the directing box: good or bad? October 18, 2006

-Rant-

What is the deal with directors no longer looking outside of what I call the ‘directing box’? Marie Antoinette, the newest film by Sofia Coppola, stars Kristen Dunst as the “let them eat cake” teenage queen. As some of you know, Coppola hit the spotlight when she wrote, directed, and producedThe Virgin Suicides, which stared Dunst. Then there is also Tim Burton, director of many films including Ed Wood, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands, and so on. For anyone really up to speed here, they have noticed that all of these films star Johnny Depp. Now I have a a very strong love for Mr. Burton (say what you will, I don’t mind) and Mr. Depp, but sometimes enough is enough. I say this mainly because of the pre-production work that is being done on the 2007 release of Sweeney Todd. I think that Burton will do some really amazing things while transforming this musical into a film, but Johnny Depp should not play Sweeney. I am not even that big of a musical fan and I know that he should stay far away from the role of Sweeney. Directors – we understand that it is very advantageous for you to work with what works best. If using the same actors over and over…and over…are what you feel you must do to fully release your vision into the world, then so be it. Just don’t be upset when we wait to rent your movies.

*note* – I will go watch Marie Antoinette just because it looks pretty amazing (I’m a sucker for period pieces). I will also watch Sweeney Todd because I will watch just about anything Tim Burton has a hand in. It doesn’t mean I will ever agree with their casting decisions…or lack there of.

-Rave-

Now that I have slightly placed Tim Burton into a anti-creative light, I must say how excited I am about the release of The Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D. Burton decided to release Nightmare in 3-D form because he wanted people to “just see it the way it was meant to be – completely dimensional.” Burton also said that he thinks seeing the film in this form will make it “weirdly better.” Now, even though I just ranted about how he doesn’t look to far outside of the directing box, I will say that his friendship with composer Danny Elfman has allowed for some really fantastic musical scores. I would say they are one of the best professional combinations in Hollywood today.

-hearts and whatnottery-

villians and heros… October 18, 2006

-Rant-

What better way to start out my rant blog than with my arch nemesis, Anna Nicole Smith. I believe that everyone is born with a natural enemy and I have declared her to be mine. No one embodies all that is wrong with this world quite like she does. From her battle with body image to her television shows and endorsements, we have had to endure the pain of her negative IQ and whiny voice. Now, with her need to reproduce, we have passed her trashy genes on to another human life form. The father of her child, who was also her lawyer, has stepped forward to claim the child as his own. Now, I will never understand how anyone could have sexual relations with this woman, but I guess if you play quiet as a mouse it isn’t that bad. Anna Nicole Smith gives a new light to phrase, “women should be seen and not heard.”

-Rave-

The next Batman movie, The Dark Knight, will pick up where Batman Begins left off. Now that the script has been written and handed off, actors are being assigned to key characters left and right. Christian Bale will be returning as the caped crusader. Michael Caine (Alfred), Gary Oldman (Lt. Gordon), and Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox) will also be reprising their roles. The first announced new comer to the cast is Heath Ledger, who will be portraying The Joker. I am actually kind of excited by this casting decision. If nothing else, he has that unmistakable Joker-esq smile as well as the comic book character chin. Not that I believe anyone should cast on looks alone, but if they did…good job!

-hearts and whatnottery-