Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

The widget wasn’t working out for me, so here’s a direct link to the site:

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

Starring: Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible, Nathan Fillion as Captain Hammer, Felicia Day as Penny
Screenplay By: Joss Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jed Whedon, and Zack Whedon
Directed By: Joss Whedon
Produced By: David Burns, Michael Boretz, and Joss Whedon
Plot Outline: The story of a low-rent super-villain, the hero who keeps beating him up, and the cute girl from the laundromat he’s too shy to talk to.

Music by: Joss Whedon and Jed Whedon
Lyrics by: Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen
Score and Orchestration by: Jed Whedon

recipe for Doomsday (with posters!)

Neil Marshall’s simple recipe for

Doomsday:

Should we add some High Tension to the recipe? (click for trailer)

4 cups of 28 Days Later…
2 pounds of Mad Max
5 pints of Thunderdome
2 1/2 cups of District 13
fresh squeezed official* Rhona Mitra
2 tablespoons of Running Man
3 1/2 teaspoons of Resident Evil
4 ounces of Aliens
1/2 tablespoon of Equilibrium
1 teaspoon of V for Vendetta
1 small can of No Escape
some dried Abyss
1/2 ounce of Silent Hill
a dash of 300
3 teaspoons of Gladiator
1/4 teaspoon of Ultraviolet
a dollop of Judge Dredd
a dash of Tank Girl (optional)
a sprinkle of Underworld

Mix all of the futuristic elements in one bowl and all of the apocalyptic elements in another. Slowly fold the dystopic items into the futuristic mixture and carefully combine them all into one script, being careful not to add too much wirework. Drizzle the official Rhona Mitra (see below) throughout and be sure to throw in a gratuitous ass shot. Make sure plenty of the people involved have cool accents and then give it to Neil Marshall (the guy that wrote and directed Dog Soldiers and the Descent) and hopefully it will turn out to be half as good as either of those movies.
I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad one, but I’ve never seen a trailer that reminded me of so many other things. I have faith in the writer/director based on his previous projects though, so this film’s definitely going on my to-see list. Besides…Rhona Mitra looks like a girl that I could freshly squeeze watch for way, way longer than movies ever last.

Garnish with The Transporter and add some bikers from Weird Science to taste.

Serves millions.

*the official website of Rhona Mitra

edit:

Sci-Fi is the Rodney Dangerfield of the book world

a completely sci-fi idea: the FT (FemaleType) robot

I just encountered an interesting article (that has absolutely nothing to do with robots) by Clive Thompson on WIRED. He says: “If you want to read books that tackle profound philosophical questions, then the best — and perhaps only — place to turn these days is sci-fi. Science fiction is the last great literature of ideas.” I completely agree…and that’s probably why I’m such a huge fan of science fiction. It’s all about the ideas.

He also asks: “So, then, why does sci-fi, the inheritor of this intellectual tradition, get short shrift among serious adult readers?” …and that is a question I’ve thought about many times. (Mostly when I recommend some type of sci-fi story to a friend and they act like I just asked them to eat their own poop. The only thing I’ve encountered that gets less respect than science fiction is comic books. And sci-fi comics? I keep those to myself…some of you just aren’t ready for things like Dreadstar. At least not until someone makes a movie. Anyway, I digress.) I’m sure the pulp adolescence of science fiction doesn’t help it’s credibility, but it seems like somebody might have noticed that sci-fi authors think. And the readers do too.

The evidence is right here: Sci-Fi Is the Last Bastion of Philosophical Writing

edit 1-29-08:

I just finished reading Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card and in the afterword he mentions the term “junbungaku“, which apparently means “pure literature or belles lettres“. He then goes on to say:

“I do not believe the tools of science fiction are any less suitable to the task of creating junbungaku than the tools of contemporary serious literature, though of course we who wield the tools may fail to use them to best advantage.”

I completely agree…and that’s probably why I believe that science fiction is as equally valid as contemporary serious literature. We just need more great minds wielding those sci-fi tools. And the best way for that to happen is to remove the stigma on science fiction.

Jumper trailer and (new!) posters

I’ve liked every other Doug Liman movie that I’ve seen, so maybe this will be as cool as it looks. I guess anything is possible. Crap. I mean anywhere…wait, that doesn’t even make sense. And I’m a dork. Anyway, here are the posters and a link to the trailer:

Jumper HD trailer

So…which poster do you like better? It’s like modern Egypt vs. the Matrix with new Las Vegas.

