Moviefone Editorial

Author: Jesse Schedeen

  • 7 Marvel Comics You Should Read to Get Ready for ‘Avengers: Endgame’

    7 Marvel Comics You Should Read to Get Ready for ‘Avengers: Endgame’

  • 11 Things You Never Knew About ‘Election’

    11 Things You Never Knew About ‘Election’

    Paramount Pictures

    It’s now been 20 years since Alexander Payne‘s “Election” hit theaters. What could have been a simple teen comedy instead turned out to be one of the most insightful  political satires of the ’90s. The fact that it helped launch the career of star Reese Witherspoon is just icing on the cake. So celebrate this cinematic milestone by learning some fun facts about “Election.”

    1. The film is based on the 1998 novel of the same name by writer Tom Perrotta. Perrotta sold the rights a year before the novel was published.

    2. Perrotta, in turn, was inspired by the 1992 presidential election and a news story about a pregnant high school student in Wisonsin who had her homecoming crown voided by the school.

    Paramount Pictures

    3. Matthew Broderick‘s character Jim has a diet that deteriorates along with his behavior. In the beginning of the movie, he’s shown eating a salad. By the end, he’s gorging on pie and throwing milkshakes.

    4. Melissa Joan Hart auditioned for the lead role before Witherspoon was ultimately cast as Tracy.

    5. Chris Klein made his acting debut in “Election.” He was discovered because he happened to be walking down the hall when Payne was scouting Millard West High School in Omaha, Nebraska as a potential shooting location.

    Paramount Pictures

    6. Even using actual high school students as extras, Payne had trouble finding enough extras to fill the crowd scenes. This was in part because filming took place during the busy SAT prep season.

    7. Thora Birch was originally cast as Tammy Metzler, but she quit a few days into filming due to ongoing friction with Payne.

    Paramount Pictures

    8. Payne snuck a hidden message into one of the newspaper articles featured onscreen. It complains about the difficulty in writing fake newspaper copy and directs viewers to watch 1997’s “Citizen Ruth.”

    9. Paul is called to the principal’s office to find out about his election loss right as his Spanish class is shown conjugating the verb “perder,” which means “to lose.”

    Paramount Pictures

    10. The film’s ending was re-shot. The original ending sticks closer to the novel and features Tracy encountering Jim working at a local car dealership.

    11. While “Election” was a box office failure upon release, it’s since developed a sizable cult following. According to Payne, Barack Obama has named it his favorite political film of all time.

  • 12 Things You Didn’t Know About ’13 Going on 30′ on its 15th Anniversary

    12 Things You Didn’t Know About ’13 Going on 30′ on its 15th Anniversary

    Columbia Pictures

    It’s been 15 years since “13 Going on 30” hit theaters, meaning this rom-com about an awkward teenager morphing into an adult is now old enough to be an awkward teenager itself. Celebrate this anniversary with a few fun facts you might not know about “13 Going on 30.”

    1. “13 Going On 30” isn’t the only time Christa B. Allen has played a younger version of a Jennifer Garner character. She also shared a role with Garner in 2009’s “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.”

    2. Gwyneth Paltrow, Hilary Swank and Renée Zellweger were all considered for the lead role before Jennifer Garner was cast.

    Columbia Pictures

    3. Jenna morphs into a 30-year-old woman exactly 13 minutes into the film.

    4. Both Jenna and Lucy’s wardrobes evolve as the character’s respective personalities change. That’s why Jenna wears progressively warmer colors over the course of the movie.

    Columbia Pictures

    5. On the DVD director’s commentary, Gary Winick notes that he originally clashed with the studio over their insistence on including the slumber party scene. In hindsight, Winick considers it to be one of the best scenes in the movie.

    6. Jenna’s birth date is shown to be May 26, 1974, making her about two years younger than Garner herself.

    7. The scene where Jenna first sees her adult self in the mirror was framed as an intentional homage to 1988’s “Big,” which features a similar premise.

    Columbia Pictures

    8. Choreographer Michael Peters is included in the credits despite Peters having died in 1994. That’s because Peters performed the choreography for the “Thriller” music video, which is replicated in one of the most memorable scenes in “13 Going On 30.”

    9. Future Oscar winner Brie Larson made her film debut here as one of the “Six Chicks.” Her character is the one who is replaced by Jenna in the altered yearbook photo.

    Marvel Studios

    10. The scene in which Jenna confronts Matt before his wedding features a copy of Martin Amis’ “Time’s Arrow” on a shelf. This is appropriate, as “Time’s Arrow” is about a man experiencing his life in reverse order.

    11. The train scene was filmed on the exact same train Winick previously used in 2000’s “Tadpole.”

    12. The movie’s title was changed to “Suddenly 30” in Australia, as executives feared the original title would be too confusing.

