The Latest in Theaters: Tomb Raiders

New this week in theaters: mummies, meat trains and the first Best Actress contender of the year --

• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor: Brendan Fraser is back for a third round of Indiana Jones-ish escapades. This time, he has a new wife (Maria Bello, replacing Rachel Weisz), an older son (Luke Ford) and some fresh villains (Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh).
• Swing Vote: Kevin Costner stars as the one guy whose vote will decide the US Presidential Election in this well-timed comedy. The all-star cast includes Nathan Lane (who just played a president on Broadway in November), Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer and Dennis Hopper. The latter two play the film's fictitious contenders, who even have their own campaign ads (including this spoofy pro-gay marriage spot) ... and YouTube channels.
• The Midnight Meat Train: Hellraiser creator Clive Barker brings more of his dark nightmares to the silver screen in this grisly gorefest (in limited release), which stars Bradley Cooper, Brooke Shields and Roger Bart. We'll have more on Barker in tomorrow's Out in Film profile.
• Frozen River: Melissa Leo is generating some early Oscar buzz as a desperate mother caught up in an illegal immigration drama; Michael O'Keefe, last seen as Scotty's dad on Brothers and Sisters, co-stars.
• And finally: Frameline Fest award winner XXY, a drama about an intersex teen faced with making a life changing decision, returns to the Bay Area.

To find out what films are playing in your area, visit Fandango - Search movie showtimes and buy tickets!

Summer Under the Stars: Michael Caine

As the summer movie season winds down in theaters, it is time to turn our attention from the now to the then as Turner Classic Movies launches their "Summer Under the Stars" month tomorrow. For the sixth year, each day in August on TCM is dedicated to a different legendary star -- from Astaire to Widmark -- and their classic films. (Watch a promotional preview here.)

In the tradition of our coverage of TCM's "31 Days of Oscar" back in February, Movie Dearest will spotlight each day's star the day before. And, in addition to a "Star Profile" (courtesy of TCM's Now Playing guide), I will pick out one movie a day to recommend or that is of other interest. Fresh off the biggest movie of his career (that would be The Dark Knight), Michael Caine is up first:

Now Playing Star Profile for Michael Caine - Stardates: Born March 14, 1933, Rotherhithe, London, England. Star Sign: Pisces. Star Qualities: Elegant professionalism, colorful British twang, empathy with the common man. Star definition: "Wonderfully good company, ceaselessly funny and a brilliant actor" -- Laurence Olivier. Galaxy of Characters: Alfie Elkins in Alfie, Jack Carter in Get Carter, Milo Tindle in Sleuth, Lt. Col. "Joe" Vanderleur in A Bridge Too Far.

And speaking of Olivier, he co-starred with Caine in Sleuth, the taught two-character mystery thriller that was director Joseph L. Mankiewicz's last film. Both actors were nominated for Academy Awards, one of the few times a film's entire credited cast was so recognized. The original 1972 movie (written by Anthony Shaffer, adapting his own stage hit) had some homoerotic subtext between the dueling duo; this was amplified in the little seen remake from last year, wherein Caine shifted to the Olivier role and Jude Law took over Caine's.

Sleuth airs tomorrow on TCM at 10:00 AM EST.

Johnny Depp: Next Stop, Wonderland?

Well, what do you know: rumor has it that Johnny Depp is going to be the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. Never saw that one coming. Let's see, will he have Kabuki-white face makeup and speak in a slightly feminine voice? And, with an unknown cast as Alice, will Helena Bonham Carter be the Queen of Hearts?

In more Depp rumors: Johnny as the Riddler in the next Batman movie? And joined by Angelina Jolie as Catwoman and/or Philip Seymour Hoffman as the Penguin?

Well, if it's on the internet, it's all got to be true, right?

The Martian Chronicles

Considering how popular he (and his merchandise) has been over the years, here's some news you can file under "Huh, I wonder why they never thought of this before": Marvin the Martian, the intergalactic Looney Tunes character celebrating his 60th birthday this year, will soon star in his own feature film.

Warner Bros. is currently developing the movie, which will reportedly mix live action and computer animation. For some reason, they are going with a holiday-themed plot, what sounds like a mix of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, although that could change. Well, as long as it's better then Space Jam ...

No word yet if Marvin's frequent co-stars Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck (a.k.a. Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century) will appear, but I'm sure he'll have his trusty Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator on hand.

Fried Green Revelations

Hitting the wires today: "Mary-Louise Parker begged the director of Fried Green Tomatoesnot to censor the film's lesbian plotline, believing it to be a crucial part of the story. Parker starred in the 1991 movie with Mary Stuart Masterson playing her best friend, but in the original story -- from Fannie Flagg's 1987 novel -- their characters were lovers. Movie bosses were determined to downplay the relationship and portray the couple as just close pals -- despite Parker's desperate pleas to filmmaker Jon Avnet."

Of course, astute viewers of the movie (and anyone who read the book beforehand) can detect slight traces of the original story; you may remember Susie Bright recalling her unpleasant reaction to it in The Celluloid Closet.

At the time of the film's release, many were disappointed over the "glossing over" of the lesbian subject matter of the book, although Avnet has revealed that that "a scene between the two women engaging in a food fight was intended to be seen as symbolic love-making". Yeah, because we all know plenty of lesbians who throw food at each other to display their passion ...

Nevertheless, it won the GLAAD Media Award that year, and Flagg was Oscar nominated for adapting her book, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe,to the screen.

A Quantum Duet

Following rumors of Amy Winehouse and Beyoncé, it has finally been revealed who will croon the next James Bond theme song for Quantum of Solace: Alicia Keys and Jack White.

Yes, that's right: for the first time in Bond song history, it will be a duet. Titled "Another Way to Die", the tune was written by White, lead singer of the White Stripes.

Daniel Craig returns as Agent 007 in Quantum of Solace, in theaters November 7.

For Tonight at Least, It Doesn't Suck to Be Them

Avenue Q has a big night tonight. The hilarious musical comedy about finding your purpose, falling in love and the joys of internet porn celebrates its fifth anniversary on Broadway.

To commemorate the occasion, here is a video clip of another big night for Rod, Lucy the Slut, Trekkie Monster and all the gang down on the Q: their Tony Award show performance, which preceded their unexpected win as Best Musical later that evening.

Of course, the show that lost was Wicked, so to rub that in, here's a bonus clip: Wicked, Avenue Q style!

Monthly Wallpaper - August 2008: Drama Queens of the Silver Screen

August is going to be a dramatic month here at Movie Dearest, what with the likes of Margo Channing, Norma Desmond, Phyllis Dietrichson, Blanche DuBois and Mildred Pierce gracing our movie calendar wallpaper. That's right, it's the Drama Queens of the Silver Screen.

And, believe it or not, this is the first time the real Joan Crawford appears on this monthly feature.

All you have to do is click on the picture above to enlarge it, then simply right click your mouse and select "Set as Background". (You can also save it to your computer and set it up from there if you prefer.) The size is 1024 x 768, but you can modify it if needed in your own photo-editing program.

Prince & Princess Tales

First look teaser at Disney's upcoming return to traditionally animated fairy tales, The Princess and the Frog. And a first listen too; three guesses who the songwriter is ... but you'll only need one.

Also, the first real trailer for a little movie called Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Illustration of Princess Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose) by "Nippy13" at DeviantArt.com.

Women We Love: Emma Thompson

Object of our affection: Emma Thompson, actress/ writer.

- Warm and witty, she's the actress at the top of my "fantasy celebrity dinner party" invite list. In sharp contrast -- proof of her amazing talent -- she plays the cold and calculating matriarch at the center of the new Brideshead Revisited (opening wide this weekend), a performance already gaining whispers of Oscar #3 for Miss Thompson.

- She won Oscar #1 (along with every other award known to man) for her breakthrough role in Howards End. Two nominations at once followed, for The Remains of the Day and In the Name of the Father, and then again for writing and starring in Sense and Sensibility; Oscar #2 came for adapting the Jane Austen classic to the screen.

- Prior to all that, she co-starred with her then husband Kenneth Branagh in Henry V, Dead Again, Peter's Friends and Much Ado About Nothing (she is currently married to her Sense co-star Greg Wise). Other notable film roles include The Tall Guy, Impromptu, Junior, Carrington, Primary Colors, Treasure Planet, Love Actually, Nanny McPhee (which she also wrote), Stranger Than Fiction and two Harry Potter movies (so far) as the loopy divination professor Sybil Trelawney.

- On television, she won an Emmy for hilariously playing a closeted lesbian (and Ohioan) version of herself on Ellen, and received nominations for Wit (for both acting and writing) and the landmark Angels in America.

- After Brideshead, her next films include the 60's set coming of age drama An Education, the late in life romantic drama Last Chance Harvey and the rock radio comedy The Boat That Rocked. Plus, she has just revealed that she will adapt George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion for the planned remake of the beloved musical My Fair Lady.

Dubya Debut

It takes about a third of this trailer to realize that this movie is indeed Oliver Stone's upcoming look at the current President of the United States of America, W. And then "What a Wonderful World" kicks in, and you realize ... ohmygod, this is comedy?! And then you realize, "Of course, that makes perfect sense."

Josh Brolin as George W. Bush heads the all-star cast playing the all-star cast of characters, including Elizabeth Banks as First Lady Laura, James Cromwell as daddy George, Ellen Burstyn as mamma Barbara and Richard Dreyfuss as veep Dick Cheney. Oh yeah, and then there's Toby Jones as Karl Rove, Ioan Gruffudd as Tony Blair, Scott Glenn as Donald Rumsfeld, Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice and Jeffrey Wright as Colin Powell.

W. hits theaters October 17 ... right before election time. Oh, Oliver, you scamp.

Poster Post: Period Chic

Keira Knightley stars as the title character in The Duchess, in theaters September 19.

The tagline for this period romantic drama, based on a true story, is "There were three people in her marriage". The other two are Ralph Fiennes and Mamma Mia!'s Dominic Cooper, who gets some steamy action with Knightley in the film's trailer.

Xanadu Makes Whoopi

Tony Award winner Whoopi Goldberg returns to Broadway tonight in the hit musical Xanadu. For a limited time (through September 7), she will cover the role of mischievous muse Calliope; Jackie Hoffman, who originated the role, is taking a six-week sabbatical from the show to promote her new album, Jackie Hoffman Live from Joe's Pub. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to hear the Whoopster's version of "Evil Woman".

Also arriving in the land of disco balls and roller skates this evening is Xanadu's returning leading man Cheyenne Jackson. The Dearie Award winner dons his short shorts once again after his recent run in the Encores revival of Damn Yankees. To commemorate the occasion, Cheyenne has submitted his own "Cue & A" over at Playbill.com. In it, he reveals that he is a 100% Cancer, his pants have split many a time on stage for "obvious reasons" and he is "MAC-curious".

