New and hopefully the last poster for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

With Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows about two weeks away from coming out, this should be the last official poster for the film. Thank goodness because the marketing boys over at Warner Brothers have clearly let the idea well run dry. The latest sheet is basically just a combination of images taken from other posters, with Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes staring at us in a most disturbing fashion, while over his shoulder Jude Law is preparing to defend himself from some threat. The two don't seem to be on the same page at all. 

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows opens on December 16th! 

Alice Eve to play an all new character in Star Trek sequel

Alice Eve has been around for longer than I think people realize. She's great in Starter for 10, actually, opposite James McAvoy. But she didn't really get noticed until the nerds got to live vicariously through Jay Baruchel as he made out with her in She's Out of My League. To be blunt, she's a stone cold hottie, so the role was perfect for her. Unfortunately she hasn't done a whole lot since but get passed over for roles in some big time franchises, like Man of Steel and X-men: First Class. Well, the third time appears to be the charm as she's set to don a pair of Vulcan ears or something as part of JJ Abrams' Star Trek sequel.

New concept art reveals The Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man

Yesterday saw a bunch of sites going gah-gah over a friggin' PEZ dispenser which showed a representation of The Lizard as he'll appear in The Amazing Spider-Man. Since it was, y'know, just a PEZ dispenser, it was just a head filled with delicious little candies. Nothing to write home about, at least not in my mind....

Oh hey and there's Spidey, too.  Well now today, Spider Media have revealed some actual concept art from the Marc Webb directed film, and it seems to jibe pretty well with the above image....

Good Morning America presents the trailer for John Carter

Thanks to my homie Brendon Connelly for snagging the new trailer for John Carter, presented earlier today on Good Morning America. Unfortunately that means you have to put up with Robin Roberts and her awkward interview with star Taylor Kitsch...

Roberts: "It wasn't shot on Mars?"

Uggh, brilliant. Kitsch didn't actually fight in the Civil War, either. Doesn't ABC have a legit movie aficionado working there somewhere?

Anyway, here's the trailer. Expect the online version to be out later on today, which we'll have along with my thoughts on it....

David Ayer to script Scarface remake

After spending the bulk of his career writing and directing stories of corrupt and morally bankrupt cops, David Ayer(Training Day, Dark Blue) is going to be doing something a little bit different. Back in September, we learned of Universal's plan to launch an all new reboot of Scarface, which would take elements from Howard Hawks' great 1932 film and the overrated 1983 version. While I hoped it was just one of those ideas studios throw out there to see if there's any public interest, my wishes fell on deaf ears because it seems to be picking up steam rather than losing it with Ayer being brought on to pen the script. Ayer told Deadline....

Plot synopsis for Akira revealed?

There were bound to be some changes with Warner Brothers' Americanized remake of manga/anime hit, Akira, which is to be directed by Jaume Collet-Serra(Unknown) and currently has Garrett Hedlund as the only actor officially on board. And while those small tweaks might not make a difference in the flow of the story, I know how diehard the Akira fans are, and they're going to scream at the slightest deviation from what they know and love.

With casting on the film underway, Acting Auditions(via our friends at Bleeding Cool) managed to wrangle up this call sheet which includes an early synopsis, as well as a list of the principle stars....

New clip from Cameron Crowe's We Bought a Zoo

This past weekend a number of folks had a chance to attend a sneak preview of Cameron Crowe's latest film, We Bought a Zoo. Unfortunately I couldn't attend, but from everything I've heard it's a "return to form" for Crowe, with his usual blend of great eclectic music, humor, and characters experiencing a personal crossroads in their lives. My homie Jack Giroux over at Film School Rejects calls it the "feel frickin' great" movie of the season(read his brief review here).

Based on the memoir by Benjamin Mee, the story centers around a single father(Matt Damon) who realizes his struggling family needs a serious change. So he uproots his two kids and buys a dilapidated old wildlife reserve, and with the help of a quirky crew he and his family begin to repair the place while also rebuilding their own lives.  Scarlett Johansson, Elle Fanning, Thomas Haden Church, Patrick Fugit, JB Smoove, and Colin Ford make up the supporting cast.

Yahoo Movies has released a new clip from the film, featuring Haden Church taking Damon to task for taking on such a massive job, until he's distracted by the presence of Johansson's character. Check that out below....

