Videogum » Will Smith

Who Should Replace Will Smith In Independence Day Two & Three?

Kelly — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:50:57 +0000

It’s hard to believe that we’ve gone this long without a second and third installment of Independence Day, our nation’s premiere alien fighting/on TV on the fourth of July movie. That movie came out in 1996! There have been at least about 45 “Independence Days” since then, and each of them had to come and go without its own installment of Independence Day. Just when you thought you could trust Hollywood to give you everything you needed, you have to go and be reminded of how they only ever made one Independence Day movie. Well, NOT ANYMORE! They’re going to make two more of them! Hoorayyyy. But there is one kind of big problem, from the A.V. Club:

The deal remains stymied by Will Smith’s exorbitant, $50 million asking price to come and punch more aliens in the face, along with his other, more recent demands such as strict control over the script (as seen in the recent stagnation on Men In Black III), and finding parts in the movie for wife Jada and daughter Willow.

Well, come on! Obviously you gotta get Willow in there. Do they even make movies without Willow Smith in them anymore? Maybe whoever’s in charge here should hit the showers and let the real Mr. Hollywoods (the entire Smith family) do what they do best (feed their lives into the fame machine). But, in the case that they don’t find SOME kind of role for Willow and Jada (daughter and wife?), WHO SHOULD THEY GET TO REPLACE WILL?

Will And Jada Smith NOT Getting Divorced “YET?!”

Gabe — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:30:01 +0000

Yesterday, a mostly-unsubstantiated report about Will and Jada Pinkett Smith getting separated ROCKED OUR WHOLE WORLD. These guys know what I’m talking about. (“This is our Royal Family!” – those guys.) It was all Twitter could talk about yesterday morning, so you KNOW it’s a big deal, and even in the afternoon when Twitter was overtaken by Earthquake Talk, half of the jokes were about how the earthquake was caused by the Will and Jada news, so. The point is: WHOA and YIKES and OMG and IF THEY CAN’T MAKE THEIR PERFECT LOVE WORK IN THIS MIXED UP WORLD, HOW DO THE REST OF US EVEN STAND A CHANCE?! (See also: “when God closes a marriage he opens a divorce.”) Then, after the Earth literally stopped moving, Will Smith’s son from another marriage (did NOT see that one coming) posted a Tweet that his dad and Jada weren’t getting separated. Soon after, Will and Jada themselves released a statement that their marriage is “intact,” which is kind of a weird statement to release? Intact? But so, OK, PHEW. But noooooowwwwwwwww, TMZ is reporting that although they aren’t getting separated right now, their marriage IS in trouble, and separation is “still definitely a possibility,” according to their INSIDER, and it’s just like, OH GREAT WE ARE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED. What are we even supposed to believe at this point about these two strangers’ that we’ve never met’s personal and private and mostly disingenuous-seeming marriage?! IS IT OR IS IT NOT FALLING APART?! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Here Are Some Afternoon Links!

Kelly — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:30:18 +0000

Bennifer (right?) is having another Bennifer Baby. Congratulations to the happy couple. Remember how Jennifer Garner says “baby” in Juno? “Hello bay-beee.” Ugh that is the worst part of Juno. -Dlisted
Will and Jada AREN’T getting a divorce? DO I BELIEVE IN LOVE OR DON’T I, THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND CONFUSING. -TheDailyWhat
Indiewire’s Mattias Stork put together a two-part video essay called “Chaos Cinema” about the evolution of action-movie editing and cinematography, which sounds interesting, RIGHT? You can watch it here. You might as well watch it. I’m sure you’re home with nothing to do because your building was evacuated because #EARTHQUAKE. -FilmDrunk
Guess how long Anderson Cooper has said he’s giggled like a 13-year-old girl for? Guess. I’ll give you three choices: Three Months, Zero Days, Always. Fun quiz! -Celebuzz
Hahah oh great, here’s another fun quiz. How often do you think January Jones eats Taco Bell? Here are the choices: Definitely All The Time Even Though We Have No Proof, Definitely All The Time Even Though We Have No Proof, Definitely All The Time Even Though We Have No Proof. -Just Jared
Louie‘s Ursula Parker (Jane) is a very adorable and talented violinist. You know, I have a violin in my room right now. I took lessons for three months a few years ago. My teacher said I had a very good ear. Soooo. -Splitsider
Look at the Sandra Lee bloopers! I love bloopers. Even if I don’t care at all about the person who is doing the blooping. -Warming Glow
Salon asks, “Is Ryan Gosling The Perfect Guy?” Everyone in the world answers, “UH YES WHY ARE YOU WASTING OUR TIME WITH STUPID QUESTIONS.” -Salon
Watch this motion poster for Martha Marcy May Marlene. I can’t wait for that movie! I really can’t! I am dead now! -Movieline
Read this interview with Louis C.K. in GQ. You’ll enjoy it! -GQ

