At ABC It’s No Longer As Easy As 123
The struggling Alphabet network, whose fall schedule will be unveiled Tuesday, is expected to drop Spin City, Dharma & Greg, The Job, Philly and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire from its prime-time roster. (Millionaire will likely be back in special limited runs.)
In “Star Wars- Episode II: Attack Of The Clones” Samuel L. Jackson got his own distinct Light Sabre.
Some surprises and some expected cancellations as NBC announces its new fall schedule.
‘X-Men’ Special Edition DVD Gets ‘X’-tra Special Treatment
With Spider-Man building upon the comic book phenomenon that X-Men first enjoyed in 2000, it’s no surprise that Fox is planning a Special Edition X-Men DVD. What is surprising is the rumored contents of said DVD.
Not only will there be more “making of” features and an audio commentary from director Bryan Singer, but the Special Edition DVD will also have new footage.
And we’re not talking deleted footage here.
Apparently, Fox approved additional funds in the budget of the sequel (X2) for Singer and cast to shoot additional footage for X-Men with the sole purpose of inclusion on this new DVD. While no details have been released on the content of this new footage, it is rumored to be origin footage of some of the other mutants, namely Storm and Cyclops.
This would be the first time in history in which new footage would be shot specifically for the DVD release of a completed (and released) movie.
Original-trilogy DVDs delayed
Star Wars fans will have to wait at least three years for the release of the original trilogy on DVD, according to the only source that counts: George Lucas.
“Probably, when I finish this (trilogy),” Lucas said when asked to expect the DVD debuts of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi.
Lucas says he has been too busy preparing Thursday’s release of Episode II — Attack Of The Clones and will be too busy making Episode III, slated for theatrical release in 2005.
“We don’t have time to do it, to be honest with you,” Lucas said. “And the other ones don’t have any of the materials (such as the high-tech extras he gave fans on The Phantom Menace DVD).”
Because background materials were not archived as much in the 1970s and ’80s, Lucas says it will be a challenge to dress up the original Star Wars trilogy.
“So it’s going to be harder to put together a worthwhile DVD.”
Episode I — The Phantom Menace was released on DVD last October.
I Always Thought “8 Is Enough”
George Lucas answers why 6 is enough.
It’s A Big New DVD Day In The Neighbourhood
Here’s a preview of the major new DVD releases for tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12, 2002:
The X-Files: The Complete Fifth Season- This beautifully packaged fifth season of “The X-Files” is where fans that don’t want their hearts broken should stop. The show, starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, would decline soon afterwards, with even creator Chris Carter unable to find any convincing new wrinkles in the wildly paranoid, wildly complicated conspiracy at the heart of the series. The truth may be out there, but I can’t be bothered.
The Others- A horror story about a mother and her two children that’s rather tame for anyone who’s ever watched “The Twilight Zone.” But it’s a beautifully made film on every level, with Nicole Kidman delivering a terrifically focused performance and looking every inch the proper heir to Grace Kelly.
The Original Transformers- Out of nowhere, “Transformers” has become the hot revival of the year. The ’80s series about a battle for universal domination has spawned a new comic book series that sold out immediately all over the country. (In the old days, that would mean the publishers would print a bunch more. Today it means frustrated fans, with greedy collectors who sit on their mint copies and dream of more money via E-Bay in a few years.) Adding to the nostalgia is this terrific compilation from the first season. Rhino gives this once dorky show its typical tender loving care via lots of extras.
Marilyn Monroe: The Diamond Collection II- Yep, Marilyn Monroe could act. She appeared in more decent films than you remember, though ironically it’s the awful Seven Year Itch (featured in Diamond Collection I) that produced her most iconic moment. Here you have mostly smaller roles, but you can’t go wrong with Joseph Cotton (in Niagara) or the Marx Brothers (indulging in a little Monkey Business). Nothing revelatory, but fans will appreciate the velvet glove treatment: Monroe always needed it.
