Hollywood Hills

There’s going to be a Yogi Bear movie?

Branden — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:05:39 +0000

Really? Aren’t the people who actually ever watched the Yogi Bear cartoons like 80 or dead? I don’t recall Yogi Bear cartoons ever really being a staple when I was a kid in the 80s. I think you could maybe find it randomly, but no one watched it. Nor have they since.

But apparently Warner Brothers has decided it’s a good idea to make a live-action version. And to make things more interesting Anna Farris and Justin Timberlake are in talks to star. Oh, and maybe Dan Aykroyd will voice Yogi.

I’m this close to sending Hollywood my optomotrist bill from the damage done to my eyes from all the eye rolling I’ve done lately.

This content is copyrighted by Hollywood Hills.

---
Related Articles at Hollywood Hills:

‘True Blood’ drink review: I’d rather drink blood

Branden — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:27:10 +0000

HBO was nice enough to send me a bottle of Tru Blood, the drink based on the one in the hit cable series “True Blood.” First, I have to say the bottle is awesome. It looks just like the one on the show. And it even says that it’s O Positive flavor. I’m seriously never throwing the bottle away.

As for the drink itself … not so exciting. The blood orange flavor tastes more like flat Orange Crush with Smarties candies crushed up in it. I really wanted to like the drink. I really didn’t want to give it a bad review. But the bitter taste in my mouth after taking a drink told me otherwise.

For months now, our initial Tru Blood drink story has topped the charts for page views. People have been dying to get their hands on a bottle from a store near them. HBO initially said the drinks would be available in stores, but they’ve yet to show up. You can still order them online, but who really wants to do that? My advice would be, don’t buy them to drink. Buy ONE (if that’s even possible) as a novelty.

Bill Compton wouldn’t stand for such impure flavors and neither can I.

This content is copyrighted by Hollywood Hills.

---
Related Articles at Hollywood Hills:

Robert Pattinson movie has same name as gay porn company

Branden — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:13:09 +0000

It’s been reported that Robert Pattinson has signed on for “Bel Ami,” a biopic about 19th Century French writer Guy de Maupassant. What makes me laugh is Bel Ami is also a popular gay porn company (it even comes in at No. 2 in a google search). And don’t ask me how I know! I hope someone gets confused and says “Robert Pattinson is doing Bel Ami!” in a gay chat room. There will be pandemonium.

I know most people won’t think of the porn company when they first see the word Bel Ami, but some will. And that’s enough to make me laugh.

This content is copyrighted by Hollywood Hills.

---
Related Articles at Hollywood Hills:

Guttenberg: ‘Three Men and a Baby’ sequel coming

Branden — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:56:11 +0000

Ever wonder what ever happened to those wacky (were they gay too? I can’t remember) dads and the daughter after the two “Three Men and a Little Baby” movies?

Yeah, me either. But if you for some reason decide that after 19 years, you might be a little curious, you might be able to find out. Steve Guttenberg tells WENN that Disney is developing a sequel titled “Three Men and a Bride.” Guttenberg is very excited about this because he hasn’t worked in a while. “That’s going to be a smash. A smash hit,” he said. ”They’re bringing everybody back for that. Nobody knows about it. I’m the first to talk about it.”

So Guttenberg, Ted Danson and Tom Selleck are coming back. What about the little girl? I doubt she stayed in acting. And what about the ghost kid. Is he coming back too? I’m guessing he’ll still be a ghost since ghosts don’t age. Holy crap, now I’m excited.

In other Guttenberg news, he also thinks another round “Police Academy” and “Cocoon” should happen. Bad news, Gute, most of the old people in “Cocoon” are dead. If they rush it, they could still get Wilford Brimley (and no he’s not dead! That’s an urban legend).

This content is copyrighted by Hollywood Hills.

---
Related Articles at Hollywood Hills:

31 Great Horror Movies: ‘Halloween’ (1978)

Branden — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:20:41 +0000

In 1978 John Carpenter put together a little movie with a little budget called “Halloween.” That little movie exploded at the box office and is still THE staple for Halloween movies today. And, needless to say, it’s my favorite horror movie and the No. 1 spot in our 31 Days of Horror list.

“Halloween” opens in Haddonfield, Illinois, on Halloween night. Little Michael Myers snaps and kills his older sister in her bedroom. And evil is born. The movie then cuts to “present day” Haddonfield where a now-grown Michael Myers has escaped from the Smith’s Grove Sanitarium. The following day is Halloween, the night He came home.

Michael goes on a mission to find and eliminate his other sister, Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis). At this point, no one knows she’s his sister. As far as we know, he’s just a maniac thirsty for blood. And those kind make the best movie slasher. No motive. Just pure psycho.