Red Band trailer: Shame, starring Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan

After last week's trailer backed by the soulful singing voice of Carey Mulligan, this latest red band trailer is Michael Fassbender in full display, presenting just a hint of the smoldering presence he brings in Shame. Fassbender plays a sexual addict, who finds himself completely unable to quench his desires, and is utterly given in to them. But don't walk in thinking this is just a f**k fest because it isn't. Instead it's a startling look at a man who has and wants nothing in his life but his urges, and the effect that has on the very few familial relationships he still has.

This is actually my favorite trailer for the film yet, as it features a brief but intense sequence in which Fassbender's character lusts after a woman he sees on the subway train.  I'm not going to spoil what happens, but the chemistry between the two is electric, and I love the way she matches his cold glare with a mixture of carnal desire, pride, excitement, and yep even a little shame.

The film opens this weekend in limited release, so if it's in your town send the kids to a babysitter(the film is NC-17 for a reason) and check out one of the most powerful movies of the year....

Sure Shots: Gary Oldman; The Hobbit; Ender's Game

* Gary Oldman has confirmed what he's been hinting at for a couple of weeks now, that if Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy warrants a sequel, it will be based on John LeCarre's novel, Smiley's People. This would be a break from the chronology of the books, as the next story in the series is The Honourable Schoolboy. The problem with using that story is it focuses on a totally different character, and in order to keep Oldman's George Smiley character prominent this was the logical route to take.  Oldman also revealed that he's hanging up the badge of Commissioner Jim Gordon for good after The Dark Knight Rises. [ThePlaylist]

* It's just not worth it to try and swim against the tide of one of my predictions, so why does anybody(lookin' at you Variety!) bother? As I suspected a couple of weeks ago, the trailer for The Hobbit will premier ahead of showings of The Adventures of Tintin. Doesn't that make sense, considering Peter Jackson is involved with both films? Last week Variety noted that we'd see the footage before Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Wrong wrong wrong wrongy McWrongerson! [DigitalSpy]

* Indiana Jones in Space? Not quite, and considering Harrison Ford's recent history with science fiction(hello Cowboys & Aliens!!), I wouldn't be surprised if he avoids the genre for the rest of his career. Variety reports the actor is being sought for the role of training commander Colonel Hyrum Graff in Gavin Hood's adaptation of Ender's Game. Based on the mega popular, ever growing series of novels by Orson Scott Card, the story centers on a future society where earth trains children to be brutal military commanders to battle an insectoid enemy. Asa Butterfield(Hugo), who entered talks for the lead role of Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, has now officially signed on. Ender's Game already has a May 15th 2013 release date set in stone.

Daniel Radcliffe to play beat poet Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings

Everytime I hear of a movie centered on poet Allen Ginsberg(like the James Franco led flick, Howl), I keep hoping it'll include some sordid details on the alleged homosexual relationship he had with right wing blowhole and noted racist Michael Savage. Alas, it never seems to be. I doubt it'll ever happen, but if it does I'll happily spend my hard earned money to see it.  It likely won't happen with Kill Your Darlings, a film that's been brewing for a couple of years now, but seems to be hitting the reset button with a whole new cast.

The story will focus on the 1950s Beat Generation of writers who rose to prominence in the wake of WWII and included the likes of Jack Kerouac, Lucien Carr, and Ginsberg. Chris Evans, Jesse Eisenberg, and Ben Whishaw were initially attached to play the trio, but with all of their profiles significantly greater now, it's unclear whether any of them will still be involved. What we do know is that Daniel Radcliffe appears to be taking on the Ginsberg role, which had been Eisenberg's.  Newcomer John Krokidas is at the helm, with a script he co-wrote with Austin Bunn.

This would be the boldest move yet for Radcliffe's post-Potter career. Far more ambitious than genre flick The Woman in Black. [Twitch]

Steven Soderbergh to direct The Bitter Pill, from Contagion writer Scott Z. Burns

We're running out of opportunities to see Steven Soderbergh at work. Or so it seems. His "retirement" is still on the horizon, with only Magic Mike, Haywire, and his Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra left. There was to be one more, as he had been set to direct The Man from U.N.C.L.E. based on a script by his frequent collaborator, Scott Z. Burns(Contagion). Soderbergh eventually dropped out due to various beefs  he had with Warner Brothers, leaving a gaping hole in his schedule.

