WENN: Craig Stunned by Backlash

New James Bond star Daniel Craig has been stunned by the bitter backlash he has received since replacing Pierce Brosnan as the secret agent last year. Craig, whose first appearance as James Bond will be in Casino Royale, was disheartened when thousands of fans called on film-makers Eon to ditch him and bring back Brosnan - claiming the Munich star was "too ugly" for the role. The 38-year-old star says, "I didn't expect this backlash. You take it in, you can't help it. I've been trying to give 110 per cent since the beginning but after all the fuss, maybe I started giving 115 per cent."

Again I ask, why the pre-performance hate? I wouldn't have wanted Brosnan to do another film and jump the shark like Connery did with Never Say Never Again and Moore did with A View to a Kill. That's assuming you don't think he jumped with The World Is Not Enough. To my mind, Bond needs something of a hard edge. He can't be a pretty boy.

Superman (Dean Cain) Turns 40

Lois & Clark's Man of Steel pictured above at the Westwood premiere of Superman Returns.

Behind the Scenes on JAG

You may recall I was reluctant to buy the first season of JAG on DVD. I did anyway, and boy, am I glad. I always wondered why Andrea Parker wasn't retained for the series after appearing in the pilot. I thought she had great chemistry with David James Elliott, and evidently so did Don Bellisario. Parker herself thrilled to be on the show, but NBC wanted someone "flashier," and wouldn't pick up the series unless she were replaced. Bellisario didn't want to do it, but Parker so wanted the show to go on that she willingly stepped aside. Talk about taking one for the team.

Ironically, when NBC cancelled JAG, its replacement programming was The Pretender, with Andrea Parker. What was the network's beef with her on JAG? I don't know.

Shortly after Parker wrapped commitments to The Pretender in 2001, Kate Pike made her fourth guest appearance on JAG.

Bellisario also wanted to retain Patrick Labyorteaux for the first season and Labyorteaux wanted to stay on, but he was committed to another series. The day that series was cancelled, Bellisario called and said, "So you want to come back to JAG as Bud Roberts?"

Most interesting to me was the first season finale, "Skeleton Crew", which didn't air in the U.S. until the show was syndicated on USA Network. Harm's academy friend Diane Schonk is found murdered after she leaves ship to meet with him. Suspicion falls on several people. Parts of this episode were used in the Season Three episode "Death Watch," but at the end of the original cut, NCIS arrests Harm. Freaky.

Submission Saturday

Sounds like a wrestling marathon, but with nowhere to go in yesterday's sweltering temperatures, I submitted a short story for the Fall 2006 issue of The First Line and a batch of four poems to WORDs DANCE.

Hugh Laurie Inside the Actors Studio

Episode airs Monday, 8pm Eastern.

The show based on the novel based on the show

Tonight USA Network airs an episode of Monk written by Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin loosely based on Goldberg's tie-in novel Mr. Monk Goes to the Firehouse.

WENN: Cornell: "I Almost Turned Down Bond Theme"

Chris Cornell almost turned down the chance to record the new James Bond film's theme song, because he disliked Pierce Brosnan's recent 007 movies. The Audioslave frontman has been selected for the soundtrack of Casino Royale. But Cornell only agreed to compose the track once he had watched a rough edit of the upcoming Daniel Craig-starring movie. He tells VH1, "I wasn't really sure about doing a Bond theme, because I wasn't really a big fan of the last several movies. And then I heard that there was going to be a new guy - Daniel Craig - who was going to play Bond. And he's so different. I have seen him in several movies, and I was kind of intrigued. So I went to Prague (in Czech Republic), where they were shooting the movie, and they showed me a rough edit of it. I was just completely blown away by it, because it's unlike any Bond film ever, really. Craig is an actor's actor, and there's emotional content to the movie. He's not like the swaggering, winking sort of super-agent guy. He's like a human being in this movie, and it's going to completely readjust the way people think of the character."

MR. MONK GOES TO HAWAII by Lee Goldberg

In Lee Goldberg's second original novel based on USA's Monk, the detective's assistant Natalie is set to attend her best friend Candance's Hawaiian wedding. Unable to handle the news of her departure, Monk takes a drug that relaxes his inhibitions, and he shows up uninvited on her plane.

