Thursday, March 31, 2011

Arnold's Back.... But It's In Animated Form!

After months of speculating (and teasing) whether which movie or franchise Arnold Schwarzenegger going to make a comeback, it turns out to be quite a surprise to most fans out there. Ladies and gentlemen, it's not the much talked-about TRUE LIES 2 or any feature-length movie of any kind but it's rather an animated series!
Oh, wait... animated series? Well, believe it or not, here he is -- in an animated series (as well as comic book) where he's going to be a cartoon superhero known as "the Governator".

"When I ran for governor back in 2003 and I started hearing people talking about 'the Governator,' I thought the word was so cool", the 63-year-old Schwarzenegger tells Entertainment Weekly in his first press interview since leaving office last January. He added, "The word Governator combined two worlds: the world of politics and the movie world. And [this cartoon] brings everything together. It combines the governor, the Terminator, the bodybuilding world, the True Lies…"

The new animated series and the comic book is being co-created by Stan Lee and they won't be out until next year. But Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive early look of Arnold's the Governator character. (Check out the magazine cover at the left side)

Here's what Stan Lee have to say about the project:

The Governator is going to be a great superhero, but he’ll also be Arnold Schwarzenegger. We’re using all the personal elements of Arnold’s life. We’re using his wife [Maria Shriver]. We’re using his kids. We’re using the fact that he used to be governor. Only after he leaves the governor’s office, Arnold decides to become a crime fighter and builds a secret high-tech crime-fighting center under his house in Brentwood.

Not only that, the Governator will have the Arnold Cave, a fleet of super vehicles at his disposal, a closet full of "Super Suits" that enable him to fly and perform other super stunts, and a team of colorful sidekicks such as Zeke Muckerberg, the precocious 13-year-old computer whiz who acts as the Governator’s cybersecurity expert. Of course, no superhero will ever be complete without supervillain in the tow -- and it's an evil organization called Gangsters Imposters Racketeers Liars & Irredeemable Ex-cons (or G.I.R.L.I.E. Men).

This is certainly an unexpected but extraordinary project for the multi-talented Schwarzenegger, in which he goes on record saying:

I love the idea of a control center below my house with a path so that boats and submarines can go right into the ocean. “In the cartoon, my house is much closer to the beach than where we live, but, you know, it’s a cartoon.

Hmm... what do you think fellas? Do you think this is a good career move for a guy like Schwarzenegger?
READ MORE - Arnold's Back.... But It's In Animated Form!

Pounding THOR Quad Posters!

Thanks to Latino Review, here are 3 quad posters from Paramount and Marvel's upcoming summer extravaganza, THOR, which scheduled for local release on April 28 (yay!) before U.S. release on May 6, 2011. Take a look below.


THOR is directed by Kenneth Branagh. The movie stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan SkarsgÄrd, Idris Elba and Rene Russo.
READ MORE - Pounding THOR Quad Posters!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Warner Bros. Chief Targets JUSTICE LEAGUE And More BATMAN Movies


With THE DARK KNIGHT RISES and SUPERMAN reboot set for next summer's release, the president of the Warner Bros. Jeff Robinov has already set his sights for more DC Comics movies in 2013 and beyond.

The first one in his mind is none others than JUSTICE LEAGUE, which has been in development hell for years. In fact JUSTICE LEAGUE is almost close to production in late 2007 and early 2008, with George Miller (HAPPY FEET) attached to direct. However, the project is killed by the Writers Guild of America strike, tax credit issues in Australia, and major concerns by some at Warner about presenting a competing version of Batman while director Christopher Nolan's movies (BATMAN BEGINS, THE DARK KNIGHT) are breaking box-office records.

However Robinov said a new JUSTICE LEAGUE is in the works, along with the one that features FLASH and WONDER WOMAN, which could be spun off into their own movies after JUSTICE LEAGUE.

Another one is of course the further adventure of Batman after THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. Although Christian Bale and Nolan have made clear that the third BATMAN movie will be their last collaboration, Robinov stated:

"We have the third Batman, but then we’ll have to reinvent Batman…Chris Nolan and [producing partner and wife] Emma Thomas will be producing it, so it will be a conversation with them about what the next phase is."
READ MORE - Warner Bros. Chief Targets JUSTICE LEAGUE And More BATMAN Movies

Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye Confirmed Cameo in THOR


With CinemaCon currently taking place in Las Vegas, Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios have recently debuted select footage from THOR for those few lucky attendees. Well, the most talked-about scene is none others than one of the movie's biggest surprise cameos: Jeremy Renner as the archer Hawkeye!

But unlike previous superhero cameos in the past Marvel-based movies, the character of Hawkeye will have more than just a mere end-of-credits walk on cameo. In THOR, Renner will star alongside S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) in a crucial scene that finds Hawkeye will be showing off his expertise, as well as exchanging a number of dialogues.

At the time being, there is no mention of Jeremy Renner's famous purple-and-blue costume in THOR. Anyway, the cameo appearance of Hawkeye in THOR meant to be kept a secret, but I guess Marvel spoils the surprise themselves to encourage more people (read: fans) into the theater.
READ MORE - Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye Confirmed Cameo in THOR

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

A Bold-Looking New HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 Teaser Poster!

