> > November 18 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
>
> Still, the recent advertising does look fantastic. Goblet is my favorite of the novels so far published, and I think the most cinematic, but I am a little hesitant simply because so much happens it. I'm bracing for significant cuts to the story, but hopefully it won't be wall-to-wall action.

Mike Newell said in an interview that he was overwhelmed by the volume of source material and was wrestling with how to do it, considering splitting it into two movies, until he realized that what the book really was at its essence was a thriller. Somehow this realization paved the way to a screenplay that was basically faithful without being too long. I'm not entirely sure I follow his logic; at the same time, treating the story as a thriller doesn't sound like a very bad way to go at all.

> > December 9 - Memoirs of a Geisha
> >
> > Much controversy has been generated over the choice of Zhang Ziyi to play a very Japanese role. Come on, people, that's what acting IS: convincingly portraying someone you are not. If the performance is up to par (the buzz is that it's brilliant), that will justify the casting.
>
> I sort of wonder if you'd feel entirely the same way if Hollywood cast a Chinese actor to play George Washington?

Could a Chinese actor *convincingly* play George Washington? George has a pretty famous face.

> > December 14 - King Kong
>
> I don't care how gorgeous it is, at the end of the day, it's a movie about a giant ape.

Right, but you haven't even seen the 1933 original and therefore don't seem to understand that a great movie has *already* been made about a giant ape, proving it can be done.

Adam Bomb: You asked how many versions of this there have been already. Just two, the 1933 original and the 1976 remake. The 1976 remake (itself poor) had a wretched sequel, and Toho used Kong in Godzilla's first "vs." flick. What also doesn't count is the 1966 animated series. (I haven't seen that or the Godzilla one.)

The bottom line is that the real story has been done twice and never like Jackson is. I'm normally pretty anti-remake, but this is a rare one that would not really be redundant.

> > December 16 - The Producers
>
> I haven't seen the musical, but am I the only one who thinks the original film is overrated? Something about Mel Brooks just doesn't click with me.

Probably, but I know the feeling. I'm apparently the only one that doesn't get Blazing Saddles.

> > December 25 - The New World
>
> I'm willing to say that even if Red Line is as bad as you say it is, two great movies out of three is a pretty good track record.

A spectacular track record. For now, I'll trust you that Badlands and Days of Heaven aren't also pompous and uselessly arty, but I still have that vague fear.