This vid isn’t technically film-related but it is brilliant…

Now I’m no hippy, but the mix of classic animation styles mixed with a bit of modern visual style is very effective at getting the point across. [via]

Unrelated (but also brilliant in a different kind of way): I’m Not Here to Make Friends

Last week I made the offhand comment that American audiences had ruined martial-arts stunt legend Jackie Chan (among other imports), using the Shanghai films as an example.  Exhibit A:

Not one film made in America made that fans list.  I’m not saying the Shanghai films are not entertaining, they are in their own way.  But they aren’t old Jackie.  Exhibit B:

Nuff’ said.

WTF is Visioneers? you’re probably asking. It’s the story of George. Who has a job, a wife, a son, and a hobby. And who is not going to explode. And who might just be George Washington. Confused? Click the image below to watch the trailer…

The art of the black comedy has been neglected for far too long, let’s hope Zach Galifianakis (who is hilarious in his own right) can bring it back! Link.

“This town is MINE now!”

Hey all, Domino’s Pizza is showing an exclusive trailer for The Dark Knight, with some new Joker bits. However, they require you to order a pizza online in order to see it. In the interest of saving FilmRotters’ tummies, I’ve posted a YouTube link. Click the poster to see it.

For your consideration…

I’m back this week, a post-a-day until the 4th! That’s like… 4 posts in a row! Quick, someone call Reuters.

Who boy, what a load of crap this recent development is…

Recently, Collider.com Editor in Chief Steven Weintraub fired a shot across the bow of Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, two traditional media magazines that have been covering the film industry for a combined 181 years. After providing untold thousands of links to the trade magazines’ sites when referencing news they first reported, Weintraub and several other popular film Web sites formally declared that they were sick of not being given the same courtesy.

Movie sites have been ripping off Variety and Hollywood Reporter for well over a decade now. How many articles a day do you think get quoted, reprinted in whole, unattributed or attributed without a link - all from the Hollywood trades? I would do a study, but I’m too lazy (and/or uninterested). I’m telling you, as a guy who has read these sites since the late 90’s and ran one intermittently since 2003, there are a ton of scoops (most really) ripped right from the trades by the little guys, then passed around like they just got the call from Harrison’s acting coach. If Variety gets credit for a scoop it’s rarely a linked credit, and more likely a link to a blog-buddy who has already summarized (read: regurgitated) the jist.

Bottom Line: Move Sites/Blogs need to get over themselves. Sure, the trades may have run an improperly attributed scoop (or two, or three).  We couldn’t possibly count how many times in one day that happens to them. It’s all one big circle-jerk, we know it, the trades know it. Just because they don’t give you a jerk after years of neglecting them yourself, doesn’t mean they should be kicked out of the circle. In fact, you can’t kick them out - they’re the reason the circle exists most of the time.

This is made of pure awesome…

Nine more here.

Also, Requiem For A Day Off - which really should have gotten its own post.

Portfolio, on the shrinking returns of Batman franchise…

…if you adjust the five films’ budgets, box office returns, and lead actors’ salaries for inflation, the franchise’s payoff has actually shrunk.

Their rundown does prove a point: Despite the quality of Nolan’s last Bat film, Bruce Wayne seems to have definite shelf-life with the movie-going audience. I’d be interested in seeing how all of the Batman films match up. Link.

Get it? Hits the web.

Err, Twitch has the goods…

Jaa is directing this one, its got action, probably ridiculously cheesy but fun - like the last. Please Mr. Jaa, don’t come to America to make films. They will ruin you like they did Jackie Chan and Jet Lee. (Can you tell I recently saw Shanghai Noon?) Link.

This video of Chewbacca in a Star Wars Weekends dance-off with a twiggy-armed jawa at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is both hilarious, and embarrassing. Hilarious because it really happened, embarrassing because it will continue to happen every weekend until June 29th.

Unrelated: I’ve only watched someone play Assassin’s Creed for a few moments and I still find this video hilarious. Mega 64 = the Tom Green circa ‘96 of the Internet.