I think a longer run time would have hurt the the movie even more. As Cookie pointed out in his review, unlike Watchmen, Green Lantern was essentially a fun romp, a popcorn movie, not an epic.
HBMC writes: “And Joe, wouldn’t you say that your question – who owns a character – works very differently between television (where the writers often run the show) and movies (where writers are not to enter the actors’ eye-lines, ever, on pain of death)?”
Answer: Most definitely. In film, it’s the director who sees most of the frontline action.
HBMC also writes: “As to Joe’s actual post – who owns the character, the person who writes them or the actor that plays them, I don’t think it’s a black and white either/or answer. I remember in Uni they once brought in some actors to act out scenes from the scripts we were all writing. It was fascinating because when they went through the particular scene I had written they did things in a completely different way to what I imagined in my head, and in some cases the decisions they had made were better than what I have originally thought of.”
Answer: So true and this is something I’ve mentioned in previous entries. We, as writers, create the characters but it’s the actors that bring them to life and, consequently, influence their development. They take what’s on the page and interpret it onscreen. We see how they’ve interpreted and shape the character accordingly. It’s a constant collaborative back and forth.
Tam Dixon writes: “Did you try the cheesecake recipe yet?”
Answer: Yep. Full report tomorrow.
gforce writes: “I’ll go ahead an ask the obvious one – any word on the Dark Matter front, or the other projects?”
Answer: Apparently, June 6th is the date when all our questions will be answered.
gforce also writes: “Also, do you know if Cookie has and ideas for future reviewing projects after the superhero movies?”
Answer: Not so fast. A thorough audit of the superhero movie catalog by yours truly reveals a bunch of review candidates Cookie (mistakenly?) missed. Entries like the 1978 t.v. movie Dr. Strange and the equally horrendous Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. starring the Hoff warrant screenings as well. But there’s no reason why, in addition to these gems, Cookie couldn’t review a few non-supermovies as well.
gforce also writes: “Are you watching the S4 of “Arrested Development” on Netflix? I think it’s brilliant, but you have to watch several episodes to start to figure out what’s going on.”
Answer: I loved the first three seasons of the show and fully intend to check out the fourth – but, at present, my t.v. dance card is full.
baterista9 writes: “As I’ve learned more about the film industry, I’ve gotten the impression that individual divas are in the minority. Am I correct in thinking that most participants “play well with others”?”
Lulu demands a script rewrite. And a bigger trailer.
I was interested to read the news regarding actor Christopher Abbott’s decision to leave the HBO series Girls. The official word is he elected not to return for the show’s third season in order to pursue other opportunities – however the timing of his exit (depending on who you talk to either before or just after production started on season three) suggests there’s more to the story. Rumor has it he split due to “creative differences” with showrunner Lena Dunham. The New York Post cites a source that claims Abbott wasn’t happy with the direction his character was headed. HIS character. Hmmm. I’m reminded of a Vanity Fair article on Sopranos creator David Chase. In the piece, reference is made to a story involving an actor who once told Chase: “”My character wouldn’t say this.” To which Chase responded, “Who says it’s your character?”
So whose character is it? The writer who created him? The actor who plays him? Can we be diplomatic and say they both share in a co-ownership of the character? Sure, I suppose we could. But what happens when there is a creative disagreement? Back when I was on Stargate, the cast would sometimes swing by the office to suggest tweaks to their dialogue, and we were always perfectly willing to accommodate them. Occasionally, they would stop in with concerns about their characters or ideas for future storylines and, again, we were happy to work with them. Episodes like Reunion, Broken Ties, and The Hunt came about as a result of conversations I had with my actors. Of course, these are examples of best case scenarios, amicable collaborative efforts that yielded great results. But what happens in those worst case scenarios where writer and actor have very different takes on “their” character?
I’m reminded of another story, this one told to me by a friend who, back in the day, had written a script for a series he was showrunning. A fairly well-known (at the time) television actor was hired to guest star in the episode. Upon his arrival during prep week, he requested a meeting with my friend and, during the sit-down, asked for a not-so-minor alteration to the script. As written, his character was a loopy doctor who, at episode’s end, is revealed to be a murderer. According to the actor, his fans wouldn’t accept him as a murderer so the script would have to be changed. My friend pointed out that the change would require a wholesale rewrite only days away from production and further reminded the actor that he had already signed on to do the script which he’d presumably read beforehand. But the actor was adamant. The script would have to be rewritten. And my friend was equally adamant. If memory serves me right, the actor ended up shooting the episode under protest and my friend cut around his performance and got the ending he wanted.
