Official Fantastic Four Casting
Topic: Movies
Official Fantastic Four casting news has finally been announced. Michael Chiklis (TV's "The Shield"), Iaon Gruffudd, and Chris Evans will be three of the four members of the cast. Chiklis will play Ben Grimm/The Thing, Gruffudd will play Reed Richard/Mr. Fantastic, and Chris Evans will play Johnny Storm/The Human Torch. As of right now, Jessica Alba is the leading candidate for Sue/The Invisible Woman, but Rachel McAdams and Keri Russell are still in the running.

Tim Story will direct and Chris Columbus will produce.

The film revolves around four astronauts - scientist Reed Richards, his wife, her brother and their friend Ben Grimm - who obtain superhuman powers after their experimental spaceship is exposed to cosmic rays. They come together to fight against the evil Doctor Doom.

A July 1, 2005 release is planned.

Credit: Variety

Weekend Movie Preview
Topic: Movies
I'll be doing this particular column every week from here on out. It will basically be several previews (contributed by Yahoo) of the bigger movies to hit the screens during the weekend (including the previous Wednesday), but I might add my own two cents once in a while. Opening dates are listed next to the name of the movie. If available, I will post a critic rating for each movie, but most generally appear on Fridays (exceptions being Wednesday releases).


Anchorman (07/09/04)


Starring...

Will Farrell
Christina Applegate
Steve Carell
Kevin Corrigan
Chuck D

*Preview*
Set in 1970s San Diego, this is the story of local TV anchorman Ron Burgundy (Ferrell), God's gift to the ladies and the area's most respected reader of the teleprompter of the news fit to be known, who finds his position challenged by an ambitious female newscaster (Applegate) who, unlike Ron, actually knows something about journalism. Comedy

*Running Time*
One hour, thirty one minutes.

*Rating*
PG-13 for sexual humor, language, and comic violence.


King Arthur (07/07/04)


Starring...

Clive Owen
Stephen Dillane
Keira Knightley
Hugh Dancy
Ioan Gruffudd

*Preview*
As the Roman Empire crumbles (circa 450 A.D.), the British Isles are thrown into a loose anarchy as errant knights are entrenched in years of territorial battle. Then, one king emerges to unite them, Arthur, with his concept of a Round Table of united knights. Drama & Action/Adventure

*Running Time*
Two hours and ten minutes.

*Rating*
PG-13 for intense battle sequences, a scene of sensuality, and some language.

*Critics Say...*
B- rating


Sleepover (07/09/04)


Starring...

Alexa Vega
Mika Boorem
Kallie Flynn Childress
Scout Taylor-Compton
Sam Huntington

*Preview*
In the summer after 8th grade, with high school looming before them, four teenage girls (Vega, Boorem, Taylor-Compton, Childress) have a slumber party at Julie's (Vega) house which ends up being one of the most eventful nights of their lives thus far. The party becomes an adventure when they end up competing against a group of "popular girls" (Larson, Paxton) (with the prize being the cafeteria's "best" table) in an all-night scavenger hunt that sends them out into the city, "borrowing" Julie's dad's (Garlin) car, sneaking into clubs, having their first kisses and trying to do all this without Julie's mom (Lynch) knowing they even left the house. Comedy

*Running Time*
One hour and thirty minutes.

*Rating*
PG for thematic elements involving teen dating, some sensuality and language.

Time for a new job, apparently...
Mood:  not sure
Now Playing: "Dreamline" by Rush
Topic: Journal
Hooooo-boy.

So, I've been looking for a job since school ended, and couldn't find one for the life of me. I sent applications in, waited, and generally ate static. Last night my grandpa calls, telling me that he has a job lined up for me at the fairgrounds. "It's only going to be about three weeks," he says, "The weeks before, during, and after the fair."

Sounds like a good deal, as I've been stuck on my ass all summer with nothing to do.

Today (which marks the earliest I've gotten up all summer; 6:45 a.m.), my dad picks me up at around 9:00 to shuttle me off to the grounds, because I'm supposed to meet with a few people to finalize the job.

We get there, and end up having to wander around for a while in the hopes of finding 'Dennis', because he's not been seen. Of course, I spot him driving around the outside of the horse track in a golf cart. Sauntering over, my dad introduces me to Dennis, and he tells me a few details about the job.

"Well, we'll be getting the grounds ready; mowing, trimming, and whatnot. In the buildings, we'll be making sure that the restrooms are in working over, and all of the floors are cleaned."

No biggie, as I've done plenty of that stuff before.

"Sounds good," I muttered. "What are my hours?"

"Well, I'd say from around 8 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon." he replied.

I shook his hand, and we were off to meet our second contact, who's name I can't remember off of the top of my head. Anyhow, we go into his office and take a seat.

"I believe my son is here to see some work," my dad quipped.

"Well, he's certainly big enough." came the jolly drawl of the huge manager.

I smiled inside.

"I hope you're ready for some rough times," he said, "because when things get hectic, namely during the fair week, you could be working from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.."

My smile dies a terrible death, because that's 15 hours of work.

"I can manage," came a week voice that didn't belong to me, "I've got nothing to do anyway."

"Good. We need some strapping young men like yourself to get things done around here." the large man said.

So, papa drives me home, and here I am, dreading my first day of work tommorrow - a dread that will only cease when August rolls around, because then the job will expire.

But, there is an upside - those 4H girls sure do move animals in early, and there's some real lookers in that crowd. They'll know my name when all is said and done, mark my words.

Test
Now Playing: Cubs vs. Brewers
Topic: General News
Just to see how this works, and if the posts are archived.