Marvel has released an extended version of the commercial they aired for The Avengers during Super Bowl XLVI.

Source: Deadline

With the recent departure of Lily Collins from the film, Jane Levy (Suburgatory) has stepped in to take the lead role in Evil Dead.

Levy will play the part of Mia, a drug addict who is heading to the cabin along with her friends in an effort to detox. This female role will replace the character of Ash (Bruce Campbell) from previous versions of the franchise.

Evil Dead is coming courtesy of Ghost House Pictures, with the help of Sam Raimi and original producing partners Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell.

In addition to the casting news, director Fede Alvarez shared a photo via Twitter of the woods they plan on shooting the movie in. He referred to the pic as “the path to hell.”

Lionsgate has released the new trailer for The Hunger Games.

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

The Hunger Games is directed by Gary Ross, with a screenplay by Gary Ross and Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray. Opening in theaters and IMAX on March 23rd, the film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Wes Bentley, Toby Jones, Alexander Ludwig, Isabelle Fuhrman, Amandla Stenberg, Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland.

The final teaser for the “found footage” superhero movie Chronicle has come online.

Coming to theaters on Friday, February 3rd, the Josh Trank-directed film stars Dane DeHaan, Michael B. Jordan and Alex Russell.

In the movie, three high school students make an incredible discovery, leading to their developing uncanny powers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities and use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides begin to take over.

Warner Bros. Pictures has released a new trailer for the Todd Phillips-produced Project X.

Directed by Nima Nourizadeh, the movie stars Miles Teller, Oliver Cooper, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Kirby Bliss Blanton, Dax Flame, Nichole O’Connor, Thomas Mann, Alexis Knapp and Jillian Reynolds.

Project X is an out-of-control comedy that follows a group of buds who set out to throw the most epic 17th birthday party ever. The film documents a high school party that gets completely out of control, shot from the perspective of the digital cameras that the kids have with them.

Justice League: Doom is coming to Blu-ray and DVD as a full-length animated film on February 28th. Featuring the voices of Kevin Conroy, Nathan Fillion, Tim Daly and Michael Rosenbaum, the movie has released two clips featuring the Royal Flush Gang in mid-heist.

Justice League: Doom finds Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Cyborg and Batman on their heels when a team of super villains discover and implement the Dark Knight’s “contingency plans” for stopping any rogue Justice League member.

Columbia Pictures, Happy Madison and Hasbro, Inc. are in final talks to develop Candy Land, a live action movie based on the bestselling Hasbro board game with Adam Sandler attached to star. Kevin Lima (Enchanted) is attached to direct the project for the studio with Sandler and Robert Smigel in talks to write the screenplay.

Commenting on the announcement, Doug Belgrad, President of Columbia Pictures, said, “‘Candy Land’ is more than just a game. It is a brand that children, parents and grandparents know and love. The world of ‘Candy Land’ offers an extraordinary canvas upon which to create a fantastical, live-action family adventure film with a larger than life part for Adam. We are thrilled to partner with Hasbro and Happy Madison on this project.”

“The creative talent on board for this movie is amazing and we are excited to bring alive the world of ‘Candy Land’ for kids and families everywhere,” Brian Goldner, Hasbro President and CEO, added. “Sony/Columbia has been a wonderful creative partner as we develop another of our games, ‘Risk,’ for the big screen. We are looking forward to working with Sony/Columbia and Adam Sandler and his team at Happy Madison Productions on this film.”

Candy Land is one of the most beloved and best known games of all time. Created in 1949, it has been played by generations of families. In the game, players go on a magical journey through fantastical lands made of candy, sweets, and ice cream: the Peppermint Forest, the Gum Drop Mountains, and the Lollypop Woods. Along the way, players encounter such iconic characters as Princess Frostine, Lord Licorice, Mr. Mint, and King Candy.

Chronicle is the story of three high school students that make an incredible discovery, leading to their developing uncanny powers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities and use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides begin to take over.

Directed by Joshua Trank and written by Max Landis and Trank, the movie stars Dane DeHaan, Michael B. Jordan, Alex Russell and Michael Kelly.

Three human-shaped RC planes were flown around New York City to create the illusion of people flying as part of a viral marketing campaign for the movie Chronicle. If I saw this in person, I probably would have flipped out… and attempted to join them.