Forest Whitaker, Michael Chiklis, Common, and Ray Liotta to star in crime flick, Pawn

Five or six years ago this cast might have sounded really promising. Michael Chiklis would be hip deep in his Emmy worthy role on The Shield; Forest Whitaker would be coming off his Oscar winning turn in The Last King of Scotland; Ray Liotta's name still held some weight; and Common would be the rapper making his big break into the movies pre-Smokin' Aces. Now this collection of talent screams "Netflix streaming".

The foursome will star in Pawn, from newbie director David A. Armstrong, and the rather generic plot centers on a hostage situation that goes terribly wrong. Deadline also describes the script by Jay Anthony White as dealing with an ex-con who gets mixed up in a "manipulative chess game between the Feds, local police and the mob". Ugh. Are they sure this isn't an AMC Channel original movie? Sure sounds like it.

Those thinking Whittaker's Oscar winning name means this film can't be all bad should probably take a hard look at the actor's resume, which is about 50% monkey piss. Don't believe me? I'll happily point you in the direction of Even Money and Our Family Wedding.

New Men in Black 3 poster featuring Will Smith as Agent J

Just a couple of days ago we showed you the first teaser poster for Men in Black III, the third film in the popular sci-fi/comedy series directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. That one showed us an image of the older version of Agent K, played by Tommy Lee Jones. This one is of his partner, Agent J, played by Will Smith, who must go back in time to the 1960s to save a younger version of Agent K(played by Josh Brolin) from an alien villain named Yaz(Jemaine Clement).

Men in Black III will open in 3D and IMAX on May 25th!

The Artist, Take Shelter lead the Independent Spirit Awards Nominations

It's that time of year folks! When the biggest and the smallest collectives of film nerds get together and figure out their picks for the best movies of the year. Yep, it's officially awards season, and we here in DC aren't exempt from it. In fact, those of us in the Washington DC Film Critics Association will be holding our annual awards next week, so stay tuned to this site for more info on that.

Yesterday, the Gotham Independent Film Awards fired off the opening salvo by announcing their winners. Usually I don't pay them any mind, but there were a couple of nice surprises that caught my eye. I was extremely happy to see so much love given to Beginners, this summer's brilliant comedy from Mike Mills. The film tied with Terrence Malicks' The Tree of Life for Best Picture, and while I despise that there wasn't a clear cut winner, I have a feeling if forced to a final vote Malick's film would've won out. Beginners also nabbed best ensemble for stars Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, and Melanie Laurent. Considering the heat she's had lately, it's no surprise that Felicity Jones won Breakthrough Actor for her performance in Like Crazy. The real shocker came with the Breakthrough Director award, which went to Pariah director Dee Rees. She deserves it, and I suspect Pariah will be a major factor in a number of awards this year.

While the New York Film Critics Circle is currently announcing their winners over Twitter in a desperate attempt to be cool, the Indie Spirit Nominations were also announced today. Right up there with the Golden Globes for my favorite event of the season, the Indies are always fun because it's hard to predict exactly which way they'll go. This year, the heavy contenders appear to be the arthouse silent film, The Artist, which nabbed five nominations. Tied with it is the little seen psychological drama, Take Shelter, including one for Michal Shannon in the Best Actor category. The Descendants, Drive, and Martha Marcy May Marlene snagged four nominations. And in another move that indicates why I love the Indies so much, Adepero Oduye earned a Best Actress nomination for her riveting performance in Pariah.  Also Cory Stoll, who was so perfectly droll as Ernest Hemingway in Midnight in Paris, earned a Best Supporting Actor nom. I love it. For the complete list of Independent Spirit Awards nominations, check out below...

Neil Jordan adds Sam Riley to cast of vampire flick, Byzantium

It might be hard to remember, but before Twilight vampires were creatures to be feared. They lived by hiding in plain sight, often using their achieved status as a means of hiding the blood they must spill in order to survive. On the big screen, nobody presented their clandestine nature better than Neil Jordan in 1994's Interview with the Vampire. Nearly two decades later, Jordan is back exploring the world of bloodsuckers with Byzantium.

Already featuring Saoirse Ronan(Atonement) and Gemma Arterton(Tamara Drewe) as the two leads, the film has been delayed a little bit due to some funding issues. It's now back on track thanks to a cash infusion with production kicking off next month, and a new addition to the cast in Sam Riley(Brighton Rock). I haven't seen Riley since he played Ian Curtis in the fantastic biopic, Control, but that says more about his film choices than anything else. Hopefully things will turn out better with his starring role in Walter Salles' adaptation of On the Road, which also features Garrett Hedlund, Viggo Mortensen and Kristen Stewart.

