The Big Screen Bulletin 8.17.09: Iron Man 2, District 9, More

Posted by Steve Gustafson on 08.17.2009

First look at what could be Iron Man 2 villain's finished armor, District 9 lands on top of the box office, Sylvester Stallone gives us a glimpse of The Expendables in action, and all the Avatar news that you need to know! Plus, what new trailers and posters have everyone talking?

Welcome to the Big Screen Bulletin. My name is Steve Gustafson and this is week 2 of 2 for my filling in for Chad Webb. From what I hear, Mr. Webb's peacekeeping mission to Amsterdam was a success and he'll be back next week. As it has been mentioned, I'll be taking over for Chad after issue #200 and will continue providing your Monday morning movie news that you've come to expect and rely on. We're going to start out this week with some of the more notable movie posters that have hit online this past week. Let's get into it!



Zombieland - This movie is picking up steam very nicely. While it won't be a genre re-inventor, expect it to do respectable business at the theaters. Expect Amber Heard to become a fanboy favorite, Bill Murray will be awesome as a zombie, and Woody Harrelson notches another great performance in his underrated career.



Toy Story 3 - June 18, 2010 cannot come soon enough for some people. However, this has really driven a wedge between fans. I don't see why people are up in arms about a third chapter in this successful franchise. You have the whole cast back, even better special effects, and a solid storyline. Woody, Buzz, and the rest of their toy-box friends are donated to a day-care center after their owner, Andy, departs for college. Meanwhile, Hamm, Rex and Mr. Potato Head begin a quest to find their long lost twin brothers.



Amelia - I'll admit this one is coming in under the radar but with this cast expect that to change. Question: Does anything Hillary Swank do automatically become an Oscar nominated performance? Nice to see Richard Gere get a role he can do something with.



Dorian Gray - Unfortunately this will get a limited release and be gone from the theaters before anyone has even heard of it. I caught the trailer recently and it looks good with the right dark tone to it. A corrupt young man who somehow keeps his youthful beauty and has a special painting that gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all. No U.S. release date set, which is a shame.

The News Bulletin

District 9 INVADES the BOX OFFICE!

1. District 9 - $37,000,000 ($37,000,000)
2. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra - $22,500,000 ($98,753,000)
3. The Time Traveler's Wife - $19,205,000 ($19,205,000)
4. Julie & Julia - $12,400,000 ($43,684,000)
5. G-Force - $6,908,000 ($99,049,000)
6. The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard - $5,350,000 ($5,350,000)
7. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - $5,155,000 ($283,893,000)
8. The Ugly Truth - $4,500,000 ($77,502,000)
9. Ponyo - $3,506,000 ($3,506,000)
10. (500) Days of Summer - $3,025,000 ($17,955,000)

Welcome to Hollywood Neill Blomkamp! The sci-fi flick, District 9 easily finished in first place this weekend with an estimated haul of $37 million. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra dropped 59% percent during its second week, pushing its domestic haul to a solid $98.7 million. The Time Traveler's Wife was able to debut in third place with a respectable estimated gross of $19.2 million. A solid showing for the film, which could have easily been overlooked in the crowded field. The relatively unknown Vanessa Hudgen's flick, Bandslam failed to make much noise this weekend, finishing with a mediocre $2.3 million debut. Also falling on the disappointing side was The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, which debuted to a modest $5.35 million. A surprise, to me, is Disney's Ponyo, by pulling in $3.5 million and gave Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki a solid debut by grabbing an estimated $3.5 million. Making a quick exit from the Top 10 were Funny People ($3,023,000) and A Perfect Getaway ($2,796,000). For 411mania's reviews and ratings, click on any of the highlighted movie titles!





Avatar Inches Closer


Fox International has released two more photos from Avatar (I included the most interesting one above), coming to theaters on December 18. The photos feature Sam Worthington as Jake Sully and his avatar, plus one of James Cameron filming. Avatar is the story of an ex-Marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms. As an Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people.

Will the movie be able to live up to the hype? The more that comes out, I'm not sure. The effects look incredible. I have no doubt they'll propel movie technology forward into new territory. My hesitation is towards the story. While I'm a fan of original and creative storylines, will the mass audiences understand and get hooked on this one? I have no doubt that the hardcore internet audience will embrace this movie; it's the casual theatergoer that you have to court in order to get the almighty dollar. The first trailer they release will answer that question. Don't skip the 36 second news below for more Avatar news!