Talk about bold. Talk about the sheer aura. Talk about the intensity... That's it, ladies and gentlemen! Here is a brand new teaser poster, courtesy from MTV for the upcoming HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2, which will hit theaters on July 15, 2011. It all ends.



READ MORE - A Bold-Looking New HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 Teaser Poster!

Gary Oldman Spills Some Details Over THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

In a recent interview at the Empire Awards, veteran actor Gary Oldman has spilled out a few interesting titbits of information regarding THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. According to Oldman, the production draft of the screenplay does not include the ending. Apparently director Christopher Nolan has personally told the actor how this trilogy will reach to its climax, so that it does not leak out online.

Gary Oldman also added that his Commissioner James Gordon character will have a lot of interaction with Tom Hardy's Bane.

"The Dark Knight Rises begins in May. All I can say is that it's a really great story. It's a great script. (Christopher Nolan) has outdone himself from The Dark Knight. It is fantastic. I'll be picking up the script here in a couple of weeks. I am actually working with Tom Hardy on The Wettest County in the World, that I am going to do. I worked with him on Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Then he is in the next Batman. So, its the year of Tom Hardy. I have quite a bit to do with Tom in this one. You know the character? Its going to be fantastic. Its common knowledge at this point."

As for the script reading process, Oldman explains:

"To get into the production office, you have someone meet you. Then there are keys in various doors that lock. The script? You read it in the production office. And there is no ending to the script, either. (Christopher Nolan) tells you the ending so that it doesn't leak and get out, and people spoil it on the Internet. Its very tight security. That is how he does it."

In the end, this is what Oldman can only say about his third turn as Commissioner James Gordon in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES:

"I have a lot to do. The story is fabulous. He brings it back. He brings it around. That's it. I can't say anymore."

Check out the video interview with Gary Oldman below.


READ MORE - Gary Oldman Spills Some Details Over THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

Monday, March 28, 2011

Scott Adkins and Jean-Claude Van Damme Squares Off In WEAPON Featurette

Scott Adkins vs. Jean-Claude Van Damme? That's like martial-art fans' dream comes true!

For their upcoming action movie called WEAPON, Adkins and Van Damme play as rival assassins who both have their own expertise in weapons, forms an unlikely partnership in a mission to bring down a DEA-backed drug cartel.

In the meantime, check out their behind-the-scene fight choreography, courtesy from Scott Adkins Fanz.



WEAPON is directed by Ernie Barbarash, and currently no release date has been set.

READ MORE - Scott Adkins and Jean-Claude Van Damme Squares Off In WEAPON Featurette

New DICK TRACY Could Be On The Way

Veteran actor Warren Beatty had recently won his DICK TRACY lawsuit against Tribune Co., and now he's game for further crime-fighting adventure.

The first DICK TRACY is released in 1990 which starred Beatty as the titular character, Al Pacino, Madonna and Dustin Hoffman. Despite the massive hype, the movie is considered as a box-office disappointment and sequel plans are halted because of the lawsuit issue.

Beatty's lawyer, Chuck Sherpard, told TheWrap recently on Friday that, "Warren's goal is to do another major Dick Tracy project."

He also added:

"The grant said that as long as Warren continued to make Dick Tracy programs, he would be able to keep the rights," Shephard explained. "If a period of time went by without him doing Dick Tracy programs, then Tribune could give him a notice giving him two more years within which to start a project ... or he would lose the rights."

Now that Beatty owned the copyright, it remains unclear whether he's going to develop the new DICK TRACY movie in a sequel form or a TV series based upon the character.
READ MORE - New DICK TRACY Could Be On The Way

Whoa! It's ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES Planned Remake!

Remember that 1978 B-grade cult classic called ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES? Well, believe it or not, the people at Undead Brainspasm recently caught up with director John DeBello, who responsible for helming RETURN OF THE KILLER TOMATOES!, KILLER TOMATOES STRIKE BACK! and KILLER TOMATOES EAT FRANCE! Here's what DeBello have to say about the planned remake.

"No updates that I can share at the moment, Avery, but stay tuned ... I guess if they can remake The Horror of Party Beach, then Killer Tomatoes should be a lock, eh? Alas, even vicious veggies fall victim to the vagaries of Hollywood deal making. Anything is possible with Killer Tomatoes ... while a remake remains a tantalizing possibility, to paraphrase William Goldman: "Ya Never Know"."

Hmm... That certainly sounds like a development hell to me. However, DeBello also added about the possibility of the remake he intended to do if given the greenlight:

"My personal preference is a $300 million 3D version helmed by James Cameron, with me receiving a $20 million consulting fee and a brief cameo, but I always wake up from that dream just as I'm cashing the check. Seriously, the Hollywood route is probably most appealing, if for no other reason than that it'd be fun to see a big-budget remake of a no-budget indie ... sort of fits the Killer Tomato dynamic of infinite absurdity. But again... Ya Never Know. I'll be sure to keep you posted if/when the Vicious Veggies roll again."

