Media MindField

There is a difference between awesome and brilliance…If it wasn’t for the month of January 2010 I may never have known it. Earlier this month I had a chance to play what probably represents pure awesomeness in Bayanetta, a frenetic and fluid action game that lives up to its non-stop climax reputation. This week, we’ve gotten to play pure brilliance in Mass Effect 2 (ME2).

On 1/22/10 the Starz cable network debuted one of the best entries in a cable TV. series…EVER, Blowing past H.B.O and Showtime with a concept not new, but fresh. The series I’m talking about is “Spartacus: Blood and Sand”, yes the same Spartacus made famous by the legendary Kirk Douglas but waaaaaaay more “untamed”.

Take 5 or 6 people, mix up age, gender and race, put them in a diner in the middle of nowhere (the Arizona or Nevada desert) and have them face off with an unspeakable horror…oh and make sure to stack the odds against said people. Seen this before…? YES, of course you have, dozens of times, so have I but this is basically what the film “Legion” is about.

Well we knew Mr. Webb had some new ideas…but who knew.

It’s being reported that Marc Webb(who?) music video director and director of that enormous blockbuster “500 days of Summer”, is going to be directing Spiderman4, this is final according to Sony pictures. Webb is quoted saying “I’m not taking over the series from Sam Raimi but instead I want to take this opportunity for new ideas, stories and histories  that will add a new dimension, canvas and creative voice to Spiderman”. Ohhh please lord no! He is also going the “teenage” Peter Parker route. What is going on with these decision makers? Are they willingly trying to destroy a Marvel comics icon because they can(Sony pictures)? Someone at Marvel headquarters better buy the rights back to their beloved character before some Hollywood douche’s make him a tool. No Neil Blomkamp (District 9), no Lexi Alexander (Punisher War Zone), not even a Zack Snyder? C’mon, C’MON! Anyway that’s the latest, sorry for my rant. Please chime in with ANY comments. Sir M

Wassup comic book movie fans! All this week the web has been buzzing with the news that Sam Raimi, Tobey McGuire and Kirsten Dunst…all  three Spiderman’s key players are out, through, kaput with the franchise. Why? Because of a contractual development deadline and mostly creative differences between the director(Sam Raimi) and Sony pictures. A final serviceable script wasn’t agreed upon after several drafts and writers. Also, some say a dispute over who the main villain was to be (Raimi wanted the Vulture w/John Malkovich filling the role).Well, now Sony has no “tent pole” May 2011 release and they are scrambling to “reboot” the franchise. damn, why can’t they let the series die with dignity? It’s a cash cow and we all know money is the only bottom line in Hollywood. I’ve read and heard all kinds of bullshit regarding the next steps, one the bullshit rumors is Sony going in a “grittier” direction with the character, Whaaat!!! Have any of these execs even read a Spiderman comic, that’s like making Richie Rich “edgy” or Archie a street pimp…utterly stupid. A few directors names have been tossed into the hat to pick up the series and I know from a reliable inside source that two names being heavily considered were Robert Rodriguez and Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy).Personally I feel if either of these two pick up the series there may be hope yet ,we’ll keep you posted  Sir M.

I’ll start by saying that I am a true fan of the directors of this film, the Hughes Bros. Allen and Albert the twin black film makers with a track record of good to great films, their best in my humble opinion being “Menace to Society” with “From Hell” a close second, that is until now.”The Book of Eli” is their first directorial effort in 9 yrs and they show no signs of rust or slowdown. This film may be their best yet, wait…it is.