A US Fish and Wildlife Service program to reintroduce Wolves reared in captivity into the wild in certain Western states is drawing criticism from local sheep ranchers.. It seems that they are losing profits because of the toll the wolves are taking on their flocks. The Wolves are reducing the flocks not in the traditional fashion but because the sheep worry so much that they lose between 3 and 5 lbs according to one farmers estimate.

Also good news for Lonesome Dove Fans.

Comanche Moon" (2006) (mini) TV Series (filming) - This is the best book of the series with the possible exception of Lonesome Dove.

A worthy sucessor to Blade Runner(same author, Phillip K Dick), this is easily Speilberg's best Sci Fi since ET. This dark thriller effectivly uses Tom Cruise and a driven and haunted Psi-cop, who catches violent criminals before they commit crimes with the help of precogs(named Dashell, Aurthur and Agatha) who predict the future actions of the worst offenders. Rounding out the cast are Collin Ferrel, Steve Harris(The Practive), Neal MacDonough(Band of Brothers) and the incomparable Max Von Sydow. Also of note, a stellar performance by Peter Stormare as an underground surgeon who has a new set of eyes and an old set of grudges for Cruise's Chief Jon Anderton.

tid bits:
Cameo: [Cameron Crowe] Tom Cruise's director from Jerry Maguire (1996) and Vanilla Sky (2001) appears as a commuter on the train who looks at Anderton over the top of his newspaper and recognizes him.

The film projected on the wall of Dr. Solomon's apartment that shows a man being shot in a Japanese hot-tub is Samuel Fuller's House of Bamboo (1955).

The "PreCogs" sepia-toned cottage is the same place used as Senator Padme Amidala's lakeside retreat on Naboo for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002).

Gross
$132,014,112 (USA)

This UK horror/thriller was released in 2005 on the international market but did not open in the US until Aug 2006. It was a moderate financial success and garnered Empire and Independent film awards for Writer/ Director Neil Marshall. In opening weekend in the US it pulled in a respectable 8.9 million dollars ( more than the film cost to make.).
This is essentially a zombie movie in the confines of an unexplored cave system. The main characters are 6 extreme sport action junkie girlfriends who travel to the Appalachians to spend a weekend spelunking. After a hospital scene during the prologue, there are no male characters for the rest of the film. The set up is decently handled and Marshall does an excellent job of creating a sense of claustrophobic discomfort in the audience,which has them off balance even before the first creature is introduced. Unfortunately, the entree of the first beast also signals a change in the tone from smart and tense to typical horror/ shock film. The girls spend the rest fo the film shriekimg at creatures as they pop out of crevices or holding deathly still as they creep by only inches away. They also spend a good deal of time bathed in blood. Their own, each others, blood coagulated into random pools and lakes throughout the cavern. Marshall gamely throws in a few twists and some heavy handed metaphors but the film winds up being rather average.

tagline: Afraid of the dark? You will be.

Here it is the little movie that caused all the oscar anguish. Well written, well acted and well directed. All and all a superb effort. Also features an "oh my god I can't beleive my husband is a gay cowboy" moment from Michelle Williams that is an all time keeper.
Director: Ang Lee
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid.

Awards:
Oscars- Nominated 8, won 3- Ang Lee Best Director, Larry McMurtry& Diana Osana, Giovanni Santolalla- score.

Tidbits:
The script by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana was written in 1997.

During its first weekend of release (playing in only five US theaters), this set a record for the highest per-screen gross of any non-animated movie in history.

Gross:
$83,025,853 (USA)

Budget:
$14,000,000 (estimated)

Probably more like Bravehart than the Wagner Opera, Tristan & Isolde manages to be fairly entertaining. This story covers an earlier period of time for the Britons, after the fall of the Roman Empire. Weakened by internal strife and tribalism, the Britons or the tribes that would later unite to form Briton,were subject to attack from a united and therefore stronger Ireland.
Tristan & Isolde is the tale of the doomed love between a briton youth and an Irish princess. Fans will probably know Rufus Sewell (playing against type here) from his many turns as a handsome villian. Also fans of the Spiderman will probably recognize James Franco as the male lead and title character. All and all, fairly ambitious given the limited market for films like this.

Domestic Gross:$14,732,623

Best new idea for a reality show:

Celebrities fighting Gorrilas!

# 995 Basic Instinct 2

Let me put it this way, after having seen both Basic Instinct and Basic Instinct 2, I now know the difference between bullshit and complete and utter bullshit. So,apparently, does Michael Douglas and Joe Esterhaus and Paul Verhoeven and......
tagline:everything interesting begins in the mind. Which begs the question, where did this turkey begin?

# 994 The Benchwarmers

Other than Tim Meadows who needed the work, I don't know who benefitted from the making of this film. To be fair, Molly Sims is really hot. This film sullies such comedic standards as Joe Dirt and Deuce Bigalow European Gigolo.We really can't blame Rob Schneider. He makes so many movies that he may not be aware that he was in this one.

Tagline: It's Never Too Late To Take A Stand.

Think I was kidding, here is a partial Rob Schneider filmograpy:

6 Records (2007) (announced) (attached) .... Chops
Rob Schneider's Hard R (2006) (pre-production)
Big Stan (2007) (post-production) .... Big Stan
Little Man (2006) (uncredited) .... Dinosaur Rex
Shark Bait (2006) (voice) .... Nerissa... aka Pi's Story (South Korea)
Click (2006) (uncredited) .... Prince Habeeboo
The Benchwarmers (2006) .... Gus
Grandma's Boy (2006) .... Yuri
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005) .... Deuce Bigalow
Back to Norm (2005) (TV) .... Various
The Longest Yard (2005) .... Punky
American Crude (2005) .... Bill
Around the World in 80 Days (2004) .... San Francisco Hobo
50 First Dates (2004) .... Ula
The Electric Piper (2003) (TV) (voice) .... Rinky-Dink-Dink
The Hot Chick (2002) .... Clive Maxtone/Jessica
Eight Crazy Nights (2002) (voice) .... Chinese Waiter & Narrator... aka Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights (USA: complete title)
Mr. Deeds (2002) (uncredited) .... Nazo, the Italian Delivery Man
The Animal (2001) .... Marvin
The Mummy Parody (2001) (TV) .... Imhotep
Little Nicky (2000) .... Townie
Muppets from Space (1999) .... TV Producer