I am speechless,

Related to this post, the UK emergency services are rehearsing “response to a co-ordinated terrorist attack”, well, that’s what they’d like you to think.

But really, they’re probably testing out Zombie infestation response tactics.

More info here (censored by the Government, so you’ll need to read between the lines).

So, Fox and Warner Brothers appear to have come to an agreement on Watchmen.  So two huge studios agree to share some cash over a movie, which has been super-hyped by the last two months of public legal wrangling.

And the movie release date wasn’t affected.

I’m a cynic.

It’s why I’ve not bothered posting anything else about the story as it went along (other than the one post I think at the start).  Maybe they did screw it up, maybe someone ‘forgot’ that Fox owned the rights, but I’m pretty sure they milked it for all it was worth once they knew.

So, in 2009 we have Transformers 2 and Terminator Salvation.  Both are going to be huge whichever way you paint it, even if they suck.  Both are going to contain people fighting robots and probably robots fighting robots.  Both are going to be special effects extravaganzas.  Which one will win?

Who knows.  My advice is watch them both for what they are.  When I watch Terminator Salvation I won’t be going to watch the continuation of the Terminator story, I’ll just be going to watch huge onscreen explosions, people being crushed by robots, people blowing robots up in amusing ways and adrenaline pumping robot destruction action.  I don’t think it’s wise to go along expecting any serious continuation of the Terminator story, that path leads to dissapointment I feel.

But I’m looking forward to see Bale running around being manly and destroying robots.  Check out the latest trailer over here.

And Transformers 2 (Revenge of the Fallen)?  Well, the first one was silly and inconsistent and flawed and amazing, so I don’t expect anything different in the second.  There’ll be sillyness (these were toys after all) and there’ll be inconsistencies (because this isn’t trying to win Oscars for best screenplay) and there’ll be action and hot trailer trash chicks and guns and robots and explosions and more guns and tanks and planes and oh my.

Should be a good year.  Best Man vs Machine action since The Matrix Revolutions.  Maybe.

Via Den of Geek we get this (they in turn got it from an interview on MTV),

MTV: Is the ball in George Lucas’ court at this point?

Ford: It is. That’s the process. With some general input, he goes off and searches for the MacGuffin and then stumbles into a story. And at some point, we have a chance to take a look at it and give some input.

MTV: And he hasn’t found the MacGuffin yet?

Ford: No, we’re still in the primary stages.

MTV: The end of the last film leaves your character in a very intriguing position. He has a wife and a kid. Can he still be that man of adventure with those commitments?

Ford: And he’s seen something. Remember those are the only witnesses to what he’s seen. That’s kind of interesting.

Really? Hmm, I’m not sure how exciting this was.  I’d go for another Raiders, but I’m not sure I can stomach another Crystal Skull.

Yeh, weak title but it was better than the ‘Bourne again’ ones.  Maybe.

Personally I loved the three Bourne movies, and I’m excited about the idea of a fourth.  If the screenplay is good, I’ll enjoy it.  So it’s interesting to hear (from Variety) that Universal have agreed with the Ludlum estate to secure exclusive rights to Bourne and first dibs on other Ludlum novels.  This means that if Universal want to turn Bourne into a long running franchise (longer than it already is) they’re one step closer.

The Estate remains involved and has contractual approval on actors, screenplays and characters.

Check out the full article.

This still has me laughing,

A manhunt is under way in western Germany for a convicted drug dealer who escaped by mailing himself out of jail.

….

At the end of his shift, the inmate climbed into a cardboard box and was taken out of prison by express courier. His whereabouts are still unknown.

Full article over at the BBC.

The language is a little confusing, but there may be some light at the end of the tunnel for people protesting against proposition 8.

From UPI,

It’s unfortunate, obviously, but it’s not the end,” Schwarzenegger told CNN. “I think that we will again maybe undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and then move forward from there and again lead in that area.

Random bunch of film updates,

• Casting starts for the Clash of the Titans re-make (and some other stuff). (and here)
  
• Stallone to write, direct and star in “The Expendables” (about a bunch of mercenaries on a mission) (also here).
• Bunch of updates on the ‘remake’ of Forbidden Planet.
• Writing for Wanted 2 is under way (more here).
• Jack Black to play Gulliver on his travels.
• Milla Jovovich to star in a movie which is not a game adaptation, or a sci-fi action flick.
• Universal Soldier III misses the point.
• Depressing news about Pirates 4.

no point sitting up, we won’t know anything until the very very early hours, so i’m heading to bed.

good luck America.