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I guess I'm fascinated by film. Not all the Hollywood formulaic stuff, but what film is and can be. There have always been stories as long as there have been people. And there have always been storytellers. I just feel that film is very close to the ultimate medium for storytelling; short of holographic, smell-o-vision, tactile virtual reality that sci-fi is always foreboding.

Film can evoke emotion, effects can visually create practically anything that can be dreamt, scoring can add weight and color, lighting can change a story dramatically, set and costume design are capable of showing us the context. Others may disagree that film never reaches the quality of literature, and I'm not saying they are wrong, I'm only saying that we each interpret a book as part of our experience of reading it. And we don't always envision the same things. I guess if I had to pick a career other than fashion design (if you can even call it a career anymore/at all), I think film would be it for me.

That all being said, I seem to like films that are destined to fail. Films that dare us to think or being radically different from the mainstream. Lots of dark films too. Like Jacob's Ladder, Brazil, and Pi.

One film I saw not long ago was Dark City. I was totally impressed by the effects and the visual style. I thought it was quite brilliant, even if it did have a few minor downsides (like the third act was a bit of a disappointment). Well, I've just read that Director Alex Proyas is developing a Dark City 2, I hope it gets a green light. I'd love to have seen Dark City on the big screen, it just crys out for it with its lush imagery. I wouldn't be surprised if the Red Vic has it on their playbill at some point. I'd really look forward to seeing this new project in the theatre.

Next, Sin City. I had no idea that Robert Rodriguez had that great a film in him. I guess I just haven't loved any of his other work, and this just took me by surprise when I saw it. I've been known to say that this is one of the most beautifully stylistic films (IMHO) in cinema history. The use of color, the graininess, the angles... All bode very well for an interpretation of Frank Miller's graphic novels. I never did read them, but was a big Miller fan growing up on the likes of Daredevil comics and many others.

Well, Rosario Dawson has made comments regarding a Sin City 2 already. And I am looking forward to a sequel. Not to get my hopes too high, but I hope it can capture the same wonderful qualities the first did. Plus, a damn amazing job with casting. I mean, Mickey Rourke is downright scary, how he carries his role.

Now, let's talk about our vices. Or rather Miami Vice. I really liked Colin Farrell in (I liked his portrayal of over the top Bullseye in Daredevil) Phone Booth. And Jamie Foxx has had some credible roles. But I just don't see this working. For one, they don't really have a Miami look to me. Other than that, after about $150 million in budget, it's said to still be a poor bet for success at the box office. I don't think casting Gong Li makes up for much of anything, but I think she's done some amazing work.

Last, Spidey 3. Yes indeed. Spiderman 3 is slated for a 2007 release. Don't say you didn't know about this one. It was a re-signing for a 2 film contract for the principal actor Tobey Macguire. I still feel that Sam Raimi may not have been the best choice to helm the films, but they've done well in spite of my opinion, so 'nuff said! (anybody get that?). My personal choice would be John Woo, I think the action sequences would be just amazing if he shot the films, oh well... As if Hollywood cares about my opinion. Yeah right. Oh he is working on two relevant projects now, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run. Both sound like another Paycheck,... um... for him. But nowhere near as good as what I believe he's capable of delivering.

(photo credits: spidey3 from rottentomatoes.com, Dark City from imdb.com)

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