McFly’s Future Nike’s are here!
The Nike shoes that Marty McFly wears in the future in Back to the Future Part II will be available to the public later this year (minus the power laces, dammit).
Click here for an image and more details.
Release Date Correction
I was contacted by Hyperion books today to inform me that the release date of Michael J. Fox’s new book ‘Always Look Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist‘ has been changed to April 14, 2009.
Bright Lights Big City DVD News
Bright Lights, Big City has already been released to DVD. However, the print was only ‘acceptable’ and it was released in *shudder* pan & scan.
For the film’s 20th Anniversary (god - I feel old) MGM is releasing a special edition, widescreen, extras-laden edition with a beautiful cover.
Extras Include:
- Commentary with novel and screenwriter Jay McInerney
- Commentary track with cinematographer Gordon Willis
- The Light Within Featurette
- Big City Lights Featurette
- Photo Gallery
Release is set for September 2nd with a retail price of $14.98 - a great deal!
Birthday Top 10 List
It’s Michael J. Fox’s 47th birthday and as a ‘celebration’ I took a page from AFI’s book and decided to list my top 10 favorite Michael J. Fox films. These aren’t necessarily his best movies, but they’re my personal favorites - the ones I can watch over and over again and not get tired of them.
WARNING: There will be spoilers ahead
This movie wasn’t much of a hit for Disney and that’s a real shame. The film was an enjoyable throwback to Disney’s earlier days when they made full-blown, high budget adventure movies such as Swiss Family Robinson. It was also one of Disney’s last cell animated films and it is a beautiful film to look at.
Designs by Mike Mignola give this film a very unique look and the mix of cell and CG animation (what little there is) is very well done.
The voice cast is well chosen and James Garner as Commander Rourke and Claudia Christian as Helga Sinclair nearly steal the movie with their subtle yet sinister portrayals.
Despite its plot problems (how can an ancient race that has never died out forget how to read their own language?) the movie is fun, nicely paced and suitable for the entire family.
My favorite quote: I got your four basic food groups: Beans, Bacon, Whiskey and Lard - Cookie (Jim Varney)
I don’t know what I can say about this movie that hasn’t already been said, but I’ll give it a shot.
BTTF is one of those rare films that are as close to perfect as a movie can get: Solid plot, solid performances, good direction, good production design - the works. It’s destined to become one of the most popular movies of all time and has already been included in many ‘top’ lists.
I was thirteen when this movie was released and it literally changed my life - not sure if it was for the better at the time (I was a wee bit obsessive) but at least I never turned into one of those stalkers that threatened to kill myself or someone else when Fox later married. But from that point on there was at least one thing that could cheer me up no matter what, and my high school years weren’t the smoothest - but really, who’s is?
My favorite quote: Last night Darth Vader came down from planet Vulcan and told me that if I didn’t take Lorraine out, he’d melt my brain - George McFly (Crispin Glover)
3: Back to the Future Part III
I’m not a big fan of Back to the Future Part II. I don’t hate it but the only time I watch it is when I’m watching the BTTF trilogy all at once. The basic idea was okay, but I could never get over the going forward in time to save your kids from themselves. That makes no sense. Just make sure to warn them ahead of time. I guess Time Machines made Doc and Marty lazy.
But with Back to the Future III I thought the series returned to form. Going to the past was always the series’ strength and seeing Marty, the ultra-modern kid, in the old west was a lot of fun. It also gave Thomas F. Wilson a chance to play Griff (Biff’s ancestor) a bit differently than he had been playing his other bully roles.
My favorite quote: Clara was one in a million, one in a billion, one in a googoplex. - Doc Brown
4: Coldblooded
What, you’ve never heard of this one? Well, I’m not really surprised. I personally never saw any kind of marketing for this movie and I’m not even certain it was released to theaters. However, it is a very smart and well-performed dark romantic comedy about a young man (Jason Preistley) who goes into the hit man business for the money. Despite the fact that he remains a very nice guy, he proves to be an excellent hit man and highly valued by his employers.
However, he meets a young woman (Kimberly Williams) and falls in love. When she finds out what he does, she asks him to quit. He knows that to do so would mean his death but in the end all things work out.
