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    <title>The Pink Panther's Recent Activity - Spout</title>
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      <title>The Pink Panther's Recent Activity - Spout</title>
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      <title>Film:The Pink Panther</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/films/The_Pink_Panther/241221/default.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<table width='100%' style='font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><tr><td><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t79699ityup.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' /></td>
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<strong>Title:</strong> The Pink Panther<br/>
<strong>Year:</strong> 2006<br/>
<strong>Director:</strong> Shawn Levy<br/>
<strong>Plot:</strong> The world's most inept detective returns to the screen in this modern slapstick comedy. France's come-from-behind victory in the World Cup soccer championships turns tragic when the team's coach, Yves Gulant (<a href="/players/P___242471/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Jason Statham</a>), is murdered during a post-game celebration. Gulant's girlfriend, pop star Xania (<a href="/players/P___327089/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Beyoncé Knowles</a>), was standing by his side as he was felled by a poisoned dart, and in the chaos that followed a diamond ring he gave her was stolen, which held one of the world's largest and most valuable jewels, known as "the Pink Panther." The media and the public demand that the killer be found out and brought to justice, and Chief Inspector Dreyfus (<a href="/players/P____38699/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Kevin Kline</a>) of the Paris Police pledges to put his best man on the case. However, somehow the astoundingly clumsy but consistently lucky Inspector Jacques Clouseau (<a href="/players/P___101485/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Steve Martin</a>) gets the assignment instead, and with his assistant, Gendarme Gilbert Ponton (<a href="/players/P____59644/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Jean Reno</a>), in tow, Clouseau follows a dizzying trail of clues from Paris to New York City as he attempts to recover the rare diamond and find the villains who killed Gulant. An updated variant on the Inspector Clouseau comedies that helped make <a href="/players/P____64447/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Peter Sellers</a> a major star in the United States, The Pink Panther also stars <a href="/players/P___215854/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Emily Mortimer</a>, <a href="/players/P___290127/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Kristin Chenoweth</a>, <a href="/players/P____59327/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Roger Rees</a>, and William Abadie; leading man <a href="/players/P___101485/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Steve Martin</a> also wrote the film's screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide<br/>
<strong>Times Tagged:</strong> 21<br/>
<strong>Number of Lists:</strong> 16<br/>
<strong>Number of blog posts:</strong> 7<br/>
<strong>Number of discussion threads:</strong> 3<br/>
<strong>SpoutRating:</strong> 2<br/>
</td></tr></table>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:15:25 GMT</pubDate><spout:Title>The Pink Panther</spout:Title><spout:Year>2006</spout:Year><spout:Director>Shawn Levy</spout:Director><spout:Plot>The world's most inept detective returns to the screen in this modern slapstick comedy. France's come-from-behind victory in the World Cup soccer championships turns tragic when the team's coach, Yves Gulant (&lt;a href="/players/P___242471/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Jason Statham&lt;/a&gt;), is murdered during a post-game celebration. Gulant's girlfriend, pop star Xania (&lt;a href="/players/P___327089/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Beyoncé Knowles&lt;/a&gt;), was standing by his side as he was felled by a poisoned dart, and in the chaos that followed a diamond ring he gave her was stolen, which held one of the world's largest and most valuable jewels, known as "the Pink Panther." The media and the public demand that the killer be found out and brought to justice, and Chief Inspector Dreyfus (&lt;a href="/players/P____38699/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Kevin Kline&lt;/a&gt;) of the Paris Police pledges to put his best man on the case. However, somehow the astoundingly clumsy but consistently lucky Inspector Jacques Clouseau (&lt;a href="/players/P___101485/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Steve Martin&lt;/a&gt;) gets the assignment instead, and with his assistant, Gendarme Gilbert Ponton (&lt;a href="/players/P____59644/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Jean Reno&lt;/a&gt;), in tow, Clouseau follows a dizzying trail of clues from Paris to New York City as he attempts to recover the rare diamond and find the villains who killed Gulant. An updated variant on the Inspector Clouseau comedies that helped make &lt;a href="/players/P____64447/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Peter Sellers&lt;/a&gt; a major star in the United States, The Pink Panther also stars &lt;a href="/players/P___215854/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Emily Mortimer&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="/players/P___290127/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Kristin Chenoweth&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="/players/P____59327/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Roger Rees&lt;/a&gt;, and William Abadie; leading man &lt;a href="/players/P___101485/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Steve Martin&lt;/a&gt; also wrote the film's screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide</spout:Plot><spout:TimesTagged>21</spout:TimesTagged><spout:taglevel>Tag Target (&gt;10)</spout:taglevel><spout:Numberoflists>16</spout:Numberoflists><spout:NumberOfBlogPosts>7</spout:NumberOfBlogPosts><spout:NumberOfDiscussionThreads>3</spout:NumberOfDiscussionThreads><spout:SpoutRating>2</spout:SpoutRating><spout:FilmCoverURL>http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t79699ityup.jpg</spout:FilmCoverURL><spout:SpoutFilmDetailURL>http://www.spout.com/films/The_Pink_Panther/241221/default.aspx</spout:SpoutFilmDetailURL><spout:type>Film</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: New Movies 2/6 - CORALINE, PINK PANTHER 2, and I'M JUST NOT THAT INTO IT</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Coming_Soon/New_Movies_2_6_CORALINE_PINK_PANTHER_2_and_I_M/216/40159/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t79699ityup.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/2126/default.aspx'>spout</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Coming_Soon/216/discussions.aspx'>Coming Soon</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 2/2/2009 3:15:25 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> 2/2 -- It's Groundhog Day!  Well, the little bugger saw his shadow, so we're in for another six weeks of winter. But he also smelled his own breath, so we're in for some good movies before spring! Not surprisingly, the groundhog wouldn't just come out and say which movies are going to be good--but he did give some short, zen-like predictions. Check 'em out below.    1. Pink Panther 2 -- Watch the trailer. I think Steve Martin is one of the smartest and funniest comedians alive, but each of his new movies makes this a little harder to remember. Don't get me wrong, Pink Panther (2006) is decent slapstick with a handful of especially funny moments. If the sequel is any better, it'll be worth the price of admission. THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "My dandruff is really quite edible." (That means the film may seem off-putting, but is actually pretty good.)    2. He's Just Not that Into You -- Watch the trailer. This looks less like a story than An Evening of Stars Getting Together and Not Getting Together. Have you seen the mash-up video Christian Bale Is Just Not That Into You? THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "I quench my thirst with my own drool." (That means he's attracted to Jennifer Connelly, and laments that, alas, they can never be together. If you wanna have fun or just feel close to Ms. Conelly, Recast DARK CITY.)    3. Fanboys -- Watch the trailer. This movie started a brawl between the badasses of Star Wars and Star Trek. Vote for your favorite characters to help them survive the brawl. Fanboys has been hanging around since 2007, so I'm kind of wary. Nevertheless, it's full of good people (Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, and Kristin Bell in Princess Leia's golden bikini, yikes!) THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "These darn saddle sores just won't heal!" (He's tired of all the delays, and hopes the film lives up to his expectations. It also means, would I please hand him my lip balm so he can give some relief to his rump?)    4. Coraline -- Watch the trailer. I've read the book by Neil Gaiman and it's pretty good, sort of Alice In Wonderland meets The Nightmare Before Christmas. Hey, that's what the trailer looks like, too! THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "Does a Coal Monster poop diamonds?" (This must be some kind of stock phrase among groundhogs. Do any of you know what it means?)    5. Push -- Watch the trailer. The director of this thriller made Lucky Number Slevin, which was pretty good. On the other hand...  THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "I have blood in my stool." (This is far too vulgar to translate, and he knows better. I kick him lightly in the saddlesores and he scurries back into his hole.) ________________________________________________ NEW TO DVD 2/3 There are a bunch of Friday the 13th special editions coming out, some on Blu-ray. I was thinking about seeing the new Friday the 13th next Friday, but then my appetite for slasher films was ruined by the horrid My Bloody Valentine 3-D.  1. Zack and Miri Make a Porno -- Watch the trailer. Since it stars those two delightful cats--Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks--I'm surprised it bombed so bad in the theater. I haven't seen this yet; any opinions on whether it deserves a look? 2. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist -- Watch the trailer. Don't you just wanna pinch Michael Cera's cheeks?  3. Redbelt -- Watch the trailer. A good but flawed film from David Mamet about honor (and the lack thereof) among professional Tae Kwon Do competitors. I learned from this film that the only belt higher than blackbelt is redbelt...and if I'm not mistaken, there's only one Redbelt at a time. 4. Bottle Shock -- Watch the trailer. Starring Bill Pullman and the superb Alan Rickman, this comedy-drama's set in 1976, within the world of wine-making and wine-tasting. If you've ever been to a wine-tasting, you know there's plenty to make fun of there. The best comments I've ever heard at a wine-tasting. I'm not making these up:      (1) It's a bit austere in the mid-nose.      (2) Ooh, I'm almost sensing a bit of effervescence that isn't really there! 5. The Secret Life of Bees -- Watch the trailer. Wow, that Dakota Fanning is everywhere these days.  Yesterday I saw Dakota down at the DMV, trying to get her driver's license. I'm like, "What do you need that for?" And she's like, "I'm not gonna drive! They're just photographing me! My agent made this deal so that my picture goes on every new photo ID in America." Just an FYI, if you're going to get a license or passport. 