In hilarious fashion, Monk exposes the groom-to-be as a would-be-bigamist. A shocked but grateful Candace heads home, but invites Monk and Natalie to enjoy Hawaii for the week as planned. Monk promptly stumbles onto the police investigation of an elderly woman's death at their hotel. Television psychic Dylan Swift offers to help Monk, and Monk resolves not only to solve the case, but also to prove Swift is a fraud.

Mr, Monk Goes to Hawaii is an ideal summer read, a rambling tale to match an exotic setting. Several side mysteries show Monk's quirks as seen by the more practical Natalie, yet Goldberg keeps a confident hand on the story, eventually putting every strand in place just as Monk and his fans would have it.

"Shall we play a game?"

My brother, cousin, and I today rediscovered a computer game we'd played in 1989 called Nuclear War (based on the card game of the same name). You played against four world leaders stockpiling weapons of mass destruction and plotting to wipe out each other's cities.

Those were the days.

ComingSoon.net: Bill Lawrence to Write & Direct Fletch Movies!

Sarah Weinman blogged ComingSoon.net's confirmation that Bill Lawrence (Spin City, Scrubs) has taken charge of two Fletch movies for The Weinstein Company.

Lawrence is expected to begin shooting Fletch Won in April 2007.

Lawrence says, "The coolest thing about the 'Fletch Won' book is that it's an origin story," said Lawrence. "Like 'Batman Begins,' I think people will enjoy seeing how Irwin Fletcher became Fletch. Not only can I recite the original 'Fletch' movie line for line, I actually read all the Greg Mcdonald books as a kid. Consider me obsessed, - I'm going to try as hard as I can not to screw this up."

I'm officially excited.

JAG Season One

The first season of JAG came out on DVD yesterday, and I'm debating buying it. I like the premiere and about six of the episodes (including one co-written by "Elvis Cole"). Ironically, my main complaints about the season (too much action, little courtroom drama or personality) were aspects requested by NBC, which eventually cancelled the show.

I probably will buy the set as an Andrea Parker (Kate Pike) fan and to hear Bellisario's commentary.

Studio Briefing: Will Superman Return Again?

Director Bryan Singer has acknowledged that the less-than-stellar performance of Superman Returns has made prospects for another Man of Steel sequel a bit "iffy." The Associated Press quotes him as saying, "We haven't concluded a deal," but if a sequel gets a green light from Warner Bros, "the intention is to do it for [release in] 2009." Separately, Singer told Britain's Empire magazine, "Now that the character is established, I'd like to take the opportunity to bring in a more threatening element, a more terrible, foreboding element." Superman Returns, starring Kevin Spacey, Brandon Routh, and Kate Bosworth, has taken in $178 million at the domestic box office, below such other summer hits as The Da Vinci Code, X-Men: The Last Stand, Cars, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

America's Top Sleuths

Mark Miano is overseeing an online survey for the SLEUTH channel. Pass it on:

Sleuth Channel's first original production will showcase the top sleuths from television and film, chosen by our 0n-Line audience.

The list includes detective teams, counted as one choice. My picks were:

Jim Rockford
Thomas Magnum
Sam Spade
Riggs & Murtaugh
Mulder & Scully

Working Up The Nerve

Sent a batch of four poems to Nerve Cowboy this morning.

AP: Kin plan to produce Bruce Lee bio-pic

HONG KONG - Bruce Lee's family plans to produce a film on the late martial arts star, the first such movie it has actively supervised, the Chinese company making the motion picture said Sunday.

WENN: Cuthbert Keeps Her Clothes On

Sexy movie star Elisha Cuthbert has laughed off reports she's being courted to pose nude in Playboy, insisting she is too modest to bare all. The actress states she'll only strip on camera if it's absolutely necessary, admitting she currently calls for a body double whenever nudity is needed. Cuthbert, who played a reluctant porn star in The Girl Next Door, urges men's magazine editors to hold on to their cash - because she'll never strip for them. The Canadian says, "I wouldn't cancel out a nude scene but, right now, with my life and my career, I don't feel the need to do that. I don't feel it's necessary. I've been doing fine finding roles that don't need to have full-frontal nudity in them. There have been points where we've had to use body doubles, and, obviously, as I get older, the roles get more mature. I never shy away from saying, 'OK guys, we can do this; let's just use a double.' I feel I give a lot to the public and there's a few things in my life right now that I'd like to keep to myself - my breasts being one of them."

