GTA IV: Helicopter ride
More footage courtesy G4.
GTA IV gameplay
10 minutes of “Grand Theft Auto IV” game play footage from X-Play.
Back from New York!
I went to New York City this weekend to talk to the director, stars and writers of “Iron Man,” which opens Friday. Look for my interview with Robert Downey Jr. in this Friday’s Weekend Look. I’m going to try to share as much “Iron Man” info as I can with Nerdage readers over the next several days, so keep checking back!
– Matt Price
More from Shaun Toub about “Iron Man”
Actor Shaun Toub, who plays Yinsen in the upcoming “Iron Man” movie, talked to the Oklahoman about the demands and rewards of “Iron Man.”
Matt Price: Were there a lot of physical demands to the role?
Shaun Toub: Mostly on Robert rather than I because of the character. The place where we were at, it was a little difficult, but I’ve had a lot worse. I came from shooting the Kite Runner last year in
MP: Lots of superhero movies feature a lot of special effects. “Iron Man” is directed by Jon Favreau, who’s also an actor. Did that help with having room to work?
ST: There was plenty of room to work. A lot of the superheroes and the action movies, it’s mostly action-driven and special effects have a lot to do with it and all, but in this case, this is very much a character-driven movie as well. What the actors bring to the table really does make a difference and it shows. Jeff Bridges is very good in it, and Robert really does make a difference. I think at first people were surprised at why Robert Downey Jr. would be hired to play Iron Man, but when they see the movie, they will understand why and it totally makes sense.
MP: So, are you involved with the ancillary products. like the trading cards, for “Iron Man”?
ST: I have my own. Just a few weeks ago, I signed my trading cards, which was interesting. And I did the video game as well, which is coming out the same day.
It was really interesting because you do a character, and you go on and do other things, and then when they call to go revisit for the video game, it was interesting to go back and try to find the guy with the accent.
MP: Have you ever been on a trading card before?
ST: It’s my first. So it’s very exciting, very fun. This is a wonderful thing about the business. Just when you think — I’ve been in it for 20 years now, I’ve done everything, I’ve seen it all — then something else comes along and makes it exciting.
Actor Shaun Toub helps hero in “Iron Man”
From Friday’s The Oklahoman:
By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
His character assisted Lex Luthor a decade ago in “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” but actor Shaun Toub is on the side of the superheroes, now. Toub plays a key role as Yinsen, who helps Tony Stark become Iron Man in the upcoming film.
“Each of them have their own thing, their own following,” Toub said in a telephone interview. “But I think ‘Iron Man’ is going to be a bit different, and I think people are truly going to enjoy watching it; it’s a really good one.”
Toub, who played Lex Luthor’s assistant Asabi, now plays Yinsen, a doctor and fellow prisoner-of-war who keeps Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) alive as he builds his Iron Man suit.
“The suits are amazing; it makes you want to fly,” Toub said. “I think everybody who sees that film, they’re going to want to get into those suits.”
Toub is perhaps best known to audiences for his role in last year’s “The Kite Runner” or the Oscar-nominated “Crash.”
Toub said he only had passing familiarity with the Iron Man character, but the talent arrayed in the film drew him to the production.
“It was a different genre of film than what I’ve been doing lately; I try to always change it up,” Toub said.
“I’m a fan of Robert’s, I think he’s a wonderful actor,” Toub said. “And then when I met with them, the energy was great. I liked Jon Favreau, and I know he’s an actor so I knew he was going to be fun.”
Toub said Favreau was very open to ideas, and some last-minute wardrobe changes helped Toub nail down the Yinsen character.
“When I got there, doing the rehearsal process, we were rewriting the entire script and inventing the character,” Toub said. “Two days before we shot basically an idea came to mind, which I don’t want to give it away, but Robert was very supportive.”
Toub pitched his idea to Favreau, who was interested.
“To the wardrobe department’s credit they got on it and they went shopping and we came up with a brand new Yinsen. And that was the character that I thought that Yinsen should be, and it was very comfortable for me, and Yinsen was born.”
Toub said the cast — including Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges — make “Iron Man” more actor-friendly than many action films.
“There was plenty of room to work. A lot of the superheroes and the action movies, it’s mostly action-driven and special effects have a lot to do with it and all, but in this case, this is very much a character-driven movie as well,” he said. “What the actors bring to the table really does make a difference and it shows. Jeff Bridges is very good in it, and Robert really does make a difference. I think at first people were surprised at why Robert Downey Jr. would be hired to play Iron Man, but when they see the movie, they will understand why and it totally makes sense.”