6. Assault on Precint 13 (re-release) -- This is one John Carpenter classic I haven't seen. Any opinions of it? 7. Being There (re-release) -- Watch the trailer. I'm a fan of Peter Sellers, but I haven't seen this one. By the way, we're giving it away. Find out how to win.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:15:25 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>spout</spout:postby><spout:postto>Coming Soon</spout:postto><spout:postdate>2/2/2009 3:15:25 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>2/2 -- It's Groundhog Day!  Well, the little bugger saw his shadow, so we're in for another six weeks of winter. But he also smelled his own breath, so we're in for some good movies before spring! Not surprisingly, the groundhog wouldn't just come out and say which movies are going to be good--but he did give some short, zen-like predictions. Check 'em out below.    1. Pink Panther 2 -- Watch the trailer. I think Steve Martin is one of the smartest and funniest comedians alive, but each of his new movies makes this a little harder to remember. Don't get me wrong, Pink Panther (2006) is decent slapstick with a handful of especially funny moments. If the sequel is any better, it'll be worth the price of admission. THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "My dandruff is really quite edible." (That means the film may seem off-putting, but is actually pretty good.)    2. He's Just Not that Into You -- Watch the trailer. This looks less like a story than An Evening of Stars Getting Together and Not Getting Together. Have you seen the mash-up video Christian Bale Is Just Not That Into You? THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "I quench my thirst with my own drool." (That means he's attracted to Jennifer Connelly, and laments that, alas, they can never be together. If you wanna have fun or just feel close to Ms. Conelly, Recast DARK CITY.)    3. Fanboys -- Watch the trailer. This movie started a brawl between the badasses of Star Wars and Star Trek. Vote for your favorite characters to help them survive the brawl. Fanboys has been hanging around since 2007, so I'm kind of wary. Nevertheless, it's full of good people (Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, and Kristin Bell in Princess Leia's golden bikini, yikes!) THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "These darn saddle sores just won't heal!" (He's tired of all the delays, and hopes the film lives up to his expectations. It also means, would I please hand him my lip balm so he can give some relief to his rump?)    4. Coraline -- Watch the trailer. I've read the book by Neil Gaiman and it's pretty good, sort of Alice In Wonderland meets The Nightmare Before Christmas. Hey, that's what the trailer looks like, too! THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "Does a Coal Monster poop diamonds?" (This must be some kind of stock phrase among groundhogs. Do any of you know what it means?)    5. Push -- Watch the trailer. The director of this thriller made Lucky Number Slevin, which was pretty good. On the other hand...  THE GROUNDHOG SAYS: "I have blood in my stool." (This is far too vulgar to translate, and he knows better. I kick him lightly in the saddlesores and he scurries back into his hole.) ________________________________________________ NEW TO DVD 2/3 There are a bunch of Friday the 13th special editions coming out, some on Blu-ray. I was thinking about seeing the new Friday the 13th next Friday, but then my appetite for slasher films was ruined by the horrid My Bloody Valentine 3-D.  1. Zack and Miri Make a Porno -- Watch the trailer. Since it stars those two delightful cats--Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks--I'm surprised it bombed so bad in the theater. I haven't seen this yet; any opinions on whether it deserves a look? 2. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist -- Watch the trailer. Don't you just wanna pinch Michael Cera's cheeks?  3. Redbelt -- Watch the trailer. A good but flawed film from David Mamet about honor (and the lack thereof) among professional Tae Kwon Do competitors. I learned from this film that the only belt higher than blackbelt is redbelt...and if I'm not mistaken, there's only one Redbelt at a time. 4. Bottle Shock -- Watch the trailer. Starring Bill Pullman and the superb Alan Rickman, this comedy-drama's set in 1976, within the world of wine-making and wine-tasting. If you've ever been to a wine-tasting, you know there's plenty to make fun of there. The best comments I've ever heard at a wine-tasting. I'm not making these up:      (1) It's a bit austere in the mid-nose.      (2) Ooh, I'm almost sensing a bit of effervescence that isn't really there! 5. The Secret Life of Bees -- Watch the trailer. Wow, that Dakota Fanning is everywhere these days.  Yesterday I saw Dakota down at the DMV, trying to get her driver's license. I'm like, "What do you need that for?" And she's like, "I'm not gonna drive! They're just photographing me! My agent made this deal so that my picture goes on every new photo ID in America." Just an FYI, if you're going to get a license or passport. 6. Assault on Precint 13 (re-release) -- This is one John Carpenter classic I haven't seen. Any opinions of it? 7. Being There (re-release) -- Watch the trailer. I'm a fan of Peter Sellers, but I haven't seen this one. By the way, we're giving it away. Find out how to win.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: The face of the remake</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Re_Make/The_face_of_the_remake/674/40040/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t79699ityup.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/5353/default.aspx'>Risselada</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Re_Make/674/discussions.aspx'>Re-Make</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 1/28/2009 4:54:41 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> I would like to nominate Steve Martin as the official face of the remake.  And as a bonus honor, I would also like to nominate him as the representative of sequels to remakes as well.  Here are his credentials: 1.  Pennies from Heaven - a remake of the original British mini-series Pennies from Heaven 2.  Little Shop of Horrors - a musical remake of the original Little Shop of Horrors 3.  Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - a remake of Bedtime Story 4.  Father of the Bride - a remake of the original Father of the Bride 5.  Mixed Nuts - a remake of Le P&egrave;re No&euml;l est une ordure 6.  Father of the Bride Part II - a sequel to the remake of the original Father of the Bride 7.  Sgt. Bilko - a remake of the original TV series The Phil Silvers Show 8.  The Out-of-Towners - a remake of the original The Out of Towners 9.  Cheaper by the Dozen - technically not a remake, but there already was another Cheaper by the Dozen movie based off of the same novel 10.  Cheaper by the Dozen 2 - sequel to what I'm guessing is basically a remake 11.  The Pink Panther - loose remake of the original The Pink Panther 12.  The Pink Panther 2 - sequel to the remake of The Pink Panther 13.  Martin is also currently slated to appear in a remake of Topper Those are his biggest credentials He was also in Roxanne which is based on the play Cyrano de Bergerac which has been done in movies many times. Also A Simple Twist of Fate was based on the book Silas Marner which had been made into a TV movie a decade earlier. I know I'm reaching with this last one.  But still, can anyone think of a a person out there that could rival Steve Martin as the king of the remake?  With so many remakes being done these days I'm sure there are many others up to the challenge.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:54:41 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>Risselada</spout:postby><spout:postto>Re-Make</spout:postto><spout:postdate>1/28/2009 4:54:41 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>I would like to nominate Steve Martin as the official face of the remake.  And as a bonus honor, I would also like to nominate him as the representative of sequels to remakes as well.  Here are his credentials: 1.  Pennies from Heaven - a remake of the original British mini-series Pennies from Heaven 2.  Little Shop of Horrors - a musical remake of the original Little Shop of Horrors 3.  Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - a remake of Bedtime Story 4.  Father of the Bride - a remake of the original Father of the Bride 5.  Mixed Nuts - a remake of Le P&amp;egrave;re No&amp;euml;l est une ordure 6.  Father of the Bride Part II - a sequel to the remake of the original Father of the Bride 7.  Sgt. Bilko - a remake of the original TV series The Phil Silvers Show 8.  The Out-of-Towners - a remake of the original The Out of Towners 9.  Cheaper by the Dozen - technically not a remake, but there already was another Cheaper by the Dozen movie based off of the same novel 10.  Cheaper by the Dozen 2 - sequel to what I'm guessing is basically a remake 11.  The Pink Panther - loose remake of the original The Pink Panther 12.  The Pink Panther 2 - sequel to the remake of The Pink Panther 13.  Martin is also currently slated to appear in a remake of Topper Those are his biggest credentials He was also in Roxanne which is based on the play Cyrano de Bergerac which has been done in movies many times. Also A Simple Twist of Fate was based on the book Silas Marner which had been made into a TV movie a decade earlier. I know I'm reaching with this last one.  But still, can anyone think of a a person out there that could rival Steve Martin as the king of the remake?  With so many remakes being done these days I'm sure there are many others up to the challenge.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:1/30 -- TAKEN, shaken, and stirred by new movies</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Coming_Soon/Re_1_30_TAKEN_shaken_and_stirred_by_new_movie/216/39928/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t79699ityup.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/2126/default.aspx'>spout</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Coming_Soon/216/discussions.aspx'>Coming Soon</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 1/26/2009 6:53:00 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> NEW DVD's 1/27 1. RocknRolla -- Watch the trailer. RocknRolla made people say "Guy Ritchie is back," but when I recently watched Snatch I was surprised at how dated it felt. By contrast, RocknRolla seemed surprising, even as I recognized some of the trademark Richie-isms in the soundtrack choices and cinematography. I recommend this one, and I'm looking forward to the sequel. 2. Vicky Cristina Barcelona -- Watch the trailer. Most of the buzz around this Woody Allen film stemmed from the make-out scene between Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz. But hey, it's Woody Allen, who once in a while he still puts together a really good movie (i.e. Match Point). Is VCB good? I haven't seen it. 3. Pride &amp; Glory -- Watch the trailer. You've heard that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link? Well, this film has Ed Norton, Colin Farrell, and Jon Voight, and it's only as good as Jon Voight. 4. College -- Do not watch the trailer. Do not watch the movie. 5. Fireproof -- Watch the trailer. Something of a rarity, since it was produced by a Christian church and still received a wide release.  Stars Kirk Cameron, as a fireman for whom it's easier to risk his life saving people than it is to work at his failing marriage.  6. Lakeview Terrace -- Watch the trailer. Samuel L. Jackson plays a psycho cop who's got an irrational beef with his neighbors, Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington. 