Archive for November 4th, 2009
2 items.
The Box, starring Cameron Diaz and James Marsden comes out this weekend and the plot is built around a delicious ethical dilemma. If someone said they would give you $1,000,000 and the only repercussion is the death of a stranger, would you take it? Strangers die all the time, right? What’s one more?
Of course, in science fiction morality plays like this one, things never end up as tidy as one might hope for. Usually in these scenarios, the button-presser ends up killing an automobile driver mid-journey. His car hops the curb and crushes their only son. Or they end up inadvertently killing the person who had just figured out a way to cure cancer.
The Box is based off an episode of The Twilight Zone from 1986 called “Button, Button.” I won’t tell you how that one ends because I don’t know how closely the movie follows the plot. I know it deviates somewhat – it has to if it’s going to support a longer running time. But I don’t know how much of the original story it uses as a springboard.
All I know is that I can’t imagine a reference to The Twilight Zone without thinking of the parody Futurama made of it with their similarly eerie show-within-a-show “The Scary Door.” Invariably, every episode Fry or Bender watched would end with the zinger “IT WAS MAN!”
My question about The Box is why they chose to set it in the mid 70’s? That doesn’t appear to be an era any filmmaker wants to revist anymore – even ironically. Aside from Zodiac, I can’t think of a recent movie that tried to do a period piece in the 70’s.
It’s not like The Box’s story is time-sensitive, or anything. It’s a morality play. A representation of human weakness. It could be told in ANY time period?
I dunno. Studios always seem transfixed on modernizing everything (if the litany of remakes is any indication). Seems like a bizarre choice to set things up during a time of bad hair and bell bottom pants.
We talked about The Box a little bit on Monday’s Triple Feature. Joe is excited for it because it’s directed by Richard Kelly – the same guy who directed Donnie Darko and Southland Tales – and Joe is a fan.
I don’t know if Kelly’s directorial history is enough to get me in the theaters this weekend, but I admit to being curious about the film. It’ll probably be a rental for me.
What about the rest of you? Are you curious to see what happens after the button is pressed? Who here is seeing The Box this weekend and what is attracting you to the movie? Leave your comments below!
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I wanted to take a moment to talk to you guys about the rewards I’m offering over at Kickstarter as part of the Theater Hopper: Year Three fund raising campaign. Pledges have trailed off a little bit since I announced the campaign last Friday and I want to make sure you guys understand how the system works.
First, please know that you can pledge ANY amount you feel comfortable pledging.
Second, please know that I won’t see a dollar of the pledged money unless I make my goal of $3,500 by December 31, 2009.
Third, I am offering rewards based on the amount you pledge. They are as follows:
- $1 – Everyone who pledges a dollar will have their name and a link to their web site added to a special thank you page on the Theater Hopper web site.
- $5 – The previous reward, plus a high-res PDF of the completed book.
- $15 – The previous rewards, plus a hard copy of the book signed and numbered by the artist.
- $20 – The previous rewards, plus a custom illustration inside your hard copy of the book.
- $30 – The previous rewards, plus your name printed on a special thank you page in the book. Have your name memorialized FOR ALL TIME!
- $35 – The previous rewards, plus ONE free book! Choose from any of my publications – Theater Hopper Year One, Year Two or Year Three. Any combination. You choose
- $45 – The previous rewards, plus TWO free books! Choose from any of my publications – Theater Hopper Year One, Year Two or Year Three. Any combination. You choose!
- $50 – The previous rewards, plus a special 3D-themed 1″ button set. 5 buttons total.
- $65 – The previous rewards, plus first dibs on a brand new t-shirt design featuring an image of 3D glasses.
- $150 – The previous rewards, plus an avatar set of up to 5 images drawn by the artist. You will also receive the original art as well as high-res, finished digital art.
Without getting overly optimistic, when I look at Theater Hopper’s daily traffic, I see no reason why we can’t have this project completely funded if everyone pledged just one dollar. Obviously, I would love it if you could pledge more than that. But the point I’m trying to make is that the success of this project can be met if even with a minimal investment. If I’m able to rally everyone to my goal, we could have this fund raising problem solved by the weekend.
So please consider pledging. Even if it’s only a dollar. Think about the entertainment you come to this site for – the momentary distraction it provides you. Isn’t that worth at least a dollar? Hopefully you value it more than that. All I’m asking is that you not ignore this fund raising campaign completely.
If anyone has questions about the Kickstarter fund raising system, the rewards or anything else tied to this campaign, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. Please feel free to leave your questions in the comments below as well.
Thanks.
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