News - Page 224

I use Comcast because of the no-contracts thing, so I have no idea how direct TV works. But I like the idea of being able to use my computer to pick what I want to record. One of the biggest problems with the interface I use is that searching for shows requires entering in words one letter at a time using the remote, kind of like registering a high score in an old school arcade game. I thought this commercial was actually OK. Very subtle. The future of TV is only going to be integrating it with your computer until they are the same entity (I know, BOLD prediction). My suggestion is that Comcast implement this feature and get the Dark Knight to explain how it works.

From CAGE POTATO. One of the reasons that American Gladiators tanked is that it's just not violent enough. Watching people smack each other with giant Q-Tips on a padded pedestal 7 feet above waist-deep water is just not the same as seeing Kimbo Slice get pummeled in an octagonal cage. We are Americans. We need the specter of real injury in our competition. It looks like Gina Carano, one of AG's strong/sexy women might have some employment opportunities somewhere that won't be shut down after one season. Read the full story HERE. 

It's the first monday of the rest of your life. We have a black president. Marley and Me is still dominating our box office. Despite the crumbling economy and the increasing probability that the rapture will occur in YOUR lifetime, moving pictures continue to be a profitable business. Netflix is going to be built into your TV. And Steve Jobs told the world that there is something wrong with his hormones, but that he will live. All of this in our morning news links. The future, dear Junkies, is a bright one.

I probably should have been a Ninja. Or at least a Korean Pop star who plays a Ninja in a movie. I have missed my calling. I blame my parents for never letting me go to Ninja camp or join the Korean Pop Star team in high school. This is a great behind the scenes vid of what goes into fight choreography in the production of Ninja Assassin, a film produced by the Wachowski brothers and directed by James McTeigue.The film stars stars Korean pop star Rain (Speed Racer) as Raizo, one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them… and vanishes. Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge.

Still hungover from New Years huh? Monday TV's got your back. Better make some three layer microwave nachos and watch the Fiesta Bowl, and then chill out with six whole hours of Lost reruns (you knew season 5 premiers in 16 days right?!). Only time cures hangovers (those pills at 7/11 don't work, believe me) and everyone knows that's best spent in front of your TV.  The Fiesta Bowl: OSU vs Texas 5:15 on FOX Fiesta Bowl Boise State Vs Oklahoma – Watch more Free Videos

Amid a massive lawsuit between studios for releasing rights, Buzz for Watchmen is still being pumped out. Here's a recently released featurete with Zach Snyder breaking down the movie. He mentions that this is the first time a superhero movie has social commentary, which is kind of bullshit. All superhero movies are some sort of social commentary, including 300, which shined light on the plight of gay Spartans. Enjoy the vid. It's long enough to feel almost spoiler-ish.

 Out with aught eight and in with the big '09. What hell happened this past year? Instead of reflecting on the global $#!t show, remember the good times, like when that guy threw his boots at George W., or when Michael Phelps won 14,000 gold medals for America. Look toward the future with a bottle of champagne, a bunch of random friends, and of course with your best friend of all, TV. Here's what's on tonight.

 The Associated Press reported today that James Cameron's The Terminator has been selected for entry into the National Film Registry archive preserving it for other generations to see.  The purpose of the registry which was established by Congress in 1989 is to help showcase America's cinema history and heritage.  Some may wonder to the exact reason why The Terminator was selected along with this year's other entries, but I have my own opinion on the matter.  I have a feeling that after the Great Robot War is over future historians will have something to look back on and pinpoint why we allowed our metal masters to take over in the first place.   

The main response I have heard from people that (waste their lives) read Twilight is that the movie did a really crappy job of adapting the book. I saw the movie and it was really bad. I it's rare that I say a movie is really bad– this is one of the few times.  I also have a few friends at Summit (the company that released the movie) who have mentioned on numerous occasions that Catherine Hardwicke, the recently fired director was totally incompetent and a total bitch. Which is why she was fired. So now the fact that there is fan-girl uproar about a new, more competent director being put in her place confuses me. Actually, the fact that there are Twilight fan girls confuses me. Ok fine, girls confuse me. Here's a video from Reelz that breaks down some of the "controversy" about the forthcoming New Moon

While most americans are going to be living in the hollowed, rusted shells of their SUV's and eating ketchup soup out of an old boot, the rest of the world is going to be going to the movies. According to Variety Paramount racked up 2 Billion in foreign sales this year, thanks in most part to Indiana Jones and Kung Fu Panda (we're looking at you, China). That's pretty impressive considering we're in a global recession. As more and more countries sprout middle income brackets, foreign sales will continue to increase. And although you can't eat it if you are currently jobless, here is your morning news. 

There are two times when it comes in VERY handy that I speak fluent Japanese: ordering sushi and deciphering martial arts movie trailers.  Let me translate this one for you. "A woman who is able to kick really fast and jump off of walls and shit has to TOTALLY beat the crap out of a bunch of dudes…in Japan."  

NBC Universal is using the intrawebs more and more to their advantage. In order to keep fans up to date with their favorite shows they have been deploying Webisodes to have audiences stay connected in between the network broadcasted episodes during the holiday repeats.  It seems that this is the next step into viral campaigns.  Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, Chuck, and The Office are just some that have been using side stories to maintain a continuous pulse within their fan base. For other things you can find on the internet here's some links.