In other stage fave news, Tom Wopat returns to familiar territory tonight. Wopat, who wrapped up his Tony nominated run in A Catered Affair just this past weekend, is back to "razzle dazzle 'em" as lawyer Billy Flynn in the long-running Chicago.

And speaking of Chicago, the Xanadu tour will open there in January, following its launch in La Jolla this November.

UPDATE: As usual, Broadway.com was on the scene for Whoopi's opening night, and they have the pictures to prove it.

JCPenney Serves Up a Little Breakfast

John Hughes' classic ode to 80's teen angst The Breakfast Club is getting a lot of love these days. Not only was its iconic imagery co-opted for the recent documentary American Teen (in theaters now), but its most memorable moments have been recreated in commercial form by retailer JCPenney.

With a cover of the Simple Minds' anthem "Don't You Forget About Me" as its soundtrack, the 30-second and one minute spots (airing on TV and in movie theaters, respectively) -- part of a surprisingly extensive back to school campaign -- have received some oddly hostile criticisms from online advertising pundits.

Apparently, these bitchy curmudgeons are unaware of the enduring appeal of a brain, a beauty, a jock, a rebel and a recluse.

Head of the Class

Legendary movie costume designer Edith Head, who won a record eight Academy Awards out of an astounding 35 nominations, is the subject of a new stage play opening tonight in London.

A Conversation with Edith Head is written by Paddy Calistro and Susan Claassen, based on Calistro and Head's book Edith Head's Hollywoodand starring Claassen as the famed film fashionista.

The production is scheduled to run through August 31.

The Latest on DVD: The Tribe Has Bitten

Perhaps hoping to cash in on early hype for the Twilight movie, Warner Home Video released today on DVD and Blu-ray a direct-to-video sequel to that seminal 80's cult flick about young vampires in love, The Lost Boys. Titled Lost Boys: The Tribe,the new vid predictably doesn't star Jason Patric, Kiefer Sutherland or even Dianne Wiest. But hey! The two Coreys are back! (Yeah, I know, no big surprise.)

Also available is the sequel's soundtrack album,which includes a cover of the original film's theme song, "Cry Little Sister", as heard in the trailer for The Tribe.

UPDATE: Regarding the cast of the original Lost Boys, have you ever wondered "where are they now?" Moviefone has the answers.

Check out the Latest on DVD widgets located in the sidebar for more of this week's new DVD releases available today from Amazon.com.

Comic-Con 2008: Wrap Up

Comic-Con 2008 came to a close yesterday, which means it is time for some gratuitous shots of sexy costumes!

Continuing the tradition started last year, here's another 300 hunk, along with a bevy of comely Disney vixens, a studly Superman, a bearish Wolverine, and a whole pack of sexy Jesuses. If you ever wondered what is was like to be a superhero-for-a-day, Cinematical's buxom-for-a-day Elisabeth Rappe (that's her Lara Croft with the Hamlet 2 gang) blogs all about it over on her home turf.

Save for the Watchmen confab and that out-of-nowhere Tron 2 teaser (catch the covert footage online while you can), there wasn't anything all that earth shaking this year. That is, unless you count some paltry information about remakes (The Day the Earth Stood Still, Friday the 13th, H.R. Pufnstuf, Red Sonja, The Wolfman) and sequels (The Evil Dead, I Am Legend, Punisher: War Zone, Scream 4, Terminator Salvation) nobody really asked for, not to mention movies just begging to be franchises (GI Joe, RocknRolla, The Spirit, Twilight). And then there is always the tantalizing news of exclusive footage that no one outside of the Con can see for now (most notably, an extended trailer for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which keeps appearing and reappearing on the net ... let me know if you find it). Most glaring was the complete lack of anything regarding the new Star Trek movie. It seems that now that Hollywood has more or less taken over the Con, the studios are holding all the cards ... and they're playing them very close to their vests.

Nevertheless, Moviefone has a pretty thorough overview of the entire geektastic weekend (including a tease about the two name actors who star in the fictitious gay porn flick Shut Your Mouth Before I F*** It in Kevin Smith's raunchy comedy Zack and Miri Make a Porno). And for more photo galleries of the fantastic fashions on display, visit Cinematical.com.

UPDATE: Who were the "hunks of Comic-Con"? Visit Thompson on Hollywood to find out. And for more of the best in retrospect, Cinematical has posted their "first annual Comic-Con awards!"

More Kudos for Billy

Billy Elliot the Musical, which won four Olivier Awards for its original London production, picked up seven more accolades at the 8th Annual Helpmann Awards, the Australian equivalent to the Tony Awards.

The acclaimed tuner, based on the 2000 movie of the same name and featuring a score by Elton John, received awards for Best Musical, Best Director for Stephen Daldry (who was Oscar nominated for the original film) and acting honors for Genevieve Lemon (as ballet teacher Mrs. Wilkinson) and the show's quartet of Billys, Lochlan Denholm, Nick Twiney, Rarmian Newton and Rhys Kosakowski.

Other notable winners include two awards each for Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show and the opera version of Dead Man Walking, including acting prizes for the former's Columbia, Sharon Millerchip, and the latter's Joseph De Rocher, hunky baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes.

Next for Billy Elliot the Musical, which begins performances on Broadway October 1: the Tonys.

Cinematic Crush: Colin Farrell

Crush object: Colin Farrell, actor.

- The Irish bad boy of modern movies, he has starred in everything from gritty dramas and period epics to comic book flicks and a notorious sex tape ("breakfast, lunch and fookin' dinner" indeed; go on, Google it ... you know you want to).

- His breakthrough role came in Joel Schumacher's Tigerland, quickly followed by Minority Report, Phone Booth, Daredevil and S.W.A.T.

- He has played gay in a few films, such as Oliver Stone's controversial (and often re-cut) Alexander and A Home at the End of the World; a deleted full frontal shot in the latter made headlines.

- In addition to Alexander the Great, he played another historical figure, Captain John Smith, in Terrence Malick's Pocahontas pic The New World. Other notable films include Miami Vice, Cassandra's Dream and In Bruges.

- Upcoming projects include the cop drama Pride and Glory, the thriller Triage and Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus; he, along with Johnny Depp and Jude Law, stepped into that troubled production following the death of Heath Ledger earlier this year.

Reverend's Report from Comic-Con ... in Absentia

At the end of Comic-Con weekend here in Southern California, I hate to admit that I didn't make it down to San Diego for the first time in five years. I was registered and planned to attend Friday at least, but I had to stay in Long Beach on-call for my hospice "day job." Granted, tending to the dying is infinitely more important than movie previews and guys roaming around in 300 attire, but I still hated not being able to be there.

Alas, all was not lost. As my mother taught me when I was a kid: "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" So I created my own, individualized Comic-Con weekend, with enough superheroes and genre events to tide me over until Comic-Con 2009:

Watchmen: I had been most excited about going to the Watchmen movie preview at Comic-Con on Friday. The trailer is amazing (and I'll give a special blessing to the first person to respond with the name of the prior comic book-inspired film that the Smashing Pumpkins song used in the trailer comes from). But Friday morning I realized, "I've had the original Watchmen graphic novel on my bookshelf for at least two years and have never read it!"

So on Friday, I started reading it. I haven't finished it yet, but suffice to say I could see within the first ten pages that the kudos heaped upon it since its publication in 1986 are well deserved. Great writing meets great, cinematic art, which will hopefully translate well to the big screen next March. Big, blue, naked Dr. Manhattan (personified by the talented, hot and digitally enhanced Billy Crudup in the film) is enough to get me to buy a ticket!

The Dark Knight: All indications were that it would have a huge opening weekend, so I didn't rush to see the latest Batman adventure. At the risk of upsetting my fellow critics and fans who have been raving about it, I think it's a very good movie but also highly overrated, not to mention overlong. The best movie of the year and/or best comic book movie ever? I think not. It struck me more as a classic-style gangster film than a superhero saga. There is too much talk/philosophizing/ moralizing, and at least three subplots and plot twists too many.

Heath Ledger was very good in a different interpretation of the Joker (especially when one lays it alongside his performance in Brokeback Mountain), but he wasn't necessarily better in the role than Jack Nicholson or even Cesar Romero. I think his untimely death has a lot to do with the adoration his performance is receiving.

The best performance in the movie is actually that of Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face. I didn't expect Two-Face to be as significant in this film as he is, and it is really his story rather than the Joker's or even Batman's. I encourage my fellow critics and fans of the film to give the overshadowed Eckhart the accolades he deserves.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army: I knew nothing about Mike Mignola's comic Hellboy when the first film inspired by it was released in 2004. The character intrigued me, the movie engrossed me, and I was eagerly looking forward to the sequel.

As directed and largely designed by Guillermo del Toro, Hellboy II is frequently beautiful to look at but lacks the creepy, apocalyptic spirit of its predecessor. It's more of a fairy tale about elves trying to overthrow the human race, and Hellboy's being the son of Satan doesn't figure into it much. Ron Perlman, however, continues to surprise and amuse as the big red bad boy trying to fit in and do good.

The X-Files: I Want to Believe: Comic-Con wouldn't be complete each year without The X-Files making its presence known, so I caught Mulder and Scully's new movie sequel to the TV series. I hadn't heard much about it in advance and had only read one review (which didn't reveal much), so I really didn't know what to expect.

Wow! Not only is I Want to Believe the best-written movie of the summer so far, treating a number of very serious current topics (including same-sex marriage) in a profoundly mature way, it is also very well-directed by series creator Chris Carter; wonderfully acted by David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson and the supporting cast; beautifully photographed by Bill Roe; and brilliantly edited by Richard A. Harris. Oh, and it's as eerie, scary and teasingly romantic as the series' best episodes were.

It didn't do very well at the box office this weekend (even Mamma Mia! grossed more), so please get out there and see it. Be sure to stay through the end credits!

Clearly, one doesn't have to go to San Diego each summer in order to have a Comic-Con experience. But Comic-Con is unique, and I'll look forward to returning there next summer, along with 125,000-plus of the craziest and coolest people on the planet.

UPDATE: Hellboy II: The Golden Army, The X-Files: I Want to Believe and The Dark Knightare now available on DVD from Amazon.com.

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Blonde Bundy Gets Blue Moon

As you can see, Laura Bell Bundy was positively verklempt over this cheeky parting gift from the chorus boys of Legally Blonde: The Musical.

Visit Broadway.com for more pics from Bundy's last night on Broadway in her Tony nominated role as Elle Woods.

