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movies-digest          Sunday, August 8 1999          Volume 02 : Number 216



RE: [MV] Payback--somewhat of a spoiler, but I tried to be carefu l
[MV] Movie News - 08/04/99
[MV] Sci-Fi Movie News - 08/04/99
RE: [MV] Sci-Fi Movie News - 08/04/99
RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
[MV] FIVE FLICKS ENTER AN ALREADY-CROWDED FIELD
RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
[MV] Final Fantasy - The Movie
Re: [MV] Final Fantasy - The Movie
[MV] Movie News - 08/06/99
[MV] Scream VS Blair Witch
Re: [MV] Scream VS Blair Witch

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 10:48:24 +0100
From: MARK <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [MV] Payback--somewhat of a spoiler, but I tried to be carefu l

I thought that the film was great fun, and contrary to purists' beliefs,
I preferred it to the Lee Marvin orginal "Point Blank" - shoot me if you
will, but I found that movie slow, despite having the wonderful Lee
Marvin.

Gibson certainly did re-shoot scenes of the movie, and added narration,
which apparently was a bane of contention between Helgeland and himself,
and one of the reasons why Helgeland was dismissed. I do believe it was
Helgeland, however, who wanted the movie to have a bleached look, which
for me gives the film even more character.


MARK


> -----Original Message-----
> From:    Wade Snider [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> Sent:    30 July 1999 16:38
> To:    '[e-mail]'
> Subject:    RE: [MV] Payback--somewhat of a spoiler, but I tried to
> be carefu l
>
> I enjoyed this movie a lot in the theater. There was a lot of laughter
> and a
> couple of cheers. I think the Gibson character veered from being a
> complete
> bad guy by the movie's end.. he seems a little softer, especially with
> regards to the hooker. He started out as a total creep, and he got
> sentimental. I thought he should've just been a complete ass to
> everyone
> including her. Coburn was funny, in a small role. Maybe the funniest.
> I
> agree about the happy ending. I thought, how in the world, and then it
> wrapped up in a big happy package. I think that's Gibson's influence.
> I
> think he changed the film's ending and reshot some it. Over the
> director's
> objections, tool; but he was one of the film's producers I believe. I
> think
> Gibson handled the issue in a relatively good way, especially with
> respecting the original director's (Brian Helgeland (sp??) - co-wrote
> the
> creenplay for LA Confidential) objections. I don't know that he
> should've
> changed it, but he didn't do it in a completely Hollywood ignore-ya
> snubby
> way. Still, VERY enjoyable movie all the way. A lot of guilty fun!
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:    jkrudy [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> > Sent:    Friday, July 30, 1999 10:23 AM
> > To:    '[e-mail]'
> > Subject:    [MV] Payback--somewhat of a spoiler, but I tried to be
> > careful
> > Importance:    Low
> >
> > I rented Payback the other day.  I absolutely loved it.  James
> Coburn's
> > character was awesome.  I especially liked his reactions during the
> > "hammer"
> > scene.  Near the end I was telling myself, "There is no way this can
> have
> > a
> > 'happy' ending" knowing all along that there would be a way.  The
> catch
> > phrase for the movie being "Get ready to cheer for the bad guy."
> was dead
> > on.  I was literally on my feet at the end.  What a great movie.  I
> think
> > anybody who claims there's too much violence in movies should have
> done to
> > them what Kris had done to Mel with that hammer.
> >
> > James K. Rudy
> >
> > [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 11:07:00 -0600
From: "The Reporter" <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] Movie News - 08/04/99

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The makers of the surprise hit horror movie "The
Blair Witch Project" are being sued by a former partner who says he
was cheated out of a credit on the film and deserves some of the
millions of dollars the movie is reaping. Sam Barber, an Orlando
filmmaker, said that his company paid for much of the movie's
preproduction costs and that he should have been listed as a producer
or executive producer in the credits. He also claims that director
Dan Myrick and Myrick's girlfriend broke into his office and took
documents, a master copy of the film and other tapes. Barber is suing
Myrick - one of the film's two directors - Myrick's girlfriend,
Kristal Jordan, and producer Greg Hale.

                        -=> * <=-

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Julia Roberts and Richard Gere's reunion lovefest
"Runaway Bride" ran away with the record for a romantic comedy debut
and outpaced a trio of horror films over the weekend. "Bride" led the
box office with $35.1 million, easily beating "The Blair Witch
Project," the shark-infested "Deep Blue Sea" and the spooky "The
Haunting." The previous record for a romance romp was $27.7 million
over Memorial Day weekend by "Notting Hill," also starring Roberts,
whose career began soaring when she paired with Gere in 1990's
"Pretty Woman."


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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 10:58:12 -0600
From: "The Reporter" <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] Sci-Fi Movie News - 08/04/99

The British magazine SFX reports it has confirmed that
Event Horizon and Soldier helmer Paul Anderson will
direct a new Dr. Who film. The BBC verified that it is
indeed working on a Who film and that it expects to make
casting announcements, etc., in August.

One report has Gary Oldman taking on the coveted role of
the Doctor, a job he has said he would take if it were
offered. SFX also heard from a "reliable source" that the
starring role "has been offered to a black American actor
of some significance, but with a British actor as back-up."

