If Adventure Had a Name ...

That's it ... per Shia LaBeouf at (of all things) last night's MTV Music Video Awards.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Yup, all that wait, and that's what we got ...

Is it just me, or does it remind you of a certain Friends episode ... Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Duck, anyone?

Hmm ... I wonder if the skull is Waterford Crystal?

Links via SpielbergFilms.com, Imdb.com and Waterford.com.

To Be Continued ...

The latest in sequel news ...

- Indiana Jones and Just Name the Damn Thing Already.
- Cinematical gives their advice on what to do ... and what not to do ... to the makers of the next James Bond movie.
- The latest Star Trek rumors: Russell Crowe is the villain, Shat is back - or is he? And James McAvoy, an actual Scot, will play Scotty.
- Orlando Bloom to join Tom Hanks in Angels & Demons, the sequel to The Da Vinci Code.
- Does anyone really want to see a prequel to a prequel of a sequel of a remake?
- Don't hold your breath for Porno, a.k.a. Trainspotting 2.
- First there was Eating Out. Then there was Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds. Lord knows what they'll call Eating Out 3. And what do you know, the first gay trilogy since La Cage aux Folles.
- And finally: Channing Tatum is not in the Step Up sequel, Step Up 2 the Streets, but that's not going to stop me from posting his picture here.

Links via Cinematical.com, ObsessedWithFilm.com, SundayMirror.co.uk, CinemaBlend.com, InsideSoCal.com and MySpace.com.

Comic-Con '07: That's a Wrap!

This year's Comic-Con is history and let me tell you, if all the geeks who dressed up looked like this Spartan 300 dude, then the joint would have been even more crowded. (No offense to geeks, of course ... the whole pot/kettle/black thing.)

To wrap things up, some odds and ends from around the web:
- For a lot of blood, a little skin and a few choice four-letter words, check out the R-rated trailers for 30 Days of Night, Beowulf and Shoot 'Em Up. That last one looks like a hoot and a half, with a badass Clive Owen, a homicidally wacky Paul Giamatti, a baby and a carrot.

- On the G-rated front, WALL·E was not the only Pixar-related news: a collection of their award-winning shorts will hit DVDthis November 6 (which will reportedly also see the release of Ratatouille). In addition to such favorites as Geri's Game, For the Birds and Boundin', a documentary on the creation of the animation powerhouse, The Pixar Story, will also be included on the disc, which will be released both in standard and Blu-Ray formats.

I expect there will also be some kind of sneak preview of WALL·E as well; in the meantime, take a look-see at the collectable WALL·E postcards that were handed out at the Con.

- As for the superhero franchises (this was Comic-Con, after all): Check out the super-cool Hellboy 2 poster; Sam Raimi talks Spider-Man 4 (you knew that was coming); Seth Green talks Green Hornet (not a comedy); and get this - Edward Norton wrote the script for The Incredible Hulk.

Hope you caught that Iron Man footage on YouTube earlier this week, 'cause it ain't there no more. In addition, Jon Favreau discusses the possibility of a whole mess of heroes hitting the big screen in a Marvel Universe movie ... and that sound you heard was millions of fanboys' heads exploding in anticipation.

And sure, Tony Stark may have an awesome ride, but he uses the john just like the rest of us.

- My sources say that J.J. Abrams' mystery project (a.ka. 01.18.08 and/or Cloverfield) will be titled ... Monstrous. Or it could be Furious or Overnight depending on who you talk to ...

- Bond 22 does not have a title yet either, but it may have a new Bond girl.

- And finally, in all things Indiana Jones: Frank Darabont talks about his script (that wasn't used); co-star John Hurt doesn't say much about his secret role; and take a look at the Con exclusive poster ... and a plot synopsis. Turns out Marion is not the only aspect of the Raiders of the Lost Ark to return for the fourth film after all.