UPDATE: Did you wonder how the Legally Blonde team kept the news of the new Elle Woods a secret during rehearsals? Playbill.com has all the answers, plus a hint at the musical's feature film possibilities.

Franco as Ginsberg

Here's some unexpected queer cinema scoop from Comic-Con, of all places. While promoting his next movie Pineapple Express, James Franco revealed to MTV News that he has been cast as legendary "Beat Generation" poet Allen Ginsberg in Howl, an upcoming documentary by the award winning team of Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman.

Considering that it is a documentary, I'm not exactly sure how Franco could "play" Ginsberg; perhaps in reenactments and/or voice-overs. Interestingly enough, this will be the second time this year in which Franco went "gay for pay" on film. He will also portray Scott Smith, Harvey Milk's lover, in Gus Van Sant's biopic Milk, due this December.

Epstein and Friedman are no doubt familiar to Movie Dearest readers as the creators of such seminal gay docs as The Celluloid Closet, Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt and, ironically, The Times of Harvey Milk. The latter two films won Academy Awards.

Music to My Ears

I don't know who Emily Rems is, but I think I just found my new best friend, or at least a kindred spirit as far as movie musicals are concerned. Rems recently wrote about her top ten cinematic tuners for Premiere.com, and I have to say, I like her choices.

In addition to such usual suspects as Cabaret and West Side Story, she has also picked some less-heralded but no doubt worthy examples as The Muppet Movie and The Little Mermaid (often overshadowed by Beauty and the Beast but, in some ways, superior). Also making her cut are a few films that are often looked down upon by cinematic classicists, like Grease, Rent and Moulin Rouge! She even manages to throw out "honorable mention" status to Hairspray and even Hello, Dolly!

These aren't exactly my top ten (no Mary Poppins, for example), but it's a great collection nonetheless.

Jumpin' Jupiter

Of all the buzz-worthy properties buzzing about this year's Comic-Con, perhaps the buzziest is Watchmen, Zack Snyder's eagerly awaited big screen adaptation of the landmark graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

Even with the first trailer still fresh in our minds, and the film's official website just re-launched, there was still plenty of other fresh information to impart to the fan masses at the Con. So much so that Cinematical posted not one but two reports on the official Watchmen panel. Highlights included:

- Extended clips showed why this movie won't be anywhere near a PG rating, including Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup) "kicking lots of ass in Vietnam". (And remember, Dr. Manhattan is big, blue and bald. And naked.)
- A look at the mask of Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley), which can change its freaky inkblot visage, in action.
- Regarding Patrick Wilson's Night Owl: "Yes, he does have a paunch." Too bad for us Wilson watchers.
- Some sexy moments between a redheaded Carla Gugino as Sally Jupiter (a.k.a. the original Silk Spectre; that's her in the accompanying illustration, by artist James Jean) and a sleazy Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the Comedian, who had this to say about getting into character: "I found getting in the costume and sticking a cigar in my mouth really got me in the mood to kill people".
- Most of the sets were real, not green screen, as in Snyder's 300.
- And finally: Matthew Goode (currently in Brideshead Revisited) was told this by a friend when he was cast as Ozymandias: "Looks like you're playing another gay, but this one's a stoner".

Watchmen opens in theaters March 6, 2009.

On Location: The Von Trapp Villa

Have you, like me, ever wanted to pay a visit to the land of the edelweiss, where the hills are alive with the sound of music? I have often dreamed of packing up my favorite things and traveling sixteen going on seventeen hours by plane so that I can track down my own lonely goatheard for a little something good. Too bad I'm a little short on the dough (poor me). And though I have confidence that my wish of climbing ev'ry mountain in that far-off land will some day come true, I know I will have to bid "so long, farewell" to it for now.

This dream was reawakened recently with the news that the Villa Trapp, the original Von Trapp family villa near Salzburg, Austria, opened this weekend as a hotel and museum. Despite the fact that the classic movie musical version of the Von Trapp's lives, The Sound of Music, was not actually used for filming (at the time, it was inhabited by a bunch of missionaries), fans should still get a thrill at visiting the actual location where the events of the movie took place, minus a little less musical numbers and the beatific presence of Julie Andrews, of course.

And although Music lovers have been visiting the area for years through scenic tours themed to their favorite movie, not everyone is happy about this endeavor to cash in on history, real and cinematic. Residents of the neighboring village have already expressed their displeasure, and you know the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont (where the famous family settled in after their escape from the Nazis) is likely none too pleased about their new competition.

However, I imagine that both locations will, like the appeal of The Sound of Music, continue to thrive. After all, there is just something about Maria.

Bat Booty

If you want to be as styling as millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne, all you have to do is head over to The Noble Collection™for their line of Dark Knight inspired bat-accessories, such as:

• Batman™ Begins Cufflinks- You'll look suave and sophisticated for your own dark nights out on the town.
• The Batarang™ Folding Money Clip-Black Satin- Your very own mini-batarang for protecting your very own Wayne fortune.
• Batman™ Titanium Flex Ring- A subtle way to reveal your own secret identity.
• Batman Begins ™ Bronze- This 7-inch tall solid bronze statue will look impressive in your own Bat-Cave.

So head on over to The Noble Collection™to Get Props and Collectibles from Batman: The Dark Knight. Shop Now!And be sure to check out their other movie collections, including The Chronicles of Narnia, The Da Vinci Code, The Golden Compass, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, The Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Superman and 300.

Mamma's Boys

Mamma mia is right ... whoever was in charge of marketing this movie, they sure know their audience!

Visit BroadwayWorld.com for more of these "atmosphere models" at the New York premiere of Mamma Mia!

Reel Thoughts Interview: From Sexy to Serious

On the eve of the DVD release of the frisky A Four Letter Word, actor/director Casper Andreas is plotting a meatier follow up with Between Love & Goodbye, the serious movie he planned after completing Slutty Summer in 2004.

A Four Letter Word is not that film, which you’ll now be able to discover when it comes out on DVD in August 19 (click here to pre-orderfrom Amazon.com). If you missed the run at your local theater, now’s your chance to see what happened to all the guys and girls from Andreas’ Slutty Summer.

He was happy to reunite all but one of the original actors for A Four Letter Word, which focuses on Jesse Archer’s lusty party boy Luke as he struggles with — gasp! — monogamy with hunky Stephen (hunky Charlie David). It also deals with other kinds of love entanglements, such as the perfect couple (J.R. Rolley and Steven M. Goldsmith) who can’t handle perfection, a bride-to-be (Virginia Bryan) seeking comfort in the arms of her AA sponsor (Allison Lane), and the sex-store manager (Cory Grant) seeking self-love through naked yoga.

Andreas jokes that Archer finally wore him down enough to get him to collaborate on the film, which the two friends wrote together. Andreas starred as well as directed Slutty Summer, so he was glad to step behind the camera exclusively on A Four Letter Word.

“You don’t have to worry about looking perfect all the time,” he laughed.

Already, the film has netted awards at film festivals including Best Picture and Best Screenplay, so Andreas is looking forward to its DVD debut. Not one to rest, apparently, I caught him en route to the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival where he was going to premiere his newest film, the serious one I mentioned, Between Love & Goodbye.

Andreas wanted to explore relationship topics in a more serious way, and actually prefers more dramatic films. He enjoys directing a great deal, even the exhausting road to all the festivals after completion, but he hasn’t abandoned acting. When asked, he did profess a desire to do more acting, but only after he finishes the promotional tour for Between Love & Goodbye.

I asked him what he thought of all of the fuss over California’s legalizing of gay marriage, and he explained that it’s something he’s watching very closely.

“I’m from Sweden, so I’m very interested in the upcoming election,” he explained, noting that the unequal treatment of GLBT Americans plays a big part of what drives Between Love & Goodbye.

Described as “a modern gay drama about falling in and out of love, and the rocky ride in between,” the film’s events are thrown in motion when Frenchman Marcel marries his lesbian friend Sarah so that he can remain in the US with Kyle. Kyle and Marcel are madly in love, but when Kyle’s sister April, a former prostitute, appeals to him to let her crash at his place, he doesn’t realize that she’s also planning on smashing up his happy relationship. As April methodically poisons their happiness, Kyle and Marcel’s relationship tumbles into fits of possessiveness, rage and jealousy. Not the lighthearted tone of A Four Letter Word, to be sure, but it is a film that Andreas is very proud of, and one closer to his own interests.

He noted that if Marcel and Kyle could legally marry, or at least form a legal partnership, they wouldn’t have experienced many of the complications they encountered.

Personally, Andreas feels that he would be content with a legally recognized union with his boyfriend, provided that it gave gay people the same legal rights as everyone else enjoys. In Sweden, a 1987 law defined marriage as between one man and one woman (sound familiar?), but civil unions have been recognized for years. In 2006, a Parliamentary panel deemed civil unions outdated, and recommended that full marriage rights be granted to same-sex couples. Whether it will come to pass is up to the courts and the Swedish Parliament, but clearly Sweden is a more enlightened country when it comes to GLBT issues.

As for A Four Letter Word, its goal is captured in its theme song “A Different Kind of Love,” a catchy little samba that celebrates “love in the twenty-first century” where “people can be what they want to be.”

Now, whether Luke can tame his wild ways for “macho” trust fund baby Stephen, and whether or not the judgmental Stephen is what he seems, is part of the fun of the modern sex romp.

Andreas hopes that people will be entertained and find the film sexy and thought provoking. Maybe with some prodding, your local art house will bring Between Love & Goodbye to your city. If it’s as engrossing as A Four Letter Word is funny, it’s sure to be another hit for the talented Andreas.

Watch the (slightly NSFW) trailers here: A Four Letter Word, Between Love & Goodbye.

UPDATE: Between Love & Goodbye is now available on DVDfrom Amazon.com.

Interview by Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.

Affair Ends, Game Over for Yankees

It's a big day in the Big Apple for show closings.

In addition to A Catered Affair (the Harvey Fierstein penned musical adaptation of the Bette Davis drama The Catered Affair, starring Tony nominee Faith Prince) and Encores' Damn Yankees revival (starring Sean Hayes, Jane Krakowski and Cheyenne Jackson), the popular Off-Broadway tuner I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change will end its record-setting run.

The production opened in 1996 and has been performed over 5,000 times, making it the second longest running show in Off-Broadway history, after The Fantasticks.

Wolf Blitzkrieg

The Wolfman crew were out in force at Comic-Con yesterday, and attendees not only got a look at the trailer (alas, not online as of yet), but also a bunch of information about the eagerly awaited remake of the Lon Chaney Jr. monster mash classic. Most reassuring was this comment from the new film's makeup maestro, Rick Baker: "the whole movie is a nod to the original".

