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    <title>Wanted's Recent Activity - Spout</title>
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      <title>Film:Wanted</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/films/Wanted/323072/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/s323072.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' /></td>
<td>
<strong>Title:</strong> Wanted<br/>
<strong>Year:</strong> 2008<br/>
<strong>Director:</strong> Timur Bekmambetov<br/>
<strong>Plot:</strong> <a href="http://www.spout.com/films/251721/detail.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Night Watch</a> director <a href="http://www.spout.com/players/P___188460/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Timur Bekmambetov</a> helms his first English-language feature film with this big-screen adaptation of Mark Millar's action-packed graphic novel. Wesley Gibson (<a href="http://www.spout.com/players/P___357725/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>James McAvoy</a>) is a cube-dwelling hypochondriac whose uneventful life has become a mundane blur of terminal boredom. Repeatedly humiliated by his boss and constantly cuckolded by his cheating girlfriend, weakling Wes seems to be living right down to everyone's expectations that he would never amount to anything in life. However, upon discovering that the father he never knew has been brutally murdered, the spineless, clock-punching pushover is recruited into a secret society of assassins known as the Fraternity. During the course of his training, the man who was once an office-bound wimp develops lightning-fast reflexes and superhuman dexterity courtesy of his skilled mentor Fox (<a href="http://www.spout.com/players/P____36009/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Angelina Jolie</a>). Upon completing his training, Wes is assigned the task of dealing out death to the mythological Fates, who possess the ability to alter the lifelines of mortal men. It isn't long before the nebbish nerd-turned-agile assassin is erasing the bad guys with surprising efficiency, yet as Wes begins to carry the mantle passed down to him by his father, he gradually begins to suspect that his wise tutors are not the crime-fighting enforcers they present themselves to be. Now, with everything he ever wanted in life finally within his grasp, Wes is about to find out that the only thing more difficult than ending the lives of others is summoning the courage to take control of his own. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide<br/>
<strong>Times Tagged:</strong> 29<br/>
<strong>Number of Lists:</strong> 35<br/>
<strong>Number of blog posts:</strong> 14<br/>
<strong>Number of discussion threads:</strong> 13<br/>
<strong>SpoutRating:</strong> 3<br/>
</td></tr></table>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:30:30 GMT</pubDate><spout:Title>Wanted</spout:Title><spout:Year>2008</spout:Year><spout:Director>Timur Bekmambetov</spout:Director><spout:Plot>&lt;a href="http://www.spout.com/films/251721/detail.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Night Watch&lt;/a&gt; director &lt;a href="http://www.spout.com/players/P___188460/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Timur Bekmambetov&lt;/a&gt; helms his first English-language feature film with this big-screen adaptation of Mark Millar's action-packed graphic novel. Wesley Gibson (&lt;a href="http://www.spout.com/players/P___357725/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;James McAvoy&lt;/a&gt;) is a cube-dwelling hypochondriac whose uneventful life has become a mundane blur of terminal boredom. Repeatedly humiliated by his boss and constantly cuckolded by his cheating girlfriend, weakling Wes seems to be living right down to everyone's expectations that he would never amount to anything in life. However, upon discovering that the father he never knew has been brutally murdered, the spineless, clock-punching pushover is recruited into a secret society of assassins known as the Fraternity. During the course of his training, the man who was once an office-bound wimp develops lightning-fast reflexes and superhuman dexterity courtesy of his skilled mentor Fox (&lt;a href="http://www.spout.com/players/P____36009/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Angelina Jolie&lt;/a&gt;). Upon completing his training, Wes is assigned the task of dealing out death to the mythological Fates, who possess the ability to alter the lifelines of mortal men. It isn't long before the nebbish nerd-turned-agile assassin is erasing the bad guys with surprising efficiency, yet as Wes begins to carry the mantle passed down to him by his father, he gradually begins to suspect that his wise tutors are not the crime-fighting enforcers they present themselves to be. Now, with everything he ever wanted in life finally within his grasp, Wes is about to find out that the only thing more difficult than ending the lives of others is summoning the courage to take control of his own. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide</spout:Plot><spout:TimesTagged>29</spout:TimesTagged><spout:taglevel>Tag Target (&gt;10)</spout:taglevel><spout:Numberoflists>35</spout:Numberoflists><spout:NumberOfBlogPosts>14</spout:NumberOfBlogPosts><spout:NumberOfDiscussionThreads>13</spout:NumberOfDiscussionThreads><spout:SpoutRating>3</spout:SpoutRating><spout:FilmCoverURL>http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s323072.jpg</spout:FilmCoverURL><spout:SpoutFilmDetailURL>http://www.spout.com/films/Wanted/323072/default.aspx</spout:SpoutFilmDetailURL><spout:type>Film</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Pffft</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/qflw/archive/2009/4/15/41609.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s323072.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/9310/default.aspx'>QFLW</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/qflw/default.aspx'>QFLW Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 4/15/2009 6:39:58 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Oh I hate to say this, because I do like James McAvoy (the main reason I watched this), but "Wanted" is mostly just a head-shaker.  Unbelievable, which takes the intended thrills out of it.  So many slo-mo bullet-through-the-head shots that they became tiresome.  The story is preposterous rather than hip.  One more instance of a good cast wasted.  But at least I got to see a lot of McAvoy.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:39:58 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>QFLW</spout:postby><spout:postto>QFLW Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>4/15/2009 6:39:58 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Oh I hate to say this, because I do like James McAvoy (the main reason I watched this), but "Wanted" is mostly just a head-shaker.  Unbelievable, which takes the intended thrills out of it.  So many slo-mo bullet-through-the-head shots that they became tiresome.  The story is preposterous rather than hip.  One more instance of a good cast wasted.  But at least I got to see a lot of McAvoy.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:The Worst of 2008</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Worst_Movie_Ever/Re_The_Worst_of_2008/104/40646/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s323072.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/5670/default.aspx'>dickbuist</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Worst_Movie_Ever/104/discussions.aspx'>Worst Movie Ever</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 2/25/2009 11:14:15 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Where do you find the time to waste on so many bad films? I'm not sure which category to assign to these, but they all are contenders for Worst Picture: Bangkok Dangerous Bedtime Stories Yes Man Jumper Australia? Swing Vote The Midnight Meat Train Hancock Journey to the center of the Earth Mamma Mia X-Files: I want to believe  You Don't mess with the Zohan The Happening The Love Guru Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control Wanted Speed Racer Fool's Gold What Happens In Vegas   Wow, there were a lot of bad movies in 2008. [/quote]<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:14:15 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>dickbuist</spout:postby><spout:postto>Worst Movie Ever</spout:postto><spout:postdate>2/25/2009 11:14:15 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Where do you find the time to waste on so many bad films? I'm not sure which category to assign to these, but they all are contenders for Worst Picture: Bangkok Dangerous Bedtime Stories Yes Man Jumper Australia? Swing Vote The Midnight Meat Train Hancock Journey to the center of the Earth Mamma Mia X-Files: I want to believe  You Don't mess with the Zohan The Happening The Love Guru Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control Wanted Speed Racer Fool's Gold What Happens In Vegas   Wow, there were a lot of bad movies in 2008. [/quote]</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Wanted</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/lmstanley/archive/2009/2/6/40322.