You know the story. You love the original. You question the validity of this remake. You scoff at the idea of touching a part of horror nerd history… hell the original is in the pantheon. I had the same thoughts as well. And you all know how many times I have lamented about remakes/reimagines. But this is co-written by Sam Raimi and was given the stamp of approval by THEE man himself, God amongst mortal acting men, Bruce Campbell. If it is good enough for Ash it is good enough for me. One other plus side note to this, it has the VERY talented and VERY beautiful Jane Levy (Suburgatory). At least for me Jane Levy is a big bonus reason to see this.
(This is a very stern warning. This is the RED BAND TRAILER and thus it is VERYNSFW. Nor is it for the faint of heart. This trailer is very graphic. You have been warned)
Nerdvana is going on this week… That of course is San Diego Comic-Con. Many, many, many movie trailers will make their debut at this mecca for all things obsessable. This one I had been waiting to see. Directed by Sam Raimi and starring James Franco as the man who becomes the Great and Powerful one, the beautiful and talented Michelle Williams as Glinda, The equally talented and beautiful Mila Kunis as Theodora and a threefer in the beautiful and talented department with Rachel Weisz as Evanora.
I like the shout out to the original masterwork with the black and white into color. I also really dig the changing of the aspect ratio in the trailer… It’s a nice touch. Be it in B&W or color, the movie looks fairly epic in its scope and digitally pretty……. But…. I am just not the biggest fan of a fully digital world like this. It is one of the reason I disliked ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and why I had no desire to see ‘Alice in Wonderland’. I will give this movie a shot because of who is directing it but I don’t have too many expectations going into it. It doesn’t come out till next spring, so it has time to win me over.
When I think of ‘cool’ some of the names that pop into my head are: Frank Sinatra, George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, James Dean, Sean Connery… But the first name that flashes in my head is always Bruce Campbell. The man is just cool. He has leading man good looks and comedic timing that is second to none. I wrote a screenplay and one of the characters I wrote specifically for the man, the myth, the legend that is Bruce Campbell.
Born and raised in Michigan he met a trio of brothers in high school who cemented his fate. Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi and Ted Raimi assimilated Bruce, along with other friends in the neighborhood, and they made tons of super-8 films. From those shorts he honed his sardonic wit, unflappable bravado and dead-pan delivery. All that helped him become the greatest B-movie actor of all time.
I hope to work with this man someday. I wrote a movie that has a part written just for him. Someday…. Someday.
Anywho…
Here is a list, in no particular order, of my favorite Bruce Campbell roles.
‘Tis the season… What season you ask? Well the following clip from NewsRadio should help explain things….
Here is a list, in no particular order, of my favorite Baseball Movies.
Mr. Baseball
The man with the best mustache in the business takes his talents to the diamond. Tom Selleck plays an aging baseball
player trying to hold on to the game. He gets traded to a Japanese baseball team and the fish out of water story begins.
For some reason this movie has always stuck with me. I just enjoy it.
The Scout
The story of Steve Nebraska (Brendan Fraser) and his discovery by baseball scout Al Percolo (Albert Brooks). The kid can
pitch. The kid can hit. The kid can eat. It is an enjoyable film with a good heart at its center. It isn’t a well know
movie but worth a watch if you like Brendan Fraser and/or Albert Brooks.
For Love of the Game
The third of the three baseball movies Kevin Costner has done and probably my favorite. The story is good, it is shot well
but I think it is my favorite because of one person; Vin Scully. When I think of baseball in my head, it is his voice I
think in. He can really turn a simple baseball game into something magical. Also it was directed by Sam Raimi.
This is Penny Marshall’s foray into the world of professional baseball movies as well as Tom Hanks. Good story, good
acting and just good fun. I have always enjoyed this movie. More importantly this film gave us one of the most universally
used quotes of all time.
The Sandlot
I am a huge fan of coming of age type movies and for that reason I am reluctant to put it on this list, but at its heart
it is a baseball movie and a darn good one at that.
Little Big League
Billy Heywood’s grandfather, the much loved owner of the Minnesota Twins, passes away and in his will leave the team to
Billy. Billy has an encyclopedic knowledge of the game of baseball so when he doesn’t agree with how the manager is
handling the team he appoints himself the new team’s manager. This is one of those movies that if it is on I will usually
stop and watch it. Plus it has a great musical montage!
Rookie of the Year
This is the third, and final, of the ‘kids and baseball’ movies on my list. This one has Henry Rowengartner, through crazy
random happenstance, signed by the loveable losers, Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs. There he becomes their star
attraction. Again another movie that if it is on I will sit and watch it.
Summer Catch
This movie is pretty much Bull Durham 2k. But personally I like it a little better than Bull Durham. The following clip
might have something to do with that…
Major League
You didn’t think I would do a list of baseball movies and not include this storied franchise did you? Come on…
Seriously? This movie is a classic. It is a must watch for any baseball movie lover. It has it all and then some.
Honorable mentions go to Eight Men Out, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, The Natural, Brewster’s Millions, Moneyball, The
Rookie, and Fever Pitch.
There it is, for better or worse. That is my list of Baseball Movies.
The Average Movie Nerd 