The Wolfman, directed by Joe Johnston (Hidalgo) and starring Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, Anthony Hopkins and Hugo Weaving, is scheduled to open April 3, 2009.

The Boys Are Coming Home

Controversial is right. William Friedkin's film version of Mart Crowley's seminal play The Boys in the Band has endured a lot of criticism over the years, somewhat unfairly in my opinion. Sure, it's dated and stage bound, but it also offers a time capsule look at an era and culture rarely seen on film, even now.

As it has been out of print on home video for years and rarely plays on television, most people haven't even seen it, which could explain why its bad reputation is so enduring. However, that is about to change, as The Boys in the Band is finally being released on DVD this fall.

And it sounds like it will have been worth the wait. In addition to a restored print, bonus features promised include three documentaries on the creation of the play, the making of the film and the legacy of both. Participants in the new material include Friedkin (who provides an audio commentary), Crowley, playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America) and cast members Laurence Luckinbill and Peter White. It is not clear if the original trailer will be included, but you can watch that right here.

The Boys in the Band will be released on DVD November 11. Click here to pre-orderit from Amazon.com.

Giving Props: That Sex Book

It seems that the fictitious book -- Love Letters of Great Men -- that was a key plot device in this summer's Sex and the City movie will now become a reality. The new tome, which will collect the letters read in the film by Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie Bradshaw to Chris Noth's Mr. Big, will go on sale August 15.

Click here to pre-orderit from Amazon.com.

Up With Pixar

So what's next for Pixar after the critical and financial success of WALL-E? Well, things are looking Up.

The computer animation giant was at Comic-Con today to preview their next feature (directed by Monsters, Inc.'s Pete Doctor) and it sounds like they have another winner on their hands.

Click here for a charming sneak peek of the film, in theaters May 29, 2009.

I Wanna Be a Cowboy

Yippee-ki-yay! Today is National Cowboy Day, and to celebrate, Entertainment Weekly is counting down the top cowpokes in pop culture history, including a very familiar pair (pictured above) and a certain village person. Yee-hah!

That Galaxy Far, Far Away Will Now Be Really, Really Close

Leave it to George Lucas to figure out a way to get Star Wars fans to pay to see his movies all over again ... again. Plans are underway to re-release not one, not two, but all six Star Wars movies using state-of-the-art 3-D technology. So now moviegoers will get to experience the thrill of dodging light sabres, laser beams and Jabba the Hut drool sometime in the future, as no exact schedule has been set at this time.

Lucas had mentioned his intentions for this 3-D bonanza at least three years ago, where the plan was to re-release one movie a year. I have to imagine that interest would die down about half way through that scenario though. I remember when the much-ballyhooed "special editions" of the original trilogy came out back in 1997 and everyone was pretty much over it by the time Return of the Jedi (I refuse to call it Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi) came out.

Sleeping Beauty Castle to Reawaken

Just in time for the release of Sleeping Beauty as a two-disc Platinum Edition DVD and Blu-ray(ah, that infamous Disney synergy at work), Disneyland will reopen one of its lower-key attractions, the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough.

Longtime Disneyphiles will remember this A-ticket as a self-guided walking tour up inside the park's central icon, where they could view nifty little dioramas of Barbie-esque dolls depicting scenes from the 1959 animated fairy tale (here's a video retrospective). It was definitely low-tech stuff, mostly appealing to little girls and window display designers. (I remember as a kid we would always do this one last because if we missed it, no big loss; why we waited to do the one attraction that required a lot of walking -- up flights of stairs, no less -- after a full day at the park, I don't know.)

However, for the 2008 version (planned to open sometime this fall), Imagineers are promising a little more bells and whistles, including a virtual walkthrough for park guests who aren't able to walk up all those stairs.

UPDATE: The attraction has re-opened to guests, and LaughingPlace.com has a full report, including pictures and video.

The Sleeping Beauty Platinum Edition DVD and Blu-ray will be available October 7. Click hereto pre-order it from Amazon.com.

Thoms Pays the Rent

Tracie Thoms, who played lesbian lawyer Joanne in the movie version of Rent, will take to the Broadway stage tonight in that role in the long-running Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical hit.

Thoms, who was one of the two film Renters who wasn't in the original cast of the show, will stay with the production through its closing date, September 7.

In the News: Way to Burst Their Bubble

Hilarious but true headline (from Broadway.com):

"Gazillion Bubble Show Robbed; 3.4 Tons of Bubble Solution Missing".

Reel Thoughts: ABBA-cadabra!

If you don’t like ABBA, you have Australia to blame for their resurgent popularity. Would the Swedish pop group have had such a comeback without Toni Collette’s marriage-obsessed Muriel’s Wedding and the ABBA-riffic Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert? Why, even the Broadway posters for Mamma Mia! were a direct rip-off of Muriel's.

Of course, once it opened, Mamma Mia! became a worldwide sensation, easily one of the best “jukebox musicals” of all time. The reason it succeeds onstage, even in fickle Las Vegas where it has outlived about a half dozen other Broadway imports, is that the wafer-thin story is just framework enough to hang ABBA’s infectious hits. On the other hand, it doesn’t feel like a tired retread of what it’s celebrating, like All Shook Up did.

The film version is extremely exciting, mostly due to its all-star cast and spectacular Greek locations. Opened up and blown up on the big screen, some of what works on stage feels flat on film. The other problem is that now, you really get the chance to hear the lyrics, and it reminds you that English wasn’t really ABBA’s first language. No amount of song selling on Christine Baranski and Julie Walters’ parts will improve the inherent silliness of “Chiquitita”; and much as I adored Meryl Streep’s heartfelt rendition of “The Winner Takes It All”, after the fourth repetition of the same lyrics, you start to feel a little bad for her -- let the poor woman finish the song, already!

The story of Mamma Mia! takes place on a magically beautiful Greek Island where Donna (Streep) is running an inn and preparing for her daughter Sophie’s wedding. Sophie, played with charming sweetness by Amanda Seyfried, is determined to have her father give her away, despite never having met him or even knowing his name. Reading her Mom’s diary, she narrows it down to three men with whom Donna “dot, dot, dotted,” and Sophie invites them all to her wedding. Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgård play the prospective papas, while Baranski and Walters play Donna’s best friends and former back-up singers (when they were “Donna and the Dynamos”).

The film is set to every ABBA song you’ve ever heard, and a few you haven’t. Donna and Sophie bond while confronting the past, and everyone finds love in one way or another. My favorite thing about the film and show is the way it focuses on the middle-aged women and their supportive friendship. The music may not always be equal to the quality of the people singing it (especially Streep), but everyone is clearly having a ball, and you will, too.

UPDATE: Mamma Mia! is now available on DVD and Blu-rayfrom Amazon.com.

Review by Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.

Little House on the Stage

As a kid, I was obsessed with the opening credit sequence of the wholesome TV classic Little House on the Prairie. It was always comforting to hear that familiar theme music, even though the show that followed often dealt with the harsh realities of such a life. I would always wait for little Carrie Ingalls to go tumbling down that hill, and was confused when Big Edie would tell me (seemingly every week) that Lindsay Sidney Greenbush was actually two people. Did that mean that Melissa Sue Anderson was too?

The big star of the show, of course, was Melissa Gilbert as Laura "Half Pint" Ingalls, who would grow up to write the stories the series was based upon. And now, Gilbert herself is all grown up (and glammed out) and currently starring as Caroline "Ma" Ingalls in a musical version of those same books, making its world premiere tonight at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.

The new tuner, directed by Francesca Zambello (Broadway's The Little Mermaid) and featuring the music of Oscar winning composer Rachel Portman (Emma) with a book by Tony Award winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), has already proven to be a big draw. Its limited engagement has been extended by two weeks. In addition to Gilbert, the cast includes familiar Broadway faces Steve Blanchard and Jenn Gambatese.

Out in Film: Del Shores & Jason Dottley

Idol worship: Del Shores, writer/director/producer and Jason Dottley, actor/producer.

- Shores is the award-winning playwright behind the cult stage hits The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, Daddy's Dyin' (Who's Got the Will?), Sordid Lives and Southern Baptist Sissies. In addition to some of these plays, Dottley starred in an acclaimed production of Terrance McNally's The Lisbon Traviata.

- Shores also directed the film version of Sordid Lives, now a LOGO TV series co-starring Dottley as the sexually ambiguous Ty.

- On television, Shores wrote for and produced such series as Ned and Stacey, Dharma & Greg and Queer as Folk.

- After Sordid Lives: The Series, the duo are working on a film adaptation of Southern Baptist Sissies, set to star Delta Burke and Leslie Jordan.

- In the meantime, the married couple are starring in their own Sordid Lives vlog on LOGOOnline.com.

Fierstein on Getty

Harvey Fierstein pays tribute to his Torch Song Trilogy co-star and longtime friend Estelle Getty.

Men on Film: On the Other Hand, Death - A Donald Strachey Mystery

Today, we have a special double feature review for you today of On the Other Hand, Death, directed by Ron Oliver, premiering tonight on here! TV.

Reverend's Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade:

After being subjected to hunky but straight private investigators on TV for decades (perhaps most notably Magnum, P.I.), we finally have our own, openly gay mystery-solver! His name is Donald Strachey, and he's played by hottie Chad Allen (currently on stage opposite Valerie Harper as Tallulah Bankhead in Pasadena Playhouse's Looped). Strachey's latest adventure, On the Other Hand, Death, debuts tonight on here!, American's premium gay television network.

This is actually the third filmed Donald Strachey mystery, after Third Man Out and Shock to the System. A fourth, Ice Blues, will premiere this fall. I haven't seen the previous movies and so was unfamiliar with the character, who is featured in a series of novels by Richard Lipez, under the pen name Richard Stevenson.

The plot of On the Other Hand, Death is pretty standard stuff for the genre: someone is terrorizing homeowners in an effort to get them to sell their lucrative property as part of a big-money scheme. Even Scooby-Doo has covered this territory. What is unique here isn't only that the investigator is openly, unapologetically gay (and is married to his partner, an amusingly buttoned-up New York State Senate staffer played by Sebastian Spence), but the victims are a lesbian couple.

Margot Kidder of Superman fame plays high school guidance counselor Dorothy, and Gabrielle Rose (a veteran of numerous TV series including The L Word and Eureka) plays her longtime companion, Edith. It's always great to see Kidder, although she makes some disappointingly stereotypical choices -- including wearing all-flannel and foregoing make-up -- in playing a "butch" lesbian woman. Rose gives the best, most nuanced performance in the film as a woman hiding a secret from the past.

