Screen Time

I was sitting on the couch a few nights ago, barely awake and flipping through the channels. I was looking forward to dozing off with the TV on while my wife finished some work on the laptop. Then Rocky Balboa ruined my plans.

TNT, AMC or some such network was airing “Rocky II,” Sylvestor Stallone’s first entry as a director (after writing the 1976 original) in the Rocky series. I caught it at the scene where ol’ Rock, six months after his buzzed-about match with Apollo Creed as depicted in the first flick, was turning down a handout from that wiseass Paulie. I was hooked.

I’d seen “Rocky II” before, but that was a long, long time ago. The Rocky that I remembered for most of my life was the champion in red, white and blue trunks who beat the crap outta that big, chemically-enhanced Russian in “Rocky IV,” not this sad and beaten bum from “Rocky II.” As the movie progressed, I fell in love with this franchise all over again. I’m aware that Stallone never really matched that special, gritty fairytale feeling of the first two Rocky movies, and on some day’s I’ll even agree with those who say that the rest of the Rocky movies were kinda crap. But not today. Today I’ll admit that I love Rocky Balboa and I love this movie franchise.

With Rocky Balboa, Stallone created an incredibly noble, humble and loveable character that became an American icon. For some people, the name Rocky Balboa might conjure up sounds of a slow and low drawl (”UhhhYoooAdriuhn!”), images of a bent lip or some regrettable 80s pop movimeaking conventions (damn you Survivor), but not for me. When I think of Rocky Balboa, I think of a hero. He’s a bruised, imperfect and powerful symbol of integrity and heart that I’ve yet to see bested in any other modern movie franchise.

Stallone is glorious in the original, in “Rocky II” and in “Rocky Balboa,” the final downbeat installment of the series. The other three installments do tend to dip into self-parody, but there’s still some great stuff there that’s often overlooked. What follows are a few of my favorite quieter moments in the life of Rocky Balboa.

- The heart-to-heart with Mickey (Burgess Meredith), “Rocky”
Rocky’s hard-ass trainer breaks down, shows his softer side and tells Rocky he loves him. It’s a great, classic scene with one noble bum trying to make a better life for another.

- Rocky kisses Adrian (Talia Shire), “Rocky”
For my money, this is one of the most tender and most romantic scenes in movie history. Rocky naively announces his love for the shy Adrian, and boy does she love him back.

- Rocky’s argument with Adrian, “Rocky II”
Rock’s overprotective wife, and a bum left eye, won’t let him do what he does best — fight. Rock strikes back with the calm, assertive and surprising argument, “Why can’t you let me be a man? I’m not asking you not to be a woman.”

- The final goodbye, “Rocky Balboa”
After his last day of glory, Rocky visits Adrian’s grave. He leans in and says “You know I couldn’t have done nothing without you… Yo Adrian we did it… We did it.” Rock walks off ready to grow old and knowing, somehow, that his dead wife couldn’t be happier for him.
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Photo courtesy MGM

Mulder and Scully will reunite for some paranormal investigating - and some deadpan romantic tension - for a second “X-Files” movie, reports SyFy Portal. Twentieth Century Fox announced that the flick is in pre-production and will hit theaters July 25, 2008.

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are attached to reprise their roles from the series and the original 1998 movie. Series creator Chris Carter is attached to direct. The report states that the sequel will not be a direct continuation of the last movie. Instead it will be more like one of the self-contained mystery episodes of the series and that it will take Mulder and Scully’s relationship in “unexpected directions.”

“Unexpected directions?” I stopped watching this show after Duchovny bailed and the T-1000 took over. Still, I’m excited about this sequel. At its peak, “The X-Files” was one of the best things on TV, and the first movie was a lot of fun.
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Photo courtesy Twentieth Century Fox

Trying to get the facts straight about the proposed Justice League movie is like trying to give Superman a noogie. It’s hard. Really hard. And minus some kryptonite knuckles, it aint gonna happen anytime soon. That’s why I haven’t been posting about every JL rumor - and there have been tons - that hits the Web here.

So far, a number of online reports state that “Happy Feet” director George Miller will direct the upcoming ensemble superhero flick. From there the questions only multiply, and I haven’t heard any real answers from Warner Bros., the studio reportedly committed to the project.

So far, a number of young actors have been screen tested for the thing, but it’s still unclear whether this will be a live action movie, a complete CGI fest, or a combination of the two, like “300.” Also, will this movie diverge from the current “Superman Returns” and “Batman Begins” franchises? Is the short, blond and very un-Amazonian Teresa Palmer going to play Wonder Woman? Does the script feature a violent showdown between Superman and Batman? … Like I said, the questions go on and on.

