Tops at the Box Office(Memorial Day Weekend)

1. Shrek Forever After- $55.6M/$145M
You can usually count on Memorial Day weekend to be one of the year's top grossers, but this time around it was the pits. Shrek 4 maintained the lead as top dawg, but by any stretch it's $55M four day intake was pretty weak. Even with the added 3-D income, it fared better than Shrek 3 but not the previous two films.

2. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time- $37.8M/$37.8M
Lame video game riff, starring an unproven box office star like Jake Gyllenhaal, combined with boring looking sandy visuals. Perhaps they should've really honed in on the fact that this was a Jerry Bruckheimer production, but the ads seemed to back away from this fact in the closing weeks. Maybe Jerry wanted to distance himself?

3. Sex and the City 2- $37.1M/$51.4M
Ouch. Sex and the City's sequel just fell into a sand trap. Pretty ironic considering the awful looking ads of the glamorous city gals humpin' it on the back of camels across the desert. Taking the women out of their natural surroundings might've seemed good on paper, but clearly the sitcommy look of it turned people away. Oh, and 90% of the audience was reported to be female. I'm shocked I tell you! Let's not forget that SATC2 got an early jump by releasing on Thursday, so these are 5-day tallys.

4. Iron Man 2- $20.2M/$279M
At this stage of the game, the sequel is raking in about $20M more than it's predecessor, but pulling in weaker grosses.

5. Robin Hood- $13.6M/$86.3M

6. Letters to Juliet- $7.25M/$38M
It had the smallest drop of any film this week. Take that, you big budget blockbusters you!

7. Just Wright- $2.7M/$18.7M

8. Date Night- $2.25M/$93.9M

9. MacGruber- $1.95M/$7.6M
Ouch! And I thought it would get a little bit better, but this is a flat out disaster and a deathknell for Saturday Night Live films for awhile. If this can't succeed, what will?

10. How to Train Your Dragon- $1.43M/$213M

Del Toro Steps Down from The Hobbit, Peter Jackson to Direct?

One thing that sucks about going away for the holiday is that you can count on the big news droppin' while you're away. The biggest news from over the weekend shouldn't come as any surprise to anybody who's been paying attention to MGM's financial hardships. Now it's gotten so bad that Guillermo Del Toro has stepped down from directing The Hobbit, the much anticipated prequel to the LOTR trilogy.

Del Toro, who is a notorious perfectionist, had been expressing his anger recently over the budget problems delaying production on the film. Rather than sitting around waiting, possibly missing out on other opportunites to direct other projects, he's decided to step aside.

He's still on board to co-write the script alongside Peter Jackson, Phillipa Boyens, and Fran Walsh. The question now becomes who will direct?

Obviously Peter Jackson is the prime contender. He's got the look down pat, having directed the LOTR films. But can he fit it into his schedule? And after the disaster that was The Lovely Bones should he even be given this monumental task?

First of all, Jackson's biggest weakness is the smaller films. He's much better handling the massive special effects laden projects. While I was a huge fan of Heavenly Creatures, I didn't dig his other stuff like The Frighteners or the aforementioned Bones.  King Kong ranks somewhere between great and lousy. It's an interesting debacle, I'd say.

Second, Jackson might not have the time to do it even if he wanted. He's contractually bound to complete the Tintin movies alongside Steven Spielberg. Most of Tintin is completed, but the second one is already set to begin shooting in 2011. Doesn't leave much time for anything else, does it?

We do know that Jackson would take on The Hobbit if he could. Speaking to The Dominion Post, he had this to say....

"If [directing the films is] what I have to do to protect Warner Bros’ investment, then obviously that’s one angle which I’ll explore…The other studios may not let me out of the contracts."

Full Length Trailer for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

It could be the best trailer of the year, and I'm already on record saying that it'll likely be the best comic book inspired film of 2010. Sorry, Iron Man fans, but Stark ain't got nothin' on Scott Pilgrim. This is the second trailer released by Universal, and it's even better than the first. It's video games, Star Wars, overly dramatic manga action and romance. A pretty tough combination to beat. I will say this, that Michael Cera seems to be playing Scott as too much of a wuss in the beginning, but I'll withhold judgement until I see the film.

Check out the trailer below, followed by a synopsis!



Cast: Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Satya Bhabha, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, Alison Pill, Aubrey Plaza, Brandon Routh, Johnny Simmons, Mark Webber, Mae Whitman, Ellen Wong

Directed by: Edgar Wright

Meet charming and jobless Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera). A bass guitarist for totally average garage band Sex Bob-omb, the 22-year-old has just met the girl of his dreams…literally. The only catch to winning Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)? Her seven evil exes are coming to kill him. Genre-smashing filmmaker Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) tells the amazing story of one romantic slacker’s quest to power up with love in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Scott Pilgrim has never had a problem getting a girlfriend. It’s getting rid of them that proves difficult. From the girl who kicked his heart’s ass—and now is back in town—to the teenage distraction he’s trying to shake when Ramona rollerblades into his world, love hasn’t been easy. He soon discovers, however, his new crush has the most unusual baggage of all: a nefarious league of exes controls her love life and will do whatever it takes to eliminate him as a suitor.

As Scott gets closer to Ramona, he must face an increasingly vicious rogues’ gallery from her past—from infamous skateboarders to vegan rock stars and fearsomely identical twins. And if he hopes to win his true love, he must vanquish them all before it really is game over.

The New Wave: 5/28/10

Two movies dealing with sandy deserts are upon us this week. It makes sense for one of them. The other? Not so much.  Both dealing with issues of time. One about a weapon that can reverse time. The other about a bunch of old broads trying desperately to hold on to their youth, and failing miserably if you ask me.

Assuming you can stomach shaky accents, cornball script, and Ben Kingsley's phoned in performance, there are still a couple of reasons to check out Mike Newell's(Four Weddings and a Funeral) actioner. Forget that it's based on a video game, that's irrelevant. Focus on Jake Gyllenhaal, who gives the rogueish prince about as much charm as one can hope for. With Gemma Arterton(Quantum of Solace) playing the feisty princess, the visuals aren't bad either. You can read my review here.

Is this Sex and the City, or is this Ishtar? Seriously, of all the lunk-headed moves I can think of, taking the glam girls out of NYC and dropping them in the middle of the desert ranks at the top of the list. From what I've seen and heard, it looks like they are desperately trying to find something to keep these old broads interesting, but the point of the show was single women navigating the NY social scene, juggling dating with their careers. Why would I have any interest in watching a bunch of post-menopausal women stuck in boring marriages? Quick answer: I don't.

In the face of movies like Zombieland and 28 Days Later, the old Romero classics seem like a distant memory. After a nearly 20 year hiatus, the legendary director began a new crop of "...of the Dead" flicks for a brand new audience. This one, his third since his return springboards off of events from Diary of the Dead, focusing on Sarge "Nicotine" Crockett and his band of soldiers turned thugs. Consider this one only for die hard zombie fanatics, who just can't get enough of the brain easting monstrosities. You can read my review here, and John's point of view can be found right here.

Director Rodrigo Garcia tugs at the powerful bond between parents and their children again, just as he did in Nine Lives back in 2005. Annette Bening stars as a woman who gave up her daughter years earlier, but now questions that decision. Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington, and Samuel L. Jackson round out an impressive cast.

Sure Shots: RUNAWAYS; JACK THE GIANT KILLER; JUSTICE LEAGUE

Quickly...

* Marvel Studios has hired Drew Pearce to script the adaptation of Runaways, based on Brian K. Vaughn's comic about a group of teens with superpowers fleeing their villainous parents. Pearce is best known as the writer of No Heroics, the Brit television series about supeheroes who hang out at a local pub. Peter Sollet(Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist) is still on board to direct. This is by far the Marvel film I'm most looking forward to. Screw that Avengers crap.