                        -=> * <=-

During a recent meeting with the press in Montreal,
Canada, John Travolta revealed that there may be a
sequel to his upcoming film adaptation of the famous
L. Ron Hubbard SF book Battlefield Earth. "It's been a big
undertaking because it's a 1,000 page book," Travolta
explained.

So Travolta said he decided to shoot only the first half of
the book for the initial movie and save the rest of the
novel for a possible sequel. He also said that the film has
nothing to do with Scientology, the religion founded by
Hubbard which Travolta is a member of.

Battlefield Earth is currently shooting in Quebec, with
Travolta playing the villain role as well as co-producing
the picture. Travolta revealed his character is "nine feet
tall. He's got talons for hands, long hair, an extended
head. But you'll still recognize me."

The story of Battlefield takes place 800 years in the
future, when a race of vicious aliens is trying to subjugate
the last surviving humans on Earth. Travolta is playing the
alien chief of security.

                        -=> * <=-

Steven Spielberg is hoping to get Saving Private Ryan
star Matt Damon to join the cast of his upcoming SF
flick Minority Report, according to Variety. Damon is
being wooed to play the villain role opposite Tom Cruise,
who will star as a futuristic cop in a society where killers
are arrested for murders they plan to commit.

The movie is based on the Philip K. Dick short story of the
same name and was adapted by Jon Cohen, although it's
now being revised by Out of Sight writer Scott Frank.
Minority Report is a joint production by DreamWorks and
Fox, with filming set to begin in October for a summer
2000 release.

                        -=> * <=-

Jan de Bont's special-effects scarefest The Haunting
took home $33 million during its debut weekend in
spite of harsh reviews from critics. Variety reported
that the film's impressive opening handily outstripped
industry expectations, and that the movie attracted an
audience comprised mostly of the 25-and-under crowd.

Disney's Inspector Gadget grabbed $22 million in its first
three days of release, although it too faced bad press
from reviewers. Meanwhile, the limited-release,
low-budget horror flick The Blair Witch Project picked up
another $2 million in ticket sales during its second week, a
30 percent increase over its opening numbers.

In just 10 days Blair has earned about $5 million even
though it's only playing in 31 theaters. The film will expand
to another 1,000 screens in the United States and Canada
come July 30.

                        -=> * <=-

Universal Pictures has hired Stephen Sommers to write
and direct a sequel to the recent box-office hit The
Mummy, which has grossed more than $150 million
during its U.S. domestic run. Sommers served as the
screenwriter and director for The Mummy, and Universal
credits him for that film's surprising popularity among
moviegoers.

"It was Stephen's unique vision for The Mummy that was
the driving force behind its success, and we're both very
pleased that he will be bringing his talent, imagination and
enthusiasm on board for a sequel," Universal's
co-chairmen Stacey Snider and Brian Mulligan told The
Hollywood Reporter.

In addition to hiring Sommers, Universal is reportedly
hoping to bring back virtually the entire cast of The
Mummy for the sequel, including Brendan Fraser, Rachel
Weisz, John Hannah, Oded Fehr, Arnold Vosloo and Kevin
J. O'Connor. The rumor was that the second film would
take place primarily in London, but now reports say the
film will be centered in Egypt with only a few scenes in
England.

The Mummy is a remake of the 1932 Boris Karloff film of
the same name.

                        -=> * <=-

Dimension Films has signed The X-Men and Spider-Man
comic book writer Scott Lobdell to a two-year,
five-picture development deal. According to Variety,
the pact also gives Lobdell a first-look option to develop
TV shows and comics for Dimension.

The first picture Lobdell will work on is a big screen
adaption of his comic book Hellhole, which he created with
Adam Pollina. Hellhole is published by Image and tells the
story of a secret police force that keeps the world safe
from supernatural forces.

                        -=> * <=-

Earth: Final Conflict executive producer David Kirschner
and Imposter producer Marty Katz have teamed up to
develop Brent Hanley's screenplay Frailty. According
to The Hollywood Reporter, the psychological thriller has
been described as Seven meets The Shining.

The picture centers around a single father and his two
young boys, who may or may not be able to identify
demons. This puts the children in conflict with their
evil-eradicating dad since one son sees the father as a
hero while the other thinks the father is a demon.

Kirschner and Katz are currently searching for a director
to helm the picture, which will begin shooting in 2000.

                        -=> * <=-

Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar will reportedly make
her next movie appearance in the film adaptation of
the Thomas Harris novel Hannibal. Hannibal is a
sequel to the hit movie The Silence of the Lambs.

                        -=> * <=-

Pixar Animation Studios, the company behind such
computer-animated wonders as Toy Story and A Bug's
Life, may be working on a new version of Disney's
classic SF film Tron. According to ZDNN, an unidentified
source at Pixar said the studio is currently trying to
decide whether to remake the original film or create a
sequel.

Toy Story director John Lassiter is reportedly heading the
project, which would make sense because he credits Tron
as one of his early inspirations. Although Pixar would not
confirm the story, ZDNN's source said production on the
new Tron film will start once the company completes work
on Toy Story 2.

                        -=> * <=-

Ray Park, who has become famous to SF fans for his
portrayal of Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I, has
joined the cast of Bryan Singer's X-Men movie.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Park will play the
role of the evil henchman Toad in the Fox project.