Well…they don’t work out for everyone. This is one of MJF’s two screen deaths.
My favorite quote: I’m afraid I don’t have one. I have seen this only once and do not own my own copy. It is not available on DVD but can be purchased on used VHS - in pan & scan, I’m sure. 
Doc Hollywood is the last of what I consider MJF’s first run of hits. After this he made a streak of mediocre comedies that just fall flat (Greedy, For Love or Money, Life With Mikey, etc.) and didn’t end until he made the excellent The Frighteners.
Doc Hollywood is a low-key, laid back romantic comedy that feels leisurely and allows the viewer to become familiar with the colorful inhabitants of Grady, South Carolina. This is a good thing because our ‘hero’ Doctor Benjamin Stone is a shallow, insulting ass. Fortunately, Grady rubs off on him and in the end he’s still not the picture of human perfection but he’s quite lovable in his own way.
The plot of this movie is not all that original but the sharp writing, good direction and excellent performances make it one of MJF’s best.
My favorite quote: When to call me: You’ve been stabbed, shot, poisoned, separated from an appendage, knocked or beaten unconscious, run over by a tractor mower, or generally about to bleed to death. Otherwise, leave me alone - Doctor Aurelius Hoag
This movie is flat out my favorite Michael J. Fox film. It has it’s problems but MJF’s and Jeffrey Combs’ performances and Peter Jackson’s direction more than make up for any flaws.
After an accident that killed his wife, Frank Bannister can now see and converse with any ghosts that are hanging around. In fact, he employs a few of these ghosts so that he can send them to people and haunt them. So, who do these people call? That’s right, Frank Bannister - Ghost Exterminator.
His scam somewhat works for him (he doesn’t have all that much ambition) until he starts seeing a ghost that is exterminating people.
Throw in a suspicious, paranoid and very much insane FBI agent (Jeffrey Combs), a recently widowed love interest, a the seemingly innocent victim of parental abuse and you have a twisty, suspenseful and very entertaining supernatural mystery.
MJF’s performance is especially notable in this movie. He’s played jerks many times - it’s kind of his specialty - and he always gives them something to make the audience like and even identify with him. However, Bannister is particularly pathetic and the pathos the character exudes is palpable.
Jeffrey Combs, as FBI Special Agent Dammers is equally funny and disturbing and Trini Alvarado took a character that could have been one dimensional and boring and made her into someone the audience actually cares about.
My favorite quote: Sheriff, you are violating my territorial bubble! - FBI Special Agent Dammers (Jeffrey Combs)
7: Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
I take a lot of good-natured ribbing for this movie. It’s about talking pets for cripe’s sake. But I am unashamed of my affection for it. It makes me laugh and cry every time I watch it and for me, that makes an great movie.
MJF voices the character of Chance, a recently adopted American Bulldog. He moves in with a large family and their two pets Shadow (Don Ameche) and Sassy (Sally Field). For a few months the pets have to stay with a friend, to be reunited with their family at year’s end.
Due to Shadow’s intuition about the meaning of his master’s words, the pets leave their temporary home in search of their master. Chance goes along reluctantly, not wanting to be left behind but he makes it clear that he doesn’t need humans or any family to be happy.
Of course, by the end of the movie he changes his mind and everyone is reunited. What happens in between is at times funny, sad, heartwarming and a great adventure. This is another one that’s great for the entire family as the kids will love the antics of the animals and the adults will appreciate the witty humor.
My favorite quote (oh, there are so, so many): Shadow was faithful. Shadow was loyal. Shadow was a chump. - Chance (Michael J. Fox)
This is pretty much the quintessential 80’s movie. It’s all about climbing the corporate ladder and reaching the top in the business world by any and all means - but still staying a nice guy. I wouldn’t call this a romantic sex comedy - I’d call it outright fantasy.
MJF plays Brantley Foster, a business major from Kansas who moves to New York because, well, if you can make it there you can make it anywhere. He finds it difficult to find work and finally gets a job in the mail room of his Uncle’s company.
He seems stuck in this position until he happens across an empty office and takes over, creating a new identity and using the company’s disorganization to his benefit. During all this he falls in love with the only female executive in the company - who is his Uncle’s mistress -his ‘Aunt’ falls in lust with him and Brantley does his best to resist with mixed results.
