Yogi, Boo-Boo headed to big time

What the world needs now? Not love, sweet love, but a live-action-hybrid feature-length version of Yogi Bear

Tentatively titled Jellystone Passion, it hopes to do for Hanna-Barbara cartoons what The Dark Knight did for DC comics in terms of depth and drama.

Those who have seen the early rushes say that Edward Norton IS Boo-Boo, the tortured "sidekick" longing for his own moment in the sun, working out day after day, eating Yogi's scraps, forever awaiting his chance to be lead bear.

The buzz is that John Goodman will finally get his long-overdue Oscar in the lead role.

I'm disappointed that Ingmar Bergman, who was attached to the project, died before getting a chance to complete it, but I'm thrilled that they left Bergman's main man, Max von Sydow, in the pivotal role of Ranger Smith. Some felt that the 79-year-old was too old and frail for the role, but for me his powerful acting skills more than compensate for his advanced age.