Another HBO Must-Watch

Love the narrator's happy vapid tone, unchallenging single-note piano melody, and the 'everything is going to be alright' video montage.

Great set up, can't wait. Another reason we don't go to the movies as much.

'The Mighty Eighth' Gets A Trailer

According to JoBlo (who has concept art worth checking out):

THE MIGHTY EIGHTH was written by Kurt Johnstad (300, 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE, ACT OF VALOR) and is produced by David Hoberman (THE FIGHTER, THE PROPOSAL), Todd Lieberman (THE FIGHTER, THE PROPOSAL) and Greg & Colin Strause, with director Rick Jacobson (BITCH SLAP, Starz Spartacus: War of the Damned) taking the helm.

Apparently, there are two productions about this subject. HBO, with producers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, is developing an adaptation of Donald L. Miller’s 'Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany', which is about the flyers of the (Mighty) 8th Air Force, and would run as a miniseries. That one is called 'Masters of the Air'.

Production value is off on this trailer, however it looks like they captured the random frenzy of battle. I'd want to see the final product.

'True Detective' -- Another Hit For HBO, Another Knock To Theaters

Granted, as a title, 'True Detective' doesn't say 'traditional motion picture feature' as much as graphic novel or pulp fiction, but this trailer speaks of success, and successful traditional features are becoming less and less common. We don't see too many good movies at the theater anymore, and fewer that turn a profit. These days, the action is on cable or certain internet venues, and HBO rules the roost. TV is being marginalized and movies in theaters are becoming irrelevant.

With Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, this should be the cinematic event of January. I don't really know what will open in theaters and don't think it matters. 'True Detective' will be the thing to watch.



This poster is pretty good, too.

Wait. This Is On 'TV'?

Definitions are changing. Not that that's a secret. More often these days, the best movies are found on 'TV' (which now goes in quotes).

The only thing about this new HBO series that's television-esque is the title -- 'True Detective', which may as well be the latest boilerplate cop procedural to roll out on the networks. However, with Matthew McCanaughey and Woody Harrelson, directed by Cary Fukunaga, and written by Nic Pizzolatto, the series has the look of a feature movie.

I used to hate TV. Long story short: I thought it was stupid and couldn't stand to watch. Now, much of the time, I think movies (in theaters) aren't worth my time and, about 45 minutes in, having gotten dressed, driven to the theater at a given time, stood in line and purchased a ticket, etc., I regret going out to see them and wish I was at home watching something I like on DVD or, increasingly, television.

The tables have turned. The future of movies at the theater is looking more bleak all the time. With stuff like 'True Detective' it's little wonder theater attendance is down.