What’s in a name? J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot sequel finally has one (per Deadline) and despite my deepest, nerdiest hopes that early reports were on some crazy tip it’s been confirmed so I guess we’re stuck with it. I hope you’re ready for — drumroll please… Star Trek Into Darkness. Star Trek into what now!?
I’m sure it was tough to come up with a naming convention that deviated from the original Trek movies’ Roman numeral + subtitle formula, or the TNG-era Treks’ annoying penchant for terribly vague one-word descriptors (“Nemesis”? “Generations”?). At least those made more sense once you saw the movie.
But Star Trek Into Darkness? For starters, it sounds like Step Into Liquid and Step Up 2 The Streets, which makes me think Chris Pine and Co. are headed for a dance-off with outer space surfers to the music of a British glam rock band. On top of that, dropping the colon forces us to comprehend “Trek” as both a noun and a verb, which makes my brain hurt. Who wants to go Star Trekkin’ with J.J. Abrams?
[*Commenter Elijah Sarkesian is right: Maybe someone just forgot the colon. If that's the case then I forgive Abrams and will move Star Trek: Into Darkness into #10 right under Star Trek: Insurrection, because "insurrection" is at least an interesting vocabulary word.]
Maybe I’m being too harsh on poor Star Trek 2. Looking back on the Trek films, they weren’t all winners. Here’s how I’d rank the 12 franchise titles, from awesome (KHAAAAAAAN!) to turrible.
1. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
2. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
3. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
4. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
I’m sure Channing Tatum’s real life high school reunion was just like yours: Equal parts awkward, fun, and harrowing, with a few Step Up-style dance-offs. Watch Tatum and a deep cast of fellow millennials like Anthony Mackie, Justin Long, Kate Mara, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Ari Graynor, Rosario Dawson, and Jenna Dewan in 10 Years and be thankful that your totally ’90s yearbook photos are safely tucked away in a dark, safe place and not being put on blast in a movie trailer.
Ten Years marks the directorial debut of writer Jamie Linden (We Are Marshall, Dear John) and is produced by Tatum and his Magic Mike partner Reid Carolin. With Tatum and offscreen wife Dewan playing his onscreen girlfriend, this is a Step Up reunion of sorts… and a Mackie/Brian Geraghty Hurt Locker reunion… and a We Are Marshall reunion… and a What’s Your Number reunion… and a Dear John reunion…
Verdict: Vicariously living through other people’s high school reunion > attending your own?
Synopsis (via Yahoo):
In this ensemble comedy, 10 Years follows a group of friends on the night of their high school reunion who, a decade later, still haven’t quite grown up.
Channing Tatum plays Jake, who is deeply in love with his girlfriend (Jenna Dewan-Tatum) and ready to propose—until he runs into his high school flame (Rosario Dawson) for the first time in years. Jake’s friend Cully (played by funnyman Chris Pratt) married his cheerleader girlfriend (Ari Graynor), and has been looking forward to the reunion so he can finally apologize to all the classmates he bullied in high school. However, after a few too many drinks, the jock-turned-family man ends up reverting back to his old ways instead. Meanwhile, longtime rivals Marty (Justin
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Full Story »By the power of Grayskull, get ready for this: The Masters of the Universe reboot is back on the docket, with news that Jon M. Chu (Step Up 2 The Streets, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, G.I. Joe: Retaliation) is in talks to helm the He-Man flick. Per Deadline, “the film revolves around He-Man, a prince who transforms into a warrior and becomes the last hope for a magical world that has been ravaged by the sinister Skeletor.” Well, duh.
Chu, who revitalized and set the pace for the Step Up franchise post-Channing Tatum then handily served up Bieber Fever with a well-conceived flick of that mop-top in 3-D, is currently converting G.I. Joe to 3-D for Paramount and directing Bieber’s live concert tour. On top of that, the success of his superhero webseries The LXD gave way to an entire YouTube channel (DS2DIO) dedicated to dance. He’s a busy guy with his hands in a number of youth-oriented projects and in his last three features has demonstrated a visionary knack utilizing dimensionalized space, although post-converting Joe wasn’t his first choice. Will his Masters of the Universe also go 3-D? I wouldn’t be surprised, but Sony Pictures and Escape Artists had better give Chu the time and money he needs up front if they’re even thinking of putting MoTU out in a souped-up format.
Although we’ve got months to go to see if fans embrace or revolt against Chu’s version of G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe devotees should take this as a good thing: Chu is nothing if not mindful of paying fan service to beloved properties. Besides, someone’s already mucked up He-Man on the big screen, and how. And it won’t…
Full Story »Guys, forget Step Up 4 and Battlefield America and the ballet documentary and the new season of ABDC: Magic Mike is the dance event of the year. Need proof? Let Channing Tatum and his gang of manscaped stripper men (Alex Pettyfer, Joe Mangianello, Adam Rodriguez, and Matt Bomer) show you their sweet moves to the tune of “It’s Raining Men” in a new trailer for the June 29 ladyboner fantasy. I mean movie.
[via MTV]
“Freeman’s rep tells us the actor remained silent for years because he didn’t want to ‘dignify these stories by commenting’ … but now he feels compelled to speak out after the reports were picked up by various ‘mainstream media’ outlets. In his statement, Freeman says, ‘The recent reports of any pending marriage or romantic relationship of me to anyone are defamatory fabrications from the tabloid media designed to sell papers. What is even more alarming is that these fabrications are now being picked up by the legitimate press as well.’” Sorry about that, Mr. Freeman. In other news: TGIF. [TMZ]
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Step aside, Hannah and Her Sisters. Thanks to $1,891,000 in ticket sales over the weekend, Midnight in Paris has become Woody Allen’s biggest domestic hit ever. The time-twisty comedy has earned $41,793,000 to date, a little over $1.7 million more than Sisters did in 1986. Of course, Hannah sold more tickets, and Midnight in Paris still trails Vicky Cristina Barcelona by almost $20 million in worldwide receipts, but, hey: congrats, Woody! [Box Office Mojo]
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Judd Apatow’s next film — his untitled writing/directing venture already starring Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Albert Brooks, and Megan Fox — just added its first dose of Bridesmaids lady magic to the cast in the form of Melissa McCarthy. (Chris O’Dowd was previously mentioned as in negotiations for a role.) Awesome! But: Is McCarthy the bawdy bridesmaid whose success you should be rooting for most?
The Mike & Molly star is joining the Knocked Up psuedo-sequel as a mother at the school where Rudd and Mann’s children attend. (McCarthy’s son will be played by Super 8 kid Ryan Lee.) I’m thrilled for the very candid and fun McCarthy, who has played fan-favorite roles on two cult TV hits; her cruise ship anecdote in Bridesmaids made me believe in the possibility of dolphin-to-human synergy. Yet I think I’m still waiting for Reno 911 vet Wendi McLendon-Covey and Damages goddess Rose Byrne to reel in the starring comedy roles they are so owed after Bridesmaids.
McLendon-Covey’s ad-libs in the Funny or Die extra footage were hysterical, and Rose Byrne’s superior stank was the surprise of the summer. I’ll be happier for McCarthy once all three ladies are justly cast. Still, go Melissa!
Are you psyched for the Knocked Up followup? Do you miss Katherine Heigl at all?
· ‘Bridesmaids’ Star Melissa McCarthy Joins Judd Apatow’s Next Movie (Exclusive) [THR]
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