Happy New Year!

These past couple of weekends have definitely raised the bar and expectations for the upcoming films in 2010.

- Simply Avatar itself has shown to be a record breaker at the box office for just the past two holiday weekends reaching just above $1 Billion dollars worldwide, New Years weekend being the biggest grossing ever seen, tightly followed by Sherlock Holmes.
And here is what to expect in 2010

- On the TV show front, Dexter left us in complete astonishment at the loss of Rita- Julie Benz, who’s career from a caring wife of the Serial Killer is moving into a role of a lone stripper landing onto Wisteria Lane, as Debbie, a new addition to our Desperate Housewives.

- As for 2010 film repertoire, these selections coming out will simply blow your mind. And here is to a whole new technology-driven Hollywood.
Martin Scorcese takes on the psychological thriller, novel written by Brad Fischer, “Shudder Island” to a whole new level of absolute craze, starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Ben Kingsley, releasing mid February.
And on the less talked about side of films, Christopher Nolan’s (Batman Series, Memento, The Prestige) “Inception” expected to be released in July is a whole other whirlpool of excitement. Inception is a story about the architecture of one’s mind.


- March 2nd is the opening of Tim Burton’s remake of ALice in Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. With more of a serious tonality of films comes Louis Leterrier’s version of “Clash of the Titans, expected toward the end of March..

-For all the ladies out there, the sequel of Sex in the City is expected to open mid May.
While on the topic of sequels Harry Potter’s last book has been segmented in 2 parts, thus ” Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 will reach theaters early November.

As well as the Twilight Saga series, Stephanie Mayer’s third book, Eclipse is in production as we speak, expected to release late November.
As for the hearthrob vampire Edward Cullen/ actor Robert Pattinson, rumors have it he is not REALLY a vampire… indeed his new film “Remember me ” starring Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper and Emilie de Ravin, is a story about a misguided adolescent living an ordinary life as a real boy. Directed by Allen Coulter, (Hollywoodland, Six feet Under, The Sopranos.), Remember Me is a romantic drama revolving around a young couple and their daily misfortunes that lead them to the true meaning of love.

-As for the more serious side of Raw films, Ridley Scott’s (Blade Runner) Robin Hood reenactment, is taking a whole new turn of Gladiator type films, starring Russell Crowe, Mark Strong and Kate Blanchet, this primal warrior action film might possibly create a whole new box office record in late May.
- While on the theme of raw warrior-like films, Prince of Persia, The Sands of Time, is the remarkable works and recreation of a video game set, of Mike Newell(Pushing Tin, Donnie Brasco). Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which I might add, is looking damn fine, has done an incredible job bouncing off the never forgettable BrokeBack Mountain, as yet again an alpha, macho male. Jake, who has managed to completely transform his body and beef up to fit his role as Prince Dastan in Prince of Persia, has revealed his range of talents. Prince of Persia, is also expected to reach theaters late May, has been in production since 2008, mostly filming in Morocco, North Africa, with close to $150 million budget.
Starring Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina, Prince of Persia is expected to hit another box office breakthrough.

I have to say, I have never seen Manhattan so udderly empty and bare of humans as it was on Christmas Day!
After standing in line at the theaters for 45minutes to purchase movie tickets for Avatar, I have realized where most of New Yorkers were hiding, hence, all show-times were sold out and I was left to settle with the less liked film choices.
Avatar, which came out December 18th, seems to have blown the box office off the roof grossing closely to $73million on approximately 7000 screens in the opening week, which is the highest rating seen for a movie that is neither a remake, a sequel, nor a direct adaptation.
Avatar is second highest grossing December film right after “I am Legend” in 2007, with $77.2million.
Written and directed by James Cameron, Avatar is a fantastical tale about a paraplegic marine dispatched on a unique mission to planet Pandora, who is torn between obeying orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.

Available in IMAX and 3D presentation, Avatar set a new 3D record of $52 million, showing on 3129 3D screens. Previously climbed 3D films followed “Up” with $35.4 and Monsters vs Aliens with $32.7.

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As we are nearing the end of 2009, simply the saddest year in the loss of celebrities, I am going to hurry up and add Brittany Murphy to the dead bunch.
Thirty two year old actress and singer was rushed into Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Sunday morning, after she was found collapsed in her Hollywood Hills home. Firefighters, who responded to the call around 8 am, attempted to revive her on the way to the Hospital, unsuccessfully thus she was pronounced dead a couple of hours later. It is save to say her collapse was due to a cardiac arrest, however the true cause of this detrimental event is yet to be discovered.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office released the autopsy findings on Monday afternoon. The star’s cause of passing has reportedly been “deferred” pending other tests.
The LA County Coroner is now said to be awaiting a toxicology report and studies of the deceased’s organs, tissues and brain.