Oscar nominee Bruce Davison (Longtime Companion) has
also signed on to the film and will take on the
all-important character of Sen. Kelly. Kelly is a powerful
political opponent to the X-Men, a group of outcast
mutant superheroes.


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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 11:44:21 -0600
From: jkrudy <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [MV] Sci-Fi Movie News - 08/04/99

For those of you whose Geek Meter is loosing time, here's an opportunity to
reset it.

Battlefield Earth was subtitled A Saga of the Year 3000, and the events took
place 1000 years from now, not 800 as reported here.  Now they may have
changed that for the screenplay for some reason, but the book was 1000.

You're welcome.

James


"During a recent meeting with the press in Montreal,
Canada, John Travolta revealed that there may be a
sequel to his upcoming film adaptation of the famous
L. Ron Hubbard SF book Battlefield Earth. "It's been a big
undertaking because it's a 1,000 page book," Travolta
explained.

So Travolta said he decided to shoot only the first half of
the book for the initial movie and save the rest of the
novel for a possible sequel. He also said that the film has
nothing to do with Scientology, the religion founded by
Hubbard which Travolta is a member of.

Battlefield Earth is currently shooting in Quebec, with
Travolta playing the villain role as well as co-producing
the picture. Travolta revealed his character is "nine feet
tall. He's got talons for hands, long hair, an extended
head. But you'll still recognize me."

The story of Battlefield takes place 800 years in the
future, when a race of vicious aliens is trying to subjugate
the last surviving humans on Earth. Travolta is playing the
alien chief of security."

[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
[ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 10:44:49 -0700
From: "Romero, Leticia" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth

You read it?  How is it?

> -----Original Message-----
> From:    jkrudy [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> Sent:    Thursday, August 05, 1999 10:44 AM
> To:    '[e-mail]'
> Subject:    RE: [MV] Sci-Fi Movie News - 08/04/99
> Importance:    Low
>
> For those of you whose Geek Meter is loosing time, here's an opportunity
> to
> reset it.
>
> Battlefield Earth was subtitled A Saga of the Year 3000, and the events
> took
> place 1000 years from now, not 800 as reported here.  Now they may have
> changed that for the screenplay for some reason, but the book was 1000.
>
> You're welcome.
>
> James
>
>
> "During a recent meeting with the press in Montreal,
> Canada, John Travolta revealed that there may be a
> sequel to his upcoming film adaptation of the famous
> L. Ron Hubbard SF book Battlefield Earth. "It's been a big
> undertaking because it's a 1,000 page book," Travolta
> explained.
>
> So Travolta said he decided to shoot only the first half of
> the book for the initial movie and save the rest of the
> novel for a possible sequel. He also said that the film has
> nothing to do with Scientology, the religion founded by
> Hubbard which Travolta is a member of.
>
> Battlefield Earth is currently shooting in Quebec, with
> Travolta playing the villain role as well as co-producing
> the picture. Travolta revealed his character is "nine feet
> tall. He's got talons for hands, long hair, an extended
> head. But you'll still recognize me."
>
> The story of Battlefield takes place 800 years in the
> future, when a race of vicious aliens is trying to subjugate
> the last surviving humans on Earth. Travolta is playing the
> alien chief of security."
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
[ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 12:53:03 -0500
From: "Durham, Lisa" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth

I haven't read it, but I do look forward to seeing the flick!

> -----Original Message-----
> From:    Romero, Leticia [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> Sent:    Thursday, August 05, 1999 12:45 PM
> To:    '[e-mail]'
> Subject:    RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
>
> You read it?  How is it?
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:    jkrudy [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> > Sent:    Thursday, August 05, 1999 10:44 AM
> > To:    '[e-mail]'
> > Subject:    RE: [MV] Sci-Fi Movie News - 08/04/99
> > Importance:    Low
> >
> > For those of you whose Geek Meter is loosing time, here's an opportunity
> > to
> > reset it.
> >
> > Battlefield Earth was subtitled A Saga of the Year 3000, and the events
> > took
> > place 1000 years from now, not 800 as reported here.  Now they may have
> > changed that for the screenplay for some reason, but the book was 1000.
> >
> > You're welcome.
> >
> > James
> >
> >
> > "During a recent meeting with the press in Montreal,
> > Canada, John Travolta revealed that there may be a
> > sequel to his upcoming film adaptation of the famous
> > L. Ron Hubbard SF book Battlefield Earth. "It's been a big
> > undertaking because it's a 1,000 page book," Travolta
> > explained.
> >
> > So Travolta said he decided to shoot only the first half of
> > the book for the initial movie and save the rest of the
> > novel for a possible sequel. He also said that the film has
> > nothing to do with Scientology, the religion founded by
> > Hubbard which Travolta is a member of.
> >
> > Battlefield Earth is currently shooting in Quebec, with
> > Travolta playing the villain role as well as co-producing
> > the picture. Travolta revealed his character is "nine feet
> > tall. He's got talons for hands, long hair, an extended
> > head. But you'll still recognize me."
> >
> > The story of Battlefield takes place 800 years in the
> > future, when a race of vicious aliens is trying to subjugate
> > the last surviving humans on Earth. Travolta is playing the
> > alien chief of security."
> >
> > [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
[ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 11:52:46 -0600
From: jkrudy <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth

Another Geek warning:

I've read it 3 times.  The first time was 15 years ago.  It's awesome.  It's
kind of funny because the original paperback edition had a sticker on it
that said, "Soon to be a major motion picture" and the painting of "Johnny"
(the main character of the book) on the front of the book looked an awful
lot like that actor from the movie "Mega Force"  The guy with the beard.  So
I waited anxiously for it but gave up after a couple of years, now finally
it's being made into a movie.  The story line of the book has several
distinct breaks in it so it could be made into 3 movies easily if they
wanted too.  There's a good break right in the middle too so the 2 movie
idea should work out pretty good.  With Travolta being so passionate about
it hopefully the movie will stay true to the book.

