BuzzSugar

Michael Bay and James Frey May Team Up For Sci-Fi Movies

BuzzSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:30:08 -0700

Yeah, you read those names correctly. Michael Bay, director of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, is in talks to produce and possibly direct a sci-fi movie franchise based on a six-book young adult series that has yet to be published.

This news in and of itself isn't all that earth-shattering but the interesting part is that the project is reportedly being co-written by James Frey. You know, the guy who got yelled at by Oprah on the air for stretching the truth in his so-called memoir A Million Little Pieces.

The first book, titled I Am Number Four is about:

. . . a group of nine alien teenagers on a planet called Lorien, which is attacked by a hostile race from another planet. The nine and their guardians evacuate to Earth, where three are killed. The protagonist, a Lorien boy named John Smith, hides in Paradise, Ohio, disguised as a human, trying to evade his predators and knowing he is next on their list.

Sounds like a pretty solid premise for young adult fiction and for a movie. What do you think? Are you surprised Frey had something like this in him?

Does Michael Bay's Portrayal of Women Bug You?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:15:51 -0700

It's no secret that Michael Bay loves to put extremely sexy women in his movies. When it comes to the Transformers movies, though, the gratuitous way he shoots Megan Fox seems a bit over-the-top, even for him.

Bay recently told reporters that it's "for the young boys" and Fox says says the treatment of women as sexual objects in film is part of what must be done "if you want to make movies that people want to see."

So does Bay's portrayal of women ever bother you? Or is it just good sexy fun?

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Transformers 2: Schlock and Awe

BuzzSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:30:13 -0700

The truth is, no matter what I or anyone else says about Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, audiences around the globe will flock to see it. I mean, duh - it's big, it's shiny, it goes boom, and it has boobs. It's just what the doctor ordered for audiences looking for some good old-fashioned Hollywood escapism just when it's getting too hot to use our brains. That's all fine and good, and to be honest, I don't blame audiences. Star Trek got this Summer off to an outstanding start, but many of the big-budget movies that followed have failed to deliver a similar thrill ride. We're thirsting for fun at the movies again!

So the question of reviewing Mr. Bay's film by normal movie standards becomes an interesting one. Is there a compelling, science-fiction plot to add some storytelling to the explosions? That would be a no. Are the characters filled out in such a way that you care about them? No, in fact, I find them incredibly annoying. Is it funny? Well, not even a robot humping Megan Fox's leg, or a lingering shot of John Turturro's crotch could get my audience full of tweens laughing much. But let's face it, there are plenty of inane, unfunny movies that are still fun to watch thanks to the special effects. And yet, despite all the hype, the action sequences in this particular movie are better described as "bludgeoning" than "awe-inspiring." So here we go, just read more.

First, the plot description: Autobots are good and Decepticons are bad. Decepticons want to destroy the sun or some such and the Autobots like the humans even though some humans are jerks to them. Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox are back as Sam Witwicky and Mikaela, two lovesick kids struggling to keep their romance going long-distance as Sam attends an East Coast college.

Honestly, the college scenes are the best, most hilarious part of the movie. And I mean that half-sarcastically, half-sincerely. For one thing, he's in college for two whole days before he has to go to Egypt to save the world. In that amount of time, he manages to befriend an obnoxious and fast-talking (everyone talks so fast in this movie!) roommate, he gets entangled with every young boy's fantasy blond coed (to the dismay of Mikaela), and he has a total meltdown in his first class. Oh, and Sam's mom eats pot brownies and goes completely insane.

It's two and a half hours of merciless silliness that would be sort of "ha-ha, what is going on in this movie?!" funny if it weren't so loud and visually incoherent. I waited and waited for a slow, lingering shot of a fully formed Transformer glimmering and sparkling in the sun so we could gawk at its scale and coolness. I wanted so badly to see a Transformer come out with a newer, cooler weapon than we've ever seen before and use it in a creative and interesting way mid-battle.

Alas, Michael Bay has no time for that (he only gave himself two and a half hours), and in effect the robots are like trash heaps that roll and tumble across the screen at a rate that makes you want to pop an Advil. You know what Bay does feel the need to present in slow motion? You guessed it! Megan Fox's mega-tanned boobs, butt, and lips. I guess I wish he would have spent some time on Josh Duhamel's chest - at least that would have given me something fun to look at.

Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Movie Preview: New Transformers 2 Trailer

BuzzSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:00:55 -0700

OK, folks, prepare yourself for another look at Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The first trailer was full of explosions, but this time around, we get a look at more of what you might call "the plot," with Sam heading off to college and starting to see creepy symbols in the middle of lectures.

That said, there are still explosions. There's Megan Fox being hot. There's Shia LaBeouf being intense - and understandably so, since big, scary robots seem to want something that's physically inside his brain. It's about what you'd expect from this franchise, I'd say. The movie hits theaters June 24, and to watch the new trailer, just read more.