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s323072.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/126140/default.aspx'>lmstanley</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/lmstanley/default.aspx'>lmstanley Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 2/6/2009 3:58:26 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> My main man choose this movie for us to watch on a recent Saturday night. I have to say that some parts reminding me of the Matrix, others of Fight Club, and maybe even a bit of The Professional. That said, I wouldn't put this film in the same category as those just mentioned. Even I love watching Angeline Jolie in kick-butt roles like this, the whole film just seemed to lack something. The action was entertaining...although at time unbelievable. The plot had some holes...and there was not a believable chemistry between Jolie and McAvoy. But perhaps if you are a dude and all you want is to watch an action-packed film, this one is right up your alley.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:58:26 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>lmstanley</spout:postby><spout:postto>lmstanley Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>2/6/2009 3:58:26 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>My main man choose this movie for us to watch on a recent Saturday night. I have to say that some parts reminding me of the Matrix, others of Fight Club, and maybe even a bit of The Professional. That said, I wouldn't put this film in the same category as those just mentioned. Even I love watching Angeline Jolie in kick-butt roles like this, the whole film just seemed to lack something. The action was entertaining...although at time unbelievable. The plot had some holes...and there was not a believable chemistry between Jolie and McAvoy. But perhaps if you are a dude and all you want is to watch an action-packed film, this one is right up your alley.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:The Worst of 2008</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Worst_Movie_Ever/Re_The_Worst_of_2008/104/39247/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s323072.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/5582/default.aspx'>csprague</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Worst_Movie_Ever/104/discussions.aspx'>Worst Movie Ever</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 1/8/2009 11:23:32 AM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> I'm not sure which category to assign to these, but they all are contenders for Worst Picture: Bangkok Dangerous Bedtime Stories Yes Man Jumper Australia? Swing Vote The Midnight Meat Train Hancock Journey to the center of the Earth Mamma Mia X-Files: I want to believe  You Don't mess with the Zohan The Happening The Love Guru Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control Wanted Speed Racer Fool's Gold What Happens In Vegas   Wow, there were a lot of bad movies in 2008.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:23:32 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>csprague</spout:postby><spout:postto>Worst Movie Ever</spout:postto><spout:postdate>1/8/2009 11:23:32 AM</spout:postdate><spout:body>I'm not sure which category to assign to these, but they all are contenders for Worst Picture: Bangkok Dangerous Bedtime Stories Yes Man Jumper Australia? Swing Vote The Midnight Meat Train Hancock Journey to the center of the Earth Mamma Mia X-Files: I want to believe  You Don't mess with the Zohan The Happening The Love Guru Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control Wanted Speed Racer Fool's Gold What Happens In Vegas   Wow, there were a lot of bad movies in 2008.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:Collaboration - Best Films of 2008</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Community_Recommendations/Re_Collaboration_Best_Films_of_2008/643/38347/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s323072.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/10240/default.aspx'>rjsprague</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Community_Recommendations/643/discussions.aspx'>Community Recommendations</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 12/13/2008 1:15:47 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> [quote user="leeroy711"] Here's a list of '08 releases that I think you should see. I really think that this was a year for fun movies. 6. Wanted &ndash; Director Timur Bekmambetov is very quickly gaining a reputation of way over-the-top action with this one and his previous Night Watch and Day Watch. If you pay too much attention to this one, you undoubtedly fall into one of the many plot holes. Just watch it. It&rsquo;s pretty fun.   Also worth noting are recent Criterion Collection dvd releases of Wes Anderson&rsquo;s  Bottle Rocket and Costa-Gavras&rsquo; Missing. Older films with new material... good stuff. [/quote] Okay. I really can't believe you put Wanted on your list. I literally wanted to strangle the screenwriters of this film after watching it. Perhaps it's my uncanny affinity for the laws of physics, or the complete lack of explanation for "regular" people who are able to completely break such laws, but I hard a hard time stomaching this film. If you're at all like me, then you will undoubtedly want to stab the main character in the face after you see the last scene. No really, I wanted to go "Psycho" on the guy. The news about Bottle Rocket is great! :) I haven't seen that one yet. :(<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:15:47 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>rjsprague</spout:postby><spout:postto>Community Recommendations</spout:postto><spout:postdate>12/13/2008 1:15:47 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>[quote user="leeroy711"] Here's a list of '08 releases that I think you should see. I really think that this was a year for fun movies. 6. Wanted &amp;ndash; Director Timur Bekmambetov is very quickly gaining a reputation of way over-the-top action with this one and his previous Night Watch and Day Watch. If you pay too much attention to this one, you undoubtedly fall into one of the many plot holes. Just watch it. It&amp;rsquo;s pretty fun.   Also worth noting are recent Criterion Collection dvd releases of Wes Anderson&amp;rsquo;s  Bottle Rocket and Costa-Gavras&amp;rsquo; Missing. Older films with new material... good stuff. [/quote] Okay. I really can't believe you put Wanted on your list. I literally wanted to strangle the screenwriters of this film after watching it. Perhaps it's my uncanny affinity for the laws of physics, or the complete lack of explanation for "regular" people who are able to completely break such laws, but I hard a hard time stomaching this film. If you're at all like me, then you will undoubtedly want to stab the main character in the face after you see the last scene. No really, I wanted to go "Psycho" on the guy. The news about Bottle Rocket is great! :) I haven't seen that one yet. :(</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:Collaboration - Best Films of 2008</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Community_Recommendations/Re_Collaboration_Best_Films_of_2008/643/38324/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s323072.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/121669/default.aspx'>leeroy711</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Community_Recommendations/643/discussions.aspx'>Community Recommendations</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 12/12/2008 6:33:57 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Here's a list of '08 releases that I think you should see. I really think that this was a year for fun movies.   1. The Fall &ndash; This was probably the best movie watching experience I&rsquo;ve had this year. I went into this expecting not much more than eye-candy and was completely blown away. This was a beautifully told children&rsquo;s story that rivaled Pan&rsquo;s Labyrinth&hellip;.Keep in mind, no special effects were used in this film.    2. Sukiyaki Western Django &ndash; I used babelfish to translate this title from Japanese to English and it came back with &ldquo;Suck On This, Stephen Chow.&rdquo; Takishii Miike teams up with Quinten Tarentino for his first English language film and it superfreakin&rsquo; coooool.  Hot girls, martial arts and some guy running around carrying a gatling gun; I&rsquo;m getting a bit teary-eyed just thinking about it.   3. Doomsday &ndash; &ldquo;Hey Neal Marshall, you can&rsquo;t make a full length movie without a plot!!&rdquo; say the naysayers. &ldquo;Who needs a plot? I&rsquo;ve got decapitations, explosions, cannibalism, fast cars, tattoos, cleavage, tattooed cleavage and medieval knights.