LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Scary Movie" heroine Anna Faris will star in a fish-out-of-water comedy she originated.
The as-yet-untitled project revolves around a naive centerfold model who loses her job and takes the only one she can find, that of a "house mother" at UCLA's lamest, dorkiest sorority.
Faris brought the idea for the character to screenwriters Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten "Kiwi" Smith, who developed it into a feature. The trio took the project to Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Prods., which set it up at Paramount Pictures.
Faris will serve as an executive producer, along with Lutz and Smith. The scribes' credits include "10 Things I Hate About You," "Legally Blonde" and "She's the Man."
Faris starred in all four "Scary Movie" films, which collectively grossed more than $680 million worldwide. Her other recent credits include "Brokeback Mountain," "Just Friends" and "My Super Ex-Girlfriend." She recently wrapped a starring turn in the indie feature "Smiley Face" as well as an appearance in "Mama's Boy" opposite Jon Heder and Diane Keaton.
By Borys Kit
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
movie news : Another Gay Movie
The gay gross-out comedy Adam & Steve was a tame family outing compared to this teen sex farce, which basically puts a homosexual spin on American Pie, gag for gag. Meaning you've got your uncomfortable sex-ed talk with a well-meaning but awkward father; your embarrassing webcam sex escapade accidentally broadcast to the entire school; and, of course, pastry humping. AGM tries so hard to be extreme that it misses the key ingredient of the American Pie films—an underlying sweetness. We laughed at the Pie crew, but ultimately came to care for them. This is not the case with AGM's four high-school seniors, who vow to lose their "Big A" virginity before heading off to college. Nor do we care for the semifamous gay celebs in supporting roles, including comic Graham Norton as an S&M–loving teacher and Survivor winner/tax evader Richard Hatch. (Yes, he's naked in every scene, only without the box blurring out his naughty bits. You've been warned.) Making the best impression is Ashlie Atkinson's Muffler, the lesbian analogue to Seann William Scott's obnoxious jock Stifler, who manages to deflower the entire cheerleading squad in one night. FRANK PAIVA
movie news
By Frank Paiva
movie news
By Frank Paiva
movie news : Charlie Sheen Making 9/11 Conspiracy Movie?
Alright, so Oliver Stone's World Trade Center came and went without offending anyone or pissing on the victims of 9/11. We dodged a bullet there folks. Care to try it again?
Get ready, we might have to. Our friends over at Filmstalker have dug up a story from the NY Post which says yet another World Trade Center movie may be on the way.
This movie is about another last men out of the WTC, William Rodriguez. Rodriguez's story starts out heroically. A janitor at the Trade Center, on the day of the attack he was the only man with a master key to all the doors in the building. So, in a bit of bravery he led Firefighters up the stairs of the North Tower unlocking doors for them as he went. He made it to floor 39 before he evacuated, and in the process saved hundreds of lives. He made it out of the buildling just before it collapsed, but was buried under rubble for an hour before being rescued.
That's the good part. The bad part is that after it was all over he launched a lawsuit against the government accusing President Bush of planning the attacks himself.
So, who do you go to when you're a 9/11 hero full of conspiracy theories against the government? Charlie Sheen of course. Rodriguez is reportedly talking to Sheen and Esai Morales about funding a project to bring his story to theaters. He says that Charlie's on board, and told him he'd "be honored" to turn his story into a movie. Writer David Marconi is reportedly already part of the project.
Marconi insists that the movie will focus on Rodirguez's 9/11 heroism, but I find that a little hard to believe. Sheen has gained some notoriety as a 9/11 conspiracy theorist in the past, and if you're not going to explore his story from that angle, then why bother to go to him over some other Hollywood actor?
If you thought audiences weren't ready to see faithful re-enactments of the events of the day, just wait until they have to react to a 9/11 film filled with accusatory conspiracy theories. Wait, we already had that didn't we? It was called Fahrenheit 9/11 and it outgrossed United 93 and World Trade Center combined. If he does it, Charlie Sheen just might end up getting very very rich.
movie news
By Josh Tyler
Get ready, we might have to. Our friends over at Filmstalker have dug up a story from the NY Post which says yet another World Trade Center movie may be on the way.
This movie is about another last men out of the WTC, William Rodriguez. Rodriguez's story starts out heroically. A janitor at the Trade Center, on the day of the attack he was the only man with a master key to all the doors in the building. So, in a bit of bravery he led Firefighters up the stairs of the North Tower unlocking doors for them as he went. He made it to floor 39 before he evacuated, and in the process saved hundreds of lives. He made it out of the buildling just before it collapsed, but was buried under rubble for an hour before being rescued.
That's the good part. The bad part is that after it was all over he launched a lawsuit against the government accusing President Bush of planning the attacks himself.
So, who do you go to when you're a 9/11 hero full of conspiracy theories against the government? Charlie Sheen of course. Rodriguez is reportedly talking to Sheen and Esai Morales about funding a project to bring his story to theaters. He says that Charlie's on board, and told him he'd "be honored" to turn his story into a movie. Writer David Marconi is reportedly already part of the project.
Marconi insists that the movie will focus on Rodirguez's 9/11 heroism, but I find that a little hard to believe. Sheen has gained some notoriety as a 9/11 conspiracy theorist in the past, and if you're not going to explore his story from that angle, then why bother to go to him over some other Hollywood actor?
If you thought audiences weren't ready to see faithful re-enactments of the events of the day, just wait until they have to react to a 9/11 film filled with accusatory conspiracy theories. Wait, we already had that didn't we? It was called Fahrenheit 9/11 and it outgrossed United 93 and World Trade Center combined. If he does it, Charlie Sheen just might end up getting very very rich.
movie news
By Josh Tyler
Thursday, August 24, 2006
movie news : Crossover (2006)
Synopsis: movie news
Noah Cruise, a naturally talented basketball player, is determined to become a doctor using his basketball scholarship to attend UCLA pre-med, rather than succumbing to the lure of a former sports agent Vaughn, and his push for Noah to go for the NBA. Noah's best friend, Tech, the buddy that covered for him and did time for an assault charge, is also an outstanding basketball player, but has less lofty ambitions--he wants to get his GED and win an underground street ball game against an arrogant rival, Jewelz. Noah and Tech's lives drastically change when they both fall in love with two local girls, Vanessa Lilly and Eboni Jackson, and take a fateful trip out to L.A. together
Director Credit
Preston Whitmore
Anthony Mackie
Shelli Boone
Wayne Brady
Alecia Jai Fears
Michael Kimbrew
Eva Pigford
Wesley Jonathan
Kristen Wilson
James Lewis
Philip Champion
©1999-2006 Hollywood.com, Inc. NASDAQ:HOLL
Noah Cruise, a naturally talented basketball player, is determined to become a doctor using his basketball scholarship to attend UCLA pre-med, rather than succumbing to the lure of a former sports agent Vaughn, and his push for Noah to go for the NBA. Noah's best friend, Tech, the buddy that covered for him and did time for an assault charge, is also an outstanding basketball player, but has less lofty ambitions--he wants to get his GED and win an underground street ball game against an arrogant rival, Jewelz. Noah and Tech's lives drastically change when they both fall in love with two local girls, Vanessa Lilly and Eboni Jackson, and take a fateful trip out to L.A. together
Director Credit
Preston Whitmore
Anthony Mackie
Shelli Boone
Wayne Brady
Alecia Jai Fears
Michael Kimbrew
Eva Pigford
Wesley Jonathan
Kristen Wilson
James Lewis
Philip Champion
©1999-2006 Hollywood.com, Inc. NASDAQ:HOLL
movie news : Snakes on a Plane (2006)
Synopsis: movie news
When a young man witnesses a brutal mob murder, it falls to FBI agent Neville Flynn to escort his charge safely from Hawaii to Los Angeles to testify. But in an act of self-preservation, the crime boss facing prison smuggles hundreds of poisonous snakes onto the commercial aircraft in a crate timed to release its deadly cargo halfway over the Pacific. Flynn, along with a frightened flight crew and passengers, must then band together in a desperate attempt to survive.
Full Cast & Crew
Theatrical Release 8/18/2006
Studio Credit New Line Cinema Studio
Director Credit
David Richard Ellis Director
Cast Credit
Samuel L. Jackson Neville Flynn
Nathan Phillips Sean Jones
Rachel Blanchard Mercedes
Julianna Margulies Claire Miller
Flex Alexander Three G's
Sunny Mabrey Tiffany
Bobby Cannavale Hank Harris
Todd Louiso Dr. Steven Price
Kenan Thompson Troy
Lin Shaye Grace
David Koechner Rick
Elsa Pataky Maria
©1999-2006 Hollywood.com, Inc. NASDAQ:HOLL
When a young man witnesses a brutal mob murder, it falls to FBI agent Neville Flynn to escort his charge safely from Hawaii to Los Angeles to testify. But in an act of self-preservation, the crime boss facing prison smuggles hundreds of poisonous snakes onto the commercial aircraft in a crate timed to release its deadly cargo halfway over the Pacific. Flynn, along with a frightened flight crew and passengers, must then band together in a desperate attempt to survive.
