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It’s Friday once again, which means it’s time for another edition of One of Us’ premiere catch up feature, The Pre-Weekend Recap!

This was certainly a news-worthy week and it’s possible that some big stories passed by you. Perhaps you didn’t have a chance to catch a podcast or you missed a blog post? Well, it’s a good thing you’ve arrived here. The Pre-Weekend Recap is just the thing you need! Come on, it’s not like there’s some big sequel to a box office hit based on a series of equally revered books debuting today. What else do you have to do? Just spend the whole weekend here!

Okay, fine. Go see Catching Fire. THEN spend the rest of your weekend here with these features and the rest of our content!

Write A Movie With Us: Week 4

Write a Movie with Us, our interactive and collaborative script-writing project, is ramping up even further in its fourth week. The pitch has been selected and now it’s time to talk characters. Join the conversation as you and your fellow scribes shape the people of your script and the community where they live. Not only will you be crafting a notable and dynamic protagonist, you’ll also build the people surrounding your lead character. There’s much to be done, so don’t wait another second. Head on over to the writers’ room and start populating your world with the rest of the crew!

The INTERN-Net Show #8: How Not to Audition for Star Wars

This week’s episode of The INTERN-Net Show has a bunch of useful advice for all you budding thespians out there. Disney has announced that it is accepting auditions for the new Star Wars film from all interested parties. How can you distinguish yourself from the crowd? Better yet, how can you avoid distinguishing yourself in a manner similar to the infamous Star Wars Kid? Our host, Chris Harrison, has all the answers you need to present yourself well and avoid looking like a fool. Plus, he’s talking about Doctor Who and the latest news regarding the digital distribution of The Simpsons. It’s all waiting for you, so click the image above and learn at the feet of the master!

Ash & Fern: Weapon of Choice

Ash and Fern are in a heated debate this week and it’s all about weapons. After years of getting stuffed in lockers, I don’t have to tell you geeks that it’s important to know how to defend yourselves. While the properties we all love are full of incredible tools of destruction, what weapon from a geek brand is best?* Read on to discover our heroines’ thoughts on the subject and be sure to add your opinion to the discussion the comments!

Digital Noise Episode 20: Blue Tights and RWBY Capes

Digital Noise hit an important milestone this week as it aired its 20th episode! I wanted Brian and guest host Richard Whitaker to spend the entire episode eating celebratory cake on mic to mark the occasion, but some people can’t appreciate good ideas. Instead, our hosts review several home releases, including the Man of Steel Blu-Ray set and Rooster Teeth’s new project, RWBY. Additionally, they’re giving away the first season of RWBY to one of you lucky listeners! To find out how you can win and to hear the rest of the reviews, click the image above and strap in for a great show!

The Wind Rises Trailer: Sincerely, Hayao Miyazaki

Bad news: legendary animation genius Hayao Miyazaki is retiring from the business after decades of innovative and imaginative films.

Good news: His last film, The Wind Rises, looks like it is going to blow our minds one last time. A member of the INTERN-Net crew, Mr. Angelo Elauria, had nothing but glowing praise for the film’s trailer and after watching it about 70 times in a row, I can’t help but agree with his thoughts. Check out the trailer and Angelo’s remarks, then sob into your keyboard as you salute Hayao Miyazaki’s career in the comment section!

Big Finishing Move: Doctor Who: The Spectre of Lanyon Moor

Let’s give it up for Mr. John Eckes, another member of the INTERN-Net gang, because he is doing an incredible job with his series of Doctor Who audio drama reviews, Big Finishing Move. In this entry, John has provided you all the information you need to know about The Spectre of Lanyon Moor, a cerebral adventure tale starring the Sixth Doctor. How does the cast fare as they reprise their roles? Is the story compelling enough to keep your attention? Is this a purchase worthy of your hard-earned dollars? What the hell is a Lanyon Moor? I have nothing but questions and John has all the answers, so stop listening to me and read his review instead!

That’s plenty of material to get your weekend started, so it’s time to bring this edition of the Recap to a close. Get busy doing nothing!