Links via Cinematical.com, ComingSoon.net, ObsessedWithFilm.com, UpcomingPixar.blogspot.com, Amazon.com, Variety.com, KungFuRodeo.com, MoviesBlog.MTV.com and IGN.com.

Indiana Jones and the Return of Marion

One of the things I loved so much about Raiders of the Lost Ark was that the heroine wasn't your typical damsel-in-distress. She was feisty and headstrong, a perfect romantic foil for our hero.

I think that is why I was never too crazy about the two other Indiana Jones movies. Temple of Doom's Kate Capshaw was everything Raiders' leading lady was not - whiny, grating, blonde. And I don't even remember the actress in The Last Crusade. (OK, I looked it up, Alison Doody. Yawn.) Neither character had half the spunk and personality, let alone the chemistry with Harrison Ford, as Karen Allen's Marion Ravenwood.

So imagine my excitement in learning that Karen Allen will, after 27 years, return as Marion in next year's (still untitled) Indy 4. And this isn't a rumor; Steven Spielberg announced it himself at the San Diego Comic-Con yesterday.

Naturally, any further details are scarce, such as the size of the role (hopefully not a mere cameo) or her relationship to the character played by Shia LaBeouf, who may be the long lost son of Dr. Jones. One thing is certain though; it will sure be nice to see Marion at Indy's side once more.

UPDATE: Visit IndianaJones.com for video footage of the announcement.

Links via ETOnline.com and IndianaJones.com.

Jedis Invade Disney World and More

In the wake of their annual "Star Wars Weekends", Walt Disney World's Disney-MGM Studios will continue the popular Jedi Training Academy show this fall. (So expect a lot of Jake Lloyds running around with plastic light sabers.) This of course has sparked speculation on a whole new Star Wars themed area (including a jazzed-up new "Star Tours" ride), all the better to combat Universal Orlando's upcoming Harry Potter land.

In other Studios news, the long-rumored renaming of the park may just happen now that Pixar has become part of the Mouse House. Yep, it may become Disney-Pixar Studios. And I'll believe that when I see it.

Speaking of Pixar, the Ratatouille rats are on hand now (and even in the parade) and construction continues on the new "Toy Story Mania!" ride. Naturally, High School Musical is represented in a daily "pep rally" show. And the rumor mill is rumbling about a possible new Indiana Jones attraction to coincide with the upcoming fourth film.

Elsewhere around the world, The Three Caballeros have been added to the Mexican pavilion, while Finding Nemo has taken over the Living Seas, at Epcot. Nemo and friends can also be seen in the stage musical adaptation (from the Avenue Q composers) that plays daily at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Changes at Magic Kingdom may include at least a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed restaurant and possibly more Pirates stuff. And the new "Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club" has opened in Tomorrowland.

On the other side of the country, in Disneyland, Nemo (yeah, him again) has been added to the long-dry docked Submarine Ride. Plus, there a major plans to revitalize Disney's California Adventure, the Anaheim flagship park's much-derided second gate (they are already adding their own "Toy Story Mania!" as well). As that park has a "Hollywood" section (which recently added there own Monsters, Inc. themed-ride), it is safe to assume that we may see more movie-related rides there as well.

And finally, a new musical show based on Toy Story will be added to the Disney Cruise Line. Hmmm, that's an awful lot of Pixar ... maybe the Disney-MGM Studios should be renamed the Pixar-Disney Studios.

Links via OrlandoSentinel.com, UniversalOrlando.com, LaughingPlace.com, WDWNews.com, TheDisneyBlog.com and Disney.go.com.

Indy 500

The latest news from the "Sequels and Remakes We Don't Want" file:

- Shia LaBeouf may or may not continue the Indiana Jones saga (what, into triple digits?), and Harrison Ford may or may not continue to star. And Indy 4 may or may not be called Indiana Jones and the City of the Gods (and I don't think they mean this City of God).