Full Cast & Crew
Theatrical Release 8/18/2006
Studio Credit New Line Cinema Studio
Director Credit
David Richard Ellis Director
Cast Credit
Samuel L. Jackson Neville Flynn
Nathan Phillips Sean Jones
Rachel Blanchard Mercedes
Julianna Margulies Claire Miller
Flex Alexander Three G's
Sunny Mabrey Tiffany
Bobby Cannavale Hank Harris
Todd Louiso Dr. Steven Price
Kenan Thompson Troy
Lin Shaye Grace
David Koechner Rick
Elsa Pataky Maria
©1999-2006 Hollywood.com, Inc. NASDAQ:HOLL
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
movie news :
HOLLYWOOD - Veteran actor James Woods has dumped his 20-year-old girlfriend, Ashley Madison, after the stress from the May-December relationship sent him to the emergency room.
The 59-year-old star was distraught after his brother Michael died unexpectedly of a heart attack last month and was shocked by Madison's insensitivity during his funeral.
Woods' friend Scott Sandler tells the New York Daily News that Madison showed up for the service dressed inappropriately "in a 3-inch miniskirt and chain-smoking."
He explains, "At the funeral she was concerned about the amount of magazines she was in. Jimmy was on his knees with tears staining his shirt, and she was showing pictures of herself.
"Jimmy was so overcome by grief his blood pressure went through the roof early last week, and he had to go to the hospital. When he came out, it was like he had seen the light."
The actor has known Madison, the pal of a golfing buddy, since she was five-years-old.
Adds Sandler, "She's the anti-Christ. She truly has the soul of a moth and the brain of a dead trout."
Shark, which stars Woods as a celebrity attorney-turned-prosecutor, began shooting Monday. Production has been suspended at least until the end of next week. The series is slated for a September 21 premiere, in the Thursday 10 p.m. slot, after the seventh-season launch of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Michael Woods, 49, had acting roles in several of his brother's movies, including Race to Space, Another Day in Paradise, Killer: A Journal of Murder and USA Network's Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story.
Article Copyright Entertainment News Network All Rights Reserved.
Photo(s) by Scott Kirkland- © 2006- DailyCeleb.com- All Rights Reserved.
The 59-year-old star was distraught after his brother Michael died unexpectedly of a heart attack last month and was shocked by Madison's insensitivity during his funeral.
Woods' friend Scott Sandler tells the New York Daily News that Madison showed up for the service dressed inappropriately "in a 3-inch miniskirt and chain-smoking."
He explains, "At the funeral she was concerned about the amount of magazines she was in. Jimmy was on his knees with tears staining his shirt, and she was showing pictures of herself.
"Jimmy was so overcome by grief his blood pressure went through the roof early last week, and he had to go to the hospital. When he came out, it was like he had seen the light."
The actor has known Madison, the pal of a golfing buddy, since she was five-years-old.
Adds Sandler, "She's the anti-Christ. She truly has the soul of a moth and the brain of a dead trout."
Shark, which stars Woods as a celebrity attorney-turned-prosecutor, began shooting Monday. Production has been suspended at least until the end of next week. The series is slated for a September 21 premiere, in the Thursday 10 p.m. slot, after the seventh-season launch of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Michael Woods, 49, had acting roles in several of his brother's movies, including Race to Space, Another Day in Paradise, Killer: A Journal of Murder and USA Network's Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story.
Article Copyright Entertainment News Network All Rights Reserved.
Photo(s) by Scott Kirkland- © 2006- DailyCeleb.com- All Rights Reserved.
movie news : The Grudge 2
Movie NewsSuspense/Horror and Sequel
October 13th, 2006 (wide)
Starring:
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Amber Tamblyn, Arielle Kebbel, Teresa Palmer, Jennifer Beals
Directed By:
Takashi Shimizu
Synopsis:
In Tokyo, a young woman (Amber Tamblyn) is exposed to the same mysterious curse that afflicted her sister (Sarah Michelle Gellar). The super-natural force, which fills a person with rage before spreading to its next victim, brings together a group of previously unrelated people who attempt to unlock its secret to save their lives.
Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release
Logline: When a cast and crew of a TV show start filming in the apparently haunted house, strange things begin to happen to each of them.
Genres: Suspense/Horror and Sequel
Release Date: October 13th, 2006 (wide)
Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Co.: Ghost House Pictures, Mandate Pictures
Studios: Columbia Pictures
Filming Locations: Tokyo, Japan
Produced in: United States
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
October 13th, 2006 (wide)
Starring:
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Amber Tamblyn, Arielle Kebbel, Teresa Palmer, Jennifer Beals
Directed By:
Takashi Shimizu
Synopsis:
In Tokyo, a young woman (Amber Tamblyn) is exposed to the same mysterious curse that afflicted her sister (Sarah Michelle Gellar). The super-natural force, which fills a person with rage before spreading to its next victim, brings together a group of previously unrelated people who attempt to unlock its secret to save their lives.
Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release
Logline: When a cast and crew of a TV show start filming in the apparently haunted house, strange things begin to happen to each of them.
Genres: Suspense/Horror and Sequel
Release Date: October 13th, 2006 (wide)
Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Co.: Ghost House Pictures, Mandate Pictures
Studios: Columbia Pictures
Filming Locations: Tokyo, Japan
Produced in: United States
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
movie news : Talladega Nights
Movie news
Comedy and Sports
August 4th, 2006 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
for crude and sexual humor, language, drug references and brief comic violence
Starring:
Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Michael Clarke Duncan, Amy Adams, David Koechner, Gary Cole, Leslie Bibb
Directed By: Adam McKay
Synopsis:
Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) is a NASCAR racing sensation whose "win at all costs" approach has made him a national hero. He and his loyal racing partner and childhood friend, Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly), are a fearless duo, thrilling their fans by finishing most races in the top spots - with Ricky Bobby always leading the pack. When a flamboyant French Formula One driver, Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), challenges him, Ricky Bobby must face his own demons and fight for his place as racing's top driver.
Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) is a NASCAR racing sensation whose "win at all costs" approach has made him a national hero. He and his loyal racing partner and childhood friend, Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly), are a fearless duo, thrilling their fans by finishing most races in the top spots - with Ricky Bobby always leading the pack. When a flamboyant French Formula One driver, Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), challenges him for the supremacy of NASCAR, Ricky Bobby must face his own demons and fight for his place as racing's top driver.
Also Known As: High, Wide and Handsome
Talladega Nights
Untitled (Will Ferrell Nascar Project)
Production Status: Released
Logline: Set in the world of professional stock car racing.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy and Sports
Running Time: 1 hr. 50 min.
Release Date: August 4th, 2006 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language, drug references and brief comic violence.
Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Co.: High Wide and Handsome Inc, Apatow Productions, Mosaic Media Group
Studios: Columbia Pictures
Financiers: Relativity Media
U.S. Box Office: $47,042,215
Filming Locations: North Carolina, USA
Produced in: United States
Copyright © 2006 Baseline. All rights reserved.
Comedy and Sports
August 4th, 2006 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
for crude and sexual humor, language, drug references and brief comic violence
Starring:
Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Michael Clarke Duncan, Amy Adams, David Koechner, Gary Cole, Leslie Bibb
Directed By: Adam McKay
Synopsis:
Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) is a NASCAR racing sensation whose "win at all costs" approach has made him a national hero. He and his loyal racing partner and childhood friend, Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly), are a fearless duo, thrilling their fans by finishing most races in the top spots - with Ricky Bobby always leading the pack. When a flamboyant French Formula One driver, Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), challenges him, Ricky Bobby must face his own demons and fight for his place as racing's top driver.
Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) is a NASCAR racing sensation whose "win at all costs" approach has made him a national hero. He and his loyal racing partner and childhood friend, Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly), are a fearless duo, thrilling their fans by finishing most races in the top spots - with Ricky Bobby always leading the pack. When a flamboyant French Formula One driver, Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), challenges him for the supremacy of NASCAR, Ricky Bobby must face his own demons and fight for his place as racing's top driver.
Also Known As: High, Wide and Handsome
Talladega Nights
Untitled (Will Ferrell Nascar Project)
Production Status: Released
Logline: Set in the world of professional stock car racing.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy and Sports
Running Time: 1 hr. 50 min.
Release Date: August 4th, 2006 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language, drug references and brief comic violence.
Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing
Production Co.: High Wide and Handsome Inc, Apatow Productions, Mosaic Media Group
Studios: Columbia Pictures
Financiers: Relativity Media
U.S. Box Office: $47,042,215
Filming Locations: North Carolina, USA
Produced in: United States
Copyright © 2006 Baseline. All rights reserved.
movie news : The Departed (2006)
'The Departed' is set in South Boston, where the state police force is waging war on organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by gangland chief Costello (Jack Nicholson). While Billy is quickly gaining Costello's confidence, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the police department as an informer for the syndicate, is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by his double life, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations he has penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the gangsters and the police that there's a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy -- and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save himself.