* Spoiler Alert: It’s Mjolnir. Duh.

Unfortunately, Pixar’s most recent movies have presented a dip in the company’s usual standard of quality. However, this has allowed other studios to pick up the slack and get noticed for some of their incredible films. Dreamworks’ How to Train Your Dragon was more than just a small surprise when it was released – it was spectacular. I was blown over by how much I loved that movie and to this day has been the ONLY movie I don’t regret seeing in 3D and would willingly pay money to see it in 3D again. This is why it should not be a secret that I am pretty stoked about the upcoming sequel, How to Train Your Dragon 2, which has already premiered a stunning teaser trailer and today the first official poster which you can see below.

I can’t say that I’m a huge fan of the TV spinoffs that have followed the film since its release, but my excitement has not lessened for the sequel simply because I eagerly anticipate seeing more breathtaking 3D flying sequences. Plus with the same director returning, I dare say that I also hope for the same kind of heartwarming story the first film did.

I do fear though that since I am much more aware of the sequel than I was of the original, it may not surprise me near as much or excite me as much, but I’m trying not to let those fears keep me from looking forward to the film’s current release date on June 14, 2014. Until then, all we have right now to admire about How to Train Your Dragon 2 is the teaser trailer (which again, is gorgeous) and the new- very simple but impactful – poster. In it we see a slightly grown Hiccup, perhaps with a little more wisdom than when we last saw him now that he’s got a little peach fuzz growing on his chin- and behind him slightly in the shadows is his faithful dragon, Toothless.

The poster doesn’t say or do much in terms of selling what exactly is in store for fans, but I think we can expect that Berk and its people and dragons will have to defend themselves – from what we don’t know. I say that only because Hiccup is dressed in what looks like battle gear with a helmet at his side, not unlike what you see him wearing in the teaser trailer. Remains to be seen, but that’s my two cents on what the poster hints at. What do you think? Sound off in the comments below!

Via: HTTYD’s Facebook Page

In our continuing coverage of the proposed It’s a Wonderful Life sequel (you can read the original article here), Paramount, who owns the rights to the original, has put its foot down firmly, stating:

No project relating to It’s a Wonderful Life can proceed without a license from Paramount. To date, these individuals have not obtained any of the necessary rights, and we would take all appropriate steps to protect those rights.

So it looks sounds the project is dead in the water…

and that is the best news this new potential movie could ask for!

Now for those of you who think my mind has slipped a gear, allow me to explain myself. The manner in which the people behind this new movie were going about things made the whole thing stink of a cheap cash grab. All it seemed they were doing was playing off a beloved movie in an attempt to make a buck. Now the backers of this film have to get creative, and this is provides a chance for some real magic to occur!

In my previous article, I suggested that trying to make a spiritual sequel rather than an actual one would be the way to go. In order to avoid a protracted legal battle with a well-funded studio, that’s the approach the makers of this film are going to have to take if they ever expect to get this project off the ground. Instead of making another It’s a Wonderful Life, they can focus on making their own film their own way, yet true to the spirit and messages of the classic film. Keep the same casting too, Karolyn Grimes’ inclusion (she played Zuzu in the 1946 movie) goes from a pathetic attempt to validate a sequel movie to a clever nod to what this new film is trying to accomplish. Turn this setback into an opportunity people, and go forth and make the best damn movie you can!

So, what say you fine people, do you think they should try and salvage It’s a Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story, or call it quits here and now? Let us know in the comments below!

Via Entertainment Weekly

If last week was a crossroads, this week is definitely pressing the accelerator down that road.

To recap, last week we collectively chose one of three pitches based on the previous weeks work. It was a close call between the first and second pitch but the first proved to be the slightly more popular one. If you missed week 3, don’t worry, here is our pitch;

The future is here. With computers, smartphones and digital technology we are truly living in a new age. But what about the communities, struck with poverty and crime, that are left behind. Looking for his break, documentary film maker John Smith takes on a local urban legend serial killer, who maimed and tortured within a housing block many years ago. As he begins to investigate the legend, he finds that all is not as it seems with the block and the residents may know more than they let on.

