BuzzSugar

Smurfs Movie to Be CGI and Live-Action, Like Chipmunks

BuzzSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:40:37 -0700

We've seen the very early basic designs for the CGI (and possibly 3-D) Smurfs movie, and today there's news that Sony has snatched up the film rights, and they plan to make it just like last year's Alvin and the Chipmunks movie - with live-action actors alongside the animated blue guys (and gal). Variety continues:

[Producer Jordan] Kerner said the genesis of the current project began during a holiday conversation with Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman-CEO Michael Lynton, who grew up with Les Schtroumpfs in the Netherlands. "He relished them as I do and suggested that it should be a live-action/CG film," he said. "(Studio topper) Amy (Pascal) felt equally that there was potentially a series of films in the making."

"The Smurfs are one of the best-known franchises, and among the most beloved collection of characters in the world," Columbia co-president Doug Belgrad said. "We're very excited to introduce a new generation to Papa Smurf, Smurfette and the other smurftastic Smurfs in all of their 'three-apple-tall' glory."

I don't know about you, but I might just pretend this isn't happening, until it does. In the meantime, the Smurfs' official website is actually really cute and informative, and there's a fun section devoted to the Smurfs' 50th anniversary - which is October 23 of this year!

Source

One Day Left! Win a CD From The Fray and a Sony Portable DVD Player

BuzzSugar — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 11:58:01 -0800

Attention BuzzSugar readers! We've partnered with Epic Records to give away a killer gift set, which includes a copy of The Fray's debut album, How to Save a Life, and a Sony portable DVD player. To enter, just visit the contest site here and watch the music video for the Fray's hit single, "How to Save a Life," for a chance to win.

If you're a fan of Coldplay and Keane, this piano-driven band is very much worth checking out, so be sure to throw your hat into the ring for our giveaway. But hurry, because the contest ends tomorrow!

Buzz News Roundup, 12/18

BuzzSugar — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:55:15 -0800

Now that Babel is up for a Golden Globe, everyone suddenly wants to see it - Variety
Giant media networks could be close to creating a YouTube rival - New York Times
"Desperate Housewives" is mulling a special male-centric episode narrated by Bree's dead husband - TV Guide
Happyness helps Sony Pictures break the annual domestic box-office record - Zap2It
Avril Lavigne will release a new album, The Best Damn Thing, in April - Billboard
TV execs explain the continuing decline of ABC's "The Nine" - Los Angeles Times
Pitchfork names the 100 best tracks of 2006 - Pitchfork Media
Sony plans a movie downloading service to complement its PSP - Variety
Now in high-def: "The Yule Log" show - Variety

BuzzSugar Giveaway: Win a CD From The Fray and a Sony Portable DVD Player!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 09:17:07 -0800

To celebrate the launch of the Sugar Network's new site, BuzzSugar, we're partnering with Epic Records to give away a killer gift set, which includes a copy of The Fray's debut album, How to Save a Life, and a Sony portable DVD player. To enter, just visit the contest site here and watch the music video for the Fray's hit single, "How to Save a Life," for a chance to win.

I had a chance to sit down with Fray guitarists Joe King and Dave Welsh in Vegas on Monday before the FOX Billboard Music Awards, where the charming boys from Denver performed the very catchy "How to Save a Life." The song is really everywhere these days, including the soundtracks of both "Scrubs" and "Grey's Anatomy," leading the guys to joke that "apparently the nurses of America love us." The Fray is floored by how much traction the track has gotten through nontraditional venues like MySpace, iTunes, and, of course, TV soundtracks.

The musicians said that they look forward to next year, when they can start working on a new album. Because while they're happy to play "How to Save a Life" as long as the fans want it, they wouldn't mind adding a few more songs to their repertoire. But if you're a fan of Coldplay and Keane, this piano-driven album is very much worth checking out, so be sure to throw your hat into the ring for our giveaway. The contest runs for two weeks.

Continue or Kill: Men in Black

BuzzSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:30:37 -0700

Today's sequel news sort of makes my eyes roll: Men in Black 3 is coming, and Sony is bringing fresh blood to the franchise. The studio has roped in Etan Cohen of Tropic Thunder to write the script - even though neither Will Smith nor Tommy Lee Jones have signed on yet to star.

Not to be cruel, but the second MIB came out seven years ago - isn't Agent K getting kind of old to chase aliens? I liked the first MIB OK (loved that theme song!), but the second didn't grab my excitement, so I'm surprised they've decided to revisit it again. All I've got to say is they better get Smith and Jones to agree stat, because I can't imagine an MIB with all new characters - or even worse, younger actors taking over the roles they originated.

What's your take? Are you happy to see Hollywood move forward with the Men in Black series, or would you rather see it offed already?

2012 Ends the World at Number One

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

The apocalypse makes for top of the box office: doomsday drama 2012 was the number one movie this weekend, pulling in $65 million in its first outing at theaters. If that sounds like an insane amount of money to you, you're right - it's the seventh highest-grossing November opening ever.

