Film: Do you understand the words comin’ outta my mouth?

Jackie Chan made news at the geeky film sites earlier in the week with a statement that he is looking to do another film project with Chris Tucker.  The new project would not be another “Rush Hour” movie, because Chan says he did not like how much time it took in between the films to get another one started.

So what does this mean?

1) It is 2008, and there is somebody in the mainstream film industry that actually WANTS to work with Chris Tucker.

2) If Chan’s complaint about the times in between films rings true, we could see a lot of Chan-Tucker action in a short period of time.

This kinda irks me.  First, I first became aware of Tucker approximately 10 years ago in the first “Rush Hour” movie, and he has yet to do anything that has even made me laugh.  If Jackie Chan wanted to work with Chris Rock, why doesn’t he just work with Chris Rock?

Secondly, Jackie Chan needs to be way more discerning and self-aware when choosing films to make.  He’s getting way up in age, so he can’t do the straight-out, self-sacrificing action movies he did in the 80’s and into the 90’s.

But at the same time, he’s Jackie Chan!  He could have his pick of any costar in Hollywood, in any movie he’d want, and he keeps choosing costars like Tucker and Jennifer Love Hewitt, and movies like “The Tuxedo,” and “Around the World in 80 Days?”

I mean, I may sound biased, but I would be more inclined to get behind this initiative if ANY of the Rush Hour films were any good.  As far as I’m concerned, that was three strikes Chan and Tucker are out.

Personally, I would vote for Jackie Chan and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to team up for a movie.  If you were to get a competent young director to do it (Read: NOT RUSH HOUR’S BRETT RATNER), you could have one of the best buddy-cop style movies of recent memory.  I say Bryan Singer directing and Willem Dafoe as the bad guy, and you’ve got gold, Jerry, gold!

Drag Queens Invaded My Closet

Last night I had the opportunity to attend the drag show hosted by the Office of Gay and Lesbian Programs. Not ever going to a drag show, it was probably one of the most entertaining experiences I’ve had. The emcee Sabin was the highlight of the show with her raunchy language and audience interaction.

But of course I have to make this about the fashion which was everything I expected and then some. Flashy one pieces and rear riding dresses accessorized with master bling…tres chic!

It did give me some inspiration for my own wardrobe. Not to say you will see me coming to class in a spandex leotard and corset (although not far from what I see at the bar sometimes), but I do believe we need to take more chances when it comes to what’s in out closet. Maybe instead of just wearing a monotonous sweater, dress it up with a flashy piece of jewelry or wear a pair of funky tights under a dull dress.

I also believe women can learn a lot from drag queens. Sometimes we focus to much on our flaws and forget to flaunt our assets (disclaimer: do not show up to class in bar clothes). Be proud you have freedom of fashion! Peace all~Ashley Barlow

We Heart You!

It is now time to shake the dust out of those pretty little frocks you wore all last spring…finally! Yet, it still seems a little chilly to go totally bare legged. Thankfully fanciful tights are all the rage this season. 

While looking for the perfect patterned tights to spruce up my wardrobe, I came across a great sight called We Love Colors. Anything you need from fishnets to knee highs can be found here in all their 45 colors. If you are looking for something fresh to peek from your ordinary dress hem, look no further than this site. 

Typically I am pathetically loyal to American Apparel but lately my wallet thinks otherwise. At We Love Colors, everything is from $14 to $16! 

Hope you enjoy!!! Happy Spring! -Ashley Barlow

www.welovecolors.com 

 

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

I forgot to post this when it first got published, but the movie doesn’t come out in its wide release till this Friday, so it is still timely.

Review of the Judd Apatow-produced, Jonah Hill-infested Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Expect more geeky rantings throughout the week, as per usual, *snap* just like that.

I can’t help that I’m custom made,

Brad Canze, the CM Life Movie Dude

Graduation speakers are lame

By David Harris, Editor in Chief

I bet I can guess what reaction the class of May 2008 had when they say who graduation speakers were.
All of us let out a collective “who?”
Yes all three graduation speakers are people no one has heard of. David Baker Lewis (5 p.m. ceremony), Robert Froelich ((9:30 a.m. ceremony) and Chuck Leavell (1:30 p.m. ceremony) are the three graduation speakers this year.
Perhaps my dreams were too grandiose last year when Bill Clinton spoke at the University of Michigan’s commencement. I thought CMU could bring in a big name who could inspire me to do great things. But such is not the case.
I will get to hear Lewis speak. I’m sure Lewis, who is chairman of law firm Lewis & Munday and has sat on boards for The Kroger Company and H&R Block, will have good things to say. He has been successful in his field.
But graduation is supposed to be memorable. In 20 years, you are supposed to remember that great graduation speaker you had. It is a special day in your life.
I will probably forget by the end of May.
But I will cease to bicker and I will offer a solution. Move the damn ceremony to Kelly/Shorts!
Michigan does it at Michigan Stadium. Why can’t CMU move it to its football stadium? Sure, you are playing with fire when you plan something outside in early May. So what?
You can have one ceremony, bring in a big-time speaker and more people could go because of the bigger venue.
Simple as that.
But I suppose that would make too much sense.

