Thankfully/maybe Peter Jackson will cancel out the Spielberg-cinema-fart-for-kids-factor…?

The rumors were true: According to Beaks over at Aint It Cool News, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg are confirmed to be playing bumbling detectives Thompson and Thomson. In the original story, the two were unrelated but were thought of as twins due to their uncannily similar appearance. It’ll be interesting to see how that plays out on screen, as the film will be animated using motion capture technology.

I’ve never been a huge Tintin fan but whenever I go into Meltdown Comics I always admire the artwork on the covers…

Does this postpone any further work with Edgar Wright on finishing up the “Cornetto Trilogy”?  In all likelihood it SEEMS like this would be post-Paul work…

Slashfilm: Confirmed: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost for Spielberg/Jackson’s Tintin

Oh, and Happy Fricken New Year. 2008 wrapup is on its way.

If you haven’t heard a Gervais podcast, I’m pretty sure you’ve never really LAUGHED. Download new podcasts here!

Apparently Variety was whining lately that American actors are being phased out of action movies because of their ladylike ways. Steve McQueen is spinning around in his manly grave, but I think they’re on to something here. All the manly American men are getting older, and the younger American actors are guys like…Zac Effron? That isn’t a guy, people. That’s a pretty lady. Now on the other hand, nobody calls Jason Statham a lady without getting kicked on the side of the head for it. Movie nerd girls (and gay dudes), do you agree? Is Johnny Depp “too girly” and has the popularity of Judd Apatow’s “bromance” movies made American boys look a little less manly?

Hollywood turns to British actors like Jason Statham and Christian Bale for action men

Bonus link: Statham on Crank 2

Sensitive!

Simon Pegg will not be joining the cast of Inglorious Bastards (which so far includes hirsute horror king Eli Roth, The Office’s BJ Novak, and…uh, Mike Myers), according to his most recent Peggster blog update. But he also announced that Greg Mottola, director of Superbad, will be directing the next Pegg/Nick Frost picture, Paul, which is about the adventures of two British fanboys travelling in America. According to IMDB though, David Schwimmer’s name is still in the director’s slot (sorry Ross). And why no Edgar Wright? Is he busy with Ant-Man? Why am I such a huge nerd? (Bonus nerdgirl link)

Radiohead covers Portishead. DO YOU KNOW HOW HAPPY THIS MAKES ME?

Now if Motorhead could cover Portishead…

We keep our fingers crossed for these guys that they will pull off the highly rare “all three movies in the trilogy are awesome!” trifecta. This will effectively make them greater than both F. F. Coppola and G. Lucas, who both knew how to screw up a franchise in the third movie like it’s nobody’s business.

Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg have confirmed plans for a third spoof comedy, following hit British movies Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

The new project is part of a two-film deal writer and director Wright has agreed with the Working Title studio.

It is provisionally being called The World’s End, and will be written by Edgar and Pegg.

It will follow another Edgar project, Baby Driver, an action and crime comedy set in the US.

Wright said: “Working Title have been fantastic to work with and hugely instrumental in bringing the work of myself, Simon, and [producer] Nira Park to the screen.

“We’ve had a lot of fun with them so far and it delights me to continue the partnership in the future with new material and bold directions.”

Working Title co-chairman Eric Fellner called Wright “one of the most gifted writers and directors in the industry today”.

Last year, actor and writer Pegg told the Guardian newspaper he was keen to complete the “blood and ice-cream trilogy”, adding each film would “feature a Cornetto in varying flavours”.

“Shaun of the Dead has strawberry, Hot Fuzz has the original Cornetto flavour, and there will be a mint-choc chip in the third film,” he told the paper.

“We don’t quite know how or why yet, but it will happen.”

