(By the way, I’m not really down yet with this blogging thing. Do these omnibus posts make sense, or should I break them down into separate posts? Would people be more likely to comment more if I did the latter? Any input appreciated.)
1) The next Hulk movie, apparently not a direct sequel to the last one, is reportedly looking to set up shop in Canada. The film’s budget is slightly less than the first’s, and then inflation must be taken into account. Still, it should be enough to get the job done. The word is that this one will be more straightforwardly action oriented, and I’d have to say that’s probably a good idea. The Incredible Hulk is one of a zillion huge movies due out next year.
2) Director Christopher Nolan continues racking very good actors for his next Batman movie, The Dark Knight. Joining the returning Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine is Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for Smoking), who will apparently play Harvey Dent, the DA who eventually becomes Two-Face. Those who only know Two-Face via his misbegotten and truly sucktacular appearance in Batman Forever are in for a shock, as Two-Face is potentially a fascinating character. This time around, however, the villain will be Heath Ledger’s Joker. In any case, aside from being a good director, you have to like the fact that Nolan seems dedicated to casting as many top of the line actors as possible. (The absence of Katie Holmes won’t exactly detract from this.)
3) On the converse side of things, Rob Zombie is actually making me consider seeing his version of Halloween due to his insanely overstuffed b-movie oriented cast. Although personally I think casting the gigantic Taylor Mane as Michael Myers misses the point, its hard to argue that Malcolm McDowell is about as good a choice to replace the irreplaceable Donald Pleasance as Dr. Loomis. (OK, Lance Henriksen would have been awesome, too.) Good grief! Adrienne Barbeau (a nod or a screw you to John Carpenter?), Clint Howard, Udo Kier, Dee Wallace Stone, William Forsythe, Danny Trejo, Brad Dourif… Damn, Quentin Tarantino doesn’t put together casts that good.
4) On the DVD front, procrastinators will score again with the chance to buy Anchor Bay’s upcoming Mario Bava Collection #1, featuring Black Sunday (1960), Black Sabbath (1963), The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963), Knives Of The Avenger (1965) and Kill Baby Kill (1966). No word on the extras, yet, or whether these are new editions or the old ones collected together, but in either case you get both the international and U.S. versions of Black Sunday, Black Sabbath and The Girl Who Knew Too Much. With a suggested price of $50 (meaning, really, closer to $35), this will be a steal. Unless you already bought some of the separate editions.
Saturday Morning Schlock fans will rejoice in April as The Ghost Busters: The Complete Series hits DVD shelves on the 17th, with a SRP of $29.98. The 2-disc set will contain all 15 episodes of the live action program, along with extras such as with producer Lou Scheimer and gorilla suit star Bob Burns, episode scripts (!), production photos, etc.
Lionsgate has announced the long-awaited release of the not really great but beloved by some The Monster Squad (1987). Personally, I’d rather have the TV show Monster Squad out on DVD, although I’m ambivalent about the Drac Pack. Oooh, and I wants Big John, Little John and The Kids from C.A.P.E.R.! (Hey, if The Ghostbusters can make it out…)
5) Stephen King movies seem hot again, with Frank Darabont’s highly anticipated The Mist being joined by an adaptation of the first of King’s epic Gunslinger fantasy series. J.J. Abrams, now officially divorced from Warner’s proposed Wonder Woman movie, is to take on the project. Meanwhile, there will be a STDVD (straight to DVD) release of Creepshow III in May.
6) Not exactly surprising, but two beloved shows, Fox’s House and Sci-Fi’s Battlestar Galactica, have been renewed by their respective networks.
