You know, I understand wanting to name a film after a place, person or original film with a weird name, but really, it’s not a good idea. Trust me on this.
For one thing, you have to educate everyone in how to pronounce it. And for another – raising hand here — anyone who writes about it will undoubtedly get it wrong at some point. It’s just a pain.
But even with the hard-to-pronounce-and-spell title, “Reykjavik-Rotterdam” sounds like a good film, especially with Mark Wahlberg onboard.
The remake, based on an Icelandic film directed by Oskar Jonasson that’s in …read more

When I was a kid, I remember my parents going to see "Barbarella," and coming home all mysterious about what the movie was about.
In case you weren’t around in 1968, the sci-fi action-adventure centers on a female mercenary (played by Jane Fonda) who roams the universe of a distant future, taking on missions requiring bravery, creativity, and sensuality. It was all very sexy.
Now a remake is in the works! Joe Gazzam is writing the screenplay, with original producer Dino De Laurentiis  and his wife, Martha De Laurentiis on board to produce the update.
Originally, Robert Rodriguez was eyeing …read more

It’s hard to imagine "Harvey" with anyone but Jimmy Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd, the guy who befriended a 6 1/2-foot-tall invisible rabbit in the 1950 film version of Mary Chase’s play — which won a Pulitzer Prize, by the way.
But if anyone can do a remake, it would be Steven Spielberg, who plans to direct an upcoming film, a co-production of 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks. It’s the first film under DreamWorks’ new incarnation; the company will finance 50% through its new partner Reliance and distribute through Disney.
It’s funny how all these film companies are hooked …read more

Actor Michael Douglas was at the Hotel Arts Barcelona today for a photo call promoting his new film, "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt." He looks great, doesn’t he? Like he’s on top of the world. And such a great actor; I’m always impressed with his performances.
Directed by Peter Hyams, the movie is a remake of the 1956 film about a writer trying to expose a corrupt district attorney. It also stars Jesse Metcalfe, Amber Tamblyn (one of my favorite actresses!), and Sewell Whitney. It’s rated PG-13 for a sex scene, violence and brief strong language, and set for a Sept. …read more

Check out the new banner for “Star Trek,” in regular and IMAX theaters May 8, 2009. I’m such a “Star Trek” geek. Watch the extended “Star Trek” trailer here, and tell me you’re not excited about this movie. I dare ya!

Image: Star Trek, Paramount Pictures, 2009

“My Bloody Valentine 3D” – Lionsgate’s redo of George Mihalka’s 1981 slasher film – hits theaters Jan. 16, 2009. And it looks pretty creepy, doesn’t it? (Check out the face in the reflection on the mask.)
Directed by Patrick Lussier, the flick stars Jensen Ackles (”Supernatural”) as Tom Hanniger, a man who returns to his hometown of Harmony haunted by a tragic coal mining accident and the massacre that occurred courtesy of vengeful survivor Harry Warden.
Ten years later, on Valentine’s Day, the killings begin again with a masked killer wielding a pickaxe on the loose. Has Warden returned? …read more

Wow, talk about mining a movie franchise for all it’s worth. Last month, I heard that 20th Century Fox was working on a remake of “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes” called “Genesis: Apes.” The story is reportedly about Caesar, the first talking ape who started the whole apes-in-charge theme.
Now Fox is talking about a possible prequel, with more info in between showings of the “Planet of the Apes” movies on Fox Movie Channel this weekend.
“We are very close at Fox on a new Apes script,” said Fox’s Tom Rothman. “This one is a kind of prequel …read more

Not sure how I feel about this, but LatinoReview.com is reporting that the live-action “He-Man” movie, titled “Grayskull: The Masters of the Universe,” ISN’T dead in the water and, in fact, landed a director – John Stevenson.
Stevenson recently directed “Kung Fu Panda,” which went over well as a family movie. I dunno … is “He-Man” pegged as a family movie? And even if it isn’t, I guess we don’t have to pigeonhole Stevenson into just one genre, right?
Any thoughts on this?
Image: Amazon.com

Here’s the full trailer for “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” the remake starring Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, a humanoid alien who arrives on Earth with some serious news for earthlings.

In the oh-no-not-another-remake department, “The Karate Kid” remake is a go at Columbia, with Jaden Smith in the title role. That’s Jaden, pictured, along with his dad, Will Smith, at the Los Angeles premiere of “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” on Oct. 26, 2008. Look at that face!
Rumors have been circulating for a while, but a note landed in my inbox today confirming the casting of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s offspring. Jaden co-starred along with his dad in “The Pursuit of Happyness” (which I loved).
More after the jump…