All the News Unfit Print for Friday, November 28, 2008
BATMAN RIP coming
* * *WARNING: COMIC BOOK SPOILERS AHEAD * * *
One year ago on Schmuckraker, we reported that there were rumors circulating online of an impending BATMAN death in DC COMICS. . . A year later, the rumors that abounded appear to be true: BATMAN is going to be killed. The twist though causing high degrees of controversy in comic circles, BATMAN is going to be killed by a man claiming to be his father..
"Writer Grant Morrison said: “This is so much better than death. People have killed characters in the past but to me, that kind of ends the story!
"I like to keep the story twisting and turning. So what I am doing is a fate worse than death. Things that no one would expect to happen to these guys at all.
"This is the end of Bruce Wayne as Batman.""
SUN reports that DC will keep "BATMAN" character alive, however. .the batsuit will be filled by the body of someone else..
The BBC points out that it's not the first time superheros died .. last year, CAPTAIN AMERICA was killed by a sniper in New York.. And SUPERMAN died in a comic in 1992.. .
People that believe their life is being filmed, and that they are a part of a TRUMAN SHOW type reality set in which their every move is being recorded for all to see..
There is still some room for debate among experts:
"Other researchers aren't convinced, but still find the "Truman syndrome" an interesting example of the connection between culture and mental health.
Vaughan Bell, a psychologist who has researched Internet-related delusions, said one of his own former patients believed he was in the virtual-reality universe portrayed in the 1999 blockbuster "The Matrix."
"I don't think that popular culture causes delusions," said Bell, who is affiliated with King's College London and the Universidad de Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia. "But I do think that it is only possible to fully understand delusions and psychosis in light of our wider culture."
I used to feel this way, too.. Being watched.. There's something strange about life sometimes that seems to throw you into a world that isn't there.. sometimes you feel like you're in a nightmare. Most of the time, if you're working a daily grind desk job, you'd wish you were in that life.. where you were the hero like Truman Burbank.. sailing away from the perfect world created for him to escape to the less perfect, more real world. But we're in the real world after all.. for better or worse..
All the News Unfit Print for Sunday, November 16, 2008
FINDING 'SOLACE': JAMES BOND FILM SETS SETS BOX ON FIRE
Experts thought only $60 mil in North America, but "Quantum of Solace" ended weekend with estimated $70.4 million.. The new film also earned $56.1 million in 73 countries during the weekend. Having begun its international run two weeks ago, the foreign total now stands at $251.6 million..
That show was set to air an episode called "NO SUGAR SUGAR" .. until worried parents called the Disney Channel to explain their fears. And still to this moment, I'm not really sure what their fears are.
According to a spokesperson:
"During the scriptwriting stage of the Hannah Montana episode in question, the matter of depicting a character with diabetes was reviewed by our Standards and Practices executives who consulted with medical experts to inform the story and ensure that it was told responsibly."
"Notwithstanding the measures we took, and based on the episode's preview and early feedback from parents, we removed the episode from Sunday's schedule and are now reevaluating it."
Again..still not really sure what the controversy was.. I'll go back to eating my candy bar and drinking my Pepsi. Maybe I could have used this episode...?
All the News Unfit Print for Sunday, November 2, 2008
FOURTH PLACE OPENING FOR KEVIN SMITH
Weekend box office: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL back to number one.. SAW V number two on Halloween weekend .. THE CHANGELING finishes at third place..
Fourth place opening for ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO--did well among men young and old.. but not well enough to score larger opening..
All the News Unfit Print for Friday, October 31, 2008
In case you're sick of the election
Tired of CNN MSNBC FOX NBC CBS ABC etc etc etc?