Byzantium features a script by Moira Buffini(Jane Eyre), and tells the story of a mother and daughter pair of vampires who hunt as a team. Caleb Landry(X-men: First Class), Bradley Jones, and Daniel Mays co-star. [THR]

Punch Drunk DVDs

3. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
Those ass backwards mountain hillbillies who routinely get the jump on unsuspecting city folk in any number of horror movies? They have feelings too, and perhaps we need to start seeing things from their perspective? Maybe all those murders were a big misunderstanding? Tucker and Dale vs. Evil ingeniously twists the typical horror spoof, taking the genre's usual trappings and presenting them in a believable, albeit comical, way. Throw in two fantastic performances by the underrated Alan Tudyk(Firefly) and Tyler Labine(A Good Old Fashioned Orgy), a shot of scorching hot sexiness in Katrina Bowden(Sex Drive) and you've got the recipe for hilarious horror fun.

New red band clip from Young Adult

Where exactly would you play a red band TV spot, anyway? On Cinemax at like 2AM? Weird. Anyway, I'm only a few days away from checking out Young Adult, which has been sortof lurking beneath all the awards season hoopla, mainly because it's such a far cry from the rest of the contenders. That may be why I'm so hyped for it, after weeks of watching stodgy films making very clear and obvious grabs for Academy Awards nominations, Young Adult's refreshingly blunt attitude is a welcome change.

For Jason Reitman, this'll be his first film since he stormed the Oscars with Up in the Air back in 2009. It also marks his second pairing with Juno scribe, Diablo Cody, and in every clip we've seen so far her usual irreverent style seems fully at play.

Charlize Theron plays Mavis Gary, a writer of teen fiction novels, who goes back to her hometown in Minnesota to relive her past high school glories, but also to hook back up with her ex-boyfriend(Patrick Wilson). Unfortunately he's married with kids, not that Mavis seems to give a crap, seeming to take a special delight in turning the small town upside down. Elizabeth Reaser, Patton Oswalt, and J.K. Simmons co-star.

In this new red band spot, Mavis goes a little off the rails over some spilled punch. This is going to be fun. Check out that clip below...

Trailer Time: Wild 7, directed by Eiichiro Hasumi

Think of Wild 7 as a Japanese version of The Dirty Dozen, or for me it was like the DC Comics team known as the Suicide Squad. Wild 7 was one of my earliest introductions into manga, and it's been one of the few properties I still follow in all the various ways it's been adapted over the years. Created in 1969 by Mikiya Mochizuki, Wild 7 follows a special police unit of reformed criminals who have the authority to judge and execute those the cops simply can't touch.

Adapted into a popular but short-lived TV series and into numerous anime over the years, Warner Brothers Japan has been developing a live action film based on the manga for some time, with director Eiichiro Hasumi(Umizaru) behind the camera. With it's December 21st release in Japan right around the corner, a new trailer has been released, which you can check out below. With the popularity of the Wild 7 franchise, don't be surprised if a localized version of the film hits our shores in some capacity...

New poster for John Carter, starring Taylor Kitsch

Disney is pulling out all the stops to make sure you don't forget about John Carter this holiday season. While the sci-fi/fantasy epic doesn't arrive until March 9th, after a lukewarm response to the trailer released a few months ago, the studio has to take advantage of the busiest month of the movie season, and so they've been releasing new images at a rapid clip over the past week. A new trailer will debut later next month, but for now we'll have to settle with this poster. 

Simon West to direct Aussie car racing flick, Dust and Glory

Nobody's ever going to mistake Simon West for one of the great directors, but the guy knows what he does best and sticks to it. The couple of times the Con Air helmer has veered out of his comfort zone, we were treated to the silly horror One Missed Call and the histrionic The General's Daughter. After taking a few years off, West came back in a big way earlier this year directing Jason Statham in The Mechanic, one of my favorites movies of the year. Seriously. It's not often we get to see Statham as a special agent who kicks ass. *snort*

