SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE: Really Lucas? Really?

Wow, today has been one hell of a crazy news day, and it's just getting more laughable. With the idea of a Marmaduke film making me laugh until I cry, this news is the punch to the balls to make me tear up in pain. Thanks to /Film for the heads up...

For the last two years, George Lucas has been developing a live-action Star Wars television series. I think it was originally stated that they would not begin production until they had the first 50 scripts in hand, and I’ve heard about a bunch of screenwriters around Hollywood have been working on the series. 2009 was originally announced as the show’s targeted premiere (see the sign above), but Lucasfilm has since been quoted as saying 2010, and later 2011. With a lack of news leaking, I was beginning to believe that it might never actually happen. But MTV reports that casting is already underway. Rose Byrne, who played Dorme in Attack of the Clones, let it slip at the Knowing junket that a lot of her friends have been auditioning for the series.

Set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, the show has been described by Lucas as “Deadwood meets The Sopranos in space”. Told from the perspective of minor characters from the Star Wars galaxy (rumored to be a family in the underworld), the darker, grittier, more character-based story might also feature appearances and cameos from several major Star Wars characters, but not the heavy like Darth Vader.And now that the show has entered the casting stage, I’m sure we’ll start to learn more about the story and the characters

This has me thinking two things...

1) This is a brilliant idea. Set a Star Wars television series with a minor family in the series mythology, and give it a dark and gritty, Soprano's like edge. That would be one hell of a fun show. I would be all for it.
2) This may be the worst idea ever, for one reason. The era in which it is set. It is almost impossible to set a television series, or a film for that matter, in the episode 1-6 timeline and get quality out of it. Lucas has lost his mind, and the prequels and Indy 4 are perfect examples why, and while the Clone Wars cartoon series is solid, the movie has lackluster reviews, and it is set during the timeline in question, and it's failed for it. I would LOVE to see some other mind take up the series, and go beyond episode 6. What happens after Return of the Jedi? THAT is what I want my Star Wars series to be about, because if it's shit, I can forget about it, it's not a true part of the canon. If it's set during the episode 1-6 timeline, I have to take it as canon, and if it's garbage, it's another bruise on the body of the car crash victim that is the Star Wars franchise...

What are your thoughts?

Go see something good!

Weekend Wrap Up...

You guys know what this is about, so lets get down to it, I've got packing to do...

Box Office top 10...

1.The Dark Knight
2.Pineapple Express
3.The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
4.The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
5.Step Brothers
6.Mamma Mia!
7.Journey to the Center of the Earth
8.Hancock
9.Swing Vote
10.WALL-E

The Dark Knight WINS AGAIN. The thing about that is, The Dark Knight beating these films, means that people are going out to see TDK MULTIPLE TIMES before even thinking about seeing these other films, including a sure fire, or thought to be surefire hit with Pineapple Express. HOWEVER, I believe Tropic Thunder this week will beat it, and gross over 60 million bucks, even though it may blow it's load a little early, as it, like PE, is opening on Wednesday...

There are the only three real noteable DVD releases..

- CJ7...Comes to us from Stephen Chow, the mastermind behind Kung Fu Hustle, and Shaolin Soccer...kind of like E.T., just much more crazy and cartoony...I haven't seen it, so this is definitley something I will be renting...
- Smart People...I think one of my first reviews over on my blog, and I really enjoyed this film. It's funny and includes one of my favorite male performances from the brilliant Thomas Hayden Church. HOWEVER, if you want to see an Ellen Page film, go to Hard Candy or The Tracey Fragments first. SM is a bit better than Juno, Citizen Kane compared to the first 20 minutes of Juno, but not as good as either of those films...so give it a shot...

PICK OF THE WEEK
- Brand Upon the Brain...
Two reasons why you should be excited for this film...
1) Guy Madden is behind it...
2) It's a Criterion release, for it's FIRST RUN...
It's a small film with Madden narrating over footage, so it may be a little out there, as most of his films are, but it's at the top of my queue, as it should be for you...

So this week sees 4 major releases that I am pretty interested in...However, I am not sure which ones I should review...I am positive that I will be seeing the Robert Downey Jr., Ben Stiller, Jack Black war comedy, Tropic Thunder, yet I don't know what else to check out. We have Vicky Christina Barcelona, Woody Allen's new film about two women who meet a seductive Spanish painter and stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, and Scarlett Johannson, and features a threesome between those actors, so bonus points there...We also have the horror film Mirrors starring Keifer Sutherland which is directed by Hills Have Eyes remake helmer Alexandre Aja, in which people are tortured by their images in mirrors...and finally we have Star Wars: the Clone Wars, the animated Star Wars film...so what should I see?? What looks the most interesting to you, and what are you interested in checking out? I'm leaning towards all but the Star Wars film, but if enough people want to hear what I have to say about, I may give it a shot. Expect a TT review on Friday though...

Alright, that's all for now, come back later for the usual...

Go see something good!!