Whoa! DeBello certainly has gone way ambitious here... Big-budget remake? Shot in 3D? It does sounds odd but nevertheless it's very interesting statement here.

Will we get to watch the return of killer tomatoes in the future? As for now, only time can tell...
READ MORE - Whoa! It's ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES Planned Remake!

Malaysia's James Lee Explores Martial Arts With THE COLLECTOR


Versatile independent filmmaker James Lee is a very busy man these days. He had a horror comedy SINI ADA HANTU which released last year, and then another horror comedy HELP! MY GIRLFRIEND IS A VAMPIRE! as well as the gritty horror CLAY POT CURRY KILLERS in the can waiting for release date. Now he's on the fourth movie in a row, and this time he's shooting a martial arts genre entitled THE COLLECTOR.

Details on THE COLLECTOR remain unknown for the time being, but fans of James Lee's work can find a gallery of his latest movie on his official Facebook page.
READ MORE - Malaysia's James Lee Explores Martial Arts With THE COLLECTOR

Amy Adams Is LOIS LANE In SUPERMAN reboot!


AT LAST! After months of speculation, three-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams lands a coveted role as Lois Lane in the upcoming SUPERMAN reboot. (Now that's a very inspiring choice!)

The 36-year-old Adams first received the news on Sunday from director Zack Snyder, who phoned her from Paris. At that time, he was in Paris promoting his latest movie, SUCKER PUNCH which is currently showing in theaters worldwide.

Here's what Zack Snyder had to say about the actress.

"There was a big, giant search for Lois. For us it was a big thing and obviously a really important role. We did a lot of auditioning but we had this meeting with Amy Adams and after that I just felt she was perfect for it."

Snyder also added how is he going to depict his modern-day take on Lois Lane.

"It goes back to what I've said about Superman and making him really understandable for today. What's important to us is making him relevant and real and making him empathetic to today's audience so that we understand the decisions he makes. That applies to Lois as well. She has to be in the same universe as him [in tone and substance]."

SUPERMAN reboot will hit theaters in 2012. With Amy Adams already in the list, she will joins Henry Cavill, Diane Lane and Kevin Costner.
READ MORE - Amy Adams Is LOIS LANE In SUPERMAN reboot!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

MARS NEEDS MOM (2011)


RATING: 2.5/5

With a corny title like MARS NEEDS MOM and especially the kind of animated feature produced under the Walt Disney banner, you might expect this is another hit-or-miss feature. Upon watching the trailer, I feel turn-off by the filmmakers' decision to shoot this picture in motion-capture animation pioneered by Robert Zemeckis in movies like THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004). However, I feel surprisingly different when I watch the entire movie. Yes, the motion-capture animation is as creepy as ever but MARS NEEDS MOM is blessed with an uplifting message about peace, love and the importance of family, which makes the movie quite a cinematic treat to check out for.

When his mother (Joan Cusack) is abducted by Martians in the middle of the night, 9-year-old Milo (Seth Green) tries to save her by running out across the backyard before the alien spacecraft about to take off back to Mars. Milo is somehow manages to get into the spacecraft as it launches off the sky.

Upon arriving on Mars, Milo explores the huge space station in attempt to locate his mother but almost gets himself killed by a bunch of heavily-armed Martian androids. He manages to escape from danger, and subsequently finds himself befriending a neurotic earthling named Gribble (Dan Fogler) who's been living in Mars for years. He also learns that the Martians, lead by the tyrannical Supervisor (Mindy Sterling), is actually handpicked any potential mother from Earth and have the person transported back to Mars so she can be extracted out of her memories and downloaded into an army of nanny-bots. This is where his mother is about to suffer if Milo doesn't take action as soon as possible.

So he begs Gribble to help him save his mother at all cost before it's too late. Gribble helps him to get back into the space station, where Milo also befriends a high-spirited Martian lass named Ki (Elisabeth Harnois), whose kaleidoscopic graffiti suggests the color of harmony life.

On paper, the premise is certainly simplistic enough but Simon and Wendy Wells' screenplay manages to spin a good old-fashioned yarn that is surprisingly involving yet it's genuinely heartfelt. They does their job efficient enough to create a colorful cast of characters that we actually care for. Each of the characters here (Milo, Gribble, Ki and Milo's mother) has their own conflict and motivation behind their course of action that make them all the more humanistic feel.

While Dan Fogler's Gribble tends to get annoying with his neurotic and sometimes desperately unfunny presence, his character manages to grow on you especially after we subsequently learn the side of his heartbreaking story. But of all the characters, it is Elisabeth Harnois's Ki the most exciting and vibrant performance to check out for. In fact, she steals the limelight from everyone each time she appears and her peace-loving nature inspired by the '60s hippies era is simply uplifting enough to make her such a likable character. Despite only appearing a handful of scenes, Joan Cusack's role as the strict but caring Milo's mother is as spontaneous as usual you normally expect from her.

While the core of the story succeed admirably in its heartfelt message, MARS NEEDS MOM remains in question when comes to visual panache. No doubt the overall visual elements are striking, but all the $150 million-budget that spends in this movie is surprisingly average-looking at best.