In this follow-up to 2008′s Journey to the Center of the Earth, the new 3D family adventure Journey 2: The Mysterious Island begins when young Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson, reprising his role from the first film) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist. It’s a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. Unable to stop him from going, Sean’s new stepfather, Hank (Dwayne Johnson), joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzman) and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter (Vanessa Hudgens), they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.

Paramount Vantage has revealed the trailer for writers/directors Jay and Mark Duplass’s Jeff, Who Lives at Home, coming to theaters on March 16. The comedy-drama stars Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Judy Greer, Susan Sarandon and Evan Ross.

On his way to the store to buy wood glue, Jeff looks for signs from the universe to determine his path. However, a series of comedic and unexpected events leads him to cross paths with his family in the strangest of locations and circumstances. Jeff just may find the meaning of his life… and if he’s lucky, pick up the wood glue as well.

One of the world’s most popular characters is back on the big screen as a new chapter in the Spider-Man legacy is revealed in “The Amazing Spider-Man.” Focusing on an untold story that tells a different side of the Peter Parker story, the new film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field. The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt, based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach are producing the film in association with Marvel Entertainment for Columbia Pictures, which will open in theaters everywhere in 3D on July 3, 2012.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

Source: Fans Share

The site Fans Share is reporting that a script for Doctor Strange has been completed by Thomas Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer (Conan The Barbarian, Sahara) and that Marvel Studios are now actively seeking a director to come in and helm the project.

The budget for Doctor Strange is not expected to be anywhere near as much as that of the bigger Marvel movies but it is still believed that, with the right script, the right director and the right cast, a good superhero movie could definitely come out of this. Production on Doctor Strange is expected to begin this year, with a release date likely to be sometime in 2013.

Originally a rumor generated by Chuck Norris, it’s now been confirmed by Sylvester Stallone that The Expendables 2 will be rated PG-13.

The rumor started when Chuck Norris gave an interview in which he said the following (translated from the original source):

“In Expendables 2, there was a lot of vulgar dialogue in the screenplay. Fot this reason, many young people wouldn’t be able to watch this. But I don’t play in movies like this. Due to that I said I won’t be a part of that if the hardcore language is not erased. Producers accepted my conditions and the movie will be classified in the category of PG-13.”

Ain’t It Cool News asked Sylvester Stallone about the rumors, to which he replied:

“The PG13 rumor is true, but before your readers pass judgement, trust me when I say this film is LARGE in every way and delivers on every level. This movie touches on many emotions which we want to share with the broadest audience possible, BUT, fear not, this Barbeque of Grand scale Ass Bashing will not leave anyone hungry.”

Source: Engadget

During a recent investor’s meeting, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced that the service has “no plans” to offer video games for rental. This was first mentioned as a possibility during the time when Netflix had an identity crisis and tried splitting the service in two… good riddance Qwikster.

Additionally, in regards to 3D movies, Blu-ray 3D discs are already being offered while the company is “looking into” streaming 3D.

Marvel’s Kevin Feige recently talked to Empire about the long-rumored villains in The Avengers movie. Feige had the following to say:

“Who said they were aliens?” he teases.

“Beings from the Nine Realms, then?” ventures Empire.

“Closer…It’s not Skrulls, I’ve been clear about that. Beyond that, we want to hide it. The identity of the alien race is not impactful. It exists in the comic books, but we’re not setting up the Kree-Skrull war or anything like that.”

He also addressed the rumor that Red Skull would be making an appearance:

“Was Skull vaporized at the end of the movie, or thrust into another realm?” asks Feige. “That remains to be seen. It would be fun to see Skull in the future, but he’s not in this one.”

Source: Heat Vision

While it was recently reported that Lily Collins was given the lead in the upcoming remake Evil Dead, it’s now being reported that she’s had to drop out of the project as a result of scheduling conflicts.

Collins would have played the part of Mia, a drug addict who is heading to the cabin along with her friends in an effort to detox. This female role will replace the character of Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) in previous versions of the franchise.

With Collins out, who do you think should be cast as the female lead in Evil Dead??

Even though Bradley Cooper and director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo have left the project, the reboot of The Crow refuses to die. Relativity Media and Dimension Film’s have announced that they’ve closed a deal with F. Javier Gutiérrez to direct the film. Writer Jesse Wigutow has signed on to pen a new script.

Even with a changing of the guard, the plan remains to retell the story of Eric Draven, who returns from the grave as The Crow on a mission to avenge his wife’s murder so that his soul can finally rest.

Peter Jackson has released a brand-new production video from the set of The Hobbit, clocking in at nearly 12 minutes and filled with extensive behind-the-scenes footage.