This week, our attention turns to the characters that will inhabit this world along with the world itself. Regardless of how it ultimately turns out, I’m sure you will agree the housing block will become a character within its own right. So check out week 4’s introduction video and pay attention to the question posed.

So this week, I want to focus on a number of different things, and once again, it’ll be up to all of us to shape and develop them. This week is really great, as there is more creativity for you to participate in crafting character back story, environmental history and so on.

So, first of all – the character of the housing block.

Think about where our story is set, what kind of community is it? I think of a seemingly normal city, with a number of buildings left to rot (kind of like Dundee) and whilst the housing block seems old, it is unassuming. But inside, it’s an entirely different story. Perhaps an entire area which is pretty run down (like Cabrini Green). When was the building build? Think about the architecture, post images as reference etc.

John Smith.
John Smith (or Jane) will be our primary protagonist and we should make him as real as possible. Where our story is set will help determine our character. Who is he? Where did he grow up? What does he look like? Does he fall into a character Archetype? The bigger the profile, the better. There is no structure needed for our notes, so you guys can be as creative as possible without worrying about format, but for more on creating a character you can check out this.

Inhabitants of the Housing Community
Who lives in these houses? Why? The exact same amount of detail for these characters is needed and if these characters are our central antagonists we can be creative with psychological elements, past experiences etc. Is there a hierarchy within the residents? How was that born? How do they relate to the urban legend?

John Smith’s crew
If John is making a film, does he have a crew he turns too? Are they his friends? His enemies? his lover? Each of these characters also need to be both realistic as possible and unique from each other. This is where collaboration will be key. Do you see a character suggested that you think would fit your character? Explore that relationship together as writers.

Supporting Cast
Does John encounter anyone else within the narrative? A lover? Friends? Parents? Policeman? Does he interview anyone else related to the urban legend; perhaps a family member of the murdered individual?

The Urban Legend
So I posed the question of do we combine the first pitch with the second, and create a more supernatural feel with the photographs? If so, is this the urban legend that haunts this community? Tell it. If not, what is the urban legend that the community cannot escape from? Tell it. Who was involved, what happened. What was its legacy.

Undoubtedly we have lots to explore this week, but we can be incredibly collaborative and creative in discovering our world and the characters that inhabit it. Once again, don’t be afraid to continue posting, posting photos, videos, anything that can act as inspiration and as always, engage throughout the week. Good luck.

One of the bigger films of 2015 (of which there are many) is Batman Vs. Superman, the sequel to the highly successful Man Of Steel which will pit The Last Son of Krypton against the Dark Knight himself. But, apparently, having the simple yet catchy title of Batman Vs. Superman isn’t enough.

No, instead of going with the simple title that speaks for itself, Warner Bros has decided to give the film a plethora of options by registering multiple website domain names. Such names include:

Man of Steel Battle the Knight
Man of Steel Beyond Darkness
Man of Steel Black of Knight
Man of Steel Darkness Falls
Man of Steel Knight Falls
Man of Steel Shadow of the Night
Man of Steel The Blackest Hour
Man of Steel The Darkness Within

So basically Warner Bros. is trying far too hard to shoehorn in the Man of Steel name into the title. I can theoretically see why Warner is so invested in doing that, given that they want to make the connection to Man of Steel explicit in order to establish the whole DC Film Universe thing. Then again, let’s be real here: as long as you put a dude wearing cool blue underwear with the Superman logo on a poster, people will see it. Man of Steel itself proved that people aren’t as easily confused by a title that doesn’t directly have the hero’s name in it. Hell, The Dark Knight more than proved that fact five years ago, so there’s no real need to worry about bringing back the title, especially when you could just highlight the main two reasons in as simple a title as Batman Vs. Superman.