On the other side, director Simon Wells doesn't really engages well in term of orchestrating action set-pieces. All those nonstop action in the middle section here are disappointingly cut-rate and uninspired altogether, even though John Powell's inspiring classic sci-fi tribute score does provide some energetic moments.

Uneven technical values aside, the story and the characters are what makes MARS NEEDS MOM a cut above. It's hardly a masterpiece by any means, but decent enough to make this an essential viewing for young and old viewers alike.


READ MORE - MARS NEEDS MOM (2011)

RED RIDING HOOD (2011)


RATING: 1/5

On paper, director Catherine Hardwicke and screenwriter David Leslie Johnson's reimagining of enduring classic tale Little Red Riding Hood retooled as TWILIGHT-like undertones in which star-crossed teenage lovers caught in the middle of thick situations with a dash of whodunit and Gothic horror setting, does sounds like fun. But RED RIDING HOOD is a colossal misfire -- a movie that fails miserably to accomplish its individual goals as romance, horror and a folktale mystery.

Set in a medieval period at a small village of Daggerhorn, we first learn how little Valerie (Megan Charpentier) and Peter (Dj Greenburg) become childhood friends. When they grow up, Valerie (now played by Amanda Seyfried) is so in love with Peter (Shiloh Fernandez) that she'll do anything to be with him. But the problem is, Valerie is tied to an arranged marriage with handsome blacksmith Henry (Max Irons) which she has no romantic affection with him at all. And so Valerie plans to run away with Peter, only to be interrupted when her elder sister is killed by a werewolf. For generations, the villagers in Daggerhorn have been plagued in fear by the constant threat of the werewolf.

Tired of all the vicious killings for too long, the villagers decide to form a posse to locate and hunt down the werewolf once and for all. Their search-and-hunt takes them deep inside the cave, and despite human casualty ensues, they manage to kill the werewolf and bring back the head. Everybody is very happy that they finally kill the werewolf until the arrival of Father Solomon (Gary Oldman), a famed beast hunter claims it's not the beast that terrorized their village all along. But nobody seems to take a word from him, despite Solomon's serious warning about the werewolf's eventual arrival during the night of the blood moon. He also suspects that there might be werewolf amongst them in disguise, and to make things worst, Valerie seems to have some kind of bond with the beast as well. The biggest question is: who is the werewolf amongst the villagers there?

Such premise is actually exciting if the filmmakers know how to execute their setup well. Unfortunately Hardwicke's direction is surprisingly lifeless, especially how she fails to develop the teenage angst and romantic backlash between Valerie, Peter and Henry. The emotions are so detached we never come to care what makes them such passionately in love for each other in the first place. It doesn't help either when the suspense are thrill-free, while the whodunit mystery is all full of red herrings minus little sense of intriguing manners.

Not surprisingly, it's a huge waste of talents to see the actors here reduced into strict caricatures. Amanda Seyfried may have the vibrant look and angelic face with her trademark doe eyes to portray a sweetly innocent girl with corrupted heart, but her performance is mainly consists of looking vague and all blank stare. Shiloh Fernandez and Max Irons are handsome to look at, but lack of intensity they needed so much to make their characters all the more worthwhile. As for the veterans, Gary Oldman does provide some fire into his typically over-the-top performance but his character is largely underwritten. Same goes to Julie Christie and Virginia Madsen, who have their share of moments but not nearly enough to raise their underwritten characters a notch above.

Still the movie remains quite a visual treat. With Vancouver serves as a backdrop for this dark fairytale, Hardwicke and production designer Tom Sanders create some ethereal quality into the medieval setting with lush colors and sweeping shots of the snow-covered mountain tops. Too bad the same cannot be said with its incoherent action sequences with awful CG werewolf effects and poor editing by Nancy Richardson.

Overall, RED RIDING HOOD is really a chore to sit through especially the movie is particularly slow-paced and feels so patchy in places. This is really hard to believe the once-promising director who made THIRTEEN (2003), LORDS OF DOGTOWN (2005) and to lesser extent, TWILIGHT (2008) can end up so clueless here.


READ MORE - RED RIDING HOOD (2011)

SUCKER PUNCH (2011)


RATING: 1.5/5

All style and no substance. That is pretty much described for Zack Snyder's highly-anticipated action fantasy, SUCKER PUNCH. Of course, you have to give him credit for making his first visionary picture from scratch (which is not particularly adapted from comic book or graphic novel) but SUCKER PUNCH is all skin deep -- a bloated mess of genre mash-up that is surprisingly hollow and empty-headed cinematic experience.

Still the movie opens promisingly enough with a wordless prologue scored to "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" sung by Emily Browning where we first learn how depressing 20-year-old Babydoll (Browning) learns that her beloved mother (Kelora Clingwell) has died, while she and her younger sister (Frederique De Raucourt) have to live in constant fear with their evil stepfather (Gerard Plunkett). During one stormy night, her stepfather attempts to rape her younger sister while she is being locked inside her bedroom. But Babydoll manages to find her way out of her bedroom and attempts to rescue her younger sister. Unfortunately she accidentally kills her with a gun meant to shoot at her stepfather.