Sure Shots: Tom Hanks; Jared Harris; Kyle Chandler

* Tom Hanks has been the architect behind some of the best WWII films and TV series in history, with Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, and The Pacific. At this point, it's hard to fathom anybody doing one without his involvement, because...well, Hanks does them better than anybody. He and his PlayTone production company have scooped up the rights to Erik Larson's book, In the Garden of the Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin, as a possible starring vehicle for Hanks. Based on a true story and real events, the story centers on the US ambassador to German, William Dodd, and his daughter, Martha. William was initially sympathetic to the Nazi cause. Martha was a heavy supporter of the Third Reich, even dating some of the inner circle, including the head of the Gestapo, Rudolph Diels. Their opinions change as they witness more brutal persecution of the Jews. No writer or director is attached at this early stage. [THR]

*  Although he's been around since Damian Harris' underrated 1989 film, The Rachel Papers, Jared Harris didn't come to my attention until he starred opposite Asia Argento in B. Monkey. Admittedly I liked that film solely because of how scorching hot she was, but Harris made an impression as well. The renowned character actor has played everyone from Andy Warhol to Professor Moriarty in next month's Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Now he's set to play another great figure as he'll be Union commander Ulysses S. Grant in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln biopic. He joins a ridiculous cast that includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Hawkes, Tommy Lee Jones, and many more. [Variety]

* Kyle Chandler hasn't let the end of his long-running Friday Night Lights TV series slow him down. This year has proven to be the biggest of his career, with a major role in JJ Abrams' Super 8, and landing a gig in Ben Affleck's hostage flick, Argo. Variety reports he'll next join on to Allen Hughes' star-studded thriller, Broken City. Already featuring Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Barry Pepper, and Jeffrey Wright, the film centers on a disgraced ex-cop turned P.I. who discovers city-wide corruption while investigating the infidelity of a politician's wife. Broken City will hit theaters January 18th 2013.
 

Tony Scott to direct drug trade flick, Narco Sub

It's Monday, so that means one of the Scott brothers has added another directing project to their crowded schedule. This time it's Tony, and with the half a dozen or so other flicks he's got swirling around, he's now added Narco Sub, from uber-hot writer David Guggenheim(Safe House).

Trailer Time: Thermae Romae, based on the popular manga series

Whenever you feel the need to bemoan the overuse of graphic novel or comic book adaptations here by Hollywood filmmakers, think about what's going on over in Japan. There they've taken a particular delight in adapting some of the most far out manga they have to offer into live-action films. Sometimes it works out(Death Note), and other times they simply don't translate.

One of the strangest adaptations I've ever heard is due to be released next year, and that's Thermae Romae, based on the popular 3-volume manga from Mari Yamazaki. Never mind that you've got Japanese actors like Hiroshi Abe(Godzilla 2000) and Aye Ueto playing Romans, but the premise is just flat out weird. The story follows Lucius, an architect bath houses in Ancient Rome who time travels to various modern day bath houses in Japan. Why? I don't know, but the manga was basically a way of exploring the two cultures that loved baths the most: the Romans and the Japanese. Told you it was strange.

A new trailer has been released ahead of the film's release next April, so if you're interested in checking out something a little different, you can take a gander at Thermae Romae below. It's in Japanese, but I think you'll get the idea...

Jonathan Demme to direct documentary on musician Enzo Avitabile

Over the last decade or so, Jonathan Demme has been veering further away from theatrical features and focusing more than ever on producing high quality documentaries. As much as I have loved the man's feature films, from his days with Roger Corman to The Silence of the Lambs to 2008's Rachel Getting Married(wow, it's been 3 years already??), I can hardly complain when the man is clearly following a deeper passion. My personal favorite is the doc he made on President Jimmy Carter, Man from Plains. In particular, Demme has spent a good deal of time and energy chronicling the lives of musicians, such as the two films he's made with Neil Young.

Well now Demme has found a new favorite to follow, in jazz/world music fusion musician Enzo Avitabile. Set in Naples with the working title of "Enzo", Demme first got the idea after hearing one of Avitabile's tracks on the radio. Demme got in contact with the Naples mayor, Luigi de Magistris, who is backing the film and will have a cameo. Avitabile will perform a live concert in the film, which will also feature a host of other world music icons.

