Calling The A-Team

The new A-Team cast seen here from left to right: (Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson)

Movies made from TV shows, sure a concept that has begun to wear thin, nowadays movies based off comic books and super heroes are the craze. But just recently I heard the news, that there will be a movie based on the classic TV series, "The A-Team", and I was ecstatic.

When I was a kid, my television favorites were limited, either professional wrestling, game shows like Press Your Luck, Scrabble or The Price Is Right and classic shows like Dukes of Hazzard and A-Team.

For those who don't remember, but should remember, the A-Team was about a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces who work as soldiers of fortune while being on the run from the military for a "crime they didn't commit".

Although not directly referenced in the series, the name of the show comes from "A-Teams", the nickname for Operational Detachments Alpha (ODA). The US Army Special Forces uses the term ODA for their 12-man direct operations teams.

The intro to the show is as memorable to me today, as it was when I was young:

"(Ten years ago / In 1972), a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The A-Team."

The A-Team was led by Colonel George "Hannibal" Smith (played by the late great George Peppard), whose ideas were at times unorthodox but proven to be effective. Hannibal was joined by smooth talking con-man Templeton Peck a.k.a. "Faceman" played by Dirk Benedict (who some might know from Battlestar Galactica, the original series), the insane pilot H.W. Murdoch played by Dwight Schultz and of course the muscle of the group, "B.A." (Bad Attitude) Baracus played by Mr.T.

The show lasted for five seasons from January 23, 1983 to December 30, 1986 (with one additional, previously unbroadcast episode shown on March 8, 1987), for a total of 98 episodes.

As of today, The A-Team remains known in popular culture for its cartoon-like use of over-the-top violence, supposedly formulaic episodes, featuring the ability to form weaponry and vehicles out of old parts, and its distinctive theme tune. Some of the show's catchphrases such as "I love it when a plan comes together" (used most recently in a skit on one of the last episodes of the Chappelle's Show),"Hannibal's on the jazz" and "I ain't gettin' on no plane!" have also made their way onto T-shirts and other merchandise.

Now a movie is in the works, the release date June of 2010, the director Joe Carnahan, an independent director whose last work was the absolute bomb, "Smokin' Aces." Hopefully, that is not a bad sign, for the A-team film.

The cast begins with Hannibal, who among the acting world was chosen to play the gritty leader of the group, in the end it was Liam Neeson. At first, I wouldn't think he would fit the role as Hannibal, but his performance in "Taken" sold me that he's definitely the guy to fill Peppard's legendary shoes.

Bradley Cooper from this year's top comedy, "The Hangover," has been cast to play "Faceman," again another good casting move, ladies seem to love Cooper these days he has gained equivalent status as Brad Pitt or Matthew McCounaghey so if anybody could be picked for the smooth talking ladies man it's Cooper.

Sharlto Copley, who the world was to introduced to with his remarkable performance in this year's top summer film, "District 9," has been chosen to play Murdoch. This might be a good call, Copley played a strong yet somewhat near insane character in the film, to play Murdoch he would have to turn the insanity up a notch, but District 9 shows he is a great actor and should live to up the role.

Finally, who will take the role of the man whose only fear was flying, (Mr. T's character B.A. Baracus), Ultimate Fighting superstar Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. An actor who will make his major motion picture debut is quite the possibly the most genius casting move of any of the four actors, if anyone whose familiar with the UFC would know Rampage, his demeanor when he makes his way to the octagon and persona fits the bill of the character that Mr. T classically portayed.

If that ain't enough fellas, Jessica Biel, has also been cast as a former love interest of Cooper's character, who leads the Army unit that is hunting down the A-Team. On a side note, Biel unlike Megan Fox is an absolutely beautiful woman who "can" act.

All in all, this and the Ironman sequel, which should be totally sweet too, are my too favorites for next summer, hopefully a summer better than this year.