Where to begin on “Super 8?” It’s so clearly the kind of film directors tend to make, unmolested, after a major hit, the kind where someone really needed to be pulling the strings and smoothing the edges and seeing the forest through the trees. “But I’m J.J. f***ing Abrams.” (I’m sure he’s a splendid chap.) […]
Super h8ed it
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:14 am · June 6th, 2011
Who should be on Christopher Nolan’s ‘Superman’ shortlist?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:22 am · September 24th, 2010
My RSS feed was absolutely stuffed to the brim with the clamoring re-reporting of the geek press’s favorite story of the week yesterday: OMG! Christopher Nolan is meeting with a shortlist of potential “Superman” directors! Except the list is all wrong. The names: Tony Scott, Matt Reeves, Jonathan Liebsman, Duncan Jones and Zack Snyder. Now, […]
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9/10 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:54 am · September 10th, 2010
• Jeffrey Wells, meanwhile, re-posts his thoughts on James Solomon’s screenplay. [Hollywood Elsewhere] • Pete Hammond reports extensively from Wednesday’s “Tangled” event on the Disney lot. [Deadline] • Tim Gray on Venice’s unique role in film history. [Variety]
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Comic-Con 2010 on the way
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 4:30 pm · July 12th, 2010
Well, the inbox is getting stuffed with this and that regarding breakfasts and panels and viral marketing and yada, yada, yada. That can mean only one thing: Comic-Con is around the corner. And as I poured over the recently released schedule over the weekend, I found myself excited for…very little. DreamWorks Animation will make its […]
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TECH SUPPORT INTERVIEW: The crafts of ‘Star Trek’
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:08 pm · February 18th, 2010
One of the year’s biggest blockbusters redefined a franchise and even made it palatable to those unfamiliar with or uninterested in its vibrant history. The film, of course, was “Star Trek,” and as below-the-line craftsmanship goes, it was one of the most impressive efforts of the year. Director J.J. Abrams’s mandate was “to renew and […]
Filed in: Interviews · Tech Support
DGA on the way
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:51 am · January 6th, 2010
Tomorrow the Directors Guild of America will chime in with its list of nominees for the 2009-2010 film awards season. Long considered to be the best “predictor” of the Oscar game (as in, the DGA winner typically wins the Oscar for Best Director, and Best Director often matches up with Best Picture), this guild’s shenanigans […]
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8/12 Web Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:32 am · August 12th, 2009
• Kevin Kelly digs into the J.J. Abrams “Dark Tower” project. [Cinematical] • In honor of “Julie & Julia,” 10 blogs that could be movies. [Film School Rejects] • Liam Neeson walks his first red carpet since the death of wife Natasha Richardson. [Associated Press]
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5/28 Web Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:34 am · May 28th, 2009
• Kim Voynar goes deep on a male-dominated film world. [Movie City News] • Brooks Barnes on an anti-smoking Hollywood effort. “Thank God we invented the…whatever device.” [The Carpetbagger] • Nine straight critical and financial successes. How does Pixar do it? [CNN] • Gina McIntyre talks to horror helmer Sam Raimi. [Los Angeles Times] • […]
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Tell us what you thought of ‘Star Trek’
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:10 am · May 9th, 2009
If you were disappointed last weekend, hopefully you’ll get a kick out of this weekend’s big release, which had me at hello. Like I said in my review, try to catch it on the loudest screen possible. Come on back here and give us your thoughts on J.J. Abrams’s reboot of the “Star Trek” mythos […]
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J.J. Abrams, a.k.a., JJ Cool J
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:22 pm · May 5th, 2009
Check out the full interview here.
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REVIEW: “Star Trek” (****)
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:32 am · May 4th, 2009
From pulse-pounding beginning to edge-of-your-seat end, J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” moves at a break-neck pace that never lets up, never misses a beat and shockingly, never loses itself in its labyrinthine story. It is a near-perfect action thrill ride that ticks off every box on the ultimate movie experience checklist and perhaps adds a few […]
Filed in: Reviews
5/4 Web Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:17 am · May 4th, 2009
• Premiering a Brad Pitt character poster from “Inglourious Basterds.” [Ain’t It Cool News] • Digging into the world of fan-made films across the pond. [The Guardian] • John Hiscock talks to J.J. Abrams about selling a re-imagined “Star Trek” to classic stars and fans alike. [Daily Telegraph] • Peter Knegt kicks of “(123) Days […]
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J.J. Abrams on keeping secrets
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:02 pm · April 21st, 2009
I enjoyed this J.J. Abrams editorial in this month’s issue of WIRED magazine for the most part. But even with his somewhat noble point (that spoilers, cheating and the “age of immediacy” have dulled the satisfaction we get out of the “process” of doing, watching or experiencing something), I can’t help but sense a heavier […]
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Oh yeah…reactions to those ‘Star Trek’ screenings
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:27 am · April 8th, 2009
J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” is pretty low on my “to-do” list, I have to say. Ever since the CW/Young Guns approach was announced (not to mention an underlying disinterest in the material that goes back decades), it’s been a bit difficult to keep the yawns down. What can I say? I’m no Trekkie. But even […]
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