All The Shit I Said...

50 Shades…

It’s no surprise that 50 Shades of Grey would be turned into a movie. Hollywood sure loves it’s popular books. They seem to be a good bet. But as I’ve discussed with so many a fan, it will not be an easy road ahead of them.

Let me make one thing straight before I move forward with this. I have never read nor intended on reading the book. I have very little knowledge of the context of the book outside of what’s been spoofed, and read aloud by actors. I have a vague understanding of the characters and storyline. That said lets move on. What I do know is that it is a very graphic erotic novel which making this movie very difficult. There is no doubt in my mind that such a film would have a difficult time getting through the ratings board with less than NC-17. Which in Hollywood is as bad as being told to shelf the movie. An NC-17 rating would fairly limit the demographic of audience. Even though this book already has a slim demographic which seems to be women in their late 20’s to early 40s’. The profits of this film seem slim, but don’t quote me because I have been proven wrong on the taste of filmgoers before. Even if it does get made this film will be plagued with such hatred by fans of the book by how much will be left on the cutting room floor or how short scenes play out.

If context of scenes isn’t enough, this venture has been plagued by so many problems. Casting for this film should have been a breeze by most standards. We’ve been given a general idea of what these characters look like so an actor or two should have been already taken into account. But for some reason that doesn’t seem to be true. This isn’t Harry Potter where a whole group of kids had to be hired. What seems to be a bigger issue is that no big name is even interested in being part of this film adaptation. Could it be the context or is it just a bad career move.

Sometimes books just don’t adapt to films well. And let’s be honest an erotic novel is a totally different thing. It’s one thing when we read it because the images are in our head. What we create in our imagination is our own creation and many times that doesn’t match what’s on screen. Second graphic images are far more intense when they become live images. What seemed tamed on paper can get very out of hand on screen. Its incredible what a few camera angles and sound editing can do.

Let’s take a step back and focus all this. Is this movie worth the investment? Probably not, this book was a complete dice shoot and I truly believe Hollywood just fell into the hype machine. It’s a film that if it does get created really has to be some sort of art piece or even straight to cable film. For it to fully get the treatment it needs so much has to be thrown out the door and Hollywood just doesn’t play like that. Studios are in the business of making money. Films have to show some kind of return. The Twilight films knew that their market would eventually become saturated and old. So production of the films were done fairly quickly making 5 separate films in the span of 4 years. The time is ticking away of 50 shades and the profitability window is only getting smaller. I wish the filmmakers luck on this endevour.

• 7 Aug 2012

The Dark Knight Experience…

A few a months ago I thought of taking a day off and attending The Avengers Marathon. Unfortunately work did not permit it, seeing as I was way behind on my projects. Later in the year when I thought about The Dark Knight Rises I thought about how awesome it would be if they did a similar marathon for the trilogy. I thought about how it couldn’t have been a better time, work had slowed down and I had enough time to do it. I even went out to lunch with a friend of min whose a manager at a local theater. He told me that they were running the same marathon. He dug into his suit jacket and have me a pair of tickets to go. It was destiny. I was suppose to this. But like everything else the universe didn’t agree. I realized that I had to be into work early the Friday after and I just couldn’t take part.

When I woke that Friday it was similar to the morning of 9/11. I just couldn’t believe what had happen. What happen in Aurora was a tragedy and for the first time in my life the space I felt more like home had been violated. To say I didn’t feel fear to go a cinema was a lie. I was dead scared. I thought about skipping the cinema for a while but to do that I was giving up what I loved so much.

This past weekend I finally got my chance to watch The Dark Knight Rises. It was a phenomenal film but not fully the film I wanted to see. It did break into my top films of the year but not good enough to take the top place, which is still held by The Avengers, and only sits there because I can’t figure if it was truly better than Moonrise Kingdom. Anyway entering that theater was nerve racking this time I looked at the theater not by which seat is best for viewing but which might be the safest. I didn’t like that feeling. Though out the film I laughed I get my mind off all these people I didn’t know. I didn’t trust a single one of them. I kept looking at the side exit door and less of the screen. What made it worse was this dick that kept getting up through out the movie and coming in and out of the theater. He made me very uneasy. A month ago he’d be the dick I’d complain about. The guy that ruined movies, like those that text through out the film. I tired my best to ignore him. And though it was a normal screening which I enjoyed I realized it was not an easy experience. It will take me sometime to get back into that rhythm I had when entering a theater.

• 4 Aug 2012

Ghostbusters Without Bill Murray?

Is it possible that Ghostbusters 3 could be made without Bill Murray? An would it be good? Let’s think about it Bill Murray can be considered the star of the franchise. When you really look at the films its pretty obvious how he carries them. But this isn’t about replacing an actor. The films have so much dust on them at this point that no one would really notice the difference. And let’s be honest over the year Bill Murray has walked in a different comedic direction and it’s been working for him, so why go back to something you’ve already done?

I’m not sitting here saying we need a reboot. Because that’s the last thing we need and if the constant change in script is any sign this is obviously not a good movie. Why ruin a franchise that’s done well already? Ghostbusters 3 could easily become… Dare I say it? Kingdom of The Crystal Skull. And no one wants that.

If the script was any good and the idea well thought out, Bill Murray would be all over this film but none of that is there. He’s had so much critical acclaim in the last couple of years I seriously doubt he’d risk all that hard work to make a few bucks. But then I know few actors that have stooped that low.

Whether or not Ghostbusters 3 gets made it’s still not a film that I fully feel needs to be resurrected. Something’s just work at the time and capturing that moment again is difficult. Do you know what it would take to make a film like Citizen Kane today? Incredibly fucking hard! But I bet I could easily sell a sequel to it. Make some money and piss a few people off.

• 4 Aug 2012