FormerBondFan
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Favourite James Bond Films: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Mission: Impossible and any upcoming action films starring Pierce Brosnan (no, it's not James Bond which is good because he'll need it to expand his reputation as an actor, especially in the action realm)
Favourite Films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, Mission: Impossible
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Post by FormerBondFan on Aug 22, 2009 14:21:40 GMT -5
www.fandango.com/movieblog/fridayfive:themostentertainingmoviesofsummer2009-584136.htmlFriday Five: The Most Entertaining Movies of Summer 2009 By: Erik Davis on August 21, 2009 at 1:33PMWell, we've just about hit that spot in the month of August when it's time to begin assessing the summer movie season that was. What were the biggest hits and misses? Which films turned out better than you thought they would, or, alternatively, which films turned out worse? There's so much we could go over – from acting performances to best use of special effects, but for this week's Friday Five I'd like to concentrate on which five films turned out to be the most entertaining overall. Here's mine:
1. Star Trek – Kudos to J.J. Abrams and his fanboy crew for transforming what had become a very dull franchise into something new, hip, electric and fun. Their re-vamped version of Star Trek – starring a cast full of hot up-and-coming faces – turned out to be a surprisingly smarter start to a summer season full of big, bold, brain-dead films. Of course the sequel is all we can think about now, but I can't be the only one who's looking forward to another go-round with the Enterprise crew on DVD. 2. Up – Once again Pixar arrived during the summer months to dazzle us with a story so human and so heartwarming that it had audiences tearing up within the first five minutes. Only Pixar would take a chance on an adventurous action movie with a buddy team consisting of a cranky old man and a nosy little boy – but they pulled it off big time, and wound up churning out one of their most entertaining and satisfying movies yet. 3. The Hangover – Every summer movie season needs a dirty, foul-mouthed, R-rated piece of hilarity, and The Hangover was definitely that … times ten. Todd Phillips returned to the big screen with a movie that could've easily been written off as a sequel-of-sorts to his very funny Old School – and the talented combo of Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis was a welcomed departure from the usual comedic standards, helping to propel this sleeper into a spot up top the very short list of this summer's best comedies. 4. Moon – If 2009 will be known for anything, it will be for a much-needed surge of smart, entertaining science fiction movies. Following Star Trek's grand entrance at the beginning of the summer, June brought us a smaller, quieter sci-fi flick about a man stationed on the moon who realizes he's not alone. Sam Rockwell absolutely stole the show, and Duncan Jones (making his directorial debut) immediately became one of two fascinating new directors sure to be entertaining us for years to come. 5. District 9 – The other new director is a guy named Neill Blomkamp, who, along with producing partner Peter Jackson, followed up Moon with this low-budgeted, brainy alien movie that wowed audiences and critics alike to the point where some folks are already talking Oscar nod in at least two categories: Best Screenplay and Best Picture.
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Post by harrypalmer on Aug 23, 2009 5:40:21 GMT -5
I didn't think it was dull.
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FormerBondFan
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Posts: 5,455
Favourite James Bond Films: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Mission: Impossible and any upcoming action films starring Pierce Brosnan (no, it's not James Bond which is good because he'll need it to expand his reputation as an actor, especially in the action realm)
Favourite Films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, Mission: Impossible
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Post by FormerBondFan on Aug 23, 2009 9:21:19 GMT -5
It was Star Trek Nemesis that critics and fans started think that the franchise had become stale.
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FormerBondFan
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Posts: 5,455
Favourite James Bond Films: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Mission: Impossible and any upcoming action films starring Pierce Brosnan (no, it's not James Bond which is good because he'll need it to expand his reputation as an actor, especially in the action realm)
Favourite Films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, Mission: Impossible
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Post by FormerBondFan on Sept 4, 2009 14:56:20 GMT -5
www.newsinfilm.com/?p=23296Trek Returns to IMAX, More Screen Size Debate
Published by Jeff Leins on: September 3rd, 2009
Star TrekAs summer comes to an end, one of the biggest releases of the movie season is going back to the largest screens in the business. Paramount Pictures is re-releasing Star Trek at 85 IMAX locations starting tomorrow (September 4).
Trek’s IMAX run in May was cut short after two weeks by Night at the Museum 2, so it’s getting another shot this month before Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs comes to town on September 18. For a list of Trek locations, skim through the list at TrekMovie.com.
However, fans may be hesitant to pick up IMAX tickets after the debate that raged around the time Trek was released. A rant by Aziz Ansari started a backlash against what is being called “Lie-Max” because of the size difference between the characteristic 72 ft. screens and the average-sized digital theaters also being branded as “the IMAX experience.”