As a fan, I applaud the sentiment if not the grammar.

WENN: Oscar Nominee Mako Dies at 72

Memoirs Of A Geisha star Mako has lost his battle with esophageal cancer at his home in Ventura County, California. He was 72. The Asian-American actor, who was Oscar nominated for his portrayal of submissive engineer Po-Han in The Sand Pebbles in 1966, died on Friday. Brought up in Japan by his grandparents while his parents were studying in New York, Mako joined his mother and father when they were granted US citizenship. He studied architecture before joining the US Army in the early 1950s and became passionate about acting while performing in military shows. He became a naturalized American in 1956. After his Army service, he enrolled at the Pasadena Community Playhouse in California and studied to become a professional actor. The Sand Pebbles, which earned him an Academy Award Best Supporting Actor nod, was his first film. His other movies include The Ugly Dachsund (1966), The Green Hornet (1974), An Eye For An Eye (1981), Seven Years In Tibet (1997), Bulletproof Monk (2003) and Pearl Harbor (2001). His impressive TV resume includes appearances in Wonder Woman, I Spy, Hawaii Five-O, Kung Fu and The Streets Of San Francisco.

"The Observer"

Issue 3 of Bryon Quertermous's Demolition is live, featuring stories by Stephen Blackmoore, Paul Guyot, Justin Porter, Todd Robinson, Stephen D. Rogers, Jeff Shelby, Steven Torres, and me. Enjoy.

I Got Time to Bleed

The twist on Jesse Ventura's trademark line is my way of announcing that Cherry Bleeds poetry editor Paul Corman Roberts has accepted my poem, "My Father's Last Breath," for publication in December.

Robert B. Parker has a blog

...on Amazon.com as of July 20, and he actually responds to comments, which is more than I can say about a letter I wrote him in 1999. :)

AP: Creator of the Philly cheeseteak dies

PHILADELPHIA - Harry Olivieri, who with his brother Pat was credited with inventing the Philly cheesesteak in 1933, had died. He was 90.

WENN: Abrams Confirms 'Star Trek' Movie

Mission: Impossible III director JJ Abrams has confirmed he's set to save the Star Trek franchise after signing on to produce the next film in the sci-fi series. The 40-year-old Lost and Alias creator, who is a longtime fan of the cult TV show and subsequent movies, is considering directing the new Trek movie too. In an exclusive interview with America's TV Guide magazine, Abrams says, "It's sort of surreal but wonderful. I'm producing and may direct. I have every DVD of every Star Trek episode from every series. I haven't seen every episode from every series but I certainly know it well enough to be working on the movie." Abrams, who will team up with fellow Star Trek buff and Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof on the new project, initially fumed when his involvement in the new film was announced before he'd committed to it. He admits he took his time to sign up for the project: "There have been 10 films and all these different (TV) series, so it was a question of finding out what they (movie executives at Paramount) were anticipating." Abrams insists the cult following Lost has found will help him make decisions about where to take the secret storyline for the latest Star Trek film. He explains, "Fans of Lost don't compare to fans of Star Trek, but working on Lost gives us a view into how important it is to respect the fans."

New Nickname for ARod

Erred.

AP: Date with '7th Heaven' star raises $30,000

DENVER - A date with Esquire's "Sexiest Woman Alive" and "7th Heaven" star Jessica Biel raised $30,000 to help a teenager who lost her leg in a prom night limousine accident.

Denver media reported the winning bid Tuesday came from a man identified only as John. In all the event dubbed "Mollypalooza" raised $38,000 help Molly Bloom's family with medical expenses, organizers told the television stations and the Rocky Mountain News.

Let's hear it for the boy.

Derringer Award-winning author Dave White's WHEN ONE MAN DIES, featuring New Jersey P.I. Jackson Donne, in a very nice deal, in a two-book deal, to Jason Pinter at Three Rivers Press, by Allan Guthrie at Jenny Brown Associates (World).