&rdquo;   4. The Strangers &ndash; I&rsquo;m not really into the horror genre usually but I thought this movie did a great job of setting a terrifying mood.   5. In Bruges &ndash; This was a tragic drama disguised as a British dark comedy. It really surprised me how much I liked it.   6. Wanted &ndash; Director Timur Bekmambetov is very quickly gaining a reputation of way over-the-top action with this one and his previous Night Watch and Day Watch. If you pay too much attention to this one, you undoubtedly fall into one of the many plot holes. Just watch it. It&rsquo;s pretty fun.   7. Burn After Reading &ndash; This is the part where I get called a &ldquo;Coen Brothers apologist.&rdquo; I can&rsquo;t help it. I love their films and this one is no exception. Again, it was fun and I loved the dialogue.   8. A Dirty Carnival &ndash; This one, like The Fall, was made in &rsquo;06 but I don&rsquo;t think anybody in the states actually saw it until its dvd release in October of &rsquo;08. It&rsquo;s a Korean gangster story with a soft and a times comedic side. It&rsquo;s a bit long but well worth the time.   9. Horton Hears a Who/Kung-Fu Panda &ndash; Both of these were a hell of a lot of fun. I think I liked Horton a bit more but Who&rsquo;s counting&hellip;&hellip; he he.   10. Hellboy II: The Golden Army &ndash; I&rsquo;ll be honest, I missed about half of this movie and still have yet to find the time to sit through it but what I saw was pretty damn incredible. Guillermo del Toro is on my short list of directors in which I&rsquo;ll see everything they come out with. Also worth noting are recent Criterion Collection dvd releases of Wes Anderson&rsquo;s  Bottle Rocket and Costa-Gavras&rsquo; Missing. Older films with new material... good stuff.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:33:57 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>leeroy711</spout:postby><spout:postto>Community Recommendations</spout:postto><spout:postdate>12/12/2008 6:33:57 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Here's a list of '08 releases that I think you should see. I really think that this was a year for fun movies.   1. The Fall &amp;ndash; This was probably the best movie watching experience I&amp;rsquo;ve had this year. I went into this expecting not much more than eye-candy and was completely blown away. This was a beautifully told children&amp;rsquo;s story that rivaled Pan&amp;rsquo;s Labyrinth&amp;hellip;.Keep in mind, no special effects were used in this film.    2. Sukiyaki Western Django &amp;ndash; I used babelfish to translate this title from Japanese to English and it came back with &amp;ldquo;Suck On This, Stephen Chow.&amp;rdquo; Takishii Miike teams up with Quinten Tarentino for his first English language film and it superfreakin&amp;rsquo; coooool.  Hot girls, martial arts and some guy running around carrying a gatling gun; I&amp;rsquo;m getting a bit teary-eyed just thinking about it.   3. Doomsday &amp;ndash; &amp;ldquo;Hey Neal Marshall, you can&amp;rsquo;t make a full length movie without a plot!!&amp;rdquo; say the naysayers. &amp;ldquo;Who needs a plot? I&amp;rsquo;ve got decapitations, explosions, cannibalism, fast cars, tattoos, cleavage, tattooed cleavage and medieval knights.&amp;rdquo;   4. The Strangers &amp;ndash; I&amp;rsquo;m not really into the horror genre usually but I thought this movie did a great job of setting a terrifying mood.   5. In Bruges &amp;ndash; This was a tragic drama disguised as a British dark comedy. It really surprised me how much I liked it.   6. Wanted &amp;ndash; Director Timur Bekmambetov is very quickly gaining a reputation of way over-the-top action with this one and his previous Night Watch and Day Watch. If you pay too much attention to this one, you undoubtedly fall into one of the many plot holes. Just watch it. It&amp;rsquo;s pretty fun.   7. Burn After Reading &amp;ndash; This is the part where I get called a &amp;ldquo;Coen Brothers apologist.&amp;rdquo; I can&amp;rsquo;t help it. I love their films and this one is no exception. Again, it was fun and I loved the dialogue.   8. A Dirty Carnival &amp;ndash; This one, like The Fall, was made in &amp;rsquo;06 but I don&amp;rsquo;t think anybody in the states actually saw it until its dvd release in October of &amp;rsquo;08. It&amp;rsquo;s a Korean gangster story with a soft and a times comedic side. It&amp;rsquo;s a bit long but well worth the time.   9. Horton Hears a Who/Kung-Fu Panda &amp;ndash; Both of these were a hell of a lot of fun. I think I liked Horton a bit more but Who&amp;rsquo;s counting&amp;hellip;&amp;hellip; he he.   10. Hellboy II: The Golden Army &amp;ndash; I&amp;rsquo;ll be honest, I missed about half of this movie and still have yet to find the time to sit through it but what I saw was pretty damn incredible. Guillermo del Toro is on my short list of directors in which I&amp;rsquo;ll see everything they come out with. Also worth noting are recent Criterion Collection dvd releases of Wes Anderson&amp;rsquo;s  Bottle Rocket and Costa-Gavras&amp;rsquo; Missing. Older films with new material... good stuff.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:One good, one bad, one maybe -- New movies week of 12/5</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Coming_Soon/Re_One_good_one_bad_one_maybe_New_movies_week/216/37789/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s323072.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/2470/default.aspx'>SkyPilot</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> 12/1/2008 2:22:25 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> New DVD Highlights -- 12/2 1. Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian -- Watch trailer. I haven't seen this one, would anyone recommend it? 2. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor -- Watch trailer. I liked the first Mummy, but I was pretty disappointed with Mummy 2. I'm inclined to ignore this one. 3. Speed Racer -- Watch trailer. Eye candy! 4. Step Brothers -- Watch trailer. While not as good as Talladega Nights, the chemistry of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly makes for some great scenes. 5. Wanted -- Watch trailer. Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy were great in this. It was so much fun, I didn't even care that it felt derivative of The Matrix. 6. The Longshots -- Watch trailer. Fred Durst (yep, the Limp Bizkit guy) directs this battle-of-the-sexes sports comedy starring Ice Cube and Keke Palmer. 7. Meet Dave -- Watch trailer. The one with all the little Eddie Murphy astronauts inside the Eddie Murphy spaceship.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:22:25 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SkyPilot</spout:postby><spout:postto>Coming Soon</spout:postto><spout:postdate>12/1/2008 2:22:25 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>New DVD Highlights -- 12/2 1. Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian -- Watch trailer. I haven't seen this one, would anyone recommend it? 2. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor -- Watch trailer. I liked the first Mummy, but I was pretty disappointed with Mummy 2. I'm inclined to ignore this one. 3. Speed Racer -- Watch trailer. Eye candy! 4. Step Brothers -- Watch trailer. While not as good as Talladega Nights, the chemistry of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly makes for some great scenes. 5. Wanted -- Watch trailer. Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy were great in this. It was so much fun, I didn't even care that it felt derivative of The Matrix. 6. The Longshots -- Watch trailer. Fred Durst (yep, the Limp Bizkit guy) directs this battle-of-the-sexes sports comedy starring Ice Cube and Keke Palmer. 7. Meet Dave -- Watch trailer. The one with all the little Eddie Murphy astronauts inside the Eddie Murphy spaceship.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Not For Your Eyes: Controversial Movie Posters</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/10/30/36795.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s323072.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> 10/30/2008 11:01:00 AM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> 
Movie posters have become increasingly more controversial in the past decade, or else people have become a lot more sensitive. Either way, it seems like there’s a new and controversial movie poster or billboard being banned somewhere. Usually it’s for one of two reasons: sex or violence, with violence being far more popular. One of the first sexually banned posters I could find was 1981’s For Your Eyes Only, which featured an A-frame design that was banned. It wasn’t so much the vaginal roof as it was the exposed buttocks, so they had to release a retouched version that covered more derriere.
It’s been more than 25 years since that poster was sent back to the drawing board, so why do posters keep getting banned? Marketing people know that controversy can turn into a marketing campaign of its own, so maybe they’re pushing the boundaries in the vein of “there’s no such thing as bad publicity.” With that in mind, here’s a look at controversial movie posters from the past several years. Prepare your innocent eyes and take a look after the break.