* Aaron Johnson(Kick-Ass) and Andrew Garfield(Red Riding) are both in discussions to play Jack in Bryan Singer's upcoming film, Jack the Giant Killer.  Based partly on the Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale and on the more aggressive 'Giant Killer' version, the film is the main reason why Singer was unable to direct X-men: First Class for 20th Century Fox.  Jack the Giant Killer has been adapted into film four times, with the most recent in 1962.

*I guess Warner Brothers has finally noticed how far they're falling behind against Marvel Studios, as they finally seem ready to push ahead with their DC Comics superhero franchises. The Distinguished Competition(as Marvel calls them) states that it's ready to move forward on a film based on The Flash. The script was being handled by Dan Mazeau, with superstar scribe Geoff Johns assisting. Not only that, but both the Wonder Woman and Aquaman projects are still in the pipeline. Wonder Woman? Depends on who plays her. Aquaman? Ummm...until they find a way to make a guy who can see underwater cool, I say kill this thing now and make a movie about somebody cool. Martian Manhunter, maybe? For more on how silly Aquaman is, along with some funny Wonder Woman stuff, I'll direct you to a scene from one of my favorite shows nobody watched, Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist...

Platinum Dunes takes on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

I'm calling it now. This will be the first Platinum Dunes film I actually enjoy and their biggest box office hit yet. Bank on it. Deadline is reporting that Michael Bay's production house, known for their horror remakes, has been given free reign to produce the next live-action film based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Last year the rights were bought up by Paramount/Nickelodeon for $60M with hopes of jumpstarting the lucrative franchise.

At one point, potential producer Scott Mednick had stated his vision for the future of the Turtles, which consisted of retelling their origin in a fashion similar to the popular Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird comic. The hope was to use a similar technology seen in Where the Wild Things Are to capture the Turtles' look. With Platinum Dunes taking over, and their use of pretty modest budgets for most of their films, this process is likely out the window. The whole thing is basically in totally new hands now, so anything can happen.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuted in 1984 in a violent comic book created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.  They proved to be a huge hit, spawning numerous comic book series and television cartoons. Four feature films have been produced thus far, grossing over $400M worldwide so far.

Review: Survival of the Dead

Welcome to Plum Island, population: dwindling. In a world overrun by a zombie apocalypse Plum remains a safe haven off the coast of Delaware from the flesh eating ghouls that await on America’s, now, not so friendly shores. Inhabiting Plum are two families, the O’Flynn’s and the Muldoon’s, both of which have severely differing ideas on how the undead should be dealt with. The O’Flynn’s believe that the newly deceased, freshly risen should be eliminated immediately and without though. The Muldoon’s, on the other hand, want those who have turned to be kept restrained, but alive, until some manner of cure is found. After exerting his thoughts on some zombie townspeople the O’Flynn patriarch, Patrick (Kenneth Welsh), and some of his compatriots are banished from the Island by the Muldoon clan. Thrown in the mix are a ragtag group of soldiers turned bandits who steal a boat to get to Plum. Unbeknownst to them Patrick O’Flynn sneaks aboard the ship with hopes to return to Plum and reunite with his daughter. The political and literal battle waits as the families decide what to do with the undead.