Also Known As: Infernal Affairs
Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama, Crime/Gangster and Remake
Release Date: October 6th, 2006 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, some strong sexual content and drug material.
Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Production Co.: Hollywood Gang Productions, Cappa Productions, Plan B, Vertigo Entertainment
Studios: Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Filming Locations: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
New York, New York USA
Quincy, Massachusetts, USA
Produced in: United States
movie news
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
Also Known As: Infernal Affairs
Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama, Crime/Gangster and Remake
Release Date: October 6th, 2006 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, some strong sexual content and drug material.
Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Production Co.: Hollywood Gang Productions, Cappa Productions, Plan B, Vertigo Entertainment
Studios: Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Filming Locations: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
New York, New York USA
Quincy, Massachusetts, USA
Produced in: United States
movie news
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
movie news : Miami Vice
movie news
Ricardo Tubbs is urbane and dead smart. He lives with Bronx-born intel analyst Trudy, as they work undercover transporting drug loads into South Florida to identify a group responsible for three murders. Sonny Crockett is charismatic and flirtatious until-while undercover working with the supplier of the South Florida group-he gets romantically entangled with Isabella, the Chinese-Cuban wife of an arms and drugs trafficker. The intensity of this case pushes Crockett and Tubbs out onto the edge where identity and fabrication become blurred, where cop and player become one-especially for Crockett in his romance with Isabella and for Tubbs in the provocation of an assault on those he loves.
Theatrical Release
7/28/2006
Studio Universal Pictures Studio
Director Michael Mann Director
Cast
Jamie Foxx Detective Ricardo Tubbs
Colin Farrell Det. James "Sonny" Crockett
Gong Li Isabella
Naomie Harris Trudy Joplin
Ciarán Hinds FBI Agent Fujima
John Ortiz Jose Yero
Jon Jacobs Nicholas Ugo
Elizabeth Rodriguez Gina Calabrese
Barry Shabaka Henley Lt. Castillo
Luis Tosar Montoya
Domenick Lombardozzi Det. Stan Switek
Justin Theroux Det. Larry Zito
©1999-2006 Hollywood.com, Inc. NASDAQ:HOLL
Ricardo Tubbs is urbane and dead smart. He lives with Bronx-born intel analyst Trudy, as they work undercover transporting drug loads into South Florida to identify a group responsible for three murders. Sonny Crockett is charismatic and flirtatious until-while undercover working with the supplier of the South Florida group-he gets romantically entangled with Isabella, the Chinese-Cuban wife of an arms and drugs trafficker. The intensity of this case pushes Crockett and Tubbs out onto the edge where identity and fabrication become blurred, where cop and player become one-especially for Crockett in his romance with Isabella and for Tubbs in the provocation of an assault on those he loves.
Theatrical Release
7/28/2006
Studio Universal Pictures Studio
Director Michael Mann Director
Cast
Jamie Foxx Detective Ricardo Tubbs
Colin Farrell Det. James "Sonny" Crockett
Gong Li Isabella
Naomie Harris Trudy Joplin
Ciarán Hinds FBI Agent Fujima
John Ortiz Jose Yero
Jon Jacobs Nicholas Ugo
Elizabeth Rodriguez Gina Calabrese
Barry Shabaka Henley Lt. Castillo
Luis Tosar Montoya
Domenick Lombardozzi Det. Stan Switek
Justin Theroux Det. Larry Zito
©1999-2006 Hollywood.com, Inc. NASDAQ:HOLL
movie news : Monster House (2006)
Twelve-year-old DJ Walters, who is caught in that awkward moment between childhood and the onset of puberty, has too much time on his hands and has taken it into his head that there's something weird about old man Nebbercracker's house across the street. Things keep disappearing into the dilapidated structure: basketballs, tricycles, toys and pets. Come to think of it, whatever happened to Mrs. Nebbercracker? It's the day before Halloween and DJ and his candy-friendly pal Chowder have a run-in with Mr. Nebbercracker after their basketball wanders onto his lawn and is mysteriously swept into the house. When the house tries to swallow their new friend Jenny and no one believes the frightened trio's claims that the house is up to no good, it's up to them to investigate. They turn for his advice to the only person on the planet who might even remotely understand what's going on, the wise one they call Skull, a 20-something slacker pizza chef and master of the arcade machine who once played a video game for four days straight on one singly quarter, a gallon of chocolate milk and an adult diaper. "I have heard tell of man-made structures becoming possessed by a human soul," Skull tells them. You mean the house is alive? Yikes! Skull tells them the only way to stop the house from gulping down everything in sight is by striking at its heart, which the kids figure out must be the perpetually-fueled furnace in the basement. They come up with what seems to be a foolproof plan--a vacuum cleaner disguised as a human dummy filled with cold medicine. The kids offer up their bait to the house, figuring that once it's asleep, they can sneak in and put out the furnace with their squirt guns. Their little plan goes awry, though, and when the house starts chasing them down the street--that's right, chasing them down the street!--they must join forces to once again make the neighborhood safe for trick or treaters.
movie news
©1999-2006 Hollywood.com, Inc. NASDAQ:HOLL
movie news
©1999-2006 Hollywood.com, Inc. NASDAQ:HOLL
Monday, July 31, 2006
movie news : "Miami Vice" cops defeat "Pirates" at box office
Miami Vice" was the top destination for weekend moviegoers across North America, as the high-powered remake of the slick TV series ended the three-week reign of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
Among other new releases, the Tom Hanks-produced cartoon "The Ant Bully" tanked, while young women turned out in force for the lively romantic comedy "John Tucker Must Die."
"Miami Vice," starring Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell as suave drug-busters, earned about $25.2 million during its first three days, distributor Universal Pictures said on Sunday.
The tally consists of actual sales for Friday and Saturday, and estimated sales for Sunday. Final data will be issued on Monday.
The $135 million film was directed by Michael Mann, an executive producer of the original 1980s television series. The shoot was plagued by hurricanes, injuries, and a shootout on location in the Dominican Republic. But the finished product drew warm reviews from critics despite an opaque plot.
Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal, said almost two-thirds of the audience was aged 30 and older, and exit polling indicated that Foxx was the main draw.
If the estimate holds, it would rank as Mann's No. 1 opening, surpassing the $24.7 million debut of his 2004 film "Collateral," also starring Foxx.
DISNEY RECORD
Walt Disney Co.'s "Pirates" sequel slipped to No. 2 with $20.5 million in its fourth round. The buccaneer sequel now ranks as the No. 1 domestic release in the firm's history, with a booty of $358.4 million. The 2003 cartoon "Finding Nemo" held the record with $339.7 million.
"John Tucker Must Die" followed at No. 3 with $14.1 million, slightly exceeding the expectations of its distributor, News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox. The film, which cost about $18 million to make, stars Jesse Metcalfe, the jailbait gardener in ABC's "Desperate Housewives."
"The Ant Bully," a cartoon based on a children's book, has a high-wattage voice cast, including Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep. But it only managed a No. 5 debut with $8.1 million. Distributor Warner Bros. Pictures had hoped for an opening in the mid-teens.
The film marks the second consecutive dud for the Time Warner Inc. unit, following "Lady in the Water." The M. Night Shyamalan fantasy earned $7 million in its second weekend, for a 10-day haul of $32 million. The studio hopes it will reach $48 million, less than half the earnings of his 2004 under-performer "The Village."
One reason for the disappointing opening of "The Ant Bully" was competition from another cartoon, "Monster House," which fell two places to No. 4 with $11.5 million in its second weekend. The 10-day tally for Columbia Pictures' animated film stands at $43.9 million. Columbia is a unit of Sony Corp .
"SUNSHINE" ENLIGHTENS
The art house scene was busy over the weekend, with Woody Allen's crime farce "Scoop" and the Sundance Film Festival favorite "Little Miss Sunshine" opening in limited release.
Despite mixed reviews, "Scoop" earned $3 million from 538 theaters. The film stars Allen's latest muse, Scarlett Johansson, and Hugh Jackman. Distributor Focus Features, also a unit of NBC Universal, said it was very happy with the opening, but would not expand the film beyond its current theater count.
"Little Miss Sunshine," a comedy revolving around a dysfunctional family's road trip to California, earned a stellar $356,863 from seven theaters in New York and Los Angeles. It will expand to additional cities over the next two weekends before going into national release on August 18. It was released by News Corp.'s Fox Searchlight arm, which bought the film at Sundance in January.
Copyright © 2005 Reuters Limited All rights reserved.
Among other new releases, the Tom Hanks-produced cartoon "The Ant Bully" tanked, while young women turned out in force for the lively romantic comedy "John Tucker Must Die."
"Miami Vice," starring Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell as suave drug-busters, earned about $25.2 million during its first three days, distributor Universal Pictures said on Sunday.