Sony’s Screen Gems has revealed the first trailer for Paul W.S. Anderson’s Resident Evil: Retribution.

In the film, the Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, Alice (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun.

Opening in theaters on September 14, the fifth installment stars Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Sienna Guillory, Kevin Durand, Shawn Roberts, Colin Salmon, Johann Urb, Boris Kodjoe and Li Bingbing.

Universal Pictures has released, through the film’s Facebook page, a new sneak peek from their upcoming Snow White and the Huntsman.

Directed by Rupert Sanders, the fantasy take on the classic fairytale also stars Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, Eddie Izzard, Bob Hoskins, Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan, Stephen Graham, Ray Winstone, Lily Cole, Sam Spruell, Liberty Ross and Noah Huntley.

Relativity Media has released a new behind-the-scenes featurette from their new action-thriller Act of Valor.

An unprecedented blend of real-life heroism and original filmmaking, Act of Valor stars a group of active-duty Navy SEALs in a powerful story of contemporary global anti-terrorism. Inspired by real life missions, the film combines stunning combat sequences, up-to-the minute battlefield technology and heart-pumping emotion for the ultimate action adventure.

The film opens on February 17, 2012.

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is based on the book by Seth Grahame-Smith, who also wrote the script. Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Anthony Mackie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jimmi Simpson, Robin McLeavy, Alan Tudyk and Rufus Sewell star in the June 22 release.

Sony Pictures has released the synopsis for director Len Wiseman’s remake of Total Recall, which hits theaters on August 3, 2012. Adapted by Kurt Wimmer and Mark Bomback, the action thriller stars Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, John Cho and Bill Nighy.

“Total Recall” is an action thriller about reality and memory, inspired anew by the famous short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick. Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), even though he’s got a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life – real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police – controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston), the leader of the free world – Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Jessica Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Bill Nighy) and stop Cohaagen. The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate.

The new trailer for comedy Casa de mi Padra has debuted online. Directed by Matt Piedmont, the March 16 release stars Will Ferrell, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Genesis Rodriguez, Efren Ramirez, Adrian Martinez, Pedro Armendariz Jr. and Nick Offerman.

In the film, Armando Alvarez (Ferrell) has lived and worked on his father’s ranch in Mexico his entire life. As the ranch encounters financial difficulties, Armando’s younger brother Raul (Luna) shows up with his new fiancée, Sonia (Rodriguez). It seems that Raul’s success as an international businessman means the ranch’s troubles are over as he pledges to settle all debts his father has incurred. But when Armando falls for Sonia, and Raul’s business dealings turn out to be less than legit, all hell breaks loose as they find themselves in a war with Mexico’s most feared drug lord, the mighty Onza (Bernal).

Joss Whedon, director of Marvel’s upcoming movie The Avengers, recently spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the film. During the interview, Whedon mentioned that a lot of it will take place from Captain America’s perspective:

“I set out with a very simple problem: There is no reason for these people to be in the same movie. So that’s what my movie has to be about,” Whedon said. “So much of [The Avengers] story takes place from Steve Rogers’ perspective, since he’s the guy who just woke up and sees this weird-ass world. Everyone else has been living in it. He’s the guy that feels that sense of loss.”

“[The Avengers] is very much about people who are alone – because I’m writing it,” he joked, adding, “[Captain America] is kind of the ultimate loner in that way. There is an anachronism to him, and Chris and I have always tried to make it, without making it goofy or too obvious, always tried to make him that same grounded ’40s Steve Rogers he was in the other movie.”

The Avengers is set to hit theaters on May 4, 2012.

Friends With Kids, which stars Jon Hamm, Adam Scott, Kristen Wiig, Megan Fox, and Jennifer Westfeldt (who also writes and directs), is the story of a group of best friends in their 30′s who decide to have children and then date other people. It is set for release on March 9th, 2012.

The trailer for the sci-fi thriller MS One: Maximum Security is now online.

Opening in theaters on April 20, the sci-fi thriller stars Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Peter Stormare, Lennie James, Vincent Regan, Tim Plester, Anne-Solenne Hatte, Yan Dron, Patrick Cauderlier, Milorad Kapor, Bojan Peric and Mark Tankersley.

In the film, written and directed by James Mather and Stephen St. Leger, a man is wrongly convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage against the U.S. He’s offered his freedom if he can rescue the president’s daughter from an outer space prison taken over by violent inmates.

