The good people over at the imdb have decided I am worthy enough to place a link to my reviews on their movie pages! So from now on, when you click on external reviews from any movie page on imdb.com, you will see Movie Patron on the long list of reviews (if I’ve seen and reviewed that particular film. Sweet! Moving up in the world is nice.

Example: check out number 146 on this list; and the only reason I’m so far down is I submitted the review late. Watch for my reviews for “Land of the Dead” and other upcoming films like “War of the Worlds” on Friday!

     As much as I hate the gossip mill - you know, the paparazzi crap of following around stars, meddling in their lives and actually giving a hoot on which store they buy their dolphin-safe tuna fish from - I had to post this video of Tom Cruise expressing himself on Oprah about how he feels about his latest publicity stunt…er I mean, relationship with Katie Holmes.

http://gorillamask.net/cruiseoprah.shtml

     Tom Cruise is the actor who appears most in my top 100 list, but I am starting to lose a little respect here. He is an absolute dork; and his weird-ass religion that he has brainwashed Holmes into is questionable to say the least. They both have major motion pictures being released within a couple weeks of each other and Tom switches girls like nose-blowing tissues. Anyway, a fun a look at Tom acting like an idiot.

     Giving us a preview of the might of the marketing campaign for Peter Jackson’s KING KONG, NBC Universal plans to unleash the teaser for KONG on Monday June 27th at 9pm on all its network affiliates. Here’s a breakdown of where you’ll find the teaser:

NBC - immediately following “Fear Factor”
USA Network - immediately following “Law & Order: SVU
SCI FI Channel - immediately following “Stargate-SG1″
Bravo - immediately following “West Wing”
Universal HD - immediately following “Airport ‘77″
MSNBC - immediately following “Countdown with Keith Olberman”
CNBC - immediately following “Cover to Cover”
Telemundo - immediately following “La Mujer en el Espejo”

     Even better news is that the teaser will also debut online on the same day at Volkswagen’s official website HERE, starting at 8:44pm ET and continuing for 48 hours. And, get ready to blow your load because it will premiere in Quicktime. Finally, a trailer that goes straight to Quicktime and doesn’t makes us suffer through Flash or Real Player! KONG opens December 14th.

thanks JoBlo!

     
So this looks cool as hell. An animated film starring and using the likeness’ of Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey jr., Wynona Ryder and Woody Harrelson. DOn’t know much about it other than it is an adaptation of a novel by Philip K. Dick. It is being directed by Richard Linklater who is responsible for “Dazed and Confused,” “Before Sunrise,” “Before Sunset” and “Waking Life.” If you’ve seen waking life, then you know this type of animation. I think it was filmed with the actors, then turned into animation or something like that. Anyway, here are some pics and a link to the trailer…

View the trailer

 
     
Anyone who knows me knows that I love William Shatner. I think he is one of the funniest guys in entertainment. His dry poking fun at himself humor just strikes a chord with me. From his role in Airplane 2, to his bitparts in films like “Miss Congeniality” 1 & 2 and “Showtime,” he brings humor to a different level. His latest musical album, “Has Been,” is one of my better purchases of last year. Even David Fincher pays homage to Shatner when in “Fight Club,” Edward Norton’s character notes that if he could fight anyone, it would be William Shatner.

     Now, in a six degrees to Fincher move, Shatner stars as all the main characters in a short film remake of the film “Se7en.” Not the greatest thing ever, but Shatner just amazes me with his way of making fun of himself. Check out this short film. I think you’ll enjoy. Then go out and see “Airplane II: The Sequel” again and see his hilarious role in that film:

Shatner:“Everyone..to the tower.”
Private:“We have no tower sir.”
Shatner:“No tower?”
Private:“Just a bridge sir.”
Shatner:“WHY THE HELL AREN’T I NOTIFIED ABOUT THESE THINGS!?”

See his new short film here

     According to an article in Variety, messengers dressed as Master Chief from Microsoft videogame Halo hit the studios Monday with a screenplay based on the bestselling franchise.

     The script is by 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, who was paid $1 million by Microsoft to write an adaptation that meets the approval of its executives and the game’s creators at subsidiary Bungie Studios.

     Microsoft also brought in former Columbia Pictures president Peter Schlessel to help it handle the project and serve as a producer in some capacity.