Whiplash Backlash


From marvel.com and the new Marvel comic, Iron Man VS Whiplash, Stark goes head to head with the villain played by Mickey Rourke in Iron Man 2. Could the costume worn by Whiplash in the comic be mirrored in the movie? As Tony Stark heads back to the big screen for Iron Man 2, he brings with him a host of new problems and big enemies. One particularly painful thorn in his side will be the armor-clad, energy whip-wielding villain known as Whiplash. To get you up to speed on all things Whiplash, Marvel is kicking off a four-issue Iron Man VS. Whiplash limited series beginning in November. "Before he flays the metal off Tony Stark's hide in Iron Man 2, this is every True Believer's chance to crawl inside the twisted head of the wicked Whiplash," boasts Editor Bill Rosemann. "If it's jet-setting, globe-trotting, eye-popping action you crave, Iron Man VS. Whiplash will make you believe that Tony Stark is indeed a cool exec with a heart of steel...and Whiplash is the fiend that will break it!" The above is a character design by Marko Djurdjevic

I'll say this. It's better than the Bullseye redesign they did for the Daredevil movie. This is a smart move. While fans are looking forward toIron Man 2, the first pictures that were released of Rourke as Whiplash were a little underwhelming. Perhaps more than any other genre, comic book fans rule the internet and can cost a movie box office dough if they feel they are being slighted. By releasing a drawing of the redesigned Whiplash armor, they balance the expectations back into their favor.




Downey to Sink His Teeth into Lestat?


Bloody-Disgusting reports that Universal Pictures is going to reboot Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles and is in talks with Robert Downey Jr. to play the vampire Lestat Du Lioncort. Lestat was previously played by Tom Cruise in the 1994 adaptation of Rice's Interview with the Vampire, which co-starred Brad Pitt, Christian Slater and Kirsten Dunst. Stuart Townsend later played Lestat in the 2002 film Queen of the Damned, which co-starred Aaliyah and took elements from the author's The Vampire Lestat and The Queen of the Damned. The series of novels also includes The Tale of the Body Thief, Memnoch the Devil, The Vampire Armand, Pandora, Merrick, Blood and Gold, Blackwood Farm and Blood Canticle. Downey Jr. recently wrapped Iron Man 2 and has Sherlock Holmes arriving on Christmas Day. There's no news on which book from the series this new "franchise" would be based.

Can you name one other actor with a better comeback career than Robert Downey, Jr? He's the new king of Hollywood! The announcement that they are restarting the Anne Rice series is no surprise. As I mentioned last week, with the popularity of the supernatural/vampire television and movies, it was a matter of time. The big question is does Rice have enough fanbase to support what's considered an adult Twilight? They definitely made the right choice with Downey, who's riding an unbelievable wave of popularity. Not only can he measure up to Tom Cruises interpretation, he'll bring his own rendition that will most likely be closer to the books.




Will The Losers Be Lucky?


Splash News has received photos of Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Idris Elba filming an action scene in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico for director Sylvain White's comic book adaptation The Losers, opening in theaters on April 9, 2010. The film centers upon the members of an elite U.S. Special Forces unit sent into the Bolivian jungle on a search and destroy mission. The team, Clay (Morgan), Jensen (Chris Evans), Roque (Elba), Pooch (Columbus Short) and Cougar (Oscar Jaenada), find themselves the target of a lethal betrayal instigated from inside by a powerful enemy known only as Max (Jason Patric). Presumed dead, the group makes plans to even the score when they're joined by the mysterious Aisha (Zoe Saldana), a beautiful operative with her own agenda. Working together, they must remain deep undercover while tracking the heavily-guarded Max, a ruthless man bent on embroiling the world in a new high-tech global war.

First, I'm a huge fan of the comic book. Second, I'm not a huge fan of photos like these from film sets. They don't tell me anything about the movie and come off flat. Saying all that, everything I've heard, so far, about this has been good and the fact that I'm not going ga-ga over the pics should in no way taint the movie itself. What about you? Do these set your inner geek on fire or are you already skimming over to the next story?




Predator to Begin Hunting in September?


