The Attack of the Fairytale

As you know I’m pumped for Red Riding Hood which opens this Friday mainly because the interpretation of this fairytale seems to step outside the fuzzy happy versions we’ve seen before. It looks dark and gloomy and I’m all over it.

Movie making lately mostly fall into the remake, prequel, sequel or adaption category. It’s very rare to find an original script these days. There are some out there, but it’s rare to find. Studios and distributors tend to bank on the films that will make the most money. Sometimes that means whatever’s safest. I think that’s why Christopher Nolan’s Inception was so remarkable. What’s been trending lately are the fairytale remakes. Red Riding Hood is just one of many that are on the horizon.

1. Snow White

• Snow White and the Huntsman – It was announced a couple days ago that Kristen Stewart was cast as Snow White. Really? I honestly cannot see KStew dressing up in period costumes prancing around.
• The Brothers Grimm: Snow White – Brett Ratner produced-version which probably means it’ll have some whoop ass in it.
• Snow and the Seven – The Disney version. For some reason there are some serious Asian influences on this one and I have no idea why. It’s set in Hong Kong and China. I don’t get it. The seven dwarves are “seven international warriors.” I still don’t get it. Supposedly Natalie Portman will be playing the Asian Snow White and Jet Li is rumoured to be one of the seven international warriors. I’m still not getting it.
• Once Upon a Time – a TV movie starting Ginnifer Goodwin who is a nun but discovers she was actually Snow White in a previous life. Snore.

2. Peter Pan – Channing Tatum will be playing the flying boy in an prequel called Pan which places Peter Pan and Captain Hook as bros. Honestly, I can only see Channing Tatum in Step Up and nothing more. Sorry… Remember what I thought about the trailer of The Eagle?

3. Pinocchio – There’s a new stop-motion animated version that’s in production. I’m a huge fan of stop-motion when done well. But a stop motion Pinocchio is an easy sell. The others on this list, not so much.

Now I admit, if I hadn’t seen the trailer of Red Riding Hood, I probably would feel just as lukewarm. But I did. So I’m hoping maybe a trailer may change my mind about Channing Tatum in green tights. Just maybe.

Death or Peach: Disney’s Prom

Oh Disney. I can always count on you to make fun movies – though I wasn’t too fond of Prince of Persia. And Jake Gyllenhaal with long hair? I don’t think so. Still, I can count on you. And here you are with another adolescent flick. Disney is always so good with those teenage heartache, butterflies in the stomach movies. Prom doesn’t seem like it’s as mean as Mean Girls and not as juvenile as High School Musical. It looks like it could be a cute little flick about kids going to prom and all that it entails. Also I’m loving that Aimee Teegarden from Friday Night Lights is starring in this film. I have no idea who the other kids are in this film – I’m sure they’re all Disney babies and are all huge stars – but I’m feeling it.

Aimee Teegarden in Prom

Disney released its second trailer for Prom last week but I happen to still like the first one. What do you think of it?

My Vote: PEACH! This film could go from cute to cheese in 0.5 seconds. But so far, the trailer is looking promising.