However, there’s a far more important issue with this recent news leak; these supposed titles are HORRENDOUS. Juxtaposing Man of Steel with references to Batman as lame as Darkness Falls or Black of Knight just don’t fit whatsoever. It feels like Warner is trying far too hard to give the title a similar tone to The Dark Knight and none of suggested titles have the ingenious simplicity of Batman Vs. Superman. Plus, we all know that every single person who walks up to the box office booth on July 17th, 2015 isn’t going to say something as wordy and disjointed as “One for Man of Steel Beyond Darkness, please.” If Warner Bros. goes with any of these titles, it’ll be just one of a pile of worries I have about this upcoming crossover effort.

But what about you out there? Do you think any of these titles sound like a good fit? Should Warner Bros. just stick with Batman Vs Superman? Do you have any other suggestions for a title? Post those or any other thoughts on this in the comments below!

Via Fusible and /Film

Die Hard has the distinct honour of having both one of the best and most influential action movies as part of its collection, and also one of the the single worst not only action films but cinematic experiences of all time.

I absolutely adore Die Hard and the character of John McClane. So much so that I even like Live Free or Die Hard – and to be in honest, in retrospect of A Good Day to Die Hard it looks like cinematic gold. But the aforementioned Die Hard 5 was such a disappointment. The character of the every man in a bad situation was gone, replaced by an indestructible cut-out moving from poor CG sequence to poor CG sequence. Watching it, my heart sunk, what had they done to John McClane? What had they done to Die Hard?

Imagine my dismay when I learn that the producers had apparently enlisted screenwriter Ben Trebilcook to write the sixth instalment, entitled Die Hardest (see what they did there) which would see John McClane visit Tokyo. Now, a few years ago when I learned that John would be visiting Russia, I thought “great! This will refresh the series, bring a sense of fear for John being somewhere foreign”. Alas, it did not. Therefore, the news of a Jaunt to Tokyo didn’t exactly excite me.

Recently, What Culture interviewed the supposed writer Trebilcook and some more, possibly quite interesting details have emerged about the plot. On the plot, Trebilcook explains;

Hmm, what can I say? What can I say? What am I allowed to say? OK, without spoiling too much, I can say that McClane is invited to Tokyo by the Nakatomi Corporation to be commended for his bravery and efforts in saving 36 lives, celebrating this on the 30th anniversary of the Naktatomi Hostage Crisis. It’s by no means Black Rain. Perhaps has a slight Rising Sun type tone. It’s also not a double-act buddy-buddy story. McClane began on his own and should end on his own. Of course he’s had assistance in various guises, aiding him in his ventures; but it’s not Lethal Weapon or a Jackie Chan film.

Could it be? Are they putting some thought into the plot of this movie? Could he perhaps get what Die Hard is about? He does mention John should begin the movie alone and end the movie alone along with not being a superhero;

McClane is a gunslinger. A now retired, worn-out, tired, busted and broken cowboy. Everything he’s been through has to be taken into account. Yes, it’s a movie, but he isn’t invincible. He was never Bond. That’s what was so appealing to me with Bruce’s character. He got hurt. I see the first one as a drama with elements of action. It took its time to set up the story and unfold great characters. I believe I got that and also what I call ‘the hose-reel moment’.

You know, when McClane, in the first Die Hard leaped off the building with a fire hose, before it went kaboom; in the second, he ejects himself from the plane when he’s surrounded by grenades and in the third, he’s shot out the tunnel, through the air with a gush of water. I’ve got that ‘hose-reel moment’, as well as that cringing ‘glass pulling from the feet’ type scene. Man, that gets me every time. Pursued by bad guys; does he face them and die, or retreat, barefoot, across broken glass? THEN picks out itty bitty shards from his cut feet.

He also reveals a pretty big piece of news, the script includes Die Hard 3 character Zeus.

Yes, I’ve written Zeus Carver in for Samuel L Jackson. Like I said before, it’s not a buddy-buddy script, but you can’t ignore him. Zeus played a major part in McClane’s life. They went through a lot together. They would certainly, without a doubt, still be in contact.

I still have a pretty disgusting taste of Die Hard 5 in my mouth, and like a cheating girlfriend I’m finding it hard to forget and to trust again. But I am certainly hearing things that lead me to believe the film could at least have a standing chance. Now if we can get a director who shares the same mentality that would be brilliant.