Warner Brothers ExecLets turn The Watchmen picture book into a cinema movie.Smarter, Younger Warner Brothers ExecUm…do we have the rights to that?Warner Brothers ExecAre you telling me how to run my business? I was making moving pictures while you were in short pants! Make me A Watchmen!Smarter, Younger Warner Brothers ExecBut I'm pretty sure that Fox owns the rights…Warner Brothers ExecHow can a furry woodland animal own the rights to a story? You're FIRED. [end]Read the full story at VarietyYour morning news after the jump:

The new season of Lost premiers on Wed, Jan 21st at 8/7c. According to ABC, "The band of friends, family, enemies and strangers must continue to work together to stay alive with danger and mystery looming behind every corner." With a promo like that how can you not watch it?

Just wanted to let you know that Chewbacca and his Family hope that EVERYONE and their families have a wonderful holiday, regardles or race, creed, or planetary origin. More from Boing Boing.

Zach Galifianiakis is one of the funniest people alive. This is how an interview should be done and bears some striking similarities to our recent sit down with Brea Grant.

Megan Fox's Body gets a release date (Comingsoon)HBO seals deal with Mario Bello (Variey)Werewolf dramedy unleashed at Fox (Hollywoodreporter)New clip from Whedon's Dollhouse

[Editor's Note:  I am at my parents house for the holidays in South Texas. The only thing in the theatre that I had not see was Twilight, so I went. I was the only person in the theatre that had not just had her first period. Watching the movie made me change my stance on Kristen Stewart. Best, MAX POWERS.]Kristen Stewart is my kind of pretty. She's got the natural beauty thing on lockdown. I've basically been in love with her since Into the Wild, which I thought was great film. She was 9 types of sexy jailbait. It's a shame that Twilight was a movie I was not willing to touch with my worst enemy's eyeballs, even though Stewart was in it. I'm definitely willing to watch her play Joan Jett. That story and more in our news roundup.  the worst fucking actress in the entire world. Here's a few for the weekend.

Its was a big news story yesterday that Jeremy Piven was leaving the Broadway show Speed The Plow due to high mercury content in his blood. This made me think "Of course he has a high blood-mercurey content. Mercury was the God of WAR. He's ARI GOLD. His veins run not with normal vitreous fluid, but rather course with the mightiest quicksilver known to man."  And now the news today is that Piven will be replaced by…William H. Macy? Woah.

Hollywood Reporter wrote today that Bay and Bruckheimer will be the execs on a new HBO series based on the documentary Cocaine Cowboys. I REALLY hope they go for one part Entourage, one part Scarface, and FOUR THOUSAND PARTS MICHAEL BAY (BOOM).  I posted on Cocaine Cowboy's II about five months back, the follow-up to the inspiration for the show. It also led me to compile a list of some of the best documentaries about the black market, a subject I am fascinated about. And now, some daily news.

Two sites for The Unborn, and new photos (Comingsoon)40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 minutes (Filmonic)Sci Fi Channel's Ghost Hunters continues to expand (BD)Alan Horn clears up

People, you can't make this stuff up:Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Greg White has officially changed his name from Gregory Alphonso White Jr. to Stylez G. White, the Tampa Bay Tribune reported on its Web site. The name, according to White, was inspired by the 1985 Michael J. Fox flick featuring some rather hairy on-court hoops action."That was his best friend's name," White said, according to the paper. "I always liked that name. It's not that I don't like Greg White." (from Fox Sports)American Dream: Attained. And now, the rest of your morning news roundup.

From HOLY TACO. This is a great collection of the classic "Give Me Your Badge And Gun" scene which occurs in basically every cop movie or TV show. It's amazing that nobody ever mixes it up. Turn in your uniform, give me the keys to the shotgun locker, leave your special police radio and computer with Dolores in HR– none of that stuff. Just the badge and gun.

This is a pretty great video. It's exactly what the title says, except that they talk about the crappy movies. I remember watching Operation Dumbo Drop in theaters and thinking it was basically the best film ever made. An elephant? On a plane? And you're going to drop it? Out of the plane? That's movie gold. 

Halle Berry goes slightly topless (Filmonic)Watch new Flight of the Conchords free (Filmdrunk)3 Worst things about roommates (Holytaco)8 Everyday words with X-rated origins (Cracked)Bill and Ted's Excellent

If there's one thing in life that Im kind of embarrassed about, it's my cankles or failing third grade (twice) or not being able to run a mile in under 14 minutes crappy knowledge of old movies. I write about movies all day long and still haven't seen some of the most important films ever made. Aside from a few Hitchcock flicks as a kid, my family just didn't watch the classics. Now I spend so much time trying to keep up with new releases it's just almost impossible to catch up. Slashfilm did a post about a ranking system created by Filmaddict that allows you to calculate how much of a movie addict you are. Find out your score.

Tonight, the brilliant people at the CW air an encore of the Victoria Secret Fashion Show, the dudes at Timewarp slow down a Cirque du Soleil performance, and JCVD kicks some ass. Here's Your TV lineup. Prime Time TV Victoria Secret Fashion Show 8/7c on CW Heidi Klum Talking About Boobs – Watch more Free Videos

I've heard good things about this flick from a friend who worked on it. It's tested really high in screenings. And it does raise an important issue. At a certain point in life, the time for dudes to make friends with new dudes is basically over. Let's call that point Age 26. By then you either have a group of bro's that you're pretty set on, or you're so involved with a girl that your balls will slowly slide back up into your abdomen where they started from when you were born. 

I've heard good things about this flick from a friend who worked on it. It's tested really high in screenings. And it does raise an important issue. At a certain point in life, the time for dudes to make friends with new dudes is basically over. Let's call that point Age 26. By then you either have a group of bro's that you're pretty set on, or you're so involved with a girl that your balls will slowly slide back up into your abdomen where they started from when you were born.