Congratulations, Dave. Best of luck.

Review Redux

The DVD reviews from Crimespree 10, including my take on Veronica Mars: The Complete First Season, are now available in PDF.

AP: Ted Danson Returns in New ABC Sitcom

...The star of the long-running hits "Cheers" and "Becker" returns as a therapist who may have more problems than his patients in "Help Me Help You," debuting Sept. 26 on ABC.

...Danson's new show won't have a live studio audience.

"This is more like a film, and I'm really looking forward to that gentler, more behavioral kind of comedy, not jokes," he said.

Signs of Undergraduate Life

Just back from a 4-1/2 hour cable and Internet outage. As I surfed the static, Channel 6—which normally broadcasts in Spanish—picked up the signal for WRHU 88.7 FM Radio Hofstra University.

E! Online: Craig Bonding Again

By Josh Greenberg

He hasn't even graced the gun sight yet, but Daniel Craig is already gearing up for another go-round as 007.

The English thesp, who's getting ready to make his big debut on Nov. 17 as the sixth actor to play James Bond in MGM's Casino Royale, the 21st installment in the four decade-old franchise, is aboard to star in a follow-up now in development.

New horizons to pursue

The other day I caught an episode of What I Like About You co-written by Scott Weinger, also known as the voice of Disney's Aladdin and D.J.'s boyfriend Steve on Full House.

Mickey Spillane Dies at 88

The man behind Mike Hammer died yesterday at 88 after a long illness. I started reading Spillane with the last two reprint paperbacks on the shelf at Barnes & Noble. His works were later released in two omnibuses I haven't gotten around to. Along with Hammett and Chandler, his lean, fast, violent prose popularized the hardboiled genre.

Spillane's death catalyzed a poem I'd been working on, and I've queried Crimespree about it.

UPDATE (10:58 AM): Crimespree editor Jon Jordan has accepted the poem for the News Bits section of Issue 14.

Reuters: Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro split

No!

Superman Returns Again

My friend Matt Tedesco—philosophy professor at Beloit College—is back on Long Island for a few days, and tonight we're watching Superman Returns (his first time, my second) at the United Artists Westbury Stadium 12.

If you've seen the movie and have questions, Steve Younis of The Superman Homepage has answers.

As the kid from the Crispix commercial says, "I'm still skeptible."

UPDATE (12:35 AM): After some confusion about the showtime, we saw the planned 8:20 show. I got to redeem a $10.50 coupon, and witness my friend John Ricotta's prodigious Ms. Pac-Man skills. Twenty minutes before the show, he had her commit seppuku, and we went to find seats.

I accepted more about the movie this time. I'd gone in the first time wanting more of the Clark-Superman-Lois love triangle. I've mentioned how much I enjoy the idea that Clark puts on Superman, not vice versa, but I realize Singer wanted to tell a different story.

I didn't see quite enough to change my original grade.

AP: Date with Jessica Biel to be auctioned

AP Photo/John Smock

DENVER - A date with Jessica Biel will be up for bid next week to help raise money for a teenager who lost her leg in a prom night limousine accident, Denver newspapers reported this week.

LiveScience.com: Scientists Concoct Chocolate That Won't Melt

Yes!

APPALOOSA by Robert B. Parker

I skipped Parker's earlier Western, Gunman's Rhapsody, because I'd heard it was a Spenserized telling of Wyatt Earp—the way Poodle Springs was a Spenserized version of Philip Marlowe.

I heard Appaloosa was better than Rhapsody because it was completely from Parker's imagination. Marshal Virgil Cole and his deputy Everett Hitch pursue renegade rancher Randall Bragg after he shoots the previous marshal. As with most of Parker's books, he sets up a romance that protagonist Cole takes very seriously, to the point of staying with a woman he's sweet on even though she's obviously weak-willed and promiscuous.

Virgil and Allie's relationship might have been convincing if I'd seen more of their chemistry on the page. Unfortunately, Parker lets ex-soldier Hitch narrate, making Cole a kind of otherworldly Hawk figure. As a result, I couldn't see why Cole remained committed to Allie.

