The Unseen: Brenda Starr

Editor’s note: The Unseen is a somewhat regular column, looking at movies that are out of print, never released on DVD and otherwise hard to find. In the 1990s, filmmakers seemed obsessed with taking old school children’s entertainment, updating it to film, and releasing it on an unsuspecting public, believing that parents would take their …

Rami to Direct Warcraft Movie

I know at least one person who will be extatic over this news… Sam Rami has signed on to direct “Warcraft,” based on the popular video game, “World of Warcraft.”  According to JoBlo.com, “Warcraft,” is about the, “epic conflict between the Horde and the Alliance.”  I have no idea what that means.  Rami will start …

Crowe Talks New “Master”

Russell Crowe is talking about a new “Master & Commander” movie. The first one, (which was subtitled, “The Far Side of the World,”) was nominated for Best Picture.  Crowe says that a follow-up based on the book “The Reverse of the Medal,” has a finished script.  Though, that doesn’t mean the movie is ready to …

Sony to Release Michael Jackson Film

You’ve seen the clips on TV enough times, but Sony thinks that there’s an audience for any footage of Michael Jackson’s final performance. The footage shot in LA as Jackson rehearsed for his run of 50 shows in the UK is incredibly close to being bought by Sony Pictures.  What they want to do, according …

Robert DeNiro Joins “Machette” Cast

If you saw “Grindhouse,” the Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino movie that, while dun and cool, didn’t win over everyone, you’ll remember “Machette.”  It was one of the fake trailers that opened the movie.  It was a send-up of Mexploitation, starring Danny Trejo. The trailer went over so well with audiences, that Robert Rodriguez has been talking …

“Straw Dogs” Remake Gains a Cast

If you’ve been thinking, “Gee, I wish they remade Sam Peckinpah’s classic of violence, ‘Straw Dogs,’” well, this is your lucky day. The remake, to be directed by Rod Laurie, will now star James Marsden, Kate Bosworth and Alexander Skarsgard.  Marsden will play the writer who heads, with his wife to the English countryside to …

Natalie Portman Joins “Thor”

Marvel has confirmed a long whispered about rumor: Natalie Portman will be playing Jane Foster in Kenneth Branagh’s “Thor.”  In the early comics, Foster was a nurse, but Marvel says the character will be “updated.”  They chose not to elaborate.  Portman is only the third actor to join the cast, alongside Chris Hemsworth, (who’ll be …

Huston Joins Robin Hood Cast

Danny Huston has been announced as the latest actor to sign up for Ridley Scott’s new Robin Hood movie.  Huston will play King Richard the Lion Hearted.  The movie also stars Cate Blanchett, William Hurt and Russell Crowe as Robin Hood. There’s still a ton of rumors about how this re-telling of Robin Hood will …

Another View: Public Enemies

Put away the robots that are little more than an advertisement for the tie-in merchandise.  This is what a summer movie can, should and could be. Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies,” is a study of gangster John Dillinger and the things that make a folk hero tick.