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5 Films You Probably Didn't Know Were Written by J.J. Abramsby Luke Hickman Most people know 'Super 8' writer-director-producer J.J. Abrams for his television series 'Felicity' (1998-2002), 'Alias' (2001-2006), 'Lost' (2004-2010) and 'Fringe ' (2008-present) and for films like 'Mission: Impossible III' and 2009's 'Star Trek ', but few people know that before he made it big, he was mainly a screenwriter. Up until 1998, his scripts were written under the name Jeffrey Abrams. [teaser]The following is a list of fairly well known titles penned by Jeffrey "J.J." Abrams. Just as they did with me, some of these titles may surprise you.[/teaser] 'Regarding Henry' (1991) Academy Award winner Mike Nichols ('The Graduate') brought Abrams' drama to life with uber-talented actors Harrison Ford ('Indiana Jones') and Annette Bening ('The Kids Are All Right'). In it, Ford plays an arrogant lawyer who survives a bullet to the head during a random robbery. Obviously suffering from severe brain trauma, he is left without a single pre-shooting memory. 'Regarding Henry' takes you through his humbling journey as he learns of the painful things he did in his past and as he embraces his new, innocent child-like life. As a teenager, after being blown away by 'The Fugitive' I remember discovering 'Regarding Henry' while trying to catch up on old Harrison Ford films - mind you, this was back when Ford only made good films. Despite having not seen it in over 15 years, I always remember the film with fondness for its tender, intimate story. 'Forever Young' (1992) 'Forever Young' got a bad wrap for being released one year after a film with the same plot - 'Late for Dinner' starring Peter Berg ('Friday Night Lights' director). 'Forever Young' was easily the better of the two. 'Forever Young' stars Mel Gibson as a test pilot in 1939 who volunteers for a military cryogenic freezing experiment after his childhood love slips into a coma after being hit by a car. He signs on and tells them to wake him if she pulls out of her coma. Things don't go as planned and the secret program is closed. The sub-zero cylinder that holds Mel is stashed in a warehouse. When Mel finally wakes up from decades of cryogenic dreaming in 1992, with the help of Elijah Wood ('Lord of the Rings') and his mother (Jamie Lee Curtis, 'True Lies') Mel tries to evade the FBI spooks and find out what happened to his love. 'Gone Fishin' (1997) I have to admit that I've never seen 'Gone Fishin'' in its entirety, just scenes here and there. It is one of those movies that you might catch for a moment while another show you're watching is on commercial break. When 'Gone Fishin'' was released, I was past that age where you would mistake terrible movies for good ones - and to me this one stunk! When Joe Pesci (Home Alone') and Danny Glover ('Lethal Weapon') go fishin', wackiness ensues. Aside from the terrible gags, that's all I know about it. Having not seen the whole thing, I cannot critique it entirely. Those of you who have seen it, what are your thoughts? 'Armageddon' (1998) Just as I mentioned in The Bonus View's comment section of the Michael Bay vs. Stephen Sommers poll, 'Armageddon' is one of those popcorn films that completely has me. I own the extended Criterion Collection DVD (why 'Armageddon' is a Criterion title is beyond me) and choke up every time Ben Affleck yells, "Harry, I love you!" For those who despise 'Armageddon', consider it a guilty pleasure of mine. 'Armageddon' follows an unlikely oil-drilling team sent into space to land on an asteroid, drill a hole into its core, shove a nuke down it, and blast it to pieces before it collides with Earth and kills our ecosystem. Just like 'Forever Young', 'Armageddon' opened just two month after a film with a similar plot - 'Deep Impact'. 'Armageddon' proved to be the winner of the two, grossing over half a billion dollars worldwide while 'Deep Impact' only brought in $350 million. You may argue that star power caused 'Armageddon' to win the space battle, but I credit the win to its fresh, youthful cast, Michael Bay's crowd-pleasing direction of action, and Abrams' fun screenplay. That's right - I consider 'Armageddon' a "fun" film. 'Joy Ride' (2001) This title surprises me more than any other Abrams credit. I remember seeing 'Joy Ride' in 2002, expecting an awful horror movie and getting an intense thriller nostalgic of Steven Spielberg's 1971 TV movie 'Duel'. After reading about Abrams' passion for Spielberg's films and seeing him dedicate an entire film to paying homage to them ('Super 8'), 'Joy Ride' becomes even more fun. Initially not recognizing 'Joy Ride' director John Dahl's name, after checking out his IMDB page, Dahl has some fine accomplishments under his belt. He also directed 'Rounders' and episodes of the series 'Battlestar Galactica', 'United States of Tara', 'Breaking Bad', 'True Blood', 'The Vampire Diaries', 'Caprica', 'Dexter', 'Shameless', 'Justified' and 'Californication'. Yes, 'Joy Ride' received negative marks for starring Paul Walker ('Fast Five'), but if you pay attention to the story and script, 'Joy Ride' just might be worthy of becoming your new guilty pleasure. And there we go. Did any of these titles catch YOU by surprise too?Posted Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