The tally consists of actual sales for Friday and Saturday, and estimated sales for Sunday. Final data will be issued on Monday.
The $135 million film was directed by Michael Mann, an executive producer of the original 1980s television series. The shoot was plagued by hurricanes, injuries, and a shootout on location in the Dominican Republic. But the finished product drew warm reviews from critics despite an opaque plot.
Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal, said almost two-thirds of the audience was aged 30 and older, and exit polling indicated that Foxx was the main draw.
If the estimate holds, it would rank as Mann's No. 1 opening, surpassing the $24.7 million debut of his 2004 film "Collateral," also starring Foxx.
DISNEY RECORD
Walt Disney Co.'s "Pirates" sequel slipped to No. 2 with $20.5 million in its fourth round. The buccaneer sequel now ranks as the No. 1 domestic release in the firm's history, with a booty of $358.4 million. The 2003 cartoon "Finding Nemo" held the record with $339.7 million.
"John Tucker Must Die" followed at No. 3 with $14.1 million, slightly exceeding the expectations of its distributor, News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox. The film, which cost about $18 million to make, stars Jesse Metcalfe, the jailbait gardener in ABC's "Desperate Housewives."
"The Ant Bully," a cartoon based on a children's book, has a high-wattage voice cast, including Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep. But it only managed a No. 5 debut with $8.1 million. Distributor Warner Bros. Pictures had hoped for an opening in the mid-teens.
The film marks the second consecutive dud for the Time Warner Inc. unit, following "Lady in the Water." The M. Night Shyamalan fantasy earned $7 million in its second weekend, for a 10-day haul of $32 million. The studio hopes it will reach $48 million, less than half the earnings of his 2004 under-performer "The Village."
One reason for the disappointing opening of "The Ant Bully" was competition from another cartoon, "Monster House," which fell two places to No. 4 with $11.5 million in its second weekend. The 10-day tally for Columbia Pictures' animated film stands at $43.9 million. Columbia is a unit of Sony Corp .
"SUNSHINE" ENLIGHTENS
The art house scene was busy over the weekend, with Woody Allen's crime farce "Scoop" and the Sundance Film Festival favorite "Little Miss Sunshine" opening in limited release.
Despite mixed reviews, "Scoop" earned $3 million from 538 theaters. The film stars Allen's latest muse, Scarlett Johansson, and Hugh Jackman. Distributor Focus Features, also a unit of NBC Universal, said it was very happy with the opening, but would not expand the film beyond its current theater count.
"Little Miss Sunshine," a comedy revolving around a dysfunctional family's road trip to California, earned a stellar $356,863 from seven theaters in New York and Los Angeles. It will expand to additional cities over the next two weekends before going into national release on August 18. It was released by News Corp.'s Fox Searchlight arm, which bought the film at Sundance in January.
Copyright © 2005 Reuters Limited All rights reserved.
movie news : Lord of War with Nicholas Cage
The movie; Lord of War with Nicholas Cage is a great movie to help illustrate the kinds of things that go on behind the scenes in the arms trade business. It rationalizes all different points of view and explains situations that so often we as citizens are not willing to address. It shows how often we make judgments without understanding the reality and brutality of the rest of the world.
Indeed, it also shows the darker side of man and the obvious innate characteristics to wage war and kill his own species. The movie also goes into the thought processes of all the different players on all sides of the fence in the movement of drugs, diamonds, currency, arms and even oil. During this current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah many people are wondering how the international terrorists organizations get their arms and their money to securities arms, which end up killing innocent people.
This movie should be seen by people who simply watch the news and think they understand world affairs because it is rather obvious that the mass media has done a mass snow job on the reality of world events. The Lord of War with Nicolas Cage is a great action-packed movie and worth your time to view. Please consider all this in 2006.
Lance Winslow
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow
Indeed, it also shows the darker side of man and the obvious innate characteristics to wage war and kill his own species. The movie also goes into the thought processes of all the different players on all sides of the fence in the movement of drugs, diamonds, currency, arms and even oil. During this current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah many people are wondering how the international terrorists organizations get their arms and their money to securities arms, which end up killing innocent people.
This movie should be seen by people who simply watch the news and think they understand world affairs because it is rather obvious that the mass media has done a mass snow job on the reality of world events. The Lord of War with Nicolas Cage is a great action-packed movie and worth your time to view. Please consider all this in 2006.
Lance Winslow
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow
Saturday, July 29, 2006
movie news : Operation Petticoat (1959)
A rather average Blake Edwards comedy released the same year as that other Cary Grant movie that would destined to become a classic of all times – NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959). OPERATION PETTICOAT is written by Stanley Shapiro and Maurice Richlin.
The film is one long flashback of Admiral Sherman (Cary Grant) who used to be the first captain of an old WW2 sub about to be commissioned.
Cary Grant stars as Lt. Cmdr. Matt T. Sherman, the commander of the WW2 submarine USS Sea Tiger docked at its port in Philippines.
December 1941. Before it can join the battle in the Pacific, Sea Tiger is damaged heavily by the attacking Japanese fighter planes. Rather than decommission the one-year old ship right away, Sherman manages to get the permission to fix his sub within two weeks – which does not seem possible given the impossibility of getting any parts or supplies.
But the next character who shows up will change the fate of the sub -- Lt. Nicholas Holden (Tony Curtis) has served previously as the “idea man” and an “entertainment officer” providing Navy's liaison “with Hollywood.” He has never set foot on a submarine and with his pretty-boy looks and spoiled mannerisms he does not look like he is ready for the rigors of sailing for war.
Yet Holden, who actually grew up in a tough neighborhood and a dog-eat-dog world, has one skill that comes in handy for the rule-and-order straight-arrow Sherman who cannot cut through the Navy red tape and order 150 rolls of toilet paper for his crew: Holden can scavenge, steal and do anything and everything possible to get things done. He is a smooth, sweet talking and shameless operator who knows the “easy way” to get everything. He asks to be assigned as the “supply officer” of Sea Tiger and his request is accepted right on the spot.
Pretty soon, due to clandestine visits to navy supply depots in black faces and black burglar outfits, Holden and his men manage to get whatever is needed in record time. Soon the black-smoke belching and wheezy sub is swimming again on a single faulty engine.
After sailing for open seas, a major plot point arrives when five female officers stranded on an island board the ship, thanks to Lt. Holden.
From that point on till the end, the story transforms into a comedy of double entendres and innuendos, of sexually suggestive and socially embarrassing chance encounters and confrontations among a boat full of men and five attractive women. A submarine is not made for “co-educational purposes” and that generates a lot of tension, a lot of one liners and laughs.
The film is full of sexist wisecracks that would not fly today like “When a girl is under 21, she's protected by law. When she's over 65, she's protected by nature. Anywhere in between, she's fair game. Look out.”
At one point, since they can get their hands only on red and white paint, they end up painting the whole submarine with pink primer, becoming the butt of jokes in the Navy. But when the “Tokyo Rose”starts to make radio broadcasts inviting the “pink submarine” to surrender, the US Navy command, certain that the Americans do not have a pink submarine, think all that talk might actually be a Japanese ruse to slip a pink sub masquerading as a US vessel behind the US lines. Thus the US surface ships are ordered to sink the pink sub wherever it is spotted.
At the end Sherman's pink sub survives the attacks and the ridicule and the war of the sexes in tight quarters. It even survives a goat on board and two babies delivered by the female officer who also happened to be a nurse.
USS Sea Tiger returns to its home port listing on one side, its engine misfiring and belching out black smoke. The funny looking sub is jeered and ridiculed until the proud ship shows the colors and gains the respect of all the US sailors present at the port for homecoming.
The last scene -- we zoom back to the present time. Lt. Holden is now the Captain of the decommissioned US Sea Tiger and Sherman is an Admiral giving Holden the good news – he is going to be the captain of a brand new nuclear sub.
Both have married and had kids with the female officers with whom they have flirted in the sub during those eventful days of WW2. Both are happy and the film leaves us there while the going is still good.
Cary Grant and Tony Curtis excel in their roles. They are cast superbly. Both are very believable and deliver their lines with authority. Lots of good one liners and innuendos. But ultimately this is a feel-good comedy reflecting the specific conditions of WW2. Half a century later it probably has lost all its relevance and shine, especially for the younger generation born in the '80s and '90s.
A 7 out of 10.
Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Senior Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation. He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 corporations since 1999.
He is the editor of PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SAT MATH SUCCESS web site http://www.privatetutor.us
In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).
A true movie fan since he was a child, Akinci provides FREE MOVIE PLOT IDEAS every day of the year at SCRIPT BOILER. Visit http://scriptboiler.blogspot.com today.
You are most welcomed to visit his COPYWRITING WEB SITE http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ugur_Akinci
The film is one long flashback of Admiral Sherman (Cary Grant) who used to be the first captain of an old WW2 sub about to be commissioned.
