Tron + Daft Punk = Cyber Heaven

Yes, they are making Tron 2. Yes, Daft Punk is scoring the film.

It's such a fit that it feels like it already happened. Even the youtubes were all over it a year ago:

Inside the Lego Factory

Featuring one of the best jobs in the world (around the 3:50 mark):



On second thought, cooped up in that red room, might drive a man to do all sorts of weird and illegal things with those bricks.

The Green Hornet: TV to Film

Heard of the Green Hornet film adaptation written and starring Seth Rogen? Stephen Chow was supposed to direct and star as Kato, but he abandoned directorial duties because of creative differences. Luckily, he will still try to fill Bruce Lee's shoes as Kato.

And now reportedly, they have found a replacement director... Michel Gondry.

Sounds like it could be a pretty cool project, especially if we get to see a darker side of Gondry's oddball sensibilities. Now all they have to do now is recast Rogen as the lead and this might turn out to be an interesting picture.

Jake Gyllenhal was attached to star at one point. Maybe he'd be good. Maybe Matthew Goode? How about Matt Damon? Any ideas?

Farewell Conan, Love the White Stripes

Last week (Feb 21) the last episode of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" aired (now that he'll be moving to Leno's time slot come June).

Always known for having interesting musical acts on his show, Conan ended things off nicely with The White Stripes offering a stark version of "We're Going to Be Friends". Watch until the end, and you'll catch Conan saying to Jack White, "that meant the world to me."


You can watch the whole episode hosting at GreenGoldFilm, but if you're in Canada you'll need to activate Hotspot Shield.

Urban Beast Brawl

Found this series of photos on The Pet Blog and thought it deserved the comic treatment (click to enlarge).

The Best of Film in 2008

Okay, so the Oscars got it wrong again last night (no big surprise). Don't fret, the Poppies are here!

Last year There Will Be Blood was the big winner. This year, well... take a look:


Best Performance by a Supporting Actor (male or female)
Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler
Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder
Dianne Wiest in Synecdoche, New York
Josh Brolin in Milk
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight WINNER!

Best Performance by a Lead Actor
Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man
Jean-Claude Van Damme in JCVD
Anamaria Marinca in 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
Asia Argento in Boarding Gate
Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler WINNER!

Best Ensemble Cast
Ballast - JimMyron Ross, Michael J. Smith, Sr, Tarra Riggs, Johnny McPhail, etc.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall - Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, etc.
Slumdog Millionaire - Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Freida Pinto, and "the kids"
Milk - Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, James Franco, Alison Pil, etc.
The Dark Knight - Gary Oldman, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Ekhart, etc. WINNER!

10 Best Films of 2008
(Click the Title to see the film's trailer / Click the image to supersize)

10) Speed Racer - Fast, fun, annoying, stunning. Refreshingly touts family and community over the standard quest of the self-centred individual. Don't be fooled by the flop hype.

9) The Fall - Pure movie bombast. Somehow maintains a charm despite being stylish to the point of overload.


8) Waltz with Bashir - Don't be put off by the Waking Life-esque animation style, the film is leagues more subtle than any of its rotoscoping antecedents (besides maybe His Mother's Voice).

7) Chop Shop - The story of a poor little kid. This time with more feeling, and less sentimental manipulation. Taking it back to the streets, Bicycle Thieves style.


6) The Class - I really thought this Cannes winner was going to be a bore. Turns out it's mesmerizing. Quite a feat considering the whole film takes place in a school.


5) 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days - Works on every level - style, story, acting, historical portrait. Unbelievably grim and good.


4) Happy-Go-Lucky - This movie stuck with me for weeks after I saw it. It's simplicity is it's deadliest weapon. I like to call it, "the kitchen sink Amelie".


3) Reprise - A shockingly good first film from Danish director Joachim Trier. A coming of age story that's not puke inducing. Fascinated filmmaking in the the spirit of the French New Wave.

2) The Wrestler - The Dardenne Brothers meets professional wrestling. American decay captured truthfully and not without crazy entertainment value.


1) The Dark Knight - I can go on and on about how smart this movie is or how stylish it is or how technically proficient, and no movie this year combined all of these essential movie-ingredients so seamlessly. A picture for the ages.