Source: What Culture

Are you looking forward to another instalment more so now with this news? Come out to the coast, we’ll get together and Comment Below.

(Our good friend, and diehard wrestling fan, Gene speaks out on the racial conundrum facing WWE superstars.)

Getting a push as a superstar in World Wrestling Entertainment takes not just talent, but also an exorbitant amount of blood, sweat and perseverance. Getting a respectable push if you’re a superstar of color might well require an act of God.

This has been one of the Fed’s not-so-dirty little secrets throughout the years. To really get any TV time as a Black superstar, one must rely on one of three gimmicks; the aggressive strongman (Ahmed Johnson, Mark Henry, Bobby Lashley, Big E Langston), the money hungry pro-athlete gimmick (MVP, heel Prime Time Players) or have embarrassingly bad and/or insulting angles (babyface Prime Time Players, Cryme Tyme, R-Truth). And if someone wants to bring up Booker T, think back to his only championship reign in WWE. Yes, it was the ridiculous King Booker gimmick.

But anyone that has seen more than one episode of WWE programming knows, this doesn’t only plague Black superstars. Latino superstars not named Rey Mysterio have had to endure everything from being Cholos (Hunico y Camacho), to being cast as a different nationality in a stupid and dated gimmick (Los Matadores). East Asian superstars rarely escape the angle of fiery high flyer that speaks little English (Taka Michinoku, Funaki, Yoshi Tatsu). If you’re Samoan, there’s a 90% chance you’ll be a Wild Samoan (Head Shrinkers, Umaga, the Usos). I cringe when I think of what they do with Middle Eastern superstars (Early Jinder Mahal anyone?). Most wrestlers that try to break that mold either winds up being mid-card for life (Kofi Kingston) or frustrated to the point of leaving (Shelton Benjamin).

Being fair, the Fed has taken baby steps in the right direction in the past few years, and by that I mean the outdated Vince McMahon/John Laurinaitis method of attracting an audience of color. Alberto Del Rio doesn’t come out to the arena in a low rider. Roman Reigns thrives as enforcer of the Shield and not wearing Samoan war paint. Even the Great Khali has broken the federation’s mold, with his longstanding position as a babyface of Indian descent.

But where is the Black equivalent of a Macho Man Randy Savage? Where is an Asian Triple H? Where is the Arab Shawn Michaels, or the Latino Goldberg? I’ll tell you where they’re at, they’re in companies whose initials aren’t WWE. The last vestiges of Vinnie Mac and Johnny Ace influence have to be swept out the door, post haste. If not, the only thing Michael Cole will comment on as far as trending is concerned is the continued downward slope of ratings as people of color will stop watching.

In the not-so-distant future, next Thursday A.D., fans of the greatly-revered film riffing television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 will be treated to a much loved but long absent tradition. For the first time in 16 years, MST3K‘s Turkey Day marathon will air on Thanksgiving Day, hosted by the program’s original test subject, Joel Hodgson.

Shout! Factory, the company that has been responsible for putting classic MST3K episodes on DVD, is resurrecting the marathon to mark the show’s 25th anniversary. Once an annual tradition, 1997 was the last year with a Turkey Day marathon until now. At high noon Eastern Time on November 28, 2013, MST3K enthusiasts will be able to log on to MST3KTurkeyDay.com and watch six episodes of the show back-to-back, with Hodgson appearing occasionally to communicate with viewers. Adding to the event’s interactivity, Hodgson will be taking fan suggestions on Twitter in the days leading up to the event to help him decide which episodes will air during the marathon.

Entertainment Weekly recalls that the first Turkey Day took place in 1991 at the behest of Comedy Central, the channel that originally aired MST3K. Hodgson told the magazine that the tradition carried on, even after the show’s lifespan.