Go to a movie.. This weekend's box office:
OCTOBER 31
Title (Distributor) / Theater Count (Change) / Week #
NEW
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (Weinstein Company) / 2,735
The Haunting of Molly Hartley (Freestyle Releasing) / 2,652
The Other End of the Line (MGM) / 91
Eden Lake (Third Rail Releasing) / 10
Splinter (2008) (Magnolia) / 4
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (Oscilloscope Pictures) / 1
Showtimes & Tickets:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/showtimes/
EXPANDING
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Buena Vista) / 3,626 (+3) / 2
Saw V (Lionsgate) / 3,084 (+24) / 2
Changeling (Universal) / 1,850 (+1835) / 2
NO CHANGE
Pride & Glory (Warner Bros. (New Line)) / 2,585 / 2
Deep Sea 3-D (IMAX) (Warner Bros.) / 10 / 140
Lola Montes (re-issue) (Rialto) / 1 / 4
DECLINING
Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Buena Vista) / 3,004 (-186) / 5
Religulous (Lionsgate) / 405 (-47) / 5
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D (Buena Vista) / 209 (-75) / 2
Mamma Mia! (Universal) / 177 (-3) / 16
The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.) / 149 (-17) / 16
"Police said the fight was not gang-related. Times Square regulars said there's often chaos on the streets on weekend nights.
"They take over the streets," said Greg Wolf of Manhattan. "Some have knives, some have pepper spray, some use their fists. They are real menacing.""
There was something about the original HALLOWEEN that still can scare the crap out of whatever newcomer watches the film for the first time.. perhaps the truly simple story that turns supernatural.. the night "he" came home to kill, someone we later find out in subsequent films his sister.
The SHAPE, as Michael Myers is referred to in the closing credits of Debra Hill and John Carpenter's classic film, was played by Nick Castle--and in later scenes by Tommy Lee Wallace. Castle's order from Carpenter was not to act, just walk. And not to talk, just walk. He did..
The script called for a blank faced mask.. but Hill and Carpenter originally almost used a clown mask to cover Castle's face for the Shape role. Luckily for history's sake, a William Shatner mask looked much more human--and with a little larger eye holes and white paint, it looked downright frightening. Think about that when you see a Priceline commercial. The role of The Shape in the film was new for its time. Think 1978, when no FRIDAY the 13th films ever came out, when no SAW films ever were dreamed of, when no Freddy Krueger character was yet created. Carpenter, though he maybe didn't intend it, created a frightening tale about small town America, which then spawned into an entire generation of often badly made popcorn horror flicks with steamy sex and goofy death scenes.
Jamie Lee Curtis was the proper fit for the role of Laurie Strode. Donald Pleasance created a magic character in Doctor Sam Loomis. Other characters in the film added to the noir of the movie.
The music of the film was memorable and is still used as a background to Halloween parties or haunted houses even today. Simple piano music, with a few added instruments. But for the most part, the entire film's music is piano. And the simple notes of the songs are genius..
And now, 30 years after the release of the cheaply made independent film that made millions, we're celebrating the anniversary of the film. One that lives on today--even when remakes turn brutal and offensive.
To show the enduring quality of the movie, you will no doubt hear the HALLOWEEN piano song at least one time this week...
The original trailer:
UK DAILY MAIL REPORTING: Her lawyers say that 40-year-old Ritchie's comments made Madonna feel worthless, unattractive, unfeminine, insecure and isolated during their eight-year marriage
A judge in Sharon Stone's child custody case said that the actress has overreacted "to many medical issues" regarding her young son's health issues -- to the point that she wanted to get Botox treatments for his smelly feet, according to TMZ.com.
All the News Unfit Print for Saturday, September 20, 2008
Box office this weekend
NEW
My Best Friend's Girl (Lionsgate) / 2,604
Lakeview Terrace (Sony / Screen Gems) / 2,464
Igor (MGM (Weinstein)) / 2,339
Ghost Town (Paramount (DreamWorks)) / 1,505
EXPANDING
The Women (2008) (Picturehouse) / 2,995 (+33) / 2
Burn After Reading (Focus Features) / 2,657 (+6) / 2
NO CHANGE
Righteous Kill (Overture Films) / 3,152 / 2
Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (Lionsgate) / 2,070 / 2
DECLINING
The House Bunny (Sony / Columbia) / 2,675 (-88) / 5
Tropic Thunder (Paramount (DreamWorks)) / 2,333 (-594) / 6
The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.) / 1,905 (-286) / 10
The Dark Knight is still being shown in over 1,900 theaters, even with this week's decrease of 286 theaters.. It's in its tenth week, is is still getting money in the millions..