Laurie and her friends are attacked by Michael on Halloween night. Laurie, with the help of Michael’s doctor Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence) survives. But so does Michael. And he’s gone. He will return later that night in “Halloween II” and continue stalking Laurie. But that’s another movie, another time.

The genius in “Halloween” is that it’s subtle, but still scary as Hell. There’s very little blood. The body count is low. But Michael Myers managers to keep your heart pumping. Adorning only a spray-painted William Shatner mask and some overalls, his weapon of choice is a butcher knife. You can’t get much simpler than that. Or scarier.

After you add in Carpenter’s spine-tingling score, you have a movie worthy of anyone’s library. It’s never been bested (no, not even by you Rob Zombie) or even matched. It’s a classic. And it’s our No. 1.

“Halloween” 1978

Memorable Quotes: Laurie: “It was the Boogie Man.” Loomis: “As a matter of fact, it was.”

Best Scene: It’s easily Bob’s death. That puppy-dog head tilt at the end of the scene is priceless:

Did You Know? John Carpenter named a lot of the characters after real people or other movie characters. Laurie Strode was his first girlfriend. Tommy Doyle’s name was from Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” and Sam Loomis’ name is from “Psycho.” The name of the sheriff is “Leigh Brackett”. Leigh Brackett was also the name of the screenwriter of Howard Hawks’ classic “Rio Bravo”, which was the inspiration for Carpenter’s previous film, “Assault on Precinct 13.” Michael Myers was named after the European distributor of “Assault on Precinct 13″ as a kind of weird “thank you” for the film’s overseas success.

See the rest of the 31 Great Horror Movies.

---
Related Articles at Hollywood Hills:

31 Great Horror Movies: ‘28 Days Later’

Branden — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:35:48 +0000

I have a feeling a lot of people might not agree with me putting such a current movie this high on our 31 Great Horror Movies list. But I have a great defense. As a life-long horror movie fan, I’ve always had to rely on horror movies that were always around, many made even before I was born. I could no longer be scared by a movie. I could appreciate them, but couldn’t be scared by them.

Then “28 Days Later” came out. And it scared the hell out of me.

So that instantly became one of my personal new classics. Not only did it scare me, but I was actually able to believe it. It’s the only zombie/apocalyptic movie I’ve ever seen. Every detail of how this outbreak happened was explained. And explained well.

Backing up, “28 Days Later” tells the story of a “virus” that has broken out in London. The virus is called “Rage” and its symptoms are like nothing we’ve ever seen. The change is instant. The eyes turn red. You spit blood everywhere. You’re an absolute maniac.

Twenty-eight days later, most of the population is dead or also infected with Rage. An bike courier named Jim (Cillian Murphy), who was injured more than 28 days ago, wakes up in a deserted hospital. He has no idea what has been happening. He wanders out into the empty London streets where he sees trash in the streets, burned out cars and no one else in sight. Except for rabid zombies. And they’re coming at him fast — far faster than previous zombies we’ve seen.

Following other zombie film formulas, Jim runs into other survivors and together they fight to stay alive. But again, there’s just something better about all of this.

Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle’s use of digital video ads an extra layer of something new for us. The shots are jagged and raw, which makes the zombies even more scary. Boyle’s genius really shines in this film. “Slumdog Millionaire” what?

Watch this movie. Now. The mood is just right.

“28 Days Later” 2002

Memorable Quote: “Have you got any plans, Jim? Do you want us to find a cure and save the world or just fall in love and f***? Plans are pointless. Staying alive’s as good as it gets.”

Best Scene: The emotion in this scene is ridiculous (in a good way):

Did You Know? The ‘design’ for the symptoms of Rage was based on Ebola, which is communicable in all primates (including humans), and is transmitted through the blood. Ebola is a hemorrhagic fever which leads to a rash, red eyes and both internal and external bleeding.

See the rest of the 31 Great Horror Movies.

This content is copyrighted by Hollywood Hills.

---
Related Articles at Hollywood Hills:

31 Great Horror Movies: ‘The Silence of the Lambs’

Branden — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:53:02 +0000

In 1991, “The Silence of the Lambs” did what no other horror film had done. It won the three major Academy Awards – Best Actress Jodie Foster, Best Actor Anthony Hopkins and Best Picture. The movie deserved every bit of it.

The third movie based loosely on the cannibalistic murder Ed Gein, “The Silence of the Lambs” tells the story of FBI agent Clarice Starling (Foster). She’s on the hunt for a killer named Buffalo Bill by the media. He earned that name because he skins his victims. Seeking answers, she goes to get some advice from convicted killer and cannibal, Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins).

Lecter doesn’t quite come through, as he spends most of Clarice’’s time messing with her head. Some of the movie’s best scenes are between the two of them. What makes that worth mentioning is that nothing horror-movie like happens during their scenes. The movie switches to a psychological mind f***.

