QOTD: What characters from classic literature would you reboot, and how would you do it?
But don’t choose Oliver Twist, because Hollywood has already beat you to it…
Guy Ritchie
question of the day: Are classic pulp novels too dated to make faithful transfers to the big screen?
John Carter doesn’t work, but with some updating and shifts in emphasis, the Victorian Sherlock Holmes and War of the Worlds have made recent — and very successful — transfers to the big screen. Has entertainment moved on too much for popcorn crowds to care about classic pulp presented classically?
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (review)
Oh, glorious steampunk! Oh, glorious Victoriana! Oh, for a time when men were men (and not little boys) and industry meant hard work (and not corporate malfeasance) and optimism (and not despair) ruled the day. When the future was so bright, you hadda wear shades.
cinematic roots of: ‘Takers’
In *Takers,* a gang of elegant and mostly nonviolent bank robbers, led by stylin’ Brit Idris Elba, break one of the rules that has made them successful, and so risk getting caught by diligent cop Matt Dillon. This flick sprang from (among other films)…
Young Sherlock Holmes (review)
First thing the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes made me think? (Okay, second thing, after ‘Sexiest Holmes evah!’) ‘I have got to see Young Sherlock Holmes again.’
poor little rich movie stars, NetFlix and ‘Variety’ sued, God as a film critic: leftover links
Every week my browser gets cluttered up with tabs for stuff that I stumble across and figure I might be able to use as a Question of the Day or a WTF Thought for the Day or grist for some other post. And inevitably, I end the week with most of that material unused. But … more…
U.K. box office: ‘Avatar’ now biggest U.K. movie ever
And it’s nowhere near done yet: 1. Avatar: £4.3 million 2. The Princess and the Frog: £2.2 million (NEW in wide release) 3. Astro Boy: £1.09 million (NEW) 4. Invictus: £1.07 million (NEW) 5. Sherlock Holmes: £.78 million (actual numbers, not estimates) After last weekend, Avatar is now officially the biggest movie ever in the … more…
U.K. box office: some more about ‘Avatar’
Are you sick of hearing about Avatar yet? 1. Avatar: £4.9 million 2. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel: £1.195 million 3. Edge of Darkness: £1.172 (NEW) 4. Sherlock Holmes: £1.149 million 5. It’s Complicated: £.84 million (4th week; drops 26%) (actual numbers, not estimates) Avatar was down only six percent last weekend in the … more…
trailer break: ‘Sherlock Holmes’
Take a break from work: watch a trailer… In case you got confused and thought this was the Guy Ritchie movie, it isn’t. This is the Sherlock Holmes movie with dinosaurs. And robots. And steampunk battle armor. And sea monsters. And girls with guns. Well, that other Sherlock Holmes had girls with guns, too. Gee, … more…
question of the day: Who should play Moriarty in the inevitable ‘Sherlock Holmes’ sequel?
It’s no spoiler to note that Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes leaves open a space for a sequel so big that even Inspector LeStrade himself couldn’t miss it. And as reader Judy pointed out in comments on a semi related topic, this means we have to start thinking about who should play Holmes’ archenemy, should he … more…
