Okay, change that script to "Ricky got in line..." and "We didn't get to sit where Ricky wanted to..." I don't want to get in line that early because I don't care, really, where we sit. There are huge screens all around, and that's what I watch. I do like to sit on the aisle, however.
First up was what most of the people wanted to see: Watchmen, Zack Snyder's new film based on the graphic novel. We've been waiting to see this film ever since 300. That means I've had two years or so to catch up and prepare. But I haven't. The movie is something about some misfit heroes who have strange powers. And they get depressed a lot.
The most interesting of these characters is called Rorschach, played by Jackie Earle Haley, an actor who was just incredible in Little Children. I don't know what his power is, but Rorschach's face constantly changes, or at least the splotches do. It's like interactive measles. The footage Zack put out there for us was visually stunning. No dialogue, but a brief look at each of the 7 or so characters in this. To my surprise, I recognized some of the actors as they filed out on stage: Billy Crudup, Carla Gugino (again), and Matthew Goode, 
as well as those I didn't recognize: Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Patrick Wilson. Oh, and one other woman who played the same character that Carla plays. Same name, but I think they're mother and daughter.Anyway, I am really looking forward to seeing this one. It comes out in March 2009. I know it'll be dark, but I'm hoping the bright colors will revive me.
After that, we had Trailer Park, and saw trailers for the following films (with a wanna see or don't wanna see after each name):
Scorpion King 2 - NO
X-Files: I Want to Believe - YES
Quarantine - NO
The Rocker - NO (Rainn Wilson looks awfully funny in this, however...)
The Librarian - NO
Lost Boys: The Tribe - NO
Taken (Liam Neeson) - NO...well, maybe.
Hamlet 2 - Maybe - looks like a funny movie
Body of Lies (Russell Crowe, Ridley Scott directs) - NO
Mirrors (Kiefer Sutherland) - NO
Babylon A.D. (Vin Diesel) - YES
Tropic Thunder (Ben Stiller et al.) - NO, but I may see this just for Robert Downey, Jr.
Star Wars: Clone Wars - YES
(Rick said during the screening, "It's so fake." I answered, "Of course it's fake! It's animation!" The girls in front of us laughed.)
Quantum of Solace, the new James Bond film - YES
Pineapple Express - NO
Step Brothers - NO
The Mummy - NO
Twilight (that vampire movie) - Maybe
Terminator Salvation (T3.5) - YES
Watchmen - YES
Next up we had a remake of The Wolfman? Why, you ask? Because Rick Baker was willing to do it. Rick is the award-winning special effects artist who has done wolves, etc., before (American Werewolf in London). And Benicia del Toro was willing to play the old Lon Chaney, Jr. part. 
Looks promising, although our footage did not include transformational scenes. Rick said about his process: "It's not all that different than what Jack Pierce did in the original. Not CG stuff, but a man in makeup. Stick a nose on him and glue some hair on him. Pretty old school." However, he did admit they'll probably go to CG for the transformation from man to wolf.
The Spirit, the long-awaited rendition of Will Eisner's work from long ago, is in Frank Miller's hands. Frank is a new director, having co-directed Sin City with Robert Rodriguez, but knows visually what he wants. Much of the cast was there with him: Samuel L. Jackson as Octopus, the villain, and Jaime King as Lorelei. In my opinion, after a good look at two long trailers, this one won't come close to the brilliance of Sin City, but does have the same interesting artistic approach (read: blue screen). I may see it.
We had dinner tonight at our same old place, Lou & Mickey's, and plotted the next day as we do every night. It's even earlier for us, a 5 am wake-up call with a 6 am line-up. Oops, change that to: Rick gets up at 5 am, gets in line by 6. Linda brings up the rear, gets the sandwiches, and brings them over to the line. When it suits her.
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