Rolling Out Again

[Prime was searching New York for Dunkin Donuts]

Just when you thought the past was dead and gone, things start making heavy comebacks: G. I. Joe becomes a summer tent flick, writers and gamers starting remembering the original Ghostbusters quartet, TMNT commemorative figures are on the shelves - overall, life is good.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, the sequel to the 2007 film, made its debut in theaters on June 24, 2009.

Consequently, Paramount and Dreamworks announced a July 1, 2011 release date for a third Transformers film before completion of Revenge of the Fallen.

On October 1, 2009, Michael Bay revealed that Transformers 3 had already gone into pre-production, and its planned release was back to its original date of July 1, 2011 instead of 2012. It was said that Shia LaBeouf would reprise his role as Sam.

Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, having written the first two movies, will not return for the third installment in the series.

Poster Joe

[2009 G.I. Joes: it's on the way out]
Written by GL

Paramount Pictures has debuted six new character posters for G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, coming to theaters on August 7 - look around the net for 'em. Be there or be square.

Directed by Stephen Sommers, the action-adventure stars a helluva lot of people: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Byung Hun Lee, Sienna Miller, Rachel Nichols, Ray Park, Said Taghmaoui, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans and Dennis Quaid.

This is Paramount Pictures' tent-pole summer flick and alot of hype is going around this. The retro comes alive !

Don't It Make You Wanna Cringer

[Masters Of The Universe: official movie poster]
Written by GL

The toys and cartoon reached their peak in 1987 - which was also the exact same year this tacky masterpiece was released. Everyone calls it 'rotten', I call it 'rantastic'. More on this to come.

Joes Online

[Live Action Flint: don't worry, it's just the holster stabbing him in the groin]
Written by GL

As you may well know by now, G.I. Joe the movie is one the way out of the rectum of Hollywood this coming summer. Classic Articulation is well looking forward to finding out how this one will turn out.

And just because we're such media whores we thought we'd just let everyone know that the official G.I. Joe movie website is now online. There's not much there yet other than the logo and credits.

Click here to be a busy-body.

This summer tent flick is coming to theaters on August 7 2009 and stars Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Byung Hun Lee, Sienna Miller, Rachel Nichols, Ray Park, Said Taghmaoui, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans and Dennis Quaid.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

[The Watchmen: 2008-2009 trailer lookin' good]
Written by GL

For your watching pleasure and for your sheer astonishment at how far graphic novels, animation and movies have come since we were kids.

Astro Look

[Astro Boy: or Sonic's metro-sexual partner]

Written by GL

Imagi (the production studio) has posted new artwork for Astro Boy on their official website. Summit Entertainment will release the big screen adaptation, directed by David Bowers, on October 23. Voices featured are Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Donald Sutherland, Nathan Lane, Bill Nighy, and Eugene Levy.

Link their website to view more.

The Lost Spirit

[Gabriel Macht as The Spirit]

Written by GL

The new year has been ushered in and it's time to expect a whole new line up of developments from toy-lines, movie studios, merchandising outfits and television premieres. And, without a doubt, previous years have had they're share of blunders. But we ain't talking about that.

Tonight we're talking about a current blunder that is of almost Catwoman-like proportions. Let's talk about The Spirit.

The gross for the opening four-days was a disappointing $10.3 million only. And a general criticism that came out of this was that many felt Frank Miller (the director and, on top of that, one of the greatest comic writers to have ever lived) was too obsessed with the visuals and not the storyline. Let's have a look at what some critics had to say:

• Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) said; "There is not a trace of human emotion in it. To call the characters cardboard is to insult a useful packing material".

• Owen Gleiberman (Entertainment Weekly) said; "ludicrously knowing and mannered noir pastiche, full of burnt-end romance and 'style, but robotic at its core".

• A.O. Scott (The New York Times) said; "To ask why anything happens in Frank Miller's sludgy, hyper-stylized adaptation of a fabled comic book series by Will Eisner may be an exercise in futility. The only halfway interesting question is why the thing exists at all".