- Dark City director Alex Proyas is developing a prequel of sorts to the Dracula story. At first glance it may seem "gee, do we really need another Dracula movie?" However, the film, titled Dracula: Year Zero, will delve into the character's life as Vlad the Impaler, somewhat untrod territory on film.

- In other classic horror character revamps: Something that could either be very cool or ... not is the planned remake of The Creature from the Black Lagoon. A childhood favorite of mine, they have big web-footed shoes to fill on this one.

- As if they hadn't learned before, Ace Ventura will continue as a "Jim Carrey movie without Jim Carrey." Nancy Drew's Josh Flitter will play Ace's son this go round.

- Following this year's Shrek the Third, DreamWorks has promised a fourth and fifth Shrek and, per Jeffrey Katzenberg, "that will be it." We'll hold you to that one, Jeff.

- Halle Berry may fill Jane Fonda's plastic bustier in the long-threatened Barbarella remake. I smell another Razzie, Berry.

- What may prove to be a blessing to us all, Terminator 4 is tied up in a big ol' legal mess.

- The "truth", as it were, may still be out there for Mulder, Scully and an X-Files sequel.

- Steve Buscemi gives us his ideas for a Big Lebowski 2. (Don't count on it, dude.)

- And finally, the "Who Wants This?" award goes to the proposed remake of Troll. Yikes.

Links via IESB.net, Imdb.com, Variety.com, The-ReelGillman.com, LaughingPlace.com, ContactMusic.com, AfterEllen.com, DarkHorizons.com, HollywoodReporter.com, MoviesBlog.MTV.com and FilmWad.com.

My Top 100 ... For Now

To give you a taste for my tastes in movies, I have listed the 100 films that I voted for in the American Film Institute's most recent poll. You can find it in the sidebar under the heading "My Ballot: AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Movies - 10th Anniversary Edition".

As is my prerogative, this list is certainly subject to change. For example, in the six months since I voted I have seen Elia Kazan's A Face in the Crowd, an awesome movie that certainly would be included if I were making the list today. Oh well, at least they will be re-polling members once more in another ten years.

For the record, 64 of my choices made the final cut, announced about a month ago. They are indicated on the chronological list in the sidebar with a *, and the links will take you to their respective IMDB pages.

What is most fun about these things (for me anyway) is figuring out the statistics of it all. You know, the most this or the least that. I have compiled facts and figures for each of the AFI lists, which will appear in this section eventually. To give you an idea of what I am talking about, here is some interesting data for the 100 movies on my ballot:

• The oldest film is Harold Lloyd's Safety Last; the newest is Brokeback Mountain.
• The most represented decade is the 1950's, with 18 films.
• The most represented year is (naturally) 1939, with 5 films.
• There are 3 silents on the list (I know, I need to see more).
• Dramas account for 45 entries, the most represented genre. Musicals, one of my favorite genres (go figure), comes in second with 17.
• Steven Spielberg is the most represented director (5 times), followed by Alfred Hitchcock (4 times).
• The actors who appear the most are Humphrey Bogart, Dustin Hoffman and James Stewart, with 4 films each, while the actresses are Faye Dunaway (purely coincidental) and Judy Garland, with 3 films each.
• The Godfather Part II is the only sequel (isn't that always the case?).
• There are 6 animated films, 7 if you count Mary Poppins.
• There are only 4 films with overt gay themes: Midnight Cowboy, Cabaret, Dog Day Afternoon and Brokeback. This is a case where foreign fare does infinitely better.
• 24 films were Oscar-winning Best Pictures. 43 more were nominated for that prize as well. (For the record, Safety Last was released prior to the Academy's existence.)
• The film with the longest title is The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (49 letters, symbols and spaces); the shortest is Jaws (4 letters).
• 37 1/4 * films are in glorious black and white.

* This figure includes the Kansas sections of The Wizard of Oz.

UPDATE: The list has been removed from the sidebar and can now be found in the comments section below.

Links via Imdb.com and AFI.com.