EVEN MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE... Those screencaps that I posted in this last entry may have belonged to a fan-made film, but the image above is from the actual Transformers: The Movie website. There is not much on this page yet...except for some dramatic music, a countdown to next year's release date and that cool close-up of a robotic eye. The question is...does that eye belong to an Autobot or a Decepticon? Probably a Decepticon...since it looks pretty sinister. Yep. Obviously.

That is all.

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE... Last Tuesday, Cinescape.com posted a link to a website that had a cool video clip of Optimus Prime transforming from truck into Autobot mode. This was just an early CGI test for Transformers: The Movie, but needless to say, the CGI looked awesome! I just might be looking forward to this film when it comes out next year. But one question remains: Will the Dinobots be in it?? Just kidding. Click here to view the Quicktime clip.




EDIT: I heard that this video clip is most likely fan-made, but whatever... It still rocks!

THE ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION OF THE STAR WARS TRILOGY TO BE RELEASED ON DVD??? BAH!! So contrary to George Lucas’ assertion that he’s sorry that fans "fell in love with a half-made film (alluding to Episode IV: A New Hope)", he’s planning to release the 1977, ’80, and ’83 versions of the first three Star Wars films out on the digital format this September 12. Nooo! Why did he have to give in to the purists??? Now the question is... Do I support the Lucas critics' claim that die-hard Star Wars fans will buy anything that the Dude From Modesto conjures up and puts out in stores, or do I draw the line and let my potential copy of the upcoming DVDs collect dust on a Best Buy shelf? Considering the fact I like the Special Editions (except for that new, lame-ass music number in Jabba’s Palace in Return of the Jedi), I think I’ll decline on buying the new DVDs. What’s even worse is that both the 2004 versions and the original versions of the films will be included in the new set, making me spend $50 on the previous package for nothing. Arg! Screw the purists!! ALL HAIL GREEDO SHOOTING FIRST!!!

Click here to read up on this sad, sad news. If you're not a purist.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III... Despite the fact I have to see the first one again to get the story, and I didn’t watch the second one directed by John Woo, can’t wait till M:I:3 comes out this Friday! I currently work at Paramount Pictures, which financed the film (and where Tom Cruise’s production company is located), so I’ll be able to watch it for free at the lot next weekend. Paramount-produced films are generally screened all 3 days at the lot on opening weekend, but I should be able to watch it on Friday after work. Below are screenshots from the film. Bring on the 2006 summer movie season!







UPDATE (May 6): I watched M:I:3 twice at Paramount Studios yesterday (there were two employee screenings, one at 6:30 PM and the other 9 PM), and I would have to say it was a really good film. Fun too, obviously. Philip Seymour Hoffman is one sadistic, badass dude (damn you, Capote!!), I feel bad for Felicity, Ving Rhames and Laurence Fishburne are hilarious, and Maggie Q and Michelle Monaghan (who plays Tom Cruise’s wife in the film) are hot. And of course, Cruise and J. J. Abrams rule. I’m probably not gonna watch it again at a regular theater, since paying for a ticket would defeat the purpose of watching it for free at the studio where it was produced (haha), but I’ll definitely buy it when the DVD comes out! Hope I don’t get in trouble for mentioning this, but I’ve been to the office where the DVD package is currently being designed. M:I:3 is gonna be released on High-Def!! Woohoo!!

...

No wait, does my DVD player even play HD DVD?? Uhhh...

INSIDE MAN... I watched the new Spike Lee film today, and needless to say, it was more entertaining than He Got Game or Summer of Sam...which, in case you’re wondering, are the only other flicks by the New York Knicks-loving filmmaker that I saw. Haha. I’ll get around to watching Malcolm X or Jungle Fever someday. Not really. Anyways, back to Inside Man... Maybe the reason why I actually watched the film was because I always think people who wear hoods look cool (which is why I think Jedis and Sith Lords—mostly Sith Lords—are the coolest characters in the Star Wars franchise). Or the fact that there’s something interesting about characters whose faces are masked for much of the whole movie (which is why I watched V for Vendetta...other than for Natalie Portman. I like how she’s shaved... Really shaved... Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm talking about her bald scalp). Of course, the reason why this journal entry is completely incoherent is because I can’t say anything about the film without ruining the story for those of you haven’t seen the movie yet. YET. If you’re wondering why Clive Owen holds that bank under seige, watch the film now. NOW.

I’ll stop annoying you with this entry now.

EDIT: Can't wait till The Sentinel comes out. The upcoming film stars Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria and Kim Basinger...and is about a Secret Service agent who is accused of plotting to assassinate the U.S. President. In a very surprising move, Kiefer Sutherland plays another special agent who is tasked with finding the real would-be assassin...which makes this role a lot different from Kiefer's role as Jack Bauer in 24. No wait...

"REMEMBER, REMEMBER... THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER..." That line was by V, the terrorist/hero in V for Vendetta, which made around $26.1 million at the box office this weekend. I watched it yesterday, and needless to say, I want that mask!! Haha, j/k. But seriously though, the film was quite interesting. It pretty much touched on every current-day news item except that rat-squirrel that was found in Laos more than a week ago (Click here for more news on that). What really intrigued me in Vendetta was that (Spoilers ahead for those who haven't seen the movie yet) we never got to see V’s face in the film...though what was inferred from one flashback in the story was that he didn’t have eyes. Of course, it was understandable that V’s identity remain a secret throughout the movie. I think it would detract from the filmgoing experience if Natalie Portman’s Evey Hammond character removed V’s mask, only to reveal the scarred face of Agent Smith underneath. V: "Ms. Hammond, welcome baaack. Weee miiissed yoouuu." (End Spoilers.) Please don’t make me ruin the joke by telling you which movie that came from.