Click on thumbnails to see the full posters

Zack And Miri Make A Porno
Most people never would have even heard of this controversy if the MPAA hadn’t banned it right in the middle of the Toronto Film Festival. Which is even weirder because Canada didn’t have a problem with it. The image is more funny than offensive… and is it even offensive? As a result Kevin Smith came up with the stick figure drawings that you see everywhere now, which is a clever way to get around the censors and “stick” it to the MPAA. Now I’ve reached my bad pun quote for this post.

Choke
The poster for this Chuck Palahniuk adaptation not only cleverly combines the activity that XXX uses to solicit money from strangers, but it also comments on his obsession with sex and women. Plus, it recalls the cover of the famous June 1978 cover of Hustler magazine that featured a nude woman going into a meat grinder. Well, at least she has high heels on in the Choke poster.

Wristcutters
This poster caused controversy even before it was released, and had groups of parents protesting because they thought it glorified suicide. While I’m not sure how the image of a wrist with a red line through it on a yellow warning sign makes suicide look glamorous… but where were these poeple when M.A.S.H. decided to use “Suicide is Painless” for the theme song? For shame, protesters.

Ali G Indahouse
This poster was withdrawn in the United Kingdom after more than 100 people complained about it being viewable in public where kids could see it. Even though his hand covers more than most modern-day bikinis. It didn’t hurt the film though, it was ranked #1 in the UK when it was released. Despite that, the distribution company was told they’d have to have all of their posters pre-screened for the next two years. Ouch.

Shoot ‘Em Up
The UK also didn’t like two of the movie posters for Shoot ‘Em Up, saying that they glorified violence and the use of guns. Did they even see the movie, or anything involving a gun in the past umpteen years? Specifically, groups objected to the lines in Giamatti’s poster that read “Just another family man making a living.” Even though the distribution company argued that the guns weren’t pointed at the viewer, they still got yanked.

Teeth
Even X-ray images aren’t safe from censorship, as proven by the movie poster for Teeth. If you know what the film is about, then this poster makes a lot of sense (and is funny, to boot) but if you had no idea then this poster probably would make you more curious than concerned. Unless you’re an x-ray technician, in which case you normally see stuff like this.

Captivity
These billboards were yanked down in Los Angeles and removed from taxi tops in New York after the “wrong files were sent to the printer.” That sure is hard to swallow. You mean there’s no way to check or proof work between sending a file to a printer and then spotting it on an enormous billboard? Lionsgate blamed Distribution partner After Dark for the gaffe, went with the ant farm version, and they both went on to see the movie tank. I guess there is such a thing as bad publicity.

Wanted
Anti-violence struck again in the United Kingdom when it decided that posters for this Angelina Jolie / James McAvoy movie glorified violence. Again, it’s not just the depiction of guns, but also the slogan “Six weeks ago I was just like you… and then I met her… and my world was changed forever.” Apparently the British Advertising Standard Authority thought that meant life is better as a high-paid assassin, and not just getting to hang around with Angelina Jolie.