• J.R. Jones (Chicago Reader) said; "Someone get this man a decent script".

• Jason Anderson (Toronto Star) said; " At which exact point The Spirit hits rock bottom is a matter of debate".

• Colin Covert (Minneapolis Star Tribune) said; "It's not easy to make a thriller that's both incredibly convoluted and intensely boring, laboriously narrated yet befuddled, but Miller -- creator and co-director of Sin City -- triumphs on all counts".

The Spirit is as classic as it gets; starting out in the 1940's as the worlds first middle-class superhero, running through the second World War and piercing the adult audience with the medium of comic books stories, as well as, bringing Will Eisner the glory that he deserves. However, this movie just didn't bring all that with it (trust me - ask Kal-el yourself).

[The Spirit & Darwyn Cooke]

Being the naughty little buggers we are, we decided to pull a little experiment with our friends. Having watched the movie first, Kal-el and I already had an idea of its stinky-ness. But our circle of friends didn't. So, upon their finishing of watching the movie, Kal-el and I decided to openly rave and glorify what we thought of The Spirit - we were going to say it was the best-test-test movie we had seen in years. And when we did, out of all our friends: no one said they hated it !

Two key messages from this, boys and girls: don't watch The Spirit and get a new circle of friends.

Ball Hunting

[Dragonball: he's only got one]
Written by GL

Alright, alright. All the toilet humor aside - and in support for all our retro anime fans out there - the Dragonball movie is on the way out, as you all well know.

In fact, the posters can be found in cinemas around the Sultanate (most prominently in the Empire Cinema), so the hype surrounding the movie is slowly leaking out. No continents are more in anticipation for this feature film than the South East Asian ones. And if you do enough sourcing around the net you find leaked images of the film.

All dedicated fans should pay a visit to the official Dragonball website. You know you want to; you just want to have a look at how it's starting to look like, even if you aren't really a fan. Believe me. I'm there.

In any case, we all have to admit that the Dragonball franchise is totally retro: the first anime episode aired on Fuji Television in 1986. And since then, the merchandise, the games and all other episodes seemed to stream non-stop.

Let's keep an eye on this one. Chances of the show being a total flop? Too early to tell.

Codename: Posters

Written by GL

Recently released at the Cinema EXPO, held in Amsterdam, are the following teaser posters for the 2009 summer flick, G.I. Joe. Have a look yourself to see how these real life representations actually match up our dear love'd heroes from the classic age of growing up (and the starting points of where we learned to love the nation of America).

It's our first look at Baroness, Snake Eyes and Duke. Not too shabby if you ask me.

The Stephen Sommers-directed film, co-starring Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller, Ray Park, Rachel Nichols, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Said Taghmaoui, Marlon Wayans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Arnold Vosloo and Christopher Eccleston, opens in theaters on August 7, 2009.

Sexy Joe

[Real Life: Scarlett in the flesh]
Written by GL

We all know that G.I. Joe features perhaps one too many guys. Now, however, we have Scarlett with that hot bod and that fiery ponytail. Not to mention her crazy crossbow. Rachel Nichols (of Alias fame) is cast as the awesome Scarlett in the upcoming live-action show.

This is only the second official photo released from G.I. Joe (after USA Today revealed Snake Eyes) and we bring you this first look. The Stephen Sommers-directed flick will be hitting theaters on August 7, 2009.

Speed Posters

Four new posters have been debuted for the Wachowski Brothers' Speed Racer, opening in theaters on May 9. The adaptation stars Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon and Matthew Fox. Check out the sample released below.

The retro is speeding in through to the modern age.

Snakes Not On Planes

Paramount Pictures has released (just today) the very first two photos of Ray Park as the super-soldier Snake Eyes, from the Stephen Sommers G.I. Joe show (which rhymes). The movie is set to hit theaters on August 7, 2009.

[Snake Eyes: a bad mamma-jamma]

'He's the world's greatest ninja, but he's also next-generation. He's not afraid to use a sword one second, and a split-second later he's pulling out his Glock,' the director told media. 'His chief nemesis is arguably the world's other great ninja, Storm Shadow. The two grew up together, were blood brothers and now are mortal enemies.'

