Huh, apparently, Keira Knightley and Judi Dench are expected (or being campaigned?) to be nominated for their roles in Pride and Prejudice.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I watched The Dunwich Horror, starring Sandra Dee, last night. I think I'm blocking it. There are bad movies, and then there's this movie. OK, it really had nothing to do with Lovecraft, and was more in the Rosemary's Baby mold of films capitalizing on the late-60s-early-70s obsession with satanism. And OK, a 40-yr-old Sandra Dee is playing a virginal college student. And fine, Dean Stockwell was found in a dive in TJ, told he'd be payed in hash to make a porn film, and spent the movie trying to feel his eyebrows using only his forehead.

But beyond all that, it was bad. Stuff that's normally unnoticeable to the layman, like shot comp, focus, and basic editing, SUCKED.

For some reason, this makes me want to start a film review site run by zombies. Of course, they'd review zombie films and other films that feature brains, but they could review non-brain-featuring films based on how attractive the characters' brains might be. For example, they might like Jarrhead, because all the buzzcuts would give a zombie viewer a pretty good idea of the dimensions of each character's brain.

Well, they do already have their own store.

To make it more interesting than just run by zombies, tho, make it just run by horror monsters. Vampires could review the new Rom-Com, a werewolf could tear apart an independant film (no pun intended), Godzilla & King Kong take on the new action flick . . . . The possibilities are endless!

Slashdot thingie on Superman development hell: [link]

I haven't read any of the linked-to articles yet. But the last sentence of the Slashdot summary cracked me up:

ThePuceGuardian writes "With Superman Returning from development hell next summer, perhaps Slashdot's readership would appreciate this summary of the 10+ years spent in development, and the sequel that never quite was. Years of stupidity and outright seething contempt for the fans who were expected to shell out for the franchise are detailed, from the Kevin Smith era, through Tim Burton and including 'McG's short but not short enough association with the project. The summary ends in mid-2004, which is about a decade after the whole sordid affair should have been capped off, and right before the current production started up.I just have to include this quote: "Michael Bay was offered to direct the film again, but he felt the script violated the essence of Superman and refused the offer." WhenMichael Bay declines your project for reasons of artistic integrity, I think it's time to consider a new line of work.."

BTW, did anyone else think that the guy who played Wickham looked like Orlando Bloom's older brother? (Rupert Friend -- who is going to be in The Libertine !)

But beyond all that, it was bad. Stuff that's normally unnoticeable to the layman, like shot comp, focus, and basic editing, SUCKED.

I've always heard it was the kind of American International "opus" that made one really appreciate the directorial hand of Roger Corman by way of contrast.

I'm sure that MST3K tried to get their hands on that film many times.

(re The Dunwich Horror, tho' to be sure, I'd love to see what they'd have done with Pride & Prejudice ... their take on the East German MacBeth made me laugh so hard my face hurt afterwards.)

(It was the [spoiler omitted] scene.)

OMGYES! Even funnier was the fact that I was sitting next to the breathiest, giggliest pair of twentysomethings I've ever encountered, and one of them responded to that scene by gasping breathily, "Oh! He's wearing a shirt!"

It was just all too much.

BTW, did anyone else think that the guy who played Wickham looked like Orlando Bloom's older brother?

The two gigglers next to me spent at least ten loudly whispering minutes trying to decide if he was Orlando Bloom or not.

Talking about wacky updates of classics, I've been aheming the BBC's modern Shakespeare series, and they have been enormous fun. The latest one was a take on "Taming of the Shrew", which I wouldn't have thought it possible to adapt in a modern setting, but they managed it, and managed it hilariously. Katherine was played by Shirley Henderson (last seen as Myrtle in the HP flicks but she's been in loads of stuff) and she was a high-powered MP, foul-mouthed battleaxe, and a contender for the leader of the opposition. Rufus Sewell played Petriccio as a loutishly charming and impoverished aristocrat (and a transvestite!). Funny stuff.

The best one they've done, I think, is their take on MacBeth as set in the world of restauranteurs. James McAvoy played MacBeth and he was absolutely luscious. Fey young men aren't my type usually, but he had these flashing eyes, lithe body and the yummiest accent, and altogether irresistible.

Oh, god, I love McAvoy. I might need to find that.