Dying Breed
Not to be outdone by the UK, Australia recently banned posters for this film from bus stands around the country. People that they were just a bit too graphic, and it probably isn’t the first thing you’d want to see on your way to lunch. Still, it’ll be visible in cinema foyers, online, and just about everywhere else. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:01:00 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>10/30/2008 11:01:00 AM</spout:postdate><spout:body>
Movie posters have become increasingly more controversial in the past decade, or else people have become a lot more sensitive. Either way, it seems like there’s a new and controversial movie poster or billboard being banned somewhere. Usually it’s for one of two reasons: sex or violence, with violence being far more popular. One of the first sexually banned posters I could find was 1981’s For Your Eyes Only, which featured an A-frame design that was banned. It wasn’t so much the vaginal roof as it was the exposed buttocks, so they had to release a retouched version that covered more derriere.
It’s been more than 25 years since that poster was sent back to the drawing board, so why do posters keep getting banned? Marketing people know that controversy can turn into a marketing campaign of its own, so maybe they’re pushing the boundaries in the vein of “there’s no such thing as bad publicity.” With that in mind, here’s a look at controversial movie posters from the past several years. Prepare your innocent eyes and take a look after the break.

Click on thumbnails to see the full posters

Zack And Miri Make A Porno
Most people never would have even heard of this controversy if the MPAA hadn’t banned it right in the middle of the Toronto Film Festival. Which is even weirder because Canada didn’t have a problem with it. The image is more funny than offensive… and is it even offensive? As a result Kevin Smith came up with the stick figure drawings that you see everywhere now, which is a clever way to get around the censors and “stick” it to the MPAA. Now I’ve reached my bad pun quote for this post.

Choke
The poster for this Chuck Palahniuk adaptation not only cleverly combines the activity that XXX uses to solicit money from strangers, but it also comments on his obsession with sex and women. Plus, it recalls the cover of the famous June 1978 cover of Hustler magazine that featured a nude woman going into a meat grinder. Well, at least she has high heels on in the Choke poster.

Wristcutters
This poster caused controversy even before it was released, and had groups of parents protesting because they thought it glorified suicide. While I’m not sure how the image of a wrist with a red line through it on a yellow warning sign makes suicide look glamorous… but where were these poeple when M.A.S.H. decided to use “Suicide is Painless” for the theme song? For shame, protesters.

Ali G Indahouse
This poster was withdrawn in the United Kingdom after more than 100 people complained about it being viewable in public where kids could see it. Even though his hand covers more than most modern-day bikinis. It didn’t hurt the film though, it was ranked #1 in the UK when it was released. Despite that, the distribution company was told they’d have to have all of their posters pre-screened for the next two years. Ouch.

Shoot ‘Em Up
The UK also didn’t like two of the movie posters for Shoot ‘Em Up, saying that they glorified violence and the use of guns. Did they even see the movie, or anything involving a gun in the past umpteen years? Specifically, groups objected to the lines in Giamatti’s poster that read “Just another family man making a living.” Even though the distribution company argued that the guns weren’t pointed at the viewer, they still got yanked.

Teeth
Even X-ray images aren’t safe from censorship, as proven by the movie poster for Teeth. If you know what the film is about, then this poster makes a lot of sense (and is funny, to boot) but if you had no idea then this poster probably would make you more curious than concerned. Unless you’re an x-ray technician, in which case you normally see stuff like this.

Captivity
These billboards were yanked down in Los Angeles and removed from taxi tops in New York after the “wrong files were sent to the printer.” That sure is hard to swallow. You mean there’s no way to check or proof work between sending a file to a printer and then spotting it on an enormous billboard? Lionsgate blamed Distribution partner After Dark for the gaffe, went with the ant farm version, and they both went on to see the movie tank. I guess there is such a thing as bad publicity.

Wanted
Anti-violence struck again in the United Kingdom when it decided that posters for this Angelina Jolie / James McAvoy movie glorified violence. Again, it’s not just the depiction of guns, but also the slogan “Six weeks ago I was just like you… and then I met her… and my world was changed forever.” Apparently the British Advertising Standard Authority thought that meant life is better as a high-paid assassin, and not just getting to hang around with Angelina Jolie.

Dying Breed
Not to be outdone by the UK, Australia recently banned posters for this film from bus stands around the country. People that they were just a bit too graphic, and it probably isn’t the first thing you’d want to see on your way to lunch. Still, it’ll be visible in cinema foyers, online, and just about everywhere else. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: New Movie-Related Halloween Costume Ideas</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/10/2/35824.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s323072.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> 10/2/2008 12:00:44 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> With Halloween less than a month away, it’s time to start thinking about what to go as. That is, if you haven’t already. A good costume-loving cinephile typically knows well in advance what he or she will dress up as for Halloween (and Comic-Con, too). But if you’re one to wait until the last minute, and also one who likes to be a lot more contemporary than, say, dressing up as a Ghostbuster or Edward Scissorhands, I’ve got some suggestions for you for costumes based on recent films.
Check them out after the jump.


“Nuke the Fridge”  - from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

For this costume, you need to prepare a basic Indiana Jones costume and then build a ’50s-style fridge costume out of cardboard to go around your whole body. It could look something like this, except instead of just exposing your head, you show your whole body, dressed in Indy clothes. When people ask what you are, explain the terrible scene from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, as well as how it has spawned this new term for when a movie franchise goes sour. Also, if you like to be demonstrative, feel free to throw yourself into the air as if being propelled by a nuclear blast.

“Chad Feldheimer”  - from Burn After Reading
This should be a pretty easy homemade costume. Just get a dark red polo, patch on a handwritten “Hardbodies Fitness Center” logo to the chest, spray a little temporary blond into your hair and strap an ipod to your arm. Maybe even add “Chad” name tag, despite Brad Pitt’s lack of one in the film. For lack of a better quirky indie character this year (like Napoleon Dynamite), it’s a good enough idea to get you by without need for too much explanation.

“Didier Revol”  - from Son of Rambow
If you want to be a little quirkier and a lot more obscure, though, you could seek out appropriate ’80s Euro clothing in your local thrift shop and go as this popular French exchange student. For this, you’ll still need some kind of temporary hair coloring for that skunk stripe, and you definitely need some red shoes. The jacket doesn’t need to be perfect, and anyway you can also just find a triangle-print midriff-exposing t-shirt and be fine. For your few cool friends who’ve seen the movie, it shouldn’t be too hard to get the idea across.