Cut back to Buffalo Bill. His actions are what makes up most of the horror aspects of the movie. He has captured his next victim and is keeping her in a hole in his basement. He’s starving her so that when he skins her, it will be loose enough to wear. She is to be the latest contribution to his woman suit. Bill is one creepy killer.

Eventually, Lecter tricks the FBI into transferring him so he can manage his escape. Just as Bill is caught, Lecter escapes. One killer is caught, while a (perhaps) more dangerous one is free.

Hopkins is surely the star of the movie. He is absolutely amazing as the genius psychopath. Foster plays well off him as the vulnerable, yet determined young agent.

“The Silence of the Lambs” 1991

Memorable Quote: Avoiding the obvious, I’m going with “It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.”

Best Scene: To accompany the best quote:

Did You Know? The movie is not only based on Ed Gein’s story. It’s also based on killers Ted Bundy and Gary Heidnick.

See the rest of the 31 Great Horror Movies.

This content is copyrighted by Hollywood Hills.

---
Related Articles at Hollywood Hills:

31 Great Horror Movies: ‘Psycho’

Branden — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:37:14 +0000

Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” is the second movie on the list that was inspired by real cannibal Ed Gein. Norman Bates is actually based loosely on Gein. Of course Norman only wore women’s clothing. Gein wore women’s skin.

Norman Bates is a real mamma’s boy. So much so that he’s still under her control even though she’s been dead for years. Her control leads him to murder. The first victim in the movie dies in one of the most famous movie scenes in history. Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) made the mistake of stopping by the Bates Motel. Her second mistake was taking a shower. Norman, dressed like mother, stabs her to death in the shower. It’s the scene we all know.

“Psycho” isn’t necessarily jumpy scary to modern audiences (but you can bet it was in 1960). What makes it a great movie is Anthony Perkins‘ performance of Bates and Hitchcock’s directing job. Perkins is perfect. He’s this odd mixture of handsome, innocent and crazy. It’s hard to imagine that such a soft-spoken man can really be a monster.

Hitchcock was meticulous with every scene. From character closeups to camera angles, the work is pure genius.

“Psycho” 1960

Memorable Quote: “We all go a little mad sometimes.”

Best Scene: The only obvious choice:

Did You Know? “Psycho” was the first American film ever to show a toilet flushing on screen.

See the rest of the 31 Great Horror Movies.

This content is copyrighted by Hollywood Hills.

---
Related Articles at Hollywood Hills:

31 Great Horror Movies: ‘Alien’

Branden — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:17:16 +0000

Finally. The Top 5. “Alien” makes it to No. 5 because of its innovation (at the time) and it’s stomach-turning gore. In 1979, no movie had done what “Alien” did. It took the basic stalking/slasher story and sent it to space. We have a group of people on a ship who have to make a stop on a random planet to check out an S.O.S.

During their stop, one of them is attacked by an alien. Said alien attaches itself it his face. The face hugger eventually releases itself and the crew member is fine and dandy. For a little while at least. It turns out the alien impregnated the poor guy and he is about to give birth (through a bloody explosion of the chest).

Out comes a tiny little alien, but it scurries away even before the umbilical cord can be cut. The human host is dead and the rest of the crew decide to hunt down the little creature before it can cause any more harm. The plan sounds a lot easier than it is. One by one, the crew members are stalked and eliminated while the alien grows at a rapid pace.

Finally, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) has been distinguished as the surprise lone survivor. She takes out the alien and escapes.

“Alien” is the quintessential movie for a lot of sci-fi horror fans. Even though I have a ton of respect for the movie, I could never put it in any No. 1 spot. It’s terribly dated and that ridiculously phony-looking scene with the talking robot head almost ruins the entire movie’s credibility. That all being said, it’s still a very scary movie. Director Ridley Scott achieves a lot by confusing the viewer. We never know exactly what’s going but there’s little time for that. Our minds are scrambled and vulnerable and then before we know it, there’s an alien mutilating someone else.

“Alien” 1979

Memorable Quote: “I admire its purity. A survivor… unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.”

Best Scene: No surprise choice here:

Did You Know? The original title was “Star Beast”.

See the rest of the 31 Great Horror Movies.

This content is copyrighted by Hollywood Hills.

---
Related Articles at Hollywood Hills:

‘Tron Legacy’ poster defines simplicity

Branden — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:16:11 +0000

The “Tron Legacy” poster looks like it took about three minutes to design. I know we still have eight months for better-designed posters to surface, but this isn’t even a teaser poster. It’s just lazy. And if “it’s not just a game anymore,” then why use a symbol from the game? Those silly Hollywood people.

This content is copyrighted by Hollywood Hills.

---
Related Articles at Hollywood Hills: