Friday Morning Coffee with TMJ 11/3/17

Is there trouble in a galaxy far, far away?  Han Solo: A Star Wars Story is set for release on May 25, 2017, obviously a prime date entering the summer blockbuster season.  You already know that Ron Howard was brought in at the last minute to save the movie.  It is now being reported that he re-shot nearly 80% of the movie and the budget doubled.  Those numbers are staggering—except when you realize that each Star Wars movie brings in a billion dollars.  Maybe not trouble, but at least a black hole in the galaxy.

By the time you read this, Thor: Ragnarok will have opened in the US.  Last week’s opening outside the US earned its producers $109 million and it hasn’t opened in China.  It is expected to make another $100 million in the US this weekend.  Sounds like it will cover its $180 million budget.  It’s hard to wrap your mind around these figures, isn’t it?

When was the first James Bond movie?  Dr. No in 1962.  With a release date of November 2019, Bond 25 will be the 25th Bond movie and, alas, Daniel Craigs’ last.  Although details are sketchy, it sounds like a Bond girlfriend will be killed and he goes full scale revenge.  Although the rumors indicate that the producers want to take Bond in a different direction, that plot sound pretty familiar.  For those who wanted a reprise of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, it’s not going to happen.

Wow!  Talk about a “hot” movie.  We will likely never see the Russian movie named Matilda.  Apparently, the last Czar of Russia, Nicholas II, had an affair with his ballerina mistress, Matilda.  Given the subject matter, one might expect some sex scenes to appear.  Whatever the case, the scenes were so objectionable to some extremists that they drove a minibus packed with flammable items into a Russian theater.  Later, two cars were set on fire outside the office of the attorney for the movie.  No one was injured and seven have been arrested.  I don’t think this is what the director had in mind for his “steamy sex scenes.”

Do any of you watch Lethal Weapon on Fox?  I happen to like the TV show a lot; it does a good job of bringing the irreverent characters back to life.  If you liked the movies, give it a chance.  The first couple of Season one shows were a little dark as they explored Riggs’ past, but then the show just took off.  The reason for the plug is that Lethal Weapon 5 with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover is in serious discussion.  It seems Hollywood thinks enough time has passed that Gibson is no longer poison.

How many of you are thinking Christmas 2018?  I thought not.  But, get ready for Mary Poppins Returns starring Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Jack.  Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, and even Dick Van Dyke will pop up.  Set 25 years after the original (now 1935), a family tragedy brings the nanny back into the family’s life.  Produced by Disney, it will likely be terrific.  Is Xmas here yet?

In case you missed it, my review of Thor: Ragnarok was posted last night.  I think you’ll like it, both the review, and the movie.

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