A discussion of the 2008 film SPEED RACER and the animated show.

From a far away land comes a new name in adventure...and it has nothing to do with a dog and everything to do with Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson. Taking pages from the classic series and translating them to the screen with the latest in digital technology, THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN has been designed as a blockbuster from the first frame. But for who? With American audiences in the dark and foreign markets getting the film two months early, the roll out for TinTin is writing a new chapter ...

He was brave, loyal and reckless - the future king, but the fate of the gods held a different path for Thor Odinson. Seeking great glory and deep pockets Marvel Studios calls on the Mighty Thor as it's next multi-million dollar big screen hero taping British Shakespearean Veteran Kenneth Branagh to guide the thunder to audiences around the globe. Leading off the Super Summer 2011 - 5 Volume episode, John and Andy reach deep in to Odin's vault seeking to wield another artifact to complete the ...

Gotham City. Same bat time. Same bat gripe. With each new breaking story from the next chapter in the Dark Knight Saga comes a wave of critical disposition to rival Batman's greatest gallery of villains. The cloud of creation and confusion create a thunderstorm of opinions that now take root in the vast empty spaces of the internet opinion blog-o-sphere. Going where they have gone before, Andy and John return to the Gotham streets and examine the fears, frustrations and fantasies of Bruce Way...

More than once upon a time in Hollywood, the passion of making a movie and the realities of production have failed to come in sync, leaving behind only the dreams and whispers of a film that Never Happened. Joining this illustrious club of rejects, John and Andy dig into the vault of old and new movies that failed to make it to the starting line...while also debating the merits of many that did. From a lost Kubrick epic to one more adventure with Snake, Harry, Axel and Max, the Saloon kicks o...

From deep inside the binary code of inspiration and innovation, Mark Zuckerberg and friends teamed together to expand the idea of social networking on the Internet. A few years and Facebook later, it has over 500 million members and continues to grow. Where did it all begin? Why are there multiple lawsuits? Is Zuckerberg really an asshole? Taking a deep look into the origin story of one the the web's most popular and successful pages, join John and Andy as they hit the "like" button and dive ...

From Hollywood's earliest pioneers of creation and collaboration, the pairing of director and editor has helped to push and expand the language of cinema in ways never before possible. The titans of twin thinking have discovered ways to take the unique art of film editing and create a musical language on par with peers in any other collaborative art. With the tragic death of Quentin Tarantino's editor Sally Menke, the quiet and magical relationship between editor and director becomes the subj...

The Incredible Shrinking Window of movies from theater to on-demand just got a new kick in the pants from news that a proposed 45 day window for theatrical exhibition will now open the door for a premium on-demand service, new movies costing $24.99. Can a premiere weekend "ultra-premium" service be far behind? And what other forms of financial band-aids does Hollywood have up it's sleeve? Taking a page from previous Saloon Shots, Andy and John expand the discussion to better grasp the ever c...

People were sensing it. The SIGNS were clear. What was once an UNBREAKABLE relationship between director and audience was just not HAPPENING anymore. As the expansion of the M. Night Shyamalan brand moves into the next "presents" phase, an unwelcome cry of groans and anger came from potential buyers. Stepping out of THE VILLAGE, Andy and John jump into the M.Night fire and explore who, if anyone, is still WIDE AWAKE for his new movies.

Never have the words "Continuity is a Bitch" been so profound as Marvel Studios continues its drive toward the creation of THE AVENGERS. After setting up individual films for Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Hulk -- the new regime at Marvel have decided to make some 11th hour changes, finding themselves once again, knee deep in a "Hulk Smash" crises. With Edward Norton out and Bruce Banner #3 in the spotlight, Andy and John dive back into the Marvel swamp, wading through the latest obstacl...

With 24/7 news infotainment cycles, just about any and every word from the famous gets recorded and raced around the world within hours of delivery. Today's new breed of celebrity can settle scores through multiple forms of multi-media. But at what cost? When one of Hollywood's oldest codes is broken, all eyes and ears perk into action. Now the Saloon pours another shot, soaking in the statements that spin around the world, making and breaking careers in seconds.

For years, when considering the story and events in a motion picture, audiences were left with only the information provided between the start and finish of a film. Then came the novelization, which created a new market for expanded material based on movies. Radio Dramas, Comics and Sequel Novels would also follow this trend, lending new stories to Blade Runner, Star Wars, Aliens and more. Now a major film property has the luxury of having video games, graphic novels and animated films to hel...

It came. It saw. It leaped from the screen and conquered. The next level of the 3-D cinema experience sprang into audiences laps and within six weeks, scored a quick two billion dollars. Now the AVATAR effect has jumped into full green light mode -- with new announcements weekly about the latest Hollywood films making the 11th hour 3-D changes to their production. Will this new wave of "wanna be 3-D" satisfy the newly enriched Pandora crowd or could this be the exact type of quick cash-in tha...

From iPods to iTouch to iPhone, the development team at Apple has continued to meet and greet the challenges of 21st century portable entertainment devices. Now in the year we make contact, the iPad is unveiled to the world, combining portable and personal needs with the latest in future tech. Has Apple entered the next level or is this just another cool toy? Join Apple geeks Andy and John and they unwrap the promise of "something wonderful"

From one year, to six months, to three months, the release window schedule for home video entertainment has always been in an ever changing flux. When DVD sales skyrocketed, the goal of getting movies into the hands of customers faster and sooner became a Hollywood battle cry that reaped millions in profit. Now Warner Bros. has stepped forward to alter that schedule once again, but this time for the Netflix rental market. With a new 28 day hold on all new releases for Warner titles at Netf...

The spider sense is tingling and the warnings are now clear: Spider-Man 4 is no more. Creating a new web of intrigue, Sam Raimi has left the production of what was to be his final Spider-Man film and in his place a new script and re-boot concept awaits. Will this be the end of Spider-Man? A new beginning? Grab the empty seat at the bar as your friendly-neighborhood gunslingers break open the Daily Bugle and spin into action.

Product placement in motion pictures and television is nothing new. It is a full time enterprise, up and running for years, aimed at squeezing every bit of potential branding into and around a product that will be seen by millions. Now the next wave of opportunists have arrived, ready to be seen. Jumping into the fray with his Brett Ratner Brands, the Rush Hour director has taken a creative step into the world of directing brands into movies, using his knowledge and expertise to ensure that H...

To redux, or not to redux? That is the question facing David Cronenberg as new reports surface about the auteur's interest in re-helming the remake of his remake of THE FLY. After creating and playing in the world of Brundlefly for the big screen and the stage, does Mr. Cronengerg have a new formula to experiment with?

From Mickey to Magneto, the rich history of characters from Disney and Marvel has populated imaginations for generations. Now for the first time, the Marvel crew are joining the Mouse House to help expand Disney's growing reach into youth culture and beyond. Is this a desperate sale? A quick dip for cash? Or an elaborate move that will give the Marvel heroes the home they need to succeed?

From optical, to model to full computer generated image, the magic of visual effects has allowed filmmakers to add new levels of fantasy and realism to storytelling on film. But then the storm of the 1990's arrived pushing this unique speciality into the forefront. Now CGI has become the top billed star in Hollywood. Who needs story when you've got millions of terabytes to feed? The early fun, fascination and wonder has become a full P.T. Barnum experience of cinematic chills and thrills.....