In the end, Aunt Vera (played brilliantly by Margaret Whitton) comes to Brantley’s aid and helps him take over the company and buy out a rival company in the process. Everything ends well for our heroes - they’re in love, engaged and filthy rich.
But still, they’re all the same nice, generous and thoughtful people they were in the beginning….right.
My favorite quote: Aunt Vera, why are you singing a medley? - Brantley Foster (Michael J. Fox)
9: Teen Wolf
I think this is probably one of the highest grossing low-budget films in history. Timing was the all-important factor and because it came out shortly after Back to the Future, everyone was clamoring for more of Michael J. Fox. Because of this, the names Boof and Stiles are instilled in the memories of the majority of people who were teens in the 80’s.
No, it’s not the greatest of movies - the premise is silly and unrealistic - but it’s a hell of a lot of fun. MJF always gives a great performance no matter how bad the material is that he has to work with. This wasn’t he worst he ever had, but it certainly wasn’t the greatest.
Co-written by one of the worst (in my opinion) ‘famous’ comic book writers, Jeph Loeb III, this is probably the best thing he’s written that I’ve ever experienced seen or read. I pretty much give the credit to the other guy, Mathew Weisman.
After finding out he’s a werewolf with certain ‘magical’ abilities, mild-mannered and unpopular Scott Howard (MJF) becomes a strutting jerk. With the help of his friends Stiles (Jerry Levine) and Boof (Susan Ursitti) and his ever-patient father (James Hampton) he finally realizes that he ‘doesn’t need the wolf’ and neither does anyone else.
My favorite quote: Hey baby, ten-hut. Nice hair cut over there. Be all that you can be. How was Granada, man? Hey Louie, Louie. What’s goin’ on here? Is the President here today or something? - Stiles (Jerry Levine)
Again, many of you may be reading that title and saying, ‘Wha-huh?’
Your Studio and You was a short film that Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park) and Jeff Wright wrote for Universal Studios when it was bought by the Bartles and James company.
The short film is a mockumentary that does a lot of mocking. The number and caliber of stars in this short is impressive and their willingness to poke fun at themselves is admirable. For example, whenever Sylvester Stallone speaks, he exaggerates his famous slurred speaking pattern and he’s subtitled. Stephen Speilberg is shown giving the Universal back lot tour and appearing completely unimpressed by the Jaws shark.
Michael J. Fox appears as the ‘What does that mean?’ guy. Everytime the narrator of the film (Trey Parker) gives some advice for adjusting to the new ownership, Michael J. Fox (eating cookies and milk) always asks what that means. And that’s it - that’s his entire appearance. But it’s hilarious, as is most of the rest of the mockumentary.
It has shown up on YouTube and other various places. I recommend that you keep your eye out for it and watch it at least once. It’s worth it.
My favorite quote: What does that mean; never say no to a sailor? - Michael J. Fox
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So, there you have it. My personal Top 10 favorite Michael J. Fox films. For bringing us all this great entertainment, I wish him a very happy birthday and many, many more to come.
AFI Countdown…another one
Michael J. Fox is listed as a guest in AFI’s newest countdown. The special is to air on CBS on June 17, 2008.
Also, Back to the Future is a contender for the science fiction category.
Available for Pre-Order
Michael J. Fox’s new book “Always Looking Up: Observations of an Incurable Optimist” can now be pre-ordered.
The release date is September 23, 2008
TV Schedule Update
The MJFDB Television schedule has been updated. View it HERE.
They’re gonna live forever…
MJF is being inducted into the Canada Walk of Fame. This article says he was originally included in 2000 but was unable to attend.
Click the image to enlarge.Playing Catch Up (Again)
I’ve gotten way behind with the news page once again. So - here are the news items I have saved during this past month but did not get around to posting until today.
I like low humor as much as the next girl - well, more than most females I suppose - but I have never liked Family Guy. I always saw it as a really bad rip off of The Simpsons. So, I wasn’t surprised when the writers were low enough to take jabs at celebrity disabilities. If you want to know what this is about, click here.