Last week's number one, Jim Carrey's A Christmas Carol was pushed into the second spot with $22.3 million, followed by The Men Who Stare at Goats with $6.2 million.

The little move that could, Precious, came in fourth with $6 million, which is more than a 200 percent increase. It's not too surprising, since the much-buzzed-about movie opened up in more cities nationwide, but still a feat considering it has yet to reach wide release. Finally, the Michael Jackson doc This Is It fell to No. 5, earning $5.1 million.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

2012: Apocalyptic Good Times

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

In terms of end-of-the-world movies, 2012 packs it all - a love story, teary family moments, action-packed adventure, over-the-top-CGI, and a ton of recycled film cliches - in a two and a half hour package. That's lengthy by today's standards, but I wasn't bored for a minute. This is pure escapist entertainment.

The film opens in 2009 as a scientist in India and his American associate Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) discover that the Earth's core is overheating. His forecast: Tectonic plates will shift, thereby causing a worldwide catastrophe that will wipe out the human race.

Dun, dun, dun! (Doesn't take long to pull you in, does it?) To hear my full assessment, read more.

The real action goes down three years later in 2012 when, according to the Mayan calendar, the Earth will reach its end. The entire So-Cal coast starts crumbling, so our hero Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) and his family begin a journey to China where the governments around the world have supposedly assembled spaceships to carry select humans to safety.

What? You expected this to be plausible?

Of course not, but the film does include tons of cool CGI - volcanos, snow storms, giant tsunamis. It's like every disaster movie you've ever watched combined. (That should come as no surprise seeing as how the director is Roland Emmerich who created The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day, and Godzilla.)

As for the characters, we've seen them all stereotyped in other films before, but they're still enjoyable here. (Even though I admittedly winced over a Russian family complete with a fur coat, tiny dog, and an employee named Sasha.) This is thanks to the actors who play their parts with believability, even when the scenes feel ridiculous. Ejiofor portrays a great bleeding heart swept up in a governmental plan that's looking out for No. 1, and Cusack pulls off his father role without being over-the-top or sappy. Also, watch for Woody Harrelson as a nutty conspiracy theorist living in Yellowstone National Park.

2012 is purely meant to be fun, and it succeeds. There's a constant barrage of cliff-hanger moments that never let up, and though you pretty much know where things are headed, it's easy to get sucked in.

(Don't forget that if you see a movie that you'd like to review, you can post your write-up in the Movie Review Group in Community - I may even post it here on the site!)

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

Link Time!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:00:06 -0700

Mia Michaels is leaving So You Think You Can Dance - Mia's Twitter
Lady Gaga reveals her upcoming tour dates - Billboard
Ridley Scott goes Red Riding for Sony - Hit Fix
Season four of Big Love will premiere on Jan. 10 - TV Squad
William H. Macy will star in an adaptation of the British drama Shameless for Showtime - The Futon Critic
Josh Duhamel will star in a new Disney flick called What's He Got? - Coming Soon
Taylor Swift is going to host SNL - should she address Kanye's comments? - PopSugar
Ever wonder what Carlisle Cullen looked like in the olden days? - MTV Movies Blog
Brad Pitt's Tree of Life won't be released until next year - Vulture
Take Yum's Top Chef quiz on last night's episode - YumSugar

Movie Preview: Broken Embraces

BuzzSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Broken Embraces looks like classic Pedro Almodovar: a sweeping story with a heavy dose of film noir, beautiful to look at, and a dazzling Penelope Cruz. There's a reason the director and his muse always work together - he brings out her strongest performances; she serves as a captivating leading lady. (She even got an Academy Award nomination for his film Volver.)

If the trailer for Broken Embraces is any indication, Cruz may just have critics whispering Oscar again. The film follows an aspiring actress (Cruz) stuck in a marriage to an overbearing guy with deep pockets. But in secret, she's in love with her director. Yes, it's in Spanish with subtitles, but the movie looks packed with passion and mystery, which should make for some very good popcorn-eating. Check out the trailer and tell me if you agree when you read more.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Matthew Perry Is Still There For You

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:30:29 -0700

Matt LeBlanc isn't the only Friend who's heading back to TV - his former on-screen roommate Matthew Perry has a new sitcom of his own in the works.

The comedy revolves around a narcissistic manager of a sports arena who starts rethinking his life plan when he turns 40. (Is it just me or does this sound like it may have been inspired by Perry's most recent movie, 17 Again?) Clearly this is a pet project of Perry's: he's set to star in, co-write, and executive produce the single-camera comedy, which will be produced by Sony Pictures TV.

After Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was canceled, I was sad that Perry disappeared for a while. I think he shines the brightest on the small screen, even if his new character doesn't sound as much fun as my favorite friend Chandler Bing. Are you excited about this news?

If you're a Friends fanatic, check out the community group dedicated to the show!