Revamping yet another film

 In my opinion they should just leave the classics alone I mean can't they find any original ideas?  What is everyone thoughts about this?

'Oz' Could be Next Big Film Franchise

by Mike Ryan · March 5, 2009

It appears Dorothy Gale is, once again, not going to be in Kansas any more. With the "Harry Potter" franchise winding down, Warner Brothers has set their sights on building another franchise geared toward young adults based on one of the most popular films of all time, "The Wizard of Oz."

Warner Brothers has had two separate projects in development over the past year centered around wide-eyed Dorothy Gale from Kansas -- a role made iconic by Judy Garland in 1939 -- who finds herself swept off (literally) to a magical land full of eccentric creatures called Oz. The box-office take of"Alice in Wonderland" -- $133 million domestically, and counting -- makes this project seem even more attractive.
Warner Brothers' New Line division has a version of the film written by Darren Lemke -- who helped write "Shrek Forever After" -- and produced by "Twilight" producer Temple Hill.(It's only fitting that "Twilight" would somehow be connected to a potential teen hit.) This version would not have any musical numbers and would be more faithful to "Oz" author L. Frank Baum's source material.
The second version would be set closer to the present and most likely be even darker. Especially considering that it's written by Josh Olson, who is best known for writing the screenplay for the bleak Viggo Mortensen thriller, "A History of Violence."
"Oz" is tempting for Warner Brothers for quite a few reasons. First and foremost, it could possibly fill the void left when the "Harry Potter" franchise ends. "Potter," of course, attracted an audience that skewed to a younger adult crowd; the same demographic "Oz" would target.
L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" -- the book that "The Wizard of Oz" is based on -- is just the first story in a series that spans 14 books. All fourteen books are now part of public domain. The original film, however, is not in public domain. In other words: Any reproduction of an element that was solely a part of the film's story and not the book will have rights fees still associated.
In 1985, Disney released "Return to Oz" which was based on Baum's second and third books in the series, "Ozma of Oz" and "The Marvelous Land of Oz." Disney had to pay royalties to MGM for use of the ruby red slippers.
This leads to an interesting question about the moneymaking potential of a new "Oz" franchise (ticket sales are but one revenue generator for films). Licensing merchandise may prove difficult, considering the books are in public domain. Could anyone license "Oz" merchandise? The short answer is "yes." But the general understanding is more complicated. Any new film, just like the original, would not be in public domain. Any merchandise based on characters depicted the way they appear in the new or original film would be protected. Though, it does appear that general merchandise based on the original books is fair game. What's the exact difference? If the new films are successful, that may be for a court to decide.

'Lost Boys' Actor Corey Haim Dead in Burbank at 38

Associated Press - 48 minutes ago

• • celebs:
  • Corey Haim

Corey Haim (Michael Bezjian/WireImage)Associated Press

By Robert Jablon, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES -- Corey Haim, a 1980s teen heartthrob for his roles in "Lucas" and "The Lost Boys" whose career was blighted by drug abuse, has died. He was 38.

Haim died at 2:15 a.m. Wednesday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Los Angeles County coroner's Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said.

An autopsy will determine the cause of death and there were no other details, she said. Police Sgt. Michael Kammert said there's no evidence of foul play.

Haim had flulike symptoms before he died and was getting over-the-counter and prescription medications, Police Sgt. William Mann said. The cause of death is unknown, Mann said.

"He could have succumbed to whatever (illness) he had or it could have been drugs. Who knows?" Mann said. "He has had a drug problem in the past."

Haim was taken by ambulance to the hospital from an apartment in Los Angeles near Burbank. The enormous complex is known as Oakwood and is popular with young actors, Kammert said.

Haim acknowledged his struggle with drug abuse to The Sun in 2004.

"I was working on 'Lost Boys' when I smoked my first joint," he told the British tabloid.

"I did cocaine for about a year and a half, then it led to crack," he said.

Haim said he went into rehabilitation and was put on prescription drugs. He took both stimulants and sedatives such as Valium.

"I started on the downers which were a hell of a lot better than the uppers because I was a nervous wreck," he said. "But one led to two, two led to four, four led to eight, until at the end it was about 85 a day."

In 2007, he told ABC's "Nightline" that drugs hurt his career.

"I feel like with myself I ruined myself to the point where I wasn't functional enough to work for anybody, even myself. I wasn't working," he said.

The Toronto-born actor got his start in television commercials at 10 and earned a good reputation for his work in such films as 1985's "Murphy's Romance" and his portrayal of Liza Minelli's dying son in the 1985 television film "A Time to Live."

His career peaked and he became a teen heartthrob with his roles in the 1986 movie "Lucas," and "The Lost Boys," in which he battled vampires.

In later years, he made a few TV appearances and had several direct-to-video movies. He also had a handful of recent movies that have not yet been released.

But in 1997 he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing debts for medical expenses and more than $200,000 in state and federal taxes.

His assets included a few thousand dollars in cash, clothing and royalty rights.

In recent years, he appeared in the A&E reality TV show "The Two Coreys" with his friend Corey Feldman. It was canceled in 2008 after two seasons. Feldman later said Haim's drug abuse strained their working and personal relationships.

In a 2007 interview on CNN's "Larry King Live," Haim called himself "a chronic relapser for the rest of my life."

THE MALTESE FALCON trailer

The Maltese Falcon

Today I was able to watch an old movie and I love old movies. The movie that I saw was The Maltese Falcon which Starred Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor. I loved this movie mainly because like I said I love old movies and also because it was in Black and white. Basically Humphrey plays Sam Spade who is a detective and become involved in the getting of the Maltese Falcon which is a gold encristed bird. I will see if I can find a trailer for this moive on Youtube and post it on here. If you haven't seen it you need to see it because they just don't make movies like this anymore.

Betty White Accepts SNL Hosting Invite

Betty White Accepts SNL Hosting Invite 

And the oscar goes to......

Congratulations to all of the oscar Winners this past Sunday. I was going to write in here on Monday but life got in the way so now I am going to give my congrats to Jeff Bridges who won for Best Actor, Sandra Bullock who won for Best Actress, Christoph Waltz who won for best Supporting Actor, MoNique who won for Best supporting actress and Kathryn Bigelow who won for Best Director. Oh and congrats to The Hurt Locker for Best Picture.  Okay I really need to see this movie now and I am thrilled that a woman won for Best Director it's about time. Overall I thought it was a good show and I thought that Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin did a good job as hosts and the opening number I thought Neil Pattrick Harris was wonderful.

Oscar this sunday

It's the Oscars this Sunday the night when we all find out who is going to win Best Picture and we get to see what everyone is wearing. I am most definitley going to watch it that is if I don't have to work at night that is. I am going to have to go elsewhere and find out who the nominations are and then I will come back here and tell you who I want to win and what Movie I want to win although it will probably be Avatar directed by James Cameron. Okay I would like to see The Blind side win Best Picture but I have a feeling that Avatar will win. For Best Actor I would like to see Jeff Bridges for Best actress Sandra Bullock hands down I thought she was awesome in the Blind Side For Best Supporting actor I would like to see Christoph Waltz. I loved him in Inglorious Basterds. For Best Supporting actress I think it should be Mo'Nique. And for Best Director I think it's going to be James Cameron but I would like to see Bigelow. Well here you have it my picks. We are all goingto have to wait and see who will win. It should be a fun show on Sunday.