Cary Grant stars as Lt. Cmdr. Matt T. Sherman, the commander of the WW2 submarine USS Sea Tiger docked at its port in Philippines.
December 1941. Before it can join the battle in the Pacific, Sea Tiger is damaged heavily by the attacking Japanese fighter planes. Rather than decommission the one-year old ship right away, Sherman manages to get the permission to fix his sub within two weeks – which does not seem possible given the impossibility of getting any parts or supplies.
But the next character who shows up will change the fate of the sub -- Lt. Nicholas Holden (Tony Curtis) has served previously as the “idea man” and an “entertainment officer” providing Navy's liaison “with Hollywood.” He has never set foot on a submarine and with his pretty-boy looks and spoiled mannerisms he does not look like he is ready for the rigors of sailing for war.
Yet Holden, who actually grew up in a tough neighborhood and a dog-eat-dog world, has one skill that comes in handy for the rule-and-order straight-arrow Sherman who cannot cut through the Navy red tape and order 150 rolls of toilet paper for his crew: Holden can scavenge, steal and do anything and everything possible to get things done. He is a smooth, sweet talking and shameless operator who knows the “easy way” to get everything. He asks to be assigned as the “supply officer” of Sea Tiger and his request is accepted right on the spot.
Pretty soon, due to clandestine visits to navy supply depots in black faces and black burglar outfits, Holden and his men manage to get whatever is needed in record time. Soon the black-smoke belching and wheezy sub is swimming again on a single faulty engine.
After sailing for open seas, a major plot point arrives when five female officers stranded on an island board the ship, thanks to Lt. Holden.
From that point on till the end, the story transforms into a comedy of double entendres and innuendos, of sexually suggestive and socially embarrassing chance encounters and confrontations among a boat full of men and five attractive women. A submarine is not made for “co-educational purposes” and that generates a lot of tension, a lot of one liners and laughs.
The film is full of sexist wisecracks that would not fly today like “When a girl is under 21, she's protected by law. When she's over 65, she's protected by nature. Anywhere in between, she's fair game. Look out.”
At one point, since they can get their hands only on red and white paint, they end up painting the whole submarine with pink primer, becoming the butt of jokes in the Navy. But when the “Tokyo Rose”starts to make radio broadcasts inviting the “pink submarine” to surrender, the US Navy command, certain that the Americans do not have a pink submarine, think all that talk might actually be a Japanese ruse to slip a pink sub masquerading as a US vessel behind the US lines. Thus the US surface ships are ordered to sink the pink sub wherever it is spotted.
At the end Sherman's pink sub survives the attacks and the ridicule and the war of the sexes in tight quarters. It even survives a goat on board and two babies delivered by the female officer who also happened to be a nurse.
USS Sea Tiger returns to its home port listing on one side, its engine misfiring and belching out black smoke. The funny looking sub is jeered and ridiculed until the proud ship shows the colors and gains the respect of all the US sailors present at the port for homecoming.
The last scene -- we zoom back to the present time. Lt. Holden is now the Captain of the decommissioned US Sea Tiger and Sherman is an Admiral giving Holden the good news – he is going to be the captain of a brand new nuclear sub.
Both have married and had kids with the female officers with whom they have flirted in the sub during those eventful days of WW2. Both are happy and the film leaves us there while the going is still good.
Cary Grant and Tony Curtis excel in their roles. They are cast superbly. Both are very believable and deliver their lines with authority. Lots of good one liners and innuendos. But ultimately this is a feel-good comedy reflecting the specific conditions of WW2. Half a century later it probably has lost all its relevance and shine, especially for the younger generation born in the '80s and '90s.
A 7 out of 10.
Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Senior Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation. He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 corporations since 1999.
He is the editor of PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SAT MATH SUCCESS web site http://www.privatetutor.us
In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).
A true movie fan since he was a child, Akinci provides FREE MOVIE PLOT IDEAS every day of the year at SCRIPT BOILER. Visit http://scriptboiler.blogspot.com today.
You are most welcomed to visit his COPYWRITING WEB SITE http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ugur_Akinci
movie news : Horror Movie News
Scream 4 is pretty much a done deal according to Icons Of Fright. Read on for the blockbuster news which comes straight from the mouth of Wes Craven.
Icons Of Fright Reports...
Big news for "Scream" fans from Wes Craven. During his panel discussion Craven revealed that he had recently had breakfast with Neve Campbell. He told us that she had recently spoken with the Weinsteins about coming back for "Scream 4". Wes made it clear that this was the first he'd heard about it, but Campbell seemed to be seriously considering another stab at Sidney Prescott.
My 2 cents on Scream 4
Back in 2000, when the third film was released, and I saw it, I felt things had been brought to a satisfactory conclusion as far as the "Scream" universe goes, despite the ominous ending. Now here we are 4 years later, and the rumor of a 4th movie still lives, and now with this latest lump of coal added to the fire, seems to have gained steam. Truthfully, I would pay to see a 4th film, but still alot of questions remain... We know Williamson won't be involved. Craven most likely won't be. Who will write and direct then? Neve Campbell has been a long time hold out for doing a 4th film if you believe what you read on most of the "Scream 4" rumor sites. Just who will and won't be returning? and finally, what direction can this story continue in? Sids already disposed of Mrs Loomis, and her Brother Roman, as well as Billy and Stu, whos left at this point? Sure there are plenty of relatives out for revenge type scenarios, but which one makes the most sense?
Mr. HoRrOr Horror Movies & stuff.com http://www.hms.notlong.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicky_Jones
Icons Of Fright Reports...
Big news for "Scream" fans from Wes Craven. During his panel discussion Craven revealed that he had recently had breakfast with Neve Campbell. He told us that she had recently spoken with the Weinsteins about coming back for "Scream 4". Wes made it clear that this was the first he'd heard about it, but Campbell seemed to be seriously considering another stab at Sidney Prescott.
My 2 cents on Scream 4
Back in 2000, when the third film was released, and I saw it, I felt things had been brought to a satisfactory conclusion as far as the "Scream" universe goes, despite the ominous ending. Now here we are 4 years later, and the rumor of a 4th movie still lives, and now with this latest lump of coal added to the fire, seems to have gained steam. Truthfully, I would pay to see a 4th film, but still alot of questions remain... We know Williamson won't be involved. Craven most likely won't be. Who will write and direct then? Neve Campbell has been a long time hold out for doing a 4th film if you believe what you read on most of the "Scream 4" rumor sites. Just who will and won't be returning? and finally, what direction can this story continue in? Sids already disposed of Mrs Loomis, and her Brother Roman, as well as Billy and Stu, whos left at this point? Sure there are plenty of relatives out for revenge type scenarios, but which one makes the most sense?
Mr. HoRrOr Horror Movies & stuff.com http://www.hms.notlong.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicky_Jones
Thursday, July 27, 2006
movie news : Ghost Rider - Biker's Beloved or Philosopher's Pet?
I see today that they're making a Ghost Rider movie. I discovered Ghost Rider when I was about thirteen years old, at my regular haunt, Collector's Comics of Wantagh, New York. I was a late bloomer to comic books, having been introduced to them by my D&D buddy, Marc Koenig. Like most things new in my life, I quickly became hooked and soon after, obsessed. I started small, with X-Men, Daredevil, and Thor. Oh, and I was lucky enough to be there for the Wolverine miniseries. The X-Men were about to embark on their second fight with the Brood, Daredevil was looking for direction after his lover had died, and I can't remember what was happening to poor Thor. What I do remember, though, was that crossovers got me to buy more books, and if I bought an issue I bought into the series. I was a Marvel man all the way, and they played me like a fiddle. At sixty cents an ish, I was soon spending twenty bucks a week and was a member of the discount club, adding to the savings I got by preordering my subscriptions. One of those that I ordered was Ghost Rider, the continuing story of the much-cursed Johnny Blaze, host to a demon motorcyclist.
Now a tale about a demonic motorcycle rider might seem like it's only appealing to tattoo artists and Harley salesmen, and perhaps tasteless teenagers, and that probably isn't that far off. Ghost Rider created solid objects out of Hellfire™ and spouted no small amount of preachy stuff about punishing the guilty, and all-in-all came off as a strange hybrid of Green Lantern and Captain America. However, after I went off to college and had no money for comics they retooled his character, making it less dependent on supernatural solids and moreso on his chain and "Penance Stare," whatever that is. I can't say I'm an expert on this character anymore, but I can say that the movie version looks really, really cool.
So why am I interested? Why don't I ever see issues of Ghost Rider laying in the waiting rooms of tattoo studios? Is Ghost Rider actually a multilayered allegory of truth and consequence, cause and effect, the dark nature within each of us? Is the carnival background of the oh-so-aptly-named Johnny Blaze a commentary of the estrangement that increases daily in our society, and the growing fear of the "other" that bears down on us? Given its original writing, would that "other" have once been Communist, and now have been transmogrified into the Islamist terrorists all over the news? And what of the motorcycle aspect? Man becoming his own worst nightmare by embracing technology? Pushing the limits of danger to finally push past the fear of death? Are these the deep, weighty issues that attract us to this much-misunderstood anti-hero?