A Portrait Of America On August 23rd, 2011

Gabe — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:30:21 +0000

The fight over the Republican nomination for the 2012 presidential election heats up as the candidates struggle to differentiate themselves from each other in a crowded and divisive field. Hurricane season has begun. Katy Perry has the number one song in America with “T.G.I.G.” Newshounds obsess over minute-by-minute updates on the status of the LIbyan uprising and the fate of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. A televised roast of Charlie Sheen is still considered “entertainment” even at this late, post-cultural stage. David Letterman receives and responds to death threats. All jeans on sale. Label Missoni prepares a line of affordable designs for Target stores. The word “cassette player” is removed from the dictionary. The stock market continues to fluctuate erratically as global investors face newfound concerns about the economy. Mayor Rahm Emanuel reflects on his first 100 days in office. The New York Times publishes a recipe for Vitello Tonnato that looks very good. As the last days of summer sprint by, people are still able to stop and appreciate them while they are still here. Oh, and the September 2011 Architectural Digest cover story couple and parents of Willow and Jaden Smith BROKE UP.

Two Pieces Of Exciting Hollywood Reboot News

Kelly — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:15:45 +0000

Seth Gordon is set to direct a reboot of the 1983′s War Games. Will Smith wants Emma Thompson to adapt 1982′s film version of Annie for his daughter, Willow. The only question is: Which reboot news do YOU find most exciting? I find them both equally as exciting, so don’t look at me.

What Will The Inevitable, Lame, And Obvious Twist Be In The Upcoming Will Smith/Jaden Smith M. Night Shyamalan Movie?

Gabe — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:30:35 +0000

It was reported yesterday that Will and Jaden Smith have both signed on for the next M. Night Shyamalan project. Oh boy. Jaden Smith AND M. Night Shyamalan working on the same movie? This is our generation’s Heat! From Hitfix:

Will Smith and son Jaden Smith will co-star in an untitled sci-fi adventure movie to be directed by M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense,” “Unbreakable”) for Sony Pictures.

The script was co-written by Shyamalan and Gary Whitta (“The Book of Eli”). It takes place 1,000 years in the future, where a boy (Jaden Smith) and his father (Will Smith) travel across a desolate, post-apocalyptic Earth looking for hope after their ship crash-landed there.

Shyamalan added, “The chance to make a scary, science-fiction film starring Jaden and Will is my dream project.”

Haha. Ugh. Aren’t your consistently terrible movies and fake name that you have admitted you just made up bad enough, M. Night Shyamalan, without also being A LIAR? Making a scary science-fiction movie with Jadan Smith is not your dream project. You are a grown man! He is 7-years-old. You did not even know he existed until two years ago. Stupid old liar. ANYWAY, since M. Night Shyamalan wrote this movie you just know it’s going to have a lame and obvious twist in it. So. WHAT’S IN THE HATCH? Here are some possible SPOILERS:

Willow Smith Is Our Generation’s Jaden Smith

Gabe — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:30:19 +0000

More cool news from Cool Town, you guys. From Variety:

In his latest keep-it-in-the-family move, Will Smith is exploring with Sony the potential for a remake of “Annie,” with daughter Willow as the star, sources say.

Smith, who developed “The Karate Kid” starring his son Jaden, would produce through his Overbrook shingle.

While details about the “Annie” retooling are still in development stages, rapper Jay-Z, who worked with Willow on her pop hit “Whip My Hair,” is in talks to collaborate on the music.