Romero’s film’s have always been filled with social and political commentary, and this flick is no different. While the zombie action takes a bit of a back seat in this one there’s a very good question posed about the sanctity of human life and where to draw the line between what we consider life and what not. Take your pick you can apply that to abortion, coma and life support patients, wars, whatever. I think that’s the coolest thing is that Romero puts these issues out there and allows you to draw your conclusions as to what they mean, you’re not hit over the head with any agendas. As I said before the zombie action is less than what you’d find in most of his movies and for the most part those that do feature in the movie are far tamer, but that doesn’t mean they’re non existent. When they do attack it is just as gruesome and terrifying as ever, ripping apart their meals with raw force and chowing down before the flesh has a chance to cool. I also really dug the way Romero handled Plum Island, the whole place has a kind of Wild West feel both in look and the local speak of the characters. This really gives you a feeling that this place is completely isolated and has pretty much been forgotten about by the mainland, not to mention time itself. Also on the plus side is the empathy that Romero is able to invoke for the zombies. While they are dangerous and terrifying you get a kind of sad feeling knowing that they can’t help it, that they are being chained up and killed simply for being who they naturally are. This tactic makes the real source of the film’s terror focus change from the zombies, who will kill you but are easily avoided, to the humans, who will do anything to survive. Man is a downright frightening creature when backed into a corner. We hide behind a mask of civility but if the chips were down and you thought the guy next to you was threatening your future, what would you be willing to do?

This is a low budget horror movie, with not a whole lot of actual horror. While I do believe time was not wasted in the flick, with a good story being told throughout, I do think Romero failed to find a proper balance between horror and commentary. The zombies and even the human fear factor only make up a little more than a quarter of the movie. If you are looking for a straight up action packed zombie flick, check out Land of the Dead, or Dawn of the Dead, both action infused and full of flesh eating ghouls. The acting in the film is also sub-par; I’m struggling to find a single good performance in the lot. While the script helps to get the point across the line delivery is almost universally bad from Patrick O’Flynn’s think Irish brogue to the guardsman’s fake sounding bravado. Lastly the film does the one thing that I can’t stand on any level and that’s CGI blood effects. I was stunned by Romero’s use of bad CGI in this, he’s a man who’s movies have broke ground in practical gore effects through the years and now he’s jumped on the CG train, the results of which are almost enough to ruin the movie, thankfully it doesn’t kill it completely.

So does Survival of the Dead warrant a watch? Sure, especially for the dedicated zombieholic’s out there amongst you. The movie does have some serious problems but for a fun hour and a half this flick will do the trick. Really the type of movie that you have to turn your brain off but not completely as Romero’s signature social commentary is still intact. Not the best of the series but hardly the worst. Survival of the Dead is a movie worth surviving.

2 Out of 5 Guttenbergs

Say WHAATTTT? McAvoy signs on as Professor X

That's right folks,Wanted star James McAvoy has signed onto Matthew Vaughn's origin story X-Men: First Class. For those who only know the X-Men from the three previous movies, First Class is the X-Men at their start, through their first year or so of being a team. McAvoy is on board as the team's folliclely challenged mind melding leader, Professor X. This tells us alot about casting as the Prof. is supposed to be a good bit older than the rest of the team. If McAvoy has taken that role than the rest of the team will have to be in their lower teens. I truly hope they go more Kick-Ass and less Dawson's Creek. Only time will tell and we will make sure to have the most up to date info as it develops.

Snap Judgments: Survival of the Dead

It must be tough being a George Romero fan nowadays. The horror icon, who basically started the entire zombie genre, has been languishing the last few years, driving a wedge between fans of his older work and the newer, slicker stuff. Ever since his return after a long hiatus, Romero's zombies have looked older and staler, despite his newfound love of CGI effects, another aspect which divides his fanbase. In the face of fresher zombie flicks, Romero has struggled to give his baby relevance. While Survival of the Dead is hardly his best, at least he's approaching the same old premise from a different perspective.

If you weren't a fan of 2007's Diary of the Dead, you'll probably balk at the idea of sitting through this one, as it leapfrogs from plot points previously established. This time around expanding on the story of Sarge "Nicotine" Crockett(Alan Van Sprang), a former soldier reduced to thuggery by robbing helpless folks seeking his help. Sarge and his crew have stumbled upon the isolated Plum Island, a town relatively unaffected by the zombie takeover. Instead, the town's two warring Clans, the Muldoons and the O'Flynns battle it out like the Hatfields and McCoys. One side thinks the zombies need to be destroyed, while the other wants to keep them alive in hopes of curing loved ones. Sarge, along with a ragtag group of horror movie archetypes, inject themselves into the family feud with typically bloody results.