Or is it that flames, motorcycles, and skulls go really well together?
Terence P Ward expresses much of his observations about the world through the written word, spoken word, visual media . . . well, any way he damned well pleases. Most of what he's responsible for can be found at, or through, http://otherlleft.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terence_Ward
Now a tale about a demonic motorcycle rider might seem like it's only appealing to tattoo artists and Harley salesmen, and perhaps tasteless teenagers, and that probably isn't that far off. Ghost Rider created solid objects out of Hellfire™ and spouted no small amount of preachy stuff about punishing the guilty, and all-in-all came off as a strange hybrid of Green Lantern and Captain America. However, after I went off to college and had no money for comics they retooled his character, making it less dependent on supernatural solids and moreso on his chain and "Penance Stare," whatever that is. I can't say I'm an expert on this character anymore, but I can say that the movie version looks really, really cool.
So why am I interested? Why don't I ever see issues of Ghost Rider laying in the waiting rooms of tattoo studios? Is Ghost Rider actually a multilayered allegory of truth and consequence, cause and effect, the dark nature within each of us? Is the carnival background of the oh-so-aptly-named Johnny Blaze a commentary of the estrangement that increases daily in our society, and the growing fear of the "other" that bears down on us? Given its original writing, would that "other" have once been Communist, and now have been transmogrified into the Islamist terrorists all over the news? And what of the motorcycle aspect? Man becoming his own worst nightmare by embracing technology? Pushing the limits of danger to finally push past the fear of death? Are these the deep, weighty issues that attract us to this much-misunderstood anti-hero?
Or is it that flames, motorcycles, and skulls go really well together?
Terence P Ward expresses much of his observations about the world through the written word, spoken word, visual media . . . well, any way he damned well pleases. Most of what he's responsible for can be found at, or through, http://otherlleft.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terence_Ward
movie news : Microsoft Loses Patent Lawsuit
One of the top news stories this week that got virtually no popular press involves the judgment against Microsoft by a small company with a big software patent.
University of California and Eolas Technologies, Inc. hold a patent which Microsoft, according to several judges, violated with its popular Internet Explorer Web browser.
Without going into painful technical detail, the patent involves the "ActiveX" technology enabling Web browsers to display both web pages and content such as streaming audio, Flash, QuickTime video and other "rich" or "dynamic" content.
Despite heated input by the Internet community to invalidate Eolas' patent because of its broad nature, Microsoft lost every appeal and effort to get the patent nullified.
Bottom line: Microsoft faced two choices. First, they could pay the patent owner and keep things moving along, business as usual (much the way Blackberry did recently when a judge found them guilty of patent infringement).
Second choice: Microsoft could avoid future licensing fees by changing their IE browser and removing the offending code.
Which do you think they chose? Ding-ding-ding!
You guessed it, Microsoft chose to avoid paying millions more by simply removing the offending code.
Unfortunately, that decision means a bit of trouble for a few million web designers who use Flash, streaming movies, and more.
Ultimately, the change to IE may force visitors to sites with rich content to click on an object to enable it before they can interact with it.
Not a huge deal. However, time will tell what ultimately happens and the actual impact on sites running rich content.
But before everyone starts screaming that "The sky is falling" and "our websites are broken," let me ask you a question.
Do you really think that companies like Macromedia (makers of Flash) and sites like Google Video will let a few changes in Internet Explorer put them out of business?
I don't think so!
If anything, this change will force companies to step up to the plate and discover ways to serve dynamic content that does not depend on ActiveX.
Sure, it will mean some pain for both content creators and users in the short term, but in the end I honestly believe that, through innovation, we will all end up with a better solution than what currently exists.
In other news today...
** Hollywood Goes Online **
Six major movie studios recently announced their intentions to start selling new-release movies via Internet download from the site MovieLink.com.
But before you jump for joy at watching "Brokeback Mountain" on your pc, understand a couple of facts.
You can't burn the movie to DVD, and the downloadable films carry a price tag of around $15-30, a price comparable or more than a physical DVD you can purchase at Wal-Mart.
As a rabid DVD consumer and enthusiastic computer user (with six in my home office alone), I can tell you right up front, there is no way in @#$%* I'll pay 20 bucks for a movie I can't "veg" out with in front of the TV.
Are they insane?
Until it gets to the point where you can download a new- release movie, burn it to DVD or put it on your iPod, downloadable flicks will remain, at best, a novelty.
"Finally! A Quick and Easy Way For YOU to Painlessly Set Up Your OWN Moneymaking 'Mini' Websites... Without Being a Computer Geek, Buying Expensive Software, or Paying Outrageous Fees To A Webmaster!" Click Here => http://www.MiniSiteCreator.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Edwards
University of California and Eolas Technologies, Inc. hold a patent which Microsoft, according to several judges, violated with its popular Internet Explorer Web browser.
Without going into painful technical detail, the patent involves the "ActiveX" technology enabling Web browsers to display both web pages and content such as streaming audio, Flash, QuickTime video and other "rich" or "dynamic" content.
Despite heated input by the Internet community to invalidate Eolas' patent because of its broad nature, Microsoft lost every appeal and effort to get the patent nullified.
Bottom line: Microsoft faced two choices. First, they could pay the patent owner and keep things moving along, business as usual (much the way Blackberry did recently when a judge found them guilty of patent infringement).
Second choice: Microsoft could avoid future licensing fees by changing their IE browser and removing the offending code.
Which do you think they chose? Ding-ding-ding!
You guessed it, Microsoft chose to avoid paying millions more by simply removing the offending code.
Unfortunately, that decision means a bit of trouble for a few million web designers who use Flash, streaming movies, and more.
Ultimately, the change to IE may force visitors to sites with rich content to click on an object to enable it before they can interact with it.
Not a huge deal. However, time will tell what ultimately happens and the actual impact on sites running rich content.
But before everyone starts screaming that "The sky is falling" and "our websites are broken," let me ask you a question.
Do you really think that companies like Macromedia (makers of Flash) and sites like Google Video will let a few changes in Internet Explorer put them out of business?
I don't think so!
If anything, this change will force companies to step up to the plate and discover ways to serve dynamic content that does not depend on ActiveX.
Sure, it will mean some pain for both content creators and users in the short term, but in the end I honestly believe that, through innovation, we will all end up with a better solution than what currently exists.
In other news today...
** Hollywood Goes Online **
Six major movie studios recently announced their intentions to start selling new-release movies via Internet download from the site MovieLink.com.
But before you jump for joy at watching "Brokeback Mountain" on your pc, understand a couple of facts.
You can't burn the movie to DVD, and the downloadable films carry a price tag of around $15-30, a price comparable or more than a physical DVD you can purchase at Wal-Mart.
As a rabid DVD consumer and enthusiastic computer user (with six in my home office alone), I can tell you right up front, there is no way in @#$%* I'll pay 20 bucks for a movie I can't "veg" out with in front of the TV.
Are they insane?
Until it gets to the point where you can download a new- release movie, burn it to DVD or put it on your iPod, downloadable flicks will remain, at best, a novelty.
"Finally! A Quick and Easy Way For YOU to Painlessly Set Up Your OWN Moneymaking 'Mini' Websites... Without Being a Computer Geek, Buying Expensive Software, or Paying Outrageous Fees To A Webmaster!" Click Here => http://www.MiniSiteCreator.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Edwards
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
movie news : The Squid and the Whale
I've been a Jeff Daniels fan for a long time.
This is yet another great Jeff Daniels movie based on a very strong script by Noah Baumbach who also directed this family drama. Bernie Berkman (Daniels) is an English professor married to another writer Joan (delivered with great texture by Laura Linney). They have two sons Walt (Chicken) (Jesse Eisenberg) and Frank (Pinkie) Berkman (Owen Kline) who go through their own breakdown episodes when they hear that their mom and dad are separating.
The opening tennis scene in which the four are playing a nasty game of doubles (Bernie keeps hitting Joan with stiff volleys) is a good metaphor for where their relationship is headed. On the one side is Bernie and Walt, and on the other, Joan and Frank.
Nobody seems to be blameless but Joan probably contributed more to the breakup than anybody else with her illicit love affair with a neighbor. During their separation she beds her son's tennis coach (a perfectly cast happy-go-lucky Bill Baldwin). Soon we have a seriously malfunctioning family unit where the little Frank starts drinking beer when he is home alone and displays sex-related anomalies at school and home. Walt, on the other hand, takes a different route to his neurosis and tries plagiarism to score a quick success at his high school's talent contest.
Bernie himself loses his rudder as well and vacillates between his desire to keep away from Joan, on the one hand, and his jealousy with her literary success and boyfriends on the other. He also starts an affair with a female student of his who rents a room at his new house and flirts with his son as well.