So anyways, what’s next to see at the theater? The Da Vinci Code, X-Men 3: The Last Stand, and Pirates of the Carribbean 2: Dead’s Man Chest. Oh wait— Those movies don’t come out till May and July, respectively. I guess I’ll kill time beforehand by pondering about why I hate MySpace so much. Haha! Later.

SPIDER-MAN 3... Just so you know, these aren't black & white images of the web-slinger. Spidey will indeed be dressed in black for the Must-See Movie of 2007. Now which version below is an accurate depiction of the costume? Hmmm...


The image on the left is courtesy of the official Spider-Man website

UPDATE (March 10): Spider-Man 3 has begun filming today in the New York Street backlot at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. I'm not gonna divulge anything, since I didn't see what was going on (I was too busy driving around the lot during work...and I like having that thing called a job, haha), except to say I saw Director Sam Raimi in person when I visited the set after the shoot was wrapped for the day. That was cool.

UPDATE #2 (March 17): Since I obviously wasn't the one who took these pics, I guess it's safe to post up these photos (err, hopefully)...especially considering the production crew was still preparing the set at the time these images were shot (New York Street looked really awesome once it was completely dressed for filming). These photos are courtesy of SuperheroHype.com.





UPDATE #3 (March 23): Spider-Man 3 wrapped up filming at New York Street two days ago, but continued filming in Stage 18 (where the classic Sunset Boulevard and the soon-to-be released Mission: Impossible 3 were shot) up until yesterday. I saw Kirsten Dunst outside Stage 18. She was driving around in a small green golf cart. Oh, and Tommy Lee Jones was filming a commercial outside nearby Stage 9 and the Assembly Stage. That was cool.


UPDATE #4 (March 24): Hmm... Looks like they weren't done filming, after all. I visited New York Street after I caught a free screening of the Pierce Brosnan film, The Matador (funny movie) at Paramount Theater this evening, and a night scene was being shot. I obviously won't go into specifics here, but there was one actress from the previous film who I saw. Her name is Mageina Tovah, and she plays Ursula (the dorky daughter of Peter Parker's landlord Mr. Ditkovich), who handed Parker a slice of cake in Spider-Man 2. Or I think that was her, haha. Anyways, that's all. Below are two photos that I took of the Daily Bugle van and the New York cabs as they were parked near soundstages on the Gower side of the Paramount lot.





UPDATE #5 (March 25): For more photos that I took at Paramount Studios, click here. C'mon, that page needs hits!

The 78th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS... Revenge of the Sith losing the Best Make-up category to (Chronic)les of Narnia was expected, Crash beating out Brokeback Mountain to win the ultimate trophy was not. However, Crash winning the Best Picture Oscar was not a surprise, considering it is an exceptional film. Also, unlike Brokeback, I actually watched the Paul Haggis film. On DVD, that is... Haha. On the television side of things, Prison Break returns to FOX on Monday, March 20th at 8:00 PM PST. Does that mean it airs right before 24?? Holy cow!! Now I know my Monday nights are definitely off-limits to doing other things! Mike Scofield rules!

78th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS... I was gonna write a long-ass Blog about the Oscars mostly to talk about Revenge of the Sith and its many technical nominations (heheh)...but since it got robbed of even the Best Visual FX Award (making this the only Star Wars film to not be nominated for visual effects), there's no need. Sith got nominated for Best Make-up, but the chances of it winning that are nil (considering The Chronicles of Narnia and Cinderella Man have also been thrown into the mix). We all know the cowboy "romance" film Brokeback Mountain is gonna win Best Picture, so let's cut the BS speculation crap on that one. But will Commodus- err, Joaquin Phoenix take home an Oscar for Walk the Line? We'll see. At least ILM got a nomination for War of the Worlds and John Williams got nominated for his score on Munich, but... Bah! No kudos to Rob Coleman and Company for kung-fu fighting Yoda this time around. But Sith did win the People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture and Favorite Movie Drama, as well as the Teen Choice Award for, um, Choice Movie: Action/Adventure. But those awards are meaningless compared to the gold statuette designed by MGM art director Cedric Gibbons (I'm too lazy to elaborate). 'Kay, I'm out. I have better things to do with my time. Like pay off a bill that's due tomorrow.


BEST VISUAL FX... General Grievous and Company are out...


...the Tripod is in.

EDIT: Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) gets a Raspberry nomination for Worst Supporting Actor of 2005 (for the record, isn't he the LEAD actor in Sith? He obviously has more screentime than Ewan McGregor)... Razzies.com should be nominated for Worst Webpage of 2005. GOD, that site is slow. And don't tell me it's because a lot of people are actually visiting it.

Tristan & Isolde... What kind of friggin' title is that?? Oh wait, this story is based on an actual Arthurian legend. Whatever, the title still blows. 'Kay, move along... Move along...