“When I started doing Cinematic Titanic six years ago and we started doing live shows, that’s when I really met these people who love Mystery Science Theater,” Hodgson told EW. “I’d hear all these stories about Turkey Day. People would say, ‘Yeah, we still watchMystery Science Theater on Thanksgiving. It’s a tradition, like the Lions playing.’ I was kind of amazed that it was in people’s lives like that.”

The program’s creator expressed his joy at being able to pore over the 198 episodes seeking the right picks for Turkey Day. Furthermore, he discussed his disappointment in the lack of Thanksgiving-themed monster movies available for the MST3K treatment.

“A giant turkey would really fit in the lexicon of things like Gamera. You have Gyaos and Godzilla, Rodan, and Turkathon. Actual turkeys are horrifying. Their temperament is terrible, and they’re just tall enough to go for your crotch. And they seem to have a genetic predisposition to go for your crotch. They’re also really stupid, right? They’re famous for being stupid and delicious. That’s exactly what you want.”

As an MST3K devotee, this is some of the best news I’ve heard all week. The original show was such a unique concept at its inception and it had a tremendous influence on many comedians and film buffs. For example, our very own film companion commentary series, Watch A Movie With Us, bears some relation to the MST3K formula. Of course, many members of the program’s cast have moved forward with film-riffing productions, such as the acclaimed RiffTrax and Cinematic Titanic, so the show’s spirit continues to survive. Still, sometimes you just need some of the original flavor and that’s what Turkey Day is offering to us this year.

Fear not, I’m well aware that the Thanksgiving holiday is supposed to be focused on spending time with the family and appreciating the precious moments with your loved ones. I’m all about that, and my family is certainly welcome to join me as I watch every minute of the Turkey Day marathon. If you ask me, the best way to spend time with the family is spending hours in front of the TV watching a dude and his robot pals watch movies.

Which MST3K episodes would you like to see during Turkey Day’s return? Which host was your favorite? I’m solidly Team Mike, I think it’s a generational thing. In any case, let us know down below!

Via Entertainment Weekly

This week, we continued our exploration of sensory memory and imagination. Our first task was to receive a number of small gifts that our partner gives us. The partner chooses the size of the gift whilst the recipient chooses what is in the package relative to the size and react excitedly. The gifts ranged from items such as a Grand Piano, a laptop to a Baby Elephant. What does this have to do with acting you may ask? Well, it is simple. We’re utilising imagination, reacting to certain circumstances and doing so opposite another individual, isn’t that what we do in a scene when acting? I found it more difficult than I anticipated to create an item which corresponded to the size of the package which in turn affected my reaction and how authentic it became.

Using the space, we then took a walk in a park. Using our imagination we felt the harshness of the ground, the softness of the grass. The feeling of the rain upon our heads and the sun beating down. Using sensory memory, it was a relatively easy environment to picture and inhabit, though I identified more with the second scenario which was a stressful day trying to get to an interview (waking late, missing the bus etc) which perhaps says more about how I live my life day to day – perhaps I should take more time to enjoy the simple moments? The final scenario of this process was on a beach which became more and more abstract subsequently requiring more focus and attention to each detail given. We floated in the air and sank into the ocean before emerging to write a letter to someone important.

There was no time to think of who that person would be, so it was an entirely truthful decision which for many was quite personal. Mine was no different, writing to a former flat mate which the relationship ended extremely badly. I found the second half of this exercise (and indeed, all of it) almost cathartic in a way, as we were required to receive a response and share it aloud. We spent a lot of time sharing things that were perhaps extremely intimate to each individual, nothing more so than sharing personal fears. Mine, was something I hadn’t shared for a long time but alas, I was happy and comfortable to do so – many years ago, on the way to the cinema I was randomly attacked. I managed to get away but, whilst the police knew who the guy was, they couldn’t catch him before he attacked another, older man who died as a result. I don’t share that lightly and the fear I shared was the fear I had not for myself, but for the man’s family, having to endure that pain.

throughout the exercise, we recognised the changes in body language that each of us demonstrated subsequently enforcing how the internal can shape the external.