Up to now it had seemed to me that Parker tended to show men as being less flawed than women (e.g. Spenser stays with Susan despite her being difficult, Jesse Stone humors ex-wife Jenn—at least through the Sunny Randall book Blue Screen...) Perhaps, however, the tragic flaw of Parker men is their inability to break off unhealthy relationships (i.e. where one partner sacrifices more than the other).

As with the Spenser book Cold Service, Parker managed to keep the page count under 300 and still feel padded and slow by the middle and end. By the end, Bragg, pardoned by the president, has gained control of the town. Relieved of his duties, Virgil Cole can no longer legally touch Bragg. Deputy Everett Hitch turns in his badge and calls Bragg into the street for a shootout. Hitch becomes the novel's most courageous character, willing to give up the comforts of a system and head into uncharted territory.

Clark Kent, Frequent Flyer

Having seen Superman Returns, Lee Goldberg writes, in part:

...I couldn't get past Brandon Routh's irritating and pointless Christopher Reeve impersonation. It struck me as a particularly stupid idea... it would be like doing a James Bond movie and hiring someone to do a Sean Connery impersonation. The imitation works for satire...but for a drama? I don't understand the thinking behind it. Why couldn't they just let Routh create his own, unique portrayal?

My comment:

I got the impression that Singer was afraid to mess with what poeple liked about the 1978 and '80 movies.

I've always preferred the idea that Clark Kent was the genuine character--embodying an immigrant's wish to live the American Dream--and Superman was the disguise he wore to fight crime on ths side.

I enjoyed Deborah Joy LeVine's concept in the first season of LOIS & CLARK, where Kent had used his power of flight to travel the world, developing a journalist's interest in various cultures before deciding to settle in Metropolis. Here was a character who could go toe-to-toe with Lois Lane and be attractive to her on his own, without the tights and cape.

Singer reduced Clark to a goofy disguise with very little screen time. He shouldn't have waited for a sequel to tell his own story.

Zap2it.com: Raise Prescribed for 'House' Star

Hugh Laurie wasn't nominated for an Emmy last week, but the "House" star is nonetheless reaping some rewards for his performance.

Laurie will be receiving a big boost in pay as the FOX series begins its third season, pulling down a per-episode salary of $275,000 to $300,000 per episode. According to the showbiz trade papers, that's as much as three times what he was making previously.

As part of the negotiations, Laurie also agreed to extend his term on the medical drama for another season. He'll also have a small stake in the show's profits once it goes into syndication.

...NBC Universal TV produces "House" for FOX. Both parties reportedly kicked in to foot the bill for Laurie's raise.

Bread, Dough, and Pizza Survey

Here's a survey of my own invention. I have no idea what your answers say about you:

1. You cut the crust off sliced bread:

a) Never.
b) Sometimes.
c) Always.


2. Favorite toast setting:

a) untoasted
b) light
c) medium
d) golden brown
e) burnt


3. Favorite bread:

a) white
b) wheat
c) rye
d) other, specify


4. Pretzel preference (enter multiple letters for a combination):

a) soft
b) hard
c) unsalted
d) salted


5. The best part of a pizza:

a) cheese
b) sauce
c) crust
d) other toppings


6. Crust preference:

a) thin
b) medium, regular
c) thick


7. Favorite pizza style:

a) Neapolitan
b) Sicilian
c) Deep Dish
d) French bread
e) Other, specify


My answers: 1. a, 2. a, 3. c, 4. a, c, 5. c, 6. b, 7. a.

JLU on DVD

The first 26 episodes of Justice League Unlimited are coming to DVD October 24.

Indiana Jones and the Ravages of Time

Harrison Ford is 64 today. Above is the working title for the fourth Indiana Jones movie—you're kidding, right? The movie is now tagged with a 2008 release date. Yawn.

Reuters: Detective spoof wins coveted bad-writing prize

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An opening sentence containing a burrito, an angel and a shovel was judged appalling enough to win the annual Bulwer-Lytton literary parody prize on Tuesday.

Retired mechanical designer Jim Guigli of California was proclaimed winner of the contest, which challenges entrants to submit their worst opening sentence of an imaginary novel.