After the unfortunate incident, she is committed to Lennox House, a mental asylum where she is scheduled for lobotomy in five days' time. There, she befriends fellow inmates -- Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), Amber (Jamie Chung), and headstrong sisters Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish) and Rocket (Jena Malone). At the same time, she also learns that the asylum is actually a cover-up for a high-end brothel where they are forced to dance for their perverted male clients by their despicable warden Blue (Oscar Isaac).

And this is where Babydoll starts to free her mind and plunges into her own imagination as she begins to dance. Her vivid imagination immediately transports into a snow-covered temple, in which she meets a mysterious Wise Man (Scott Glenn) that her path to freedom lies in the collection of five objects—a map, fire, a knife, a key, and an unknown item she needs to figure out on her own. Upon leaving the temple, she have to face her first obstacle -- in the movie's most exciting action set-piece where she battles against three gigantic robot samurai.

But once she overcomes her obstacle, the movie goes downhill and everything starts to spin a series of repetitive circles. She explains her friends that they need these particularly five objects in order to set themselves free. So all they have to do is cooperate each other and manipulate whoever important person to get these objects at all cost with Babydoll dancing away into a different world filled with various gonzo missions. For instance, to get the map, Babydoll and the rest of her four friends will transport into some fantasy lands, fully equipped with weapons and dressed in fetish gears. Each time they are on a mission, they will have their Wise Man in various incarnations giving them some spiritual guidance. Of course they eventually possess their needed object and proceed to the next level. Rinse and repeat. See the pattern here?

It is this particular pattern where the line between reality and fantasy via a series of dream sequences is not fully realized here. Apart from catering such fanboy staples including role-playing avatars (e.g. Babydoll in Japanese schoolgirl uniform), anime, video-game, and Frank Miller-like stylistic excess, screenwriters Snyder and Steve Shibuya fail to develop their elaborate setup with coherent narrative structure. Basically the movie is all overloaded with iconic images one after another, but every story elements here doesn't really gel together. Suffice to say, it's all about pouring various ideas into the mix but pretty bad in laying execution. Such colossal mistake has subsequently made the movie all the more muddled experience to sit through. It's like watching a collage of meticulously-crafted visual pastiche without any satisfying meaning lies within. It doesn't help either when the dialogues are exceptionally stilted, and any sense of dramatic weight or emotional connection are strictly out of the question here. It becomes very obvious that Snyder isn't skilled enough to tell his own story here.

The characters, in the meantime, are strict caricatures. Apart from looking physically fit in an action-oriented mode, Emily Browning's (a role originated for Amanda Seyfried) performance is largely wooden with her wide-eyed vacant stare resembled of a Barbie plastic doll. The rest are equally forgettable as well, and it's such a waste to see the better-talented actresses by the likes of Abbie Cornish and Jena Malone are neglected into some ciphers. They may look good when they are engaged in a series of battle sequences but little else about giving standout performances. The less said the better for the supporting casts -- Carla Gugino who played Dr. Vera Gorski, Oscar Isaac and Scott Glenn -- all reduced into thankless roles.

That leaves the visual styling here which plays a huge part for this kind of genre movie. Kudos goes to Snyder, cinematographer Larry Fong and production designer Rick Carter for creating an amazingly-rendered, CG-filled environmental landscapes that is full of awe-inspiring moments. All the eye-popping backdrops where Babydoll and her friends battle against Nazi zombies, fire-breathing dragons and mechanized androids are certainly good enough to look at, and you can easily tell how Snyder and his crew really work hard to make this a first-class visual showmanship. Additionally, Tyler Bates and Marius de Vries' classic-rock-cover soundtrack are well-intended here.

Then there's Snyder's fluid cameraworks with all his stylish trademarks intact -- lots of slow-motion and sped-up ramps. He certainly knows how to place his camera to make all the action sequences look visually engaging, though it's sad to know, they are tend to get repetitive in the process. There's no denying that Snyder tends to get carried away with his visual excess. (Case in point: the overloaded slow-motion fight scene inside the speeding train against an army of mechanical androids which feels so redundant it's almost like forever).

For all its worth, SUCKER PUNCH could have been a genre masterpiece-in-the-making but Snyder blows it off big time. It's a huge, missed opportunity that someone should tell Snyder to stick into adaptations instead.



READ MORE - SUCKER PUNCH (2011)

Saturday, March 26, 2011

One For All, All For One! THE THREE MUSKETEERS Teaser Trailer!

The first teaser trailer and poster has finally arrived for Paul W.S. Anderson's much-anticipated THE THREE MUSKETEERS, which is shot in 3D. Check them out below.




This 3D adventure will swing its way into theaters on October 14, 2011. The movie starred Logan Lerman, Orlando Bloom and Christoph Waltz.
READ MORE - One For All, All For One! THE THREE MUSKETEERS Teaser Trailer!

Zack Snyder's Pledge: A "Real" SUPERMAN Movie.

When you think of Zack Snyder's work, it quickly comes to mind that his movie is all about visual overdose. Case in evidence: 300 (2006), WATCHMEN (2009) and his latest one, SUCKER PUNCH (2011).