A jazz saxophonist, Avitabile has worked in the past with such greats as Tina Turner, James Brown, and Pino Daniele. In 2005, Avitabile and his band Bottari were nominated for the Audience Award in the BBC Awards for World Music. [Variety]

Trailer Time: Warhouse, starring Joseph Morgan and Matt Ryan

 I've heard a lot of buzz surrounding Warhouse, an indie horror out of the UK that has some people comparing it to Saw for it's rough edged look and violence. Starring Joseph Morgan, who some will recognize as the treacherous Lysander in Immortals, he plays Royal Marine A.J. Budd, trapped in a mysterious building full of strange, inhuman creatures. The only chance he has to survive is to fight and kill every single day, but he finds hope in the diary left by a former prisoner(Matt Ryan).

Directed by Luke Massey, there's so far been no word on when or if Warhouse will be released stateside, but the new teaser trailer holds a lot of promise. Check it out below...[Shocktilyoudrop]

Blu-Ray Deal of the Day: Harry Potter the Complete 8-Film Collection for $79.99

In case you somehow missed it by being smart enough to have all retail emails sent to your spam folder, today is Cyber Monday. Basically it's like Black Friday, only on a different day and geared towards online deals. So it's the perfect time to stock up on DVDs and Blu-Rays and complete those collections of yours.We'll be doing our best to highlight some of these specials, and hope that you'll take advantage of them by clicking on our sponsor links.

One such deal which should be perfect for this holiday season, is the Harry Potter Complete 8-Film Collection on Blu-Ray for only $79.99. That's 43% off the regular retail price. To take advantage of this amazing deal, all you need to do is click here.  And if you haven't moved up to Blu-Ray just yet but want to take advantage of this special on DVD, then you can go here and pick up the set for only $48.99!

Trailer Time: The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, starring Jet Li

I keep hoping famed Chinese filmmaker Hsui Hark will get the same level of adoration here in the United States that he's earned elsewhere around the globe, but Hollywood has pretty much kicked him in the teeth. After establishing himself as a key figure in the new wave of Hong Kong cinema, he made his jump to our shores and was greeted with crappy Jean-Claude Van Damme flicks like Double Team(with Dennis Rodman!!?) and Knock Off, which paired Van Damme with Rob Schneider of all people. So it's no wonder he skedaddled back home, where over the last few years he's been doing some of his best stuff. If you haven't had a chance to check out Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, then add it to your Netflix queue as soon as possible. Think Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon with a touch of Nancy Drew. Seriously.

Hark's next film is The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, the second remake of 1967's seminal wuxia film, Dragon Gate Inn, and has him re-teaming with his All About Women star Zhou Xun, as well as Jet Li. The film was shot in 3D, marking the first time it's been used in a wuxia flick, and judging by this new trailer I'd say Hark has put the technology to good use. It looks absolutely gorgeous.  Check out the trailer below, followed by the film's plot....[Twitch]

Producer talks Spike Lee's Oldboy remake; reveals Battle Royale remake struggles

Excuse me, you don't f**k with Oldboy's hallway scene. If you've ever seen Park Chan-Wook's classic revenge thriller, then those 4 minutes are no doubt burned into your memory, when Oh Dae-Su armed with nothing but a hammer and a "I don't give a sh*t" attitude bulldozes his way through dozens of armed thugs in a narrow hallway. Everything about it, from the character's fury to the amazing music are simply perfect. With Spike Lee remaking the film, one of my biggest worries was that they'd screw with it somehow, and it appears that's exactly what's happening.

Roy Lee, one of the film' producers, recently sat down with Shocktilyoudrop about Spike Lee and writer Mark Protosevich's plans, and while he insists their will be similarities to Park Chan-Wook's version, there will also be some significant changes...

New Chronicles of Riddick sequel back on track

I'm sure there are practically dozens of fans out there who've been clamoring for a third film in the Chronicles of Riddick series. Those folks have posters of Vin Diesel as  XXX on their bedroom walls, and brush their teeth using limited edition Babylon AD toothpaste. They were no doubt distraught when news broke last month that Diesel's production company, One Race Films, had failed to pay the studio where The Chronicles of Riddick: Dead Man Stalking(the rumored title) was being shot and that production had come to a halt. Considering it's mainly being self-financed, money troubles like this are an immediate red flag.

TMZ, who seem to have an uncharacteristic interest in the film, have reported that all dues have been met and that production will resume on December 28th. The long overdue bills that caused the shut down have been met, including back payment to all members of the crew who had been going without a paycheck. Still, this has to be a concern. If Diesel and his partner David Twohy are running into issues like this so early, then it's a big question whether the film will ever see the light of day.

