Category: Mainstream Entertainment

All posts relating to general happenings in mainstream entertainment, where it’d be movies, television, music, or other things that fall within that bubble.

Chris Benoit Biopic To Be Filmed 2012

Source Article: http://www.wrestlenewz.com/wrestling/wwe-news/chris-benoit-biopic-to-be-filmed-in-2012/

So, if you can’t be bothered to read the article linked above, basically this film company, SRG Films, is gearing up to produce a biopic on Chris Benoit, the former WWE world champion whose career and legacy was forever tarnished by the Benoit murder-suicide thing that made the headlines in 2007 and put the entire wrestling industry under one gigantic microscope. One interesting note about this biopic, set to start shooting in the fall of 2012 for a 2013 release, is actually the company’s first film… yeah, that’s a great way to start up a new portfolio.

In all seriousness, though, I’m somewhat at a loss for words.

Nothing can be said about what happened that hasn’t already been said at this point. I’m not even sure (or convinced, for that matter) that this will even be brought up again, but if it does, it should be an interesting look at one of the more polarizing figures in professional wrestling history… and even more interesting how, if at all, WWE would react to such a film being made, considering all their efforts to ostensibly remove all mention of Chris Benoit from their history banks. Regardless, not quite sure how to think about this other than to say, “Let’s wait and see what happens.”

Whose utility belt is getting stirred?

So that ComingSoon website has leaked pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman get-up from the upcoming Dark Knight Rises flick, which you can check out by clicking here.

Personally, I’m not too keen on the costume… but who knows? Maybe there will be enough stirrings in one’s utility belt to get over it.

The Lucas Speech From 1988

Several days ago, I posted a quote from George Lucas that came from a statement he made before US Congress in 1988 opposing colorization of old films. Digging a little deeper, I discovered the full transcript of that script. Special thanks to the Save Star Wars site for putting this up, along with a rather good reading article surrounding this now-ironic speech. The site in general has a number of interesting reads if you’re willing to take the time. Definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re opposed to the ten million changes made to the trilogy.

Check it out here.

Not feeling too Legendary, aren't we?

From pwpix.net:

Reviews are starting to come out for WWE’s new Legendary movie starring John Cena and things aren’t looking good. Currently on the Rotten Tomatoes website, the movie has a 17% rating with 4 “Fresh” reviews and 19 “Rotten” reviews. Below are some quotes on the movie from top critics:


* Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times: “It’s a feel-good Kleenex™ dispenser of a movie, and there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that, but it’s routine Hallmark Hall of Afterschool Special material.”


* Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: “Legendary is so intent on paying heartfelt tribute to dogged young athletes that it neglects basic story needs.”


* Adam Markovitz, Entertainment Weekly: “A well-meaning dud that’ll put you out faster than a sleeper hold.”


* Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: “The script, by actor turned writer John Posey, has structural problems and motivational issues in between the cliches. And Cena, a few movies into his career, is still all presence and no acting.”


* Rex Reed, New York Observer: “Talk about movies that cannot possibly live up to their titles.”

You know what? I’d probably say something witty or snarky, but honestly, I can’t really use the “Cena portrays an ex-cop off to save his girlfriend from terrorists again” gag because Legendary is actually a drama of sorts. And quite honestly, the movie doesn’t look too bad, so I’ll probably wait until the movie’s release on DVD before I lay judgment… but yeah, the critical reaction makes this feel less Legendary than the film implies.

On the other hand, the Wikipedia entry for Legendary implies that “previews suggest a generous response, with praise given to the serious tone of the film compared to many of WWE Studios’ other efforts, and for John Cena’s improved performance over his earlier roles in The Marine and 12 Rounds. Some criticism has been directed towards inaccuracies in the college wrestling system.”

So I can’t really comment much more than that. But I do have to praise WWE Studios for shifting away from making mindless action movies and diversifying themselves with these types of dramas and comedies. Even if the movies end up being like crap, at least it shows that they’re willing to venture into more heavy material. For that alone, I applaud them.

I just hope that they actually come out with a decent picture. Maybe Legendary might be one of them despite the critical response.

Hulk Hogan: The Next Billy Mays?

According to this article, Hulk Hogan is going back to be a TV pitchman and is aiming to be the next Billy Mays, who was the TV pitch-king until his untimely death in June 2009. Hogan used to do some commercials for Right Guard and the like many moons ago. And he did do an infomercial for his grill a while back.

You know what? I’m about the furthest thing from being a Hulkamaniac as you can get. I honestly don’t care for Hulk Hogan as far as his wrestling and acting careers go… but he could be a great pitchman actually. The next Billy Mays? I doubt it; Mays had that intense energy and charisma that made his informercials exciting and energetic. I doubt Hogan will be able to achieve that level, but he’s got the charisma to be almost as good and maybe make a name for himself in the field.

It’s worth a shot… if he sticks with it. And if he does, I wish him all the best.

Mr. T declares WAR on A-Team remake

So according to this article, Mr. T was offered a cameo in the A-Team remake, but declined due to the fact that the original A-Team’s “light-hearted approach has been replaced by gritty realism” in the new film. Also, he doesn’t care for the fact that in this version, people died and things get sexed up while in the original show, nobody died and sex was down to a minimum – usually an attractive girl or two per show.

Mr. T, you may recall, originally played B.A. Barracus in the original TV show, a role that is filled by UFC fighter Rampage Jackson.

While some might be saddened by the lack of Mr. T in the new movie, give the guy some credit. Unlike Dirk Been-A-Dick, he stuck to his principles and didn’t accept a cameo in a project he didn’t agree with. He didn’t berate the remake either, just said it was vastly different from the show he made famous… although it must be brought up that the show wasn’t necessarily all roses either, but I’ll wait until I check out the movie… when it comes out on DVD.

Roger Ebert HATES 3D… and so should you.

Roger Ebert wrote an article on why he hates 3D and so should you. Click here if you want to read it.

As for me? I always felt that 3D was purely a neat little gimmick to give people incentive to watch movies in theatres rather than wait for the inevitable DVD or Blu-Ray release. And I have to say that Avatar in 3D made for a much better experience than it would have in 2D (because let’s face it – as great as it is visually, Avatar’s story is paper thin).

But do I want 3D as a regular function? Nope.

I like my movies and tv and video games to be 2D… as in on a screen and without the use of glasses. The only 3D I want to see is on a holodeck and that’s it.

Although I have to disagree with Ebert on one thing; Titanic sucks.

Dirk’s Never Happy

First, he’s not happy with new Battlestar because Starbuck is now played by a woman… also something about re-imagined Coke and special sauce or whatever else. Now he says he has no hope for the new A-Team movie.

You want to know the funny thing about it? He made a fucking cameo in that A-Team remake. It’d be one thing if you said the movie had no chance and left it at that… but how much cash did you take to have to make that move?

Damn, I think I know what the problem is.

This isn’t the original Dirk Benedict who stuck to his guns. This is the re-imagined one with double standards.

Har, har.