Michael J. Fox was recently interviewed about his state of mind ten years after revealing he has Parkinson’s Disease. Click Here to view the video.
Michael J. Fox is now a doctor! Click the links below to read the various stories on the ‘net that covered event:
- Michael J. Fox Accepts Honorary Degree
- Humbled Michael J. Fox awarded degree
- Doctor Michael J. Fox
- Michael J. Fox awarded honorary law degree
- UBC honors ‘hometown hero’ Michael J. Fox
- Michael J. Fox ‘deeply moved’ by honorary degree from UBC
- View Video of Michael J. Fox’s Acceptance Speech
And on a related note: Joan Jett will be appearing on Law & Order: Criminal intent - I searched for a date but didn’t have much luck. I’m glad to hear that Jett is acting more although this sounds like an extended cameo (she’s the murder victim). I thought she was great in ‘Light of Day‘ despite the fact that the film itself wasn’t all that great.
The Clock Tower is Gone
A fire swept through the Universal backlot this morning including several exhibits and sets including the Times Square set used in Back to the Future, not to mention many other films. Videos and film reels were also destroyed but fortunately, they were not the only copies of the items.
However, there was no ‘copy’ of the Clock Tower. I’m glad I saw it before it was destroyed.
For more, click here
Degrees and Vacations
The Vancouver Sun reports that Michael J. Fox will be receiving an honorary degree from the University of British Columbia, B.C.’s largest University. Read the article HERE. At the University’s official site is a complete list of honorary degree recipients.
More details have been released over on TV Shows on DVD about the season 4 DVD set of Family Ties. Looks like they’re continuing to include the episode promos for each episode and a blooper reel. Also - Family Ties Vacation WILL be included with the set. It doesn’t say if it will be split into four ‘episodes’ as it is treated in syndication packages or as it originally aired - a television movie. Personally, I’m hoping they include it as it originally aired.
Family Ties Season 4
TV Shows on DVD is reporting that a release date for Family Ties Season 4 on DVD has been announced.
Release Date: August 5, 2008
This is a special season for me because it was the first season that I started watching the show on a weekly basis. Also, Tracy Pollan joins the cast.
No word on the ‘Family Ties Vacation’ movie - it aired between seasons 3 and 4.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction
Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan attended the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction on March 10, 2008. CLICK HERE for the details.
WWAD? (What Would Alex Do?)
Gary David Goldberg writes an interesting article about how Alex P. Keaton would vote in today’s presidential race.
Excerpt:
For what it’s worth Michael J. Fox and I have differing opinions about just where Alex Keaton is today. I believe he does pro bono legal work for the Children’s Defense Fund.
Mike thinks he’s just now getting out of prison.
CLICK HERE to read the full article
MJF to appear in theaters!
Celebrities, Religious Liberty Heroes Headline National Simulcast For Church-State Separation
Activists Gather At Theaters In 25 Cities To Put Church-State Separation On National Agenda During 2008 Election
Actors, musicians and comedians will join church-state activists from across the country March 26 to put church-state separation on the national agenda during the 2008 election season.
In movie theatres in 25 cities across the nation, interested citizens will gather to learn about the threats to church-state separation and to demand that presidential hopefuls and candidates for other offices answer questions about key issues dealing with individual freedom. A list of 10 great questions to ask candidates will be featured.
Titled “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about the Separation of Church and State … but Were Afraid to Ask!,” the high-definition program is being hosted by First Freedom First (FFF), a joint project of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and The Interfaith Alliance Foundation.
Peter Coyote, a celebrated Hollywood actor and filmmaker, will emcee the program, which is to include a performance by special guests, The Bacon Brothers. Actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael formed the band more than 10 years ago and continue touring nationwide.
Other actors and celebrities scheduled to participate include Michael J. Fox (“Family Ties” and “Spin City”), Jack Klugman (“The Odd Couple” and “Quincy, M.E.”), James Whitmore (“The Shawshank Redemption”), Wendie Malick (“Just Shoot Me!”), Dan Lauria (“The Wonder Years”), Catherine Dent (“The Shield”), stand-up comedian and Air America host Marc Maron, singer/songwriter Catie Curtis and singer/satirist Roy Zimmerman.