Granted, it’s an extreme example, but similar scenarios play out behind the scenes more than you’d think. Remember Katherine Heigl’s ungracious dig at the Grey’s Anatomy creative team when she turned down an Emmy nomination because, according to her: “I do not feel I was given the material this season to warrant a nomination.” (‘Grey’s’ insider calls Heigl’s Emmy comments ‘an ungrateful slap …)? Ouch. Or Community showrunner Dan Harmon’s very public feud with Chevy Chase (‘Community’s’ Dan Harmon tells fans about Chevy Chase feud – Los …)? And then there are all the other incidents you never hear about that are ultimately resolved through some sort of grudging compromise or, in rare instances, with the ouster of one of the combatants (“Hey, I can’t believe they killed off [fill in the blank]!”).
Step back and you can see both sides. On the one hand, the actors object to what they perceive as someone screwing with the character they brought to life; on the other hand, we have the writers taking umbrage with someone dictating the terms of what can and can’t be done with a character they created. There’s no denying both creator and actor make significant contributions to the development of a character, and I think that in those worst case scenarios, a little empathy would go a long way toward resolving the issue. Ideally, each side should understand that the other is greatly invested, creatively and emotionally, in ensuring the character’s best interests.
Ideally.
But if all else fails, I, personally, tend to adhere to the adage: “No one is bigger than the show”.
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Hey, blog regular Ryan “Stitch” Nixon has kindly agreed to do a Q&A for the blog. Ryan was a consultant on Apollo 13, Green Lantern and, most recently Ender’s Game. If you have questions for Ryan, post ‘em!
Received an email from my friend, fellow Hong Kong Movie Nite Crew member, and lover of all things Japanese, Ron Harris, who has a solo exhibit of his photography ongoing at Les Ateliers Lozeau in Montreal. The exposition runs from May 23rd to June 18th with a vernissage featuring his work between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. May 30th. Congrats, Ron!
What if Deadpool became Green Lantern? Dis seem to be de qwestion dis movie try to answer.
Unlike it’s more ambitious predecessors, Green Lantern aspire to be little more den a quasi-entertaining kids movie. And it aktually succeed, offering a uncomplikated story devoid of riveting drama or charakters but also free of de stoopid plot twists dat tipify de genre. GL may not be a great movie, but it certainly not as terrible as monster expekt!
Wit dis ring, I thee kick ass.
A short time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a dangerous creature called Parallax eskape from space prison. He attack a space station manned by alien named Abin Sur, member of intergalactic police force known as De JudoonPeacekeepersRangers Green Lantern Corps! Abin Sur eskape and, seriously injured, crash land on Earth.
Parallax have serious case of dragon breath!
Realizing he be dying, Abin Sur take off his power ring, de source of his power (dats why it be called a POWER ring) and send it off to find someone worthy. It fly off and choose…brash, quippy mercenary test pilot Wade Wilson Hal Jordan, gifting him ability to fly, create giant green hard light constructs out of his imagination, and squeeeeze into tight green spandex outfit. Why it choose Hal? Because he be fearless! Not “missing his amygdalae and literally can’t experience sensation of fear” fearless but “cocky and stoopid” fearless. Er – close enough.
Egghead Eggplanthead scientist – Hector Hammond
Meanwhile, government diskover crashed alien ship and hire nerd scientist, Hector Hammond, to study dead alien. Unfortunately for HH, he end up getting infekted by second alien life form (Parallax) and acquire abilities like mind reading, telekinesis, and literal “fat head”. Also emphysema.
Hal go for a space joyride, get into trouble, and wake up on OA, planet and HQ of De Green Lantern Corps where he meet other weird-looking Lanterns, train, and get showed up by Lantern leader who look like love child of Spock and Clark Gable. But monster not trust dis guy at all. Why not? Becuz his name be…SINESTRO! Come on!
Lanternpaolooza!
Hal return home after deciding being a Green Lantern not for him. But he keep de ring anyway. Just in case. Back in space, we diskover Parallax on his way to OA for revenge. Turn out he a former chairman of de board of OA who went all evil and transformed by de power of fear and de color yellow. Yep. Yellow! Sinestro suggest only way to stop Parallax be to harness power of fear…and yellow…into a ring! Yep! YELLOW!
Would you trust dis guy?
Back at sekret government lab, government agents chatting to Hector Hammond fail to notice his head be expanded to five times its usual size, so Hector able to get drop on dem wit his telekinetic powers. BUT Hal, who changed his mind about de whole Green Lantern ting, show up in nick of time. Why? How he know where to show up? Good qwestion!
Hal find out Parallax planning picnic stopover at Earth on way to OA so he can snack on human fear and power up. Hal fly to OA and tell dem. For some reason, OA be dicks and not want to help. But Hal say he not need help. He just ask dem to let him fight for his world. Hunh? It not made clear why he need deir permission and, after not getting it, he fly back to Earth and do it anyway.
Hal showdown wit Hector. Parallax show up and start feeding on people’s fear. Hal battle him, creating all sorts of silly giant green weapons like catapult and rail gun. It about at dis point in dat me realize Green Lantern be one helluva silly superhero and his powers just slightly less embarrassing den Elongated Man, Matter Eater Lad and Infectious Lass (who, incidentally, Grover dated for five months back in 2011).