James




- -----Original Message-----
From: Romero, Leticia [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 11:45 AM
To: '[e-mail]'
Subject: RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth


You read it?  How is it?

> -----Original Message-----
> From:    jkrudy [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> Sent:    Thursday, August 05, 1999 10:44 AM
> To:    '[e-mail]'
> Subject:    RE: [MV] Sci-Fi Movie News - 08/04/99
> Importance:    Low
>
> For those of you whose Geek Meter is loosing time, here's an opportunity
> to
> reset it.
>
> Battlefield Earth was subtitled A Saga of the Year 3000, and the events
> took
> place 1000 years from now, not 800 as reported here.  Now they may have
> changed that for the screenplay for some reason, but the book was 1000.
>
> You're welcome.
>
> James
>
>
> "During a recent meeting with the press in Montreal,
> Canada, John Travolta revealed that there may be a
> sequel to his upcoming film adaptation of the famous
> L. Ron Hubbard SF book Battlefield Earth. "It's been a big
> undertaking because it's a 1,000 page book," Travolta
> explained.
>
> So Travolta said he decided to shoot only the first half of
> the book for the initial movie and save the rest of the
> novel for a possible sequel. He also said that the film has
> nothing to do with Scientology, the religion founded by
> Hubbard which Travolta is a member of.
>
> Battlefield Earth is currently shooting in Quebec, with
> Travolta playing the villain role as well as co-producing
> the picture. Travolta revealed his character is "nine feet
> tall. He's got talons for hands, long hair, an extended
> head. But you'll still recognize me."
>
> The story of Battlefield takes place 800 years in the
> future, when a race of vicious aliens is trying to subjugate
> the last surviving humans on Earth. Travolta is playing the
> alien chief of security."
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
[ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
[ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 13:10:54 -0500
From: Wade Snider <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth

I vaguely remember reading this book when I was in jr. high. It is SOOoo
long. I remember thinking it was a pretty decent read myself, and I usually
can't stand L Ron Hubbard's stuff.


> -----Original Message-----
> From:    jkrudy [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> Sent:    Thursday, August 05, 1999 12:53 PM
> To:    '[e-mail]'
> Subject:    RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
> Importance:    Low
>
> Another Geek warning:
>
> I've read it 3 times.  The first time was 15 years ago.  It's awesome.
> It's
> kind of funny because the original paperback edition had a sticker on it
> that said, "Soon to be a major motion picture" and the painting of
> "Johnny"
> (the main character of the book) on the front of the book looked an awful
> lot like that actor from the movie "Mega Force"  The guy with the beard.
> So
> I waited anxiously for it but gave up after a couple of years, now finally
> it's being made into a movie.  The story line of the book has several
> distinct breaks in it so it could be made into 3 movies easily if they
> wanted too.  There's a good break right in the middle too so the 2 movie
> idea should work out pretty good.  With Travolta being so passionate about
> it hopefully the movie will stay true to the book.
>
> James
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Romero, Leticia [mailto:[e-mail]]
> Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 11:45 AM
> To: '[e-mail]'
> Subject: RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
>
>
> You read it?  How is it?
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:    jkrudy [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> > Sent:    Thursday, August 05, 1999 10:44 AM
> > To:    '[e-mail]'
> > Subject:    RE: [MV] Sci-Fi Movie News - 08/04/99
> > Importance:    Low
> >
> > For those of you whose Geek Meter is loosing time, here's an opportunity
> > to
> > reset it.
> >
> > Battlefield Earth was subtitled A Saga of the Year 3000, and the events
> > took
> > place 1000 years from now, not 800 as reported here.  Now they may have
> > changed that for the screenplay for some reason, but the book was 1000.
> >
> > You're welcome.
> >
> > James
> >
> >
> > "During a recent meeting with the press in Montreal,
> > Canada, John Travolta revealed that there may be a
> > sequel to his upcoming film adaptation of the famous
> > L. Ron Hubbard SF book Battlefield Earth. "It's been a big
> > undertaking because it's a 1,000 page book," Travolta
> > explained.
> >
> > So Travolta said he decided to shoot only the first half of
> > the book for the initial movie and save the rest of the
> > novel for a possible sequel. He also said that the film has
> > nothing to do with Scientology, the religion founded by
> > Hubbard which Travolta is a member of.
> >
> > Battlefield Earth is currently shooting in Quebec, with
> > Travolta playing the villain role as well as co-producing
> > the picture. Travolta revealed his character is "nine feet
> > tall. He's got talons for hands, long hair, an extended
> > head. But you'll still recognize me."
> >
> > The story of Battlefield takes place 800 years in the
> > future, when a race of vicious aliens is trying to subjugate
> > the last surviving humans on Earth. Travolta is playing the
> > alien chief of security."
> >
> > [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

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[ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 12:17:05 -0600
From: jkrudy <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth

The rest of Hubbard's fiction is crap, (I don't want to be rude and tell you
what I think of his nonfiction stuff).  Hubbard dies, everyone mourns, they
have the funeral then about 4 years later "he" releases a 10 book series
titled Mission Earth.  Having loved Battlefield Earth I let the fact that
the man was dead slide and read the first 2 books.  It was quite obvious
that he didn't actually write these books.  Who were "they" trying to kid.
They sucked!




