The Week In Geek: The Spectre On TV, Star Trek, And 80’s Favorites Return To A Theater Near You
The Spectre Might Haunt Fox
Remember a few weeks back I mentioned a Deadman series was on tap for the CW? Well, looks like another supernatural DC hero is getting a crack at television, as Fox is developing a series based on The Spectre. Deadline.com says that Brandon Camp, creator of Fox’s short lived series John Doe, will write and executive produce this one. All the project has right now is a script apparently. What isn’t known is which version of the character will be used; the original (and most well known) was murdered cop Jim Corrigan, who returned from the afterlife as a vengeful spirit. This version was created by Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel, and lasted from 1940 till about 1995.
The most recent version of the Spectre was another murdered police officer, Crispus Allen. Both versions were often referred to in the comics as the embodiment of God’s Wrath. I’d bet real money that particular aspect of his character won’t be used on television. I’d also bet money that The Spectre’s second incarnation, that of Green Lantern Hal Jordan, will never, ever be used or referenced on any Spectre series (just a hunch). I can’t see Fox rolling with this series to be honest. It doesn’t seem like a fit there….maybe it’ll be developed at Fox only to wind up as a companion piece for Deadman on the CW. Now that would make more sense.
JJ Abrams Officially On Board To Direct Star Trek II
Many might file this story under the “no shit” file, but the truth is despite being heavily rumored and expected for more than two years, it has never been a sure thing that JJ Abrams would return to direct a sequel to his Star Trek reboot. But now according to many sources, it is a done deal and shooting is expected to start as soon as this December. What is not certain is just when the movie is being released….it is either going to be a Holiday 2012 release or a Summer 2013 release. Both seasons are already crowded, but the Holiday season has always been a good time to release Trek movies…only Wrath of Khan and Search for Spock were summer releases, and the most financially successful entries into the series (Voyage Home and First Contact) were Holiday movies. In any event, those worried that someone like Brett Ratner or someone else hacky like that was coming in to replace Abrams can now breathe a sigh of relief. Trek remains in the right hands.
Johnny Depp Dark Shadows Pics Surface
The first spy pics of Johnny Depp as vampire Barnabas Collins in next year’s Tim Burton directed Dark Shadows have surfaced, and they look, well….. pretty much how one would expect a Tim Burton vampire to look like. Strangely, Johnny Depp looks less like Jonathan Frid (the original Barnabas from the 60’s soap opera) and much more like Michael Jackson in his later more freaktastic years. Many said Depp’s performance in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was Michael-esque, and now it appears he is mimicking his appearance as well. Maybe this vampire won’t drink blood, just “Jesus Juice”.
Spielberg To Bring Out Indy, E.T. On Blu-ray In 2012
So far, the past year has been a good one for Blu-ray geeks waiting for their favorite classic films to get released in high def format. We got the Alien series, Back to the Future, The Lord of the Rings extended editions, and coming soon such long awaited releases like Pulp Fiction and, oh yeah, freakin’ Star Wars.
But there are a still a few “Holy Grail” titles left to come out in high definition, and a good chunk of them come from one Steven Spielberg. At least four of those titles are coming out next year though, as at a 30th Anniversary screening for Raiders of the Lost Ark this week, the bearded one revealed that the entire Indiana Jones series is finally coming to Blu-ray next year. As to when, that is up to the other bearded one, executive producer George Lucas; it might be Spring, or as late as Fall of next year.
Also coming next year is E.T. just in time for that movies 30th Anniversary. At the screening, Spielberg did an informal poll among the audience about whether or not the new Blu Ray should include the revised 2002 version, the one with the CGI E.T. and the stupid walkie talkies replacing guns amongst the federal agents. When asked if they wanted the “new and improved version” the audience shouted a resounding “NO!” and Spielberg said the release would only be the classic version. Unlike Lucas, it seems Spielberg isn’t quite so stubborn, and can admit when past mistakes were mistakes.
Star Trek The Next Generation Comes To Blu Too
In other high def news, Trekkies can rejoice, as Star Trek the Next Generation is also coming to HD very soon it appears. The original Star Trek got a high def conversion a few years ago, but that show was shot and edited on good old fashioned 35mm film. The Next Generation however, while shot on 35mm film, was edited on video tape like almost all shows of that era. What this means is that all the special effects were composited on standard definition video and need to be totally redone, AND the show has to be re-edited from scratch from the original camera negative. This is a very expensive and painstaking process, and much more difficult to do than the original series was.
However, if the series is to extend its life in syndication, going HD can only end up bringing Paramount a lot more money in the long run, beyond just Blu-ray sales. A sampler disc for this Christmas is said to be being worked on right now, with the original pilot “Encounter at Farpoint” as well as fan favorite episodes “The Inner Light” and “Sins of the Father” said to be on it. The question on a lot of fan’s minds right now is whether or not the series will be reproduced in the original 4:3 aspect ratio or expanded to 16:9 for modern widescreen televisions. Since the original film was shot on 35mm, there is extra footage to the sides that can be used, so “cropping” would be minimal, but still…how will purists react to a widescreen Next Gen? We’ll know in December, when this “sampler” Blu-ray is said to be hitting store shelves.
I turned 13 when Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered, and turned 20 right as it went off the air, so my formative years were spent with the crew of the Enterprise –D. Old re-runs of Next Gen are like my warm milk or a snuggly teddy bear to fall asleep to, but on my LDC television those old DVD’s look like ass now. Bring on the Blu–rays I say.
More 80’s Movies Are Coming Back To Theaters. At Least They Ain’t Remakes
The movie that made Tom Cruise a mega star twenty five years ago, Top Gun, is coming back to theaters in 2012, and in 3D no less. Looks like no one told Paramount that America is officially sick of 3D, especially cheaply upconverted to 3D movies that were not shot in that format. In fact, the anti-3D feeling is so pervasive that many feel that recent movies like Shark Night and Fright Night would have done a hell of a lot better at the box office than they did if they were released 2D only. Most theaters were putting the 3D versions up on the majority of their screens, and people just didn’t wanna pay an extra three bucks for movies that play the same in regular old 2D, so they just skipped them all together rather that find a theater that only showed the regular version.
Also coming back to theaters soon, and thankfully NOT in 3D, is Ghostbusters. Apparently, with both releases, their respective studios are trying to determine what the audience is for these movies today, as Ghostbusters is said to be getting a part three soon, and a possible Top Gun 2 is also on the drawing boards. While I would love for Ghostbusters to reach a whole new generation of people (it remains one of the best movies of all time) I kinda hope the box office take isn’t that great, as I don’t want a Ghostbusters 3 any time soon. Having to sit through Ghostbusters 2 was enough.
