Friday, February 16, 2007

Who was that silver-masked man?

The Cartoon Network has announced plans for an animated series based on the Mexican icon Santo, El Enmascarado de Plata (the silver masked man). http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0763803/
Mexican wrestler El Hijo del Santo (son of Santo) is working with Carlo Olivares Paganoni to develop the untitled adventure/fantasy series set in Mexico City.
According to Cartoon Network, El Hijo del Santo is heir to the legendary silver mask, once held by his father, the flesh and blood icon Santo, El Enmascarado de Plata. A highly idolized figure in Mexico, Santo is a cultural icon who has not only conquered the world of lucha libre (Mexican wrestling), but has also been immortalized in film and television. Santo passed his legacy onto his son 25 years ago, who has since successfully defended his father’s title and propelled the distinguished reputation to a world-wide level. Today, El Hijo del Santo is recognized as the silver masked wrestler, Santo.
Santo uses his new powers to defend justice inside and outside the wrestling ring and faces a slew of enemies ranging from everyday criminals to genetically enhanced mystical villains. Created and executive-produced by Paganoni with Alex Soto ( Ben 10) as supervising producer, 13 half-hour episodes are being produced at Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank, Calif. Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 91 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world.

Boolinale

International glam star Jennifer Lopez http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000182/ debuted her new film Borderline at Berlinale and was simultaneously recognized by Amnesty International for her work on the film.
The film also was reportedly booed by the audience. Who boos at the theater anymore, unless you’re tossing popcorn at a melodrama?
OK, so I wanted to boo during and after Gangs of New York, but I resisted. In fact, I want to boo right now, but I digress.
Anyway the film is a thriller set in Juarez, Mexico, and Lopez plays a Chicago-based reporter who crosses the border to investigate serial killing of women from the maquiladoras.
The film is directed by Gregory Nava, who directed Lopez in Selena so many years ago. It also co-stars Antonio Banderas and Martin Sheen. http://www.capitolfilms.com/cgi-bin/buildpage.pl?page='
Nava has been working on the project, but it wasn’t until Lopez agreed to star that financing fell into place and the stars aligned.
Amnesty recognized Lopez for bringing attention to the real-life plight of women in Juarez. The killings have been going on for years, but Mexican officials reportedly are ignoring the problem for fear of loosing the lucrative border manufacturing business that comes from U.S. companies. Amnesty believes more than 400 women have been killed in Juarez.
The Berlinale audience reportedly didn’t like the “thriller” aspect when applied to a real-life investigation. I figured European film audiences were made of stronger stuff than that.
Kudos for Lopez and company for tackling tougher stuff than demanding bosses and romances with dance partners. (My favorite Lopez movie is 1998’s Out of Sight with George Clooney.) What’s yours?
Does anyone have thoughts on the Juarez killings or the concept of a thriller built around a true-life tragedy?

Banderas, Lopez, Nava