Amalgamated Zen

A New Darko Story...

"Donnie Darko", the movie from 2001 that became a cult classic, has spawned a sequel - a straight to video sequel due out July 2009. The movie which spurred actor Jake Gyllenhaal's career has somehow warranted a sequel... which stars none of the original cast - save for Daveigh Chase who is reprising her role as Samantha Darko(albeit 7 years later). The movie "S. Darko" follows Samantha as she deals with her brother's death and the fact that her family is falling apart. She leaves her family with a friend to straighten out her life and along the way has visions of the end of the universe and learns that she isn't really a Darko. Now while Donnie Darko was an absolutely fantastic movie, it in no way, warrants a sequel. It was cut and dry, one take and finished. But to have a sequel, with a plot like this, along with being straight to video, I don't see good things happening. And I don't need someone in a giant rabbit suit to tell me that!

Box Office Hits & Misses

The fans have spoken and the box office tells their story! Nic Cage's new movie Knowing sits at the top of the box office bringing in $24.6 million in the opening weekend. The anticipated film, directed by Alex Proyas (The Crow, Dark City) is all ready half-way to budget and still has plenty of time in theaters. Following another dismal weekend for a movie that was so highly anticipated, it seems that word-of-mouth has failed The Watchmen. The movie brought in a mere $6.8 million this weekend bringing it's gross box office to $98.1 million... still significantly short of the $130 million it cost to make. Meanwhile in comparison, the movie Taken which cost 30 million Euros ($40.6 million) has grossed $133 million in seven weeks out and Tim Burton's Coraline has grossed $73 million in six weeks for a movie that cost $35 million to make.

Battlestar Galactica: The Final Cylon Revealed!

The Sci-Fi Network's hit “Battlestar Galactica” finally revealed the answer to one of the biggest questions they have had about the series — Who is the final Cylon?

In the last minutes of Galactica’s first episode of its final season, the identity of the fifth and final cylon, was revealed to be Ellen Tigh the dead wife of Colonel Saul Tigh, who also happens to be the one who made her that way when it was`she revealed that she collaborated with the Cylons against the human resistance.

Of course in answering this burning question several others were raised that have the potential to turn everything we think we know about the show completely upside down so stay tuned.

Jessica Biel "Reneges"

Jessica Biel has finally "reneged" on her strict 'No-Nudity' policy. The actress has three movies coming out in the near future, two which have... we'll say... certain scenes. The first of the two, Powder Blue is a story plot loosely similar to "The Air I Breathe" (both movies star Forest Whitaker) in which Biel plays a stripper. The second movie, "Nailed", is a comedy in which Biel's character plays a nymphomaniac. However, there is one small catch - Biel is only nude for one of the roles. In a recent interview, Jessica states that she appears nude in Powder Blue but uses a body double for Nailed. Either way... I'm quite content.

Opening Next Week

Gran Torino

This December, Clint Eastwood is back! In the actor/director's newest film, Eastwood plays a disgruntled Korean War vet (that's a stretch) whose new neighbors are... wait for it... Asian! Whoo... It's amazing. Despite the stereotypical feel this somewhat seems to have, the movie still presents the original badass Clint Eastwood - albeit a few decades older. Check out the trailer at "Gran Torino"

"In a world..." without Don LaFontaine

Best known as the "Voice-over guy" from movie trailers, and most predominately known for the phrase "In a world where...." Don LaFontaine passed away Monday of complications from a lung-related illness. While the industry now uses others to imitate LaFontaine's work... none will ever quite be as well remembered as Don.

Tarantino Project Update