“Pepper Pots”  - from Iron Man
Another thing lacking this year was strong female roles in comic book and action movies, from which you can usually get hot costumes like Lara Croft and Selene from Underworld. But as boring as it will be to go as Pepper Pots (or Rachel Dawes, or Betty Ross), putting on a women’s pantsuit and dying your hair light orange will also serve as a protest against the 2008 tough woman drought. Sure, you could try to pass something off as Fox from Wanted, but nobody will get it. If you really need to do something with skimpy outfits and machine guns, there’s always the Sarah Palin costume. However, that’s obviously not movie related enough, unless you somehow make it clearly reference Miss Congeniality.

“The House Bunny”  - from The House Bunny
For the girl who likes to keep things simple, there’s fortunately the old Playboy Bunny staple. And now it’s more movie-themed thanks to the comedy The House Bunny. Just get some hot pink duds and some basic bunny ears and you’re all set. Just don’t let people assume you’re just a sexy bunny, or, worse, either Bridget Jones or Elle Woods. Another old standard that has recently become movie-themed: zombie stripper.

“Eve”  - from Wall-E
The girl who doesn’t like to keep things simple may want to attempt a homemade Eve costume. It’s possible that it could serve as a sexy costume, as it can consist of a white body stocking, posterboard-cut flap arms and a white garbage pail top for the head. But as hot as that tight-fitting stocking will be, the real shape of Eve’s body is far sexier. So get out those plastic-welding tools and come up with something more streamlined and rounded. Otherwise people might just think you’re an iPod or some other Mac product.

“There Will Be Blood group”  - from There Will Be Blood
If you’re looking for a good group-costume idea, and you don’t want to be Scooby and gang, then the characters and iconic props from There Will Blood are sure to be a hit. While three friends dress up as Daniel Plainview, H.W. Plainview and Eli Sunday, three other friends must dress as a bowling pin, a milkshake and maybe an oil rig (copy this Eiffel Tower costume).

“The Dude Playin’ a Dude Disguised as Another Dude” (aka “Robet Downey Jr. Blackface”  - from Tropic Thunder
Even Halloween is now a questionable time for a white person to put on blackface, but you might be okay with the dark face paint if you go as Robert Downey Jr.’s character, Kirk Lazarus, as his African-American Army sergeant character. It’ll be fun doing the voice, but it’ll be even more fun telling people why your race-altering costume is not un-PC, because it’s ironic and satirical. You can also invite your friends to dress up as the other actors and make it a Tropic Thunder group costume. Just don’t have anyone be Simple Jack, because that’s definitely not PC.

“Joker-Faced Meg Ryan”  - from The Women
Sometimes a good Halloween costume can come about by turning an another costume into something new. Like how John Carpenter turned a William Shatner mask into a Michael Myers make for Halloween. Now, for anyone wishing to go as the plastic-surgery disaster that is modern Meg Ryan (or her character, Mary Haines, in The Women), all you have to do is take a Dark Knight-style (and Heath Ledger-style) Joker mask, change the hair color or add on a curly blonde wig, and maybe flesh-out the color of the face.

“The Dark McCain”  - from The Dark Knight
Inspired by the cartoon of McCain as Batman printed in Entertainment Weekly, this may be the easiest and most timely movie-themed Halloween costume of all. Because this is going to be a heavy year for both political costumes and movie-related costumes, but this one fits both categories (as do a Bristol Palin Juno costume, a Bristol Palin Baby Mama costume, a Sarah Palin Miss Congeniality costume, a Barack Obama Hancock costume, etc.). Because there were readings of The Dark Knight in which people said the Caped Crusader is Bush or Cheney, those alternates will also work. Just be sure to get your McCain mask (or Bush or Cheney) and your Batman costume before both sell out. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:00:44 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>10/2/2008 12:00:44 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>With Halloween less than a month away, it’s time to start thinking about what to go as. That is, if you haven’t already. A good costume-loving cinephile typically knows well in advance what he or she will dress up as for Halloween (and Comic-Con, too). But if you’re one to wait until the last minute, and also one who likes to be a lot more contemporary than, say, dressing up as a Ghostbuster or Edward Scissorhands, I’ve got some suggestions for you for costumes based on recent films.
Check them out after the jump.


“Nuke the Fridge”  - from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

For this costume, you need to prepare a basic Indiana Jones costume and then build a ’50s-style fridge costume out of cardboard to go around your whole body. It could look something like this, except instead of just exposing your head, you show your whole body, dressed in Indy clothes. When people ask what you are, explain the terrible scene from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, as well as how it has spawned this new term for when a movie franchise goes sour. Also, if you like to be demonstrative, feel free to throw yourself into the air as if being propelled by a nuclear blast.

“Chad Feldheimer”  - from Burn After Reading
This should be a pretty easy homemade costume. Just get a dark red polo, patch on a handwritten “Hardbodies Fitness Center” logo to the chest, spray a little temporary blond into your hair and strap an ipod to your arm. Maybe even add “Chad” name tag, despite Brad Pitt’s lack of one in the film. For lack of a better quirky indie character this year (like Napoleon Dynamite), it’s a good enough idea to get you by without need for too much explanation.

“Didier Revol”  - from Son of Rambow
If you want to be a little quirkier and a lot more obscure, though, you could seek out appropriate ’80s Euro clothing in your local thrift shop and go as this popular French exchange student. For this, you’ll still need some kind of temporary hair coloring for that skunk stripe, and you definitely need some red shoes. The jacket doesn’t need to be perfect, and anyway you can also just find a triangle-print midriff-exposing t-shirt and be fine. For your few cool friends who’ve seen the movie, it shouldn’t be too hard to get the idea across.

“Pepper Pots”  - from Iron Man
Another thing lacking this year was strong female roles in comic book and action movies, from which you can usually get hot costumes like Lara Croft and Selene from Underworld. But as boring as it will be to go as Pepper Pots (or Rachel Dawes, or Betty Ross), putting on a women’s pantsuit and dying your hair light orange will also serve as a protest against the 2008 tough woman drought. Sure, you could try to pass something off as Fox from Wanted, but nobody will get it. If you really need to do something with skimpy outfits and machine guns, there’s always the Sarah Palin costume. However, that’s obviously not movie related enough, unless you somehow make it clearly reference Miss Congeniality.