-Los Angeles Times

Speculations suggest the cause of her death has to do with a drug usage. Authorities have reported, that she has been taking prescription drugs due to a medical condition, however, whether this may caused her death, we will know once the toxicology reports are released.
Murphy’s final public appearance was said to be a fashion event in Los Angeles December 3rd, where she appeared upbeat and lively.

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Apparently I live under a rock since, midst my net browsing I came up on some dramatic news I should have been posting weeks ago. Alas, my slacking, I’ve arranged to indulge you in yet another version of the dramatic outbreaks in the Transformer-land.

Dumbfounded at reading about this call out, I decided to further explore Megan Fox and her attempts at success in the film industry.

Who is Megan Fox? And why does she think she has the right to publicly criticize and insult the man that practically created her?

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Cosmopolitans, high heels and sheer, the ladies are back in town filming this Fall.
The hype has already been started with the casting calls of extras that crazed New York women in a frenzy.

Director Michael Patrick King the man in charge of the City Gals for over 80 Tv episodes and the first Film in 2008 is now back on his game recapping another feature of 1998 TV series, “Sex and the City 2″

Lets hope this No. 2 will find a way to redeem itself from the first feature- which I personally thought of as a flook. Although there isn’t much to expect when it comes to a feature film based off of a TV series - plot line that repeats itself.

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Born in February of 1950, John Hughes, died while walking in Manhattan from an instant heart attack August 6th 2009. He was 59 years old. Known by his craft in the film-industry, Hughes was an American film director, writer and producer.
He became what we remember of him today as the hit writer/director of the 1980’s with classics such as “Breakfast Club” “Sixteen Candles”, “Pretty in Pink” “Home Alone 1&2″, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” “Ferris Bueller’s Day off”, “National Lampoons Vacation” and many more.

Hughes dropped out of the University of Arizona in 1970 to begin his career as an advertising copywriter in Chicago. read more…

As charming as it sounds, running into a movie set, after a while it is just too much.
So is the Greenpoint, Brooklyn hood the place to be these days?
I had the chance to speak with a few of my neighbors today, to find that their irritation about the abundance of trailers crowding the streets, and cranes blasting light in their house windows, is becoming simply unbearable.

As a film lover myself, I found it quite exciting bumping into a film set, although the ratio of film sets just within my block has cracked some boundaries.

“The thrill is gone. As far as I m concerned, this is a nuisance,”; shopkeeper Larry Moore told The New York Post. “This is of no benefit to anyone around here”

This evening a crazy car chase scene took place starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan in the upcoming film “A couple of Dicks”/ “Cop Out” (title is work in progress) directed by Kevin Smith (Silent Bob from Clerks)

Earlier, just a few blocks away, Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler were getting cozy in the film “The Bounty” directed by Andy Tennant ( Fools Rush in, Sweet Home Alabama )
Now this crew was kind enough to show mercy to the respected residents by offering them to sign up as extras for $75/day, however as many of them did, were, of course, played fools- since the crew brought in their own extras! Funny how that goes!

Now Martin Scorcese jumps in this mix as the director of HBO pilot “Boardwalk Empire” starring Steve Buschemi. Although its been said , they mostly have been filming on private property, their trailers are still occupying most of resident’s parking spaces.

And if thats not enough for Greenpoint-ers, lets add on some more shiny bright lights for TV show “Royal Pains” shooting this past weekend. “Date Night” starring Tina Fey and Steve Carrell, director Shawn Levi (Night at the Museum) and Disney’s romance flick “Step up 3-D”

As far as Hollywood goes, if they got the budget to film, they should’ve at least provide their own parking spaces!

Remarkably enough I feel that 2010-Hollywood is preparing for a NYC scenery filled film screens- all within the same block- how purely original?!

What a sad day to remember!
Farrah Fawcett, 62, died today in Los Angeles after battling a long term war with anal cancer.
Her last strength in this battle was the courage to share her every miserable step in her attempt of recovery with the world on NBC’s “Farrah’s Story.”
This all- American beauty celeb is to be remembered as one of the post-feminist Hollywood film stars with a solid 30 years career under her belt.

Amongst all, the one thing every woman can ask for is the Farrah Fawcett’s hair!

I have provided you with a video that can bring you up to date with this classic film star.

And who else could possibly steal Farrah’s thunder but the “King of Pop”, Michael Jackson.
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Administrator’s log
Star date- 313582.3180809234

In the recent weeks I ve been letting my inner nerd come out, making remarks to my peers, paralleling minor day to day events to Harry Potter, Star Wars and Star Trek.