- -----Original Message-----
From: Wade Snider [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 12:11 PM
To: '[e-mail]'
Subject: RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth


I vaguely remember reading this book when I was in jr. high. It is SOOoo
long. I remember thinking it was a pretty decent read myself, and I usually
can't stand L Ron Hubbard's stuff.


> -----Original Message-----
> From:    jkrudy [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> Sent:    Thursday, August 05, 1999 12:53 PM
> To:    '[e-mail]'
> Subject:    RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
> Importance:    Low
>
> Another Geek warning:
>
> I've read it 3 times.  The first time was 15 years ago.  It's awesome.
> It's
> kind of funny because the original paperback edition had a sticker on it
> that said, "Soon to be a major motion picture" and the painting of
> "Johnny"
> (the main character of the book) on the front of the book looked an awful
> lot like that actor from the movie "Mega Force"  The guy with the beard.
> So
> I waited anxiously for it but gave up after a couple of years, now finally
> it's being made into a movie.  The story line of the book has several
> distinct breaks in it so it could be made into 3 movies easily if they
> wanted too.  There's a good break right in the middle too so the 2 movie
> idea should work out pretty good.  With Travolta being so passionate about
> it hopefully the movie will stay true to the book.
>
> James
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Romero, Leticia [mailto:[e-mail]]
> Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 11:45 AM
> To: '[e-mail]'
> Subject: RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
>
>
> You read it?  How is it?
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:    jkrudy [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> > Sent:    Thursday, August 05, 1999 10:44 AM
> > To:    '[e-mail]'
> > Subject:    RE: [MV] Sci-Fi Movie News - 08/04/99
> > Importance:    Low
> >
> > For those of you whose Geek Meter is loosing time, here's an opportunity
> > to
> > reset it.
> >
> > Battlefield Earth was subtitled A Saga of the Year 3000, and the events
> > took
> > place 1000 years from now, not 800 as reported here.  Now they may have
> > changed that for the screenplay for some reason, but the book was 1000.
> >
> > You're welcome.
> >
> > James
> >
> >
> > "During a recent meeting with the press in Montreal,
> > Canada, John Travolta revealed that there may be a
> > sequel to his upcoming film adaptation of the famous
> > L. Ron Hubbard SF book Battlefield Earth. "It's been a big
> > undertaking because it's a 1,000 page book," Travolta
> > explained.
> >
> > So Travolta said he decided to shoot only the first half of
> > the book for the initial movie and save the rest of the
> > novel for a possible sequel. He also said that the film has
> > nothing to do with Scientology, the religion founded by
> > Hubbard which Travolta is a member of.
> >
> > Battlefield Earth is currently shooting in Quebec, with
> > Travolta playing the villain role as well as co-producing
> > the picture. Travolta revealed his character is "nine feet
> > tall. He's got talons for hands, long hair, an extended
> > head. But you'll still recognize me."
> >
> > The story of Battlefield takes place 800 years in the
> > future, when a race of vicious aliens is trying to subjugate
> > the last surviving humans on Earth. Travolta is playing the
> > alien chief of security."
> >
> > [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]

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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 99 11:23:21 -0700
From: "David F. Nolan" <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] FIVE FLICKS ENTER AN ALREADY-CROWDED FIELD

FIVE FLICKS ENTER AN ALREADY-CROWDED FIELD

The hottest movie season in years is about to get even hotter, as five
new entries arrive on screens this week.

Already playing is DICK (PG-13) a comedy about two teenage girls
(Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams) who develop a crush on Richard
Nixon and blunder into the Watergate affair. Dan Hedaya plays the
beleaguered President.

Opening Friday are four more offerings, ranging from sophisticated
to spooky to silly.

THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (R) is a creditable remake of the 1967
"bank caper" movie about a wealthy man who robs banks mostly for
the sport of it. Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo star.

Bruce Willis heads up the cast of SIXTH SENSE (PG-13), a suspense/horror
film about a young boy who "sees" dead people as if they were still alive.

THE IRON GIANT (PG) is an ambitious animated sci-fi/adventure movie
set in 1957, about a young boy in small-town Maine who befriends a
giant robot from space. Voices for the characters are supplied by
Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick, Jr., Cloris Leachman, John Mahoney,
M. Emmet Walsh, and Vin Diesel as the Iron Giant. Advance word is very
positive.

Finally, there's MYSTERY MEN (PG-13), a comic adventure movie about
a rag-tag band of not-so-super heroes with limited powers, who battle
evil in their own odd way. The cast includes Hank Azaria, Janeane
Garofalo, Greg Kinnear, William H. Macy, Lena Olin, Paul Rubens, Ben
Stiller and Tom Waits.