So frankly speaking, it's (still) kinda doubtful that writer-producer Christopher Nolan handpicked Snyder to helm the upcoming SUPERMAN reboot which is slated for release next year.

However, Snyder has somehow realized his huge responsibility to bring that iconic character to life with great respect. He goes on the record by promising his SUPERMAN movie isn't going to be anything like his past movies and he'll favor something more "real".

Here's the official statement he told Heat Vision:

"I’ve stretched this world of abstract reality so far that the awesome thing about Superman is that Superman lives in the real world. And it probably will be the most ‘real’ movie I’ve made. It will more real than even Dawn of the Dead… Superman will be a documentary compared to [Sucker Punch]."

Additionally, Snyder's wife and producing partner Deborah Snyder said:

"It’s weird that it’s Superman, a guy from outer space, that’s flying. But I think it’s going to be a definite departure from the things he’s done because the idea is to make him relevant in our world today. So the way you do that is you put him in our world exactly how it is and not in a stylized world."

Sounds like a good news to me. So what do you think, fanboys? Do you think Snyder actually gonna pull this off successfully? Have your say!
READ MORE - Zack Snyder's Pledge: A "Real" SUPERMAN Movie.

Friday, March 25, 2011

I, ALEX CROSS Is Coming To Theaters


It's been quite some time since James Patterson's iconic character, Alex Cross (played by Morgan Freeman) made to the big screen. So far only two books have been adapted into movie features -- KISS THE GIRLS (1997) and ALONG CAME A SPIDER (2001).

And now Summit Entertainment has acquired U.S. rights to I, ALEX CROSS, with actor Tyler Perry (yes, that guy with his infamous role-in-full-drag as the cantankerous 68-year-old grandmother Mabel "Madea" Simmons) and director Rob Cohen on board.


James Patterson and Kerry Williamson wrote the first draft of the script with Marc Moss currently revising.

Production is slated for later this year but no release date has been confirmed yet.

(Source: Variety)
READ MORE - I, ALEX CROSS Is Coming To Theaters

Who Will Screen Test For THE BOURNE LEGACY?

Well, Matt Damon or not, Universal Pictures has already gearing up for the next installment of BOURNE franchise.

With BOURNE screenwriter Tony Gilroy already on board to direct the spin-off version, entitled THE BOURNE LEGACY, they have already starting to screen test some of the potential actors for the lead role.

So far the candidates are:

 

Joel Edgerton (THE THING), Dominic Cooper (THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE), Garrett Hedlund (TRON: LEGACY) and Luke Evans (THE AMATEUR AMERICAN).

Whether they will be more candidates in the future are remained to be seen.

As for now, who do you think fit the profile for the lead role?
READ MORE - Who Will Screen Test For THE BOURNE LEGACY?

First Look: RA.ONE Teaser Trailer!


Following from last year's mega-success of S. Shankar's ENTHIRAN (ROBOT), science-fiction superhero genre has quickly becomes hot commodity. And now here's Anubhav Sinha's much-anticipated Hindi blockbuster, RA.ONE (which means "Random Access - Version 1.0"), which starred Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal. Check out the action-packed teaser trailer below.


RA.ONE is scheduled for release this upcoming Diwali season on October 26.
READ MORE - First Look: RA.ONE Teaser Trailer!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts' LARRY CROWNE trailer


Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts? Bring them on!... It's been 7 years since Tom Hanks ventured into romantic comedy with THE TERMINAL (2004), and now it's good to see him back in the lighthearted genre.

Here is the official synopsis from LARRY CROWNE posted by Universal Pictures:

Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne (Hanks) was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he's worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves...often moving around town in a herd of scooters. In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot (Roberts), who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband. The simple guy who has every reason to think his life has stalled will come to learn an unexpected lesson: when you think everything worth having has passed you by, you just might discover your reason to live.

In the meantime, check out the trailer of his latest movie, LARRY CROWNE, coming out this July 7.



READ MORE - Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts' LARRY CROWNE trailer

Oscar-winning THE KING'S SPEECH screenwriter David Seidler Is Up For GAMES OF 1940

Well, 73-year-old screenwriter David Seidler is currently at the top of the world now, especially after he won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for THE KING'S SPEECH. (A little side of trivia: Seidler is the oldest Oscar winner ever to win such category)

And now, he is roped to pen another WWII-era inspirational story. He will team with Italian writer Luca Manzi to write GAMES OF 1940 for producers Kennedy/Marshall Company and RT Features.

Based on the true story, the WWII drama centers on a group of multinational POWs in a Nazi prison camp who decide to compete against each other in their own version of the Olympics after the 1940 games were abruptly canceled due to the ongoing war. They risked their lives to stage the games under the noses of the guards.

Hmm, that is definitely an interesting story to be told here...
READ MORE - Oscar-winning THE KING'S SPEECH screenwriter David Seidler Is Up For GAMES OF 1940

New X-MEN: FIRST CLASS Image - Hank McCoy Romancing Raven Darkholme

The upcoming X-MEN: FIRST CLASS gets romantic for a change with this official photo taken from X-MEN Movies Facebook page.

