MOV012: “Keep Pumpin’, Blowin'”

The Pirate Movie, Salt, Paranormal Activity 2, and a slow news week.

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News:

The Past: The Pirate Movie

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Director: Ken Annakin

Staring: Kristy McNichol, Christopher Atkins, Ted Hamilton, Bill Kerr

Trivia:

  • This movie is one of few filmed adaptations of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates Of Penzance musical not to be known by that title, The Pirates Of Penzance. Others include The Parson’s Pirates (2004) and Die Piraten (1968).
  • This musical combines songs from the original stage production with new original songs written specially for this movie
  • This picture is one of two big movie adaptations of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates Of Penzance that were released in 1982/1983. This movie was first theatrically released in the USA only about six months before The Pirates of Penzance (1983).
  • This picture was filmed in Australia. After this movie, Christopher Atkins returned to Australia to appear in Exchange Lifeguards (aka Wet and Wild Summer! (1992) and Signal One (1994).
  • The movie’s main movie poster shows Christopher Atkins and Kristy McNichol wrapped-up together in a large black sack marked with the traditional pirates skull and crossbones emblem. Atkins is clearly not wearing a top and there is a suggestion that McNichol is completely topless behind the black sack, this imagery evoking the nudity and scant clothing of The Blue Lagoon (1980), Atkins’ earlier box-office hit movie he appeared in with Brooke Shields.
  • According to TV Guide, “The producers shot the film in a hurry in an attempt to beat the film version of Joseph Papp’s hit Broadway staging of the operetta to the screen.” They were successful, this movie was released in the USA about six months before The Pirates of Penzance (1983).
  • Reportedly, after this movie was released, Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins were approached by record companies regarding individual recording contracts.
  • The production required special permission for the filming of scenes approaching the cliff as this location was situated on sacred Aboriginal lands.
  • Christopher Atkins’ hair was permed for this movie. His hair is naturally straight.
  • Members of the cast extensively trained on a rope course for this movie.
  • The sword fighting scenes took several months of training and rehearsals.
  • Garry McDonald plays two characters in this movie, the Sergeant of Police and the Inspector. The Sergeant character is from the The Pirates Of Penzance stage musical by Gilbert and Sullivan; his Inspector character was not so much a spoof or parody of Inspector Clouseau but virtually a mimic of Peter Sellers’ characterization of Clouseau.

Talking Points:

  • Early 80s gay reference – to gay marriage!

What We’ve Learned:

  • Cod pieces must be adorned with sparkle.
  • Being born on February 29th on a leap year sucks.
  • I’m the very model of a modern Major General.

Trailer:

The Pirate Movie – When I Grow Up Video

Recommendations:

Jeff: /cry I enjoyed this movie. Why? Oh why? Kill me!
Ray: Giggle inducing, but ultimately a pretty bad movie i probably would have loved it in 1982.
Steve: Just good ole campy fun. Don’t take things seriously and enjoy it!

The Present: Salt

Director: Phillip Noyce

Staring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski

Trivia:

  • The movie was originally scripted with a male lead and Tom Cruise was approached to play the title character. Ultimately, he backed out and the script was rewritten with a female lead and Angelina Jolie took the role.
  • On a budget of $130 million ($110 million after tax credits), principal photography took place mostly on location in New York and Washington, DC from March to June 2009, while re-shoots were done in December 2009.
  • Filming for a car chase sequence took place in Albany on Water Street near the Interstate 787 ramp between April and May.
  • Reportedly, Angelina Jolie did most of her own stunts.
  • On May 29, 2009, filming was temporarily halted after Jolie suffered a minor head injury during filming an action scene. She was taken to hospital as a “precautionary measure”; she was released on the same day with no serious injuries and filming was resumed.
  • It’s never stated explicitly beyond “present day,” but the main action in this film takes place “in the near future” after the movie’s release (summer of 2010). Evidence: In a scene shortly before the vice president’s funeral, a long shot of a TV newscast shows his date of death as 2011.
  • Shipped to theaters under the name “Cover-up”.
  • Terry George, Michael Mann and Peter Berg all came close to directing at one point or another.

Talking Points:

  • Interesting to think this was written for a male lead, but eventually went to a female lead. What does this say about Hollywood these days?
  • Suprised that they identified her as a spy so early in the movie.
  • Movie length – did it seem really short?

What We’ve Learned:

  • Am I a Russian spy?
  • You learn alot of things when you’re the wife to an arachnologist
  • Those Russians are crafty people.

Trailer:

Recommendations:

Jeff: This movie is a little cludgy in story telling but a worth see, might be fine of DVD but you won’t be wasting money seeing it in the theaters.
Ray: I found it enjoyable, but easy to figure out.
Steve: I loved it! Just sat back and went with it. Enjoyed the ride!

The Future: Paranormal Activity 2

Starring: Katie Featherston & Gabriel Liotta

Trivia:

  • On the official site for the film, after the trailer finishes playing, an image of the nursery room appears, and in the mirror, letters written in what seems to blood spell a message. After flipping the picture horizontally, the message says, “What is happening to Hunter?”
  • This film was announced shortly after Paranormal Activity (2007) was released into theaters.

Talking Points:

  • Is there room for a Paranormal Activity 2 after the first one?

Summary:
Plot details are hard to come by. Very limited information is available on what the movie is actually about to this point.

Trailer:

Excitement:

Jeff: Was this trailer suppose to interest me in the movie? It’s just not my cup of tea, I don’t think.
Ray: Never saw the first one, probably wont see this one
Steve: I liked the first one, so I’ll see it for sure! I just hope I don’t have Blair Witch 2 regret.

Coming Attractions

The Past: 12 Monkeys
The Present: Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore
The Future: Howl

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