Is Marvel Hellbent On Destroying Their Own Movies?
I'm a huge fan of Marvel, as well as comics in general. I go to the theater to see almost all comic book adaptations that hit the big screen and I'm ecstatic to see their popularity rise. And as a big comic fan, I was excited when Marvel decided to start financing their own films. Studio interference is the worst thing that can happen to adapted properties, so Marvel deciding to go at it on their own seemed like a great idea. That notion was reinforced when Iron Man, their first self-financed project, turned out to be a huge success and was widely praised as one of the best comic adaptations to date.
Marvel made a great call shedding their studio baggage. They can now make their own calls and their future in the film industry looks bright. Or it would, if they weren't making the wrong calls.
Prison Break Cancelled: How Not To Make A Show
After almost three painful seasons, Fox's action-drama Prison Break is being cancelled. The show is currently on mid-season hiatus and will return on Friday, April 17. It will finish out the last six or so episodes of the series in The Sarah Connor Chronicle's timeslot once that show has ended its season. There is a possibility of a few extra episodes being shot, to give the series a more proper end. Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly ensures us that "they have a cool ending," which isn't exactly a glowing endorsement.
You'll notice that I said "three painful seasons," even though the show is currently airing its fourth. That's because the first season of Prison Break was actually good, semi-intelligent television. The premise of the show - a man deliberately getting sent to prison in order to break his brother out - is both clever and original. However, if this idea was pitched to you as a television show, your obvious question would be:
"What happens when they get out?"
BBFC Gives Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Adults Only Rating
Homebrew games aside, I can't imagine the Nintendo DS has many Adults Only rated titles, if any. However, the British Board of Film Classification have given Rockstar's upcoming Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars just that - a big, fat Adults Only rating.
I'm surprised. Yeah, it's Grand Theft Auto, but Rockstar is going back to the days of 2D, top-down carjacking mayhem, so all of the violence is of a cartoon nature. However, apparently the game's "very strong language and drug references" make up for the lack of realistic violence and push it over the edge - at least in the BBFC's eyes. Personally, I can't even imagine what the game could contain in the way of language and drug references that would warrant such a rating, short of letting you snort virtual cocaine via the DS's mic. And if that is in fact the case, then, wow?
The best part of all of this is Rockstar's reaction. Many publishers would do everything in their power to achieve a lower rating, as too strict of one could hurt sales. Rockstar, however, is simply excited that they could give gamers an "uncomprising" GTA experience.
Why can't more people be like Rockstar?