Guigli's winning entry read:

"Detective Bart Lasiter was in his office studying the light from his one small window falling on his super burrito when the door swung open to reveal a woman whose body said you've had your last burrito for a while, whose face said angels did exist, and whose eyes said she could make you dig your own grave and lick the shovel clean."

The Thrill Is Back

After an unavoidable long delay, Thrilling Detective Fiction is back. I've contacted the four authors we'd like to publish in the upcoming summer issue.

That was close.

Down 2-1 with two outs in the top of the ninth, the American League reeled three straight hits off NL closer Trevor Hoffman, capped off by Texas Ranger Michael Young's two-run triple.

AL Manager Ozzie Guillen then called on Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, who got Homerun Derby champion Ryan Howard to fly out to Michael Young, sealing a 3-2 win.

According to a rule instituted after 2002's unfulfilling All-Star tie, the American League now has homefield advantage for the World Series. I don't know that I approve of homefield being decided by the All-Star game, but it does make the game more exciting. Then again, should homefield go to the team with the best regular season record? Feel free to debate this in the Comments section.

Psych and Monk

One episode is too early to judge most shows, but I did like Psych, which premiered in the Friday 10pm slot traditionally held by Monk. Apparently so did 6.1 million viewers, giving USA Network its highest rating in two years.

I was concerned that protag Shawn Spencer's uncanny observational skills would be too much like Adrian Monk's. They're similar to some extent, but in terms of personality, Shawn (James Roday) is better adjusted and more fun-loving than Monk.

My one complaint is that Shawn's best friend Gus's (Dulé Hill) full name is Burton Guster. This sounds odder than if he were just named Gus (Insert surname here).

Meanwhile Monk's ratings dipped in its new 9pm slot, but premiered with a fine episode guest-starring Stanley Tucci as an actor who gets obsessed in his attempt to portray Monk in a movie.

As they say, next week's ratings will be the real test.

Write Anything

As the newest of novelists, I'm feeling like Don Music, the frustrated piano player Muppet on Sesame Street. ("I'll never get it! Never, never!")

While I'm not quite that despondent, I have been feeling locked in, too narrowly focused. So, what the heck, today I wrote a poem and bought some summer reading:

Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii by Lee Goldberg

A Kiss Gone Bad by Jeff Abbott

The Heartbreak Lounge by Wallace Stroby

Loaded by Shari Shattuck

In the big picture, I'll be reading novels with more of a writer's eye than ever before. And to Mr. Negativity, the inner voice saying so what if I don't write a novel, I'll express myself in other forms, I have a Schwarzeneggerian "I'll be back," and a Stallonian "I'm coming to get you."

Birthdays

Sela Ward turns 50 today.



Smallville's Michael Rosenbaum turns 34.

"You know, a drink?"

Yesterday's New York Post featured a profile of Karen Allen by Lou Lumenick. Allen is in New York this weekend to answer questions after two screenings of Raiders of the Lost Ark at the Paris Theater.

A small role in 2000's The Perfect Storm was the last time Allen acted in a major studio film. She is currently raising her high-school-aged son, running a store called Textile Arts, and teaching acting at Simon's Rock College in the Berkshires.

Lumenick's last question:

What does she think happened to Indy and Marion after the end of "Raiders"?

"I kind of like the idea they stayed together and had kids," Allen says with a laugh. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if all those great writers who have been working on the script came up with something along those lines?"

WENN: Doherty Set To Co-Host 'The View'

Former Beverly Hills, 90210 star Shannen Doherty will fill in as a co-host on talk show The View later this month. The actress joins a growing list of guest co-hosts sitting in after the abrupt departure of Star Jones Reynolds last week, after her contract was not renewed. Doherty's new reality show Breaking Up With Shannen Doherty, premieres on the Oxygen network next month. She will join forces with people in relationship peril who want to get out of bad relationships, but can't seem to do it on their own. Doherty will guest co-host The View on July 31 and August 1. Also scheduled to sit in as co-hosts are American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee, Dancing With The Stars winner Kelly Monaco and judge Carrie Ann Inaba. A permanent replacement for Jones Reynolds is expected to be named in the autumn.