7. The Lucky Ones -- Tim Robbins, Rachel McAdams and Michael Pena are Iraq veterans on a US road trip. 8. Zodiac -- Watch the trailer. The one David Fincher made before The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The one about the 1970s Zodiac killer. The one that was far too long and only so-so. Re-releases 1. Groundhog Day (1993) -- Watch the trailer. I watch this once a year around February 2. This is the "Anniversary Edition," commemorating the...16th anniversary? Hey, how many years of Feb. 2 do you think Phil lived through? Sixteen years? Less? More?  2. The Bourne Trilogy -- A couple weeks ago, I was asking a friend if he thought Underworld 3 would be the best of the series, and he said, "When was the last time any part three was the best?"  I suggest to you: The Bourne Ultimatum. 3. Pink Panther Film Collection -- Includes A Shot in the Dark (1964), Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), and Son of the Pink Panther (1993). I hadn't seen A Shot in the Dark until the first Steve Martin Pink Panther came out, and I was surprised at how little Peter Sellers is onscreen! I haven't seen any of the later films; anyone have favorites to recommend? 4. The Stewardesses, Deluxe Edition -- Watch the trailer. FilmCouch discusses how this crappy little porno became the most successful 3D movie in history.   <br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:53:00 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>spout</spout:postby><spout:postto>Coming Soon</spout:postto><spout:postdate>1/26/2009 6:53:00 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>NEW DVD's 1/27 1. RocknRolla -- Watch the trailer. RocknRolla made people say "Guy Ritchie is back," but when I recently watched Snatch I was surprised at how dated it felt. By contrast, RocknRolla seemed surprising, even as I recognized some of the trademark Richie-isms in the soundtrack choices and cinematography. I recommend this one, and I'm looking forward to the sequel. 2. Vicky Cristina Barcelona -- Watch the trailer. Most of the buzz around this Woody Allen film stemmed from the make-out scene between Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz. But hey, it's Woody Allen, who once in a while he still puts together a really good movie (i.e. Match Point). Is VCB good? I haven't seen it. 3. Pride &amp;amp; Glory -- Watch the trailer. You've heard that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link? Well, this film has Ed Norton, Colin Farrell, and Jon Voight, and it's only as good as Jon Voight. 4. College -- Do not watch the trailer. Do not watch the movie. 5. Fireproof -- Watch the trailer. Something of a rarity, since it was produced by a Christian church and still received a wide release.  Stars Kirk Cameron, as a fireman for whom it's easier to risk his life saving people than it is to work at his failing marriage.  6. Lakeview Terrace -- Watch the trailer. Samuel L. Jackson plays a psycho cop who's got an irrational beef with his neighbors, Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington. 7. The Lucky Ones -- Tim Robbins, Rachel McAdams and Michael Pena are Iraq veterans on a US road trip. 8. Zodiac -- Watch the trailer. The one David Fincher made before The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The one about the 1970s Zodiac killer. The one that was far too long and only so-so. Re-releases 1. Groundhog Day (1993) -- Watch the trailer. I watch this once a year around February 2. This is the "Anniversary Edition," commemorating the...16th anniversary? Hey, how many years of Feb. 2 do you think Phil lived through? Sixteen years? Less? More?  2. The Bourne Trilogy -- A couple weeks ago, I was asking a friend if he thought Underworld 3 would be the best of the series, and he said, "When was the last time any part three was the best?"  I suggest to you: The Bourne Ultimatum. 3. Pink Panther Film Collection -- Includes A Shot in the Dark (1964), Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), and Son of the Pink Panther (1993). I hadn't seen A Shot in the Dark until the first Steve Martin Pink Panther came out, and I was surprised at how little Peter Sellers is onscreen! I haven't seen any of the later films; anyone have favorites to recommend? 4. The Stewardesses, Deluxe Edition -- Watch the trailer. FilmCouch discusses how this crappy little porno became the most successful 3D movie in history.   </spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: DVD gifts off the beaten path</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/usesoap/archive/2008/12/9/38160.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t79699ityup.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/113227/default.aspx'>usesoap</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/usesoap/default.aspx'>usesoap Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 12/9/2008 8:46:01 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Folks in the current economy just haven&rsquo;t warmed to the whole Blu-ray concept just yet. So while they are still commercially viable (even though they are waning in popularity), there are still a number of special edition DVDs funneling into the market. As the holiday approaches, it can be confusing for consumers as they toggle between choosing the &ldquo;Special Dynamic Super Edition&rdquo; or the &ldquo;Ultimate Collectors Shiny Happy Edition&rdquo; of the same films that have been released, re-released, and re-re-released. I am not going to include the latest films that have perhaps just been released this year in theaters and are receiving their big DVD debuts, but rather the digital roads less traveled, providing a range of options for all to fit every price range for DVD films and box sets released in 2008. As you are striking off names of cinephiles from your holiday gift list, consider some of the following options: For the kids/family: All kids will clamor for the Wall *E and Horton Hears a Who, but do you want your child to be a follower or a leader? Here&rsquo;s some healthy alternatives: .The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol 2 Woody was sort of like the Rodney Dangerfield of cartoon characters for me and my friends growing up. The ubiquitous bird was really just animated padding as we awaited what we perceived to be better cartoons that would come on when we returned home from school. He was the television equivalent to Ziggy. And while there are several valleys in this three-disc collection of shorts produced between 1952 and 1958, there are countless peaks, including Niagara Fools, which could quite possibly be the best of his entire run on the tube. (About $35 at Amazon.com). Classic Caballeros Collection: (The Three Caballeros/ Saludos Amigos): Walt Disney, cash strapped after spiraling budgets of Pinocchio and Fantasia threatened to bankrupt the company, found himself traveling to Central and South America in search of distributing his product and cashing in to new markets. The results are these two (and a few other) shorts that are bouncy enough to satiate the kids in the house (with staples like Donald Duck and Goofy) , but filled with enough behind-the-scenes travelogues to keep the parents entertained long after the tots head off for bed. It&rsquo;s a time capsule that shows the first footsteps taken in Disney&rsquo;s now-global stranglehold on all things relating to childhood. (About $15) American Slapstick 2: In this three-disc compilation of shorts, 30 silent-era films are featured, demonstrating the breadth and depths of this oft-chided comic institution whose public recognition of it usually focuses solely on some guy named Chaplin. Harold Lloyd, then-unknown Oliver Hardy, Bebe Daniels, Snub Pollard all share screen time with even lesser-known pioneers. The popularity of the one-half silent slapstick of this year&rsquo;s Wall*E will perhaps encourage viewers to uncover these long-forgotten pearls. (About $35) The Red Balloon: A lonely Parisian boy befriends a helium-filled titular object that seems to have a mind of its own in this 1956 film that is still as enchanting today and Janus Films has done an impeccable job in its cleanup of the print. The result in a simple, sweet , funny and even moving tale (the balloon&rsquo;s flirtatious dance with a blue balloon is priceless) that would still be as meaningful for children today as those in post-war France, when it was made. (About $10) Big beefy sets: For those who still have job security and can perhaps shell out a few extra dollars, here are some options that are actually worth the money: The Godfather (Coppola Restoration Giftset): Yes, Coppola and company have returned to this well many a time on DVD, but if even if you have one of the former incarnations, you may want to start using them as coasters, as this is by far the best-looking version of the films you are likely to find. For those film geeks who appreciate the film for its nuances like the chiaroscuro lighting, era-perfect costuming and flawless framing, this is one sweet canoli. (About $45 for the whole set, though films can be purchased separately to avoid that whole Godfather III mistake) The Pink Panther Ultimate Collection: So the series bats about 500, mostly during Peter Sellers&rsquo; earliest work as the inept Inspector Clouseau (but this set also includes interpretations of the bumbling detective by Alan Arkin, Roger Moore (in 1983&rsquo;s Curse of the Pink Panther), Roberto Benigni and, sadly, Steve Martin in the current re-boot of the franchise. But, the shoddy latter film entries are completely forgiven by this box set&rsquo;s inclusion of all 190 far-superior Pink Panther cartoons. (About $180, but you are getting a total of 18 discs with this) Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition : Unfortunately, it is true: two decades have passed since this fantastic series first aired, meaning you are that much older. Fortunately, the series contains so many laughs you may forget about all how much hair you&rsquo;ve lost/wrinkles you&rsquo;ve gained in that time. Films held up for merry mockery include: First Spaceship to Venus (1960), Laserblast (1979), Werewolf (1983) and Future War (1997). In the past, many MST3K discs have been rather sparse on extras, but this set comes loaded with features, including the show&rsquo;s history, a reunion Q &amp; A, and countless different versions of the theme song. (About $160, but you get a life-size head of Crow T. Robot, people!) The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus - Collector's Edition Megaset: To know it is to love it: Flying Circus and its co-conspiratorial crew calling itself Monty Python have been purveyors of all modern silliness for more than three decades, leaving many sketch-comedy contenders in their wake. Take a look at any &ldquo;comedy&rdquo; channel on the internet today and you will no doubt see the influence of these ground-breaking masters of mockery. (About $55) The Budd Boetticher Box Set: What, you&rsquo;ve never heard of Budd Boetticher? Does the fact that Marin Scorcese, Clint Eastwood and Taylor Hackford all volunteered to introduce films included in this set persuade you at all? The Tall T, Decision at Sundown, Buchanan Rides Alone, Ride Lonesome (1959) and Comanche Station, are but a few contributions to the Western genre from the director, giving James Coburn (in his film debut), Richard Boone, Maureen O'Sullivan, Pernell Roberts, Lee Van Cleef, and Craig Stevens and place to hang their hats, so to speak. (About $45) The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 3 : Made during the grand dame&rsquo;s peak of popularity (the non-campy kind) while working with Warner Brothers, this collection includes