First of all, the 1939 version of Wizard of Oz, despite catering to children, created the greatest fantasy world ever put on film up until Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.  What McFarlane wants to do is combine those two worlds:

McFarlane has a vision of Oz that is a dark, edgy and muscular PG-13, without a singing Munchkin in sight. … “My pitch was ‘How do we get people who went to ‘Lord of the Rings’ to embrace this?’” McFarlane said. “I want to create (an interpretation) that has a 2007 wow factor. You’ve still got Dorothy trapped in an odd place, but she’s much closer to the Ripley from ‘Alien’ than a helpless singing girl.”

And then there’s this.  The new Wizard of Oz will be based on the Twisted Land of Oz toys that McFarlane released back in 2003.  (Full disclosure: I own dozens of McFarlane’s sports figures, and Troy Polamalu, Franco Harris, and Roberto Clemente are sitting on a table in my living room as I type this.  Yes, I’m a grown man.)  There’s simply no way a movie containing this level of imagery and imagination can suck:

If you’re worried about Dakota Fanning playing Dorothy as a bondage queen, relax.  The rumor that Fanning is playing Dorothy is false, and screenwriter Josh Olson** (A History of Violence) is toning down the toys and shooting for a more Lord of the Rings-esque PG-13.

In conclusion, we try our best to comment intelligently on a wide variety of topics here, but sometimes we get it wrong.  By lumping Todd McFarlane’s Wizard of Oz in with childhood nostalgia remake trash like Transformers and G.I. Joe, we committed an egregious and careless mistake.  We sincerely regret the error.

** UPDATE: Apparently, Josh Olson’s involvement in the film is more complicated than first reported.  He was writing his own version of a Wizard of Oz film and never has worked on McFarlane’s, though they did share ideas briefly.  Truth be told, this is kind of a relief ’cause I didn’t think A History of Violence was all that good.

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Fragments

R

Director – Rowan Woods

Starring – Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Guy Pearce, Forest Whitaker

Theater Release Date – February 26, 2009(Hong Kong) US-Limited Release August 7, 2009

Box Office – N/A

Special Features – Includes commentary

Length –1 hour 36 mins.

Cover Synopsis – “A random shooting at a diner in Los Angeles causes the survivors to form a unique bond with each other.”

Ratings – Rotten Tomatoes: N/A

IMDB: 6.3/10

Obsessed

PG-13 –sexual material including some suggestive dialogue, some violence and thematic content

Director – Steve Shill

Starring – Idris Elba, Beyonce Knowles, Ali Larter, Bruce McGill, Jerry O’Connell

Theater Release Date – April 24, 2009

Box Office – $68 million

Special Features – “Girl Fight!” An inside look at the cinematic fight between Beyonce Knowles and Ali Larter

Length –1 hour 48 mins.

Cover Synopsis – “When successful financial advisor Derek Charles (Idris Elba) settles into a new Los Angeles neighborhood with his loving wife Sharon (Beyonce’ Knowles) and young son Kyle, everything seems perfect.  But when a beautiful temp, Lisa (Ali Larter), joins the firm, Derek’s life takes a strange turn. After a misunderstood encounter at the company holiday party, Lisa begins to spiral out of control – putting Derek’s career in jeopardy and Sharon’s marriage and life on the line.”

Ratings – Rotten Tomatoes: 3.6/10, 18 %

IMDB: 3.9/10

Race to Witch Mountain

PG – sequences of action and violence, frightening and dangerous situations, and some thematic elements

Director – Andy Fickman

Starring – Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino

Theater Release Date – March 13, 2009

Box Office – $67 million

Length – 1 hour 39 mins.

Cover Synopsis – “Fasten your seat belts for the thrill ride of your life in Disney’s fun family action-adventure – Race to Witch Mountain, starring Dwayne Johnson.  Jack Bruno (Johnson), a Las Vegas cabdriver struggling to stay on the right path, gets an out-of-this-world incentive when two aliens, disguised as teenager, suddenly appear in his taxi.  In a race against government agents, an alien hunter and time itself, Jack must help the children recover their lost spaceship so they can return home and save their planet and ours. Breathtaking chases, close calls and special effects make this an action-adventure the whole family can enjoy .”

Ratings – Rotten Tomatoes: 5.1/10, 43%

IMDB: 6.1/10

The Soloist

PG-13 – thematic elements, some drug use and language

Director – Joe Wright

Starring – Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr.

Theater Release Date – April 24, 2009

Box Office – $32 million

Special Features – An Unlikely Friendship – The Making of the Soloist, Deleted Scenes, Director Commentary

Length – 1 hour 49mins.

Cover Synopsis – “Academy Award nominee Robert Downey Jr. and  Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx star in an extraordinary and inspiring true story of how a chance meeting can change a life.  The Soloist tells the poignant and ultimately soaring tale of a Los Angeles newspaper reporter who discovers and brilliant street musician, with unsinkable passion, and the unique friendship and bond that transforms both their lives.  The remarkable performances make for an unforgettable experience in what is hailed as ‘a courageous and uncompromising film’ (Gene Shalit, TODAY).”

Ratings – Rotten Tomatoes: 6.1/10, 55%

IMDB: 7.2/10

TV to DVD

Flight of the Conchords – Complete 2^nd Season

TV-MA

Network – HBO

Starring – Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie

Release Date – 2008-2009

Length –300 mins.

Cover Synopsis – “Despite living as Big Apple bohemians for over a year, Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie remain hopelessly out of place in Manhattan. Will Season 2 bring them excitement, romance, and the elusive music gig?.”

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Coraline

PG – Thematic elements, scary images, some language and suggestive humor

Director – Henry Selick Starring – Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, & Ian McShane

Theater Release Date – February 6, 2009

Special Features – Includes both 2-D and 3-D versions, director and composer commentary

Length – 1 hour 41 mins.

Cover Synopsis – “Coraline Jones is bored in her new home until she finds a secret door that leads her into a world that’s just like her own… but better! But when this fantastical adventure turns dangerous and her ‘other’ Mother tries to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resources and bravery to get home.”

Ratings - Rotten Tomatoes: 7.6/10, 88%    IMDB: 8.0/10

Watchmen

 R – Strong Graphic Violence, sexuality, nudity, and language

Director – Zack Snyder

Starring – Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson

Theater Release Date – March 6, 2009 Length – 2 hours 42 mins.

Cover Synopsis – “Someone’s killing our super heroes. The year is 1985 and super heroes have banded together to respond to a murder of one of their own. They soon uncover a sinister plot that puts all of humanity in grave danger. The super heroes fight to stop the impending doom, only to find themselves a target for annihilation. But if our super heroes are gone, who will save us?.”

Ratings - Rotten Tomatoes: 6.2/10, 64%  IMDB: 7.9/10

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