Culture Shocker Film News

2003-08-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

Did You Know...

Did you know that a remake if King Kong is in the works for a Christmas release in 2005?

Director Peter Jackson along with is pal Richard Taylor, are cooking up a remake of the movie about the ape that was larger than life.

It promises to be a good remake. Jackson is the director of The Return of the King, the last of the The Lord of The Rings trilogy. Taylor oversees Weta Workshop, the group behind the effects factory that produced sneering orcs and and other cool things for The Lord of The Rings .

According to USA Today Taylor's department has already invested four months into designing clay models of apes and dinosaurs. Not decision has been announced as to if the creatures will be totally digital. It is known that the remake will take place during the same '30s era as the original.

So mark your calanders. Get out some sticky pads. Lock your doors, and close yoru windows. The king is coming...

2003-08-23T20:00:00.000-07:00

Well, Helloooo Batman

Not to worry ladies. If christophernolan.net is right, there is not need to worry about if the next caped crusier will be hot or not. According to the site a hunky English Actor by the name of Hugh Dancy has landed the role.

According to the site "Dark Horizon's has reported that Hugh Dancy (An English Actor of Age 28, hailing from Staffordshire, England) is in talks to play BATMAN. I can confirm that this is not only accurate, but he is almost and I quote: 'Signed, Sealed, and Delivered' "

If you watch TV you may remember Dancy from "Relic Hunter." His face maybe more associated with his role as SFC. Kurt Schmid in "Black Hawk Down."

2003-08-23T19:52:00.000-07:00

Movie To Watch For: A Dirty Shame

An just what should you watch for A Dirty Shame in a theater near you? For what we think will be garunteed laughs- that's why! The movie has a great cast that inculdes the Emmy award winner Tracey Ullman, Johnny Knoxville, Selma Blair, Chris Isaak, and Paul Giamatti.

What Is It About?

The story is about a working-class convenience store owner (Ullman) who suffers a concussion only to become a sex addict with wild urges. Isaak will play her husband, who is trying to restore order with his wife and daughter.

Current Progress

The project is due to start shooting later this year in Baltimore.

2003-08-23T17:01:00.000-07:00

Lee's Legacy Still Kicking

Everybody remembers the broken glass. After Bruce Lee humiliates the menacing Oharra in the martial-arts classic "Enter the Dragon," the bearded, scarred bad guy smashes two bottles and comes after Lee. One savage Lee kick in the groin later, actor Bob Wall is forever recognized in public places around the world...Full Story

2003-08-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

T'Pol's New Look

Vulcan T'Pol, played by Jolene Blalock, has a new look for the next season of Enterprise.

Trekkies can get a head start by watching the special season rremiere Preview video here. The new season starts at 8pm ET on September 10.

2003-08-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

It's De-lovely

Burning off the success of the musical Chicago MGM Studios is ready to release De-lovely. The film tells the life story of Cole Poter- ranging from his childhood in Indiana and continues through his reign as America’s songwriting king of musicals and movies.

The film makers have opted to modernize the story of the 1920's -30's legend.

"We have contemporized the songs in the movie, and we've got Sheryl Crow, Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, Natalie Cole and Alanis Morissette singing the songs," said the film's director Irwin Winkler.

Also contributing to the 30 songs used to tell the story is Pop icon Robbie Williams.

The film stars Kevin Kline, and Ashley Judd as Porter’s devoted wife Linda.

The film will be a bit racy says Kline.

“It will be fairly explicit in terms of Cole’s appetites, though there is nothing sexually graphic on screen,” the actor tells the Los Angeles Times. “He was a complicated, mysterious guy and we don’t know what happened behind closed doors. He could get down and dirty.”

Look for the movie to come to the silver screen later this year.

2003-08-17T11:50:00.000-07:00

Concerns about Mel Gibson's The Passion stirs anti-Semitism

The ADL (Anti-Defamation League) says that Mel Gibson's new, and yet unreleased movie, The Passion has caused a increase in anti-Semitic feelings among Americans. The group says that "since going public with its concerns about the film, ADL has received a slew of e-mails and phone calls referencing "The Passion" while making hateful slurs about Jews and Judaism."

Heads of the organization are calling upon Mr. Gibson himself to help combat the problem.

"Whatever his differences with ADL and the Jewish community, we call on Mel Gibson to condemn such hateful expressions," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.

The group has even posted examples of emails that they have received. Included are statements like "Why are you concerned about Gibson's movie? What he portrays is the truth! Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus! … Maybe when Jesus returns as the Messiah, you won't try to do it again."

Read the official statements from the ADL;

ADL Concerned Mel Gibson's 'Passion' Will Fuel Anti-Semitism if Released in Present Form

ADL Criticism of Mel Gibson's "The Passion" Elicits Anti-Semitic Responses

ADL Concerns About Mel Gibson's 'Passion' Provoke Anti-Semitic Backlash

Our Take

Those who have and express Anti-Semitic feelings are wrong. Period. Any such feelings of hatred of someone else due to their religion, color, race, sex, creed, or nationality is based on ignorance- plain and simple. Never has any fool who expressed such ideas been able to prove them in fact. And though I do not think that it is his responsibility, it would be nice if Mr. Gibson did step forward and express his distaste for such feels.

