2010 remakes, sequels, and everything else

Lastly are the films of 2010 that are a crap shoot. These are films that are revisions, remakes, ideas and sleepers that are likely to either be great or absolutely miserable. Sometimes it's just too hard to have an opinion, especially so far ahead of time. But making an opinion is what you read this for right?

Mortal Kombat - supposedly there is another film in this series coming. Is it a revisioned restart (al la Star Trek) or another sequel? It's not clear. Filming with 3 original cast members was started and stopped in 2009. Theoretically there could be a film in 2010. Will it be worth seeing? Not if it is even the least remotely like Mortal Kombat Annihilation.

Scream 4 - Yes, it never ends.

A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas- How is this possible since Kal Penn is now an Obama flunky in D.C.? I guess President Obama decided to finally shrink the Government by 1 job - Penn's.

Jackass 3 - Well it's the only work Johnnie Knoxville can get, or is qualified for.

Daybreakers - good concept, but its an early January film. Studios have no confidence in its ability to make money. But sometimes a decent film slips into the January slot.

When in Rome - I'm over 15 so I wouldn't see this film if I was paid 3x my annual salary. But some people like this kind of drivel.

Valentine's Day - see When in Rome

Shutter Island - Leonardo DiCaprio's hypefest is waning. It has Max Von Syndow, and Scorcesse. Beyond that, I bet it's completely forgetable.

The Crazies - revisioned Romero films are a rage in Hollywood these days. Too bad I don't think those films are good (the revisioned ones). This will likely be no better than the other remakes.

Brooklyn's Finest - lots of stars, including Don Cheadle, Wesley Snipes, Ethan Hawke, and Vincent D'Onofrio. It could be great, a big sleeper hit. Or it might be bloated by all the star weight and posturing. Not sure.

Machete - I want Danny Trejo to do well in this film. It's about time he gets to have a bigger star. But this film is anyone's guess.

Nightmare on Elm Street - revisioned remake of a classic. Normally this means instant failure. But it has the benefit of NOT being a Rob Zombie film. I still don't think it will be worth the money, but as a DVD buy it should be decent.

Shrek Forever After - Mike Meyers really needs another job.

Five Killers - unless you love Ashton Kutchner and/or Tom Selleck this is a film worth ignoring. Not as bad as some I've already mentioned in 2010, but not good by a long shot.

Footloose - yes 2010 is filled with remakes. Since it's not the 80's anymore the question is will this same 'White boys can't dance' theme work in this film like it did in the past? Dance films are popular these days (for whatever reason).

The Last Airbender - anime fans get their own live action film. Will this be worth it? That's likely the only twist M. Night Shyamalan will bring to this film. Still it can't be as bad as Dragonball Evolution could it?

Little Fockers - people love Ben Stiller, I have no idea why.

Zookeeper - everyone loves talking animals right? Right?

Burlesque - we know Cher can act. She spent decades proving it. So either she thinks Christina Aguilera can act also, or she was paid a crazy amount of money to be in this film. Either way this will bring in tons of money from teen boys (and older guys) that want to see her (either woman) in tight clothes. Hopefully it will be better than Glitter (which should be easy to do if any of the actors are awake onscreen).

Ok, there you have it. The good bad and ugly of 2010. Now all you have to do is decide which ones you agree with me on as the year goes by. Let me know what you think as the year progresses.

Law And Order: Criminal Intent - Season Finale

Did you see the season finale of Law & Order: Criminal Intent last night? I did and I’m glad.

I have to admit that I have not been following the show closely for a couple of seasons. Basically once Vincent D'Onofrio started to take time off and Chris Noth joined the cast. I’m not a fan of Noth.

But when I saw the television ads for this episode I was intrigued. There was the return of Nicole Wallace (Olivia d'Abo) and the murder of those close to Det. Goren. Nicole is a wonderful foil, both in love and hating Goren. Her episodes are among the best in the series.

So I watched the season finale, and was surprised, disappointed and left with big questions.

The surprise was the intricate nature of the crimes. Each murder was part of a larger scheme, turning the entire Major Case squad against itself. Trust was destroyed, and the revelations foreboding. There was honest suspicion that Goren was the true killer. And Goren was glorious in his rage as his private demons were stripped bare.

**Spoiler**
The disappointment was the loss of Nicole as an adversary. She was malicious and deceptive in the best of ways. Her desire to hurt Goren was almost primal. Yet she could not resist him, always returning always creating a need for Goren to chase her.

Far too often serial killers are portrayed as simply sick individuals, which they are but that is too simple a description of the evil they live. Nicole is complex, intelligent, and evasive. She is more accurate a description of the crazed killers out in the real world.

Seperately she is probably the most intelligent woman on television. While the negative is that she is a killer, the positive is that intelligent women exist. She is pretty without having to be gorgeous, strong without having to be manly. She avoids the bitch stereotype so many female characters are relegated to if they have any authority.
**Spoiler end**

The big questions though are perhaps the best part. Goren is traveling a dark path. He has had major losses in little time. He is under huge financial stress. His boss lacks full faith in him. And his partner is no longer his most trusted ally.

Add to that the emergence of a nephew, and the fact of his parental lineage and you have a character that is on the razor’s edge. Goren has too much of a connection to the mindset of killers, too insightful in how to best dispatch those he might find worthy of death.

Goren is in need of a challenge. A grand mental maze to traverse. He needs to unlock and control his environment. Nicole was one outlet for such a need. Declan Gage was another.

**Spoiler**
With Declan now incarcerated, and having murdered Nicole, the truth is that Goren is free as Declan stated. Free of responsibility to family and expectations. Free of the need to keep the structure he has made of his life. Free to release his mind.

If genetics can be an indicator of murder, and if the bonds of family and friends were the boundaries of how Goren expressed himself then he has nothing to stop him now. Given his intelligence, resourcefulness and drive he could easily begin a killing spree that would be unprecedented. And he has the legal wherewithal to know how to get the easy road out with the use of his mother’s mental illness, his fathers actions, and the fall of his mentor to name a few.
**Spoiler end**

CSI has just added Laurence Fishburne, and the issue in his background is similar to Goren. I’m sure the writers were discussing the ideas over breakfast more than once. And while the ability of Fishburne to convey such a character in the character devoid background of CSI is huge, D'Onofrio has a far richer and more involved character to exploit.

In the new 8th season I expect a couple of things. I expect a serial killer to emerge. I expect that the eventual clues will target a police officer. I would guess that the first suspect will of course be Goren, but will shift to the medical examiner who betrayed his trust. Once she is dead the fingers will point to Capt. Ross (Eric Bogosian) who easily distrusts Goren after this season end. Ultimately the question will be is it Det. Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe) or Goren.

My bet is that it will be Eames, under the guidance and direction of Goren. She will fall and Goren will be found to be responsible far too late, distracted by the potential of Goren’s unknown nephew. By the time anyone figures out what is happening, Capt. Ross will be dead, the mediacal examiner will be dead, Eames will be arrested by the new character Jeff Goldblum will introduce, and Goren will be wanted.

Now in the 9th season I expect a better twist. Jeff Goldblum’s character will be framed, and shown to be the real killer. Eames will be released – and possibly killed. And Goren will ultimately be the actual killer, split in personality due to his family history and the freedom granted by his former mentor.

Am I viewing this darkly? Yes. And I’m making a twisted trail that leaves no main character untouched in a story arc that spans 2 seasons. But wouldn’t that be high drama? And don’t you think Goren is capable of it?