seldom-seen-but-worthwhile classics as The Old Maid (1939), All This and Heaven Too (1940), The Great Lie (1942), In This Our Life (1942), Watch the Rhine (1943) and Deception (1946). Also tossed into the six-disc set are commentary tracks from film scholars, era-specific film trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, and vintage cartoons. (About $47) The Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection: Spanning eight discs, this MGM set highlights some of the more obscure, but no-less interesting, works from the master, including The Lodger (1927), one of his silent pictures, Sabotage (1936), the Oscar-winning Rebecca (1940), Lifeboat (1944) a mini-masterwork that is set entirely on an inflatable raft and still manages to build tension, Spellbound (1945) , Notorious (1946) and The Paradine Case (1946), starring Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck. Included are the famous Hitchock Francois Truffaut interviews, trailers, radio adaptations, and other nuggets of cinema goodness. (About $60) Georges M&eacute;li&egrave;s: First Wizard of Cinema (1896-1913): Melies&rsquo;s sad ending was criminal compared to his contribution to the world of film (he died penniless and all-but-forgotten), and this posthumous compilation only further proves just how influential this man was. Some of the ways the effects are done today have changed, but the more things change&hellip; A total of 173 short films from this movie master are included in this box set, filled with fantastic journeys, interplanetary travel, and fairy tale lands. The set also includes a booklet documenting his life in and out of film, as well as a famous short documentary on him from another French legend, Georges Franju. (About $90) A really, very, super-special, ultimate collector&rsquo;s edition: Almost every film today is released in rated and &ldquo;unrated&rdquo; director&rsquo;s cuts. But few of them have any negligible differences. Here are a few that merit a purchase: The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (20th Anniversary Edition): Visionary director Terry Gilliam has seldom had smooth sailing from sets to screen (the legendary aborted Johnny Depp project, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, made for a fascinating documentary of the filmmaking process titled Lost in La Mancha), and this 1988 film is no exception. Budgets and schedules spinning out of control led to one of the more intriguing behind-the-scenes lore of film production, which is recounted rather honestly and thoroughly through its cast and crew in this special edition DVD. For those who have never witnessed this hallucinatory fantasy since it was first released, a repeat viewing after following how it was made is required to gain an entirely new respect for it. (About $20) The Thief of Bagdad (Criterion Collection): If you or your children&rsquo;s only exposure to bottled genies and flying carpets are limited to either Disney and/or Barbara Eden, you owe it to yourself and your kids to pick up this restored gem that featured at-the-time groundbreaking effects (that even today, while dated, still impress), a thrilling adventure and now packed with bonus material such as the original trailer, several commentaries (including a couple of hacks by the name of Scorsese and Coppola), documentaries on Ray Harryhausen, Dennis Muren and Craig Barron and various other features. (About $25) Dark City (Director&rsquo;s Cut): Hot off the success of The Crow, in the early 90s, director Alex Proyas was given a bigger budget to create an even larger alternate universe, not unlike the ones created in Blade Runner. And it was perhaps a little too close, as the film was initially met with a shrug from many critics (except Roger Ebert) and quickly disappeared. It has developed a sizeable cult following, allowing a DVD rebirth in the form of a director&rsquo;s cut, inviting newbies and former haters alike to view the film as originally intended. (About $12) Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains!: Here&rsquo;s another film that a backstory almost as interesting as the one on the screen. Disowned by its writer, dropped by its studio and abandoned by home video, this rarity stars a young Diane Lane, Ray Winstone, and Laura Dern (as well as members from The Clash and The Sex Pistols). After making the rounds of HBO and late-night USA Network back in the day (late 80s), the film vanished into obscurity. Rhino has lovingly picked it up and polished it off with a number of features, including audio commentaries (from Lane and Dern, no less!). (About $15) The General: The Ultimate Two-Disc Edition: No self-respecting lover of film should be without this one in their collection. Be wary, as since this classic has gone into public domain (meaning almost any rag-tag releasing company can distribute a beat-up print for profit), this comedic classic from Buster Keaton has countless versions clotting bargain bins everywhere. Kino, which has already released a fine dust-off of the film years ago, now present a definitive version, including introductions from Gloria Swanson and Orson Welles, a tour of the filming locations (including the train used in the film) and a choice of musical accompaniments for this silent masterpiece of meticulously calculated mayhem. (About $22)<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:46:01 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>usesoap</spout:postby><spout:postto>usesoap Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>12/9/2008 8:46:01 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Folks in the current economy just haven&amp;rsquo;t warmed to the whole Blu-ray concept just yet. So while they are still commercially viable (even though they are waning in popularity), there are still a number of special edition DVDs funneling into the market. As the holiday approaches, it can be confusing for consumers as they toggle between choosing the &amp;ldquo;Special Dynamic Super Edition&amp;rdquo; or the &amp;ldquo;Ultimate Collectors Shiny Happy Edition&amp;rdquo; of the same films that have been released, re-released, and re-re-released. I am not going to include the latest films that have perhaps just been released this year in theaters and are receiving their big DVD debuts, but rather the digital roads less traveled, providing a range of options for all to fit every price range for DVD films and box sets released in 2008. As you are striking off names of cinephiles from your holiday gift list, consider some of the following options: For the kids/family: All kids will clamor for the Wall *E and Horton Hears a Who, but do you want your child to be a follower or a leader? Here&amp;rsquo;s some healthy alternatives: .The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol 2 Woody was sort of like the Rodney Dangerfield of cartoon characters for me and my friends growing up. The ubiquitous bird was really just animated padding as we awaited what we perceived to be better cartoons that would come on when we returned home from school. He was the television equivalent to Ziggy. And while there are several valleys in this three-disc collection of shorts produced between 1952 and 1958, there are countless peaks, including Niagara Fools, which could quite possibly be the best of his entire run on the tube. (About $35 at Amazon.com). Classic Caballeros Collection: (The Three Caballeros/ Saludos Amigos): Walt Disney, cash strapped after spiraling budgets of Pinocchio and Fantasia threatened to bankrupt the company, found himself traveling to Central and South America in search of distributing his product and cashing in to new markets. The results are these two (and a few other) shorts that are bouncy enough to satiate the kids in the house (with staples like Donald Duck and Goofy) , but filled with enough behind-the-scenes travelogues to keep the parents entertained long after the tots head off for bed. It&amp;rsquo;s a time capsule that shows the first footsteps taken in Disney&amp;rsquo;s now-global stranglehold on all things relating to childhood. (About $15) American Slapstick 2: In this three-disc compilation of shorts, 30 silent-era films are featured, demonstrating the breadth and depths of this oft-chided comic institution whose public recognition of it usually focuses solely on some guy named Chaplin. Harold Lloyd, then-unknown Oliver Hardy, Bebe Daniels, Snub Pollard all share screen time with even lesser-known pioneers. The popularity of the one-half silent slapstick of this year&amp;rsquo;s Wall*E will perhaps encourage viewers to uncover these long-forgotten pearls. (About $35) The Red Balloon: A lonely Parisian boy befriends a helium-filled titular object that seems to have a mind of its own in this 1956 film that is still as enchanting today and Janus Films has done an impeccable job in its cleanup of the print. The result in a simple, sweet , funny and even moving tale (the balloon&amp;rsquo;s flirtatious dance with a blue balloon is priceless) that would still be as meaningful for children today as those in post-war France, when it was made. (About $10) Big beefy sets: For those who still have job security and can perhaps shell out a few extra dollars, here are some options that are actually worth the money: The Godfather (Coppola Restoration Giftset): Yes, Coppola and company have returned to this well many a time on DVD, but if even if you have one of the former incarnations, you may want to start using them as coasters, as this is by far the best-looking version of the films you are likely to find. For those film geeks who appreciate the film for its nuances like the chiaroscuro lighting, era-perfect costuming and flawless framing, this is one sweet canoli. (About $45 for the whole set, though films can be purchased separately to avoid that whole Godfather III mistake) The Pink Panther Ultimate Collection: So the series bats about 500, mostly during Peter Sellers&amp;rsquo; earliest work as the inept Inspector Clouseau (but this set also includes interpretations of the bumbling detective by Alan Arkin, Roger Moore (in 1983&amp;rsquo;s Curse of the Pink Panther), Roberto Benigni and, sadly, Steve Martin in the current re-boot of the franchise. But, the shoddy latter film entries are completely forgiven by this box set&amp;rsquo;s inclusion of all 190 far-superior Pink Panther cartoons. (About $180, but you are getting a total of 18 discs with this) Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition : Unfortunately, it is true: two decades have passed since this fantastic series first aired, meaning you are that much older. Fortunately, the series contains so many laughs you may forget about all how much hair you&amp;rsquo;ve lost/wrinkles you&amp;rsquo;ve gained in that time. Films held up for merry mockery include: First Spaceship to Venus (1960), Laserblast (1979), Werewolf (1983) and Future War (1997). In the past, many MST3K discs have been rather sparse on extras, but this set comes loaded with features, including the show&amp;rsquo;s history, a reunion Q &amp;amp; A, and countless different versions of the theme song. (About $160, but you get a life-size head of Crow T. Robot, people!) The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus - Collector's Edition Megaset: To know it is to love it: Flying Circus and its co-conspiratorial crew calling itself Monty Python have been purveyors of all modern silliness for more than three decades, leaving many sketch-comedy contenders in their wake. Take a look at any &amp;ldquo;comedy&amp;rdquo; channel on the internet today and you will no doubt see the influence of these ground-breaking masters of mockery. (About $55) The Budd Boetticher Box Set: What, you&amp;rsquo;ve never heard of Budd Boetticher? Does the fact