The Weigh In #48

An open letter to Quentin Tarantino…

Mr. Tarantino, I have noticed that you are currently in production on your next film, Grind House, with Robert Rodriguez, which is due to be released at the beginning of December. For those of you that haven’t heard about his new project, Grind House is a set of two horror films, one from each director, complete with fake movie trailers sandwiched between them. From what I have read, you are both putting together an homage to another bygone genre: the drive in movie horror flick. In most of your films to date it seems that your films are in some way used as a vehicle to introduce older actors from some of your favorite movies to a younger audience; Pam Greer and Robert Forster in Jackie Brown, John Travolta in Pulp Fiction, Fred Williamson in From Dusk til Dawn, and Sonny Chiba in Kill Bill vol. 1. Hell, part of the anticipation is seeing who you will put in your next film. So, this week while perusing the filmography of your latest movie, I noticed something. It wasn’t happening this time. So, I wanted to take the opportunity to throw out two words to you.

Adrienne Barbeau. Big breasted scream queen of the 70s and 80s and the star of such wonderful schlock (in the most delicious sense of the word of course) as: The Fog, Escape From New York, Creepshow, and Swamp Thing would be perfect for a Tarantino horror flick. Her work in some of John Carpenter’s best movies, and some truly awful films as well, have solidified her as a horror icon and I think she would make an excellent addition to your cast, while continuing the trend of showcasing actors from a bygone era that deserve to be seen all over again. I know she is currently getting some work on Carnivale, but this would be a great opportunity to get her back into what she does best, horror films. Let her stretch out those lungs. It wouldn’t even need to be a big part, and I realize that her breasts would have less of an impact than they did 25 years ago, but that isn’t the important thing. All she would need is some well written dialogue showcasing her trademark sass and a nice bloody scream followed by a pretty horrific death.

And if I may be so bold, I noticed you were working on what looks a nice little action fest of a revenge flick called Hell Bent. Any chance we can see some Rudy Ray Moore as a 70 year old pimp or something. I am just saying. What revenge flick couldn’t use a busted up Dolemite surrounded by some feisty little hos.

Thank you for your time,

Dana Place
Contributor
Stumblebum Studios



Superman News:
Nothing new this week, but stay tuned as I am sure there will be plenty coming down the pipe.

This week at your local multiplex (3/31/2006)

Ice Age 2: animation
(voices) Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, Will Arnett, Josh Peck, Jay Leno
Plot: The ice age is coming to an end and Manny, Sid, and Diego find out that the glaciers are going to flood the valley many of the animals are coming home to.
Buzz: The sequel to the very popular 2002 comedy. Expect this movie to make a ton of money from name recognition alone. With everyone back for the second round, this may actually be a pretty good sequel.

Slither: Horror
Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rooker, Greg Henry, Tania Saulner
Plot: A small town starts to become suspicious as its pets turn up missing and some of its most prominent citizens begin acting strangely. When the sheriff of the small town learns of an alien presence, he has to recruit some of its citizens to fight the evil menace.
Buzz: Directed by the writer of the 2004 remake Dawn of the Dead, Slither is a satire of 50’s horror films and 80’s slasher flicks. Probably won’t be the number one movie of the week but the words, “sleeper”, and “cult” are being attached to this one.

Basic Instinct 2: Thriller
Sharon Stone, David Morrissey
Plot: Novelist Catherine Trammel is in trouble with the law and a psychiatrist is hired to get into her head. Instead, he is led through the same sexual head games that the detective was in the original.
Buzz: On again, off again, this film has been in production too many times to count. This pretty much feels like a movie that was made just to make. The trailers seem to be pushing the crotch shot wayyy too much in because there really is nothing else to show. I just have a bad feeling about this one.

ATL: Comedy
Tip “T.I” Harris, Laura London, Evan Ross, Jackie Buzz
Plot: The story of a group of teens living in Atlanta when roller skating was big.
Buzz: Apparently early “80’s roller skating movies where young kids learn lessons that are a turning point in their lives” are the new black film subgenre, overtaking the “four guys coming home and realizing how profound their lives are different” subgenre. Maybe they can get Maurice Chestnut or Taye Diggs to revive their careers in cameos as older wiser brothers that have come back to town to teach these boys life affirming lessons. The trailers are making this look a lot like Boyz in the Hood meet Roll Bounce.

This week on DVD (3/28):

King Kong (2005)
Memoir of a Geisha
Stay
Get Rich or Die Trying
A Sound of Thunder
I Love Your Work
Godzilla (se)
Northern Exposure (season 4)
Six Feet Under (season 5)
Robot Chicken (vol 1)
Quantum Leap (season 4)
Knot’s Landing (season 1)
Planet of the Apes (box set)
Invisible Man (season 1)
Doctor Who: The Beginning
The Little House on the Prairie
A Boy Named Charlie Brown
2001 Maniacs
Bettie Page: Dark Angel
Master of Horror Set
Astro Boy: ultimate edition
DaVinci Code: Decoded
Highway to Heaven (season 3)

As always, if you want to drop me a line or pick my brain, shoot me an email at DPlace76@yahoo.com. You can also read about my random ramblings at www.livejournal.com/users/bigdpimpin. Also be sure to check out all that is new and any exciting upcoming events at www.myspace.com/stumblebumstudios. Friend us, we all like new friends, don’t we?