I wonder if Adam Sandler just really hates his career. For awhile there he was doing serious films that people actually liked (Funny People, Punch-Drunk Love, Reign Over Me),  and then he goes and does Jack and Jill? Seriously? Does he just hate himself or something?

I look forward to reading the stellar reviews this film is sure to get.

It was recently announced that Ubi is planning to do a film adaptation of Assassin’s Creed. As movies based on games tend to be totally perfectly cast, here are my predictions as to who they’ll tap. Hell, I’ll write this for both AC1 and AC2:

• Desmond Miles: Shia Lebouf. Gotta start this thing off on the right foot! And he’s such a great actor.
  Runners up: Chris Evans; Michael Cera.
• Lucy Stillman: Angelina Jolie. I mean, yeah, maybe Lucy was voiced and looked like Kristen Bell, but we can change that. This role involves running!
  Runners up: Megan Fox; Natalie Portman.
• Altair: Jake Gyllenhaal.  That guy can act, right? He’s already played one brown guy from that part of the world, surely he can do it again.
  Runners up: Shia Lebouf; The Rock.
• Al Mualim: Mark Strong. Name one time where Mark Strong played anything other than the bad guy. … Right, exactly.
  Runners up: Nicolas Cage.
• Warren Vidic: Matthew Fox. Take away all that good karma he got from Lost and what’s left? An evil scientist.
  Runners up: Michael Emerson.
• Ezio Auditore: Jay Baruchel. Did you see his performance in that one movie? Or that other one?
  Runners up: Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha.
• Rodrigo Borgia: Robert Downey, Jr. Already the greatest actor of all time, here’s his chance to play the antagonist.
  Runners up: Jeremy Irons.
• Cesare Borgia: Ralph Fiennes. Sure, why not. I don’t even know.
• Leonardo da Vinci: Nicolas Cage. Now here’s a good actor who can pull off the Italian accent necessary for this role.
• Shaun Hastings: Russell Brand. He’s our comedic relief to the otherwise serious story.
  Runners up: Dominic Monaghan.
• Rebecca Crane: Eliza Dushku. She can pretend like she can use a computer, I think.
  Runners up: Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Oh man, I hope even half of these are true. Imagine the money I’ll rake in from this bet!

There are a few reviews out that are referring to Scott Pilgrim vs. the World as a cult film. Did I not get the memo when we started allowing a film to be referred to as ‘cult’ during its opening weekend?

I guess there’s a few different types of cult films. Some are utter garbage, and others have a small but loyal following. Either way, I thought the main thing that tied them all together was that critics hated them. Very few critics actually liked Wet Hot American Summer when it came out, but it’s considered to be cult because some people are really into it. Rocky Horror is the same thing; you can read anywhere online about how people dress up for the film and go to midnight screenings and sing along. By comparison, Avatar will never be considered cult because everyone and their grandma loved that movie.

So how can you say Scott Pilgrim is a cult classic? The film opened two days ago – and it’s received exceedingly good reviews. Cult status takes years to develop, not minutes. Just because the books are purported to have a cult following (are there graphic novels that aren’t considered cult?) does not mean that the film inherits that. The movie seems to be doing well thus far, and I have a feeling people are going to go see it. So… stop calling the film ‘cult’ – it’s too soon. At least wait a few years down the road and then re-evaluate its status.

The Internet is all abuzz right now: Guillermo del Toro won’t be directing the two Hobbit films. Big bummer – I thought he would do the series some justice. I don’t anticipate them picking Peter Jackson to direct them, though, as New Line and him were at odds over it.

On the other hand, I’m seriously hoping that they take this chance to make the films not be in 3D. This new fad is really killing my soul, as I feel it’s just excessive and a marketing ploy of sorts. Further, when I saw Avatar with those glasses on, it just felt very blurry – like none of the edges were sharp or something.

Anyway. Sorry to see del Toro go from this one, but here’s hoping the films are still awesome.