In celebration of James Bond’s monumental golden anniversary, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment have unveiled Bond 50, a collectible box-set featuring all 22 James Bond films on Blu-ray Disc for the first time in one complete offering. The longest running film franchise of all time, the Bond 50 collection marks the debut of nine James Bond films previously unavailable in high definition Blu-ray. Fans around the world can pre-order now with participating online retailers.

Acclaimed Bond directors John Glen (five Bond films including For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights & Licence To Kill), Martin Campbell (GoldenEye, Casino Royale) and Michael Apted (The World Is Not Enough) with special guests Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace) and Caterina Murino (Casino Royale) made the Blu-ray announcement during a Directors’ Panel discussion in the Panasonic Booth at the annual Consumer Electronics Show.

Bond 50 showcases fifty years of Bond neatly packaged into one cool, sleek collectable box-set featuring all six iconic James Bond actors. Produced using the highest possible picture quality and audio presentation, the collection includes all 22 James Bond feature films from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace and more than 130 hours of bonus features including some new and exclusive content.

“With all 22 feature films available on Blu-ray in one collection for the first time this is a great way for fans to catch up on 007′s epic journey before Skyfall hits theaters next Fall,” said Michael Brown, Senior Vice President, MGM Home Entertainment. “Now viewers can enjoy the intense action of the innovative franchise in the most immersive home experience possible.”

“We have a whole program of exciting activities planned for our 50th anniversary year, beginning with today’s announcement, by Fox, of the release of all 22 films on Blu-ray for the very first time,” added Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, with EON Productions. “We are also delighted that Fox has unveiled a specially designed anniversary poster which we hope the fans will love as much as we do. Our website, 007.com will be regularly updated with all the latest anniversary news and events.”

Marvel Studios has revealed three new photos from The Avengers featuring Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and Iron Man flying through the city.

Source: Deadline

New Line Cinema has been planning a remake of Police Academy, one of its longest running movie franchises, and recently found their director in Scott Zabielski.

Zabielski’s only prior directing credits include several episodes of Comedy Central’s Tosh.0. While directing experience may be low, he went through the academy himself and currently serves as a reserve police officer in West Hollywood.

The original Police Academy films started at Warner Bros in 1984 and spanned seven films through 1994.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Tim Burton is currently in talks with Warner Bros. to direct a live-action version of Pinocchio. It’s also being reported that Burton has his sights set on Robert Downey Jr. for the lead role of Pinocchio’s creator Geppetto.

The Pinocchio story about a wooden puppet dreaming of becoming a real boy was first published in an Italian children’s book written by Carlo Collodi and has been adapted several times, including the 1940 animated Disney classic.

The role of Geppetto would likely be expanded as the version being developed at Warner Bros. involves the woodcarver embarking on a quest to reunite with his missing marionette.

Sources at The Hollywood Reporter say that Downey has expressed serious interest in the project (and in working with Burton), but his busy schedule must still be worked out. Warner Bros. is hoping that Burton and Downey commit soon so the project can be fast-tracked.

Source: Los Angeles Times

It’s being reported by the LA Times that World War Z, the most expensive zombie movie in Hollywood history, is being planned as a trilogy.

The film is based on the novel of the same name by Max Brooks, with Brad Pitt in the lead role as a United Nations fact-finder and family man who desperately races around the globe to determine the origins of a zombie pandemic that has toppled civilization. Directed by Marc Forster, this would also be the first major franchise with Pitt attached.

World War Z is set to hit theaters on December 21, 2012.

Written by: Dan Clark

Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer
Rating: R
Genre: Crime / Drama / Mystery

Originality is a welcome commodity that is increasingly hard to find. There seems to be more remakes and rehashes than ever before in all facets of entertainment. Often these remakes are better at creating buzz than actually creating something of value. However, there are a few instances where a remake can go beyond that title and actually become a valid form of entertainment. That accomplishment requires a few things: first and foremost is a filmmaker who is more interested in created a quality product than a cash cow. That is clearly the case with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. David Fincher injects his own style and directing ability to create a film that is better than the source material.

