Reel Facts & Opinions

FACT: Director Bryan Singer (X-MEN, X2, VALKYRIE) has confirmed that his planned remake of the epic EXCALIBUR has been scrapped. Warner Bros. apparently decided to go with another “King Arthur” type-film and didn’t want to produce competing films. Singer has decided to move forward with his BATTLESTAR GALACTICA adaptation.

OPINION: How much crappy news can we possibly cram into one Reel Speak FACT? First of all, Singer has spent WAY too much time doing remakes and adaptations as of late; all he has done is comic-book flicks in the form of the first two X-MEN films and SUPERMAN RETURNS (he also produced this year’s X-MEN FIRST CLASS). His WWII period-piece VALKYRIE proves that he can take a significant piece of non-fiction and make it worthwhile. Why is he hung up on remaking proven favorites? Both EXCALIBUR and GALACTICA have massive and passionate cult followings; the uphill battle he would be facing in pleasing the established audiences would be massive. Come on Bryan, come up with something on your own.

FACT: Matt Reeves has been named the director of the new upcoming TWILIGHT ZONE feature flick. Reeves has previously directed CLOVERFIELD and LET ME IN, and somehow beat out some heavyweight names in the form of Christopher Nolan, Michael Bay, Alfonso Cuaron, and Rupert Wyatt.

OPINION: Nolan seemed to be the best choice for a TWILIGHT ZONE feature, as his INCEPTION, MEMENTO and THE PRESTIGE films played out like TZ stories anyway. Wyatt may very well surprise, but this blogger still feels that TZ stories are better off left as shorts, and that an “anthology” styled flick would be the way to go with a different director for each chapter. Besides that, Nolan is better off coming up with his own ideas (coughsingercough).

FACT: Speaking of Nolan, the LOS ANGELES TIMES is reporting that when his global production of THE DARK KNIGHT RISES moves to New York City this month, the Occupy Wall Street protests “may” be background for several scenes in the film.

OPINION: Before all you Occupiers start celebrating, please realize that Nolan is unlikely including the protests for the sake of pushing an agenda or a political point. The key term in the article is BACKGROUND, and it will be interesting to see how Nolan works the colorful and diverse background into his epic superhero film.

What say you?