Too lazy to read all the wonderful news our insightful crew scours the globe to bring you every day? Too outmoded to have an MP3 player for the podcast? Shame on you all! However, being the generous lot we are, welcome to news:blended, your weekly guide to the most interesting stories reported on Cinema Blend over the last seven days.
This week Harry Potter madness truly started as the latest movie gave Transformers some pop culture competition. In typical extraordinary fashion, it didn’t take long for the boy wizard to start breaking records. Also, a time honored institution turned one hundred and some other stuff happened too:
SATURDAY
Ed blends the week’s news for you.
Coming off of the Holiday week, last Saturday was what we refer to as, “a slow news day” so the only news we reported was Ed putting together our weekly news:blended. You’re reading it right now, but Ed’s on vacation, so this week you have to endure my blending skills. Lucky Ed.
SUNDAY
Giant Freakin’ Robots take over the box office.
The Weekly Blend Audio Show turned 100
Despite opening earlier in the week, Transformers still dominated the weekend, crushing little rats, John McClane, and anyone else silly enough to get under their feet. They’re giant freakin’ robots! What do you expect? Not as giant or having anything to do with robots is our Weekly Blend Audio Show, which put out its 100th episode this week. Are you listening to it yet?
MONDAY
Dennis Hopper isn’t hurting for work…
...but he still finds time to work on shit.
Mysterious trailer finds its way online
For some reason Monday was a big news day for Dennis Hopper. Kevin Costner has added his name to a political ballet opposite Kelsey Grammer for his upcoming comedy Swing Vote. Sorry, but those of us who remember the last time Costner and Hopper were in a movie together think this is a bad idea. Of course, so is Hopper appearing in another Speed movie, but that seems to be on the horizon as well. In non-Hopper news (at least that we know of) that cool trailer for the J.J. Abrams movie is now online.
TUESDAY
Shatner brings bad news to Trekkies, Trekkers, and basement dwellers everywhere.
Why couldn’t Baldwin have warned us about The Cat in the Hat?
William Shatner confirmed everyone’s worst fear: he’s not in J.J. Abrams upcoming Star Trek flick. Shatner’s warning everyone that he’s out, but Nimoy’s in. Somehow this is being taken as bad news instead of celebrating the notion that at least one original cast member is carrying on. Poor Nimoy. Meanwhile, Alec Baldwin is doing his own warning: stay away from Shortcut to Happiness, a picture that has been altered so far away from his directorial vision that they’ve changed the title. He claims the meddling is the reason for the warning. I think he’s just finally aware of how many duds he’s put out and doesn’t want anyone pulling him from “30 Rock” in retribution.
Josh thinks Alex Proyas is genius despite his movie selections.
Spielberg and Sorkin reinvent television.
When Josh was writing his story about Alex Proyas, he was also busy chastising me for not seeing most of the director’s films (Dark City is next on my NetFlix queue). Then he found out Proyas is making a prequel about Dracula. Maybe it’s better I haven’t invested much time in the director. A director with a better track record is Steven Spielberg. He’s made movies. He’s made television. Now he wants to make a movie about television with TV-magnate Aaron Sorkin. Great idea: because Sorkin’s recent TV show about television did so well.
THURSDAY
Witches come out at midnight for Harry.
Michael Moore starts another controversy.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix started its theatrical run with a record breaking midnight run. Either this finally kills the argument that the stories are only “for kids” or there’s a lot of delinquent parents dragging their young’uns to the theater at midnight. The non-fictional fighter of all things evil, Michael Moore, announced the premise of his next movie: he’ll be tackling the church’s stance on homosexuality. Really? Another controversy? Isn’t there a documentary about fluffy bunnies out there with Moore’s name on it?
FRIDAY
The boy wizard isn’t afraid of Elle Woods.
James Bond: Stand-up comedian
A couple of weeks ago we pointed out how sad Live Free or Die Hard’s opening day was by pointing out Legally Blonde made more money on its opening Wednesday than John McClane did. Harry Potter isn’t facing that problem as the movie makes enough money to set a new record for Wednesdays, taking down The Lord of the Rings. While the Harry Potter movies have gotten darker, Daniel Craig assures us the James Bond franchise is going to get lighter after it’s last gritty movie. Great. How long will it be before the movie is two hours of James Bond on a microphone in front of a brick wall?
That’s all for another week of news blending. It’s like what you get at Jamba Juice, but cheaper and not quite as healthy. If you liked it or didn’t, leave some feedback.