The idea of two opposing moral views on the zombie epidemic is at least a unique one, showing that Romero still has plenty to offer. It's just unfortunate that so little is done with it. I'm at a loss to figure out who the audience for this is exactly. Diehard Romero fans won't find nearly enough zombie gore to satisfy them. The zombies are relegated to the background for the most part, discussed rather than fought. If the human characters had a lick of personality I'd say that was a good thing, because usually the most boring part of any movie are the zombies. Instead nobody is of any interest. When a movie's claim to fame is that it puts new meaning to the term "hungry enough to eat a horse", then something's gone horribly wrong.

Movies like 28 Days Later have robbed Romero's versions of their supposed sociological meaning. I personally never believed for a second any of them were anything more than dead folks back to eat brains. Survival is even less interested in saying anything, but what that is I have no idea. The "of the Dead" series has devolved into self parody, having been outflanked at every angle. It's not even enjoyable from a spoof standpoint, especially in the face of a better film like Zombieland. Perhaps it's time for Romero to put this franchise to rest, and let's hope it doesn't rise up from the grave.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

It's a film about Persians, starring American actors, with shaky accents that sound like they were raised in London. Not that you would go to Prince of Persia expecting fine attention to detail. It's a movie based on a video game, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and rolled right off his assembly line of similar looking average actioners. With it's gleaming, shimmery special effects and airy charm, Persia is entertaining but hardly memorable.

Video game movies should be a dying breed based on their track record. Unfortunately they're practically a genre unto themselves. As far as comparisons go, Prince of Persia rises a dozen notches above junk like Alone in the Dark, Resident Evil(any of 'em), or Doom. For one, it has real star power thanks to the wide-eyed charm of Jake Gyllenhaall as Dastan, a brave street rat who proves himself to the king one day and is taken in to become a part of the royal family. The king's sons accept Dastan as their brother and potential heir. However while the king is away, his right hand man Nizam(Ben Kingsley) encourages war with the peaceful land of Alamut. They're hiding weapons of mass destruction or something. Cue up the Iraq war analogies, please.

The invasion is a rousing spectacle, led by Dastan who leaps and bounds across walls and rooftops like a trained acrobat. Or a video game character. Director Mike Newell, who helmed the most bland Harry Potter film by somebody not named Chris Columbus, shows he's more adept with the bouncy action sequences than he showed in that film. Dastan almost single-handedly takes down Alamut, securing a treasured dagger that is being guarded by the beautiful Princess Tamina(Gemma Arterton). She's a feisty sort, even in the presence of the king. Presenting the king with a gift of priestly robes as a celebration of their victory, Dastan is shocked when the garments burn through flesh, killing the monarch. Accused of murder, Dastan flees, but not before taking Tamina along with him.

It's not long before they discover that he was framed as part of some convoluted plot to gain posession of the dagger, which holds mysterious powers. It has the power to rewind time, giving it's owner the chance to correct any mistakes he might've made. When used, the effect is a glowing sandstorm of golden energy, with the user's astral form watching as time folds back on itself. It's an impressive sight, which thankfully isn't overused.

I like Jake Gyllenhaall for the most part. He's got a certain goofy swagger to him that works, especially when reciting cornball dialogue that sounds like it was ripped from a bad comic book. There's a tenuous chemistry between he and Arterton, as we're forced to watch Destan and Tamina do the flirter's tango for what seems like an eternity. It's fun, in a Moonlighting sortof way, but like that show eventually you just want the two to kiss and move on already. Arterton, who was the only memorable thing about Quantum of Solace, is pretty much forgettable here as the smart mouthed princess. Her job is to look pretty and give a good smooch when the time comes. It's in her contract, and looks a lot like the contract she must've signed for Clash of the Titans.