     Microsoft and its representatives at CAA are seeking an advance of $10 million against 15% of the gross and strict control of development, adds the trade. The winning studio would have to follow a “bible” created by game developers to make sure any changes to the script don’t alter the universe established in the first two “Halo” games that will continue in future sequels for the Xbox.

     Wow. That’s the marketing might of Microsoft. Here’s what we’re going to do, here are the rules and the laws, now who wants to buy it? The thing is they know someone will, and with all the additional clauses, it’s just such hot property and comes with a captive audience.

Mind you, despite the attractiveness they report:

     New Line and DreamWorks have already passed on the project due to its high cost and concerns about the script. In addition, Sony is believed to have not been included because of its PlayStation division’s competition with Microsoft.

     I’m surprised for DreamWorks, I really am. They could have produced something really stunning here. I wonder if maybe Microsoft and Bungie have been too precious and tried to keep too much of a hold on the whole deal?

      DreamWorks Pictures have unvelied two new trailers, the domestic and the international trailer for Michael Bay’s upcoming thriller, The Island, starring Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Djimon Hounsou, Michael Clarke Duncan, Steve Buscemi, Sean Bean, Shawnee Smith and Noa Tishby.

     Coming to theaters July 22nd, this new trailer bolsters some new footage from the film which hasn’t been seen before.

     Lincoln Six-Echo (McGregor) is a resident of a seemingly utopian but contained facility in the mid-21st century. Like all of the inhabitants of this carefully controlled environment, Lincoln hopes to be chosen to go to the “The Island”—reportedly the last uncontaminated spot on the planet. But Lincoln soon discovers that everything about his existence is a lie. He and all of the other inhabitants of the facility are actually human clones whose only purpose is to provide “spare parts” for their original human counterparts. Realizing it is only a matter of time before he is “harvested,” Lincoln makes a daring escape with a beautiful fellow resident named Jordan Two-Delta (Johansson). Relentlessly pursued by the forces of the sinister institute that once housed them, Lincoln and Jordan engage in a race for their lives to literally meet their makers.

click here for access to both new trailers!

It is hoped Johnny Depp will be on board within three weeks to play the main character in a film entitled “Addict.” Hollywood’s Johnny Depp is being courted to star in this film about a drug addict who turns his life around after living on the streets of Wrexham. Shooting of Addict, based on the best-selling biography of writer Stephen Smith, is to start this summer.

     Lord of the Rings and King Kong star Andy Serkis has already been signed up to direct the movie, and Mr. Smith said he was in talks and hoped to sign up Pirates of the Caribbean star Depp “within three weeks”.

     The 61-year-old writer said the film will be all about his life as a young man addicted to amphetamines who drifted into crime and ended up living on the streets of Wrexham for a few months.

     ”It’s a horror story with a fairytale ending - irregardless of how low you go with drink and drugs you can still get out of it,” said Mr Smith, who now lives in Germany with his wife and family.

     Empire magazine has recently released its top ten feature film directors of all time; based on a poll it conducted of over 10,000 readers. Here it is:

1. Steven Spielberg
2. Alfred Hitchcock
3. Martin Scorsese
4. Stanley Kubrick
5. Sir Ridley Scott
6. Akira Kurosawa
7. Peter Jackson
8. Quentin Tarantino
9. Orson Welles
10. Woody Allen

     I guess I really can’t disagree much. I wouldn’t put Peter Jackson in there though. The Rings trilogy was highly over-rated in my opinion and that’s all he’s done. Better than Tarantino? I think not.
     Other than that, I would say it’s pretty accurate. I don’t know much of Wells work and I might change the order a bit.

Instead of Jackson, I can think of a few off the top of my head that I like better:

Steven Soderbergh
James Cameron
Tim Burton
Roman Polanski
P.T. Anderson
Coen Brothers
Terry Gilliam
Brian DePalma
Cameron Crowe
Ron Howard

Come to think of it, there are about 100 other directors I would put before Jackson.

     Also, although I would agree he shouldn’t be in the top 10, George Lucas apparently didn’t even make the top 20. I can’t agree with that. The man single handedly changed movie making forever and created the best film of all time.

Watch for my Top 50 movie scenes of all time this weekend at MOVIE PATRON.com