Perhaps my need to reveal my Sci-Fi kid is because of the gentleman sitting behind me in the movie theater commenting about Star Trek: “Well, it wasn’t great, but I suppose it was entertaining.” And to this I turned around and flipped him the Vulcan bird saying. “Live long and prosper, punk.” I’m sure he is still bemused.

Admittedly ashamed, I doubted the genius behind the new Star Trek movie. The idea that young actors could take over the roles of the characters we’ve come to know and love for generations was simply stupid. Chris Pine was hilarious in “Bottleshock”, but no Captain Kirk. Little did I know that Star Trek would tie my movie record of 3 sit-ins to Beauty in the Beast in 1991. My mother put up with my fanaticism somehow.

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At times a little bit of history is a good thing, even if we played hooky from time to time growing up. So, at this moment I would like to step out of the realm of Hollywood and branch out into the world of television.
HBO, otherwise known as Home Box Office, has presented thousands upon thousands of people with the opportunity to comfortably sit on their couches with the divine knowledge that a program of substance will unfold in front of their eyes. After all, HBO has given us “The Sopranos”, “Flight of the Conchords”, “Sex in the City”, “Rome”, “The Wire”, and last night premiered the television movie “Grey Gardens”.

Two days ago I came across a new series. It was bound to be a sensation: after all its not TV:it’s HBO! So without hesitation I began to watch “Alice”, a new series produced by HBO Ole. I don’t speak a word of Spanish, so I read the subtitles, but as the show progressed I noticed a strange thing; why are they speaking Spanish? read more…

I need to get Rowling’s number and let her know that Hagrid is ALLIIVEEE!!! And Joaquin Phoenix is one hell of a comedian.

As they say all great artists steal, and Ben Stiller did his best to thieve the very soul from Joaquin at the Oscars, but my friend, Joaquin is one of a kind deal. Sure I laughed my ass off at Stiller’s presentation. Isn’t that the point? Isn’t it all a joke? Isn’t it? Isn’t it?? Am I going crazy thinking about it?!!
Alright, you’ve got me. It’s true. I am Joaquin Phoenix groupie. I spend nights cuddling with my pillow watching “Walk the Line” quietly sobbing like there’s no tomorrow.The HE-man great actor has left the building to perform sad rap for two-year old’s in a Yenta get-up. Why Joaquin, why??!!
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Remember when TV only had a few channels, thus leaving us with just a few choices of committing to a favorite TV show? It felt so easy to pick a channel then. Maybe the lack of remote kept us on the same channel longer. Even so, most shows then ran for decades, unlike the breaking pattern of today’s TV show cancellations.
Starting with as early as when TV actually became a fad in the 1950’s, the first comedy show aired in black and white; the well known “I love Lucy”, starring Lucilla Ball, and her husband at the time Desi Arnaz. During the Vietnam war, in 1965, the “Johnny Carson’s Show began, and aired for the following 3 decades. Still on air today, the talk show takes its popularity in 5 different sections of the evening, with 5 different talk show hosts.
Following in the 1960’s, ushered in a few classic selections of TV entertainment such as “The Dick Van Dyke Show”, “Gunsmoke” “Andy Griffith’s Show” and “Bewitched”.
“All in the Family” and the “Brady Bunch” took over the early 70’s. Resolving the issues of its revolutionary times such as the outcomes of divorces, which were timidly looked down upon then. Most of these classics embellished a sense of joy and slight comedy in the eyes of American viewers.
Now, remember “Dynasty”? read more…

And the Oscar went to:

“Slumdog Millionaire” for best director (Danny Boyle), best picture, film editing, cinematography, sound mixing, adapted screenplay, original score and original song. In second place comes in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” for best art direction, makeup, and visual effects. In third place this year, follows “The Dark Knight” for best supporting actor, Heath Ledger and sound editing. Milk got best actor-Sean Penn and original screenplay by Dustin Lance Black. For best animated feature of 2008 Wall-E took the cake. Best costume design goes to the “Duchess”.

Further nomination winners go as follows:

“Man on Wire” for best documentary feature

“Smile Pinki” for short documentary

“La Maison en Petitis Cube”s for animated short film

“Spielzeugland (Toyland)” for live action short film

“Departures ” for best foreign film

So what did you think? Did the new producers of the Oscars stood up to their expecatations of Academy Award improved presentation

Would you agree with Danny Boyle who included in his speech during his oscar collection, that the show was “bloody excellent” ?

If you ever wondered why they are so similar, here is the pitch!