Finally, we got our hands on some text. Working with a partner, we looked at ‘Someone to Look Over Me’ – a play written by Irish dramatist Frank McGuinness. The play focuses on the trials and tribulations of an Irishman, an Englishman and an American who are kidnapped and held hostage by unseen Arabs in Lebanon.

We read the scene, with no knowledge of the situation or the characters but we did receive certain instructions which changed the performance. Both external changes and internal created new ways to explore each line and those things, which would be discussed in the creative process, can shape a scene in many different ways (even by simply changing the temperature of the room).

1453395_10202141401672669_301250137_n — Some of the variables. Others included the temperature of the room and knowing someone is listening outside.

I was extremely impressed with my scene partner, whilst only 17 she brought an age and gravitas to a character who is much older and for that she is to be commended.

Thus concluded another week. I was very happy with this session, I felt I demonstrated some skill within the scene but could perhaps work on maintaining focus on the internal exercises and keeping in the moment, trying not to anticipate what is coming next before it does.

Interested in Someone to Look Over Me? Purchase it here. It’s a really interesting read.

It’s time to break out the spam, put on your best lumberjack outfit and let your killer rabbits fly again, because a Monty Python reunion is coming!

Yes it’s true. The surviving members of Monty Python, the groundbreaking surreal British comedy team that brought us to unimaginable heights of silliness in television, film, audio, and several other forms, are set to reunite for the first time in fifteen years. All five of the living members, including John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and Michael Palin are set to come together for a new project. The specifics of this project are unknown, but it will be the first time that all five living members have collaborated on a non-documentary project since their HBO special Monty Python Live At Aspen in 1998. The only thing that’s been confirmed is that the sixth Graham Chapman will not be involved due to his hefty “being dead” schedule, as it has been since 1989.

So, let’s get this out of the way; I love Monty Python. Most geeks on the internet love Monty Python. Their television series Monty Python’s Flying Circus inspired numerous comedic talents worldwide, their work in films like Holy Grail, Life of Brian & The Meaning of Life has been quoted countless times and their work on comedy albums like The Monty Python Matching Tie and Handkerchief and Monty Python’s Contractual Obligation is still pretty innovative in of how damn bizarre it still is. In fact, most of Python’s works have managed to stand the test of time, feeling just as brilliantly odd as it did when it originally aired.

Now, that all being said… this project scares me. If there’s anything that Hollywood’s recent plunge into full on nostalgia has taught me, it’s that most of the time you don’t want to see your heroes try to get back on the horse when they’re past their prime. The sad thing is, I’ve seen most of the Pythons try this before. Back in 1999, most of the living Pythons (sans Eric Idle) did several sketches for Python Night, a special on BBC2 which commemorated the 30th anniversary of Flying Circus and boy, did they leave a lot to be desired. It just felt like these former titans of comedy had lost all their spark, all their motivation, all of their life… and that was 14 years ago. I really don’t want to imagine how much less spark the Pythons have now that they’re in their 70s.

Then again, there aren’t many details on the upcoming reunion project. I’ve heard some (including /Film) speculate that it will most likely be a stage sketch tour rather than another TV show or film. That seems more feasible, given that some of the members are still hard at work on solo projects, such as Terry Gilliam trying to do his Don Quixote again or John Cleese & Eric Idle appearing in ten different films/animated projects/commercials/other efforts. So, we’ll have to wait and see what exactly these living legends have in mind.

Still, the question remains; are the Pythons merely a washed up group of has-beens trying to grasp once more at glory or is their creative energy not dead yet? Post your thoughts in the comments below.

Via The Sun

The Pre-Weekend Recap: November 22, 2013

‘How To Train Your Dragon 2’ Poster Is Ready To Ride

Paramount Says NO to ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Sequel

Write a Movie With Us – Week 4

Possible Titles for ‘Batman Vs. Superman’ Revealed

‘Die Hard 6’ writer reveals possible original film link and returning character

WWE: Two Steps Forward, A Shuck And Jive Back

‘MST3K’ Turkey Day Marathon to return this Thanksgiving

Introduction to Actor Training–Week 3

Surviving Monty Python Members to Reunite