Production Weekly says that director Nimrod Antal is scheduled to begin filming Predators on September 28 at Robert Rodriguez's Troublemaker Studios in Austin, Texas. Produced by Rodriguez, the new film is said to involve a very intense group of people stranded on a Predator planet discovering unspeakable horrors - that are not always from outside their group. 20th Century Fox is releasing the sci-fi action-adventure, written by Alex Litvak and Michael Finch, on July 7, 2010.

ShockTillYouDrop.com is reporting that the Predator creature effects for the film will be created by Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger's KNB FX. Nicotero worked on the '87 film, as did Berger and KNB's Shannon Shea. KNB and Rodriguez previously worked together on From Dusk Till Dawn and Sin City. The company is currently working on Screen Gems' Priest.

I have to admit that I was wrong. As soon as they Robert Rodriguez's name was attached to this project I thought this would sit in limbo like the dozen other "in-production" movies he has on his plate. But with a filming & release date set, that's a very good indication that this will see the big screen. With the additional announcement of Nicotero and Berger joining the party, this should appease and relieve more than a few internet jockey's (myself included) who have had doubts about this franchise.

The 36 Second Sermon

I was happy to learn that Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was FINALLY able to secure a distributor here in the US thanks to Sony Pictures Classics. My sources say they have an outside chance to generate Oscar buzz so look for a December release. Starting TODAY, Monday, August 17th at Noon PST the official Avatar website, AvatarMovie.com, will be giving away first-come, first-serve tickets for two free screenings on Friday, August 21st (one at 6:00PM, the other at 6:30PM) in over 100 IMAX 3D theaters around the world. Director Jonathan Mostow recently talked about the status of the Sub-Mariner project saying: "Well Sub-Mariner is sort of, like all things Marvel, in a shroud of secrecy. It's a project I've been developing, and we'll see what happens." In other words, don't hold your breath. Bubba Nosferatu is moving along with Ron Perlman. Thumbs up from me.

The DVD Release Rundown for August 18th

The Last Starfighter 25th Anniversary Edition - This brings back fond memories. I haven't seen it in a while, so this is an easy buy for me. A guy masters a space-centered video game, but is seemingly doomed to stay at his trailer park home all his life, but soon finds himself recruited as a gunner for an alien defense force. A sequel has been in talks for years, with word that something could happen in 2010. Did you know in 2004, it was also adapted as an off-Broadway musical? My DVD pick of the week!

Tyson - No matter what your feelings about Mike Tyson, this open and honest look at his life will change how you perceive him. Great documentary.

The Beast: Season One - Great concept. Uneven execution. I'll never speak bad about Patrick Swayze but not even he could save a show that never found its rhythm.

UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida - I buy every UFC that comes out so I'm biased. Pick it up just to witness the awesomeness that is MACHIDA!

Everybody Hates Chris: The Final Season - This show started out with a bang and finished up with a whimper. Great cast and most likely this series suffered from being on the wrong channel.

Dexter: The Complete Third Season - When I hear people complain about poor options on television this is one of the shows I direct them to watch. You won't regret it.

Sons of Anarchy: Season One - Wow. This is quite a week for television series on DVD. You should see the ones I cut off the list. Sons of Anarchy is another one of those shows that I've been told to watch and blew it off. I finally got around to catching a couple of episodes and I'm hooked.

The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season - 411 is giving away a free copy, so click here for details! C'mon, it's THE SIMPSONS!

Icons of Sci-Fi: Toho Collection - Toho, the famous Japanese movie studio, made its name for the amazing work of Akira Kurosawa. Now for the first time on DVD Sony Pictures presents three Honda classics; The H-Man, Battle in Outer Space, and Mothra.

Last House on the Left - Unnecessary sequel alert! Also, as you are going to find out sooner or later, I'm not a big modern day horror film fan. Look, I'm not an elitist or anything, but horror gets the same reaction as westerns from me. It's been done better in the past. You really need to throw something different at me to make me feel otherwise. And this movie definitely wasn't it.

What Have I Done?

What Have I Done will return next week! News came fast and furious and I need didn't want to incur your jealous wraith at my weekly lifestyle. In its place I would like to share Sylvester Stallone on the set of The Expendables talking about UFC 102 and giving up quick glimpses of the movie.

Based on the Trailer…

I received a couple of emails inquiring about my ratings for the trailers. I'm going to defer to Chad on that one. Not only does he have a better eye, but I wouldn't want to mess up his system. The trailer ratings will return next week!