Actor Shaun Toub on “Seinfeld,” fashion
Actors Bahar Soomekh, left, and Shaun Toub arrive at the 9th annual Costume Designers Guild Awards, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP)
Matt Price: Tell me about your fashion background.
Shaun Toub: I’ve been blessed because I used to, from time to time I still get offers to go back into fashion and people want to start up things with me. But I’ve always loved fashion, and I had a men’s line at one point. But then it became too much, and I had to decide if I wanted to do fashion or if I wanted to do acting. And I decided on the acting. It’s something I love, it’s something I’m always reading up on, and I want to know what’s out there. Domenico Vacca, who dressed me for the “Kite Runner,” did our clothing, and then we became friends. And he actually dresses me for events. He’s one of the best designers in the world right now, and probably one of the most expensive that I know of, but his clothes are just beautiful, magnificent, and I’m just blessed that I have the opportunity that I get to go play in his store. And actually, for my character on “The Mentalist,” he does the clothing. It’s amazing, every time I wear his stuff, people are always complimenting me. I just like it, fashion is something I like to play with.
Matt Price: You played Pinter, an ex-boyfriend of Elaine’s, on the “backward” episode of “Seinfeld.” What was it like being on the show?
Shaun Toub: You never know if that episode is going to be the good one, but it turned out to be a great one, and people still talk about that episode. It was a pleasure to be on it, it was a bit different, because when I was on that, they didn’t shoot it like the regular, four-camera half hour. They did it where they shot it initially with an audience, bc of the way it was, it was very difficult because it was going backward and everything. It was fun, the people were great, very friendly, and I still run into some of them from time to time. “Seinfeld” is a legend, so it’s always nice to be on those shows.
MP: And I suppose you still get residuals.
ST: That’s a blessing of this business, that every day could be Christmas.
Actor Shaun Toub on “The Mentalist,” “Kite Runner”
Actor Shaun Toub talked to The Oklahoman about his work on “Iron Man,” and he also gave us the scoop about the upcoming CBS pilot “The Mentalist.” He also encouraged everyone to check out last year’s “The Kite Runner,” which he described as an “important” film.
Matt Price: What is “The Mentalist”?
Shaun Toub: The Mentalist is a very interesting show that came my way. I’ve been doing movies, so I haven’t been too keen about starting up a series and doing something on TV on a regular basis. But I had a meeting with them and I must say I was impressed. The creator of “Rome,” Bruno Heller, is basically writing this, and the people involved are truly class-A, and they’re very good energy. I couldn’t say no. It’s with Simon Baker, a very good actor, and the script is a great script, it’s really interesting. It is of the of the FBI-CIS-CSI genre. This is the CBI, which is the California version of it. But it has a twist. Sometimes things come about that you just go with it. The people involved are wonderful. David Nutter, who is directing this, his track record is amazing. Almost every pilot that he touches is golden and it gets picked up. I was talking to Warner Brothers Television and they were very excited, they were telling me that David is really at the top of the list. Peter Roth, who is the president of Warner Television, said they allow David to make a choice on what he wants to direct, and he has picked this one.
MP: What else do you want to let people know about?
ST: Because I’m so proud of “The Kite Runner,” as well, I want people to know that the DVD is out. Although It didn’t get the accolades that it deserved, I believe that it’s a very important film, and a wonderful film for people to see. “The Kite Runner” is based on the bestselling book “The Kite Runner,” that Khaled Hosseini wrote. It’s an incredible, incredible book. It’s a very rare thing in Hollywood when the movie is just as good as the book. Which in this case, it is, which it’s so rare for the author of a book to love a movie that is made, and Hosseini actually loves the movie.
It’s based in Afghanistan and we shot it in China. Marc Forster, who is actually doing the Bond movie know, directed it – who did “Finding Neverland,” “Monster’s Ball” – and this truly is another masterpiece which I think people in time will appreciate more. It’s a magnificent movie, I really urge everyone to see it. It’s just come out on DVD now. I tell you, last night I was at an event, and wherever I go people mention “Kite Runner,” they were introducing me and they mentioned “Kite Runner” and the entire crowd went crazy. People truly, they love this film, I can say in all the years, and all my work, “Crash” and the “Kite Runner” so far have been the ones that I am most proud of. It’s a very important film, it’s the story of life. It’s a bit hard at times but it’s life. The actors are great, the kids are wonderful, Marc Forster, the director is a genius. So I really urge people to see it, it’s incredible, I promise they won’t regret it. Most of the people I know have seen it 3 or 4 times already, it’s that kind of a movie. Very important movie to see – you know, sometimes in Hollywood, we get lucky and not only we can entertain but maybe we can teach. We can open people’s eyes, and the “Kite Runner” does that. It really gives you something. You will think about the “Kite Runner” for weeks. We go to the movies sometimes, and we walk out of them, and that’s the end of that, but the “Kite Runner” stays with you.