All White Now (Baby, It's...)

David White announces he has finished final edits on his debut Jackson Donne novel When One Man Dies.

There's no rest for White, as today he begins the second Donne book, Whisper to Their Souls.

Dave has always been a great writer to work with, and I'm sure he'll go far.

WENN: Fraser and Purcell Favorites To Take Over Hulk Role

Actors Brendan Fraser and Dominic Purcell are set to fight it out to play The Incredible Hulk's alter-ego Bruce Banner in the movie's sequel following Eric Bana's decision to pull out of the project. Bana played the shape-shifting doctor in the 2003 movie, and was initially interested in a return to the role - if the timing was right. But, according to website Cinescape.com, the Aussie actor has stepped down as The Hulk medic and now The Mummy star Fraser and Purcell are the favorites to don the white coat and attempt to control their rage.

Either sounds like a good choice to me.

Missing My Barbe-cue

Went to a cousin's barbecue Sunday night, so I don't know if we'll keep the July 4th tradition of barbecue. One of my other traditions is to take a walk at dusk and watch the fireworks launched from Jones Beach, visible from my block. Have a good one.

"No, no, no. No more foreplay."

Lots of people said I had to watch the Spider-Man 3 teaser ASAP. So today I did. I've liked the Spider-Man movies so far, and I liked the teaser fine, but it hasn't changed my life. I can't muster much enthusiasm for trailers. They're designed to make you want to watch a movie; of course they will look good. If they don't look good, chances are the movie is hopeless.

The trailers that have intrigued me are those in which an actor was stepping into a famous role: Pierce Brosnan in GoldenEye, Antonio Banderas in The Mask of Zorro, Samuel L. Jackson in Shaft, Ben Affleck in Daredevil, Christian Bale in Batman Begins.

In the case of Superman Returns, I knew I would see the movie regardless and did not want to see any advance footage.

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet Point Review of Superman Returns

Earth's yellow sun may be the source of Superman's powers, but the same sun has left me dehydrated just back from the Lincoln Square IMAX. So as not to spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it, here is my bullet point review:

Thumbs Up:


• Brandon Routh. The costume, the effects, and Routh's demeanor as Superman all worked for me. I believed him as both Superman and Clark Kent.


• Kate Bosworth. Lots of people said she was too young for the part, but she seemed fine to me, feisty and sweet.


• Kevin Spacey. He played Luthor's sociopathic side very well. The concept of Luthor in this movie borrowed a lot from Gene Hackman's mix of criminal mastermind and comic relief, but I think Hackman played the comedy better.


• The Reason. The big question, why did Superman leave Earth for five years, was answered adequately, in my opinion.

Eh...


• Jimmy Olsen. I just didn't buy someone not much younger than Clark calling him "Mr. Kent."

Thumbs Down:


• Not Enough Clark. Superman has a lot of disasters to avert in this movie, leaving almost no time for Clark to get reacclimated. I've always preferred the idea that Kal-El was essentially raised as Clark, learning human values and aspiring to the same things humans do—a fulfilling job, good friends, the chance to share everything with the right person—all things he can't have as the otherworldly Superman. He fell in love with Lois as Clark; he should want her to see him as Clark. I was baffled that Clark kept trying to have a heart-to-heart with Lois and yet undercut his own chances by swooping in as Superman and flying Lois around the city ala the 1978 movie.


• Huh? I've long thought Superman traveling back in time to save Lois from an earthquake was the biggest stretch I'd ever seen. Despite promises that Superman Returns would be more sophisticated, it had its share of head-scratchers to crack my suspension of disbelief.


• Borrowing Something Blue, and Red, and Yellow. Singer went to great lengths to connect his movie with Richard Donner's earlier two: same music, Marlon Brando, a photo of Glenn Ford... Like some critics, I'm not sure Singer put much of his own stamp on the movie. He probably figured viewers wouldn't want him to really mess with what they loved about Donner's version. But come on. This is your shot. Show me something.


• Close... I give Singer credit for scenes of a Kryptonite-weakened Superman getting the beating of his life. I say if you're going to go that far, kill him. But of course, no one does.

Final Grade: C+