Newest Trailers

When in Rome stars fanboy favorite, Kristen Bell plays Beth Harper, a young, successful real estate agent, but she's completely unlucky in love. However, when the New Yorker travels to Rome to see her newlywed sister, she impulsively steals some coins from a reputed fountain of love, and is then aggressively pursued by a band of wannabe lovers. A interesting mixed cast that captures my attention.



Mike Judge is BACK with Extract. As with his other projects, this one is hard to put a label on. Joel, the owner of an Extract plant, tries to contend with myriad personal and professional problems, such as his potentially unfaithful wife and employees who want to take advantage of him. I'm intrigued by Ben Affleck in this.



Amelia -Hillary Swank and Richard Gere give Amelia Earhart the Howard Hughes/Aviator treatment.

Lovely Bones - I wanted to embed this trailer but didn't want to overload you or your computer. Suffice to say, this looks like a great thriller and Peter Jackson shows he's more than Hobbits and King Kong!

Jennifer's Body - It doesn't matter what I type here because this trailer and the interest in this movie centers on one person: Megan Fox. Yes, she does kiss a girl in this. Which I reported on weeks ago in the Hollywood 5 & 1!

August Releases
Taking Woodstock - If this wasn't directed by Ang Lee, I would probably not be interested, but it is, so I'll be seeing it for only that reason. I must agree with Mr. Luers and say this looks like Ang Lee's Almost Famous. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

Post Grad - The title tells you what the premise is. Alexis Bledel looks for a job. Many better movies have been made about this period in one's life, and this looks sugarcoated. I'll probably pass. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0

Paper Heart - This looks like a lovely indy film. The concept seems interesting, and it strikes me as very funny. This is the type of stuff Michael Cera should be doing, not Year One. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

Bandslam - An American Idol competition, except with bands instead of solo singers. This has Vanessa Hudgens, and a bunch of other newbies. It looks pretty plain, but harmless all the same. I'll say this, I didn't hate the trailer, but it was still weak. I doubt I'd see it unless it got rave reviews. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard - Jeremy Piven leads this comedy that has many of the actors from The Hangover. This is obviously similar to the Ari Gold character, but I'm on board just because Piven can be very funny when he wants to be. The "Pearl Harbor" bit is hilarious btw. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

Big Fan - Wow is all I can say. This looks terrific, even if it is about a Giants fan. Seriously though, Patton Oswalt looks great, and the premise appears to be excellent. I can't wait to see this. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

The Time Traveler's Wife - Initially, this strikes you like The Lake House in some way, but hopefully it is nothing like that. Plus, this has better leads in Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams. For a romance, this looks pretty darn good. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

Ponyo - The next film from Hayao Miyazaki looks amazing. I've been a big fan of his for many years now so I can't wait for this. The animation in this trailer puts most CGI to shame. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

District 9 - Peter Jackson produces this Neill Blomkamp feature. This guy was originally slated for the Halo film, but this is not far off. The trailer certainly gets your attention, and has a Signs vibe to it, which I like. Color me intrigued for now. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

The Final Destination - What a dumb title. Why not just say "Final Destination 4"? People see these movies to watch the creative ways of dying. That's it. All the installments have been mediocre with a possible exception of the first film. This looks dumb. The well has run dry. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0

H2 - The Rob Zombie Halloween sequel looks a lot better than I anticipated with a definite Friday the 13th/Pamela Voorhees vibe going on (as Mr. Luers told me). I really hope this turns out well because Zombie deserves more respect as a filmmaker. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Halloween II (2) - Well, this trailer is certainly different that the first one, and I'm not sure how enthusiastic I am now, but I'm still hoping this sequel will be entertaining. I noticed a lot more Zombie-esque imagery here, not to mention some cool looking kill scenes. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

The Boat that Rocked - I love music, so this is right up my alley. It's about a radio station on a boat, one that helped give rock music to the world. It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Nick Frost. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Five Minutes of Heaven - The new film from Oliver Hirschbiegel, the mastermind behind Downfall. This stars Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt (Bloody Sunday), and is the story of UVF member Alistair Little. It looks brilliant from this preview, and I will definitely be seeing it. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0

Inglorious Basterds - Many expressed disappointment with this, but it is a WWII film from Tarantino, so what were you expecting? I think it looks awesome. I can't wait to see it! Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Inglorious Basterds (2) - This movie still looks outstanding, and viciously different from the original. I doubt it will garner that best Picture nom I had in mind at the beginning of 2009, but oh well. And Mike Myers makes an appearance in this trailer! Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