[Snake Eyes: the same mamma-jamma as above but badder]

It's like the relationship between Splinter and Shredder except, the buggers use guns.

The movie is an origins story, so the director's challenge is to explain why the bad guy wears a metal mask, why Snake Eyes doesn't talk and other strange things kids took for granted.

I suppose, for those of us who know nothing about it, the movie will help to make it all sense. And for those who love the retro essence of the Joes, the movie will help to show how it all started. Sounds like a plan.

Written by Stuart Beattie, the action-adventure show also stars Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Rachel Nichols, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Said Taghmaoui, Marlon Wayans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Arnold Vosloo and Christopher Eccleston.

Speed Trailer

[Speed: that ride better have seat-belts]
Written by GL

Warner Bros. Pictures has finally released the full trailer for the upcoming Wachowksi Brothers' Speed Racer movie online. The show will be tail-gating (pun intended) into theaters on May 9. In the driver's seats (pun intended again) are Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon and Matthew Fox.

Check out the full trailer at Yahoo! Movies

Control The Cobra

[Cobra: sweep the leg, sweep the leg]
Written by GL

So, the G. I. Joe movie is on the way out with characters being cast all over the place, near and far, up and down, etc.

Reports have come in that the very awesome Electronic Arts (EA) is developing a video game based on the upcoming G.I. Joe movie. Sources said that EA will be releasing a game in conjunction with Paramount's 2009 movie-of-summer.

The publisher has all the interactive rights to G.I. Joe as part of its overall deal with Hasbro, but they declined to comment on any specific game plans.

The movie is opening in theaters on August 7, 2009.

G.I. Joe stars (so far): Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Ray Park, Rachel Nichols, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Said Taghmaoui, Marlon Wayans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Arnold Vosloo and Christopher Eccleston. That is a pretty huge cast.

What all your retro desires come true in the upcoming movies, this year.

Speed Gamer

[Games Galore: it's cool to be a gamer]
Written by GL

The re-live-retro anime-inspired movie is coming to the big screens soon - Speed Racer. And, nothing is more exciting than the huge number of endorsements that seem to follow these movies when they are just about to be released.

Yahoo! has your first look at the trailer for the new game based on the Wachowski brothers' Speed Racer movie. Once again, it's coming to theaters on May 9 and will star Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon and Matthew Fox.

The game is also going to hit the stores in May.

Because we here at Classic Articulation would hate for you to waste all the valuable hard earned money (even if it is on such pirate goods), you should check out the the trailer here!

Speed Racer Takes Over The World

[Speed Racer: nice eye-lashes]
Written by GL

Warner Bros.' Speed Racer is opening in theaters on May 9 and the studio has been able to nail an awesome lineup of promotional partner-companies, whom will add at least US$80 million in additional marketing support for the film.

We're talking about brand names like McDonald's, Target, Mattel, Lego, Topps and many others that will bait the audiences towards the film.

The marketing line-up includes:

• LEGO is creating four play-sets based around the film.

• Target, which rarely does film promotions, is joining as the movie's official retail partner and, in addition to in-store ads and circulars, offering a gift card that enables consumers to access exclusive footage from the film;

• Puma is designing Speed Racer-themed shoes;

• McDonald's is offering separate Happy Meals for boys and girls.

• Yokohama Rubber Co. and auto parts retailer Autobacs, as well as Brazilian oil company Petrobras and Mexican snack-food maker Bimbo, among others, will also push the movie through ads and other tie-ins.

Some More Joes

[Quaid: trying to look like he's thinking]

Written by GL

The G. I. Joe movie is going along very smoothly indeed, with more and more cast members joining as the weeks pass. Latest in the joiners to the G. I. Joe cast are Dennis Quaid and Arnold Vosloo.

Quaid will be playing General Hawk, the over-all team leader, and Arnold Vosloo will play Zartan, a mercenary who works with Destro and Cobra. This action adventure movie is coming to theaters on August 7, 2009, and is scheduled to start shooting next month in Los Angeles, California.