To tell the world what you think about these movies  -- or any other
current movie -- log onto the RATE A FLICK page at FlickPicks -
http://www.flickpicks.com

When you submit comments, please sign your name (at least your first
name) and give your age -- e.g. "Jim, 37".  This will help other movie
fans determine which movies are most likely to appeal to them.

FlickPicks - http://www.flickpicks.com

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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 13:21:17 -0500
From: Wade Snider <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth

That's exactly what I thought. I did though actually like the first Mission
Earth book, and then I read some of the other ones here and there, primarily
by checking them out at the library. And, I too, thought they were garbage.
Awful stuff.

> -----Original Message-----
> From:    jkrudy [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> Sent:    Thursday, August 05, 1999 1:17 PM
> To:    '[e-mail]'
> Subject:    RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
> Importance:    Low
>
> The rest of Hubbard's fiction is crap, (I don't want to be rude and tell
> you
> what I think of his nonfiction stuff).  Hubbard dies, everyone mourns,
> they
> have the funeral then about 4 years later "he" releases a 10 book series
> titled Mission Earth.  Having loved Battlefield Earth I let the fact that
> the man was dead slide and read the first 2 books.  It was quite obvious
> that he didn't actually write these books.  Who were "they" trying to kid.
> They sucked!
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Wade Snider [mailto:[e-mail]]
> Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 12:11 PM
> To: '[e-mail]'
> Subject: RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
>
>
> I vaguely remember reading this book when I was in jr. high. It is SOOoo
> long. I remember thinking it was a pretty decent read myself, and I
> usually
> can't stand L Ron Hubbard's stuff.
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:    jkrudy [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> > Sent:    Thursday, August 05, 1999 12:53 PM
> > To:    '[e-mail]'
> > Subject:    RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
> > Importance:    Low
> >
> > Another Geek warning:
> >
> > I've read it 3 times.  The first time was 15 years ago.  It's awesome.
> > It's
> > kind of funny because the original paperback edition had a sticker on it
> > that said, "Soon to be a major motion picture" and the painting of
> > "Johnny"
> > (the main character of the book) on the front of the book looked an
> awful
> > lot like that actor from the movie "Mega Force"  The guy with the beard.
> > So
> > I waited anxiously for it but gave up after a couple of years, now
> finally
> > it's being made into a movie.  The story line of the book has several
> > distinct breaks in it so it could be made into 3 movies easily if they
> > wanted too.  There's a good break right in the middle too so the 2 movie
> > idea should work out pretty good.  With Travolta being so passionate
> about
> > it hopefully the movie will stay true to the book.
> >
> > James
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Romero, Leticia [mailto:[e-mail]]
> > Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 11:45 AM
> > To: '[e-mail]'
> > Subject: RE: [MV] Battlefield Earth
> >
> >
> > You read it?  How is it?
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From:    jkrudy [SMTP:[e-mail]]
> > > Sent:    Thursday, August 05, 1999 10:44 AM
> > > To:    '[e-mail]'
> > > Subject:    RE: [MV] Sci-Fi Movie News - 08/04/99
> > > Importance:    Low
> > >
> > > For those of you whose Geek Meter is loosing time, here's an
> opportunity
> > > to
> > > reset it.
> > >
> > > Battlefield Earth was subtitled A Saga of the Year 3000, and the
> events
> > > took
> > > place 1000 years from now, not 800 as reported here.  Now they may
> have
> > > changed that for the screenplay for some reason, but the book was
> 1000.
> > >
> > > You're welcome.
> > >
> > > James
> > >
> > >
> > > "During a recent meeting with the press in Montreal,
> > > Canada, John Travolta revealed that there may be a
> > > sequel to his upcoming film adaptation of the famous
> > > L. Ron Hubbard SF book Battlefield Earth. "It's been a big
> > > undertaking because it's a 1,000 page book," Travolta
> > > explained.
> > >
> > > So Travolta said he decided to shoot only the first half of
> > > the book for the initial movie and save the rest of the
> > > novel for a possible sequel. He also said that the film has
> > > nothing to do with Scientology, the religion founded by
> > > Hubbard which Travolta is a member of.
> > >
> > > Battlefield Earth is currently shooting in Quebec, with
> > > Travolta playing the villain role as well as co-producing
> > > the picture. Travolta revealed his character is "nine feet
> > > tall. He's got talons for hands, long hair, an extended
> > > head. But you'll still recognize me."
> > >
> > > The story of Battlefield takes place 800 years in the
> > > future, when a race of vicious aliens is trying to subjugate
> > > the last surviving humans on Earth. Travolta is playing the
> > > alien chief of security."
> > >
> > > [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > > [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
> >
> > [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
> >
> > [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> > [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
> [ movies" (without the quotes) to [e-mail]          ]
>
> [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 06 Aug 1999 13:13:05 +1000
From: Lillian Lepinath <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] Final Fantasy - The Movie

Howdy all,

I've just got this through on another list... just wondering if anyone
here has heard anything.

thanks,

Lillian.