Richard Gelfond, the CEO of IMAX, tried to respond but simply angered more consumers by quoting bogus stats and saying, “Look how great we’re doing” as the stock rose to the highest point since August 2000. Then Gelfond claimed only 2% of moviegoers could tell the difference between the two experiences. Ultimately, IMAX stated there were plans to do “something” about the complaints.
Fast forward a few months and nothing has been done to brand the digital theaters in an honest way. The company is basically ignoring “upset clients” and hoping they go away.
Gelfond is busy touching himself to the stock ticker so Brian Bonnick, IMAX’s senior executive vice president of technology, is fielding questions this month from Popular Mechanics.
Here’s what Bonnick said about the difference: “It turns out that in our large theaters, the field of view in the front row seat happens to be the same as in our [smaller] digital theaters, more or less.” He’s referring to the patent IMAX holds that allows them to remove the first four rows of seats and bring the screen closer to the audience, thus making the experience more immersive. Bonnick continues by providing numbers that admittedly are reassuring, but still don’t compare to the gigantic screens IMAX made a name with.
The seats in the Bob Bullock Museum here in Austin are already uncomfortably close to the 72 ft. screen. I can’t imagine how much closer they’re pushing the seats to make the experience comparable. No one wants to watch a movie with their knees touching the screen. Of course, that’s an exaggeration. Would it be better if I used “more or less” at the end of the sentence?
Again, it comes back to branding. IMAX is a savvy, successful company, that much is clear. However, it should distinguish the difference between massive screens and theaters that have been rearranged to charge a premium. Why not do right by the customers contributing to record-breaking returns?
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FormerBondFan
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Posts: 5,455
Favourite James Bond Films: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Mission: Impossible and any upcoming action films starring Pierce Brosnan (no, it's not James Bond which is good because he'll need it to expand his reputation as an actor, especially in the action realm)
Favourite Films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, Mission: Impossible
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Post by FormerBondFan on Oct 22, 2009 21:11:53 GMT -5
www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26239995-23109,00.html Abrams, Shatner to talk Star Trek over lunch
From correspondents in Los Angeles AAP October 21, 2009 08:23amHOLLYWOOD director JJ Abrams appears set to beam William Shatner up to the Star Trek sequel.
Abrams suffered plenty of criticism from Star Trek fans when he opted not to cast Shatner, the original Captain James T Kirk of the USS Enterprise, in this year's big screen update of the iconic sci-fi film and TV series.
Abrams did cast the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy.
Star Trek was one of the most successful films of 2009, earning almost $US400 million ($430 million) at the worldwide box office and with a sequel set for release in theatres in 2011, Abrams confirmed Shatner may be offered a role.
"I would love to work with him," Abrams said. "We speak. We actually have a lunch date planned."
Abrams opted to make Star Trek a prequel, winding the clock back to the early years of the Star Trek crew with young actors Chris Pine (Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock) and Simon Pegg (Montgomery Scott) filling the lead roles.
While Abrams and screenwriters Bob Orci and Alex Kurtzman managed to find a way to bring Nimoy back, they opted against offering Shatner a role.
The dilemma they faced is examined in The Shatner Conundrum, one of the extra features on the Star Trek DVD.
"It was a foregone conclusion we wanted him in the movie," Abrams explained.
"The problem was his character died on screen in one of his Trek films and because we decided, very early on, that we wanted to adhere to Trek canon as best we could ... the required machinations to get Shatner into the movie would have been very difficult to do given the story we wanted to tell and also to give him the kind of part that he would be happy with.
"It was this thing where it would have felt like a gimmick in order to get Shatner in the movie, which would have honestly, to me, been distracting."
The success of Abrams' Star Trek and the welcome Pine, Quinto, Pegg and other new actors received from Trekkies will make it easier to introduce Shatner into the sequel, Abrams said.
"In terms of moving forward, I am open to anything," Abrams added.
"I feel like the first movie did some of the heavy lifting that needed to be done in order to free us to continue going forward.
"Maybe there's less of a burden and there's going to be more opportunity to work with him (Shatner)."
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FormerBondFan
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Posts: 5,455
Favourite James Bond Films: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Mission: Impossible and any upcoming action films starring Pierce Brosnan (no, it's not James Bond which is good because he'll need it to expand his reputation as an actor, especially in the action realm)
Favourite Films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, Mission: Impossible
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Post by FormerBondFan on Nov 4, 2009 21:55:31 GMT -5
moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/11/02/exclusive-jj-abrams-talks-about-the-possibility-of-recasting-khan-for-star-trek-sequel/EXCLUSIVE: J.J. Abrams Talks About The Possibility Of Recasting Khan For 'Star Trek' Sequel
Posted 11/2/09 3:00 pm ET by Eric Ditzian in News, VideoJ.J. Abrams nailed the recasting of "Star Trek" icons James T. Kirk and Spock for his big screen reboot this past May. The question, "Who in the world could possibly replace William Shatner on the Enterprise flight deck?" was answered with the resounding cry, "Holy crap is Chris Pine good!"