All the News Unfit Print for Saturday, September 13, 2008
DISASTER TODAY, COMEDY TONIGHT
TV viewers are glued to the coverage of the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Ike.. but tonight, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE is back..
Expect a highly-energized show .. bashing Sarah Palin?
And yes, Tina Fey may be back for the show..
Still no official word.. but she really does look like Sarah Palin..
All the News Unfit Print for Friday, September 5, 2008
Drudge Report controversy: Slams Oprah over refusal to allow Palin sit on the couch
Matt Drudge reported early this morning that Oprah won't allow Sarah Palin to appear on the show.. Oprah responded to the Drudge Report, which ended up getting some other press about the press from other sources, saying, "The item in today's Drudge Report is categorically untrue. There has been absolutely no discussion about having Sarah Palin on my show. At the beginning of this Presidential campaign when I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates. I agree that Sarah Palin would be a fantastic interview, and I would love to have her on after the campaign is over."
After it's over..If Sarah's free?
All the News Unfit Print for Saturday, August 30, 2008
POLITICO SLAMS MCCAIN: HE'S DESPERATE
PEOPLE magazine placing the McCains and Palins on the cover.. the new happy family of politics.. Maybe.. but I noticed watching the talking heads that, for even those that really dislike VPILF candidate Sarah Palin, they are having lots of trouble being critical. Being very careful..
Besides Keith Olbermann..
The POLITICO this morning issues a hit on McCain's motives, calling the once declared maverick 'desperate'..
Authors Jim VandeHei and John F. Harris explain the six things that the Palin pick says about McCain: He's desperate; he's willing to gamble — bigtime; he's worried about the political implications of his age; he's not worried about the actuarial implications of the age issue, he's worried about his conservative base; and at the end of the day, "McCain is still McCain," marching to his own beat..
But on the heels of Obama's convention address, the most amazing political speech since Lincoln addressed Gettysburg during war, McCain needed some good press. Sure, he only met Palin once or twice, and sure, maybe her husband is not even a Republican, and sure, maybe she wasn't quite sure what a Vice President did.. And for a candidate that just turned 72 trying to distance himself from George W. Bush, what could be better than a PEOPLE magazine cover with his new attractive young Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin?
Random rakings
One year ago on Schmuckraker, we reported that there were rumors circulating online of an impending BATMAN death in DC COMICS. . . A year later, the rumors that abounded appear to be true: BATMAN is going to be killed. The twist though causing high degrees of controversy in comic circles, BATMAN is going to be killed by a man claiming to be his father..
Like always, a bout $30 mil opener for the latest film in the torture porn franchise. There are still audiences that go see these movies every year..
Box office numbers coming out, reports that HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL dominated the weekend with a little over $44 million... about $14 mil behind was SAW V, which had its highest night of the weekend on Friday. Date night. That's right, guys, take your special someone to see an hour and a half of people being tortured in unspeakable ways! Then get breakfast at Perkins! Served all night..
And in other news, W fell dramatically this week (which I think most people expected) ..
Just for fun, a few SAW V reviews..
There was something about the original HALLOWEEN that still can scare the crap out of whatever newcomer watches the film for the first time.. perhaps the truly simple story that turns supernatural.. the night "he" came home to kill, someone we later find out in subsequent films his sister.
The SHAPE, as Michael Myers is referred to in the closing credits of Debra Hill and John Carpenter's classic film, was played by Nick Castle--and in later scenes by Tommy Lee Wallace. Castle's order from Carpenter was not to act, just walk. And not to talk, just walk. He did..
The script called for a blank faced mask.. 
PEOPLE magazine placing the McCains and Palins on the cover.. the new happy family of politics.. Maybe.. but I noticed watching the talking heads that, for even those that really dislike VPILF candidate Sarah Palin, they are having lots of trouble being critical. Being very careful..
Besides Keith Olbermann..
The