After taking a weekend off, the Reject Recap returns with another look at the best movie news and features of the past week. As usual, we’ve got a mix of our own content and favorite stories from around the web. If you wrote or know of something posted that’s potentially deserving of being showcased here, please email me. Even if it’s not chosen for the top ten, if I like it I’ll give it a mention of some kind.
While this Saturday morning sees yet another slot filled by Star Wars and obviously devotes another to SXSW before the fest has hardly even begun, there are some other good picks for both the movie geeks (features involving The Fountain and Big Trouble in Little China, for example) and the more academically minded cinephiles (a look at Romanian cinema and a few considerations of the best music docs ever made). Also, there’s two funny mash-up videos for your enjoyment.
Start your weekend right after the jump.
15 Most Anticipated Films of SXSW 2013
We’re already in the midst of covering the 2013 SXSW Film Festival — bookmark the SXSW tag to stay on top of it all. First, though, read through our preview of 15 highlights we’re looking forward to, including Grow Up, Tony Phillips. Neil gave the reason: “Local kid Emily Hagins‘ story is one with which you might be familiar. She’s the one who made her own zombie movie at age 12. In the almost seven years since, she’s made a number of steps toward making films at a very high level, culminating with the premiere of her last film, the vampire romance spoof My Sucky Teen Romance, at 2011′s SXSW fest. This year she’s back with this coming-of-age tale, her fourth feature, and it will be interesting to gauge her maturation as a filmmaker. If her trend of growth continues, we could very well be in for a treat.”
More SXSW goodies:
How to Follow Our Excellent Coverage of SXSW 2013
‘Grow Up, Tony Phillips’ Trailer Shows Off a Halloween Costume Drama
Princess Leia Returns in Star Wars: Episode VII; Lando Wishes
Carrie Fisher told a reporter that she’s on board for the next Star Wars movie, though Disney won’t confirm this or any other casting. Yet, George Lucas is quoted this week at Bloomberg Businessweek saying she, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill had been cast before Lucasfilm even sold to Disney. Meanwhile, Movies.com reports from Emerald City Comic-Con that Billy Dee Williams would also like to return as Lando Calrissian. Chris Clow wrote of the news: “He hasn’t yet been approached but said that he would gladly be in it. His representative at this point snatched the microphone from his client and said to the audience that he encouraged anyone that wants to see Lando in the film to tweet, send letters and e-mails, and be very vocal about it to the likes of Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, Lucasfilm, Disney, and anyone on the production team.”
Ranking the Films of Park Chan-wook
With Stoker now in theaters, Rob ranked the films of its director, Park Chan-wook. Apparently many people disagree with him, but his pick for best is Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. He wrote of it: “This remains Park’s best film in every regard. From the story to the cinematography to the performances to the sheer perfection of its ending this film is nothing less than a fucked-up masterpiece.”
More on Park Chan-wook:
Watch Park Chan-wook’s 1999 Short Film ‘Judgement’
50 Most Underrated Films of the 2000s
Nick Horton of Den of Geek ambitiously counted down the Top 50 Underrated Films of the 2000s, starting with Zathura through some of my favorites (The Rules of Attraction; The Man Who Wasn’t There) to their number one pick: The Fountain. Horton wrote: “Simply astonishing, an epic romance across the ages which takes in elements of sci-fi, fantasy, historical swashbuckler, and religion, and blends them with acceptance of death as a part of life, while all the time pushing an incredible and moving love story. The Fountain feels like director Darren Aronofsky’s most personal film, and that passion shows on screen. While it doesn’t always work (it’s at times a bit too earnest and unfocused, perhaps, and the reduced budget from the original version limits Arofonsky’s ability to truly fulfil his ambitions) The Fountain is at times a truly transcendental triumph which speaks to us all, helped by the stunning camera work and macro-effects, as well as Clint Mansell’s finest score (yep, even better than Moon).”
Wall-E and Oblivion Mash-Up
Proof that the upcoming sci-fi action film Oblivion is a live-action remake of Wall-E with Tom Cruise in the role of the lovable robot (“Essentially, he’s Wall-E,” Kate wrote in a trailer post last month, making this spoof obligatory):