that Marin Scorcese, Clint Eastwood and Taylor Hackford all volunteered to introduce films included in this set persuade you at all? The Tall T, Decision at Sundown, Buchanan Rides Alone, Ride Lonesome (1959) and Comanche Station, are but a few contributions to the Western genre from the director, giving James Coburn (in his film debut), Richard Boone, Maureen O'Sullivan, Pernell Roberts, Lee Van Cleef, and Craig Stevens and place to hang their hats, so to speak. (About $45) The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 3 : Made during the grand dame&amp;rsquo;s peak of popularity (the non-campy kind) while working with Warner Brothers, this collection includes seldom-seen-but-worthwhile classics as The Old Maid (1939), All This and Heaven Too (1940), The Great Lie (1942), In This Our Life (1942), Watch the Rhine (1943) and Deception (1946). Also tossed into the six-disc set are commentary tracks from film scholars, era-specific film trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, and vintage cartoons. (About $47) The Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection: Spanning eight discs, this MGM set highlights some of the more obscure, but no-less interesting, works from the master, including The Lodger (1927), one of his silent pictures, Sabotage (1936), the Oscar-winning Rebecca (1940), Lifeboat (1944) a mini-masterwork that is set entirely on an inflatable raft and still manages to build tension, Spellbound (1945) , Notorious (1946) and The Paradine Case (1946), starring Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck. Included are the famous Hitchock Francois Truffaut interviews, trailers, radio adaptations, and other nuggets of cinema goodness. (About $60) Georges M&amp;eacute;li&amp;egrave;s: First Wizard of Cinema (1896-1913): Melies&amp;rsquo;s sad ending was criminal compared to his contribution to the world of film (he died penniless and all-but-forgotten), and this posthumous compilation only further proves just how influential this man was. Some of the ways the effects are done today have changed, but the more things change&amp;hellip; A total of 173 short films from this movie master are included in this box set, filled with fantastic journeys, interplanetary travel, and fairy tale lands. The set also includes a booklet documenting his life in and out of film, as well as a famous short documentary on him from another French legend, Georges Franju. (About $90) A really, very, super-special, ultimate collector&amp;rsquo;s edition: Almost every film today is released in rated and &amp;ldquo;unrated&amp;rdquo; director&amp;rsquo;s cuts. But few of them have any negligible differences. Here are a few that merit a purchase: The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (20th Anniversary Edition): Visionary director Terry Gilliam has seldom had smooth sailing from sets to screen (the legendary aborted Johnny Depp project, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, made for a fascinating documentary of the filmmaking process titled Lost in La Mancha), and this 1988 film is no exception. Budgets and schedules spinning out of control led to one of the more intriguing behind-the-scenes lore of film production, which is recounted rather honestly and thoroughly through its cast and crew in this special edition DVD. For those who have never witnessed this hallucinatory fantasy since it was first released, a repeat viewing after following how it was made is required to gain an entirely new respect for it. (About $20) The Thief of Bagdad (Criterion Collection): If you or your children&amp;rsquo;s only exposure to bottled genies and flying carpets are limited to either Disney and/or Barbara Eden, you owe it to yourself and your kids to pick up this restored gem that featured at-the-time groundbreaking effects (that even today, while dated, still impress), a thrilling adventure and now packed with bonus material such as the original trailer, several commentaries (including a couple of hacks by the name of Scorsese and Coppola), documentaries on Ray Harryhausen, Dennis Muren and Craig Barron and various other features. (About $25) Dark City (Director&amp;rsquo;s Cut): Hot off the success of The Crow, in the early 90s, director Alex Proyas was given a bigger budget to create an even larger alternate universe, not unlike the ones created in Blade Runner. And it was perhaps a little too close, as the film was initially met with a shrug from many critics (except Roger Ebert) and quickly disappeared. It has developed a sizeable cult following, allowing a DVD rebirth in the form of a director&amp;rsquo;s cut, inviting newbies and former haters alike to view the film as originally intended. (About $12) Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains!: Here&amp;rsquo;s another film that a backstory almost as interesting as the one on the screen. Disowned by its writer, dropped by its studio and abandoned by home video, this rarity stars a young Diane Lane, Ray Winstone, and Laura Dern (as well as members from The Clash and The Sex Pistols). After making the rounds of HBO and late-night USA Network back in the day (late 80s), the film vanished into obscurity. Rhino has lovingly picked it up and polished it off with a number of features, including audio commentaries (from Lane and Dern, no less!). (About $15) The General: The Ultimate Two-Disc Edition: No self-respecting lover of film should be without this one in their collection. Be wary, as since this classic has gone into public domain (meaning almost any rag-tag releasing company can distribute a beat-up print for profit), this comedic classic from Buster Keaton has countless versions clotting bargain bins everywhere. Kino, which has already released a fine dust-off of the film years ago, now present a definitive version, including introductions from Gloria Swanson and Orson Welles, a tour of the filming locations (including the train used in the film) and a choice of musical accompaniments for this silent masterpiece of meticulously calculated mayhem. (About $22)</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Oscar Anti-Climax: The Meteoric Downfall of Roberto Benigni</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/10/20/36532.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t79699ityup.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/9325/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog on spout.com</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 10/20/2008 6:00:27 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> 
This is the first in what will be a series of posts examining the artistic life cycles of Oscar winners who failed to find continued mainstream success after taking home the statuette. If you have suggestions for stars or filmmakers that you’d like to see profiled, let us know in the comments. 
Roberto Benigni swang from general obscurity in the United States to media darling following his Academy Award for Life Is Beautiful. But what’s happened to him since? He was only the second filmmaker since Sir Laurence Olivier to direct himself in an Oscar-winning performance. That’s a long way to go for someone who had only been seen here in Blake Edwards’ terrible Son of the Pink Panther and as a sex-obsessed cabbie in Jim Jarmusch’s Night on Earth. While we love the underdog success story, we also love the fall from grace, and we’re in search of the crater that Benigni must have left somewhere.

Benigni was poised to become an Italian Spielberg (if Spielberg appeared in his own movies) after Life is Beautiful, but in the five years after winning the Oscar, he only appeared as an actor in the comic book adaptation Asterix and Obelix Take on Caesar. That film was never even seen in American theaters, and only an import version of the DVD is available to order. Since then, he’s appeared in a one tiny role, and directed himself in two flops that failed to connect with audiences or critics, and is now touring in a one-man show based on Dante’s Divine Comedy.
The comic actor didn’t return to the other side of the camera until 2002’s live-action Pinocchio, which has the dreaded distinction of being both the most expensive Italian film ever made, and one of its biggest critical failures. It grossed just over three and a half million dollars in the States, a far cry from Life’s $57 million. Critics said that the film had wonderful sets and costumes, but that no one could swallow Benigni in the role of a little puppet boy who wishes to be real. Especially since he was 50 years old at the time.
But can one enormous flop really turn audiences off for good? With Benigni it’s more of a case of the curtain being drawn back to reveal The Wizard, and The Wizard not being what he’s cracked up to be. Benigni’s followup to Pinocchio was 2006’s The Tiger and the Snow, a comedy about an Italian poet stuck behind enemy lines during the Iraq war. The film received some of the worst reviews of the year. Jeannette Catsoulis at the New York Times said, “Roberto Benigni’s film is a scorching affront to Italians, Iraqis and the intelligence of movie audiences everywhere.”
Prior to that, Benigni was in 2003’s Jarmusch’s short film mashup Coffee and Cigarettes, which oddly pairs him with narcoleptic comedian Steven Wright, although both of them seem highly caffeinated in this scene. This scene had been filmed as a short in 1986, and it’s a big departure from his dialogue heavy role as the chatty taxi driver in Night On Earth. In Coffee, he just looks manic and nervous, and check out that hairstyle. For someone as chatty and witty as Benigni seems to be, he’s fairly silent in this clip. Looks like a bad day at the Improv.

A few years before Life is Beautiful, Benigni starred in Blake Edwards’ last theatrical film (to date) in an attempt to reboot the Pink Panther series. Despite Benigni’s pratfalls and enormous smile, it failed with audiences and critics, and mostly just underscored the fact that Peter Sellers was no longer with us. How they could possibly be making a sequel to Steve Martin’s The Pink Panther is still beyond me. Regardless, Son has been relegated to this discard bin, and is not considered part of the official Panther canon and has quietly been swept under the rug.
What’s interesting is the fact that Benigni’s early Italian television career is just as colorful as some of his roles. He starred in a television show called Onda Libera, where he sang a hymn about the joys of defecation entitled “L’inno del corpo sciolto,” which was later censored. He’s also been a constant political figure in Italy as well, publicly criticizing the former Pope (which was also censored) and demonstrating for the Italian Communist Party.
His outspoken nature and eccentric acting style brought him a lot of infamy in Italy, and before long he was starring in feature films, including 1985’s Nothing Left to Do But Cry, where he plays a modern day schoolteacher who time travels to the 15th century and plays cards with Leonardo da Vinci while trying to keep Columbus from discovering America. He starred in more than a dozen films from 1977 until Jarmusch put him in a short segment in Coffee and Cigarettes in 1986, just before giving him a larger role in Down By Law, which is still his highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes.
So what is this Oscar winning actor/director doing now? For the past few years since directing and starring in The Tiger and the Snow he’s been starring in TuttoDante on stages across Europe. It’s a one-man show based on The Divine Comedy, and is supposed to be coming to America next year. It wouldn’t be surprising if he tries to make a feature film out of it. But would audiences even turn out for it? Based on his quickly plummeting box office appeal, it’s doubtful.
