Category: film

The New York Times Magazine examines how the DVD sell-through concept has altered how studios make money, decide which films to greenlight, and plan their marketing campaigns. Why?

From about 2002 on, the larger stakes in Hollywood — the revenue that enables studios to finance blockbusters and to pay Brad Pitt and to keep the lights on — have come to ride mostly on those little silver discs that go on sale four or five months after a theatrical release. This year, for instance, 63 percent of studio feature-film revenues in the United States will come from movies sold to retail stores; actual box office will generate only 21 percent. According to Tom Adams, a well-regarded home-entertainment analyst whose firm, Adams Media Research, tracks DVD sales and trends, studios often get twice as much revenue from a big film’s retail sales as they do from its theatrical release.

Personally, I think the positives outweigh the negatives. It’s a lot harder for a film to get buried these days. However, I love the theatrical experience, and I think we should hang onto that as long as we can. But I suspect that as digital projection takes off, the days of the widespread use of (expensive) celluloid are numbered.

Sci-Fi Wire talks to Joss Whedon and Nathan Fillion about Serenity. And last but certainly not least, Filmforce’s set visit.

Jerry Bruckheimer talks Pirates sequel, dispels Keith Richards and subtitle rumors.

The offical site for Jennifer Garner’s Elektra movie is up. IESB has publicity stills.

Colin Farrell isn’t going to be 007, and doesn’t want to. Good. Give it to Jude Law already!

A Simpson’s movie? Erm… okay.

And finally, a new Narnia poster and a first look at Spielberg’s War Of The Worlds.

Not your mother’s Willy Wonka.

The New Yorker has a great article on the history and evolution of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. It might not be great literature, but who hasn’t read a few?

While millions of Star Wars fans around the world torment themselves trying to decide whether or not to visit TFN for the Ep3 review, there is other movie news afoot.

Yes, Hollywood again decides to go for the tried and true by doing yet another remake of The Blob.

We can all sleep better, now.

First off… Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor? DUDE.

Rumor mill says there are several candidates up for Lois Lane in the new Superman Movie:

Meanwhile, Cinescape says the following six actresses are being considered for the role of Lois Lane: Mischa Barton from “The O.C.”, Charisma Charpenter from “Angel,” Mia Kirshner from “The Crow: City of Angels,” Evangeline Lilly from “Lost,” Natalie Portman from the “Star Wars” prequels, and Keri Russell from “Felicity”.

Right off… Natalie Portman? No: she’s just too ladylike for Lois. She lacks the… well. Balls. Lois needs a harder edge, more brass. Hell, most of the girls up there are a little lacking. (Mischa Barton? WTF?) Charisma Charpenter can snark with the best of them, but certainly there’s more than one mouthy brunette in Hollywood? Hell, Smallville found one.

What do you folks think?