So far we know that Diesel will be reprising his role as convict/bounty hunter Riddick. Karl Urban has been rumored to be returning, with offers sent out to Dave Bautista, Katee Sackhoff, and Bokeem Woodbine. The hard 'R' rated sci-fi flick is planned for release some time next year.

New Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows international banners

Something that's made me very happy over the last few days has been the inclusion of Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler in the marketing campaign for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. After being billed as only appearing for a glorified cameo, Warner Brothers seem to be going out of their way to show that the she's a crucial part of the story. Heck, she even got her own poster....

Then again so did Watson's dog....

So maybe it's all a ploy to cash in on McAdams' name, because with such a crowded cast for the sequel there doesn't appear to be much room for her. Featuring Stephen Fry, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Kelly Reilly, and Eddie Marsan, the story sees Holmes(Robert Downey Jr.) and Dr. Watson(Jude Law) matched up against Holmes' nemesis, Professor Moriarty.


A handful of new international banners have been released ahead of the film's debut on December 16th. Check those out below....

DVD Deal of the Day: Own The Twilight Saga movies for $6.99 each!

For the next three hours, you can get the 2-Disc Special Editon DVDs of Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse for only $6.99 each!  Hurry so you don't miss out on these three amazing deals. Please click on the above links to complete your Twilight collection today!

PDC Live ep. 121: The Muppets; Hugo; My Week With Marilyn

On this week's episode, we light the lights, dress up right, and bring you our review of The Muppets! Will Jason Segel's labor of love make that "rainbow connection" with a new generation of fans? Plus, we look at Martin Scorsese's first foray into 3D adventure films with Hugo, and Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn!

All this and more! So join us in the chat room or call in with your own thoughts at (877) 217-3925, courtesy of our friends at Blogtalkradio!

Tops at the Box Office: Twilight sinks it's fangs into The Muppets

1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn pt. 1- $42M/$221M
In it's second week, Twilight held off a ton of formidable competition to maintain the top spot, although the 70% drop off suggests those who stayed up late for midnight screenings or waited in line for days didn't come back for another helping of this turkey. With basically nothing new coming out next week, chances are the film will do modest business again before losing out to (hopefully) Hugo and The Muppets.

Confirmed: The Dark Knight Rises prologue to play only on 70MM high res IMAX screens

Earlier today I said to expect news on this subject, but I didn't expect it would be within the next few minutes. Last month, it was reported by AMC Theaters that a six minute preview of The Dark Knight Rises would precede early IMAX showings of Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol on December 16th. They added that it would only air on 70mm IMAX screens, and not the rinky dink smaller ones that have cropped up everywhere the last few years. We have a number of them here around DC.  The announcement was quickly revoked, however, so nobody knew exactly what was going on. In the most recent issue of Empire, it was revealed that it wouldn't turn up until December 21st, but nothing on which IMAX capable theaters.

Paul Franklin, who has been Christopher Nolan's visual effects right hand man for years, today put an end to all the confusion, tweeting that the preview would air only on 70mm 15perf digital IMAX screens. So that would be the big daddys. Here's hoping we have a screening at the National Air and Space Museum.  He also confirmed what we already suspected, that the next trailer for the film would premier alongside Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. 

To find the nearest IMAX theater in your town, just go here.

The Sunday Drive: 11/27/11

3. Hugo
While my colleagues and I have certainly put our love for The Muppets on display these past few days, when we actually break down and start discussing this week's movies, it's Hugo we end up talking about the most. Truly an unforgettable experience, admittedly with problems, but Martin Scorsese has managed to make one of his most personal movies hidden in the guise of a children's adventure film. Hugo is at it's core a love letter by a man who has never lost his childhood adoration of cinema. It's his desperate plea that we all pay the pioneers of this great industry their proper respect. For guys like me and the rest of my peers, Hugo is a must see. I have my doubts whether those less enamored of film history will feel the same.

Live action Akira fan made poster features Garrett Hedlund as Kaneda

Ugh. I got low expectations for Warner Brothers' live-action remake of the anime/manga classic, Akira, but I certainly hope it doesn't turn out looking like this new piece of fan art. Using Photoshop, the image shows the film's boring star, Garrett Hedlund, in the lead role of Kaneda, leader of a rebellious biker gang who takes on the government in an effort to save his best friend, Tetsuo. The poster has a Dragonball: Evolution look that I don't think anybody would be happy about.