In addition, Americans who have fought for individual freedom will tell their stories. Invited guests include Bryan and Christy Rehm (who fought creationism in Dover, Pa. science classes), Matthew LaClair (a New Jersey high schooler who exposed religious indoctrination at his school), Roberta Stewart (an Afghanistan War widow who fought for equal rights for Wiccan veterans), Dr. Susan Wicklund (who wears a bullet-proof vest to provide reproductive services in underserved areas) the Rev. Madison Shockley (pastor and reproductive rights advocate) David and Ryan Altoon (who oppose fundamentalist proselytism at U.S. military academies) Melinda “Lindy” Maddox (who successfully sued Alabama “Commandments” Judge Roy Moore) and Susan Jacoby (author of The Age of American Unreason).
First Freedom First was launched in 2006 to mobilize Americans from all walks of life in defense of church-state separation. Recently FFF ran television ads in several presidential primary states urging citizens to ask the candidates to elaborate on their understanding of religious liberty.
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, and the Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of The Interfaith Alliance Foundation, will also participate in the simulcast.
Said Lynn, “This is a unique event that brings together celebrity commitment, civic engagement and the latest technology. Presidential candidates have been asked what their favorite Bible verse is and what sins they have committed. I want to know where they stand on key issues of individual freedom. This simulcast will tell us how to find out that information — and give us an entertaining evening to boot.”
Said Gaddy, “We are thrilled that so many American icons we have welcomed into our living rooms over the years have graciously agreed to lend their star-power to focus attention on religious liberty and some of its heroes. This gathering should prove to be a lively and much-deserved celebration of the diversity of belief systems in this country and some of the citizens who have boldly taken public stands to protect the boundaries between religion and government.”
The March 26 simulcast is being produced by Progressive Media Agency, a Portland, Ore.-based firm led by Adam Klugman and Enrique Arias.
MJF to be Keynote Speaker
Americans for Cures Foundation Announces Michael J. Fox as Keynote Speaker at April Conference
Americans for Cures Foundation announces Michael J. Fox as keynote speaker at State of Stem Cell Advocacy 2008, the leading conference for grassroots advocates who support stem cell research
PALO ALTO, Calif. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 28, 2008 — Americans for Cures Foundation (www.americansforcures.org) announces Michael J. Fox as a featured speaker at State of Stem Cell Advocacy 2008, this year’s leading conference for grassroots advocates supporting stem cell research. The conference will be held on April 12-13 at UCSF Mission Bay. Americans for Cures Foundation welcomes new and experienced advocates of all diseases and conditions to learn approaches that can further their advocacy for the facts and promise of stem cell research.
The conference’s featured speaker is Michael J. Fox, the actor and noted Parkinson’s disease and stem cell research advocate. Mr. Fox joins other confirmed speakers including Robert N. Klein, Chair, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM); Amy Comstock Rick, CEO, Parkinson’s Action Network and President, Coalition for Advancement of Medical Research; and Bernard Siegel, founder and Executive Director of Genetics Policy Institute.“Our founding charter was to support the implementation of Proposition 71,” said Constance McKee and Amy Daly, Co-Executive Directors of Americans for Cures Foundation (A4CF). “Now we are reaching out nationally to Americans who are hungry for the facts, not the hype, about stem cell science. If we speak out together for cures, we can accelerate the pace at which hope becomes the reality of therapy.”
Don C. Reed, sponsor of the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Act (California, 1999) and a Board member of A4CF, said, “We are honored to have Michael J. Fox participate in this conference. The courage and determination with which he faces the challenges of living with Parkinson’s disease are an inspiration to millions.”
Registration for the event is open at www.americansforcures.org. Advocates needing financial assistance may apply for a limited number of conference scholarships. For more information, including details on sponsorship opportunities for State of Stem Cell Advocacy 2008, email inform@americansforcures.org .
Mocking Rush
This is probably an old clip, but I just saw it today.
Site Update: TV Schedule
The TV Schedule has been updated through the end of February.
CLICK HERE to view.
BTTF Animated DVD Rumors
TVShowsonDVD.com are reporting rumors that the animated Back to the Future series may be coming to DVD. There were similar rumors two years ago, so don’t get too excited.
Click HERE for more details.