Consistent with the genre, there are many suspects with secret pasts and motivations. One is a teenager struggling with his sexuality, although he serves more as an opportunity to plug a real-life LGBT organization, the Trevor Project, than as a significant plot device. The Trevor Project is mentioned repeatedly, as is Dorothy's mantra "We don't pick our fights; our fights pick us." As a result, they can't help but come across as heavy-handed.

Still, On the Other Hand, Death provides a great opportunity to snuggle on the sofa with your honey for 90 minutes and realize P.I.s on TV have come a long way since The Rockford Files.

Reel Thoughts by Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine:

Out actor Chad Allen probably never expected to be the here! network’s Jessica Fletcher, but then again, the kind of scrapes he gets into would never have happened on Murder, She Wrote. Allen plays Donald Strachey, a happily partnered private eye who upends stereotypes while solving crimes having to do with outing, ex-gay therapy, and now gay hate crimes and the challenges of GLBT teens, especially in conservative small towns.

Strachey’s husband, New York State Senate staffer Tim Callahan (Sebastian Spence), is contacted by an old flame who has returned to Albany to help his old high school counselor. Dorothy, played wonderfully by the wry Margot Kidder, and her terrified partner Edith (Gabrielle Rose) have been plagued by increasingly violent attacks on their farmhouse ever since Dorothy came out.

In addition, Dorothy finds herself having to defend herself from a vicious band of parents who don’t want her advising their children. The film does a nice job of publicizing the Trevor Project, a valuable resource for gay teens who are contemplating suicide. One of the possible suspects in the latest string of hate crimes may be the father of a boy who Dorothy was helping. As Donald delves deeper, however, he finds that some people may stop at nothing if it means putting money in their pocket, even murder.

Allen plays Strachey with a cool demeanor that makes him a great gay character. He’s completely trusting in his husband’s love and fidelity, even as Andrew, the old flame, seems to be stirring the pot romantically, playing them both against each other. Kidder has grown into such a warm, comfortably gruff older woman; she really makes Dorothy both a force to be reckoned with and a person you would want to protect.

The mystery has enough twists and surprises to keep you totally engaged, while the film feels like a rich, satisfying novel brought to life. If you don’t have here!, then watch for the film to come out on DVD later this year.

UPDATE: On the Other Hand, Death is now available on DVDfrom Amazon.com.

Let's Do the Time Warp Again

With a jump to the left and a step to the right, MTV has announced they are remaking the movie that defines the terms "cult film", "audience participation" and "midnight movie classic", The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Original RHPS producer Lou Adler is heading up the remake, which will use the original story and score by Richard O'Brien, plus possibly a few songs from the original stage production ("Superheroes", "Once in a While") that were cut from the final 1975 movie. No director has been attached as of yet.

As expected, die-hard Rocky fans are up in arms (there is already an online petition protesting the new film), but I'm curious to see how they would do it ... and with a budget this time. Casting would be key, most especially for the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania immortalized on stage and screen by Tim Curry.

If I were making the decisions, I'd pick Alan Cumming for Frank; anyone who has seen his Cabaret Emcee would agree. For Brad and Janet, how about the Enchanted couple themselves, James Marsden and Amy Adams. O'Brien could be Riff Raff again if he's up to it; if not, perhaps Raúl Esparza from the 2000 Broadway revival. His co-star, Dick Cavett, would return as the Criminologist, while Magenta and Columbia could be the totally Wicked pairing of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. As in the stage RHS, Eddie and Dr. Scott would be played by the same person: Jack Black. And as for Frank's ultimate creation, Rocky himself? Why, Cheyenne Jackson of course; he is the perfect man and, as luck would have it, he has played the role before.

Hopes are for a Halloween 2009 release, so we'll likely hear more soon.

UPDATE: In a curious development, Richard O'Brien claims no connection to -- or support of -- this remake. Additionally, although it at first appeared to be a theatrical release, new reports are indicating that it will be aired on television, which may effect the casting (in other words, strike out Marsden, Adams and Black from my dream cast ... sigh).

Costume Dramas: The Ruby Slippers

Dorothy's magical slippers in The Wizard of Oz already got a makeover once. Originally, the shoes that Judy Garland was to wear in her iconic role were going to be silver, as in the original L. Frank Baum story. However, once MGM head honcho Louis B. Mayer realized that they would look better in Technicolor, they became ruby. And a legend was born.

Now that legend is getting a new look, courtesy of the trendiest footwear designers this side of Carrie Bradshaw's shoe rack.

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz next year, Warner Brothers is gearing up for a special promotion in honor of the occasion. Twenty different redesigns of the classic clogs will be created and tour fashion shows around the country prior to being auctioned off next fall to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Designers working on the project include Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Oscar de la Renta and Diane Von Furstenberg.

Calling All Spider-Men

If you can sing, look good in tights, walk on walls and be able to kiss upside down, then here's your chance of a lifetime. Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor is holding an open casting call this Monday in New York City for her upcoming Broadway musical adaptation of the comic book superhero Spider-Man.

In addition to Peter Parker and Mary Jane (roles that apparently won't be going to Taymor's Across the Universe stars Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood after all), it sounds like that evil spider-woman character Arachne is still intact (yeah, I know, but remember: this is Julie Taymor we're talking about here).

Music for the unlikely tuner will be by U2's Bono and The Edge. As of now, no timeframe has been announced as to when Spidey will spin his first web on the Great White Way.

Doing the New Tron Dance*

In this day and age of instant information via the internet, where every minute detail of motion picture productions are broadcast worldwide in the time it takes to click a mouse, you got to give Disney props for what they pulled off yesterday at Comic-Con.

At the tail end of a presentation for the upcoming "re-imagining" of Escape to Witch Mountain titled Race to Witch Mountain, the Mouse House dropped a bomb that must have had the fanboys wetting their Underoos with glee. Not only did they confirm without a doubt that the long rumored sequel to Tron was being made, they actually showed footage from it. And not just any footage, but footage featuring The Dude himself, Jeff Bridges. Both the MTV Movies Blog and ComingSoon.net have play-by-plays of the clip, which will likely not be seen by we the masses anytime soon.

No other details of Tron 2 (or, annoyingly, Tr2n) were given, but Imdb lists a 2010 release date.

* Anyone else remember when the Pointer Sisters performed their hit "The Neutron Dance" on some Disney TV special back in the early 80's? There were actually dancers, clad in the familiar Tron costumes, dancing the, well, neutron dance. I tried in vain to find a video of it online, to no avail. So much for the internet ...

UPDATE: See it while you can: cam footage of the Comic-Con trailer.

There Will Be Blood

With all the booty that the Pirates of the Caribbean movies hauled in, it's a wonder that we aren't knee deep in pirate movies by now. That's about to change though with an upcoming remake of the classic swashbuckler Captain Blood. Apparently, this redo has been in the works for over a decade, but the ship will now set sail shortly with director Phillip Noyce (The Quiet American) at the helm.

As for who will play the good captain and his lady fair, perhaps they'll go for a pair of unknowns like they did the first time: the 1935 Academy Award nominated original (itself a remake of a 1924 silent) did make stars out of Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland after all. On second thought, take a look at Flynny above, and maybe you'll agree with me that Christian Bale could fill his shoes.

Attention Losties:

Feeling a little, well, lost without your favorite show? Well, this may satisfy your Lost fix a little bit as we await the next season (which is -- gasp -- still about six months away): G4 TV will be airing a new special tonight (at 10 PM EST) that promises to explore some of the secrets of the island, including various theories from Lost experts such as Entertainment Weekly's Doc Jensen.

And speaking of Lost secrets, here's a good one: the original script for the pilot episode. Seems things weren't always so mysterious for the survivors of the crash of Oceanic Flight 815.

The Latest in Theaters: Truth and Deception

This week's new releases include a sci-fi sequel, a classy remake and a pair of critically acclaimed documentaries. Oh yeah, and Will Ferrell too.

• The X-Files: I Want to Believe: David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are back as Mulder and Scully in this big screen spook show that not only promises some old school scares (reminiscent of the cult classic TV show), but a little romance between the two as well.
• Brideshead Revisited: Emma Thompson leads a cast of rising talent (Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw and Hayley Atwell) in this feature adaptation of the Evelyn Waugh literary classic, which was also the basis for a revered television mini-series in 1981. Reportedly, the gay angle hinted at in the novel and mini is amped up this go round.
• American Teen: High school life in the real world (in this case, Warsaw, Indiana) is explored in this fest fave doc.
• Man on Wire: A look back at "the artistic crime of the century", when a death-defying tight rope walker took his act to the Twin Towers circa 1974.
• Boy A: A BAFTA Award winning drama about a juvie trying to reform on the outside.
• Baghead and No Regret: Read Chris Carpenter's reviews right here at Movie Dearest to find out about these two widely different films, opening in limited release this weekend; the first is a horror comedy, the second a gay romance.
• And finally: Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly team up once more as child men (big surprise) forced to grow up when they become Step Brothers.

To find out what films are playing in your area, visit Fandango - Search movie showtimes and buy tickets!

Say Hello to Ciao

On the heels of its Best Feature win at this year's Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the critically acclaimed Ciao has been picked up for distribution by here! Films/Regent Releasing.

Dubbed the "best gay movie of the year" by AfterElton.com, Ciao will be released in select theaters this fall.

As If ...

Add this one to the pile of head-scratching merchandising ideas: Paramount is releasing video games based on the teen chick flick classics Clueless, Mean Girls and Pretty in Pink later this year. Apparently, these will serve the previously untapped market of gamers who want to shop, sew and humiliate their classmates via digital technology.

Actually, these would be "so fetch" if you could hook them to each other and play them together. Just imagine: you're Cher, teaming up with Duckie to defeat The Plastics. Game on.

Boys in the Hood

Illustration by Pete Emslie

The Rat Pack hits the Great White Way: a stage adaptation of the 1964 movie musical Robin and the 7 Hoods is aiming for a 2010 Broadway bow.

Casey Nicholaw (Tony nominee for Monty Python's Spamalot and The Drowsy Chaperone) will direct and choreograph the new tuner, which will feature the movie's Academy Award nominated score and song "My Kind of Town". Rounding out the tune stack will be more hits from the Sammy Cahn/James Van Heusen songbook, including "Come Fly with Me" and the Oscar winning "Call Me Irresponsible" (originally heard in the Jackie Gleason comedy Papa's Delicate Condition).

The original film, a Robin Hood tale updated to the age of Prohibition, starred Rat Packers Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. (along with Bing Crosby, Peter Falk and Victor Buono), so casting is key to catch that ultra-suave vibe. Naturally, Harry Connick Jr. immediately springs to mind for the Sinatra role.