The photo is centers on Hank McCoy (Nicholas Hoult) and Raven Darkholme (Jennifer Lawrence) are both sitting underneath a model for an aircraft. Hank and Raven are of course, both commonly known with their mutant persona as Beast and Mystique.


X-MEN: FIRST CLASS hit theaters on June 3 (but we Malaysians manage to watch a day ahead on June 2!).
READ MORE - New X-MEN: FIRST CLASS Image - Hank McCoy Romancing Raven Darkholme

It's Jim Carrey And A Group Of Penguins Living Together! MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS Teaser Trailer!

Thanks to Fandango, here is the first teaser trailer of Twentieth Century Fox's MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS, starring Jim Carrey and Carla Gugino. Directed by Mark Waters (MEAN GIRLS, GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST), the comedy will hit theaters on August 12 this year.

Check out below.



READ MORE - It's Jim Carrey And A Group Of Penguins Living Together! MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS Teaser Trailer!

Another SUCKER PUNCH Animation Arrives

Can't get enough of SUCKER PUNCH? After the atmospheric animation short of "THE TRENCHES", here is another collaboration between Zack Snyder and Swiss animator Ben Hibon entitled "THE DISTANT PLANET". Enjoy!


READ MORE - Another SUCKER PUNCH Animation Arrives

Highway to hell - KARAK poster and trailer


Brought to you by KRU Studios, here is Yusry Abdul Halim's latest horror movie called KARAK.

Starring pop singer Shahir AF8, Sheera Aiyob, Along Eyezend, Kilafairy and Sidek Hussin, KARAK centers on four college students on their way back to Kuantan after a night out in Kuala Lumpur. Since they need to reach back to their classes the next morning, they decide to exit the Karak highway and continue their journey down the old trunk-road. What follows next is a horrifying event that will haunt their lives forever...



KARAK opens in local cinemas this late May.
READ MORE - Highway to hell - KARAK poster and trailer

At last! CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER full-length trailer!


After months of teasing and waiting for the eagerly-anticipated, full-length trailer for CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, well, wait no more! Enjoy!



READ MORE - At last! CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER full-length trailer!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Who Is Up For TOTAL RECALL Female Roles?

Like it or not, Sony Pictures has gearing the reboot of TOTAL RECALL full steam ahead. With Lens Wiseman (2007's LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD) already aboard and actor Colin Farrell filled in the shoe of Arnold Schwarzenegger's original role, the studio is now looking to cast two female leads.

If you recall, the two female leads back in 1990's Paul Verhoeven-directed TOTAL RECALL has a role of Lori (played by Sharon Stone) and another one is Melina (played by Rachel Ticotin).

Rumors has surfaced that Kate Bosworth and Eva Mendes are up for the Lori role.

As for the Melina role, the actresses are Eva Mendes, Paula Patton and Jessica Biel.

TOTAL RECALL reboot is currently targeted for release on 2012.
READ MORE - Who Is Up For TOTAL RECALL Female Roles?

Brand New Image of CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

Here is a new official image from CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, where the costumed Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is walking atop a pile of debris.


CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER is expected for theatrical release on July 22. The movie is directed by Joe Johnson and stars hris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Toby Jones, Stanley Tucci, Richard Armitage, Natalie Dormer, Dominic Cooper, Neal McDonough, Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson.
READ MORE - Brand New Image of CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

Elizabeth Taylor Dies At Age 79

Hollywood screen legend, Elizabeth Taylor, who was one of the 20th century's most famous stars, has died in Los Angeles at the age of 79.

The two-time Oscar-winning actress has a long history of illness. In recent years, she has been hospitalized for congestive heart failure and was admitted to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Hospital in February for monitoring. Congestive heart failure was her official cause of death.

"My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love. Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world," Taylor's son, Michael Wilding said in a statement.
READ MORE - Elizabeth Taylor Dies At Age 79

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Zack Snyder Talks SUPERMAN reboot!

With Zack Snyder's much-anticipated action fantasy SUCKER PUNCH scheduled for release next week, here is what he have to say about his upcoming SUPERMAN reboot exclusively from LatinoReview:

You've said that this new Superman was not going to be related to the previous ones and act as if they didn't exist a la "Batman Begins.” What do you want to bring to this Superman film that was not brought on the previous ones?

Zack Snyder: I don’t think it’s about trying not to do what’s been done. It’s just when I say that I mean that’s a way for us to start fresh and kind of be able to say what mythology do we want to sort of endorse or exploit. Look all of us involved with project have a great respect for Superman. Trust me when I say I want this movie to be awesome and I want Superman to be awesome, you know that’s true. It’s not so much about like what I do and don’t want to do in regards to what’s been done, we need to like…I think for the audiences stake you want us to shed that…let that weight off our shoulders so we can go and make a great movie.

Will the film have a big Kryptonian mythology?

Zack Snyder: I can’t say because it gives too much away, but it’s safe to say that we have a great respect for the character.

Being that you have strong female components in your movies, will we see a strong female character in Superman?