Benigni was once hailed by the press as an Italian Charlie Chaplin, but it’s a name he hasn’t lived up to. Not to slight Life is Beautiful, which is a very touching film and Benigni’s performance is endearing, but he’s a one-note actor who thrives on slapstick comedy. Audiences quickly tired of repeated gags and pratfalls, and he was left exposed like the Emperor in “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Studios didn’t want to dismiss him so quickly, since surely someone who has won an Oscar knows what they’re doing, but Pinocchio and The Tiger and the Snow both show that he was probably highly overrated as a director.
Perhaps he needs to work with Jarmusch again, or try more serious roles. Although for a terrific example of Benigni’s comedy in a darker setting, go rent his 1994 movie The Monster, which is probably one of the funniest films about a serial killer you’ll ever see. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:00:27 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>10/20/2008 6:00:27 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>
This is the first in what will be a series of posts examining the artistic life cycles of Oscar winners who failed to find continued mainstream success after taking home the statuette. If you have suggestions for stars or filmmakers that you’d like to see profiled, let us know in the comments. 
Roberto Benigni swang from general obscurity in the United States to media darling following his Academy Award for Life Is Beautiful. But what’s happened to him since? He was only the second filmmaker since Sir Laurence Olivier to direct himself in an Oscar-winning performance. That’s a long way to go for someone who had only been seen here in Blake Edwards’ terrible Son of the Pink Panther and as a sex-obsessed cabbie in Jim Jarmusch’s Night on Earth. While we love the underdog success story, we also love the fall from grace, and we’re in search of the crater that Benigni must have left somewhere.

Benigni was poised to become an Italian Spielberg (if Spielberg appeared in his own movies) after Life is Beautiful, but in the five years after winning the Oscar, he only appeared as an actor in the comic book adaptation Asterix and Obelix Take on Caesar. That film was never even seen in American theaters, and only an import version of the DVD is available to order. Since then, he’s appeared in a one tiny role, and directed himself in two flops that failed to connect with audiences or critics, and is now touring in a one-man show based on Dante’s Divine Comedy.
The comic actor didn’t return to the other side of the camera until 2002’s live-action Pinocchio, which has the dreaded distinction of being both the most expensive Italian film ever made, and one of its biggest critical failures. It grossed just over three and a half million dollars in the States, a far cry from Life’s $57 million. Critics said that the film had wonderful sets and costumes, but that no one could swallow Benigni in the role of a little puppet boy who wishes to be real. Especially since he was 50 years old at the time.
But can one enormous flop really turn audiences off for good? With Benigni it’s more of a case of the curtain being drawn back to reveal The Wizard, and The Wizard not being what he’s cracked up to be. Benigni’s followup to Pinocchio was 2006’s The Tiger and the Snow, a comedy about an Italian poet stuck behind enemy lines during the Iraq war. The film received some of the worst reviews of the year. Jeannette Catsoulis at the New York Times said, “Roberto Benigni’s film is a scorching affront to Italians, Iraqis and the intelligence of movie audiences everywhere.”
Prior to that, Benigni was in 2003’s Jarmusch’s short film mashup Coffee and Cigarettes, which oddly pairs him with narcoleptic comedian Steven Wright, although both of them seem highly caffeinated in this scene. This scene had been filmed as a short in 1986, and it’s a big departure from his dialogue heavy role as the chatty taxi driver in Night On Earth. In Coffee, he just looks manic and nervous, and check out that hairstyle. For someone as chatty and witty as Benigni seems to be, he’s fairly silent in this clip. Looks like a bad day at the Improv.

A few years before Life is Beautiful, Benigni starred in Blake Edwards’ last theatrical film (to date) in an attempt to reboot the Pink Panther series. Despite Benigni’s pratfalls and enormous smile, it failed with audiences and critics, and mostly just underscored the fact that Peter Sellers was no longer with us. How they could possibly be making a sequel to Steve Martin’s The Pink Panther is still beyond me. Regardless, Son has been relegated to this discard bin, and is not considered part of the official Panther canon and has quietly been swept under the rug.
What’s interesting is the fact that Benigni’s early Italian television career is just as colorful as some of his roles. He starred in a television show called Onda Libera, where he sang a hymn about the joys of defecation entitled “L’inno del corpo sciolto,” which was later censored. He’s also been a constant political figure in Italy as well, publicly criticizing the former Pope (which was also censored) and demonstrating for the Italian Communist Party.
His outspoken nature and eccentric acting style brought him a lot of infamy in Italy, and before long he was starring in feature films, including 1985’s Nothing Left to Do But Cry, where he plays a modern day schoolteacher who time travels to the 15th century and plays cards with Leonardo da Vinci while trying to keep Columbus from discovering America. He starred in more than a dozen films from 1977 until Jarmusch put him in a short segment in Coffee and Cigarettes in 1986, just before giving him a larger role in Down By Law, which is still his highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes.
So what is this Oscar winning actor/director doing now? For the past few years since directing and starring in The Tiger and the Snow he’s been starring in TuttoDante on stages across Europe. It’s a one-man show based on The Divine Comedy, and is supposed to be coming to America next year. It wouldn’t be surprising if he tries to make a feature film out of it. But would audiences even turn out for it? Based on his quickly plummeting box office appeal, it’s doubtful.
Benigni was once hailed by the press as an Italian Charlie Chaplin, but it’s a name he hasn’t lived up to. Not to slight Life is Beautiful, which is a very touching film and Benigni’s performance is endearing, but he’s a one-note actor who thrives on slapstick comedy. Audiences quickly tired of repeated gags and pratfalls, and he was left exposed like the Emperor in “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Studios didn’t want to dismiss him so quickly, since surely someone who has won an Oscar knows what they’re doing, but Pinocchio and The Tiger and the Snow both show that he was probably highly overrated as a director.
Perhaps he needs to work with Jarmusch again, or try more serious roles. Although for a terrific example of Benigni’s comedy in a darker setting, go rent his 1994 movie The Monster, which is probably one of the funniest films about a serial killer you’ll ever see. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: 10 Movies That Made ‘Get Smart’ Obsolete</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/6/16/31288.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t79699ityup.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/9325/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog on spout.com</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 6/16/2008 5:01:14 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> The best time for a Get Smart movie would have been the late ’60s, when the original television series was still on the air. In fact, there was a theatrical Get Smart film in the works during the run of the show, but it was canceled when the theatrical release of Munster, Go Home! bombed at the box office. Many years later, in 1980, a Get Smart feature titled The Nude Bomb was released to theaters, but it also performed poorly.
Now we’re getting a remake version starring Steve Carell in the role that was so iconically defined by the late Don Adams. Will it do the show justice? Reportedly the budget was $80 million, a significant amount of which was probably put towards pointless effects. But the best thing Warner Bros. could have done with that money is to give a large amount to series creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, who probably even today could churn out a better script than Failure to Launch scribes Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember.
Despite its lack of original Get Smart talent, though, it could still be marginally funny. Yet the real problem is that it may be too outdated and obsolete for audiences to care. In the four decades since the show went off the air, there has been plenty of similar-themed movies, from spy spoofs to films with bumbling heroes. The following ten titles are the best evidence of why this new Get Smart movie is completely unnecessary:

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery - It’s interesting that Get Smart is going up against a Mike Myers movie this weekend, because in a way it’s also going up against Myers’ Austin Powers movies, as well. Sure, spy parodies have been around in spades since around the time of the first James Bond movie, but nothing has been as popular as this series, which of course includes the much bigger-grossing sequels, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and Austin Powers in Goldmember.

Inspector Gadget - The original animated series was based on Get Smart and even featured the voice of Don Adams. Also like Get Smart, it was remade into a feature film with a different cast. However, it did find room to employ both Adams (as the voice of the dog, Brain) and Andy Dick (who had played Maxwell Smart’s son in a 1990s Get Smart series). Regardless, it was still a failure, both in terms of its box office gross and the way it ruined our childhood memory of the beloved cartoon. Perhaps if the Get Smart movie is good enough, then it could make up for Inspector Gadget (and its sequel), but it would have to be really, really good.
The Pink Panther - You might say that Get Smart came about as a response to both the Bond films and the original Pink Panther movies, which featured a bumbling police inspector instead of a bumbling spy. The recent remake of The Pink Panther already showed us that some characters should really be forever remembered by their most iconic portrayer. In this case Steve Martin was nothing compared to Peter Sellers, while in the case of Get Smart, Steve Carell is only muddying the memory of Don Adams. Even if he does a good job, he’s just not the real Maxwell Smart. He should just be in another lame generic spy spoof instead.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy - Want to see Steve Carell act clueless? Watch Anchorman again, because he can’t top his performance as Brick Tamland. “I love lamp.”
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! - The show Police Squad was in a way like Get Smart, only with a clueless detective rather than a clueless spy (I guess it could be seen as more like The Pink Panther then?). Fortunately that series only took a few years to spin-off a feature film, and thanks to the genius of Jim Abrahams and the Zucker Bros., who are almost equal in spoofing ability to Mel Brooks, it is funnier than any single episode or film of Get Smart can be without Brooks’ involvement.
Spy Hard - Leslie Nielsen starred as the bumbling detective in the Naked Gun movies and then later played a bumbling spy in this spoof. The result: if Nielsen hadn’t already supplanted the Maxwell Smart character earlier, he did so here, even if really, really poorly.
The Man Who Knew Too Little - More clueless spy stuff, this one an underrated movie starring Bill Murray. It actually made less money than The Nude Bomb (even without an inflation adjustment), but I enjoyed it a lot, probably more than I’ll enjoy Get Smart.
Johnny English - Yep, I’m still just listing the other recent spy spoofs. But, really, there’s a point. When even Rowan Atkinson has done the bumbling spy bit, it’s time to hang up on the idea.