The Bonus View Digest - June 10, 2011[teaser]This was one of the most eventful weeks we've had on The Bonus View. We had numerous stories that featured double-digit comments from our wonderful movie loving community we have here. See what kind of camaraderie you're missing out on when you don't tune into The Bonus View?[/teaser] Movie Madness The Tournament O' Death has finally wound down, and we crowned a winner. Darth Vader took home the championship, but not before we had quite a few hotly contested matchups. To see how we go to the final match that saw a victorious Vader crushing the life out of a helpless Batman, check out the links below. Batman vs. John McClane Darth Vader vs. Indiana Jones Batman vs. Darth Vader Movie Madness 2011: A Look Back Fans of the Movie Madness tournament, don't fret. We've got some great things in the works, like a Tournament O' Death for some of our favorite TV characters. Keep updated on The Bonus View to find out when it's going to happen. TV Recaps As always The Bonus View tracks and blogs about your favorite shows. For many shows we do weekly recaps just in case you missed anything. It's a time to discuss the show with fellow fans and talk about where it's going. This week we had recaps for shows like 'Franklin & Bash', 'The Killing', 'Game of Thrones', and a special interview from the creator of 'Community'. As the summer TV season heats up you better believe we'll be covering some of the hottest shows. You'll have to keep a lookout to see which shows we'll be covering. Video Game News Not only did our intrepid video game reporter, Dick Ward, keep up updated on the video game releases this week; he also brought it to our attention that we could get up to two free games from Sony Playstation Network. This was good news for a guy like me who rarely buys video games but loves to play them. Right after reading Dick's report I went onto PSN and downloaded Little Big Planet for free! Theatrical News This was a big week at the theater. Luke Hickman gave us some great Weekend Box Office Updates. He also provided us with an early review of 'Super 8', which seems to be the movie to see this summer. He also wrote a nice review for Woody Allen's new flick 'Midnight in Paris'. Last, but definitely not least, Luke wrote up a controversial piece on theatrical 3D and if it was facing a downward slide in box office numbers. It sparked a great debate between the readers that's still raging on right now. Check it out and add your two cents. Home Theater News Our resident HD expert Josh Zyber is always tweaking his home theater setup. This week he gave us a glimpse of the new Vizio 3D TV he purchased to compliment his 3D projector he just installed a few weeks ago. He also gave us a heads up on a setback he had with his 3D setup, which is something all people who were wondering about installing a 3D home theater should read. Special Features This week we seemed to be brimming with all kinds of featured posts that garnered quite a lot of response from readers. Last week's Roundtable asked the writers which franchises were in need of a reboot. The Mid-Week Poll was a doozy, as we decided once and for all (kind of) who is the worst director out of Michael Bay and Stephen Sommers. Posterizing is a new featured post we're doing where we take a look at recent movie posters, discuss them, and mainly just enjoy the artwork that goes along with movie marketing. Finally we had a fun little post about the Alamo Drafthouse Theater and their policy on kicking texters out of movies. You just have to see the video that goes along with the post. It's hilarious. Thanks again for another successful week on The Bonus View. If you haven't made your way over yet make sure you do. It's a place where you can casually chat with other movie fans, all the while reading great posts from our crack team of writers. Hope to see you here soon!Posted Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 11:30 AM PDT by: -