Reverend's Reviews: No Regrets for No Regret

A few years back, out filmmaker Todd Haynes paid a well-received tribute to the films of Douglas Sirk with his Far from Heaven. Sirk was known for his soapy stories and glossy style, exemplified by such 1950's productions as Magnificent Obsession, All That Heaven Allows and Imitation of Life. Haynes created a picture- and style-perfect replica but with a contemporary, overtly gay sensibility, with Dennis Quaid playing the closeted gay husband of oblivious housewife Julianne Moore.

South Korean writer-director Leesong Hee-il has gone Sirk and Haynes one better with his No Regret. This excellent drama was actually filmed before Brokeback Mountain and the gay-themed The King and the Clown became enormous hits in South Korea and made LGBT topics more palatable there. Now recognized as the first true gay film in Korean Cinema, it is finally being released stateside this Friday in Los Angeles and New York by here! Films/Regent Releasing.

No Regret is, according to production notes, "plotted in a style similar to what has become known as 'hostess movies'--which deal with ambitious young women who come to the big city of Seoul only to end up working as prostitutes." Here, attractive male orphan Sumin (a great performance by straight actor Lee Young-hoon) moves to Seoul immediately following his 18th birthday and mandatory ejection from the orphanage. After losing menial jobs in a factory and restaurant due to his quick temper, he is hired as an exotic dancer at an underground gay club.

Sumin attracts the attention of many, but no one is more smitten by him than Jaemin (popular Korean television actor Lee Han). The son of a Korean conglomerate's wealthy vice-president, Jaemin is secretly gay and engaged to a woman. His falling for Sumin creates all manner of personal and public drama.

Much of No Regret, in true Sirk style, has the main characters denying and/or dancing around their true motivations and feelings. There is also considerable critique of Korean social and class distinctions, which is in keeping with the Sirk tradition. Indeed, director Hee-il is quoted regarding the inspiration behind his film, "Through the love of two men, I wanted to explore the themes of desire and class."

Fortunately, No Regret doesn't end as tragically as many of Sirk's melodramas did. Full of lovely, intimate moments between its various players and providing a unique travelogue of modern South Korea, I recommend No Regret to any adults, LGBT or otherwise, in the mood for a timeless romance.

Watch the No Regret trailer here.

UPDATE: No Regret is now available on DVDfrom Amazon.com.

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Stardate 2008: Comic-Con Commences

That rumbling noise you hear coming from the west coast is the sound of millions of fanboys and girls descending upon the San Diego Convention Center for the 2008 Comic-Con. And, as the official schedule attests, there will be plenty of movie and television related events, as Hollywood has caught on to the marketing power of having all those fans in one place at one time (a very crowded place, too; Variety reports that Los Angeles and Las Vegas are trying to woe the con away from San Diego to larger pastures).

In addition to Star Trek (which will be handing out the nifty posters displayed above), notable films and TV shows that will have a presence at Comic-Con this year include Bitch Slap, Disney's Bolt, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Death Race, Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell, Friday the 13th, GI Joe, Hamlet 2, Land of the Lost, Lost, Max Payne, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Pineapple Express, Punisher: War Zone, Quarantine, Race to Witch Mountain, Red Sonja, Repo! The Genetic Opera, RocknRolla, The Spirit, Terminator Salvation, Twilight, Pixar's Up, Watchmen, The Wolfman, and Kevin Smith's Zack and Miri Make a Porno, plus world premiere screenings of Lost Boys: The Tribe (the sequel to The Lost Boys that will be released on DVDJuly 29) and the one movie that couldn't be more fitting in this environment: Fanboys.

If last year is any indication, there will be a lot of news and such flying out of Southern California and onto the internets, so we'll try to post the relevant information here at Movie Dearest. Plus, our own Chris Carpenter (fresh off his Outfest assignment -- and didn't he do a great job with that, by the by?) will be braving the crowds of Klingons and Caped Crusaders on Friday. Expect a report from him this weekend; in the meantime, Entertainment Weekly has a pictorial preview of all the goings-on planned for this year's Comic-Con.

You Really Can't Stop the Beat

Talk about your pleasant surprises: New Line Cinema wants John Waters to write a sequel to Hairspray, the hit movie musical based on the stage version of his original film (did you follow that?). All the original creative team will be onboard as well, including director/choreographer Adam Shankman, producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan and songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who will pen new tunes for the sequel.

No further details or casting has been announced at this time, although it is hoped that as much of the original cast (including Golden Globe nominees John Travolta and Nikki Blonsky) will return.

As longtime readers of Movie Dearest know, we will certainly be following this project as it develops.

UPDATE: Adam Shankman doesn't know what John Waters has cooked up for the sequel yet, but he has some ideas of his own.

Canvas to Remain Blank

In a MySpace bulletin posted by film director/ screenwriter Chuck Griffith this morning, he states that the production of his Shifting the Canvas that we reported on previously has been halted due to financing problems. He writes, in a post titled "We Are Dead":

"So, with the economy the way it is, it appears that this film may not get made ... We have a letter of intent to distribute the film from over three distributors ... Cheyenne Jackson as the lead, Scott Thompson, Margaret Cho and Alan Cumming, and it wasn't enough."

In hopes of raising more financing, he has posted the script on the website of his production company, Roaring Leo Productions. Let's hope some luck comes his way, as this sounds like a worthwhile story to tell.

In addition to the actors mentioned, Christian Campbell (Trick), Matthew Montgomery (Socket), Will Wikle (Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild) and Gedde Watanabe (Sixteen Candles) were cast in the drama, described as a story "about art, family, longing, failure, and renewal".

Best of the Fests: Philadelphia 2008

2008's Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival came to a close last night. Best Feature winners were the sexy drama Ciao (watch the trailer here) and Stewart Wade's dramedy Tru Loved (Jury and Audience Awards, respectively).

Other winners including the fest's closing night feature, Were the World Mine, and the documentaries black./womyn.: conversations with lesbians of African descent, Squeezebox! and Polymath, or the Life and Opinions of Samuel R. Delany, Gentleman.

The L is for ... Lick?

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Elizabeth Berkley (of Showgirls legend) will be joining The L Word for five episodes during its upcoming final season (starting in January on Showtime). The former Nomi Malone will play "the straight girl that got away from Jennifer Beals' Bette in college". That's right: a Roger Dodger reunion, with no spiteful Campbell Scott to get in the way.

In more L news, creator Ilene Chaiken is developing a spin-off of the popular lesbian-themed drama. No word yet on which character or characters will get the new series.

In the News: Van Doren Talks

Charles Van Doren, the man at the center of the "quiz show scandal" that was the basis of the Oscar nominated movie Quiz Show, is finally speaking out on the events that lead to his infamy.

Van Doren, who was played by Ralph Fiennes in the Robert Redford directed film, will tell "pretty much all" in an article scheduled for publication in next week's New Yorker. Watch this space for an update.

UPDATE: And here it is (the movie is addressed starting on page 7 of the piece).

Lifetime Thanks Estelle for Being a Friend

Illustration by Glen Hanson

In honor of to the late great Estelle Getty, Lifetime (Television for Women and Gay Men™) will air a special marathon of Sophia-centric episodes of its signature series The Golden Girls this Friday.

Ten episodes will be broadcast starting at 12 noon EST, and viewers get to vote for their favorite one, which will air last.

And for more Sophia memories, watch this video tribute.

Poster Post: Yes, This is a Real Movie

In the revered tradition of Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! comes Bitch Slap. The flick is breathlessly described as "a modern throwback to the B-Movie/exploitation films of the 1950's-70's, mixing hot girls, fast cars, big guns, nasty tongues, outrageous action and jaw-dropping eye candy with a message ... don't be naughty."

Former Hercules/Xena stars Lucy Lawless, Renée O'Connor and Kevin Sorbo headline the cast. Visit the official website for more fun (including sections labeled "Bitches and Boners", "Gang Bang" and "Peep Shows") and watch the outrageous, boobalicious trailer.

Blonde Crazy

Bailey Hanks, the winner of the recent MTV talent/ reality show Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods, makes her Broadway debut tonight as that fabulous fashionista-turned-legal eagle Elle Woods in the hit musical version of Legally Blonde.

In a nice show of support for new talent, the show's producers have also cast the three Blonde runners-up. Autumn Hurlbert will also make her Broadway debut tonight; in addition to playing a sorority sister, she also understudies the lead role. Lauren Zakrin will fill similar roles on the upcoming Legally Blonde national tour, where she will be joined by Rhiannon Hansen in the ensemble.

And finally: Bailey's recording of the Blonde song "So Much Better" is now available for download on Amazon and iTunes – Over 2 million songs and growing.

UPDATE: Broadway.com has pics from Bailey's opening night, including a shot of new UPS guy, former Altar Boy Ven Daniel.

Tru Gets Some Love

Congratulations to Stewart Wade and the cast of crew of Tru Loved: the recent Outfest fave has been picked up for distribution by here! Films/Regent Releasing for theatrical release this fall.

The comedy/drama, about a high school girl setting up her school's first Gay-Straight Alliance, stars Jasmine Guy, Jane Lynch, Alec Mapa, Nichelle Nichols, Bruce Vilanch and Marcia Wallace.

Women We Love: Gillian Anderson

Object of our affection: Gillian Anderson, actress.

- As Special Agent Dana Scully on The X-Files, she won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Saturn Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She also reprised her iconic character in the feature film The X-Files: Fight the Future and its sequel, The X-Files: I Want to Believe, opening this Friday.

- Like her X-co-star David Duchovny, she also wrote and directed her own episode of The X-Files, titled "All Things".

- Also on the big screen, she proved there was life after Scully with her critically acclaimed performance in The House of Mirth. Other films she has appeared in include The Mighty, Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story and The Last King of Scotland.

- Back on the small screen, she gained more award recognition for the Masterpiece Theatre presentation of Bleak House. She currently hosts the long-running PBS program.

- In addition to the X-sequel, she will appear in the upcoming films How to Lose Friends & Alienate People, Boogie Woogie and No One Gets Off in This Town.

On Location: The Cuckoo's Nest

Oregon State Hospital, the actual "cuckoo's nest" that was the primary filming location for the Oscar winning movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, will soon be demolished to make way for a new facility.

The mental institution had fallen into disrepair over the years, but the final straw that spurned legislators to make some changes was when the cremated remains of 3,600 mental patients in corroding copper canisters were found in a storage room. Yikes.

Nine Gets Fergalicious

Pop chanteuse Fergie (nee Stacy Ann Ferguson) has joined the cast of Rob Marshall's film version of the Tony Award winning musical Nine.

Fergie, who has also appeared in the movies Poseidon and Grindhouse, will play Saraghina, the lusty woman who introduces a young Guido to the world of sexuality through the showstopper "Be Italian".

Days of Our (Sordid) Lives

Del Shores' Sordid Lives, the cult fave movie based on the cult fave play, is now aiming for that cult fave trifecta with a TV show: Sordid Lives: The Series premieres tonight on LOGO.

The 12-episode series will actually be a prequel to the play and movie, which starred Bonnie Bedalia, Beth Grant, Leslie Jordan, Olivia Newton-John and Ann Walker, who all return as members of the outrageous Texas family at the center of the story, originally billed as "a black comedy about white trash" (the Ewings they ain't). Joining them in the fun are new cast members Jason Dottley, Rue McClanahan and Caroline Rhea, plus such guest stars as Candis Cayne, Margaret Cho and Carson Kressley.

AfterElton.com has both a preview and a review to get you primed for opening night; click here to watch a sneak preview (NSFW for language).

Hangin' Ten With a Six Pack

Matthew McConaughey, in the role he was born to play: Surfer, Dude. So nice to know that we won't have to wait too long for him to take off his shirt in this one ...

The comedy, which also stars Woody Harrelson and Willie Nelson (dude, they must have had one helluva wrap party) will sail into theaters in September. Watch the trailer here.

Awards Watch: ALMA Awards

The nominations for the 2008 ALMA Awards, recognizing "the outstanding artistic achievements of Latinos in motion pictures, television and music", have been announced.

Special achievement awards will be given to the cast of Ugly Betty, High School Musical 2 director Kenny Ortega and the Spanish language film Under the Same Moon. Other television nominees include Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Chavira, Lost's Jorge Garcia and Grey’s Anatomy's Sara Ramirez, while movie nominations went to Bella, El Cantante, Illegal Tender, Love in the Time of Cholera and Tortilla Heaven.

The 2008 Alma Awards, hosted by Eva Longoria Parker and Cristian De La Fuente, will be broadcast September 12 on ABC.

Estelle Getty: 1923-2008

Very sad news today: Estelle Getty, beloved star of The Golden Girls, passed away this morning at the age of 84.

Getty won an Emmy (out of seven nominations) and a Golden Globe for her indelible portrayal of the feisty Sophia Petrillo on the classic sitcom. Her character was so popular, she made guest appearances in the role on Blossom and Nurses and co-starred in the Girls spin-offs The Golden Palace and Empty Nest.

Outside of television, she originated the role of Arnold Beckoff's "ma" in Harvey Fierstein's Torch Song Trilogy on stage and also appeared in the movies Mask, Mannequin, Stuart Little and the infamous Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.

Rue McClanahan paid tribute to Getty in a statement released this afternoon: "Estelle always wanted to be an actress and she achieved that goal beyond her dreams. Don't feel sad about her passing, she will always be with us in her crowning achievement, Sophia."

Now They're the Ones That We Wanted

Cuties Derek Keeling and Ashley Spencer, finalists in the talent/reality show Grease: You're the One That I Want, take over the iconic roles of Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski in the Tony nominated revival of Grease tonight. They replace the winners of the televised casting session, Max Crumm and Laura Osnes, whose final performance was this past Sunday.

Broadway.com has videos of the arriving and departing Dannys and Sandys.

The Latest on DVD: Here Comes the Spider-Woman

Long absent from DVD, the gay-themed indie classic Kiss of the Spider Womanis now available in an Amazon.com exclusive two-disc collector's edition on both standard DVDand Blu-ray.Included in the set is the feature-length documentary Tangled Web: Making Kiss of the Spider Woman.

The 1985 film, based on the Manuel Puig novel, was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. William Hurt won the Best Actor Oscar, the first for an openly gay character.

Check out the Latest on DVD widgets located in the sidebar for more of this week's new DVD releases available today from Amazon.com.

Reverend's Report from Outfest: Awards Night

Drag queen Momma, wannabe drag queen Janice Dickinson, and out actors T.R. Knight, Craig Chester and Rex Lee were on hand in Los Angeles last night to present the "Outie" Awards at the official conclusion of Outfest 2008. Here are the winners:

Audience Awards:

• Outstanding US Dramatic Feature: Hamlet 2 (directed and co-written by Andrew Fleming)
• Outstanding Documentary Feature: A Place to Live (directed by Carolyn Coal)
• Outstanding First US Dramatic Feature: Watercolors (directed and written by David Oliveras)
• Outstanding Soundtrack: Hamlet 2 (Rock Me, Sexy Jesus!)
• Outstanding Narrative Short: I'm Jin-Young (directed by Lee Sung Eun)
• Outstanding Documentary Short: La Corona (directed by Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega)

Grand Jury Awards:

• "Heineken Red Star" Award: Were the World Mine (directed by Thomas Gustafson) -- See review below.
• Outstanding International Documentary Feature: Sex Positive (directed by Daryl Wein)
• Outstanding International Dramatic Feature: XXY (directed and written by Lucia Puenzo)
• Outstanding Narrative Short Film: Countertransference (directed by Madeleine Olnek)
• Outstanding Documentary Short Film: La Corona
• Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film: Tye Olson in Watercolors
• Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film: Nicole Bilderback in The New Twenty
• Outstanding Screenwriting: James Bolton for Dream Boy

Special Programming Awards:

• For Freedom: Football Under Cover (directed by Ayat Najafi and David Assmann)
• For Artistic Achievement: Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell (directed by Matt Wolf)
• For Emerging Talent: Dave O'Brien, director of Equality U

The awards presentation was immediately followed by the Los Angeles premiere of Were the World Mine. This gay musical riff on all things Shakespeare, but especially A Midsummer Night's Dream, is imperfect but enjoyable. Director/co-writer (with Cory James Krueckeberg) Gustafson actually expanded his previous short film Fairies into this feature. I think the short is the better movie, as the feature becomes heavy-handed in its literalism. But Gustafson assembled a talented young cast -- including Tanner Cohen and Robin Williams' daughter, Zelda Williams -- for the feature and, with a larger budget to play with, made it visually ravishing. (Watch the trailer here.)

Outfest will conclude tonight with the Los Angeles premiere of Tru Loved, a new film by Stewart Wade (Coffee Date). It's a hot ticket and ... I couldn't get one, so this concludes my day-by-day coverage of Outfest 2008. However, many more movies and filmmakers made an impression during the fest than one can adequately survey in a mere week and a half. I'll continue to post reviews and interviews in the weeks and months to come.

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Cinematic Crush: David Duchovny

Crush object: David Duchovny, actor/writer/director.

- He first gained attention as a transvestite DEA agent in the cult TV classic Twin Peaks, but was soon world famous as an FBI agent in another cult TV classic, The X-Files. His portrayal of Fox "Spooky" Mulder earned him two Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe. He has also played Mulder in episodes of The Simpsons and The Lone Gunmen and the feature film The X-Files: Fight the Future.

- Other television roles include a man-crushing version of himself on The Larry Sanders Show, the host of the soft core Red Shoe Diaries, and star of the current Showtime series Californication, which nabbed him his second Golden Globe earlier this year. Guest appearances include Millennium, Life with Bonnie and Sex and the City.

- Branching out from acting, he wrote and/or directed eight episodes of The X-Files and the feature film House of D.

- More movie roles include Kalifornia, Playing God, Return to Me, Evolution, Zoolander, Full Frontal, Connie and Carla and Things We Lost in the Fire.

- He returns as Agent Mulder once more in this week's big screen sequel The X-Files: I Want to Believe, opening Friday.

The Blonde Leaving the "Blonde"

Laura Bell Bundy, who received a Tony Award nomination for creating the role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical, performed her last "bend and snap" on Broadway yesterday. Bundy had been with the production since its early workshop days back in 2005.

Replacing Bundy in the role is the winner of the MTV talent/reality show Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods, who will not only be revealed on tonight's final episode, but will also make her Broadway debut in the hit tuner Wednesday night. Of the three finalists -- Bailey Hanks, Rhiannon Hansen and Autumn Hurlbert -- Autumn is the fan fave in a current Playbill.com poll, with over 50% of the vote, while Bailey is the frontrunner on the show's official website.

The winner will also see her recording of the Blonde song "So Much Better" released as a single and download on Amazonand iTunes – Over 2 million songs and growingthis Tuesday.

UPDATE: And the new Elle Woods is ... click here to find out, and click here to see her "So Much Better" music video.

Reverend's Report from Outfest: Another Gay Sequel

There are only three movies during the course of my lifetime that I've deemed so wretched I walked out of the theater before they ended. The first was Message from Space, a Japanese Star Wars rip-off from 1978. I was only ten years old, but I knew it was crap. The next was The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking in 1988, which I labeled celluloid child abuse.

I just saw the third movie, as much of it as I could bear anyway, last night at Outfest. It is Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild. I made it through most of the movie but had enough when it reached the climactic "Gays Gone Wild" competition orgy, which is no more than an excuse to show people having sex. My partner had bailed from the screening ten minutes earlier, and a number of other attendees departed prematurely with us.

The film is written and directed by the not-untalented Todd Stephens, who made the very good Edge of Seventeen and Gypsy 83 as well as this disaster's predecessor, Another Gay Movie. While I enjoyed the original, a clever LGBT riff on straight teen comedies like Porky's and American Pie, it hardly demanded a sequel.

It was such a hit, though, that every gay business currently in existence seemingly funded the sequel. An additional orgy of product placement runs throughout the movie, with video companies, lubes, condoms, websites, underwear and travel agencies all prominently displayed.

Stephens was on hand to introduce the Outfest screening. To be fair, he told the packed house up front that the film wasn't yet finished, and the need for additional editing and color-correction was evident while watching it. However, the only way Another Gay Sequel could yet end up a good movie would be to destroy the negative/digital master, re-think and re-write the script, re-cast the movie (Stephens should especially reduce blogger Perez Hilton's supporting role into a one-scene cameo, if he is to participate at all), and create something that doesn't offend the same audience it is pandering to.

It isn't just that the film is outrageously graphic in its depiction of sex, bodily functions and even violence. It's that it isn't really a spoof or good-natured satire like Another Gay Movie was, and instead becomes a derogatory depiction of the LGBT community. The sequel features distorted and either heavy-handed or not-very-funny-to-begin-with takes on reality TV competitions, venereal disease, fetishes, Catholicism, penis size, sexual positions and incest. It also claims to endorse monogamous LGBT relationships while simultaneously indulging in three-ways, bathhouse sex and anonymous encounters.

The funniest moment in the film is actually its smartest: a brief, barbed comment that RuPaul (who looks good and manages to emerge from the wreckage around him unscathed) makes about gay people taking over historically black neighborhoods. Oh, how I wish the script had more such moments tinged with truth rather than dominated by caricature.