I Spy - Did I already point out that #s 6-10 are more spy comedies? And there’s a lot that I’m not even including! This one is significant because it’s also based on a hit TV series. And it was a huge bomb.
Spies Like Us - The thing I like best about the original Get Smart, as well as a number of the films on this list, is that the incompetent hero isn’t really aware of how incompetent he really is. The best movie to utilize this premise, though, has to be Spies Like Us. But that movie came out toward the end of the Cold War, when spy stuff was seeming ridiculously outdated. Comparatively, Get Smart arrives post 9/11, when the fact that American intelligence is incompetent is not so funny anymore. I think that now audiences would much prefer to see more serious spy films, like the Bond reboot Casino Royale (note the significance of this film being kind of a remake of a Bond parody) and the Bourne Identity franchise.
 Originally posted on:SpoutBlog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:01:14 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>6/16/2008 5:01:14 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>The best time for a Get Smart movie would have been the late ’60s, when the original television series was still on the air. In fact, there was a theatrical Get Smart film in the works during the run of the show, but it was canceled when the theatrical release of Munster, Go Home! bombed at the box office. Many years later, in 1980, a Get Smart feature titled The Nude Bomb was released to theaters, but it also performed poorly.
Now we’re getting a remake version starring Steve Carell in the role that was so iconically defined by the late Don Adams. Will it do the show justice? Reportedly the budget was $80 million, a significant amount of which was probably put towards pointless effects. But the best thing Warner Bros. could have done with that money is to give a large amount to series creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, who probably even today could churn out a better script than Failure to Launch scribes Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember.
Despite its lack of original Get Smart talent, though, it could still be marginally funny. Yet the real problem is that it may be too outdated and obsolete for audiences to care. In the four decades since the show went off the air, there has been plenty of similar-themed movies, from spy spoofs to films with bumbling heroes. The following ten titles are the best evidence of why this new Get Smart movie is completely unnecessary:

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery - It’s interesting that Get Smart is going up against a Mike Myers movie this weekend, because in a way it’s also going up against Myers’ Austin Powers movies, as well. Sure, spy parodies have been around in spades since around the time of the first James Bond movie, but nothing has been as popular as this series, which of course includes the much bigger-grossing sequels, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and Austin Powers in Goldmember.

Inspector Gadget - The original animated series was based on Get Smart and even featured the voice of Don Adams. Also like Get Smart, it was remade into a feature film with a different cast. However, it did find room to employ both Adams (as the voice of the dog, Brain) and Andy Dick (who had played Maxwell Smart’s son in a 1990s Get Smart series). Regardless, it was still a failure, both in terms of its box office gross and the way it ruined our childhood memory of the beloved cartoon. Perhaps if the Get Smart movie is good enough, then it could make up for Inspector Gadget (and its sequel), but it would have to be really, really good.
The Pink Panther - You might say that Get Smart came about as a response to both the Bond films and the original Pink Panther movies, which featured a bumbling police inspector instead of a bumbling spy. The recent remake of The Pink Panther already showed us that some characters should really be forever remembered by their most iconic portrayer. In this case Steve Martin was nothing compared to Peter Sellers, while in the case of Get Smart, Steve Carell is only muddying the memory of Don Adams. Even if he does a good job, he’s just not the real Maxwell Smart. He should just be in another lame generic spy spoof instead.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy - Want to see Steve Carell act clueless? Watch Anchorman again, because he can’t top his performance as Brick Tamland. “I love lamp.”
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! - The show Police Squad was in a way like Get Smart, only with a clueless detective rather than a clueless spy (I guess it could be seen as more like The Pink Panther then?). Fortunately that series only took a few years to spin-off a feature film, and thanks to the genius of Jim Abrahams and the Zucker Bros., who are almost equal in spoofing ability to Mel Brooks, it is funnier than any single episode or film of Get Smart can be without Brooks’ involvement.
Spy Hard - Leslie Nielsen starred as the bumbling detective in the Naked Gun movies and then later played a bumbling spy in this spoof. The result: if Nielsen hadn’t already supplanted the Maxwell Smart character earlier, he did so here, even if really, really poorly.
The Man Who Knew Too Little - More clueless spy stuff, this one an underrated movie starring Bill Murray. It actually made less money than The Nude Bomb (even without an inflation adjustment), but I enjoyed it a lot, probably more than I’ll enjoy Get Smart.
Johnny English - Yep, I’m still just listing the other recent spy spoofs. But, really, there’s a point. When even Rowan Atkinson has done the bumbling spy bit, it’s time to hang up on the idea.
I Spy - Did I already point out that #s 6-10 are more spy comedies? And there’s a lot that I’m not even including! This one is significant because it’s also based on a hit TV series. And it was a huge bomb.
Spies Like Us - The thing I like best about the original Get Smart, as well as a number of the films on this list, is that the incompetent hero isn’t really aware of how incompetent he really is. The best movie to utilize this premise, though, has to be Spies Like Us. But that movie came out toward the end of the Cold War, when spy stuff was seeming ridiculously outdated. Comparatively, Get Smart arrives post 9/11, when the fact that American intelligence is incompetent is not so funny anymore. I think that now audiences would much prefer to see more serious spy films, like the Bond reboot Casino Royale (note the significance of this film being kind of a remake of a Bond parody) and the Bourne Identity franchise.
 Originally posted on:SpoutBlog</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Another Day, Another Unnecessary Sequel: Trade Roughage 08/09/101</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2007/8/9/17681.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t79699ityup.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/9325/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog on spout.com</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 8/9/2007 9:01:59 AM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> 
Sony’s making a sequel to The Pink Panther. Yeah, the Steve Martin one. The one that was delayed for a year and only barely made back its production costs at the domestic box office. Judging by the cast they’ve put together (which includes Aishwarya Rai, Jean Reno and John Cleese), the studio seems to be banking on international appeal to put the franchise in the black.
Brian Lowry reviews NY77, a documentary about the emergence of punk, hip-hop and “a sexually-permissive club scene” in New York in the late 70s. The film, which was produced by Nanette Burstein and premieres on VH1 this weekend, “methodically recreates the period’s vibe — with Geraldo Rivera recalling how at Studio 54, it was ‘absolutely appropriate’ to have sex in the bathroom stalls. (Today, sadly, he can only approximate that experience via his appearances on Fox News.)”
Motion capture effects house Mova demonstrated a new 3-D technology at SIGGRAPH this week, aimed at creating life-like models of actors’ faces.  According to Mova founder Steve Perlman, the future of 3-D won’t involve plastic glasses, but will be “more like theater in the round, where you can either walk around the scene or move into the scene itself.”
Tom Hanks and Nia Vardalos are among the complaintants in a lawsuit filed against financing company Gold Circle Films. Hanks and crew claim Gold Circle “cheated” them out of profits on My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Variety’s Janet Shprintz notes that while Wedding is “one of the most successful indie films of all time”, it’s also “spawned an extraordinary amount of litigation” — this is the third lawsuit involving Vardalos alone.


      
 Originally posted on:Spoutblog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:01:59 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>8/9/2007 9:01:59 AM</spout:postdate><spout:body>
Sony’s making a sequel to The Pink Panther. Yeah, the Steve Martin one. The one that was delayed for a year and only barely made back its production costs at the domestic box office. Judging by the cast they’ve put together (which includes Aishwarya Rai, Jean Reno and John Cleese), the studio seems to be banking on international appeal to put the franchise in the black.
Brian Lowry reviews NY77, a documentary about the emergence of punk, hip-hop and “a sexually-permissive club scene” in New York in the late 70s. The film, which was produced by Nanette Burstein and premieres on VH1 this weekend, “methodically recreates the period’s vibe — with Geraldo Rivera recalling how at Studio 54, it was ‘absolutely appropriate’ to have sex in the bathroom stalls. (Today, sadly, he can only approximate that experience via his appearances on Fox News.)”
Motion capture effects house Mova demonstrated a new 3-D technology at SIGGRAPH this week, aimed at creating life-like models of actors’ faces.  According to Mova founder Steve Perlman, the future of 3-D won’t involve plastic glasses, but will be “more like theater in the round, where you can either walk around the scene or move into the scene itself.”
Tom Hanks and Nia Vardalos are among the complaintants in a lawsuit filed against financing company Gold Circle Films. Hanks and crew claim Gold Circle “cheated” them out of profits on My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Variety’s Janet Shprintz notes that while Wedding is “one of the most successful indie films of all time”, it’s also “spawned an extraordinary amount of litigation” — this is the third lawsuit involving Vardalos alone.