Balancing the dazzling wall-crawling shots that would put Spider-Man to shame are periods of boredom that are only cured when Alfred Molina shows up and steals the entire film as an enterprising sheikh of questionable moral fiber. Not only has he cornered the market on fixing ostrich races, but he's also a tinfoil hat wearing conspiracy theorist who both hates the government yet wants to cash in on it by capturing Dastan.

Persia's biggest problem is that there's very little in the way of real tension. The plot is too thin and the mysterious enemy who framed Dastan never feels like a real threat. It doesn't help that the story's central premise pretty much tells you exactly how the film will end right from the start. Hello! I've got a dagger that rewinds time! Nobody's actually in any jeopardy, so what reason is there to get all worked up over anything? Those weird looking Egyptian ninja dudes with the darts and stuff? Eh, who cares?

I feel the same way about Prince of Persia that I do the rest of Bruckheimer's stuff, only with slightly more violence. It's a fluff piece. Tons of fun for brief stretches, followed by mindbending leaps in logic. Add hero and vixen, rinse, repeat. It'll make for an entertaining getaway film for the family, but I doubt anybody's gonna want to play through this game again.

Sure Shots Redux: Scream 4; Bruce Willis; Sherlock Holmes 2

A lot of news caught my eye today, but we're both off to see the drug trafficking flick Holy Rollers in just a few minutes, so......

* It's lookin' like Ashley Greene(Twilight) may be out as the lead in Wes Craven's Scream 4. Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Emma Roberts(Nancy Drew) has been cast as Jill, the role Greene was rumored to have just last week.  While nothing is confirmed, it's looking like Greene either was never attached or got the boot.

*It's Ethan Hunt vs. Sherlock Holmes as Warner Brothers has nailed down a December 16th 2011 release date for the sequel to Guy Ritchie's hit detective film. The date puts it in direct competition with the Brad Bird helmed Mission: Impossible 4. Rachel McAdams(The Notebook) will be reprising her role as Holmes' love interest, Irene Adler. Producer Joel Silver also confirms that this one will deal with the super sleuth's arch nemesis, Moriarty. 

*Bruce Willis is reteaming with his Tears of the Sun director, Antoine Fuqua for a prison break film called The Tomb. Willis would play a structural security expert, framed for a crime and sent to an inescapable prison of his own design.

Sure Shots: The Avengers; Jonah Hex; Alice in Wonderland

Quickly...

* Marvel Studios are hard at work trying to find a name actress to liven up their future superhero films. The names reportedly on their list are Alice Eve(She's Out of My League), Rachel Nichols(GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra), and Malin Ackerman(Watchmen). Marvel is only looking to sign one of the three to a multi picture deal, likely to begin with The Avengers. All of them have some comic book film experience. Eve was considered for the role of Peggy Carter in the upcoming Captain America film; Nichols as Scarlett in GI Joe; and obviously Ackerman as the sexy Silk Spectre in Watchmen.  No clue as to who the actress would play, but that hasn't stopped fanboys from naming the obvious choice: Janet Van Dyne aka The Wasp.

*No longer late for a very important date, it seems. It's expected that today Alice in Wonderland will become the 6th film to cross the $1 billion threshold. It joins the ranks of The Dark Knight, LOTR: The Return of the King, Titanic, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, and Avatar.

*IGN has a new trailer for Warner Brothers' upcoming western, Jonah Hex. This time around, the action is even more frantic and sillier than in the last trailer. Doesn't make the movie look good by any stretch, and Megan Fox is still super lame. You can check it out here. Jonah Hex sidles into theaters on June 18th, 2010.

Tommy Lee Jones Confirmed in Captain America: The First Avenger

Turns out the rumors were true. In an interview at the BAFTA awards, Hayley Atwell confirmed that Tommy Lee Jones does make at least an appearance in Captain America: The First Avenger. Atwell, who will be playing Cap's love interest Peggy Carter, states that she and Jones have a scene together in the film. Yeah, he'd have to be in it for that to happen, I guess.

