NEWS/RUMORS (Jan 7th)

Thor starts production Friday, John Carter of Mars next week and Green Lantern in 10 weeks.


Michael Fassnbender (Inglourious Basterds, Fish Tank, 300) has joined Steven Soderbergh's spy thriller Knockout which also stars MMA fighter Gina Carano. Production on the film starts this February with a probable late 2010 or early 2011 release date.


District 9 director Neill Blomkamp was asked about his thoughts on a sequel and he believes a prequel could make for a better film.

“If you go forward [with his story beyond District 9] it's more of a traditional film but if you go backward I'd be intrigued in that. I'm not so interested in aliens coming back and blowing things up but [a prequel] might be interesting.”


Frosty over at Collider is reporting that G.I. Joe 2 is happening and Paramount has hired a writer. He doesn't however know if director Stephen Sommers will return or will be replaced. Producer Rob Moore previously stated the title could be G.I. Joe: Cobra's Revenge. While I didn't love the film it was fun similar to The Mummy, so I'd be up for more films.


It's rumored that British band Muse was approached to score Clash of The Titans. The band's music has been previously used in trailers for 28 Weeks Later and Watchmen.

UPDATE: Hanna (2010-2011)

The film focuses on a 14 year old girl who works as an assassin. Director Danny Boyle was once attached but Joe Wright was later hired when Boyle left the film. I'm very interested to see what Wright can pull off within the action genre. Previously Wright has directed dramas such as Pride & Prejudice and Atonement.


Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones, Atonement) will play the Eastern-European teen assassin.


The film is being compared to a mix of La Femme Nikita and the Bourne films.


The Professional, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and anime Kite had teen assassin characters. Upcoming release Kick-Ass also includes a young girl killing-machine named Hit-Girl. I'm assuming if both films are popular with audiences we could see it become a regular trend in action films.

Mark Millar's Dream Cast For His Superman Pitch

It wasn't along ago that comic book writer Mark Millar (Red Son, Kick-Ass, Wanted) and director Matthew Vaughn pitched their Superman trilogy to Warner Bros./DC. Now Millar is talking about who he wanted to see in cast in the new film. It revealed his vision for an origin story which might be good if they change things up and tell the back-story to Superman's parents. Maybe showing General Zod's story as well.

"We had so much fun casting around on all this, just idle chats in the pub as we scribbled our notes. Imagine Daniel Craig as Lex Luthor, Clint Eastwood as Pa Kent, Daniel Day-Lewis and Julianne Moore as Jor-El and Lara."


Daniel Craig as Lex Luthor


Clint Eastwood as Jonathan Kent


Daniel Day-Lewis as Jor-El


Julianne Moore as Lara

NEWS/RUMORS (Jan 6th) II

Because of Spider-Man 4's production delays and subsequent release date change. Thor will now be hitting theaters on May 6th 2011, moving it's release up by two weeks. It's unknown if Spider-Man 4 will be able to pick another prime spot in the 2011 summer lineup. Sony has yet to actually change the May 5th date.


The Robocop reboot is having issues with the studio. Mainly the studio wants the film to be shot in 3D. Which seems like a bad idea, the original's hardcore realistic violence wouldn't lend itself to gimmicky things like this. I think it would take the audience out of the seriousness and graphic nature of the film. It would turn the graphic parts into cartoon violence and it would become too stylistic. It's even more odd considering director Darren Aronofsky isn't even thinking about using CGI let alone the the new 3D format.


Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has been given an official release date of May 20th 2011 taking Thor's previous spot.


Here is our first look of Scott Pilgrim in action.


Here is one of the first official images from MacGruber.


Yet another first look this time it's the fantasy-comedy Your Highness.


James Franco (Spider-Man, Pineapple Express, Your Highness) has been cast in Danny Boyle's next film 127 Hours.

NEWS/RUMORS (Jan 6th)

Variety has confirmed that Zombieland writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick will write the script for Deadpool. The pair have also written the script for the Venom spin-off. I think this is the first of many good moves on the part of 20th Century Fox. I assume we'll be hearing the name of the director in the next couple of months. It's expected that production could start when Ryan Reynolds is finished production on Green Lantern.


The second U.S. trailer for From Paris With Love shows off more action and story than previous trailers.