September Releases

Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself - This is just a teaser, but you know what you're getting when Madea is the main character of a film. This is what keeps Perry relevant, so logically he continues to make films with her. This is somewhat humorous, but nothing I'm interested in. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

9 - This looks amazing, and the Coheed & Cambria song in the background only makes me want to see it more. This will be a mighty tough year for Pixar to reign supreme in. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Gamer - Call this similar to Death Race or The Condemned and I would still say it looks terrible, and the title makes it worse in my opinion. The cast is better than I would have predicted, and I will give credit for using Marilyn Manson's awesome cover of "Sweet Dreams." Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0

Surrogates - Here is another film that has the potential to be very good, or very bad. The director is Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), so I hope this is solid. Bruce Willis looks bizarre, but maybe that's a positive, and the plot has echoes of other sci-fi flicks, but you never know, this might surprise us. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

Jennifer's Body - This looks highly entertaining, and with Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried acting in a Diablo Cody horror script, it should be awesome. It should have loads of that lingo all the men love from Juno. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Bright Star - This is a British period piece, so you know what to expect, but it stars Ben Wishaw, a brilliant actor, and the story seems fascinating, so I'll see it. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

The Invention of Lying - This is going to be hilarious from start to finish. I'm a huge Ricky Gervais fan, and I can't wait to see this. The cast is terrific, and the premise is creative. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0

Extract - Mike Judge is delivering another comedy set in the workplace, and I can't wait. Ben Affleck has a cool look going on, and Jason Bateman is usually golden in comedies these days, so this should be terrific. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

Carriers - This trailer wants to disguise the fact that it is another mediocre "infected" movie badly. And it gives way too much information away. I feel like I know how it ends now. Chris Pine was great as Kirk, but here….not so much. I'll pass. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0

Astro Boy - A lot of bright colors, fancy CGI, an all-star cast, and not much else. I realize fans of the many TV series' will be excited, but this character just translates as ordinary to the big screen. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0

Fame - This looks…..just like every other dance flick we've seen in the past decade, only this is a musical. Yay. The Wayans are parodying movies likes this for goodness sakes! This is a skip it, and I'm not talking about the girl toy from the 90's. Trailer Rating = 2.5/10.0

October Releases

Zombieland - This looks hysterical, and very much in the vein of Shaun of the Dead, but that's ok because Woody Harrelson rocks, and if he's killing zombies, I'm paying for a ticket. Nuff said. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Shutter Island - Martin Scorsese's new film looks outstanding, and yes, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio, but who cares? They do great things together. The cast looks terrific, and the plot seems intriguing. Trailer Rating = 10.0/10.0

Capitalism: A Love Story - This was a very funny teaser. It is typical Moore comedy, but I appreciated the way it was set up. No one gets the world interested in documentaries (or whatever you call Moore's stuff) like he does. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

Where the Wild Things Are - I know this production had loads of trouble, but this looks outstanding by the trailer. I can't wait to see it. The creatures look good and Spike Jonze usually doesn't disappoint. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

Whip It! - The directorial debut of Drew Barrymore looks like loads of fun actually, and it has my main gal Ellen Page in it, so I'm definitely seeing it. And my God, Daniel Stern is in this! It's about damn time he did something new. The plot looks good, and they use a Weezer song, so it gets my approval. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

The Box - Ok, my feelings on Richard Kelly and Donnie Darko are well known now, but tell me with a straight face this trailer does not make you laugh a little. They actually use the line "Is someone pushing you buttons?" in reference to the box. This does seem somewhat intriguing, but I would put money on it being horrendous. Trailer Rating = 5.5/10.0

The Stepfather - I must admit, this does not look as bad as I thought, but it still looks to have some issues. This film keeps the real father and adds a couple kids. I'll certainly see this, but am not sure how good it will be yet. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

More than a Game - If this focuses on the entire high school team, and not just LeBron James, it could be a very decent documentary. The trailer certainly spreads the wealth, so that's good. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

An Education - This British drama could go either way. It stars Peter Sarsgaard, and I like to see him getting juicer roles. The rest of the cast seems strong too, including Emma Thompson and Alfred Molina. Depending on how easy this is to see in theaters, I'd give it a shot. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

A Serious Man - The new film by the Coen brothers looks...well...weird, but then again, most of their films do. I like how they are not using many of their regular actors here. It doesn't matter what the plot is, I'm seeing this definitely. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

Amelia - I am anxious to see this since I've researched the history a little bit. The cast looks tremendous, so it should be terrific. The various words at the end of the trailer were lame, but otherwise this has me excited. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

The Road - This is based on a Cormac McCarthy novel, the same person who wrote the book to No Country for Old Me. I had no idea this was about the end of civilization. I am disappointed somewhat, but it could be good since Viggo and Charlize are the leads. These types of storylines always have the potential to be terrible though. The release date for this has already been pushed a number of times. I hope the final cut is better than this trailer. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

Couples Retreat - This looks to be very funny, and hopefully the comedy is leveled out and not left up to Vaughn's typical shtick. Of course this trailer shows mostly him. Still, for people around the ages of the characters, this will be a definite date night. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

Saw VI - The poster ad was very cool, but this teaser is not. Actually, it is very disappointing and uncreative unlike the rest of the marketing campaign. I am still of fan of the series, so I hope this sequel delivers. Trailer Rating = 5.5/10.0

November, TBD, and Beyond Releases

Tron: Legacy - Gimme a hell yeah! I can't wait for this. I loved the original, and after seeing Jeff Bridges act like a bad a$$, I am so there. I hope the CGI is as outstanding as it looks. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

The Fantastic Mr. Fox - This film looks like a blast, and the animation looks outstanding. Wes Anderson uses many of his regulars here, which is fine, but George Clooney does not have a good voice for animation. Everytime I hear him I picture his face. Oh well, I'll definitely see this. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

Ninja Assassin - This looks certifiably awesome. The kid at the beginning of this trailer should beat up the kid from The Last Airbender. I am for action films, but when you include throwing stars and chains, I am amped. I can't wait to see this. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Planet 51 - This could be a fairly amusing CGI film. The animation looks nice, but this has few voices, and no real clue as to how funny it will be. I am still unsure, but it might be good, and it might not. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

Sherlock Holmes - Guy Ritchie is sending mixed signals with this one. I am anxious to see it, but this trailer shows an action film, and call me old fashioned, but I kind of prefer the mystery to outweigh the action. However, Rachel McAdams looks damn sexy and Kurrgan is involved, so those are both positive points. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt - A generic looking courtroom thriller complete with generic title. Jesse Metcalfe, or John Tucker from John Tucker Must Die is not a good actor, and aside from Michael Douglas outshining everyone as a scumbag attorney, I have no reason to see this. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0

Alice in Wonderland - This trailer pushes Depp as the star, but his character is not in the story for very long. Oh well, it looks pretty good, but Burton needs to lay off the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory bright colors. Still, I love the Disney film, and if this is weirder, I'm game. Traiuler Rating = 7.5/10.0

The Book of Eli - An action flick starring Denzel Washington with a machete and Gary Oldman as the villain (I assume). Who says good ideas are dead? This is from the Hughes Brothers, a very underrated directing team. This movie looks very tubular. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Precious - This is about how life can be very hard sometimes. The cast includes Mariah Carey and Mo'Nique, both of whom look to be outstanding, and I can't believe I just wrote that, but it's true. See for yourself. This looks to be a winner. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Antichrist Lars Von Trier, the director of Dogville and Manderlay, is behind this new psychological thriller/horror effort. It just might be decent, but with Willem Dafoe, one never can tell. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

New York, I Love You - The first film, Paris, Je T'aime was one of the best films in recent memory that few knew about. So I am very excited about this second installment. The cast and directors look amazing. It should be a terrific experience. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Brothers - From Jim Sheridan, the man who gave us In America and Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Gyllenhaal rocks a beard, Natalie Portman has long hair again, and Tobey Maguire plays an insane soldier. I cannot wait to see this, though I do need to see the original. One of the best trailers I've seen this year. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

Broken Embraces - The new drama from Pedro Almodovar. It looks appropriately strange, but that's not unusually for him. Penelope Cruz looks good as always, but I am not as fond of Pedro as others. Still, I'm sure I'll see this. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

Giallo - An intriguing horror mystery from Dario Argento, which looks to be solid by the looks of it. Adrien Brody seems odd in the role from these clips, but I'd certainly see this just because Argento is at the helm. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0