There's been no confirmation as to what role he'll play, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Dum Dum Dugan, Cap's right hand man in the Howling Commandos. I know it's a longshot, but I'm holding out hope.

You can check out the interview with the chatty Ms. Atwell down below.

Focus Features Reveals 2011 Release Dates

I've always said that Focus Features was my favorite studio. If I ever had the choice of places to work, that'd be where I'd go. For awhile there I swear every single film they made was golden. Then Jim Jarmusch's Broken Flowers came along and ever since they've been 50/50. However I still look forward to everything they release. Their slate for next year seems a little thin, but I'm sure a couple of gems will come out of it.

The film I'm most anticipating is The Eagle of the Ninth, starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell. Directed by Kevin MacDonald(The Last King of Scotland), it stars Tatum as a Roman centurion on a quest to find out what happened to his father's legion, known as The Ninth, in Britain years earlier. Focus has settled on a February 25, 2011 release date.

If there's one thing Focus does well, it's period pieces. March 11th sees the release of Cary Fukunaga's adaptation of Jane Eyre, starring Mia Wasikowska(Alice in Wonderland). Fukunaga's last film, Sin Nombre, was one of my favorites of 2009.

Director Joe Wright reteams with his Atonement star Saoirse Ronan, for the teen mercenary flick, Hanna. Due out on April 8th, Hanna is the story of a young girl raised with the skills to be a lethal killing machine. She's sent off on a mysterious mission by her father(played by Eric Bana), and finds herself pursued by a CIA operative(Cate Blanchett) with a murky past.

Sometime in the fall/winter sees the release of One Day, by An Education director Lone Scherfig. The film is a romantic comedy starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess as a pair who first met 20 years earlier during their high school graduation, and have proceeded to meet up once a year ever since.

Who's Gonna be Under the Spider-Man Mask?

Chances are whoever nails down the role of Spider-Man in Marc Webb's upcoming relaunch of the wallcrawler franchise is gonna be set for a long time. It catapulted Tobey Maguire to superstardom and will likely do the same again. I remember thinking that Maguire was a terrible choice at the time, but he flipped my mind around pretty damn quick.  We've heard a couple of the names that Sony and Webb were considering for the role, but THR has pulled together the definitive list. Some of the names are pretty cool. Some are so wacky I wonder if Mysterio planted 'em.

Andrew Garfield

Possibly my favorite choice, Garfield won me over with his charismatic performance in murky crime drama Red Riding earlier this year. He's pretty old at nearly 28, but he doesn't look it. Based on his turn in Lions for Lambs, I can see him playing an altruistic nerdy student just fine.

Jamie Bell

Yeah, that's Billy Elliot all grown up. Perhaps too grown up. While I think Bell has grown into a fine actor, I think he's a little too rugged to play the geeky Peter Parker. Everytime I see him I think of him in films like Defiance and Jumper. Doesn't seem to fit.

Josh Hutcherson

The odds on favorite in my opinion. Hutcherson has the youth and the look to play a student like Peter Parker, and he's got the film cred thanks to major roles in Bridge to Tarabithia and Journey to the Center of the Earth. My only worry is that he often lacks screen presence. Just look at the way he drifted into the background in a movie like Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. Then again as bad as that film was he might've been intentionally staying out of the spotlight.

Alden Ehrenreich

Most people couldn't pick his face out of a police line-up, and they probably think his name sounds like somebody who got shot down in Memphis Belle. But he was a scene stealer opposite Vincent Gallo in Francis Ford Coppolla's Tetro last year, and he's got the face for the part. I just wonder if Sony might want a bigger name attached.

Frank Dillane

If he looks at all familar it's because he played the young Tom Riddle in last year's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Kindof an odd choice, and I'm hesitate to judge because that was such a showy, evil role. I haven't seen his other film, Welcome to Sarajevo, but right now he feels like the longest shot for the part.

An odd assortment of actors no doubt. My favorites are Garfield and Hutcherson, but what do you guys think? Let us know!