'Beauty and the Beast' Dated for Blu-ray 3D![teaser]Another beloved Disney classic gets a Blu-ray 3D upgrade this October! [/teaser] As previously reported, Disney/Buena Vista is working on 'Beauty and the Beast -3D' for the new Blu-ray 3D format and now the official release date is October 4. The same Disney classic that taught us beauty is found within, now comes to life in spectacular Disney 3D bringing the characters, sound, and storyline to a whole new immersive dimension. Fans can once again meet and enjoy their favorite characters - Belle, Beast, Lumiere, Mrs. Potts and more – in an entirely new fashion as if they were watching the film for the very first time. The release will be a 5-Disc Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D, 2 Blu-rays, DVD, and Digital Copy) and will include three versions of the film (Theatrical, Special Extended Edition, and original Storyboard version) with 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack, and the same supplements from the previous release including: • Deleted Scenes - Alternate Opening & Ending and "Belle In The Library" scene • Backstage Disney - Beyond Beauty: The Untold Stories Behind Making Beauty and the Beast, Broadway Beginnings, and Composing A Classic: A Musical Conversation with Alan Menken, Don Hahn, & Richard Kraft • Music And More - Jordin Sparks 'Beauty and the Beast" Music Video, Disney Sing-Along Mode, Deleted Song: "Human Again," Alternate Version of "Be Our Guest," Alternate Score of "The Transformation," Introduction To Deleted Songs By Don Hahn: "Human Again," Introductions To Deleted Song By Alan Menken: "Human Again," Beauty and the Beast Music Video Performed By Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson • Family Games & Activities - Bonjour, Who Is This BD-Live TelePlay Game, Enchanted Musical Challenge: A DisneyQuest Game, Chip's Musical Challenge, and Mrs. Pott's Personality Profile Game Suggested list price for the 5-disc combo pack is $49.99. Additionally, the company will also release two Special Edition releases, 'Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Magical World' and 'Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas,' to follow on November 22, 2011 just in time for the holiday gift-giving season. You can find the latest specs for 'Beauty and the Beast - 3D' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under October 4.Posted Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Blu-ray Player Sales Still on the Rise[teaser]Sales are up, but 57 percent of people say they're still using a standard DVD player. [/teaser] Unlike LCD and plasma televisions, players have increased in growth during the first quarter of 2011. Displays may be in a slump, but Blu-ray players went from a nine percent sales increase in the first quarter of 2010 to a 16 percent increase in the first quarter of 2011. Blu-ray still isn't making up for all the lost sales from the decline of DVD, but it's certainly helping slow the effect. The NPD group estimates that the number of physical disc buyers has decreased by 22 million since 2009, but 26 million Blu-ray players have been sold. "While Blu-ray may not be the replacement for DVD that many once hoped for," says NPD analyst Russ Crupnick, "it is certainly adding strength to the physical video-disc market. This added stability is helping to extend the life of discs, even as digital options gain in popularity." Source: NPDPosted Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 10:30 AM PDT by: -
'Raising Arizona,' 'Blood Simple,' and 'Miller's Crossing' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]August is shaping up to be the month of the Coen Brothers, with three more of their films joining the long awaited 'The Big Lebowski' on Blu-ray this summer! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox says 'Raising Arizona,' 'Blood Simple,' and 'Miller's Crossing' are planned for Blu-ray on August 30. The three movies will be available separately or in 'The Coen Brothers Collection' box set which will also include the previously released 'Fargo.' Specs have yet to be finalized, but the Blu-rays will likely have 1080p video, lossless soundtracks, and supplements for 'Blood Simple' will include a commentary with Kenneth Loring of Forever Young Films; cast and crew biographies; production notes; and a theatrical trailer. 'Miller's Crossing' will include Shooting Miller's Crossing: A Conversation with Barry Sonnenfeld; Interview Soundbites with cast members Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, and John Turturro; a still gallery; and theatrical trailers. Finally, 'Raising Arizona' will only come with a theatrical trailer and TV spots. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $24.99 and $69.99 for the four-pack. You can find the latest specs for 'Raising Arizona,' 'Blood Simple,' 'Miller's Crossing,' and 'The Coen Brothers Collection' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under August 30.Posted Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Panasonic Reveals Its New Smart TV Processor[teaser]The dual core chip is the fastest to be put into a TV yet. [/teaser] Panasonic is making some big strides when it comes to smart TVs, including the development of the world's fastest TV specific processor, which will start shipping out to manufacturers later this month. The new Cortex A-9 chip boasts a dual-core 1.4GHz processor, a nice step up over the 1.2GHz found in Google TV devices. All that speed should allow for a consistently smooth user experience, assuming that the user interface is well designed of course. Panasonic says that the new chip will assist with new functionalities, like being able to watch two shows simultaneously, or streaming content and apps at the same time. It also keeps power consumption nice and low - around 40 percent lower than previous Panasonic chips. Source: EngadgetPosted Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' Blu-ray Up for Pre-order![teaser]Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow will once again set sail on Blu-ray, as well Blu-ray 3D and in a Blu-ray 4-Film Collection later this year! [/teaser] Disney/Buena Vista will be releasing 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' (Blu-ray/DVD) and DVD/Blu-ray (DVD packaging) combo packs each with a suggested list price of $39.99. Also available will be a 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - 3D' combo pack priced at $49.99. Finally, there will be a mega 15-disc combo pack set containing all four films in the franchise housed inside a collector's chest packaging for $169.99. Amazon is also offering an $8 coupon on the 3D version here located just below the price for instant savings. You can find the latest specs for 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean Four Film Collection' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under PENDING.Posted Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Megadeth: That One Night - Live in Buenos Aires' Blu-ray Announced[teaser] The legendary metal band returns to Blu-ray this July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Image Entertainment is working on 'Megadeth: That One Night - Live in Buenos Aires' for Blu-ray on July 12. Filmed live at Obras Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 9, 2005. Megadeth is one of the most commercially successful heavy metal bands, selling more than 20 million albums worldwide, including the Grammy nominated multi-platinum Countdown to Extinction. In the U.S. alone, Megadeth have received four platinum records, six gold records, and seven Grammy nominations for Best Metal Performance. Performances include: Blackmail the Universe, Set the World Afire, Wake Up Dead, In My Darkest Hour, She Wolf, Reckoning Day, A Tout Le Monde, Hangar 18, I'll Be There, Tornado of Souls, Trust, Something That I'm Not, Kick the Chair, Coming Home, Symphony of Destruction, and Peace Sells. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include an alternate version of Symphony of Destruction. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Megadeth: That One Night - Live in Buenos Aires' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 12.Posted Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'Trust' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]David Schwimmer's acclaimed dramatic thriller coming to Blu-ray this July has now been fully detailed. [/teaser] As previously reported, Millennium Entertainment will instill 'Trust' on Blu-ray on July 26. This gripping family drama stars Academy Award® nominees Clive Owen ('Children of Men,' 'Closer') and Catherine Keener ('Into The Wild,' 'Capote') and tells the tale of a suburban family that is torn apart when fourteen-year old Annie (Liana Liberato) meets her first boyfriend online. After months of communicating via online chat and phone, Annie discovers her friend is not who he originally claimed to be. Shocked in disbelief, her parents (Owen and Keener) are shattered by their daughter’s actions and struggle to support her as she comes to terms with what has happened to her once innocent life. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include a behind-the-scenes featurette, previews, and a digital copy. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Trust' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 26.Posted Thu Jun 9, 2011 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
The BBC is Going 3D With Wimbledon[teaser]The broadcast will be free to anyone with a 3D set and glasses. [/teaser] The BBC has been holding out on 3D a bit longer than most other broadcasting companies. They've said in the past that they're waiting to make sure it's a technology that's going to stick around and actually offer something to customers before jumping on the bandwagon. Apparently, 3D has proven itself, because the BBC is making the leap. They're going to air their first ever 3D broadcast on Saturday, July 2nd during Wimbledon. "We're bringing audiences a new way of getting close to the action," says Danielle Nagler, head of HD and 3D at the BBC. "I'm sure that 3D will only add to the drama as the world's greatest players compete for the championship." Source: BBCPosted Thu Jun 9, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by:
