>>WEDNESDAY 28th JANUARY

VH-1 SUPERHERO SPECIAL

What makes a good superhero movie? What are the rules? Loads of scientific gibberish? A gooey birth scene? Clean tights? An über violent villain? All of the above? Sit tight, true believers, for VH1’s newest series, Super Secret Movie Rules, will answer all your questions about America’s favorite stars of the spandex screen, Superheroes. From Superman to Hulk, you’ll witness a superhuman breakdown of ten of the most iconic superhero movies ever to leap, fly, and zap their way from comic panels to movie screens.

Who could forget Superman’s romantic first date with Lois Lane, Batman’s heroic rescue of Vicki Vale from the clutches of the Joker, or Wolverine’s backyard cat fight with his nemesis, Sabretooth? But beyond the memories, these scenes raise some questions. Why is Superman looking at Lois Lane’s panties? How is Batman a superhero if he doesn’t even have any powers? And why does Wolverine look like someone hanging out in an Irish pub? Who knows! But our insatiable celebrity fans, venerable masters, and irreverent comedians will analyze, re-enact, and philosophize on the greatest costumed characters and moments ever to hit a movie theatre…KAPOW!

Look for Rza of the Wu Tang Clan, indie director Kevin Smith, comic god Stan Lee, and many, many more of your favorite faces and personalities from the film, television, and music industries.

FEATURED MOVIES:
Superman; Batman; Darkman; The Crow; Blade; The Matrix; Unbreakable; Lara Croft: Tomb Raider; Hulk

FEATURED INTERVIEWS:
Tim Burton; Richard Donner; Stan Lee; Danny Elfman; Bryan Singer; Kevin Smith; Kathy Griffin; Rza of Wu Tang Clan

Saturday Feb. 14th 11:00 central AM

Thanks to Jacob for the news.

>>TUESDAY 20th JANUARY

PETER DONAN OBITUARY

Ahem:

Last week the Visual Effects Society reported the sudden death of visual effects giant, Peter Donen.

Peter was a prolific, highly sought after filmmaker responsible for the special effects trickery in everything from Spaceballs to The Bourne Identity.

Donen was not only a world class visual effects giant, but one of the few American Optical visual effects supervisors to work alongside the dominantly British visual effects dept. of the Salkind Superman movies, handling numerous travelling matte, animation and composite effects work at Cinema Research Corporation in Hollywood, USA. Roy Field must have been impressed with the results, as he shared a good rapport with Donen from Superman 1
through 3. Donen and his crew were never actually credited at any point on any Superman movie, but their company CRC received credits on both Superman 1 and 2 for their overspill chores.

Just goes to show that the first 3 Superman movies even had in demand A-listers working in uncredited capacities!

At the time of his death, Mr. Donen was in production on Disney's Ladder 49.

Please read the Peter Donen obituary found at this link to the VES site:

http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/donen.html

>>MONDAY 19th JANUARY

CINEFANTASTIQUE

In the Dec 03 issue of Cinefantastique; there's a Donner interview mainly focusing on his latest film, TIMELINE. Of particular interest is the mention of an in-depth interview with Donner on Superman and his vision of Superman 2 in a future issue.

>>WEDNESDAY 14th JANUARY

QUESTIONS FOR NORMAN REYNOLDS AND DICK DONNER - NO MORE QUESTIONS

I've passed the questions onto the interviewer. A lot of Superman 2 questions

REEVE BACK IN SMALLVILLE

Rosetta was a terrific episode in season 2; Reeve is back as Dr Swann for season 3: You can read a little bit more this particular episode here

Season 3 has started in the U.K. 2 episodes so far, and you know what? Very disappointing, it looks like the writers are really starved of good ideas. Looks like the Clark and Lana relationship is back to square one AGAIN! Doesn't look like there will be any progression in quality writing which season 2 showed glimpses of.

>>SATURDAY 10th JANUARY

QUESTIONS FOR NORMAN REYNOLDS AND DICK DONNER

Do you have a question(s) for Art Director, Norman Reynolds and director, Richard Donner? At some point you should get answers to your burning questions. I've offered some questions already to the mysterious person who is going to interview these guys; but I want you guys to brainstorm and send me anything you want the interviewer to ask. I would keep it to Superman, but if you want to ask about other films directed by Donner, I guess it won't do any harm. I would keep the Norman Reynolds questions on the topic of Superman.

I must stress that I don't know when your answers will be published; it's part of a bigger picture which I can't reveal to anyone.

The deadline is this Tuesday!!! gandalfdc@aol.com