There is no quick and neat solution to this modern drama set in Brooklyn in the 80s. There is an attempt at reconciliation but no one knows how to get the toothpaste back into the tube again. Thus it is very appropriate that the film ends with Walt's visit to the museum of natural history where there is an immense replica of a whale battling with a giant squid (and thus the film's title). That looks like a visual representation of Bernie and Joan's stalemate as well as Walt and Frank's no holds barred fight in and out of school to keep their sanity and grow as a “normal adult” in a very turbulent world.
The editing is as sharp and fast as the script. I really loved the transitions that kept exposition to a minimum and used the cinema language to great effect. For example, in the scene where Joan is trying to talk and “explain things” to his little son who is in the shower, the appearance of his frail small hand on the shower tile, just a small fragile object coming out of the shower curtain as if it were the antenna of a scared creature testing the world's atmosphere for presence of poisonous gasses, shows the kind of great talent Noah Baumbach has for telling stories in “motion pictures.”
It's a good watch if you like modern R-rated dramas. A good 8 out of 10.
Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Senior Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation. He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 corporations since 1999.
He is the editor of PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SAT MATH SUCCESS web site http://www.privatetutor.us
In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).
A true movie fan since he was a child, Akinci provides FREE MOVIE PLOT IDEAS every day of the year at SCRIPT BOILER. Visit http://scriptboiler.blogspot.com today.
You are most welcomed to visit his COPYWRITING WEB SITE http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ugur_Akinci
This is yet another great Jeff Daniels movie based on a very strong script by Noah Baumbach who also directed this family drama. Bernie Berkman (Daniels) is an English professor married to another writer Joan (delivered with great texture by Laura Linney). They have two sons Walt (Chicken) (Jesse Eisenberg) and Frank (Pinkie) Berkman (Owen Kline) who go through their own breakdown episodes when they hear that their mom and dad are separating.
The opening tennis scene in which the four are playing a nasty game of doubles (Bernie keeps hitting Joan with stiff volleys) is a good metaphor for where their relationship is headed. On the one side is Bernie and Walt, and on the other, Joan and Frank.
Nobody seems to be blameless but Joan probably contributed more to the breakup than anybody else with her illicit love affair with a neighbor. During their separation she beds her son's tennis coach (a perfectly cast happy-go-lucky Bill Baldwin). Soon we have a seriously malfunctioning family unit where the little Frank starts drinking beer when he is home alone and displays sex-related anomalies at school and home. Walt, on the other hand, takes a different route to his neurosis and tries plagiarism to score a quick success at his high school's talent contest.
Bernie himself loses his rudder as well and vacillates between his desire to keep away from Joan, on the one hand, and his jealousy with her literary success and boyfriends on the other. He also starts an affair with a female student of his who rents a room at his new house and flirts with his son as well.
There is no quick and neat solution to this modern drama set in Brooklyn in the 80s. There is an attempt at reconciliation but no one knows how to get the toothpaste back into the tube again. Thus it is very appropriate that the film ends with Walt's visit to the museum of natural history where there is an immense replica of a whale battling with a giant squid (and thus the film's title). That looks like a visual representation of Bernie and Joan's stalemate as well as Walt and Frank's no holds barred fight in and out of school to keep their sanity and grow as a “normal adult” in a very turbulent world.
The editing is as sharp and fast as the script. I really loved the transitions that kept exposition to a minimum and used the cinema language to great effect. For example, in the scene where Joan is trying to talk and “explain things” to his little son who is in the shower, the appearance of his frail small hand on the shower tile, just a small fragile object coming out of the shower curtain as if it were the antenna of a scared creature testing the world's atmosphere for presence of poisonous gasses, shows the kind of great talent Noah Baumbach has for telling stories in “motion pictures.”
It's a good watch if you like modern R-rated dramas. A good 8 out of 10.
Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Senior Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation. He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 corporations since 1999.
He is the editor of PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SAT MATH SUCCESS web site http://www.privatetutor.us
In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).
A true movie fan since he was a child, Akinci provides FREE MOVIE PLOT IDEAS every day of the year at SCRIPT BOILER. Visit http://scriptboiler.blogspot.com today.
You are most welcomed to visit his COPYWRITING WEB SITE http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ugur_Akinci
movie news : At the Peak of Disaster Films:
"Dante's Peak" does for disaster movie fans what a hot fudge sundae does for a chocolate addict. It satisfies you immensely and then makes you want to come back for more. This afternoon, while sitting at home looking at all the housework that needs to be done, I decided to watch "Dante's Peak" for probably the twelfth or thirteen time since it first hit the big screen.
"Dante's Peak" stars Pierce Brosnan as Harry Dalton, a scientist from the U.S. Geological Survey. Harry, who lost his fiancée in a volcanic eruption several years before, is sent to "Dante's Peak", a quiet town in the Cascades, where a dormant volcano overshadows the nations second best place to live -- population under 20,000.
After two deaths (backpackers boiled while bathing in Twonset hot springs), and a suspiciously acidic water level in the lake, Harry wants to put "Dante's Peak" on alert. His boss, Paul, thinks otherwise. Of course, in the middle of all this is a potential multi-million dollar investor. Politics, politics...
Starring alongside Pierce Brosnan is Linda Hamilton, who plays Rachel Wando, a small town mayor and single mom of two. Hamilton is better remembered as the pumped-up mom in the Terminator movies. I've liked Linda Hamilton's work ever since her Beauty and the Beast days. I'm not saying she's an Oscar-caliber actress, but she turns in a solid performance time and again, and it's nice to see her in a softer role.
Brosnan, on the other had, I've always had a healthy dislike of, even in his better roles, such as in the perennial favorite, "Mrs. Doubtfire." Brosnan is, however, perfect for his role in "Dante's Peak", and even I can't take this away from him. The two stars have good chemistry -- very subtle -- and it adds to the movie, rather than detracting from it.
"Dante's Peak" does a great job of building suspense and holding it there -- much better than Volcano which was released in theaters at approximately the same time and with a similar theme. The suspense builds from the time the unsuspecting backpackers are cooked, and when the geologists are ready to pack it up, certain that there will be no action from this volcano, viewers know that this idyllic town is cooked as well.
Evacuation begins, but of course, Wando's two children (played beautifully by Jamie Renee Smith and Jeremy Foley) have taken off on a wild ride up the mountain to rescue their brutally independent grandmother. Harry and Rachel take off after them and they all end up in the devil's layer itself -- the very heart of "Dante's Peak".
This movie has some wonderful special effects. The pyroclastic cloud is incredibly believable, and the pyrotechnics will steal your breath. But it's the more focused, personal moments that are really gripping in "Dante's Peak", such as the boat scene. Anyone who's seen the film will know just the scene I'm talking about -- and for those of you who haven't, I won't ruin it. This scene was wonderfully original, and easily one of the most suspenseful moments in any movie ever. Row, row, row your boat... After a dozen viewings, I still sit on the edge of my seat for those few moments.
One thing I never really noticed in my many watchings of "Dante's Peak" was the music -- and it's really very good. I've always found that the mark of a good musical score for a film is that it isn't obtrusive -- that you don't really know it's there. Still, take a moment while you're watching "Dante's Peak", close your eyes, and listen to the music. It's beautiful, orchestral music which swells and ebbs at just the right moments. I'd buy the soundtrack.
As far as believability goes, well no, "Dante's Peak" is not always 100% credible. What movie of this type is? Disaster movies do tend to be formulaic. I've seen this time and again. If you're willing to suspend your disbelief at times, you'll enjoy it immensely. Stretch your imagination -- and for those of you who've seen "Twister," there is nothing in "Dante's Peak" worse than the concept of a "suck zone" for scientific believability. Do I believe a tire-less vehicle could outrun a pyroclastic cloud? Who cares? That's the whole fun of "Dante's Peak".
This is, on the whole, a remarkably well put-together movie, and I don't wholly understand all the criticism it has received. This type of movie is supposed to be great fun -- no nitpickers allowed. And if you're car shopping -- well, then it would also make a great commercial for SUVs.
This is the perfect movie for a Friday night. Make some popcorn and gather together in your very safe living room and pop in the video. For adrenaline addicts, technophiles, and disaster fans alike, it's a wild ride through this volcanic eruption.
Lisa is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Koosis
"Dante's Peak" stars Pierce Brosnan as Harry Dalton, a scientist from the U.S. Geological Survey. Harry, who lost his fiancée in a volcanic eruption several years before, is sent to "Dante's Peak", a quiet town in the Cascades, where a dormant volcano overshadows the nations second best place to live -- population under 20,000.
After two deaths (backpackers boiled while bathing in Twonset hot springs), and a suspiciously acidic water level in the lake, Harry wants to put "Dante's Peak" on alert. His boss, Paul, thinks otherwise. Of course, in the middle of all this is a potential multi-million dollar investor. Politics, politics...
