Random Movie News

[KC]

I'm curious what makes any of you think certain people would not do well in the role without seeing them try it first?  For example, the entire classic cast of Trek has been replaced for the upcoming movie.  While a couple of the choices seemed odd to me, I'm still willing to see how they do.  Is there something about these actors you just don't like?  Depp for one I think has proven he is very capable and versatile.

I think it's a pretty complicated thing to explain, and a lot of people have their own reasons.  What I believe happens is that when people love something so much that is being remade or revisited or reinvented, we're afraid that it will spoil the original experience for them.  And even though sometimes it's the writer or the director's fault, I think it's easier to blame the actor because that's who we see and immediately connect the piece to. 

It's not sci-fi, but a good example of this is the movie adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera.  A lot of musical theater fans, including myself, were hoping that they would cast people who would be able to sing the score and act the material well.  However, what ended up happening was the film became flop of mediocre standards.  If you were new to the material, yes, there was a very good chance that you would like the film.  But a lot of theater lovers have a great disdain for the actors because most of them could not hit the notes and/or made poor acting choices. Those were the people the audience saw first, and if you didn't like it, you blame them.  It wasn't until I read an interview of Gerard Butler's experience with the filming that I re-analyzed what happened to the movie.

And even though a lot of people wish to be character actors, we're so used to casting people based on type, it's ridiculous.  If you want to cast a dark and eccentric character, you think of Johnny Depp.  If you want to cast a beautiful and exotic character, you think of Angelina Jolie.  And if you want to cast the Joker in the Dark Knight, the person people think about is going to be handsome and dimpled-cheek Heath Ledger.  When someone breaks the mold, it's always going to be a little bit strange because we're not sure if the actor is capable of carrying on that responsibility of bringing the character to life.

And then there are the times when we're proven wrong, which is amazing.  For me, it was the film version of Sweeney Todd.  I did not want Depp as Sweeney because it's a bit scary for anyone outside of musical theater to sing one of the most complicated scores in Broadway's history.  But it was a hit, and as a theater geek who has enjoyed Sweeney for eight years, I loved it.  So, I try not to do it often, especially now that I'm older, but it always tends to slip out every now and then.  It's only because I care about the material and sometimes the actor, as versatile as he is, may seem to be suited for another role instead.  But it's a welcome surprise when the fans are wrong.  :)

(Wow, this was a long post... I hope it sounds coherent enough.  ;))

[Rico]

Thanks for your thoughts and that's pretty much what I had expected to hear.  But I guess I will just say again that I think it's important to be open to new possibilities.  It can really bring in some new fans as well.  Of course there are always going to be the purists out there that fight change all the time.  On the specific subject of Johnny Depp I still think he has a great deal of range and could definitely do the Doctor - at least I'd like to see him try sometime.  But it's a bit of a moot point, I doubt they could ever pay him enough.

[KC]

On the specific subject of Johnny Depp I still think he has a great deal of range and could definitely do the Doctor - at least I'd like to see him try sometime.  But it's a bit of a moot point, I doubt they could ever pay him enough.

That and it's not directed by Tim Burton.  :P  I love Johnny Depp, but it's also so much fun to poke fun at him.

Thanks for the comments, Rico.  I might have to write a blog about this soon... although judging by the length of my post, it may have to be a two-parter.

[Geekyfanboy]

Paramount Ponies Up For Iron Man 3
By Josh Tyler: 2008-09-29 22:35:35

Paramount Ponies Up For Iron Man 3 Paramount Pictures made a big announcement today, tying themselves to the future of Marvel Studios by promising to distribute a whole slew of their upcoming flicks in the hopes of recapturing the sweet sweet Iron Man box office numbers from this summer.

Most of the movies they're distributing you've already heard plenty about, from Marvel's recent string of announcements. The deal has them distributing Iron Man 2, Thor, The First Avenger: Captain America, and The Avengers. That covers them up through 2011. But they're also teamed up to make Iron Man 3 a reality. No word on when that will happen, but it's nice to know that they're planning ahead with Tony Stark's future. The more Iron Man we get, the better.

Below is a quick breakdown of all the movies they're distributing along with the current release date scheduled for each:

      Iron Man 2 - May 7, 2010
      Thor - July 16, 2010
      The First Avenger: Captain America - May 6, 2011
      The Avengers - July 15, 2011
      Iron Man 3 - Unknown