Re-make of Death Race 2000 - starring Natalie Martinez roars into theatres

Among the seven new movies opening this week is a remake of the 1975 cult classic "Death Race 2000" -- though now without the "2000" in the title.

The original movie, you might remember, starred a young Sylvester Stallone and David Carradine, and spawned a video game that, for all of its visual lameness, still managed to become one of the first video games to cause an uproar over violent content.

I got a chance to catch an advance screening of the new "Death Race" earlier this week at the AMC Elmwood Palace, and it's likely to continue that hand-wringing legacy, with its over-the-top violence and shamless bloodlust.

I can't say too much until the movie opens -- check back here for a full review on Friday. Until then, here's my One-Word Review, along with the bare-bones basics on the film:

DEATH RACE

The setup:Jason Statham is a prisoner forced to compete in the world's most popular sport: A race in which the winners are the ones who manage to stay alive, in a remake of 1975's "Death Race 2000."

The stars:Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane, Joan Allen.

The director:Paul W.S. Anderson.

The running time: 1 hour 29 minutes.

See it at: Prytania, Canal Place, Elmwood Palace, Clearview Palace, West Bank Palace, Hammond Palace, Hollywood 9 (Kenner), Hollywood 14 (Covington), Holiday 12, Grand (Slidell).

THE ONE-WORD REVIEW: Axle-kicking.

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Jennifer's Body Cut Megan Fox's Topless Scene

The good news?

Transformers hottie Megan Fox shot a topless scene for the upcoming film Jennifer's Body. Those pictures can be seen in High res at http://meganfoxtopless.blogspot.com

The bad news?

The scene got cut.

Yes, according to Worstpreviews.com Fox’s foxy nude scene does not appear in the final cut of the film, which was recently screened for test audiences.


Of course, the report came from an early screening, and things could changes…but fans of Fox and breasts should likely start looking somewhere else for their entertainment and inspiration. I know I will…

Directed by Karyn Kusama, the gal behind Aeon Flux and Girlfight, Jennifer's Body is about a cheerleader who is possessed by a demon by a rock band and starts feeding off the boys in a Minnesota farming town. The flick is tentatively set to storm theaters next year...sans boobs apparently.

Soul Men - Upcoming Movie Featuring Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes

When one of his final flicks, Soul Men, is released, Bernie Mac will not only be remembered for his comedic acting chops, but also his great singing voice.
Yes, his singing voice.

"He definitely can carry a tune," the movie's director Malcolm D. Lee told me this morning. "He does a great falsetto in the movie, and a baritone and alto as well. He has a range. He plays a range of emotions in the film as well as octaves."

In the November flick, Mac and Samuel L. Jackson star as soul singers who agree to reunite and perform at a tribute for their recently deceased band leader after being estranged for a couple of decades.

"They do their own singing and their own dancing in the film," says Lee. "You get the opportunity to see both of these guys go for it in a real way that's fun and energetic."

Mac and Jackson will be included on the movie's soundtrack. "We prerecorded five songs with Sam and Bernie," Lee says. "One of them is original, and the rest of them are covers." (Lee declined to reveal which covers, because he'd like to keep it a surprise.)

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Lee last spoke to Mac on the final day of shooting in April. "When I went to shake his hand and tell him how much I loved him and what a great job he did, he hugged me back and looked me in the eye and said, 'Make a great film, man,' " Lee remembered. "I promised him that I would."

Lee also has special memories of Isaac Hayes. The music legend plays himself in Soul Men. "He was written into the script as himself," Lee said. "When I came on, they asked, 'Do you want him in the movie?' and I was like, 'Of course.' Not to include him in the movie would have been sacrilege. I had to have Isaac in the film."

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Megan Fox "How to Loose Friends and Alienate People" Trailer

Tropic Thunder uses spoof trailers to great effect in its opening sequences, to introduce the film’s actor characters. Now it looks like How To Lose Friends and Alienate People is trying to pull off the same thing.

In it How to Lose Friends, Transformers babe Megan Fox plays a character named Sophie Maes. It seems Sophie is an actor, and she’s starring in a movie about the sexed up sex life of Mother Teresa. Yes I said Mother Teresa. Her nun movie has a full on fake official site and a trailer to go with it. Those of you harboring a secret nun fetish won’t want to miss this. The rest of you… well let’s just say How To Lose Friends and Alienate People isn’t nearly as good at fake trailers as Tropic Thunder. Give me the secret love affair between two priests starring Tobey Maguire and Robert Downey Jr. over the passionate love life of Mother Teresa starring Megan Fox any day.

Here’s the fake trailer for Teresa: The Making of s Saint.




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