Starring alongside Pierce Brosnan is Linda Hamilton, who plays Rachel Wando, a small town mayor and single mom of two. Hamilton is better remembered as the pumped-up mom in the Terminator movies. I've liked Linda Hamilton's work ever since her Beauty and the Beast days. I'm not saying she's an Oscar-caliber actress, but she turns in a solid performance time and again, and it's nice to see her in a softer role.
Brosnan, on the other had, I've always had a healthy dislike of, even in his better roles, such as in the perennial favorite, "Mrs. Doubtfire." Brosnan is, however, perfect for his role in "Dante's Peak", and even I can't take this away from him. The two stars have good chemistry -- very subtle -- and it adds to the movie, rather than detracting from it.
"Dante's Peak" does a great job of building suspense and holding it there -- much better than Volcano which was released in theaters at approximately the same time and with a similar theme. The suspense builds from the time the unsuspecting backpackers are cooked, and when the geologists are ready to pack it up, certain that there will be no action from this volcano, viewers know that this idyllic town is cooked as well.
Evacuation begins, but of course, Wando's two children (played beautifully by Jamie Renee Smith and Jeremy Foley) have taken off on a wild ride up the mountain to rescue their brutally independent grandmother. Harry and Rachel take off after them and they all end up in the devil's layer itself -- the very heart of "Dante's Peak".
This movie has some wonderful special effects. The pyroclastic cloud is incredibly believable, and the pyrotechnics will steal your breath. But it's the more focused, personal moments that are really gripping in "Dante's Peak", such as the boat scene. Anyone who's seen the film will know just the scene I'm talking about -- and for those of you who haven't, I won't ruin it. This scene was wonderfully original, and easily one of the most suspenseful moments in any movie ever. Row, row, row your boat... After a dozen viewings, I still sit on the edge of my seat for those few moments.
One thing I never really noticed in my many watchings of "Dante's Peak" was the music -- and it's really very good. I've always found that the mark of a good musical score for a film is that it isn't obtrusive -- that you don't really know it's there. Still, take a moment while you're watching "Dante's Peak", close your eyes, and listen to the music. It's beautiful, orchestral music which swells and ebbs at just the right moments. I'd buy the soundtrack.
As far as believability goes, well no, "Dante's Peak" is not always 100% credible. What movie of this type is? Disaster movies do tend to be formulaic. I've seen this time and again. If you're willing to suspend your disbelief at times, you'll enjoy it immensely. Stretch your imagination -- and for those of you who've seen "Twister," there is nothing in "Dante's Peak" worse than the concept of a "suck zone" for scientific believability. Do I believe a tire-less vehicle could outrun a pyroclastic cloud? Who cares? That's the whole fun of "Dante's Peak".
This is, on the whole, a remarkably well put-together movie, and I don't wholly understand all the criticism it has received. This type of movie is supposed to be great fun -- no nitpickers allowed. And if you're car shopping -- well, then it would also make a great commercial for SUVs.
This is the perfect movie for a Friday night. Make some popcorn and gather together in your very safe living room and pop in the video. For adrenaline addicts, technophiles, and disaster fans alike, it's a wild ride through this volcanic eruption.
Lisa is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Koosis
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
movie news : CinemaNow to sell movie downloads that can be burned to DVD
CinemaNow Inc. will begin selling mainstream movies for download that can be transferred to DVD and watched on standalone players, marking a first for Hollywood films bought and distributed over the Internet.
The online movie provider's "Burn to DVD" service was to debut Wednesday with more than 100 movies available, including "Scent of a Woman," "About a Boy," "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and "Barbershop."
"Our customers will experience a true innovation in home entertainment, the ability to obtain a DVD in the comfort of their living room," said Curt Marvis, CinemaNow's chief executive.
Previously, Hollywood movies purchased through CinemaNow could be watched on a PC _ or even a TV hooked up to a computer _ but not transferred to a DVD.
Studios have been reluctant to offer movies for at-home DVD copying because of piracy concerns. But the development of more secure technology has eased those fears.
"The studios were pretty rigorous in their need to have very strong encryption," Marvis said.
CinemaNow said studios initially licensed only a limited number of films.
"It's a test of the distribution and the security architecture," said Benjamin Feingold, president of Sony's home entertainment division.
He expects more films to be offered if users find the system easy to use and if the copy-protection is successful at thwarting pirates.
Hollywood is looking toward digital distribution as a way to generate revenue amid rising manufacturing and retail costs.
"It is a big deal that the studios are going to do this because they're all very interested on electronic sell-through," said Josh Bernoff, digital video analyst for Forrester Research.
"It has some challenges, but it's a much cheaper way to distribute content," he said.
A separate Web site run by CinemaNow has been offering the DVD download option for adult films since May.
CinemaNow will sell the mainstream films starting at $8.99. The offerings will contain all the features of its store-bought counterpart, including boosted sound settings, interactive menus, deleted scenes, commentaries and other extras, Marvis said.
Consumers can transfer only one copy of the movie to a DVD, which will be near the quality of retail DVDs. The service will also allow consumers to view the movies on their computer with video software like Windows Media Player.
Initially, the DVD service will not offer any first-run movies for purchase, which is likely to dull its prospects in the near term, Bernoff said.
"The choice of movies here is, shall we say, underwhelming," he said.
"It's a step in the right direction, but I don't think it's a fair test because you'd have to have a whole lot more selection, even of library movies," he said.
Marvis expects first-run movies to be added later.
The lack of selection will likely keep CinemaNow and other video-on-demand services behind traditional DVD retailers for a while, said Steve Swasey, a spokesman for Netflix Inc.
"Until the title selection is significant so that the majority of the people are interested, it's going to be a very niche and small market that does not take off," Swasey said.
Among the major Hollywood film distributors providing content for the service are The Walt Disney Co.'s Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Sony Corp.'s Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, MGM Worldwide Digital Media and Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
Independents Lionsgate, EagleVision and Sundance Channel have also licensed films for home download and transfer to DVD.
CinemaNow rival Movielink announced Monday it has licensed technology to offer DVD downloads but has yet to launch such a service.
The CinemaNow burning technology is based on fluxDVD, which was developed by Dortmund, Germany's ACE GmbH. Movielink's technology partner is Marin-based Sonic Solutions.
© 2006 AP DIGITAL
The online movie provider's "Burn to DVD" service was to debut Wednesday with more than 100 movies available, including "Scent of a Woman," "About a Boy," "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and "Barbershop."
"Our customers will experience a true innovation in home entertainment, the ability to obtain a DVD in the comfort of their living room," said Curt Marvis, CinemaNow's chief executive.
Previously, Hollywood movies purchased through CinemaNow could be watched on a PC _ or even a TV hooked up to a computer _ but not transferred to a DVD.
Studios have been reluctant to offer movies for at-home DVD copying because of piracy concerns. But the development of more secure technology has eased those fears.
"The studios were pretty rigorous in their need to have very strong encryption," Marvis said.
CinemaNow said studios initially licensed only a limited number of films.
"It's a test of the distribution and the security architecture," said Benjamin Feingold, president of Sony's home entertainment division.
He expects more films to be offered if users find the system easy to use and if the copy-protection is successful at thwarting pirates.
Hollywood is looking toward digital distribution as a way to generate revenue amid rising manufacturing and retail costs.
"It is a big deal that the studios are going to do this because they're all very interested on electronic sell-through," said Josh Bernoff, digital video analyst for Forrester Research.
"It has some challenges, but it's a much cheaper way to distribute content," he said.
A separate Web site run by CinemaNow has been offering the DVD download option for adult films since May.
CinemaNow will sell the mainstream films starting at $8.99. The offerings will contain all the features of its store-bought counterpart, including boosted sound settings, interactive menus, deleted scenes, commentaries and other extras, Marvis said.
Consumers can transfer only one copy of the movie to a DVD, which will be near the quality of retail DVDs. The service will also allow consumers to view the movies on their computer with video software like Windows Media Player.
Initially, the DVD service will not offer any first-run movies for purchase, which is likely to dull its prospects in the near term, Bernoff said.
"The choice of movies here is, shall we say, underwhelming," he said.
"It's a step in the right direction, but I don't think it's a fair test because you'd have to have a whole lot more selection, even of library movies," he said.
Marvis expects first-run movies to be added later.
The lack of selection will likely keep CinemaNow and other video-on-demand services behind traditional DVD retailers for a while, said Steve Swasey, a spokesman for Netflix Inc.
"Until the title selection is significant so that the majority of the people are interested, it's going to be a very niche and small market that does not take off," Swasey said.
Among the major Hollywood film distributors providing content for the service are The Walt Disney Co.'s Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Sony Corp.'s Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, MGM Worldwide Digital Media and Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
Independents Lionsgate, EagleVision and Sundance Channel have also licensed films for home download and transfer to DVD.
CinemaNow rival Movielink announced Monday it has licensed technology to offer DVD downloads but has yet to launch such a service.
The CinemaNow burning technology is based on fluxDVD, which was developed by Dortmund, Germany's ACE GmbH. Movielink's technology partner is Marin-based Sonic Solutions.
© 2006 AP DIGITAL
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