Interesting perspective on Superman by Khoi Vinh:

For Superman, particularly, I often wonder why the franchise’s many different regimes of comic book writers and film producers have continually overlooked what to me seems like an obvious opportunity for interesting stories: the idea that, of all the professions he could have chosen, Clark Kent decided to become a journalist. To me, the tension between the journalistic credo to solely observe and report, and having the god-like power to literally change the course of what gets reported is a fascinating one that has never been really explored. Superman hides in plain sight as a reporter clearly because he does not want to change the course of human history (beyond what’s possible for a human being working for a news organization is capable of); and yet his very existence theoretically alters mankind’s course forever. There’s a fantastic Superman movie to be filmed with Clark Kent’s life as a journalist at its center, one that could be serious and thoughtful but also one that could be genuinely fun and uplifting. Too bad nobody put me in charge of a Hollywood studio.

There’s no doubt Hollywood has become lazy as shit in the last decade with the amount of remakes they’ve made.

If you dig Nina Simone, jazz and/or documentaries, I highly recommend What Happened, Miss Simone? on Netflix.

Like most extremely talented people, she was a complex person, battling her own, personal demons.

The Godfather Trilogy is only $10 in the U.S. iTunes Store right now.

It’s worth $20 if you don’t include Part III.

I’m just being honest.

We’re talking about pre-Lost-In-Translation Sophia Coppola.

via The Loop

NY to SF in 5 minutes shot entirely on an iPhone 6+ by Tom Harman.

via kottke

LOS ANGELES — When Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” is released in a special roadshow version (with overture, intermission and additional footage) on Dec. 25, it will represent a feat worthy of the heist in the director’s “Jackie Brown.”

The film is scheduled to open on 96 screens in the United States and four in Canada, all in 70-millimeter projection, a premium format associated with extravaganzas of the 1950s and 1960s.

Yet from a theatrical standpoint, the technology is nearly obsolete. Last year, “Interstellar” opened in 70 millimeter at only 11 comparable locations. There were only 16 in 2012 for “The Master,” which renewed interested in the format. No film has opened with 100 70-millimeter prints since 1992. According to the National Association of Theater Owners, 97 percent of the 40,000 screens in the United States now use digital projection.

Over a period of a year and a half, the Weinstein Company, which will distribute the film, arranged for old projectors to be procured, purchased and refurbished and new lenses to be made for theaters.

NYTimes: Tarantino’s ‘The Hateful Eight’ Resurrects Nearly Obsolete Technology

Tarantino is so obsessive. I love it.

Star Wars Trilogy Redub had me dying.

via Coudal

Looks like there’s a Beastie Boys easter egg in Star Wars: The Force Awakens:

The Beastie Boys as we knew them ceased to exist in 2012 after Adam Yauch’s death from cancer, but their memory’s being kept alive in an unexpected, intergalactic fashion. Jedi Insider obtained a new Hasbro Black Series figurine of an alien X-wing pilot featured in the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens, one named Ello Asty; his helmet has the phrase “born to ill” written on it in Aurebesh, the Star Wars series’ written language. If you’re a hip-hop fan, a few bells might be ringing in your brain: the Beasties’ 1986 debut was called Licensed to Ill, and they released Hello Nasty 12 years later.

How do you say ‘J.J. Fanboy’ in Bocce?

Donald

For the seventh year in a row, my friend, editor, and DE contributor Bryan is doing his October Horrorshow, publishing one horror movie review each day, for the entire month.

Here’s the full archive.

You officially have no excuse for scary movie options.

Update: I should give a few recommendations. For a newer movie, I suggest It Follows and for an oldie, I suggest Hellraiser.

Website vintage everyday reposted NME’s list of 14 Old School Sacred Movies That Should Never be Rebooted.

Included in the list are some of my favorite movies: Goodfellas, The Godfather and Annie Hall. Saying you can never remake these is bullshit.

It’s like saying you can never cover a song by Led Zeppelin or The Beatles. You can do it, but there’s a good chance you’re going to fall short of the original. It’s great when an artist gives the world a whole new perspective on something we’re very familiar with.

My problem with Hollywood isn’t the reboots per say, but the laziness of the reboots. The goal of the Hollywood machine isn’t to offer a fresh perspective and reinterpretation of an existing piece of art but simply to make a new copy. Maximum profit with minimal effort.

The Art of the Car Chase by Filmnørdens Hjørne

Once self-driving cars are ubiquitous, I wonder how weird car chase scenes in movies will seem to people.

Robert Zemeckis is not down with anyone remaking Back to the Future:

“I mean, to me, that’s outrageous. Especially since it’s a good movie. It’s like saying ‘Let’s remake Citizen Kane. Who are we going to get to play Kane?’ What folly, what insanity is that? Why would anyone do that?”

Hahaha. Take it easy, Zemecky.

I liked Back to the Future like anyone else, but it ain’t no Citizen Kane.

Talk about delusions of grandeur.

Remember Leeroy Jenkins from 10 years ago?

Director Finn O’Hara made it into an epic, 3-minute short film.

via Rands in Repose

R.L. Stine on cell phones “ruining” movies (via parislemon):

You know, cell phones have ruined everything. They’ve ruined every plot, seriously. You used to have this plot where the girl is getting these frightening phone calls and she’s trying to figure out who’s calling her. You can’t do that story anymore [because the name is] right there on the phone.

This is bullshit.

The Departed is a great example where the entire plot exists because of cellphones.

Talk about tension.