Screen Junkies » the fly

7 Movie Romances That Will Make You Glad To Be Alone On Valentine’s Day

Penn Collins — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:00:20 +0000

Today’s Valentines Day, which should be a day about the celebration of love, but mostly, it just makes people crazy and insecure. In an effort to give everyone a little boost and hope, we thought we’d share with our dear readers an in-exhaustive rundown of some of Hollywood’s least conventional romances.

Note, not all of these pairings have the happiest outcomes, so we recommend that you consume this list with a lot of alcohol to dull the crushing pain of love down to a mere pinch.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

Luke and Leia – Star Wars

She ended up with Han Solo, but this brother and sister did have their moment. Granted, they weren’t aware of the fact that they were related, but that’s why you always do your due diligence. It’s not out of line to ask for a family tree or a potential suitor’s login ID and password to Ancestry.com.

So, no matter how poorly your Valentines Day is going, you can always say to yourself, “At least I’m not carrying on a romantic relationship with my sibling.”

Actually, I misspoke. You can’t always say that if you’re actually having a relationship with your sibling.

Harold and Maude – Harold and Maude

May-November romances are one thing, but Harold and Maude were carrying on an early-January-late December romances in this 1971 dark, dark comedy. While the age gap is the most notable oddity in their relationship, upon becoming familiar with the characters, the strangest aspect is actually that these two people are complete weirdos and probably deserve each other.

Harold is obsessed with death, making him a natural fit for Maude, who resides at death’s door at the age of 79. For those thinking that this might be a quirky film to enjoy tonight, let me divulge that (spoiler alert) Maude kills herself at the end of the film.

So maybe you should go see The Vow instead.

Fox Swats Down David Cronenberg’s ‘The Fly’ Sequel

Jame Gumb — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:44:58 +0000

I’ve got some “buzz”-kill news for fans of David Cronenberg and, or Musca domestica. Those maggots at Fox have passed on the famed director’s followup script for his 1980′s horror masterpiece, The Fly, a move which leaves a shitty taste in my mouth. I could make fly jokes all day, but I’d get fired.

“I wrote a script and at the moment Fox is not wanting to do the project,” said Cronenberg, who reportedly finished writing the screenplay last month. In the interview, Cronenberg also stated that he may turn his attention to Eastern Promises 2, so at least there’s a silver lining.

Perhaps the studio is apprehensive about putting millions of dollars into a movie about household pests. But I find that hard to believe, since Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwreched had no problem getting a green light. Are rodents really preferable to insects?

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9 Film Remakes That Were Surprisingly Awesome

Archibald Bayou III — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:34:43 +0000

The remake of the Sam Peckinpah classic Straw Dogs hit theaters over the weekend, and while response was mixed, some high profile critics (including Rodger Ebert) were very supportive of the film. It’s no surprise why film remakes get bashed. Many viewers are sick of seeing their favorite movies cannibalized for the next generation, while others are tired of Hollywood re-using its old ideas instead of backing new concepts. But remakes aren’t always a bad thing. Consider this list of classics, old and new, that were themselves remakes. They say the exception goes to prove the rule, but I’m glad these nine awesome exceptions were given a shot.

1. The Fly

David Cronenberg‘s 1986 horror masterpiece drew its origins from the 1958 cult classic starring Vincent Price. Making use of (then) modern special effects techniques, the movie offers a chilling commentary about the dangers of unchecked scientific progress in a way the original never could. It also made me throw up when I was eight-years old!

2. Cape Fear

The original Cape Fear, staring Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum, was a striking thriller for its time. But when Martin Scorsese took on the material thirty years later, he crafted a violent and chilling morality play, brutalizing the characters-and the audience-in a way early 1960′s film censorship boards would never allow. Plus, we got that awesome meme of DeNiro laughing maniacally in a movie theater, and that has only changed our world for the better.

3. Ocean’s Eleven

I don’t think I’m killing a sacred cow by saying that the original Ocean’s 11 was not a great film. It was mostly an excuse for Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack to hang out in Vegas, get loaded, and call it a movie. But the concept was solid, and director Steven Soderbergh knocked that concept out of the park, crafting the ultimate heist movie and starting the redemption of George Clooney after the debacle that was Batman & Robin. Then the cast made Ocean’s 12, which was mostly an excuse for them to hang out in Europe, get loaded and call it a sequel. Oh well.