Dey take battle to space. Hal use sun’s gravitational pull to defeat Parallax and, before he can get swallowed too, he get reskued by Green Lantern Corps lead by Sinestro! But monster still not trust him. Why not? Because his name be SINESTRO!
Ho hum. LOVE!
Cue compulsory love scene between Hal and his girlfriend. De End.
Except for last quick scene in which Sinestro, for some reason, decide to put on yellow power ring. Oh, wait. Me know reason why.
Because he be named SINESTRO!!!
Verdikt: Me expekting a lot worse. It aktually NOT terrible! But not great either.
Rating: 6.0 chocolate chippee cookies
P.S. Ryan “Stitch” Nixon – Monster want to hear from you! What de inside skoop? Was Parallax a diva?
What it’s about: A father and son find themselves stranded on Earth, roughly a thousand years after humanity abandoned the planet. With dad injured, son must find a way to brave the strange and dangerous new/old world to ensure their survival.
What it’s got working for it: It’s scifi and we all love scifi, don’t we?
What’s it’s got going against it: Just because it’s SF, doesn’t mean it’s good. In fact, more often than not, it isn’t. Also, these father-son outings (starring real life father and son Wil and Jaden Smith) inevitably play like Disney adventures where the threats and suspense are muted by the foregone happy ending. ALSO, it’s directed by M. Night Shyamalan who hasn’t delivered a good movie since The Sixth Sense.
NOW YOU SEE ME
Release Date: May 31, 2013
What it’s about: An elite FBI team faces off against the world’s greatest illusionists turned bad.
What it’s got going for it: An impressive cast.
What it’s got working against it: Despite the out-there premise, it isn’t a comedy.
THE INTERNSHIP
Release Date: June 7, 2013
What it’s about: A couple of out-of-work salesmen land internships at Google. Hilarity ensues.
What it’s got going for it: Will Ferrell is part of the cast. He’s pretty funny.
What it’s got working against it: Didn’t someone declare a moratorium on these Owen Wilson/Vince Vaughn movies?
THE PURGE
Release Date: June 7, 2013
What’s it about: In the not too distant future, the government deals with crime by allowing criminals one annual 12-hour state-sanctioned reign of terror. Just to get it all out of their systems, y’know? On one such night, a family has their lives upended by an intruder who breaks into their gated community.
What it’s got going for it: An intriguing, albeit somewhat silly, premise.
What’s it’s got working against it: An intriguing, albeit somewhat silly, premise.
THIS IS THE END
Release Date: June 12, 2013
What it’s about: Six buddies try to survive the apocalypse, and each other, in this end-of-the-world laugher.
What it’s got going for it: A darkly humorous premise and the always-funny Craig Robison (Daryl from The Office).
What it’s got working against it: I think Seth Rogen is funny too – his movies not so much.
MAN OF STEEL
Release Date: June 14, 2013
What it’s about: Superman.
What it’s got going for it: Brought to you by tremendously talented director Zack Snyder and tremendously talented writer Davis S. Goyer.
What it’s got working against it: I’ve yet to meet a Superman movie I’ve liked.
WORLD WAR Z
Release Date: June 21, 2013
What it’s about: Brad Pitt battles zombies on a world-wide scale.
What it’s got going for it: The book, by Max Brooks, is excellent.
What it’s got working against it: What made the book so great, it’s sequential, multi-voiced narrative, is exactly what makes it impossible to translate to the big screen.
MONSTERS UNIVERSITY
Release Date: June 21, 2013
What it’s about: A young, idealistic Mike Wazowski’s college plans are upended by an all-out rivalry with big-monster-on-campus James P. Sullivan.
What it’s got going for it: I loved Monsters Inc.
What it’s got working against it: It IS a sequel…but I’m cautiously optimistic.
THE HEAT
Release Date: June 28, 2013
What it’s about: A by-the-book FBI agent (played by Sandra Bullock) teams with a loose cannon cop (played by Melissa McCarthy) to take down a drug kingpin.
What it’s got going for it: Melissa McCarthy.
What it’s got working against it: The premise aint exactly fresh.
WHITE HOUSE DOWN
Release Date: June 28, 2013
What it’s about: Terrorists take the White House and only one man – a guy with something to prove and nothing to lose! – can save the President!
What it’s got going for it: I’m going to need more time to think about it.
What it’s got working against it: Didn’t this exact same movie come out a couple of months ago? Only back then, it was called Olympus Has Fallen.
When is a found footage film not a found footage film? When de makers mysteriously bail on de concept two turds of de way thru de movie. Chronicle has distinktion of being de first (mostly) found footage superhero movie. And dat about all dat make it distinkt. It otherwise pretty standard fare.