"FINAL FANTASY - THE MOVIE"
Actors Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Peri Gilpin and James Woods
will lend their voices to the Columbia Pictures movie "Final
Fantasy - The Movie." It's billed as the first computer
generated animated motion picture with "photo-real" characters.
The film - slated for release in 2001 - is intended to simulate
human emotions and movements more realistically than current
animated films. Filming is under way in Honolulu on the
adventure movie...which is about saving the Earth and its people
from the "ultimate enemy."
   (Thanks to UPI's Joe Fasbinder in Los Angeles)


- --

 I believe in dragons, good men and other fantasy creatures.
- -------------------------------------------------------------
        TeckerDaze           [e-mail]

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 00:34:00 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: [MV] Final Fantasy - The Movie

Their is a Final Fatasy movie in the works.  It's a computer animated movie
very loosely based on the computer games. Alec Baldwin, Ving Rhames, Ming-na
Wen, James Woods, Donald Sutherland, Steve Buscemi and Peri Gilpen will
provide voices. It is due out in the Summer of 2001.

For more movie related information visit Mr. Movie's Movie Guide at:
    http://place-an-ad.com/MrMovie/

    - Mr. Movie
      [e-mail]

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 13:06:30 -0600
From: "The Reporter" <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] Movie News - 08/06/99

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) - Are you ready for more dino-mania?
Steven Spielberg has hatched a storyline and Joe Johnston has been
picked to direct "Jurassic Park 3." Universal and Spielberg's Amblin
Entertainment are shooting for an early 2000 production start. The
script is being written by Craig Rosenberg in close collaboration
with Johnston, who directed "Jumanji" and "October Sky." Last year,
Spielberg said he planned to direct the third installment, but he
will be busy directing Tom Cruise in "Minority Report." The "Jurassic
Park" dinosaur franchise has earned more than $1.5 billion in box
office revenue. The original grossed $913 million and "The Lost
World" sequel earned more than $600 million.

                        -=> * <=-

(InfoBeat) - "Runaway Bride" was last weekend's runaway at the box
office, but "The Blair Witch "Project" scared away the rest of the
competition in the minds of InfoBeat readers. "Blair Witch," a
low-budget faux-documentary about the mysterious disappearance of
three witch-hunters in Maryland, earned the most positive responses
(70%) and most total votes (896) when pitted against "Bride," the
smart-shark suspenser "Deep Blue Sea," and big-budget ghost story
"The Haunting" in InfoBeat's inaugural "Flicks Picks" reader's poll.
"Easily the scariest movie of the past 10 years, not even 'Silence of
the Lambs' can match it for relentless, white-knuckle creepiness. No
cheap scares, no gore, just squirm in your seat terror," one reader
wrote about "Blair." That sentiment was echoed by 498 voters who
rated "Blair Witch" "great." Fourteen percent found the film "didn't
live up to the hype," but another 14% also found the film achieved
near-great status.

If you believe the box office, "Runaway Bride" was the movie-goers'
choice, as it earned $35.1 million last weekend, outpacing "Blair" by
$5.9 million. But almost half InfoBeat readers were equally split
between calling the film either "great" or "below average." Out of
676 votes, 23% found the chemistry between stars Richard Gere and
Julia Roberts good, but the film as a whole a "cliched" experience.
But readers who wanted to see that kind of movie got what they were
looking for. "It was enjoyable. Gere and Roberts still maintain the
same charisma and chemistry that poured out from their first pairing
in 'Pretty Women.' There are many different situations in which they
could be cast, but the feeling that they belong together would remain
prominent."

Meanwhile, the two special-effects-driven scare flicks paring off
against "Blair" and "Bride" didn't fair nearly as well. "The
Haunting," sporting another big-name cast in Liam Neeson and
Catherine Zeta-Jones, was widely panned by InfoBeaters, with almost
50% finding it a sub-par experience, especially those that had
already seen "Blair." "Too much CGI, look what the 'Blair Witch' did
with just suspense. Jan De Bont is a hack!" All told, 28% found it
below average, while another 22% really disliked it, ranking it a
"1." Only 13% thought it was great, while slightly more (123 voters)
found it above average.

As for killer sharks, "Deep Blue Sea" found itself to be a real
love-it-or-hate-it film. While the majority of respondents said it
was poor, 38% said "great" or "near-great." "Look out it's going to
eat me ... what a surprise," was one response, tempered with a solid,
"Good special effects. Fun to be scared of the ocean again!"

Look for "Flick Picks" polls each Monday and tell us what you think,
then tune in Fridays for the results.

                        -=> * <=-

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - After a 2-1/2-year hiatus since Jack
Nicholson finished work on Oscar-winning "As Good as It Gets," a new
picture is being developed with him in mind. Universal's "American
Caesar" would reunite Nicholson with his "Wolf" producers Douglas
Wick and Harry Gittes. The drama is described as a modern-day Caesar
and Brutus story set in the U.S. Army. William Nicholson
("Shadowlands") is scripting the project, and sources say Universal
is making it a high priority.

                        -=> * <=-

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Last weekend's opening of "Runaway Bride"
has increased interest in the original cinematic pairing of Richard
Gere and Julia Roberts under director Garry Marshall. Sales of Buena
Vista Home Video's "Pretty Woman" jumped up to 18,225 units last
week, moving the title up to 17th for the week after it had climbed
to 26th the previous week, according to the VideoScan data tracking
service. But "Pretty Woman" has been a consistent strong seller year
in and year out, with more than 311,524 copies sold this year. The
1990 film, a romantic comedy about a man who falls in love with a
hooker, has sold more than 240,000 copies every year since VideoScan
began tracking sales in 1993, with peaks of 660,000 units in 1997 and
805,000 last year.

