Speculation over the casting for DC Comics Green Lantern had been raging all week, with names like Jared Leto, Nathan Fillion, Ryan Reynolds, The Hangover’s Bradley Cooper, and even Justin Timberlake being tossed around. In a move that could provide more drama than the movie itself, DC announced Ryan Reynolds will slip on the ring for the character of Hal Jordan/The Green Lantern.
I normally don’t like trashing games because of gameplay length. I think if a game is fun and well-made and sucks you in, it almost doesn’t matter how long it takes to play it through. I love my scores of hours spent on Fallout 3, but I also love the condensed fun of a well-constructed shooter or action game like Call of Duty (not a perfect analogy, as Call of Duty has all that great multi-player action, but I would have bought Call of Duty 4 just for that single player campaign; it was that good). So I’m no short game hater. But Terminator Salvation? Come the hell on! This isn’t a game, that is 1/3rd of a game. That is DLC. This is a demo.
This isn’t a game … This is a demo.
The game is a prequel to the new movie, which still makes it a sequel to the older movies and the TV show. You play as a young adult John Conner, who hasn’t yet taken on leadership in the Resistance against Skynet. I kind of thought the whole point was that John Conner would start the Resistance, but whatever, fine. In this game you’re just one of the guys, out in the wilds of post Judgement Day Los Angeles, blowing up robots. When you get a distress call from some fellow Resistance fighters, your commanding officer won’t risk the lives of the many to save a stranded and doomed few. But you’re John Conner damnit, and you’ll leave no human life behind to those machines. The rest of the game is about traversing Terminator-controlled L.A. and saving those stranded but apparently well-ensconced soldiers from certain mechanized doom.
(Gameplay video after the jump)
* Picking up our Watchmen coverage, the above is Warner Bros.’ newish clip for the superhero spectacular that has been airing during the NFL Playoffs. Meanwhile, rumors leaking out of the negotiations between Warner and Fox hint that the sides are close to settling, meaning we might get to see the movie on March 6 after all. (Here’s the NY Times take on the wrangling.) You didn’t really believe the studio weasels were going to kill this one, did you?
* Will Linda Hamilton reprise her role as Sarah Connor in the upcoming Terminator Salvation? Better start hitting the weights, Linda.
Read more Reel Projections after the jump …
As today is my last here at the Loaf, (you can reach me at anthonyjohn71@yahoo.com) this may well be my final Reel Projections (I know, boo fucking hoo, the end of an era). But rather than cry in my beer (which I really don’t like to drink these days, anyway, and after Benjamin Button, I’ve pretty much dried out my tear ducts), I’ll go out with the shiny, happy enthusiasm that made men admire me and women want me.
So let’s get this might-be-a-farewell party started with the hands-down best trailer I saw last night before the screening of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (did I mention you should bring your hankies?). OK, that’s not saying much, since most of the other 29 trailers were, how do you say, fucking horrible. But The Proposal, yet another rom-com starring the rom-commiest of actresses, Sandra Bullock, was a breath of fresh, frothy air. See if you agree:
Not your average Joe: Captain America has a director — Joe Johnston, whose pedigree includes Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Russell Crowe takes role slated for Heath Ledger in Australian film Dirt Music.
Concept art for Terminator Salvation.
Billion-dollar Batman: The Dark Knight nears $1 billion in box office.
Like father, like son: Will Smith’s kid Jaden to star in Karate Kid redo.
Six new Watchmen posters dedicated to each of the major characters.
Today’s DVD releases: Hellboy II, Kung Fu Panda, Clone Wars, more.
Please let this be true: Ennio Morricone rumored to be scoring Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. Morricone is one of the silver screen’s most legendary composers. Check out his stirring work in this classic scene featuring Eli Wallach in Sergio Leone’s The Good, The Bad and the Ugly:
Feast your eyes: The latest Watchmen teaser poster and a new, awesome-looking trailer.
Oldie but a goodie: A look at the poster for Clint Eastwood’s upcoming Gran Torino.
Nowhere fast: DC’s The Flash at a standstill
Kick-Ass review: Firstshowing has a script review of Matthew Vaughn’s Kick-Ass. Vaughn made the stylish Layer Cake with Daniel Craig, and is now helming this comic-book adaptation, costarring Nicolas Cage.
A glimpse into the future: Director McG blogs about post-production work on Terminator Salvation.
From Tropic to Trial? Ben Stiller in talks to direct the Spielberg/Dreamworks project, Trial of the Chicago 7.
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