First of all, the “Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, which has been on for 3 decades, in 1992 was replaced by Jay Leno’s Tonight’s Show. After 30 years of entertaining the general viewers comedian Johnny Carson retired. Too bad the trademark line announcement didn’t stick- “Heeeeere’s Jaaayyyy Leeeno!”
However, Carson’s original replacement should have been David Letterman, the host of the original Late Night Show, who later on resigned his Late Night Show and signed a contract with CBS to run a talk show opposite of the Tonight Show, he called “Late Show with David Letterman”
Late Night than was taken over by Conan O’Brien and has started broadcasting on NBC in 1993. Conan was not much of a fan in the beginning, thus NBC was constantly on the verge or firing him, however could not find a quality replacement.
Now after sixteen years of great bouncy hair-ness and Conan being precariously hilarious, he has signed a contract to step down as the host of the Late Night Show. His successor of course, is Jimmy Fallon, in which case can shape and form his own special Late Night. Thus, his version of Late Night is scheduled to start March 2nd of 2009.
Now, where is Conan going? read more…

Producer Laurence Mark(Dreamgirls, I Robot, etc) and writer/director Bill Condon (creator of Dreamgirls) have taken upon themselves to produce this years Oscars, with the goal to present a new and improved Acedemy Award Oscars, and re-establish it as an event worth watching this year.
Of course, as each year, the 81st Academy Award Oscars will be held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, on February 22nd, and it will air live on ABC.

Most of the TV viewers have slipped away from watching the Oscars in the previous years due to the tremendous amount of repetition in its 3 hour ceremonial performance, thus with today’s technology no one really has time to watch a show for 3 hours just to discover the film winners of the previous year.
Why all that trouble when you can log in online and find everything out in just a matter of minutes.

Indeed, being the executive producers of this years Oscars, this is exactly Condon’s and Laurence’s prerogative; To bring back TV viewers, and surprise them with actual 3 hour enjoyment; a party; bringing a unique perspective to the Oscars, rather than the expectancy of repetition from the previous years.
So, they are making a few changes, although sounding impossible, they are willing to give it a go.

Knowing that something new and fresh is cooking behind the minds of these talented filmmakers, does it make you intrigued to announce your Sunday three weeks from today, clutched to your sofa at 8pm?

So, what are these supposed changes that would help raise the TV-viewers population? read more…

Born in February, 1994, in Conyers, Georgia, Dakota Fanning loved to role play and act. She was a natural.
Soon after her parent’s discovery of her acting talents, they moved to Los Angeles.
Fanning’s first gig was a Tide commercial.
She was last seen as Lily Owens in the film “The Secret Life of Bees”. She is 14 years old.
In her latest exhibition, she plays a psychic of sorts, aiding Chris Evans in the attempts to put down an evil company. She does not seem 14years of age but at all.. indeed she has grown.

Suddenly she appears to have grown up. We all get used to our child actors staying children. What happens when they grow up?

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Golden Globe Awards 2009 celebrated their 66th anniversary held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Sunday, Jan. 11th.
Amongst the diversity of surprises, I would say, movie choices and awards this year, one came to mind.

Mickey Rourke wins best actor for a role in his latest production “The Wrestler”

Now, why does this come as such surprise to us film lovers?
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John Joseph Travolta a well known actor, who won over his audience in the all time classics Staying Alive(1983) and Saturday Night Fever(1977) has had quite a difficult first week of the New Year.
His son Jett, born April 1992, was known to have regular seizures in his early childhood due to a rare disease called the Kawasaki Syndrome-an inflammation of the middle sized arteries and blood vessels that affects organs including the heart.
Upon their vacation in the Bahamas over the holidays, the Travolta family endured a sad travesty of the loss of their son on Friday, January 2nd, 2009. read more…

To all you film lovers, here is what you can expect during the Holidays;
Just in Case you find yourself shuffling through old family albums again, eating Christmas Dinner left overs or have a slight hangover, check out the flicks coming out on Christmas Day!
First off, start with the romantic comedy “Marley and Me”. A puppy love wraps the hearts of Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anniston. Or better yet, if your company is child friendly, indulge in Adam Sandler’s fantasy trivia “BedTime Stories”
Also, the man who gets younger each day is really, Brad Pitt, in the “Curious Case of The Benjamins”
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1950’s Pin-Up Girl Queen, Bettie Moe Page died Thursday evening 12/11/08 at the hospital in Los Angeles. She had suffered a heart attack a week prior, where she never regained consciousness. She was 85 years old.
Bettie Page was the most photographed woman in the world.

Born on April 22nd, 1923 in Nashville, “Bettie Page embodied the stereotypical wholesomeness of the Fifties and the hidden sexuality straining beneath the surface,” authors Karen Essex and James L. Swanson wrote in their 1996 book “Bettie Page: The Life of a Pin-Up Legend.”

She was one of 6 children in her family. Page and her 2 sisters were sent to an orphanage, after her father was arrested for having sexually molested her. She was only 13 years old.
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