      
 Originally posted on:Spoutblog</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: A Touch of This Pink Will Kill Your Joy</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/erico_77375/archive/2007/7/22/15531.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t79699ityup.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/58384/default.aspx'>erico_77375</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/erico_77375/default.aspx'>erico_77375 Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 7/22/2007 6:02:04 AM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> It should have been a no-brainer. If there was ever a man to live up to the Panther, it would have been Steve Martin. Where did it go wrong? How did they screw up? I&#39;m starting to believe things never went right in the first place. The remake of Blake Edwards&#39; The Pink Panther is a shame of the cinema and insulting to the fans of the earlier Panther films. This Panther can almost be called a prequel, where we first meet Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kevin Kline), who talks about how he chose Jacques Clouseau (Martin) to search for the killer of a soccer coach and the theft of the Pink Panther diamond. As Clouseau normally does, he bumbles his way on the right track. That&#39;s where things turn for the worst. The film takes its inspirations not from the original films, but on other spoofs such as The Naked Gun films, Austin Powers, and even some Scooby Doo. The film doesn&#39;t understand why we like Clouseau. The trick to why Clouseau is funny in the Peter Sellers films was because the audience was in on the secret (like Dreyfus) that Clouseau is a moron, but he makes it appear that his idiocies are a part of his master plan. This version has Clouseau as apologetic and remorseful for being this way. It makes fun of him instead of making fun of the rest of the world for thinking that he&#39;s a genius. And then there are the typical gags that you see are coming like a train wreck (except these are more painful).But what&#39;s ultimately wrong about this film comes from these misunderstandings. The remaining problems come from using trite steps to find conclusion than solid storytelling. It falls upon Martin&#39;s lack of sympathy for the character in both his performance and his screenplay that undoes everything else. Shawn Levy&#39;s less-than-inspiring direction just adds insult to injury.There are a few jokes in the film, and you will laugh at a couple of them. But these are cheap at best and insulting at worst. One such scene has Clouseau worried about Sexual Harassment before kissing a co-worker on the lips and slaps her on the butt. But then, due to this film, I now have a found a sure-fire death omen for any film: If the trailers before the film show ONLY films that you wouldn&#39;t watch with a pair of stolen eyes, find another movie. I&#39;ll find other omens to look for later, but keep that one in mind.All in all, stick with Sellers for now. His Panther will never lead you wrong, but not for a lack of trying.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 22 Jul 2007 10:02:04 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>erico_77375</spout:postby><spout:postto>erico_77375 Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>7/22/2007 6:02:04 AM</spout:postdate><spout:body>It should have been a no-brainer. If there was ever a man to live up to the Panther, it would have been Steve Martin. Where did it go wrong? How did they screw up? I&amp;#39;m starting to believe things never went right in the first place. The remake of Blake Edwards&amp;#39; The Pink Panther is a shame of the cinema and insulting to the fans of the earlier Panther films. This Panther can almost be called a prequel, where we first meet Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kevin Kline), who talks about how he chose Jacques Clouseau (Martin) to search for the killer of a soccer coach and the theft of the Pink Panther diamond. As Clouseau normally does, he bumbles his way on the right track. That&amp;#39;s where things turn for the worst. The film takes its inspirations not from the original films, but on other spoofs such as The Naked Gun films, Austin Powers, and even some Scooby Doo. The film doesn&amp;#39;t understand why we like Clouseau. The trick to why Clouseau is funny in the Peter Sellers films was because the audience was in on the secret (like Dreyfus) that Clouseau is a moron, but he makes it appear that his idiocies are a part of his master plan. This version has Clouseau as apologetic and remorseful for being this way. It makes fun of him instead of making fun of the rest of the world for thinking that he&amp;#39;s a genius. And then there are the typical gags that you see are coming like a train wreck (except these are more painful).But what&amp;#39;s ultimately wrong about this film comes from these misunderstandings. The remaining problems come from using trite steps to find conclusion than solid storytelling. It falls upon Martin&amp;#39;s lack of sympathy for the character in both his performance and his screenplay that undoes everything else. Shawn Levy&amp;#39;s less-than-inspiring direction just adds insult to injury.There are a few jokes in the film, and you will laugh at a couple of them. But these are cheap at best and insulting at worst. One such scene has Clouseau worried about Sexual Harassment before kissing a co-worker on the lips and slaps her on the butt. But then, due to this film, I now have a found a sure-fire death omen for any film: If the trailers before the film show ONLY films that you wouldn&amp;#39;t watch with a pair of stolen eyes, find another movie. I&amp;#39;ll find other omens to look for later, but keep that one in mind.All in all, stick with Sellers for now. His Panther will never lead you wrong, but not for a lack of trying.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: I Knew It But I Watched It Anyway</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/pippin06/archive/2006/10/17/3295.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t79699ityup.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/2227/default.aspx'>pippin06</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/pippin06/default.aspx'>Reel Thoughts</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 10/17/2006 11:00:00 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> I remember watching the Peter Sellers original when I was little.  I remember laughing because Peter Sellers was a brilliant physical comic, in addition to the cameo guest appearance of one of my favorite cartoon characters of all time.  Add to that his catchy theme song, and you had a funny movie. I like Steve Martin and Kevin Kline.  I like Steve Martin's sense of humor.  He wrote the screenplay for this movie, you know. But he ain't no Peter Sellers.  This movie was boring.  And even though it appeared to bomb out of the theater, they're apparently making a sequel.  Good night! The plot is not exactly the same.  Oh sure, there's a big pink diamond called the Pink Panther for no apparent reason.  There's an apparent theft of this diamond and a murder.  And bumbling Inspector Clouseau appears to, beyond logic, solve the case. It's all been updated for the new millenium, of course, with the murder of a soccer star and a suspicious pop artist girlfriend played by Beyonce.   Yet, it was boring.  There were some chuckleworthy moments, lots of slapstick comedy, and a few sincerely funny scenes, but all in all, the movie made me want to go to sleep. I have to give it a 5 out of 10 as utterly mediocre.  It wasn't all bad, and it wasn't an idea that didn't work.  After all, it worked the first time in much defter, funnier hands. It doesn't pass the test, though.  I will not be buying it, nor will I be interested in the sequel.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 18 Oct 2006 03:00:00 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>pippin06</spout:postby><spout:postto>Reel Thoughts</spout:postto><spout:postdate>10/17/2006 11:00:00 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>I remember watching the Peter Sellers original when I was little.  I remember laughing because Peter Sellers was a brilliant physical comic, in addition to the cameo guest appearance of one of my favorite cartoon characters of all time.  Add to that his catchy theme song, and you had a funny movie. I like Steve Martin and Kevin Kline.  I like Steve Martin's sense of humor.  He wrote the screenplay for this movie, you know. But he ain't no Peter Sellers.  This movie was boring.  And even though it appeared to bomb out of the theater, they're apparently making a sequel.  Good night! The plot is not exactly the same.  Oh sure, there's a big pink diamond called the Pink Panther for no apparent reason.  There's an apparent theft of this diamond and a murder.  And bumbling Inspector Clouseau appears to, beyond logic, solve the case. It's all been updated for the new millenium, of course, with the murder of a soccer star and a suspicious pop artist girlfriend played by Beyonce.   Yet, it was boring.  There were some chuckleworthy moments, lots of slapstick comedy, and a few sincerely funny scenes, but all in all, the movie made me want to go to sleep. I have to give it a 5 out of 10 as utterly mediocre.  It wasn't all bad, and it wasn't an idea that didn't work.  After all, it worked the first time in much defter, funnier hands. It doesn't pass the test, though.  I will not be buying it, nor will I be interested in the sequel.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Slapstick to the max</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/ktincu/archive/2006/8/1/2127.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t79699ityup.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/2208/default.aspx'>ktincu</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/ktincu/default.aspx'>ktincu Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 8/1/2006 12:10:00 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> The Pink Panther seemed like a good idea for a night of mindless entertainment. Mindless it was. But entertaining? Not nearly enough to make it worth the time. My sense is that there's a very small window when someone might really enjoy this film. My friends' 9-year-old son fits the bill perfectly. By the time he's 12 or 13, though, he will join the rest of us in rolling his eyes at the movie, fully aware that it's trying too hard to be funny.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:10:00 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>ktincu</spout:postby><spout:postto>ktincu Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>8/1/2006 12:10:00 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>The Pink Panther seemed like a good idea for a night of mindless entertainment. Mindless it was. But entertaining? Not nearly enough to make it worth the time. My sense is that there's a very small window when someone might really enjoy this film. My friends' 9-year-old son fits the bill perfectly. By the time he's 12 or 13, though, he will join the rest of us in rolling his eyes at the movie, fully aware that it's trying too hard to be funny.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:funny</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/funny/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/funny/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>funny</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 609</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 316</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 942</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:10:58 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>609</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>316</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>942</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:remake</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/remake/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/remake/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>remake</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 156</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 71</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 204</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:39:44 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>156</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>71</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>204</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:detective</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/detective/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/detective/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>detective</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 2345</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 43</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 105</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:02:59 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>2345</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>43</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>105</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:france</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/france/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/france/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>france</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 932</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 42</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 97</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:12:04 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>932</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>42</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>97</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:soccer</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/soccer/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/soccer/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>soccer</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 386</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 28</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 68</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:04:22 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>386</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>28</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>68</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:singer</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/singer/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/singer/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>singer</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 3001</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 20</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 52</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:34:39 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>3001</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>20</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>52</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:coach</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/coach/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/coach/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>coach</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 337</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 17</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 29</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:03:15 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>337</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>17</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>29</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:Pink</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Pink/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/Pink/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>Pink</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 12</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 17</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 21</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2009 22:51:47 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>12</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>17</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>21</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:diamond</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/diamond/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/diamond/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>diamond</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 110</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 13</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 17</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2009 13:15:00 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>110</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>13</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>17</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:jewelry</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/jewelry/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/jewelry/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>jewelry</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 149</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 6</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 7</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:01:44 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>149</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>6</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>7</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:partner</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/partner/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/partner/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>partner</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 788</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 6</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 19</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:27:29 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>788</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>6</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>19</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:Why-God-Why</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Why-God-Why/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/Why-God-Why/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>Why-God-Why</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 29</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 6</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 33</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:14:01 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>29</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>6</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>33</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:bad-remake</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/bad-remake/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/bad-remake/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>bad-remake</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 5</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 5</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 5</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:24:36 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>5</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>5</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>5</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:verve</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/verve/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/verve/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>verve</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 111</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 5</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 115</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:24:28 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>111</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>5</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>115</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:diva</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/diva/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/diva/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>diva</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 84</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 4</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 4</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:07:18 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>84</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>4</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>4</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
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