  • 13 Things You Never Knew About ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 2’

    13 Things You Never Knew About ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 2’

    Miramax

    It’s now been 15 years since director Quentin Tarantino wrapped up the “Kill Bill” saga in “Kill Bill: Vol. 2.” And whether you treat them as two movies or one complete epic, they remain some of the greatest martial arts movies ever made. So celebrate this big anniversary by learning some interesting facts about this violent, tragic second part.

    1. Tarantino’s friend and frequent collaborator Robert Rodriguez agreed to help score the film for a salary of $1. In exchange, Tarantino agreed to direct a scene in 2005’s “Sin City” for the same price.

    2. The character Pai Mei is largely inspired by Pak Mei, a popular villain in Chinese folklore. His martial arts style is also based on that of the late Bruce Lee, who was renowned for his “One-Inch Punch” technique.

    Miramax

    3. The original script paid homage to badly dubbed martial arts movies by having Chia Hui Liu recite Pai Mei’s lines in Cantonese and Tarantino himself dubbing over them in English.

    4. The original script also includes a scene that explains why The Bride is no longer driving the Pussy Wagon in “Vol. 2” It turns out it was destroyed by Go-Go Yubari’s sister Yuki.

    Miramax

    5. Another deleted storyline involves a confrontation between Bill and Michael Jai White playing the character Black Dynamite. One of these scenes is included as an extra on the DVD release.

    6. Tarantino originally cast Ricardo Montalban as brothel owner Esteban Vihaio. But when Michael Parks filled in for Montalban at a script reading, Tarantino liked his performance so much he decided to give him the job instead.

    7. If the rivalry between The Bride and Elle seems especially believable in the movie, it’s because Uma Thurman and Darryl Hannah reportedly feuded throughout production and refused to be in the same room except when filming scenes together.

    Miramax

    8. Eagle-eyed viewers might spot a gasoline can in Budd’s trailer. This is the same can Michael Madsen‘s character used in 1992’s “Reservoir Dogs” when he attempted to burn a police officer alive.

    9. The film includes another nod to “Reservoir Dogs” when Budd tells the bride the kneecap is the most painful place to be shot. In “Reservoir Dogs,” Harvey Keitel‘s character Mr. White says the same thing about the stomach.

    Miramax

    10. Whereas The Bride kills dozens of people in the first movie, Bill is the only person she kills in the sequel.

    11. Beatrix and her daughter can be seen watching 1981’s “Shogun Assassin” on the TV at the end of the film. According to David Carradine, the original plan was to show 1970’s “The Aristocats” instead, but Disney prevented its inclusion.

    Miramax

    12. Tarantino has discussed plans for a follow-up to the “Kill Bill” duology, which would focus on an adult Nikki Bell seeking vengeance against the Bride for the death of Vernita Green. But while he once suggested the sequel might be released in 2014 (the tenth anniversary of Vol. 2), as of 2019 the sequel still hasn’t materialized.

    13. Tarantino has also expressed in interest in producing anime movies that reveal the origin stories of both the Bride and Bill.

  • 14 ‘Game of Thrones’ Villains You Love to Hate, Ranked

    14 ‘Game of Thrones’ Villains You Love to Hate, Ranked

  • The 17 Best HBO Series of the Past Decade, Ranked From ‘Game of Thrones’ to ‘Girls’

    The 17 Best HBO Series of the Past Decade, Ranked From ‘Game of Thrones’ to ‘Girls’

  • Summer 2019 Movie Preview: 31 Superhero, Horror & Comedy Movies You Should See

    Summer 2019 Movie Preview: 31 Superhero, Horror & Comedy Movies You Should See

  • 11 Awesome Heist Movies You Should See Before Watching ‘The Hustle’

    11 Awesome Heist Movies You Should See Before Watching ‘The Hustle’

  • 13 Things You Never Knew About ‘Shaun of the Dead’ on its 15th Anniversary

    13 Things You Never Knew About ‘Shaun of the Dead’ on its 15th Anniversary

    Rogue Pictures

    It’s now been 15 years since “Shaun of the Dead” hit theaters in the UK. That film wound up having a huge impact, kicking off a series of collaborations between Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg and proving to audiences that zombies and humor can go hand in undead hand. Celebrate this important movie milestone with some fun facts you might not know about “Shaun of the Dead.”

    1. Creators Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg decided to collaborate on a zombie movie after discovering a mutual appreciation for the work of director George Romero while working on the British sitcom “Spaced” and in particular an episode style after the “Resident Evil” videogame series that paid equal homage to the master of horror.

    2. Romero in turn was so pleased with “Shaun of the Dead” that he cast Pegg and Wright as zombie extras in 2005’s “Land of the Dead.”