 

Jumper by Steven Gould

Has anyone read Steven Gould’s book? It’s apparently one of the 100 most frequently challenged books of 1990-1999. (There’s a sequel too…in case the movie makes enough money.) I haven’t read it, but his other book Blind Waves was pretty darn cool and would probably make a great movie.

edit:

new foreign posters:

Blade Runner: the Final Cut

I’m so out of the loop that I just found out about the 25th anniversary Blade Runner plans by watching the trailer for Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner. (also: I think it’s particularly interesting that the unicorn clip is included on that page.)
Here’s some more info:

Blade Runner (Five-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition) (2007)

In celebration of Blade Runner’s 25th anniversary, director Ridley Scott has gone back into post production to create the long-awaited definitive new version. Blade Runner: The Final Cut, spectacularly restored and remastered from original elements and scanned at 4K resolution, will contain never-before-seen added/extended scenes, added lines, new and improved special effects, director and filmmaker commentary, an all-new 5.1 Dolby® Digital audio track and more. Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Edward James Olmos, Joanna Cassidy, Sean Young, and Daryl Hannah are among some 80 stars, filmmakers and others who participate in the extensive bonus features. Among the bonus material highlights is Dangerous Days, a brand new, three-and-a-half-hour documentary by award-winning DVD producer Charles de Lauzirika, with an extensive look into every aspect of the film: its literary genesis, its challenging production and its controversial legacy. The definitive documentary to accompany the definitive film version. The Ultimate Collector’s Edition will be presented in a unique 5-disc digi-package with handle which is a stylish version of Rick Deckard’s own briefcase. In addition, each briefcase will be individually numbered and in limited supply. Included is a lenticular motion film clip from the original feature, miniature origami unicorn figurine, miniature replica spinner car, and collector’s photographs, as well as a signed personal letter from Sir Ridley Scott.

Disc One
RIDLEY SCOTT’S ALL-NEW “FINAL CUT” VERSION OF THE FILM
Restored and remastered with added & extended scenes, added lines, new and cleaner special effects and all new 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio. Also includes:

• Commentary by Ridley Scott
• Commentary by executive producer/co-screenwriter Hampton Fancher and co-screenwriter David Peoples; producer Michael Deely and production executive Katherine Haber
• Commentary by visual futurist Syd Mead; production designer Lawrence G. Paull, art director David L. Snyder and special photographic effects supervisors Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich and David Dryer

Disc Two
DOCUMENTARY DANGEROUS DAYS: MAKING BLADE RUNNER
A feature-length authoritative documentary revealing all the elements that shaped this hugely influential cinema landmark. Cast, crew, critics and colleagues give a behind-the-scenes, in-depth look at the film — from its literary roots and inception through casting, production, visuals and special effects to its controversial legacy and place in Hollywood history.

Disc Three
1982 THEATRICAL VERSION
This is the version that introduced U.S. movie-going audiences to a revolutionary film with a new and excitingly provocative vision of the near-future. It contains Deckard/Harrison Ford’s character narration and has Deckard and Rachel’s (Sean Young) “happy ending” escape scene.

1982 INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Also used on U.S. home video, laserdisc and cable releases up to 1992. This version is not rated, and contains some extended action scenes in contrast to the Theatrical Version.

1992 DIRECTOR’S CUT
The Director’s Cut omits Deckard’s voiceover narration and removes the “happy ending” finale. It adds the famously-controversial “unicorn” sequence, a vision that Deckard has which suggests that he, too, may be a replicant.

Disc Four
BONUS DISC – “Enhancement Archive”: 90 minutes of deleted footage and rare or never-before-seen items in featurettes and galleries that cover the film’s amazing history, production teams, special effects, impact on society, promotional trailers, TV spots, and much more.

• Featurette “The Electric Dreamer: Remembering Philip K. Dick”
• Featurette “Sacrificial Sheep: The Novel vs. The Film”
• Philip K. Dick: The Blade Runner Interviews (audio)
• Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Cover Gallery (images)
• The Art of Blade Runner (image galleries)
• Featurette “Signs of the Times: Graphic Design”
• Featurette “Fashion Forward: Wardrobe & Styling”
• Screen Tests: Rachel & Pris
• Featurette “The Light That Burns: Remembering Jordan Cronenweth”
• Unit photography gallery
• Deleted and alternate scenes
• 1982 promotional featurettes
• Trailers and TV spots
• Featurette “Promoting Dystopia: Rendering the Poster Art”
• Marketing and merchandise gallery (images)
• Featurette “Deck-A-Rep: The True Nature of Rick Deckard”
• Featurette “–Nexus Generation: Fans & Filmmakers”

Disc Five
WORKPRINT VERSION
This rare version of the film is considered by some to be the most radically different of all the Blade Runner cuts. It includes an altered opening scene, no Deckard narration until the final scenes, no “unicorn” sequence, no Deckard/Rachel “happy ending,” altered lines between Batty (Rutger Hauer) and his creator Tyrell (Joe Turkell), alternate music and much more. Also includes:

• Commentary by Paul M. Sammon, author of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner
• Featurette “All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut”

The above information is copied directly from: Blade Runner (Five-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition) (2007). (I hope it’s correct.)

Gatchaman update

Gatchaman | Battle of the Planets | G-Force

Here are my 2 favorite pieces of production art from the new Gatchaman movie:
yummy sci-fi outer space goodness.

I hope those walker things in the distance don’t look anything like AT-ATs.

Ain’t it Cool News has more to say about it than me…and they’ve got more pictures. I would, however, like to point one thing out: Tom Gray (the producer) said, “Yeah, and this is one we’re going PG-13 definitely. This is our – we put it on the pants on this one. This is going to be a very interesting film and even maybe pushing R.” …so that means it’s going to be a heavy PG-13 at the very least, but I’m hoping it means they might even go for an R rating. Because that would be very, very cool.