[Vosloo: remember him from The Mummy?]

Quaid and Vosloo join the other members: Channing Tatum (Duke), Ray Park (Snake Eyes), Marlon Wayans (Ripcord), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Rex), Rachel Nichols (Scarlett), Sienna Miller (The Baroness), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Heavy Duty), Said Taghmaoui (Breaker) and Byung-hun Lee (Storm Shadow).

As mentioned, Lorenzo di Bonaventura is producing the show. And don't think there won't be an action figure line as well coming from Hasbro. The most recent draft script has already been written and is up for approval right now.

G.I. Joe Starts Filming

[Lorenzo di Bonaventura: Power producer]
Written by GL

Bonaventura, the producing head behind the much-expected G.I. Joe live-action adaptation, was recently interviewed and asked certain details about the progress of filming so far.

About G.I. Joe, he says that shooting will start in five weeks, and that you can expect more casting announcements in the next few weeks - as one would expect, due to the fact that the character-lines are near endless.

"It's a tricky balance. One, you want to keep the story elements secret. I can say this very convincingly, if you're a Joe vs. Cobra fan, then you will be feel incredibly happy about the movie. Well, I would say this, it would be more like the original Batman in the sense that you know, it's really taking a comic book. If you would you say the original G.I. Joe movie was like the original Batman movie with Jack Nicholson then I would say this is like Batman Begins."

Let's hope he's better with the production of movies than he is with analogies.

The Joe's Casting Update

So, we all know that the G. I. Joe movie is coming out. Thus, I accept the full responsibility of keeping everyone on our side of the world updated on how everything is panning out for this flick. God knows, we hope the show will be a good one - the ability to take an awesome retro cartoon and turn it into a modern film whilst keeping everyone from the 80s that made the show good, is a hard job for any production company.

And everyone knows, we've had our share of crappy films.

The latest casting updates are as follows: we left with Sienna Miller and Ray Park being cast as an unknown 'Baroness' like character, and Snake Eyes, respectively. New joiners to the cast of the Stephen Sommers adaptation are, firstly, Byung Hun Lee.

[Byung-Hun Lee: pearly whites]

Lee is best known for he work in the heart-wrenching Winter Sonata, and is pretty much an icon in Korea. This pretty boy is set to the play the totally cool Storm Shadow, ninja assassin of the Cobras. Now, that is awesome news. Let's hope this fella is up to the challenge of portraying such a landmark character.

Second to the G. I. Joe team is a hot female, who's going to take the lead role of Shana 'Scarlett' O'Hara. Scarlett is a purely landmark character as well because she was the first female to appear in the toy-line. She is being played by Rachel Nichols.

[Rachel Nichols: luscious but sleepy]

Rachel Nichols appeared in Alias a few times, and was also Yahoo's Model Of The Month for 2000. I suppose for the role, Nichols will have to turn into a red head to match her counter-part characters.

Needless to say, the movie is start to pick up speed, with casting call being made all over the place. G. I. Joe is set for an August 9 2009 release.

Speed Tease

[Speed Racer: it's a helmet]
Written by GL

Ok, I'll be the first to admit that I was always more of an Astro Boy fan than a Speed Racer one. I never really caught on to the whole racing-adventure genre, and preferred to stick with robots and superheroes. But, if you want a retro Japanese cartoon, Speed Racer is it. And, if you didn't already know, they're making it into a live action American movie.

Have a look at the awesome looking teaser poster above.

The movie is set for a release early next year, and is another endeavor of the Wachowski brothers - directors of The Matrix Series and V For Vendetta. The movie will star Emille Hirsch, who you may remember from The Girl Next Door, as the main fella, Speed, as well as Christina Ricci as Speed's girlfriend.

It's a totally 1960s retro Japanese cartoon that Hollywood has decided to make a movie out of, and I hope it isn't a half-hearted attempt. Although I wasn't much of a fan, I know that others out there are, and are totally looking forward to the release of this. Let's hope for the best.

Speed Racer is set for a May 9 release.