“Grand Theft Auto IV” — the “Halo”-killer?
From Friday’s The Oklahoman:
By Matthew Price
THE NEXT LEVEL
It’s spurred record sales and congressional inquiries. The bad boy of video games is back on Tuesday, as “Grand Theft Auto IV” is released. It may “launch a million PTA meetings,” says Game Daily editor in chief Libe Goad. But “Grand Theft Auto IV” brings more realistic physics and mature storytelling to next-generation consoles, she said.
This time around, the mature-rated game allows gamers to take the role of Niko Bellic, an eastern European lured to Liberty City by the promises of his cousin.
“He’s coming over to America to live the American dream,” said Goad, whose Web site is found at www.gamedaily.com.
“(Bellic’s) cousin moved over and was apparently having a very Scarface lifestyle — yachts, hot ladies etc.,” Goad said. “(Bellic) came over and discovered that’s not the case — his cousin was actually in trouble and needed some help.”
Goad, who played the game prior to release, said it will be recognizable to fans who have played previous games, but with improvements.
“There’s a lot that’s new in the game,” she said. “When you play the game it’ll be very familiar … but in a lot of ways it’ll be very advanced. There’s amazing graphics; there’s more realistic physics with driving the car. There’s a totally new main character and a new storyline. There’s a new environment.”
That new environment has a familiar name — Liberty City — but it’s been redesigned for “Grand Theft Auto IV.”
“Basically you’re going back to Liberty City again, but it looks a lot more like the real-life Liberty City aka New York City,” she said. The game offers multiplayer for the first time. And, while it still keeps the “sandbox” style of gameplay, “IV” looks to be even more action-packed than the earlier installments.
“If you look at all the series together, it probably won’t be as open-ended as say, ‘San Andreas,’” Goad said. “That had some parts where you could go roam in the desert and things like that. Those kind of elements where you’re just roaming around in areas where there’s not much to do, that’s kind of been taken out of the game. You can definitely roam, but it will be action-packed wherever you go.”
The game has its mature-rated moments, and Goad urges parents not to buy the game for their younger teens.
“(Something) important for all parents is to definitely be aware of the ratings on the boxes of the video games,” Goad said. “The mature rating is for age 17 and older. Familiarize yourself with these ratings, which you can find at ESRB.org.”
Even limiting sales to gamers 17 and over, “Grand Theft Auto IV” is expected to be a financial home run.
“I think people are expecting the ‘Halo’-killer,” Goad said.
Some analysts attributed a decline at the box office to the release of “Halo 3” in September. Is a similar box office slump likely to result from “Grand Theft Auto IV?”
“I did hear some stories where analysts predicting that it will affect (the movie) ‘Iron Man,’” Goad said. “The funny thing about ‘Iron Man’ is, ‘Grand Theft Auto’ and ‘Iron Man’ appeal to very similar audiences, so maybe they’ll buy ‘Grand Theft Auto,’ play that, take a break to go see ‘Iron Man,’ then go back and play ‘Grand Theft Auto.’”
DVD review: “Battlestar Galactica” Season Three
From Friday’s The Oklahoman:
In “Battlestar Galactica” season three, most of the surviving humans have settled on a planet called New Caprica, halting their search for Earth. But the Cylons, the mechanical life forms that wiped out most of humanity, have found them.
As the human colonists on New Caprica fall under Cylon occupation, Battlestar Galactica, the military flagship commanded by Adama (Edward James Olmos) retreats from the planet.
The first four episodes are incredibly dark, as the “heroes” of the series must deal with questions of morality as they are held captive by the invading Cylon force. This is brutal stuff, though it works on several levels, and attempts to raise questions by the viewers beyond the fictional narrative.
After the four opening episodes, however, the series treads water as it heads for the finale. There are occasional good episodes, but it’s much more typical television than the previous two seasons. Season Three of “Battlestar Galactica” veers from the overarching story formula of the first two seasons. Bowing to studio pressure, Ron Moore and David Eick slotted more single-episode storylines into season three. The net effect is to slow down the momentum of the series when watching it on DVD.
Things pick up again in the final three episodes, and the final episode will surprise even longtime “Galactica” watchers.
— Matthew Price
Comics podcast: Mighty Avengers 12, Thor 8, Hulk 3, Wolverine First Class 2
Greg Elwell and I discuss this week’s comics in a Marvel-heavy podcast: “Mighty Avengers” 12, “Thor” 8, “Hulk” 3 and “Wolverine: First Class” 2.
– Matt Price
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