Here’s from The Hollywood Reporter’s latest report about the casting process:

Miller is seeing about four or five actors for the parts of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern and the Martian Manhunter, with a few overlaps …

On the roll call are Adam Brody (Fox’s “The O.C.”), Joseph Cross (”Running With Scissors”), D.J. Cotrona (”Windfall”), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (”Grindhouse”), Michael Angarano (”Sky High”), Teresa Palmer (”Wolf Creek”), Max Thieriot (”Jumper”) and rapper Common.

The cast of NBC’s “Friday Night Lights” is well-represented as well, with Minka Kelly, Adrianne Palicki and Scott Porter also among those testing for parts.

So, a teeny bopper Justice League? I really hope it’s a cartoon.
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Photo courtesy Cartoon Network

Yuck. That’s one ugly baby up there. Will you pay seven bucks to see that on the big screen, along with the last death pangs of two formerly awesome franchises? Yeah, me neither.

USAToday.com just posted that pic of the alien/predator hybrid monster from the upcoming “Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem,“ the unnecessary sequel to the unnecessarily bad 2004 flick “Alien vs. Predator.”

The USA Today story says the filmmakers want to make “Requiem” a darker flick and are taking inspiration from Ridley Scott’s 1979 original “Alien.” I like the sound of that, but I don’t like the look or the idea of ol’ dreads up there. He looks like he should be playing bass for Slipknot.
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Photo courtesy 20th Century Fox

A new Terminator movie without Gov. Schwarzenegger? It looks like it might happen.

Variety and The AP are reporting that a fourth Terminator flick will most likely hit screens in 2009. The working title for the movie is “Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins,“ and it will take place in the future (der) where humans are battling evil Skynet robots. Warner Bros. hopes to launch another Terminator movie trilogy with this thing.

“Terminator 3″ exec. producer Moritz Borman says it is unlikely that The Governator will reprise his role in part four, since he’s kinda busy running California and terminating “tha special interests” in that state.

I love the Terminator franchise (I even liked “Rise of the Machines” almost as much as the first two) but making another one without Arnold is strike number one for me. Here’s strike number two: The AP reports that “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” director McG is the front runner to helm the new project. McG? He of the joyless, empty thrills and pointless, bloodless action spoofs? Why?

Anyone out there excited about this news?

Well, if you can’t wait two years to get your Terminator fix, you can watch “The Sarah Connor Chronicles” on Fox, debuting Jan. 14.
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Photo courtesy Warner Bros.

Seriously. Did anyone out there really think that back in 2004, when the original “Saw” was released, that we’d be expecting “Saw IV” to hit theaters this Friday? Plus, it’s been reported that “Saw V” and “Saw VI” are on the way, making the awkward catchphrase “If it’s Halloween, it must be ‘Saw’” true, at least until 2010.

I’m no big fan of the torture movie genre, especially the “Saw” series, but I know a lot of people are. (How else could they justify making five theatrical sequels in almost as many years?) Anyway, “Saw” buffs can catch a video interview with director Darren Lynn Bousman here. Also, Movieweb just posted a long interview with star Tobin Bell, aka Jigsaw, and don’t forget about the new and gross “Saw IV” red band trailer here. It features the line “Just lean forward into the knives … with your face.” Enjoy it, but make sure you’re not having lunch while you watch it.
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Photo courtesy Lionsgate

News of a Hulk movie franchise reboot hit the Web last year (expect to see Edward Norton turning green in 2008). Now comes news that Marvel’s Spider-Man might look and feel a lot different when he returns to the big screen.

Sam Raimi, director of all three Spider-Man flicks, told MTV this week that the upcoming “Spider-Man 4″ will be a “fresh take” on the series. MTV reports that the “fresh take” on “Spidey 4″ might mean that the story will diverge from and contradict plot details from the first three movies, adding weight to reboot rumors.

Raimi said he won’t write the fourth flick, and it sounds like he’s not interested in directing it. He says he’s happy letting a new writer take over while he produces and that he’s adopting a “hands off” approach to crafting the story. A new writer is being sought for the fourth Spidey flick, since Marvel has parted ways with original “Spider-Man 4″ writer David Koepp, who also wrote the first movie.

On the bright side, Raimi mentions that he might be up for helming another “Evil Dead” movie, he’s ruling out a “Venom” movie and he won’t make “The Hobbit” unless he gets Peter Jackson’s blessing. All good things.

So, what will a possible Spidey reboot look like? Will we get a new cast to match the new creative team? Will Tobey Maguire and crew return if Raimi isn’t in charge? I kinda like the idea of a new direction for this franchise, but I really love the first three flicks. I just hope we don’t get something that should go straight to DVD.
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Photo courtesy Columbia Pictures