“The House Bunny”  - from The House Bunny
For the girl who likes to keep things simple, there’s fortunately the old Playboy Bunny staple. And now it’s more movie-themed thanks to the comedy The House Bunny. Just get some hot pink duds and some basic bunny ears and you’re all set. Just don’t let people assume you’re just a sexy bunny, or, worse, either Bridget Jones or Elle Woods. Another old standard that has recently become movie-themed: zombie stripper.

“Eve”  - from Wall-E
The girl who doesn’t like to keep things simple may want to attempt a homemade Eve costume. It’s possible that it could serve as a sexy costume, as it can consist of a white body stocking, posterboard-cut flap arms and a white garbage pail top for the head. But as hot as that tight-fitting stocking will be, the real shape of Eve’s body is far sexier. So get out those plastic-welding tools and come up with something more streamlined and rounded. Otherwise people might just think you’re an iPod or some other Mac product.

“There Will Be Blood group”  - from There Will Be Blood
If you’re looking for a good group-costume idea, and you don’t want to be Scooby and gang, then the characters and iconic props from There Will Blood are sure to be a hit. While three friends dress up as Daniel Plainview, H.W. Plainview and Eli Sunday, three other friends must dress as a bowling pin, a milkshake and maybe an oil rig (copy this Eiffel Tower costume).

“The Dude Playin’ a Dude Disguised as Another Dude” (aka “Robet Downey Jr. Blackface”  - from Tropic Thunder
Even Halloween is now a questionable time for a white person to put on blackface, but you might be okay with the dark face paint if you go as Robert Downey Jr.’s character, Kirk Lazarus, as his African-American Army sergeant character. It’ll be fun doing the voice, but it’ll be even more fun telling people why your race-altering costume is not un-PC, because it’s ironic and satirical. You can also invite your friends to dress up as the other actors and make it a Tropic Thunder group costume. Just don’t have anyone be Simple Jack, because that’s definitely not PC.

“Joker-Faced Meg Ryan”  - from The Women
Sometimes a good Halloween costume can come about by turning an another costume into something new. Like how John Carpenter turned a William Shatner mask into a Michael Myers make for Halloween. Now, for anyone wishing to go as the plastic-surgery disaster that is modern Meg Ryan (or her character, Mary Haines, in The Women), all you have to do is take a Dark Knight-style (and Heath Ledger-style) Joker mask, change the hair color or add on a curly blonde wig, and maybe flesh-out the color of the face.

“The Dark McCain”  - from The Dark Knight
Inspired by the cartoon of McCain as Batman printed in Entertainment Weekly, this may be the easiest and most timely movie-themed Halloween costume of all. Because this is going to be a heavy year for both political costumes and movie-related costumes, but this one fits both categories (as do a Bristol Palin Juno costume, a Bristol Palin Baby Mama costume, a Sarah Palin Miss Congeniality costume, a Barack Obama Hancock costume, etc.). Because there were readings of The Dark Knight in which people said the Caped Crusader is Bush or Cheney, those alternates will also work. Just be sure to get your McCain mask (or Bush or Cheney) and your Batman costume before both sell out. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: 10 Literary Classics to Turn Into Summer Blockbusters</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/9/24/35507.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s323072.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> 9/24/2008 5:00:59 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Yesterday I wrote of the news that Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov is helming an effects-heavy adaptation of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. It’s not entirely shocking, but it does still seem like a cruel joke. More specifically, it sounds like something Jasper Fforde would jest about in his Thursday Next novels. Of course, the news came just as I’m in the middle of Fforde’s latest, First Among Sequels, in which Pride and Prejudice is turned into a reality TV show.
Although I’m not exactly well read as far as literary classics go, I’ve been wondering what other revered books (particularly those in the public domain) could be reworked as potential summer blockbusters. Obviously, there are certain sci-fi, fantasy and adventure novels that work, yet the fitting fictions of Verne, Wells, Burroughs, Dumas and others are already fodder for cheap movies with lots of action and/or special effects. Therefore, I’ve tried to limit my choices to those books that aren’t such easy candidates for a Memorial Day weekend opening.
1. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
Dante’s epic poem has inspired a few films over the years, including the hugely successful 1911 silent L’Inferno, but it’s about time for Hollywood to bastardize the otherworldly tale with lots of computer-generated visuals. Maybe you’re thinking that What Dreams Come already made some attempt at this, and it failed at the box office. Sure, but it was still an awesome spectacle of a film. Now, think of something similar starring Will Smith as Dante. And some rewrites to allow for more fight scenes (yes, even in Heaven). The poem will be divided into a trilogy of films, of course.

2. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
Georges Méliès, the original visual-effects cinema showman, made the first adaptation of Swift’s satire, and a later version featured special effects from stop-motion master Ray Harryhausen. The last adaptation also had decent effects, at least for a TV miniseries, but it’s high time for a new big screen attempt, which shall employ all the latest effects innovations. And Will Ferrell. It should also have a more contemporary setting and lose all the allegory and commentary stuff. Nobody needs to be thinking about antiquated messages at the multiplex; they just want to watch giant people destroying little cities, pirate attacks and other straightforward spectacles.
3. Candide by Voltaire
Similarly, Voltaire’s satire could be made into a more straightforward adventure through life’s calamities. And yet just by adhering to the basic plot, the main idea could still be communicated without making the audience think they’ve actually been made to think about it. It should probably be modernized, and it should probably star Shia LaBeouf.
4. Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini
I guess a modernization of this classic would seem like just any other movie about a man forced into hiding as an actor, and a more faithful adaptation would probably not feature a better swordfight than the one in MGM’s 1952 version. So, it should be reset in the future, should star James Franco, who is due for more action and more comedy, and be some kind of cross between Sister Act and Star Wars.
5. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
I’m picturing Nicolas Cage in yet another movie involving prophecies. Only in this one, he not only can’t avoid killing his father and mating with his mother, he also fails to save the world from an apocalypse. See, the movie is about how you can’t change your destiny, and it’s also about a lot of cool and disastrous destruction occurring at the film’s climax.
6. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Matt Damon is reunited with director Terry Gilliam for an absurd action movie that’s as much The Bourne Identity as it is The Metamorphosis. Damon plays Gregor, a man who wakes up one day to find he’s a giant bug. That’s about as far as Kafka’s story is retained. From there, he must go on the run while being chased by an organization of pest control operatives in an attempt to find out why he’s transformed and how he can return to human form.
7. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
I know, it’s been filmed a billion times, and it’s technically one of those books I wanted to exclude on account of its ease in becoming a blockbuster. But here’s the thing: it would be completely different this time, and I don’t mean because it will be set in space. That’s already been done. No, instead, thanks to the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, the story of Jim Hawkins (Cameron Bright) and Long John Silver (Gerard Butler) will include some paranormal additions, courtesy of Hollywood’s idea of poetic license.
8. The Last Days of Pompeii by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
I don’t know if this is still considered a classic, but as long as the adaptation of Robert Harris’ Pompeii book (which was once to be directed by Roman Polanski) is struggling to get made, now is the chance for some big producer to get a blockbuster made out of this book. And worse comes to worse, there ends up being competing Pompeii movies, which would fit in with the tradition of disaster movies anyway.
9. The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
In a way, this movie will just be a combo of Trading Places and Face/Off, but it will have that more respectable title and a less respectable script. And Nic Cage can again play twins.
10. Don Quixote by Cervantes
Many of cinema’s greatest filmmakers have had the ambition to make a great adaptation of Cervantes’ masterpiece. And now it’s time for Michael Bay to admit he’d also like to give it a try. And with a big enough budget, he’ll succeed, though it won’t exactly be faithful to the book. Instead it will be about a man (Nic Cage again) who’s seen too many action movies and so, with great delusions, takes it upon himself to become an action hero. I can’t wait to watch all those windmills explode! Originally posted on:SpoutBlog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:00:59 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>9/24/2008 5:00:59 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Yesterday I wrote of the news that Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov is helming an effects-heavy adaptation of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. It’s not entirely shocking, but it does still seem like a cruel joke. More specifically, it sounds like something Jasper Fforde would jest about in his Thursday Next novels. Of course, the news came just as I’m in the middle of Fforde’s latest, First Among Sequels, in which Pride and Prejudice is turned into a reality TV show.
Although I’m not exactly well read as far as literary classics go, I’ve been wondering what other revered books (particularly those in the public domain) could be reworked as potential summer blockbusters. Obviously, there are certain sci-fi, fantasy and adventure novels that work, yet the fitting fictions of Verne, Wells, Burroughs, Dumas and others are already fodder for cheap movies with lots of action and/or special effects. Therefore, I’ve tried to limit my choices to those books that aren’t such easy candidates for a Memorial Day weekend opening.
1. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
Dante’s epic poem has inspired a few films over the years, including the hugely successful 1911 silent L’Inferno, but it’s about time for Hollywood to bastardize the otherworldly tale with lots of computer-generated visuals. Maybe you’re thinking that What Dreams Come already made some attempt at this, and it failed at the box office. Sure, but it was still an awesome spectacle of a film. Now, think of something similar starring Will Smith as Dante. And some rewrites to allow for more fight scenes (yes, even in Heaven). The poem will be divided into a trilogy of films, of course.

2. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
Georges Méliès, the original visual-effects cinema showman, made the first adaptation of Swift’s satire, and a later version featured special effects from stop-motion master Ray Harryhausen. The last adaptation also had decent effects, at least for a TV miniseries, but it’s high time for a new big screen attempt, which shall employ all the latest effects innovations. And Will Ferrell. It should also have a more contemporary setting and lose all the allegory and commentary stuff. Nobody needs to be thinking about antiquated messages at the multiplex; they just want to watch giant people destroying little cities, pirate attacks and other straightforward spectacles.
3. Candide by Voltaire
Similarly, Voltaire’s satire could be made into a more straightforward adventure through life’s calamities. And yet just by adhering to the basic plot, the main idea could still be communicated without making the audience think they’ve actually been made to think about it. It should probably be modernized, and it should probably star Shia LaBeouf.
4. Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini
I guess a modernization of this classic would seem like just any other movie about a man forced into hiding as an actor, and a more faithful adaptation would probably not feature a better swordfight than the one in MGM’s 1952 version. So, it should be reset in the future, should star James Franco, who is due for more action and more comedy, and be some kind of cross between Sister Act and Star Wars.
5. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
I’m picturing Nicolas Cage in yet another movie involving prophecies. Only in this one, he not only can’t avoid killing his father and mating with his mother, he also fails to save the world from an apocalypse. See, the movie is about how you can’t change your destiny, and it’s also about a lot of cool and disastrous destruction occurring at the film’s climax.
6. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Matt Damon is reunited with director Terry Gilliam for an absurd action movie that’s as much The Bourne Identity as it is The Metamorphosis. Damon plays Gregor, a man who wakes up one day to find he’s a giant bug. That’s about as far as Kafka’s story is retained. From there, he must go on the run while being chased by an organization of pest control operatives in an attempt to find out why he’s transformed and how he can return to human form.
7. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
I know, it’s been filmed a billion times, and it’s technically one of those books I wanted to exclude on account of its ease in becoming a blockbuster. But here’s the thing: it would be completely different this time, and I don’t mean because it will be set in space. That’s already been done. No, instead, thanks to the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, the story of Jim Hawkins (Cameron Bright) and Long John Silver (Gerard Butler) will include some paranormal additions, courtesy of Hollywood’s idea of poetic license.
8. The Last Days of Pompeii by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
I don’t know if this is still considered a classic, but as long as the adaptation of Robert Harris’ Pompeii book (which was once to be directed by Roman Polanski) is struggling to get made, now is the chance for some big producer to get a blockbuster made out of this book. And worse comes to worse, there ends up being competing Pompeii movies, which would fit in with the tradition of disaster movies anyway.
9. The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
In a way, this movie will just be a combo of Trading Places and Face/Off, but it will have that more respectable title and a less respectable script. And Nic Cage can again play twins.
10. Don Quixote by Cervantes
Many of cinema’s greatest filmmakers have had the ambition to make a great adaptation of Cervantes’ masterpiece. And now it’s time for Michael Bay to admit he’d also like to give it a try. And with a big enough budget, he’ll succeed, though it won’t exactly be faithful to the book. Instead it will be about a man (Nic Cage again) who’s seen too many action movies and so, with great delusions, takes it upon himself to become an action hero. I can’t wait to watch all those windmills explode! Originally posted on:SpoutBlog</spout:body></item>
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      <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>
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      <title>Spout Tag:fun</title>
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<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 175</br><br/>
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