Posted 7:56 PM by Chris

The biggest script review of the past several weeks comes from Babosa over at LatinoReview in the form of the second draft of "Superman." Calling it a "damn good script," he writes that this version "reads quite well and is filled with vivid imagery that should be able to be translated to the big screen rather easily and realistically with today's computer technologies. J.J. Abrams does a great job of building a director's view right into the script. Some of the dialogue and scenes, especially between Superman and Lois, are strongly reminiscent of Christopher Reeve's first Superman flick (1978), but, like I mentioned earlier, some recurrent theme information strings are going to happen; indeed, they probably should happen to maintain a cohesiveness of the thought and ideals that the Superman saga oozes."

Having read the script review, I'm not so enthused as the script review shows that the reviewer has an obvious disposition to seeing the project made, prior to reading the script. I myself will probably eschew the film, if it ever gets off the ground. But that's my two cents.

Posted 7:43 PM by Chris

TNMC's Jean-Francois Allaire, otherwise known as "Deadpool," has hosted three scripts in my absence. The most recent is for "The Italian Job" (screenwriter unknown). I am still kicking myself in passing up an opportunity to see this late last week at an advance screening. A basic heist film, "the script basically screams summer blockbuster, which I do believe is the intention," Allaire writes there. "It is big, fast and fun. Substance is nowhere in sight. People will be entertained at the theater, leave and promptly forget the entire thing." I'm looking forward to this one because of a stellar cast, but expect it to do only mediocre box office. As Allaire writes, "Think of Ocean's Eleven with half the cast. Think of Swordfish, except with some style and no gratuitous Halle Berry nudity. Think Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels with fewer plot twists and coherent English. What makes this film stand out? Speed."

Other script reviews done in the past three weeks include "My Baby's Mama" (see last item, contributed by Miss Jones) and "Lords of Dogtown" (David Fincher's latest, focuses on skateboarding teens, from an initial screenplay by Stacy Peralta).

Click on the links above to be transported to each script review. In addition, a belated congrats to J-F on being a featured columnist at Screenwriters Monthly! That lucky bastard... :)

Posted 10:35 AM by Chris

Via a reader, Jim Hill Media has a very thorough look at an early draft of "Haunted Mansion." The author of the script review also looks at some of the disparities between his script and that which they filmed that have been circulating by way of interviews with the press. I was looking forward to this film because of the first script, but now I'm thinking I'll pass. Sounds like it has been tremendously dumbed down-- ugh.

Posted 10:27 AM by Chris

OK, I've been neglecting ScriptNews a little bit these past couple of weeks, but I think I'm back for good now. Darwin Mayflower over at Corona's Test Pattern reviews the script for the first episode of the new HBO series "Deadwood." Getting a thumbs-up from Mayflower, this Western-style skein takes place in 1876 in a South Dakota town. As he says there, "With its unlike-anything-else-on-the-air milieu, its wicked mood, uncleanliness, and its paradoxical retrograde freshness, "Deadwood" can only mean good things for those of us who seek out intelligent television." Rock on.

Posted 1:38 PM by Chris

Edward Havens, who I write with over at FilmJerk.com, gets the first look at the Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore romcom "Fifty First Kisses," a reteaming of the leads from "The Wedding Singer."

There, he writes, the film " is like a pair of comfortable slippers you wear around the house. Warm and fuzzy, and making you feel really good all over...With its breezy screenplay, exotic settings and winning leads, ”Fifty First Kisses” should be another major winner for Sandler and company."

Posted 1:29 PM by Chris

Harry Caul of The Screenwriters Utopia got his hands on the script for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," and doesn't like it. There, he writes, "There are some laughs, some moments, and a few interesting details. But for the most part, this off-center, off-beat, and quirky story will bore audiences...I don’t think this script is anything to get excited about. One thing is for certain, it will be yet another Kaufman film that no one sees, or wants to go see. Only this time it might be a good thing."

Ouch-- Having read this script, I certainly don't agree with his assessment. But, to each, his own.

Posted 1:29 PM by Chris

Garth Franklin at Dark Horizons is back from Rome and his faithful scooper Honest Abe has done script reviews for 12 upcoming pictures' screenplays. Included are Bernie Mac's "Mr. 3,000," "Honey" (starring Jessica Alba), the John Travolta/Joaquin Phoenix vehicle "Ladder 49" and the aborted first attempt for "Basic Instinct II." This reviewer could be a major force if he were to flesh out his reviews a bit more than the one praragraph summations he provided here and toned down the editorial posturing. All the reviews are available at the link above.