With these casting achievements behind him, Abrams knows he's opened up some creative leeway in terms of replacing characters in the mythology. Could that lead to another go at the franchise's #1 villain, Khan? In a recent interview, Abrams admitted taking on the genetic superfreak would be a challenge, but one no bigger than ushering in new versions of Kirk and Spock.
"I think one of the byproducts of doing this movie was we were able to dispel the obvious and understandable concerns—how can 'Star Trek' possibly exist without those original cast members?" the director explained during a recent interview with MTV's Josh Horowitz. "Now that we are in a parallel existence with what fans of the original series love so much, we could introduce any number of characters, settings, references and situations that the original series introduced. Dealing with Khan would certainly be a challenge, but we had an equal challenge in finding our crew of the Enterprise."
Abrams and his team of writers (Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof) have only just started to discuss story ideas for the sequel. But Abrams promised that in introducing past characters or storylines, the sequel will not become a simple rehashing of old movie or TV episodes.
"While I don’t want to approach the second film as a remake of episodes we’ve seen in the past... nothing is off limits in terms of what we’re discussing," he said. "When Bob Orci and the others who know 'Trek' so well, the fun of working with them is they know this universe so deeply they’re the ones who are always considering what it means to deal with the stuff in the past, so it’ll be exciting."
How do you think Khan should be handled in this new "Star Trek" universe? Do you want to see him in the next sequel? In any subsequent follow-ups? Would you rather see him left out all together?
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FormerBondFan
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Posts: 5,455
Favourite James Bond Films: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Mission: Impossible and any upcoming action films starring Pierce Brosnan (no, it's not James Bond which is good because he'll need it to expand his reputation as an actor, especially in the action realm)
Favourite Films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, Mission: Impossible
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Post by FormerBondFan on Nov 14, 2009 10:22:24 GMT -5
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h65h8ZE89edX2nR7xbu8oIEcyKewD9BUN3HO0'Star Trek Online' to beam gamers to the bridge
By DERRIK J. LANG (AP) – 1 day agoLOS ANGELES — The most iconic setting in "Star Trek" almost didn't make it into the series' online video game.
The developers at Cryptic Studios were focusing on recreating the sci-fi franchise's universe for "Star Trek Online," the upcoming massively multiplayer online game that boldly casts players as captains of their own starship. Yet they were leaving out a crucial location: the bridge. Despite their initial hesitation, the game's masterminds decided to make it so.
"We didn't want to have interiors at launch," said "Star Trek Online" executive producer Craig Zinkievich. "We thought it was just a little bit too much. We really wanted to make sure we delivered a really deep experience, but your bridge not being in the game, it really felt like a hole in the game, and it was just something that we had to put in."
When players design their virtual vessels, they can choose from about 20 different bridges — like one resembling the command centers aboard the famed Enterprises or the brawny Defiant from "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." Zinkievich said the bridges will mostly function as social hubs where gamers can hangout with their bridge officers and other captains online.
The game is set 22 years after the supernova that destroyed the Romulan homeworld and transported an elder Spock and the villainous Nero into director J.J. Abrams' reimagined "Star Trek." Peace between the Federation and Klingons has since evaporated, meaning space combat will play a vital role in the game, though there are still strange new worlds to explore.
"It's familiar, but it's new," said Zinkievich. "We've changed a few things and added a few things to the universe. I think that's what keeps us from stepping on the hardcore Trekkies' toes. The team is made up of 'Star Trek' fans and avid MMO fans, so if we can make a game that doesn't churn our stomach, then I think we can definitely satisfy the fans."
"Star Trek Online" is scheduled for release Feb. 2.
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FormerBondFan
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Posts: 5,455
Favourite James Bond Films: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Mission: Impossible and any upcoming action films starring Pierce Brosnan (no, it's not James Bond which is good because he'll need it to expand his reputation as an actor, especially in the action realm)
Favourite Films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, Mission: Impossible
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Post by FormerBondFan on Nov 14, 2009 14:52:13 GMT -5
ST is out on DVD and Blu-Ray in 3 days, people. I'M THERE!!!!!!!!!!!