Hot Fuzz duo confirm third movie

Many many MANY of you are aware of my intense nerdgirl fixation on UK cult star Simon Pegg, soon to be Scotty in the ritualized Hollywood raping of Star Trek (read: the remake) so you must believe me when I say, I wanted to like this movie.  It’s a rather likeable little romantic comedy about a man who runs away from his wedding day and his beautiful, pregnant fiancee (yeah, already makes no sense, especially when you’re sprinting away from gorgeous Thandie Newton) only to have to win her back 5 years later by attempting to finish a full marathon with only 3 weeks of training under his belt.  At his side cheering him on is his affable Indian landlord (Harish Patel) and the slackery cousin of his once-to-be-bride, Gordon (a very funny Dylan Moran, who you will remember as the guy who gets torn to shreds in Shaun of the Dead).  There is also, of course, a villainous villain (Hank Azaria, who I never want to see so naked and hairless again) who, gasp!  happens to be a rich, smarmy American.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS?

Yes, you are right.  Simon Pegg ends up losing the race, his job, his friends, his one and only love and he goes on a merciless shooting rampage  such as the world hasn’t seen since Falling Down!

No.  That doesn’t happen. In fact, the only way I can put it is, it’s like Michael Ian Black and Simon Pegg had Madlibs for Screenplays and they just filled in the appropriate adjectives and nouns and then whammo, a 90 minute romantic comedy comes out at the end.  While the entire film manages to be sweet, often bubbly and very heartfelt, Pegg’s gift for pulling faces, pratfalls and other physical comedy can’t save the ship from the sinking seas of mediocrity rising around it.  Oh, and…Ross from Friends directed it.  It’s a nice little film but it lacks the zazz and zip  and wit of Pegg’s efforts with Nick Frost and Edgar Wright.

Look for brief cameos from other UK comedy stars like Stephen Merchant (The Office, Extras) and David Walliams (Little Britain).  Actually, don’t look for their cameos.  You will wish they hung around longer to brighten up the festivities.

Recommended for: Girls obsessed with Simon Pegg’s “scrotal zone” to use a line from the film

Not recommended for: People who hate underdogs. Or running, like if you hate running so much, the idea of watching someone running for an hour and a half is painful.

Alright, the only way I can break this down is like this:

1. Did you ever see the British comedy show Spaced, from Hot Fuzzians Edgar Wright/Simon Pegg/Nick Frost?

If answer is no, then visit this link.

If the answer is yes then:

2. GOD DIDN’T IT RULE PRETTY HARD?

And now follow me here:

3. Oh shit, they want to make an American version?

4. Wait, Simon Pegg has an opinion about it?

Okay end of obsessive Anglophiliac blog entry.

Yeah, that Jack Johnson bit made me cough up soda through me nostrils a bit as well. Looks like Friday night is gonna be the hippie dippie stinky surfer kids night. Saturday is the grand dark rebirth of Portishead, so moping will be afoot. And on Sunday night, even the security guards should stop what they’re doing smoke a doob and sing along to “Time”. KICKING AWAY, THE MOMENTS THAT MAAAKE UP THE DULL DAY. FRITTER AND…trails off. Wanders away to look for shaved ice guy.

Now a lot of you pale emaciated (Xiu Xiu fan) types are going to say that the folks at Goldenvoice are really demonstrating how out of it they are with that Jack Johnson headliner. It is a little shocking to see him especially playing on the main stage – BUT, remember, back in 2005 they did have Coldplay playing on the first night opposite Nine Inch Nails on the second night…so, they are uh, historically schizophrenic and lame at times, okay? And there was that one year James Blunt was playing? Yick? (I’m sure there have been other Coachella lows – refresh my memory in the comments section if you can.)

Tickets go on sale on Friday 1/25, at 10 am PST. The individual and 2 day passes always seem to sell out first, so don’t hesitate. Even though yes – yes, you will be spending even more money to see Radiohead separately, probably at the Hollywood Bowl. Because Thom Yorke is never driving out to the desert again! Hmphthghm! (No seriously, it is a wonderful statement for the band to make, etcetera backpedaling on my own sarcasm)