Zack Snyder: I can’t say of course. I wish I could straighten it out for you at this moment but I can’t really.

Come on we broke Superman stories already…

Zack Snyder: (Laughs) I feel that.

Okay how about this...Is Viggo Mortensen still a person of interest in Superman now that he’s locked into Snow White?

Zack Snyder: Yeah Viggo is not going to be in the movie let’s say that right now. I can clear that up.

Will this Superman be Luthor-Less?

Zack Snyder: I can’t answer that [laughs].

Is it true that Lois Lane has to be in the film due to legal issues?

Zack Snyder: Oh, jeez. I didn’t know that. We’re not doing anything as far as the story goes that’s influenced by any legal issue.

Can you elaborate where you are at with the film?

Zack Snyder: Yeah, we’re just in pre-production right now, we’re working every day trying to get it together and it’s looking awesome and we are going to probably start shooting at the end of the summer.

I guess this Superman film and the Donner film have something in common? They were released in December.

Zack Snyder: Oh yeah, although I’m not even sure if that date will hold but if does then that will be awesome.
READ MORE - Zack Snyder Talks SUPERMAN reboot!

Matt Reeves: CLOVERFIELD 2 is happening!

After the overnight success of 2008's CLOVERFIELD (which cost only $25 million to make but grossed over $80 million in domestic box-office), fans have been long expecting the sequel will be taking place.

And now in an exclusive interview by Total Film, director Matt Reeves (LET ME IN) is being questioned about the status of the much-debated sequel to CLOVERFIELD. Reeves is indicated that they are working on a plot with the help of their producer J.J. Abrams.

Here is what he have said:

"Well, you are going to see it - we just don't know when [laughs]"

"At the moment we are talking about the story quite a lot. Drew Goddard, who wrote the original, is going to pen the sequel and JJ Abrams is very much involved".

"However, the three of us have been so busy that getting the right idea together has been taking a long time."

Apart from that, there are also discussions whether the sequel will be using the same shaky-cam technique or different method altogether.

“You see, that’s a difficult part: we want it to be shot like the first but how can you continue that idea successfully for a second time?”

Reeves concluded by saying:

“We have a lot of affection for the original and the sequel can’t just be the same thing. But that is tricky when you need to have a monster destroying stuff once again".

Paramount Pictures will be distributing the sequel, and the movie is expecting for theatrical release on 2014.

Stay tuned.




READ MORE - Matt Reeves: CLOVERFIELD 2 is happening!

A Short List of Actors Wanted for AKIRA Live-Action Remake!

For years, Hollywood has been struggling to get the popular Japanese anime sensation, AKIRA (1988) off the ground. After Warner Bros/Legendary Pictures has acquired director Albert Hughes and screenwriter Steve Kloves (who is responsible for script rewrites) at the helm, two major casting are now taking place.

According to Deadline, there are two major roles here. First is Tetsuo, where Robert Pattinson (THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE), Andrew Garfield (THE SOCIAL NETWORK) and James McAvoy (X-MEN: FIRST CLASS) have been given the new script. Second is Kaneda, where Garrett Hedlund (TRON: LEGACY), Michael Fassbender (X-MEN: FIRST CLASS), Chris Pine (UNSTOPPABLE), Justin Timberlake (THE SOCIAL NETWORK) and Joaquin Phoenix (I'M STILL HERE) will be contended for the specific role.

These short listed actors will be prepping for the roles, and once confirmed, the shooting will take place on August start date.
READ MORE - A Short List of Actors Wanted for AKIRA Live-Action Remake!

Sienna Guillory Returns in RESIDENT EVIL 5!

RESIDENT EVIL fans, rejoice! Sienna Guillory who plays Jill Valentine in 2004's RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE and last year's RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE (in which she appears as cameo) has confirmed that she'll join RESIDENT EVIL 5 cast.

This is what she said in her Twitter feed:

"RE:5 alert! Training begins! I aim to mostly put less in the big hole on the front of my face than comes out of the little one on my arse."

Along with Guillory joining the list, Milla Jovovich is set to return as well and producer Don Carmody also reveals that there's a script for "Resident Evil 5" in development.

No word on when shooting will begin for RESIDENT EVIL 5.
READ MORE - Sienna Guillory Returns in RESIDENT EVIL 5!

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is NOT Alberto Falcone/The Holiday Killer?

Earlier this week, a highly reliable insider from Variety has stated that Joseph Gordon-Levitt was confirmed to play a role in Christopher Nolan's upcoming THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. That role is revealed as Alberto Falcone a.k.a. The Holiday Killer.

And now another highly reliable insider, this time from Entertainment Weekly, claims that an equally trustworthy source close to Christopher Nolan has stated the leaked information is 100% false! Joseph Gordon-Levitt will be not be playing Alberto Falcone but someone else altogether. Except that there's no confirmation what role he will be end up as, after all.

So what do you think? Is this part of the marketing strategy trying to toy our mind? The biggest question is: What DC comic character Joseph Gordon-Levitt is going to play after all?

Time for another guessing game!
READ MORE - Joseph Gordon-Levitt is NOT Alberto Falcone/The Holiday Killer?