I don't offend easily but I was offended, obviously, by Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild. If this represents the current high point of LGBT cinema in terms of artistic response to a predecessor's success, the number of companies endorsing it and the wide theatrical release (relatively speaking, for an LGBT film) it will receive later this summer, then it is a definite setback.

UPDATE: Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild is now available on DVDfrom Amazon.com.

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Texting? Hold Up

Picture it: you are sitting enraptured in the latest big screen exploit of Batman, Harry Potter or Carrie Bradshaw when you see it, glaringly, out of the corner of your eye: a little blue square of light. Attached to that little blue square of light is a hunched-over figure rapidly keying in nonsensical drivel with ossified stumps that once were thumbs, obviously not watching -- or caring about -- what they paid a ticket price to see. Even worse, they are obliviously encroaching upon your enjoyment of what you paid a ticket price to see. Such is the newest cinematic annoyance rearing its ugly head in movie theaters everywhere: text messaging.

The widespread popularity of this yet-another-way to stay connected in this yet-ever-more-disconnected society we now live in baffles me. Wouldn't it be easier to just, you know, talk to each other? And who, really, seriously, needs to be that connected to every single person they know all the time?

As for those who text at the movies, can't they take a break from this high tech foolishness for the running time of your average movie, if not for their rapidly failing eyesight and arthritic fingers, then at least for the sake of their fellow filmgoers? Or has common courtesy gone the way of rotary phones and hand-written correspondence?

And it is not just in movie theaters either. As Playbill.com recently noted, it is happening in Broadway theaters as well. Moreover, with ticket prices on the Great White Way ten times (at least) as much as at your local multiplex, the question remains: what are these people thinking?

Hilariously, triumphantly, Playbill's own Seth Rudetsky recounts in his latest column how Patti LuPone -- Miss Patti LuPone, the Tony Award winning Broadway legend, supreme diva and star of the current revival of Gypsy -- refused to go on for the second act of the show unless the fingering philistine sitting in the front row (the front row!) who had been texting non-stop through the whole first act was ejected from the theater in shame. As Seth himself would say, "Brava, diva, brava!"

Text messaging is rapidly equaling the long-standing bane of any true movie fans' film going existence, the ringing cell phone. I remember the first time a cell phone rang while I was watching a movie (the jerk actually answered it ... and proceeded to have a conversation). The movie in question? Driving Miss Daisy ... in 1989. Yup, we have been putting up with one form of distracting, irritating, rude in-theater behavior for almost twenty years, and now we have to deal with another one?

In closing, I direct any and all offenders of this, or any other felonious phone faux pas, to take heed of the fact that July is "National Cell Phone Courtesy Month". So watch out: we're on to you and, like Miss Patti LuPone, we're not going to take it anymore.

Terminator's Salvation

If you were wondering (hoping) that some good ol' fashioned beefcake would be injected into the fourth installment of the Terminator series, Terminator Salvation, then your prayers have been answered (although it does seem a bit odd that we are still hearing about cast additions to the film when we've already seen a teaser trailer).

Nevertheless, Austrian bodybuilder-turned actor Roland Kickinger has been tapped to play a "younger" version of the cyborg assassin immortalized in the first movie by Arnold Schwarzenegger. This is not the first time Kickinger (who some may recognize from the Baywatch spoof Son of the Beach from a few years back) has followed in Arnie's footsteps; he played the Pumping Iron era Schwarzenegger in the TV movie biopic See Arnold Run.

Terminator Salvation, which stars Christian Bale, Helena Bonham Carter, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anton Yelchin under the direction of Charlie's Angels' McG, is scheduled to open May 22.

Ready for Their Close-Up

Lachey assays Sharpays.
The High School Musical juggernaut continues. Following two hit Disney Channel movies, a concert tour, a legitimate stage production, theme park attractions, a documentary and even an ice show, it's only natural that the next step would be an American Idol-ized talent-slash-reality show. Right?

Titled High School Musical: Get in the Picture and hosted by former boy bander-slash-Newlywed Nick Lachey, the series will follow a group of hopeful Zac Efrons and Vanessa Hudgenses as they compete for the big prize: a chance to star in a music video for the franchise's feature film threequel, High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Yeah, that doesn't sound like much, so Disney recently sweetened the deal to include a couple singles and a possible network gig.

HSM: GITP starts tomorrow night on ABC with the first of a two-part premiere, to conclude on Monday. Here's a sneak peek.

Rings Cycles On

The sprawling stage spectacular based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy will play its final performance tonight in London.

The big budget theatrical experience -- which combines state-of-the-art stagecraft, music and the classic tale of Frodo, Gandalf, et al -- made its world premiere in Toronto two years ago. Plans are now underway for a German production as well as an international tour through New Zealand (where the Oscar winning movies were filmed), Australia and the Far East. Unfortunately, there are no plans at this time to bring it to the United States.

Here's a video preview of the show from before it came to London; the original cast recordingis also available.

Reverend's Report from Outfest: Gay Muslims & Porn Stars

In the tradition of Trembling Before G-d and For the Bible Tells Me So, which have screened at Outfests past, comes this year's documentary centerpiece of the festival, A Jihad for Love. Those earlier films explored, respectively, Jewish and Christian attitudes toward homosexuality. A Jihad for Love, produced by Sandi DuBowski (who made Trembling Before G-d) and directed by Parvez Sharma, turns the lens on the experiences of LGBT Muslims.

What the film reveals is by turns disturbing, encouraging, horrifying and hopeful. Some Muslim leaders and predominantly-Muslim countries speak unapologetically of their desire to behead, burn, hang or otherwise execute gay men and lesbian women in their midst. They cite a small number of passages in the Qur'an (or Koran) as authorizing such punishment for homosexual behavior. A Jihad for Love partly focuses on the effort of four gay citizens of one hostile country, Iran, to immigrate to Canada.

However, the documentary reveals that other Muslim leaders and countries are more tolerant. They appreciate the spiritual struggle, or jihad, that virtually all LGBT people undergo in reconciling their personhood with their faith. Just as not all Christian or Jewish communities condemn LGBT people, and some openly welcome them, neither do all adherents of Islam.

Watching the powerful A Jihad for Love as a gay American, I couldn't help but be thankful for the considerable acceptance we've found and advances toward equality that have been made in the US as opposed to many other nations, Muslim or otherwise. Globally, we still have a long way to go.

Turning from the sacred to the profane, Outfest also premiered Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon, about 1970's gay porn icon Jack Wrangler. Born into a successful Hollywood family, Wrangler set out to become a legitimate actor. Both attractive and talented, he found himself in demand as a model, which soon led to modeling for gay publications, which then led to appearing in gay adult films. He subsequently became the most popular gay porn star of his time.

But Wrangler's success didn't end with gay porn. He was one of the few openly gay actors to cross over to straight porn and become equally popular. In time, he retired from adult films and became a sought-after theatre actor/director. Most surprisingly, he fell in love with and married a woman, singer Margaret Whiting. He did so without renouncing his homosexuality, which confused and angered more than a few of his fans.

Since Wrangler's film success was before my time, I wasn't familiar with him and so found Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon fascinating as well as entertaining. Well-directed by Jeffrey Schwarz and featuring interviews with both Wrangler and his wife, the film re-enforces the truth that when it comes to sexuality, career success and, most significantly, love, there is little that is black and white.

Watch the trailers here: A Jihand for Love and Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon.

UPDATE: A Jihad for Loveand Wrangler: Anatomy of an Iconare now available on DVD from Amazon.com.

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Watch the Watchmen

With The Dark Knight down, time for the next comic geek sensation: Watchmen.

Although the eagerly awaited big screen adaptation of the landmark graphic novel series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons won't hit theaters until March 6 of next year, fanboys everywhere are chomping at the bit for every bit of information. And this week's two big offerings -- the first trailer (attached to the Bat-flick) and an extensive Entertainment Weekly cover story -- are now online.

That should keep us ... I mean them ... happy for a while. Seriously though, this one looks awesome. And if you really want to geek out, head over to Rope of Silicon for a series of screen cap-to-original-comic-panel comparisons.

Out in Film: Phyllida Lloyd

Idol worship: Phyllida Lloyd, director.

- This week she makes her feature film debut with Mamma Mia!, the ABBA musical she steered to success in London, New York and worldwide.

- She is primarily known for her theatrical works in her native England, including a stint at the renowned Royal Shakespeare Company; in 2006, the Independent named her among the 100 most influential gay and lesbian people in Britain.

- Her first commercial success was the West End hit Six Degrees of Separation, followed by acclaimed productions of The Threepenny Opera, What the Butler Saw, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and many others.

- In addition to her theatrical works, she has also directed several operas, including award winning stagings of La Boheme, Medea and the world premiere of The Handmaid's Tale (based on the novel by Margaret Atwood).

- Her only previous film experience was a television version of the opera Gloriana, which won an International Emmy Award.

Like, Totally Fer Sure

While we're still waiting for that Footloose musical remake (not to mention the Fame re-do), another 80's favorite with an iconic soundtrack album-- or two -- is returning to the screen: Valley Girl. However, this time, instead of just listening to the likes of Men at Work, Modern English, and the Psychedelic Furs, the cast of valley gals and guys will be singing them.

Producer Sean Bailey is currently prepping the musicalized remake, along with the long-in-the-works sequel to another retro fave, Tron. No word yet if the digitalized denizens of that computer world will be singing "Pac-Man Fever" though.

MD Poll: The Batmen

From vintage movie serials to popular TV series to blockbuster motion pictures, many an actor has donned the cape and cowl of the legendary comic book dark knight known as the Batman. But who is your favorite man behind the mask (or, in some cases, the man behind the microphone)?

Cast your vote in this week's MD Poll (located in the sidebar to your right) and check back in two weeks -- same Bat-time, same Bat-channel! (I've always wanted to say that) -- to find out who will reign supreme as the ultimate Caped Crusader.

UPDATE: This poll is now closed; click here for the results, and click here to vote in the current MD Poll.

MD Poll: See That Girl, Watch That Scene ...

" ... Dig in the Dancing Queen". It may not be Friday night and the lights aren't particularly low, but Movie Dearest readers had their say, and they chose the young and sweet (but only seventeen) "Dancing Queen" as their favorite ABBA song. It was a close one too, with "The Winner Takes It All" almost, well, taking it all.

Mamma Mia! the movie opens today (it's already a hit overseas, and the soundtrack albumjust debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard charts), but before you make your way to the theater, check out the comments section below for the full rundown of this MD Poll, and click here to vote in the latest.