Old Yeller- Like the best Disney movies, this is tougher than you remember. Our young hero has quite a little temper on him (and it isn’t noticeably tamed by the end) while life on the frontier is appropriately brutal. It’s still shocking to see Old Yeller turn vicious after getting rabies and still sad to hear that final gun blast. The film’s given deluxe treatment (complete with a second DVD loaded with extras), and there are similar sets for the silly fun of Swiss Family Robinson (featuring many of the same actors).
From Hell- This retelling of the Jack the Ripper crime spree never comes to life and certainly never captures the quirky grandeur of the groundbreaking graphic novel its based on. But Johnny Depp gives his usual, eccentric and exciting performance and he’s matched scene for scene by Robbie Coltrane. Since the directors (the Brothers Hughes) practically went to film school by listening to commentary tracks on laser disc, you can depend on them for good insight.
IT’S THE GLADI-EATER
A British paper reports “Gladiator” heartthrob Russell Crowe is now fighting flab in preparation for his next big warrior movie role.
Britain’s Sun newspaper says Crowe has packed on more than 20 pounds since his flex-flaunting role as general Maximus – and needs to tone up for a new role as a seafaring war hero.
The paper says Crowe hired a former star of the television show “Gladiators” to whip him into shape.
Lourene Bevaart, a martial-arts expert known as Glacier on the Australian version of the show, has signed on to be his personal trainer.
The new film, “The Far Side of the World,” stars Crowe as navy Capt. Jack Aubrey, a hero of the Napoleonic wars.
But “Captain Jack” needed to cut down on the booze and fatty foods, and has embarked on a rigorous training regimen to get himself shipshape, the paper says.
Shooting is set to begin next month in Mexico. The epic will be directed by Peter Weir.
Crowe is coming off rave reviews – and lingering controversy – over his portrayal of a schizophrenic math genius in “A Beautiful Mind.”
Some panned the movie for omitting mathematician John Nash’s supposedly close relationships with men and his divorce and remarriage. The film’s supporters countered that the criticism was part of a sleazy campaign to help the film’s competition on Oscar night.
His work on the other side of the camera may be a warm-up for his directorial debut later this year.
The film, titled “The Long Green Shore,” is set in the South Pacific just after World War II.
WEEZER- “Maladroit”
Most bands toil and sweat to come up with an album’s worth of songs. Weezer sounds as if it has the opposite problem–stopping the flood. “Maladroit” (in stores Tuesday) comes just a year after the L.A. band’s last album, and its tuneful music flows out with uniform force. When it stops after 35 minutes, it’s as if the band simply decided it was time to twist the shut-off valve.
There’s none of the rise-and-fall complexity so many musicians use to make their records seem as important as novels, none of the clean, regimented sound that prevails in punk-derived pop. Leader Rivers Cuomo and company wallow in a pure sonic pleasure, slopping through their musical mud with an infectious exuberance.
“Maladroit” is packed with clarion chording, clouds of aural sparks, background-filling vocal refrains, spoken asides, and call-and-response exchanges. The band’s production fills the space to near-capacity–it all seems about to explode into feedback, and even a thump on a certain drum pulls a squeal out of the air.
Trembling at the breaking point is where Cuomo loves to be. Weezer’s central persona, he remains the iconic outsider, and the music serves that character well. But the emphasis in “Maladroit” (which is enhanced with live videos of seven songs) is the sound itself. At a time when even rock’s alternative and underground heroes often record like fastidious fussbudgets, Weezer reminds us that it’s OK to make a mess.
Pearl Jam Finished Recording ‘Binaural’ Follow-up
Pearl Jam has finished recording the follow-up to Binaural and it will be mixed after a short break. The forthcoming album is still untitled, and itís being produced by the band and Adam Kasper, who is also in the middle of working with Dave Grohl on his heavy metal project, Probot. Kasper also produced the Foo Fightersí There Is Nothing Left To Lose.
The new Pearl Jam studio effort wonít be in stores until early next year, but the band is working on a rarities album that is expected to hit stores in time for the Christmas shopping season.