    Universal Pictures

    3. Nick Frost‘s Ed winds up foreshadowing the entire plot of the film (via the names of various cocktails) when he lays out his drinking plans to Shaun in the beginning.

    4. None of the main characters ever have their surname spoken during the course of the film. However, an old DJ ad reveals that Shaun’s last name is “Riley.”

    5. The origin of the zombie plague in the film is never explained, though various radio and TV broadcasts offer theories that reference other popular zombie movies like “Night of the Living Dead” and “28 Days Later.”

    Continental Distributing

    6. The Winchester model 66 used in the film is the same as the one featured in both the original “Night of the Living Dead” and its 1990 remake.

    7. “Shaun of the Dead’s” UK release date was pushed back in order to avoid conflicting with the 2004 “Dawn of the Dead” remake.

    8. The DVD special features offer conflicting information as to whether Lucy Davis‘ character Dianne lives or dies. According to the “Plot Holes” featurette, she survives by hiding in a tree and eventually goes to live with her aunt.

    Rogue Pictures

    9. Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin plays two roles in the film, appearing first as a background zombie and later as himself hawking a product called ZombAid on TV.

    10. “Shaun of the Dead” is the first entry in the “Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy,” which also includes 2007’s “Hot Fuzz” and 2013’s “The World’s End.” The three films are linked by the fact that they each star Pegg and Frost and each feature a reference to a different flavor of Cornetto ice cream.

    Universal Pictures

    11. Many of the storefronts and advertisements seen in the film pay tribute to acclaimed horror directors, including Landis Supermarket (John Landis) and Italian restaurant Fulci’s (Lucio Fulci).

    12. The British comic book magazine “2000AD” featured a short story called “There’s Something About Mary” that takes place a day before the events of the movie and explores how the character Mary became a zombie.

    13. Pegg and Wright briefly considered a vampire-themed sequel called “From Dusk Till Shaun,” an homage to the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez film “From Dusk Till Dawn.”

  • 13 Things You Never Knew About ‘Major League’ on its 30th Anniversary

    13 Things You Never Knew About ‘Major League’ on its 30th Anniversary

    Paramount Pictures

    Not to make ’80s kids feel even older than they already do, but “Major League” is now 30 years old. This film remains one of the all-time great sports comedies after several decades. Why not relive a rare winning season for the Cleveland Indians by learning some fun new facts about “Major League?”

    1. While the film takes place in Cleveland, Ohio and features a fictionalized version of the Cleveland Indians, it was actually filmed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This is because the crew was unable to work around the Indians’ and Cleveland Browns’ respective schedules.

    2. Writer/director David S. Ward has said that he was inspired to create the film because he assumed it would be the only way he’d get to see his beloved Indians win.

    Paramount Pictures

    3. Star Charlie Sheen played baseball in high school and was able to pitch an 85 mph fastball during filming. However, Sheen has since admitted in a “Sports Illustrated” article that he took steroids to help achieve that feat.

    4. Unlike Sheen, costar Wesley Snipes had little natural skill for baseball. Ward revealed that he purposely cut any shots of Snipes throwing the ball in order to preserve the illusion.

    Paramount Pictures

    5. Bob Uecker improvised the memorable scene where his character Harry Doyle dabs whiskey behind his ears, as well as the iconic catch phrase “Just a bit outside.”

    6. Former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Pete Vukovich plays the intimidating Yankee batter Clu Haywood, despite the fact that Vukovich hit no home runs (and in fact rarely ever batted) during his 11 season-long career.

    7. An alternate ending portrays Margaret Whitton‘s character Rachel Phelps in a more positive light, revealing that she only threatened to move the team as a way of motivating her players. That ending was scrapped when test audiences reacted poorly.

    Paramount Pictures

    8. The Phelps character was inspired by former Minnesota Twins owner Calvin Griffith, who attempted to use a clause in his contract to move the team to a different city but eventually sold it instead.

    9. When Snipes’ character Willie Mays Hayes claims he can “run like Hayes,” he’s referencing Olympic sprinter/NFL player “Bullet” Bob Hayes. Hayes was once considered to be the fastest man in the world and remains the only athlete to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.

    10. The University of Arizona’s men’s baseball team filmed their own parody of “Major League” in 2017.

    11. Pitcher Mitch Williams was often compared to Sheen’s character Ricky Vaughn when he joined the Chicago Cubs in 1989, earning him the nickname “Wild Thing.”

    12. The movie had a video game tie-in for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989, though it was only ever released in Japan.

    13. In 2010, rumors surfaced of a new sequel that would ignore the events of the critically drubbed “Major League: Back to the Minors” and reunite Sheen, Snipes and Tom Berenger. So far that sequel has yet to materialize.

    “Major League” is now available on digital HD, DVD and Blu-ray!