Written by Mitch Cyrus

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It's Friday night, which means its Crystal Ball time here at Da Blurbs. Per usual, the hysterical Cyrus lets us know what's at the theaters, whats coming out on DVD, and what is happening in Hollywood. Mitch also hits on the new Superman, the new Spiderman, and several other intriguing films set for release later this year. For most of the movie going public, “Superman Returns” is the big movie of the week, but as noted, I previewed it last week as it opened on Wednesday to pretty good reviews. I haven’t read through any of them, as I want to form my own opinion once I view it this weekend…but the buzz seems to me as it’s a very good movie, but it would have been perceived as a better movie had it not been for last year’s “Batman Begins”. The Christian Bale flick has set the bar for how to re-invent a movie franchise and Superman was bound to suffer a bit in comparison. No duh! Batman is such a complex character (read: Head Case) that in the hands of a great actor and decent script, you can’t loose (unless you have George Clooney and Ahnuld). Superman is such a relatively boring Boy Scout, and the memory of Christopher Reeve’s performance and life is so ingrained in everyone’s mind that it would have been extremely difficult for Byran Singer’s remake with Brandon Routh to match the results “Batman Begins” obtained.

In any case, we are still waiting the Monster Box Office Movie of 2006. Superman will do well over $200 million, as did “X-Men United”, and “The DaVinci Code”…but it won’t be the smash hits seen the last few summers like “Revenge of the Sith”, “Spider-Man 2”, or “Pirates of the Caribbean” have been. Assuming “Pirates” can be like “Spider-Man” and build upon the first movie, it is now considered the favorite to win Box Office Champion for the summer of 2006.

News and Rumors:

~ Links to this are almost everywhere…so let’s join the club. The first Spider-Man 3 trailer is out, and you get to see the first glimpses of the major theme…the introduction of the weird alien symbiot that is Venom…a creature that actually becomes Spidey’s black costume, but eventually tries to take control of Peter Parker. Brief shots of Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Sandman as well. I’m officially geeked. View the trailer here.

~ Filming of “Wolverine” with Hugh Jackman reprising his famous X-Men role may actually start early next year, putting the release date tentatively for summer 2008.

~ The comic book theme continues. “Iron Man” will be coming to the big screen on May 2, 2008. Jon Favreau will direct the story of the alcoholic billionaire weapons maker Tony Stark who manufactures a super suit for himself after he is injured. No truth to the rumor that Bill Cowher has been trying to contact Mr. Stark to design a motorcycle helmet for Ben Rothlisberger. No one has been cast in the role as of yet…although Tom Cruise is said to be interested. NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

~ John Travolta needs to start writing his acceptance speech for the 2007 Razzies already. Not only is he going to stink up the screen as JR Ewing in the big screen adaptation of “Dallas”, he is also starring along with Queen Latifah and Billy Crystal in a remake of the campy (and strange) John Waters’ film “Hairspray”. My guess is that in 2008 he’ll play Vinnie Barbarino in some sort of “Welcome Back Kotter” remake, and then star in “The William Shatner Story”.

~ One last comic book blurb today, as another comic book about Vampires is about to be made into a film. “Priest” will be set in the Old West, with Gerard Butler (“Phantom of the Opera”) as a renegade priest going against church orders to fight vampires along side a sheriff and a priestess. Sam Raimi (“Spider-Man” director) is listed as a producer. I suppose if this is a success, we’ll soon have a “Blade goes Underground with a Priest” to tie them all in, and save me the boredom.


This week’s new releases:

Only one other movie is brave enough to open in competition with the Man of Steel.


Title: The Devil Wears Prada

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Adrian Grenier

Plot: Naïve and fashion-clueless young woman goes to work for the Boss From Hell (Streep), an editor at a major fashion magazine, Runway (supposed to represent Vogue)

View Trailer

The BeerBuzz: Chick Flick alternative for the week. Streep seems to be reveling in her new career as older character actor, and she probably chews scenery at Al Pacino levels as the satanic editor-in-chief. It should be interesting to watch Vincent Chase…er…Adrian Greneir in his first major movie role after the success of “Entourage”. For me…as payback for making my “I hate sad, intensely emotional movies” wife watch the DVD of “Eight Below” last weekend (and Kleenex stock rose 10% after she did), I get the feeling I’ll be seeing this one soon. Sigh.


New DVD Releases on Tuesday, July 4th.

Given that the Tuesday releases fall on a holiday this year, we haven’t much of a selection this week.

The Matador – Pierce Brosnan might have just forfeited his “license to kill” by agreeing to make this film, which debunks his dashing, debonair spy image. Brosnan plays a burnt out, disheveled hit man who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Greg Kinear as a sad sack failed businessman. Sort of a “Sopranos” with a laugh track as a concept, but if you are into character studies, this will be of interest for you, as Brosnan gives one of the best performances of his career. A hit man as a best friend? Hmmm…that could be useful around the office.

The Libertine – Johnny Depp plays the Earl of Rochester, a womanizing, boozing reprobate with very few redeeming values. Sounds like most lobbyists now working in Washington, D.C., doesn’t it?

Doctor Who: The Complete First Season – There are a lot of people who are looking forward to this. They all wear pocket protectors and are fluent in C#. Do not anger them, as they will hack into your computer, steal all of your porn, and order Linux servers for themselves using your eBay account.


Calendar Watch:


Next week: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, A Scanner Darkly

Upcoming Biggies.

M. Knight Shyamalan’s Lady in the Water: July 21st

Miami Vice: July 28th

Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby: August 9th

World Trade Center: August 9th

Snakes On a Plane!: August 18th

Clerks II: August 18th

Invincible: August 25th

All the King’s Men: September 22nd

Flags of Our Fathers: October 20th

Casino Royale (007): November 17th