However, I do have a problem with the ADL. In the press release ADL Concerned Mel Gibson's 'Passion' Will Fuel Anti-Semitism if Released in Present Form, the ADL tells just why they think the move should be altered before being released.

"The film unambiguously portrays Jewish authorities and the Jewish mob as the ones responsible for the decision to crucify Jesus," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "We are deeply concerned that the film, if released in its present form, will fuel the hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism that many responsible churches have worked hard to repudiate."

Among their concerns are what they call "theological" inaccurates. Included among them are

1) The film portrays Jewish authorities and the Jewish "mob" as forcing the decision to torture and execute Jesus, thus assuming responsibility for the crucifixion

2) The film relies on sinister medieval stereotypes, portraying Jews as blood-thirsty, sadistic and money-hungry enemies of God who lack compassion and humanity

3) The film relies on historical errors, chief among them its depiction of the Jewish high priest controlling Pontius Pilate

4)The film uses an anti-Jewish account of a 19th century mystical anti-Semitic nun, distorts New Testament interpretation by selectively citing passages to weave a narrative that oversimplifies history, and is hostile to Jews and Judaism.

5) The film portrays Jews who adhere to their Jewish faith as enemies of God and the locus of evil.

You maybe shocked and say, 'Does she agree that Jews are "blood-thirsty, sadistic and money-hungry enemies of God who lack compassion and humanity?"

No way.

The problem is this. Put aside all the theology. Forget who's pleasing God. This newsletter isn't about that. However, we are about freedom to express ourselves artistically. This is Mr. Gibson's portaryal of what he thinks happened. I'm sure he has reasons and theories to support the account he told. The ADL has no right to try to have this movie changed because they don't like the way their ancestors are portrayed. This is America, and Americans have the right to see this version of events, if they choose, and decide for themselves.

History cannot be rewritten because we don't like the way it happened. If this is the account he has chosen to bring to life of the silver screen, let it be. Those who don't wish to see it, don't. Want to voice your opinion, do. But you should not stop others from formulating their own. Are we back to the days when books were yanked from library shelves and burned because a few parents didn't like the content or the message?

As for fueling anti-Semitic feelings. It may. However these feelings are just that- fueled. This means that they were already burning. People won't walk into the movie theater, and walk out 2 hours later anti-Semitic. Those who wrote these nasty emails are the type of people just waiting for an excuse. The ADL should spend it's time educating and fighting these feelings than fighting the movie. What they are doing is comparable to a fire fighter fighting the wind instead of the fire. It just doesn't make much sense.

So while the ADL tries to grab the wind, I encourage them to do all they can to fight such ignorance. However, I exhort them to fight the root cause, and stop trying to become an oppressor themselves. Punishing the world by trying to control free thought, expression, and creativity will not solve the problem, only make it worse.

2003-08-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

Charles Bronson said to be on "death bed"

The family and friends of legendary actor Charles Bronson are gathering together after "The Dirty Dozen" star was given only days to live.

"Death Wish" star Brosnan has been fighting Alzheimer's Disease for the past two years, and suffered organ failure earlier this month...Full Story.

Cartoon With A Message: What Bush privatizing wildlife means to you…

Click picture above to see this witty cartoon.

2003-08-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

No Nude Cameron

Photographer John Rutter has been charged with trying extort $3.2 million from actress Cameron Diaz. Rutter threated to publish nude photos of her that he had taken in 1992. The photos are of the star of Charles' Angels topless, as well as vidoe tape. Diaz says that she never signed a release for the photos to be published. The 41 year old photographer was charged with extortion, attempted grand theft and perjury and two counts of forgery. He is being held on $250,000 bail. The court has sealed the photos a video until it is determined if Rutter has the right to sell them.

It doesn't seem like a really big deal when you realize that typing in the search for "Cameron Diaz" will reveal at least 2-3 pictures of her breast per result page.

2003-08-16T13:57:00.000-07:00

You Tell 'Em Aston!!

Ashton Kutcher has said enough is enough. The popular actor/prankster says that he's tired of the paparazzi invading his life. The star, who's now in the limelight due to his relationship with actress Demi Moore, says that paparazzi who think to invade his space might a bit of a surprise.

The only difference between a paparazzi and a stalker is that the paparazzi has a camera," he said. "I want to punch these guys in the face. They're belligerent. If the guy's on my property, he's going to get hit with a spud gun. That's it, I've had it."

The actor continues by pointing out that they have pushed him about as far as he can go.

"They parked a camper outside of my house," continued Ashton. "One of these guys is going to get decked. It's just too much. These magazines can't just use me to sell their magazines. If you're going to put me in a movie, I'm going to get paid to be in the movie. If I'm going to be on a TV show, I'm going get paid to be on it."

Way to go Ashton. The lowest form of media is the instant gratification form. The private life of public figures had no right to be invaded because "...the people want to know..." Wanting something and having the right to it are two different things.