With the budget hovering around $90M and direct Jaume Collet-Serra(Unknown) behind the camera, Akira looks to finally be rounding into shape after a disastrous casting process. A number of names are in contention for the role of the out-of-control telekinetic, Tetsuo, including Alden Ehrenreich, Michael Pitt, and Paul Dano. Ken Watanabe has been offered the role of The Colonel, while Helena Bonham Carter is still considering playing Lady Miyako.  Their biggest hope for a big name comes in whether or not Kristen Stewart will accept playing Kaneda's love interest, Ky Reed.

High Res images from The Dark Knight Rises

To be perfectly honest, my excitement for The Dark Knight Rises is starting to wane just a little bit. I'm getting pretty bored of seeing the same old images of Bane and Batman, most of which we've seen already in various set photos. I'll probably perk back up when the next trailer comes out in a couple of weeks.

Just a couple of days ago we got a handful of new images from the latest issue of Empire Magazine, and now we have them in crisp and clear high-res, courtesy of ComicBookMovie. The issue also had Christopher Nolan revealing the timeline for the film, as well as giving us a brief description of the planned 6-minute preview we'll be seeing next month. The story notes that the preview, previously thought to be attached to early IMAX showings of Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol on December 16th, will now begin on the nationwide roll out on December 21st. Don't be surprised if more info on this hits in the coming days, as Warner Brothers is being particularly sportive for some reason. For now, check out those high-res shots below...

1st teaser poster for Men in Black III

You'll find no film production over the last year that's been hit by more troubles than Men in Black III. The Barry Sonnenfeld directed film, which sees Will Smith's Agent J travelling back in time to the 1960s to save a younger version of Agent K(played by Josh Brolin), saw multiple issues dealing with the script mostly, but also some on set tantrums by it's star. The production kicked off around the end of last year without a completed script, and then a self imposed hiatus to finish it dragged on longer than planned. And when it finally ended, the script still wasn't done. David Koepp(Spider-Man) was brought in to finish it, but maybe somebody should've taken the hint. By the time this one comes out it will have been more than a decade since the disappointing sequel, and I haven't heard anybody clamoring for it to continue.

But here we are, and with the booming business of the holiday season upon us, studios making sure their biggest tentpoles for next year get in front of as many eyeballs as possible. Collider has found this first teaser poster for Men in Black III which should be in a multiplex near you.  It's actually kind of cool, with a series of little "Men in Black 3s" forming the face of Agent K(Tommy Lee Jones). 

Jemaine Clement(Flight of the Conchords) will play the villain, a creature named Yaz. Emma Thompson is Agent O, the head of the Men in Black agency. Alice Eve plays her in the 1960s when she's still just a secretary. Rip Torn, Nicole Scherzinger, and Bill Hader(as Andy Warhol) co-star. Men in Black III will open on May 25th 2012.

6 more new images from John Carter

If you're one of those who is anxiously awaiting the release of Disney's John Carter, then this has been a good week for you. Just a couple of days ago we got a new image which showed off the gigantic white apes our hero, played by Taylor Kitsch, will be facing. Now six more new shots courtesy of SFX bring us a couple of new creatures and a space ship of some sort. Oh, and we'll probably get a new trailer next week.

Based largely on the first of Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic Barsoom novels, John Carter is a former Confederate officer who is miraculously transported to Mars, where he is immediately thrust into a conflict between various nations.  Directed by Andrew Stantion(Finding Nemo), the film also stars Willem Dafoe, Samantha Morton, Lynn Collins, Mark Strong, Thomas Haden Church, James Purefoy, Dominic West, Polly Walker, Bryan Cranston, and Ciaran Hinds. Look out for a cameo by Jon Favreau, who had been attached to the film when it was with Paramount.

John Carter opens in 3D and IMAX on March 9th. Check out those new images below...

Rachel Weisz to star opposite Colin Firth in The Railway Man

As great as she is, and as much as I love her, it's been a couple of years since there was good reason to swoon over Rachel Weisz in a really good film. Like all the way back to 2009's The Brothers Bloom. 2011 hasn't exactly been stellar. The Whistleblower was a mediocre political thriller beneath her considerable talents, and the less said about Dream House the better. At least she got a studly new boytoy out of it. There's still a chance 360, which sees her paired up with The Constant Gardener director Fernando Meirelles, could be a hit but the word I'm hearing hasn't been positive in the least. So maybe it's time to look forward to 2012 for Weisz to bounce back.