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Link Time! 4/2

BuzzSugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:30:59 -0700

Aww, a fond farewell to the Woz on Dancing With the Stars. - geeksugar
Fifteen years after his death, former Sassy editor Christine Kelly opens up about the interview she did with Kurt Cobain for the April '92 issue. - I Heart Daily
A video tribute to Barney and Robin's "BRo Love" on How I Met Your Mother. - Give Me My Remote
I gotta admit, I think this picture of a giant Transformer at this year's ShoWest is pretty awesome. - MTV Movies Blog
Speaking of Transformers, find out what a cereal commercial would look like if directed by Michael Bay. - Cinematical
Wow, this Life on Mars ending sounds . . . a little ridiculous. - TV Filter
The 10 best "one crazy Summer . . . " movies of all time. - Vulture
A bold prediction for the upcoming death of a House character. - CliqueClack TV

Transformers 3 Coming July of . . . Some Year

BuzzSugar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:30:09 -0700

Transformers fans were all a-flutter earlier this week with the news that Paramount has set the date for the third movie: July 1, 2011. Though neither Shia LaBeouf nor director Michael Bay was confirmed for the third movie (and there's still no writer), apparently "Paramount insiders . . . said the studio wanted to claim the date before a competitor did, considering that the 2011 summer release calendar is filling up."

But if you ask Michael Bay, there's no need to worry about 2011 competition - Transformers 3 won't be ready by then! Bay has responded to the release date news with the following:

Wait a minute! I said I was taking off a year from Transformers. Paramount made a mistake in dating Transformers 3 - they asked me on the phone - I said yes to July 4 - but for 2012 - whoops! Not 2011!!! That would mean I would have to start prep in September. No way. My brain needs a break from fighting robots.

There's something a little bit satisfying about Michael Bay getting somewhat punked by his own studio. But I digress. It's probably best for Transformers 3 to avoid the Summer of 2011, as Thor, The First Avenger: Captain America, and Spider-Man 4 are all scheduled to release then. And for now we still have to get through the second Transformers movie, opening this June 26, which many of you are totally stoked to see.

Photo courtesy of Paramount

Are You Excited For the Transformers Sequel?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:30:53 -0800

The Transformers sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, is sure to be one of the biggest Summer blockbusters of 2009. Opening June 26, the plot of the Michael Bay-directed action flick is this: "Decepticon forces return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. Joining the mission to protect humankind is Optimus Prime, who forms an alliance with international armies for a second epic battle."

Check out the trailer below and tell me: Are you stoked to see Sam, Optimus Prime, and the rest zooming and crashing and blowing stuff up on screen again? Or not so much?

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The New Friday the 13th Trailer

BuzzSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:30:45 -0700

As was the case with The Haunting in Connecticut, another Halloween-ish movie that comes out next year, we're getting an early, seasonally-fitting look at the next Friday the 13th. The movie opens Feb. 13, 2009 and once again features our hockey masked Jason preying upon unsuspecting young people at the creepy site of Camp Crystal Lake.

The trailer includes a voiceover by Jason's mother, explaining what happened to him at the camp along with some flashes of spooky things.

To check it out, read more.

Friday The 13th in HD

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Link Time! 6/19

BuzzSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:40:42 -0700

Using television programming as one facet of a large and difficult issue, CitizenSugar is taking a closer look at racism in America.
One Popwatch editor is taking one for the team and going to see The Love Guru with her mom. Are there any entertainment sacrifices you've made for loved ones?
According to Megan Fox's conversation with MTV Movies Blog, Michael Bay's directorial notes to her pretty much amount to "Just look hot." Classy.
Speaking of hot, eye candy alert! You Ain't No Picasso has pictures from Rilo Kiley's set at Bonnaroo.
TV Filter has seen Fringe. Yeah, I'm jealous too.
Cinematical tells us all about Aaron Yoo's next project: Playing the fake dad to Lindsay Lohan's character's fake baby in Labor Pains.
TV Squad just had a chat with Kim Cattrall.
Stereogum offers up thoughts on Paste's list of the top 17 coolest record stores in the country. Our Amoeba Music here in San Francisco didn't make the cut (though the one in L.A. did)!

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Bay and Bruckheimer, Together Again for HBO?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:34:22 -0700

They brought us Armageddon. They brought us The Rock. And now, they might be bringing us . . . a TV drama about cocaine?

Rumor has it that Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay might reteam for an HBO series. The inspiration for the show is the 2006 documentary Cocaine Cowboys, which focused on Miami's cocaine trade in the 1980s. According to Variety, the series "would focus on the cutthroat world of drug dealers and the Colombian cocaine kingpins who set up shop in the once-sleepy Florida city."

Both of these guys have a lot on their plates these days - Bruckheimer is a producer on what seems like half of all CBS programming and has almost a dozen movies in various stages of development, while Michael Bay is on Transformers duty. So the two of them squeezing a TV project into their schedules would be a pretty big deal.

Meanwhile, I'm now quite intrigued by Cocaine Cowboys itself. The film's director has produced a sequel, and Variety notes that a feature film is in development based on the life of one of the kingpins, with Mark Wahlberg pegged for the lead role. Looks like I'll be putting that in my Netflix queue!

What do you think? Can you picture a Bruckheimer and Bay project on the small screen? Would your TV just explode?

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