Jon Favreau’s Cowboys & Aliens starring Robert Downey Jr. will start shooting in July. There are rumors the film could be shot in 3D. While I think some films could be gimmicky using 3D this one seems like it could benefit from it.


It looks like script issues have been confirmed as the production on Spider-Man 4 is on hold. The talk is that director Sam Raimi isn't happy with the current script and is waiting until it's fixed. The release date for May 2011 looks like it could be pushed to an unknown date.


It looks like we'll be getting the first A-Team trailer in theaters this week.


Super producer and mega hip-hop beats creator Pharrell Williams will work on original music for Despicable Me.

REVIEW: 44 Inch Chest

When I first heard that the writer of Sexy Beast was having another one of his films starring Ray Winstone I got very excited. What ended up happening is that I was very disappointed with the movie. With popular British gangster films from Guy Ritchie and Matthew Vaughn you'd expect more action and even more violence. This film was awfully slow, dull and didn't have a great ending/climax. The film had very few set pieces which is even odd for an independent movie let alone a gangster film. It was mostly old timers talking gruff but never really doing anything. Winstone who I enjoy on a regular basis gave one of his worst performances ever and I blame the script. While interesting supporting characters, one played by Ian McShane get little screen time. The film's only good points were the cast and the cinematography. Don't expect to be thrilled by the movie if you end up checking it out.

C-

UPDATE: I'm With Cancer (2010)

The autobiographical cancer comedy by Will Reiser deals with Reiser's discovery of the illness and his struggle to beat the disease. Mandate Pictures has tapped Seth Rogen along with writing partner Evan Goldberg to produce the project. Mandate is also developing Rogen and Goldberg's Apocalypse project. Director Jonathan Levine has been hired for the film with production to start in February. I expect we'll see the film released sometime in the fall.


James McAvoy (Last King of Scotland) and Seth Rogen (Observe & Report) will star. Actress Anna Kendrick (Up In The Air, Rocket Science, Scott Pilgrim) has also joined the film.


Jonathan Levine burst onto the indie-comedy scene with his film The Wackness. I loved it and Levine's visual style that made the film look like it was shot in the mid-90's. His film All The Boys Love Mandy Lane was also shockingly well done and wasn't the typical horror flick. I can't wait to see what he'll come up with this time around.

Sam Mendes Hired For Bond 23?

What a difference a day makes just yesterday it sounded like Bond 23 was uncertain. Today Heat Vision reports that Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes is in talks to helm the film. There is also talk of the production starting as early as June. Looks like that Fall 2011 release date could be a reality if not sooner. I wouldn't be surprised if the film was released next winter. I remember the turn around time with Solace was very quick.


Mendes isn't someone I would see directing a Bond film but I think they're aiming for a more character driven installment. While Marc Forster had been known for dramas he hadn't been familiar with the beast of an action film. Sam Mendes' saving grace are films like Road To Perdition and Jarhead, which had good balances of action and character development. While also directing powerful dramas such as American Beauty and Revolutionary Road. I hope Mendes will re-team with composer Thomas Newman who's score for Road To Perdition was haunting.

MGM's Problems Puts Bond23 On Hold?

Bond 23 looks like it might be taking longer than expected to go into production. While the news of new writer did give us hope that they're working hard to start production the producers have other thoughts. Barbara Brocolli and Michael G. Wilson spoke bout the progress of the 23rd film. We've heard random start dates for the film such as mid-late 2010 to early 2011.

"Well, our timeline's a little up in the air what with the situation at MGM, so we have to be flexible. We just don't know enough about the situation to comment, but we know it's uncertain."

"Well... we've hired the writers and we've been working with them but it's just too early to say anything. You know, often at this stage, I find myself saying, 'Oh, we're gonna do this and that', then six months from now you'll say, 'That isn't in the film at all - you told me it was...' I think we're at the stage where a lot of ideas are floating around that sound very good, but whether they make the final cut, who knows?"

MGM might be in financial trouble but it's not stopping the production of the high profiled Hobbit films. I do have a strong feeling Warner Bros. who is a distributing partner of MGM could jump in to bid for the studio. They previously bought New Line Cinema when they also went into debt.