Film: Oliver Stone’s Burning Bush

Oliver Stone’s next film has sort of been bubbling under the surface for a few months.  It’s never really had an official announcement, and it’s only now starting to get hype and recognition.

“W.” is a biopic about the life of George W. Bush, from hard-drinking college boy to slightly irresponsible president.  IMDB lists the release date as 2009, but Hollywood Reporter says that Stone hopes to finish this movie in time to release it at election time in November.

The film will star Josh Brolin (”No Country for Old Men,” “Planet Terror”) as the current President Bush, Elizabeth Banks (”Spider-Man,” “Definitely, Maybe,”) as First Lady Laura Bush, and James Cromwell (”Babe,” “The Sum of All Fears) as Dubya’s father, George H.W. Bush.

Hollywood Reporter is saying that several Bush biographers are arguing the accuracy of “W”’s script, and believe that it casts the president in a deceitfully negative light.

A script review on ABC News says that instead of a movie with shocking revelations about our president and his associates, it is more of an actor’s piece, that could provide star Brolin with an opportunity to take a superstar turn.

Personally, I think that doing a biopic of the current president in an election year shows Stone’s agenda clearly, and I think it’s rather insidious.  When movie makers try to play politics, everybody loses.

Stone has made some superb movies, such as “Platoon” and “Wall Street,” but those were over 20 years ago.  Stone’s more recent movies have been uninspired and disappointing.  Stone is a director who is obsessed with the 1960s.  He has made movies about Vietnam, JFK, Nixon, and the Doors, and “World Trade Center,” his previous current-event film, was less than spectacular.

I think instead of making movies with an agenda and political goals in mind, Stone should try to make some inspired, expressive art, something he has never really done, even when he was at his best.  Or at the very least, he could find another cultural figure from 40 years ago to exploit.  Marilyn Monroe hasn’t had a biopic made lately.

On another note, I was talking about W. with my friend Ian, a Ferris student.  He hadn’t heard about the movie, so I explained that it was a Bush biopic, and who was directing and acting in it.  After that, he inexplicably asked, “So what’s this movie going to be about?  The president?”

To which I replied that did not know any other way to make a movie about George W. Bush, but it did get me thinking, and this is what I came up with.  My apologies in advance.

————————————————————————————–

“In a world overtaken by super-intelligent bipedal sharks, only one man can stand between the toothy tyrants and world domination–George W. Bush.

Bush: ‘I am the decider.  And I’ve decided your time is up.’

Starring Josh Brolin as George W. Bush, and John Travolta as N’rlbat, Lord of the Sharks.

Coming this November, it’s ‘Operation Shark and Awe.’”

I’m so, so sorry.

–Brad Canze, the CM Life Movie Dude

Film: The Ruins

Caitlin M. Foyt has a review of this week’s newest horror movie, The Ruins, at CM-Life.com.  Check ‘er out.

Furthermore, Harry Knowles, the founder and webmaster of Aintitcool.com, one of the most oft-used sources for our film posts,  has been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

I can’t imagine why*.

*I can’t imagine why it took this long to get diagnosed.  I mean, I support everybody loving and watching films, but balance that with an occasional jog or two, and keep veggies in your diet.

Fashion Updates

THREADS, the annual student run fashion show, is tonight in Finch Fieldhouse at 7. There will be 32 student designers with a variety of outfits. Students began to work on their collections in the fall semester, picking out models, garment sketches, picking out music and then constructing the garments. This year’s theme is “Inspired” and designers had to decide what their inspiration was and where it came from. The show’s designers and helpers are all Apparel Merchandise and Design students and this show is a great way to showcase their talents.

 

Look for more updates soon!

-Rebecca

Early morning, blue skies and football

The CMU football team practiced for just the second time outside today, and I was fortunate enough to be there at 9 a.m. after rolling out of bed.  It was a little chilly, but I can’t complain — the sun was shining at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The quarterbacks were hyped and ready to go — Brian Brunner was cracking jokes as Dan LeFevour led him and Steve Beltowski through pre-practice aerobics. Andrew Hartline came out of the dressing room and let out a big yell — he was ready to go. It was a good way to start the day. I went to my 9:30 class more awake than I think I’ve been all semester with thoughts of the spring game and 70 degree weather on my mind.   

Film: HUGE news

A friend at a popular film news site has given me this story, which other sites haven’t started picking up yet.

A source close to the production has leaked information about Martin Scorsese’s next movie, after his currently filming “Shutter Island.”

His next announced project was a biopic of Theodore Roosevelt, but the word is he was so excited about this new project that he’s pushing the Roosevelt movie back a year.

Martin Scorsese will be directing Crash Bandicoot: The Movie.

Scorsese insists that this is not a video game cash-in, and he is intent to delve into the fertile dramatic potential of the Crash Bandicoot series.

The film will be an intense, suspenseful character piece, focusing on the nature of duality between Crash and his arch-nemesis, Neo Cortex.

Scorsese is tapping George Clooney to play the titular hero, and is intending to do as much of the visual effect work practically as possible, meaning that Clooney will act on-set, in a bandicoot suit.

Christopher Walken is currently in talks to play Neo Cortex, and whispers are going around that Jodie Foster may appear as  Coco Bandicoot.

You heard it here first,

–Brad Canze, the CM Life Movie Dude