A great barometer of what’s new and hot in animated fare, as well as Broadway shows with a dash of nostalgia mixed in, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade offers some insight into some possible costume choices for the year ahead. As always, some of the classics were on hand including Sesame Street, celebrating its 40th anniversary, Snoopy and his pal, Woodstock, and Spongebob Square Pants.
The story follows the original game with a young street urchin in ancient Persia adopted by the Sultan himself for a show of bravery. The Sultan declares the youth, Dastan, his heir. After a instrument of the gods called “The Sands of Time” falls into the hands of an evil nobleman (played by Academy Award Winner, Ben Kingsley), Nizam, Dastan has to recover the object and restore order to the kingdom. Additionally, there’s a princess and a creepy, leperous looking character that skulks in the shadows on the trailer.
The ’80s original centered on four Vietnam veterans who were framed for a crime they didn’t commit. They take the show on the road to evade the military police, helping out people along the way as they attempt to clear their names. In the original, Mr. T played B.A. Baracus (”B.A.” for “Bad Attitude”), the A-Team’s mechanic and muscle. George Peppard was Hannibal, the group’s cigar chomping leader who “love it when a plan comes together.” Dwight Schultz was “Howling Mad” Murdoch, the team’s resident loose cannon and Dirk Benedict was Templeton “Faceman” Peck, the group’s prettyboy and master of disguise.
While you gotta pity the fool that steps into Mr. T’s shoes, UFC fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson just may have the mettle, muscle, and humor to bring it to the role of B.A. Baracus. (Anyone doubting Rampage’s sense of humor has to see this past week’s episode of Ultimate Fighter 10.) Rounding out the cast is Liam Neeson as grey-haired Hannibal, Bradley Cooper as Faceman, and Sharlto Copely as Murdoch. Jessica Biel is also part of the cast, although what role she is playing has yet to be confirmed.
Director Louis Leterrier’s remake of Clash of the Titans stars Sam Worthington (Terminator: Salvation’s reluctant human/droid hybrid, Marcus as the hero Perseus and Liam Neeson as Zeus, King of the Gods. A new addition of Hercules as a main player with Ralph Fiennes (no stranger to fantasy films himself as Harry Potter’s arch-nemesis Voldemort) cast in the role of Hades, Lord of the Underworld.
Leading the pack in their onslaught on theatres in 2010, werewolves are poised to strike with a remake of The Wolfman. One of Universal’s most iconic horror films, The Wolfman is the latest in a string of horror movies that are reaching back into the catalog for ideas to splash up onto the silver screen.
The film centers on a post-Civil War, Wild West era disfigured bounty hunter by the name of Jonah Hex. The cult classic comic book title character is portrayed by Josh Brolin in the film. Megan Fox portrays a saloon girl/prostitute who’s quite handy with a gun that aids Hex in his missions.
As evidenced by the trailer, you can count on lots of action and lots of explosions, particularly since Michael Bay (Transformers) is a producer. Plus, you get to see a pre-fricassee Freddy as Springfield’s least favorite son/child killer tries to outrun the angry vigilante mob of parents. It makes his post-burn transformation all the more startling.
The theme park is a massive undertaking and painstaking details and planning have gone into its production. Of course, Harry Potter’s creator, author J.K. Rowling has given the project her stamp of approval. This sprawling 20-acre park site attempts to recreate some of the Potter-verse’s most memorable locales. Shops and eateries like Olivander’s wand shoppe (where it has been confirmed that visitors can purchase their very own souvenir wands) and Honeyduke’s candy emporium are proposed, as are pub-style restaurants such as The Three Broomsticks which will serve butterbeer and traditional British pub fare to hungry visitors. A replica of Hogwarts Castle is also supposed to be on premises, as well as countless other favorite places from the series.
Although the sounds and faces have changed, there’s something almost immortal about the performers (many of whom are no longer performing — or living, for that matter) who played at Woodstock. Bands like the Jefferson Airplane; Joni Mitchell; Joe Cocker; and Crosby Stills Nash and Young are renowned as legends, occassionally releasing albums and performing to live audiences. Others who have since passed on such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin have influenced thousands of musicians with their distinct sound and even more distinctive look.
In 1969, a moonwalk of a different kind than the one we’ve been hearing so much about (I’m looking up at you, Michael Jackson, in a better place) occurred when Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. After piloting and landing the Apollo 11 spacecraft, Neil Armstrong and crew including Buzz Aldrin made their planned pilgrimage to the moon and walked out into the low-gravity atmosphere taking “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Now, 40 years later, the Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk has continued to capture the minds and hearts of people everywhere about the possibilities that exist in space. No one ever would have believed a man could walk on the moon. To this day, astronauts continue in Armstrong’s footsteps, attempting to travel to further reaches in the galaxy and beyond.
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