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Buzz In: What Board Games Would You Like to See as Movies?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:30:06 -0700

Earlier this week, we learned that Peter Berg will be directing a movie based on the board game Battleship. A couple of years ago, I joked about other potential films based on my childhood toys, but now I'm approaching the matter with a whole new attitude. This is no longer a laughing matter; these projects are going forward into production. Don't Break the Ice: The Movie may be just around the corner.

The Battleship movie sounds like it's going to be pretty heavy - ship fleets engaged in violent battle and what not - but I'd rather explore the lighter side of the genre. Personally, I've always been curious about what the peppermint forest from Candy Land would actually look like, and I'm sure there's some exec in Hollywood who's already dreaming up some amazing, 3-D, sweet, sweet world for me. What about you - no matter how far-fetched, what board games would you like to see on the big screen?

Board Games Make Great Movies?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 05:30:00 -0700

Many of us can agree the game of Clue lends itself rather well to film - it is a character-driven murder mystery, after all. Yet now there's a rumor circulating that Monopoly may be made into a movie, which just confuses me. I was pretty bored by that game as a kid, so there would have to be a compelling plot line included for a movie based on a game about real estate.

It got me thinking about just how ridiculous this board game-turned-movie thing could become. What other board games could be brought to the big screen?

Well, I had a few ideas for Hollywood to mull over:

Chutes and Ladders
A harrowing tale of firefighters in peril.

Pictionary
A drama following a tortured artist who loses the power of speech. (Side note: The Pictionary variation with clay ensures a sequel.)

Girl Talk
Like Heathers meets The Craft: Witchy, cliquey teenage girls who can give each other pimples and moral dilemmas, etc.

Candyland
A sobering documentary tracking childhood obesity in the United States. Kiefer Sutherland narrates.

More genius ideas, so read more

Life
A thriller set in seemingly idyllic suburbia.

Battleship
A big-budget action-war movie. Tommy Lee Jones stars.

Sorry!
A story of bitter betrayal and revenge, in the style of Merchant-Ivory films.

Scrabble
A gentle tale of a geriatric friendship based on two characters' abnormally advanced vocabulary. Olympia Dukakis and James Cromwell play the leads.

Operation
A medical drama set in a world where one surgical slip-up has "grave" results.

The Office, "Murder": Best Lines of the Night and Video!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:30:00 -0800

Well, I do declare! This week's The Office was silly good fun. Distraught over rumors of bankruptcy, Michael suggests that the employees engage in a murder mystery game called Belles, Bourbon and Bullets to keep their spirits up. Pam's recent bad attitude seems to lift as she gets into character, and Andy uses the opportunity to ask Erin on a date. (I can't wait for when those two finally hook up!)

Ready to take a look at some of my favorite quips from the episode (and share your own in the comments)?

Jim: "With all due respect to everyone here, I think the most worthy opponent of you is you."
Dwight: "That is correct. Unless there happen to be measles present."
How awesomely ridiculous is the opening scene where Dwight tries to fight himself during his own karate instructional?! That right there is why Rainn Wilson gets nominated for Emmys.

For more funny lines, plus a video of the Clue-like antics, read more.

"Your feelings journal? You told me to put it in the time capsule."-Erin
Check out Erin delivering yet another great quote this week! I'm curious to see what the writers do with her character, especially now that they're setting up this will-they-or-won't-they thing with Andy that's slightly reminiscent of another Office couple.

"You can all have jobs at Schrute farms as human scarecrows. It doesn't pay much, and you can't unionize."-Dwight
Leave it to Dwight to concoct a plan when news of the company's money loss hits the Scranton branch.

"Operation got me through my vasectomy, i.e. my operation. I don't think I would've been able to endure my breakup with Holly had it not been for Toss Across."-Michael
Michael explains his use of board games as a coping mechanism to Jim, but my favorite part is when he plays "Lullaby" by Sean Mullins on his computer to wallow in his sadness. Anyone else remember that song? Love the '90s nostalgia!

Kevin: "Now do the Swedish Chef."
Andy: "I'm not familiar, what province is he from?"
Kevin: "He lives on Sesame Street, dumbass."
Andy does such a good job with his Savannah accent using his "molasses" technique that oddball Kevin asks him to talk like the Swedish Chef from Sesame Street. But I have to mention Creed -I was dying when he shows up to the office, hears about the "murder," and speeds off in his car! Also, kudos to the crime scene with Meredith and to Oscar for putting on the strangest accent I have ever heard. Check him out in this video:

"Today is the hardest I have worked in a long, long time."-Michael
Sad thing is, Michael's probably telling the truth.

So what's your assessment of the evening? It sounds like there are tough times ahead for everyone, since David Wallace says the company will be out of money by the end of the year. What do you think will happen? My hopes are that Michael and Dwight will cook up some solution that doesn't involve scarecrows. And what do you make of the Erin and Andy romance - do you want to see it happen?

Don't forget that you can discuss the episode in full over at The Office! group in the BuzzSugar Community! Here are two words to get you started: Tube city.

Photo and videos courtesy of NBC

Live Action Barbie Movie in the Works - Who Should Play Her?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:30:09 -0700

We were just talking about the trend of board games getting made into movies, and now comes word that the holy grail of childhood toys, Barbie, is also getting a film deal.

Universal Pictures is teaming up with Mattel to develop a family film based on the doll, but here's the kicker: it's going to be live-action. That means two Hollywood types are going to be playing the famous blonde with impossibly high arches and her anatomically challenged boyfriend, Ken.

Let's talk casting. I'm sure a bunch of celeb mommies will be lining up to take on the part - what mom wouldn't want to play a role that's guaranteed to be a huge hit with her kids? - and I'm curious to see just which lady lands the lead. Until then, let's have some fun and try a few guesses of our own. Who would you choose to portray Barbie and Ken in the new movie?

Do You Want to See Tom Cruise in More Action Roles?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:31:14 -0700

Today there's news of the spy movie Edwin A. Salt, purportedly starring Tom Cruise, which may get Phillip Noyce (Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games) on board to direct. In the story, Cruise would play "a CIA officer who's accused by a defector of being a Russian sleeper spy. He must elude capture long enough to clear his name."

It's not necessarily going to be an action film, but it does sound similar to something Jack Ryan-ish or Jason Bourne-y, and I personally don't know if I could take Cruise all that seriously as an action star at this point. Then again, maybe he's still got it. Do you want to see Cruise in any more action movies?

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