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.

They may be hard to find. I got mine from UKnova, but you have to be a member to get at the torrents. E-me if you're having trouble locating it and I'll see what I can do.

I'm a member there too, so I'll look when I get home.

I believe the British version ended with Mr Bennett's (and how wonderful was Sutherland in the role?) final line about being "completely at his leisure." They are adding the US scene back to the British release. [link] I liked it, but I am schmoopy that way.