UPDATE: Rza's The Man With The Iron Fist

We haven't heard much of Rza's pet film-project but he's dropped some interesting tidbits on the film's take. Referencing one of my favorite comic book movies.

"Kung fu but not grindhouse. Something that’s modern, like Blade."

Producer Eli Roth previously talked about how much he likes the progress of the movie and it's script.

"RZA is such a creative fountain. The script is great, he’s got characters, jokes. What he does with lyrics, he does with dialogue and he’s done such a great mix: spaghetti western, kung fu, modern fighting infused with hip-hop and multiculture. He has this whole comic book universe figured out. I know he’s going to make a brilliant film."

I'm sure it's been denied that this is related to Marvel's Iron Fist but I still think it might be. First Rza's Blade comment and the fact Roth talks about having the "comic book universe" figured out. Could Iron Fist be the next installment of Marvel Entertainment's mature film line from Marvel Knights? Given a similar budget as Punisher War Zone it could end up being a cool action flick. The character is rumored to have a film in development. It's of course specultion on my part but I like the idea of a new Blade/Frank Castle Marvel character brought to the screen.

REVIEW: Brothers

Similar to Hurt Locker, Brothers gives an honest look into the life of soldiers and their families. The film deals with the most difficult aspects of war, having love ones fighting overseas and the effects of P.T.S.D with returning soldiers. The child actors do steal most of the scenes and I'm sure they'll be giving other young actors a run for their money in the coming years. It's another dark film but it does have an important message and could be one to watch during the award season. Tobey Maguire's chilling standout performance could earn him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

A-

Pierre Morel Hired For Dune Remake

Science fiction fans and fans of Frank Hebert's Dune dodged a bullet by Peter Berg leaving the remake. Now Paramount Pictures is looking to French director Pierre Morel to take over directing duties. I couldn't say I'm more enthused about the possibilities with Berg's exit. The script will go through re-writes to fit Morel's vision for the film.


Morel has proven himself as a strong director with previous films like District B13 and Taken. Even his new action comedy From Paris With Love looks like a fun flick. It'll be very interesting to see his take on the Shakespearean Sci-Fi epic. I doubt they'll be able to reach the scale of David Lynch's original but I'm sure they'll try. French directors don't have the best track record for large scaled science fiction films at the domestic box office. While both The Fifth Element and Alien Resurrection were great concept films they fell flat with American audiences.

NEWS/RUMORS (Jan 4th)

Avatar just pushed passed $1 Billion worldwide and is fastly moving to topple Titanic.

Mel Gibson's Icon will produce Mad Max 4. There are rumblings this move could mean Gibson might make a cameo in the film.

Sam Worthington is denying any involvement with Flash Gordon.

The Thing prequel will start production in March.

Michael Cera could be in Ghostbusters 3. There is talk that it could start production this summer with a 2011 release date.

Disney isn't just buying up Marvel they're also purchasing Stan Lee's Pow Entertainment.

REVIEW: The Lovely Bones

I have to admit I never really got into Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures. So when I heard Lovely Bones was being compared to it I got worried I wouldn't enjoy the film. The film's dark subject matter doesn't exactly lend itself to most people loving it. I do however think Jackson did an amazing job with the story and emotional aspects. There had been some negativity towards the use of special effects in the small film but I think it was needed. It's visually stunning and did feel it was shot in the 70's. Yet the film is far from perfect. I thought the young cast had great performances but the adults roles weren't as convincing. I expected Peter Jackson made this film for award considerations but I'm not sure if he'll end up getting any. It's worth checking out if not only for curiosity to see Jackson work outside of the Tolkien realm.

B-

REVIEW: Up In The Air

Director Jason Reitman seems to always pick interesting stories to tell. I've enjoyed his previous films Juno and Thank You For Smoking, which made my list for best of the decade. So when I kept hearing the overwhelming buzz for his new film I knew he must have done it again. To my surprise Up In The Air is even better than Juno and brought back the black comedy from Thank You For Smoking. It's touching, sad and at times heart-warming. There is even hints of Fight Club in the character's narration and methodology in the film. I could keep going on how much I liked this film but there is enough of that online already. I recommend people go see this movie while it's still in theaters. I'll be waiting intently to hear it's nominations for this year's Oscars. I could see it going up for Best Director, Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.

A+