Verrrry neat. It’s especially cool that Will Smith is developing the project ($$$), will produce the project ($$$), and is planning to cast a minor over whose income he has full legal control ($$$). It’s just fun stuff. And Willow Smith would be a great new Annie! Especially if they modify the script so that instead of being an orphan she just starts off as a rich girl in a mansion and is just a rich girl in a mansion the whole time. I think a character like that would be someone Willow Smith could really breath some life into. Now the only question is who will play Carlton?! (Because The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air starring Jaden Smith Sr. was basically like Annie in a lot of ways if you think about it is what I’m saying. These guys get it.)

Teen Korner: Willow Smith “Whip My Hair”

Gabe — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:15:17 +0000

Who let the dawgs out! Who Who Who Who Who?!

Yo cool broheims who think when you grow up you should be allowed to wear jeans to work but that doesn’t mean you won’t work really hard and girls who are empowered by their budding sexuality, which comes from hormones, which are going crazy in all of your bodies right now. It’s been awhile since we’ve kicked it old school, but now we’re slanging on the flippity flop like a bunch of BFFFFs because school is back in sesh, and there’s lots of cool stuff to gossip girls about. XOXOXBOXPS3.

One thing that’s super wicked dope is the new Willow Smith video for “Whip My Hair.” OMGod. Did you see it yet? I saw it over in the cafeteria and right away I had to go to my locker and SEXT my Facebooks about it. It’s megaNEAT. Did you know she’s only nine years old? That’s, like, younger than a tween even. TWEENS RULEZ. You can check the video out after the jump, although I’m sure you already totally downloaded it onto your ZunePad. Dope chill.

The Hunt For The Worst Movie Of All Time: The Pursuit Of Happyness

Gabe — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:45:45 +0000

There’s a really weird part in this week’s nominee for the Hunt for the Worst Movie of All Time, The Pursuit of Happyness. Will Smith’s character, Chris Gardner, is a single father now, after his wife left him, doing his best to raise his son while pursuing an ambitious and unlikely career change. His son asks if they can go play basketball, so they go to a scenic rooftop basketball court that overlooks the city of San Francisco. Incidentally, despite being entirely broke and practically homeless, Will Smith and his son (both fictional and real, because Chris Gardner’s son is played by Will Smith’s son) have an entire scenic rooftop basketball court to themselves? (I’m not saying that I fully understand the class distinctions of scenic rooftop basketball courts overlooking the entire city of San Francisco, or that this is unrealistic, it just seems like maybe there’d be at least a couple more people up there trying to play basketball on a weekend?) But anyway: Jaden Smith is talking about how much he likes playing basketball and how one day he’s going to be a basketball star, to which Will Smith replies “well, I was never very good at basketball, so you’ll probably not be very good at basketball either. You might be a little bit better than average at basketball, but you should probably stop playing basketball because of how bad you’re almost certainly going to be at it.” This makes Jaden Smith sad. You know, because of how IT’S AN INCREDIBLY TERRIBLE AND ENTIRELY UNNECESSARY THING TO SAY TO A CHILD WHO SIMPLY EXPRESSED HIS LOVE OF A GAME YOU WERE IN THE MIDST OF PLAYING TOGETHER. After a moment of reflection and realization, Will Smith looks very meaningful and kind of tearfully at his son, and he tells him never to let anyone tell him what he can and can’t do, not even his father. Sure. I guess. Except that there’s a really big difference between letting someone tell you what you can or can’t do, and having your father just be really straight-forward in an intensely aggressive way about the harsh realities of life. But the real problem with this scene is just that it doesn’t make any sense. He could have given his son that valuable life lesson without awkwardly setting it up through clunky dialogue. No one would have had a problem with a scene where Jaden said he wanted to play basketball and Will Smith said “OK, follow your dreams. You are my son and I support you, and as it happens, I, too am trying to follow my dreams, so I know how hard that can be and how important it is to feel that your loved ones are on your side.” Slow clap, I’m sure. Instead, the entire thing was framed in heavy-handed, unrealistic bullshit to bloody you upside the head with a point that’s not even that original or particularly useful as a human being trying to make sense of the world we live in (it may or may not be worth noting that Chris Gardner’s son is not a professional basketball player).

And that is why that scene is a perfect example of what is wrong with this movie. For more examples, follow the jump.

Will Smith’s Daughter Willow Recorded A Song Called “Whip My Hair”

Gabe — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:45:26 +0000

Because OF COURSE SHE DID. And it is BANONKERS.