The Vintner's Luck - A love story about wine, involving angels? This looks so bizarre, but Vera Farmiga is in it, and Keisha Castle-Hughes, so it could be a surprise. I'm still undecided. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0

Daybreakers - A world where almost everyone is a vampire. This story actually seems intelligent, whereas most vampire plots these days are crap. Ethan Hawke seems to be channeling his Gattaca roots here. The song from Placebo is very effective in the trailer also. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Old Dogs - John Travolta and Robin Williams lead an all-star cast in a comedy from the director of Wild Hogs. This will make a lot of money. I think it looks dumb and over the top, but it might be worth a laugh or two. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0

2012 - This teaser has been circulating for awhile, but I felt the need to rate it anyway. Roland Emmerich tackles another disaster epic, this one showcasing a flood. Gee, we have never seen any movies about cataclysmic floods before. I suddenly long to watch Knowing again for originality. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

2012 (2) - This looks insane, but right up Roland Emmerich's alley. The special effects look incredible, but plot seems to be an exact replica of the last 20 disaster epics. Still, the powerful images will probably be enough to drag me to the theater. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

The Princess and the Frog - It's about time Disney returned to hand drawn animation. This looks to be a lot of fun, and very much in the spirit of the classic tales they used to adapt when Walt was around…maybe he still is. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

The Twilight Saga: New Moon - Boy does this look retarded. The sequels will no doubt increase the hatred for this series. The were-wolf morphing is truly retarded. I say pass. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0

Toy Story 3 - This is an early teaser, but it still gets me excited. I can't wait for this, and I've heard it if fantastic from footage screened early. It has a tough act to follow, but I have faith. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans - Nicolas Cage, Val Kilmer, and Werner Herzog. Hell yes! This could be bad or good, but I have faith in Herzog to elicit the best from this quirky cast. This story looks bizarre, but with Herzog, a trailer is never as good as the full feature. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Nine - The new musical from Rob Marshall (Chicago) looks to be infused with Fellini-esque qualities, which is a good thing. The cast certainly qualifies for the all-star label, and story looks entertaining, so I'm there. This should be fantastic. I mean come on, Dame Judi Dench and Daniel Day-Lewis are just the tip of the iceberg. This is one of my most anticipated for 2009. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

I Love You Philip Morris - Well, this looks interesting. I still haven't figured out if it is more of a comedy or a drama, despite the fact that the trailer says comedy. Still, the premise is odd enough, and the fact that Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor are the stars has me intrigued. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

Cemetery Junction - The first feature film from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, with Ralph Fiennes. I can't wait. This is Gervais' year to become a bigger star than he already is. Even though this had no clips from the films, it still makes me want to see it. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0

The Last Airbender - From Director M. Night Shyamalan comes this live-action film based on anime. This looks interesting, and maybe a bit epic, but it could go either way. You never know with Shyamalan. Too early to tell here. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief - I know now that this is based on a series of books. This looks intriguing and fun, much better than many fantasy films these days, but the title certainly throws unsuspecting viewers for a loop. Still, I'll be seeing it. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0

Despicable Me - Universal releases a very bizarre looking animated film about stealing priceless landmarks. The voice cast looks great, but I'm not sure how I feel about this yet. It didn't make me laugh so much as it made me tilt my head and say "WTF?" Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0

Other Stuff to Read

The Best Movies of the Alphabet

The Best and Worst Bond Films.

411 August Roundtable - This month Owain J. Brimfield continues as roundtable host and compiles the thoughts of the movie zone staff on the summer releases for August!

The MeeThinks Friday FreeThinks - Thanks again to John Meehan for providing my banner here, and for the Alphabet feature.

Also, keep an eye out for more comic book character timelines in the future. Here are the first two:

The Ultimate Batman Timeline

The Ultimate Daredevil Timeline

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Thanks again for stopping by. Rejoice that Mr. Webb makes his triumphant return next week. As I've said in the past when I've filled in for fellow writer's, you gain a new appreciation for the hard work and time that they put into their work. None more than Chad, who not only puts out one of the consistently best written news reports out there, but balances numerous other projects and responsibilities. Until I assume responsibility on the Big Screen Bulletin, you can catch me every Saturday with my Hollywood 5 & 1! Thanks again.

"The plural of Chad is Chad?"
--From the movie Recount