                        -=> * <=-

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) - Actor Robert Downey Jr. was sentenced to three
years in prison Thursday for violating probation from a 1996 drug
conviction. Municipal Court Judge Lawrence Mira, who presided over
Downey's original case in 1996, said he had given the actor, who
earned an Oscar nomination for "Chaplin," many chances to
rehabilitate himself. But, he said, Downey has manipulated doctors
and psychiatrists who have examined him. "I don't think we have any
alternative," Mira said. "We have used them all." Defense attorney
Robert Shapiro argued that Downey, 34, should again receive probation
and be allowed to continue treatment at a drug treatment center.
"This is a person who is suffering from a disease he can't control.
Even the threat of prison isn't enough of a deterrent," Shapiro said.

A clean-shaven Downey, who walked into court wearing an orange Los
Angeles County jail jumpsuit with slicked-back hair, told the judge
he understood why the court's patience had run out. But he pleaded to
be given another chance to rehabilitate himself at a drug treatment
center called Impact. "It's been the right program at the right time
for me," he said. "I feel whatever decision you make will be the
right one. But I feel a transition has happened to me." But Mira said
his overriding concern was the safety of the public. The judge gave
Downey 201 days for time served and ordered him to pay restitution of
$600. Downey nodded to several friends as he was led out of the
courtroom in handcuffs.


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------------------------------

Date: Sun, 8 Aug 1999 02:07:46 -0400
From: "Chris Culligan" <[e-mail]>
Subject: [MV] Scream VS Blair Witch

Ok, I saw Blair Witch (finally) and felt "uneasy" throughout the film.  It's
been a long time since a movie has scared me, and Blair Witch finally did it
for me - honestly.  I can only thank God for the imaginations of the movie
makers of this film.  I didn't think that a movie could be made that could
scare me again (as, for instance, "Halloween" did when I was 11 or "The
Exorcist" did when I was 16).  These people did it!  Good job!  Can it be
done again?

Now, I have a question.  The lady that I was with did not find "Blair Witch"
scary and others I have talked to (Cranky Critic) did not find "Blair Witch"
scary either.  The person that was with me was scared by "Scream".  Although
I thought "Scream" was good for it's parody of the slasher genre, I did not
find it at all scary.  It seems as though "The Blair Witch Project" invokes
two emotions.   Either 1) boredom or 2) Horror.  I could not figure how my
date could not feel uneasy and frightened during the watching of the "Blair
Witch" and she could not figure out how I could have been frightened by it.

What is it that makes some people feel the fright of "Blair Witch" while
others feel nothing??

Here's my experiment/question:  If you were frightened by "Scream" were you
also frightened by "The Blair Witch"?  And if you were not frightened by
"Scream", were you frightened by "The Blair Witch" (as I was)?

I can't figure it out, but this might explain a lot in my mind.

Thanks,
CHRIS


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------------------------------

Date: Sun, 8 Aug 1999 14:05:39 -0600
From: "Gary Heidenreich" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [MV] Scream VS Blair Witch

NOTE : KIND OF SPOILERS TO FOLLOW!

> What is it that makes some people feel the fright of "Blair Witch" while
> others feel nothing??

        I think the answer to this is very simple: imagination.  In Blair
Witch, nothing is explicitly shown.  We do not ever see what is pursuing
the film students, there is no gore (save one extremely creepy moment),
and there is not even any atmospheric music to set mood.  Everything in
this movie is suggested and left up to the viewer to assemble in his or
her own mind.  H.P. Lovecraft said that the greatest fear is the fear of
the unknown.  The unknown is what Blair Witch offers in spades.  In
order to make the film scary, the viewer has to a) place him/herself in
the situation of the film students, and b) use his or her imagination.
It's just like in The Creature from the Black Lagoon.  For the first
half of the movie, all we are shown are shadows, rustling bushes, and
occasional glimpses of the creature's hands or footprints (webprints?).
It's kind of scary (as scary as a 50's horror flick can be), but more
importantly it's mysterious and suspenseful.  But in the end, we get to
see the whole creature and realize that it's nothing more than an actor
in a ridiculous suit.  Because there's no more mystery, because the
creature is no longer an unknown, all the suspense is lost.  In Blair
Witch, SINCE all we're offered are distant noises, strange landmarks,
and just a general sense of fear from the actors, at no point is that
realism extinguished.  We can't take comfort and say, "Oh, look, it's
all just a guy in a rubber suit.  Phewwww!"  Also, the film is like an
abstract painting, everyone who looks at it sees something unique and
individual.  In Blair Witch, the terror comes from wherever YOU
personally assign it, which is infinitely scarier than most films
because only YOU understand why you're so freaked out.  The reason some
people found this movie boring was because they couldn't enter into it.
They couldn't use their imagination or couldn't place themselves in the
situation.  I thought Blair Witch was simply brilliant.  A film that at
no point patronized or condescended the viewer, a film that showed the
power of an idea in the face of the Hollywood financial machine, and a
film that scared the holy hell out of me.

Peter Heidenreich


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------------------------------

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