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FormerBondFan
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Posts: 5,455
Favourite James Bond Films: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Mission: Impossible and any upcoming action films starring Pierce Brosnan (no, it's not James Bond which is good because he'll need it to expand his reputation as an actor, especially in the action realm)
Favourite Films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, Mission: Impossible
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Post by FormerBondFan on Nov 17, 2009 14:17:42 GMT -5
ST's out today on DVD and Blu-Ray. Anyone here buying it?
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FormerBondFan
00 Agent
Posts: 5,455
Favourite James Bond Films: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Mission: Impossible and any upcoming action films starring Pierce Brosnan (no, it's not James Bond which is good because he'll need it to expand his reputation as an actor, especially in the action realm)
Favourite Films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, Mission: Impossible
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Post by FormerBondFan on Nov 17, 2009 22:37:19 GMT -5
Just bought ST on 2 disc DVD at Walmart tonight. Man....it's selling out VERY fast. There were like 8-10 ST DVDs left when I got there.
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Post by drfanshawe on Nov 18, 2009 6:08:39 GMT -5
Just bought ST on 2 disc DVD at Walmart tonight. Man....it's selling out VERY fast. There were like 8-10 ST DVDs left when I got there. I'd like to watch it again very soon.
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FormerBondFan
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Posts: 5,455
Favourite James Bond Films: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Mission: Impossible and any upcoming action films starring Pierce Brosnan (no, it's not James Bond which is good because he'll need it to expand his reputation as an actor, especially in the action realm)
Favourite Films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, Mission: Impossible
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Post by FormerBondFan on Nov 21, 2009 23:14:05 GMT -5
Is it possible that Nemesis would done better at the box office if Jonathan Frakes directed the movie instead of Stuart Baird?
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FormerBondFan
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Posts: 5,455
Favourite James Bond Films: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Mission: Impossible and any upcoming action films starring Pierce Brosnan (no, it's not James Bond which is good because he'll need it to expand his reputation as an actor, especially in the action realm)
Favourite Films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, Mission: Impossible
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Post by FormerBondFan on Dec 1, 2009 13:33:51 GMT -5
Does anybody here know anyone who hated the new Star Trek film? I have a friend of mine in facebook who told me that ST is was a piece of sh** and would rather watch anything but ST. Plus, he's very Anti-Abrams.
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FormerBondFan
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Posts: 5,455
Favourite James Bond Films: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Mission: Impossible and any upcoming action films starring Pierce Brosnan (no, it's not James Bond which is good because he'll need it to expand his reputation as an actor, especially in the action realm)
Favourite Films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, Mission: Impossible
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Post by FormerBondFan on Dec 1, 2009 13:42:00 GMT -5
Also, a friend of mine is currently this picture shown below as a default on facebook page.
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FormerBondFan
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Posts: 5,455
Favourite James Bond Films: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Mission: Impossible and any upcoming action films starring Pierce Brosnan (no, it's not James Bond which is good because he'll need it to expand his reputation as an actor, especially in the action realm)
Favourite Films: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Harry Potter, Middle-Earth, The Matrix, Mission: Impossible
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Post by FormerBondFan on Dec 3, 2009 18:48:48 GMT -5
www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00029256.htmlHarlan Ellison Wants to Write 'Star Trek' Sequel
December 02, 2009 09:10:51 GMT
The writer who once penned an episode for 'Star Trek' TV series has expressed his willingness to team up with J.J. Abrams for the next installment of the sci-fi film.
Though some names have been attached to write the script for the follow up to 2009 movie "Star Trek", Harlan Ellison does not hesitate to offer himself as the scribe for this upcoming movie project. The acclaimed sci-fi writer who once wrote "The City on the Edge of Forever" episode of "Star Trek" TV series has taken it to his blog to express his willingness to work with director and producer J.J. Abrams for this Untitled Star Trek Sequel.
"Yes, I would likely try to steer him toward the original film idea I was asked to pitch, by the late Gene Roddenberry and a production exec whose name I have blissfully flensed from memory...," the Hugos award winner wrote. "If the very smart Abrams didn't want to go that way, I would be wide-open to rethinking such a film from the git-go."
As of late, Abrams has confirmed that the "Star Trek" sequel will not come as soon as it was expected. Though Paramount Pictures once declared they plan to release it in 2011, the helmer believed the second film will not hit theaters until 2012. Agreeing to Abrams, producer/writer Damon Lindelof said, "Yeah, I think that we would be hard pressed to get it on screens by 2011."
Though "Star Trek" sequel will not happen soon, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and Damon Lindelof have been tapped by the studio to pen the script. Abrams previously sparked rumor that this new film could be made in 3-D, but he is still not sure whether or not he will return as director of the forthcoming movie project.
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