In the film, Daniel Craig plays Mikael Blomkvist, a disgraced writer whose career is likely over. His attempt to take down a corporate industrialist backfires as he is accused of reporting incorrect information. To make matters worse, he loses a Libel case and is required to pay damages to the industrialist. Things begin to look up for him when he is offered a job by Henrick Vanger. Vanger wants him to unveil the truth of his niece’s disappearance 40 years ago. Blomkvist is reluctant to take the job, but Vanger’s need to pay his debts makes it impossible for him to refuse. As Blomkvist looks into the case he begins to discover how bizarre the Wagner family is. Family rivalry, Nazi links, and unyielding greed only begin to describe the craziness of this family. Blomkvist continues to dig deeper into the case and stumbles upon a break. Something he feels will lead him to solving this mystery. However, not wanting to make the same mistake he did with the industrialist, he asks the Vanger family to provide a researcher to validate his findings. They end up hiring Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), the same person who did the back check on Blomkvist. Lisbeth is a dynamic character that attempts to rebel against the norm in every conceivable way. Her life has been a difficult one. Due to past digressions she is on probation. She is given a guardian who controls all of her finances. Lisbeth does have some things going for her though, namely a photographic memory. This gift gives her a knack for computer hacking and becomes a vital tool in solving the Vanger case.

It was an interesting choice for Fincher to keep the setting in Sweden. I assumed, like the remake of Let the Right One In, he would move the story to America. In the end, I believe his decision was the correct one. There are a number of links to Swedish law and culture that may not have translated well in a new location. I feel you would have had a lot of changes if the story took place outside of Sweden. What Fincher does do differently in his film is establish an importance to the setting. The Vanger home is given an eerie presence that makes you stand on edge. The combination of both Fincher’s camera work and Trent Reznor’s score work masterfully to create tension in almost every frame. Reznor and Fincher have proven to be a great combination and I hope to see more from both of them in the future. Reznor’s score here isn’t as great as his score for The Social Network, but it perfectly fits the theme and tone of the film.

Another area where this film improved on the original was in the performances. Daniel Craig’s portrayal was a lot more compelling in this than the original. There is not much depth to the character, but Craig’s own personality allows it to go beyond a fill-in role. Rooney Mara was fantastic as Lisbeth Salander. Her version of the character was more well rounded and complex, with a sense of innocence that really humanized her. Small changes in the story help the humanization surface. You see this tortured soul has a tendency to be abrasive towards others, but she also is capable of showing tenderness to those she slowly lets in. Mara is also capable of depicting the irreverent side of the character as well. It is a character that is ambivalent to the majority of society. She has a limited expression of emotion that is conveyed in her complete coldness. Mara’s transformation into this character is easily one of the best performances of the year.

While there are a lot of elements of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to admire, there are a number of issues. The biggest is with the story itself. When you break down the story to its core, it’s not much more than an extended CSI or Law and Order plot line. It attempts to dress up that story with a dynamic character, but in the end that just felt like window dressing. You have these two plot lines that diverge into one, and when they meet, the mystery completely overshadows any uniqueness that may have allowed it to stand out more. It’s not that the mystery is uninteresting. The issue is that you feel like you have seen this story before, and that’s not even considering it’s a remake. Fincher does the best he can with the source material, but the fact remains it doesn’t go beyond being a basic thriller. This story is like The Da Vinci Code in that its complex elements are relatively hollow. That hollowness is filled with commonality that makes it easy to digest. Also, like a number of Fincher films, it goes on a little longer than it should. The last 30 minutes felt extremely tacked on and never well defined its purpose.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo does accomplish a pretty impressive feat. It tackles some challenging and taboo issues, but handles it in a way a general audience can deal with. Fincher does infuse his own unique style to make this stand out over normal run-of-the-mill mystery thrillers. At times it’s very demanding of the viewer. I just wish it was able to do more with those demanding sequences. I feel there is an underlying message that is trying to be stated, but it’s never clearly defined. It wants to be a force for empowerment, but certain decisions it makes lessens that impact. The way it handles the partnership of Lisbeth and Mikael is the perfect example of this. Their actions are clumsily put together to the point of confusion. A relationship that starts off as unique turns into an overly done stereotype.

The major flaws of the film can be traced back to the source material, because they are found in both versions of the film. The reason this version is superior is a simple one. It was made by a better film maker. Fincher couldn’t solve all the issues without reworking the story in a major way. He ironed enough away to create a crisper film that is more gripping than the original. While it doesn’t elevate the material to a large degree, the improvement in style and atmosphere make it the version to see. If you haven’t watched either I would definitely advise making this your first choice.

Rating: 8/10  

Sources: Variety and Deadline

Noel Clarke and Benedict Cumberbatch have both joined the cast of the J.J. Abrams Star Trek sequel.

Noel Clarke is best known to sci-fi fans for playing Mickey Smith on Doctor Who. While the specific role hasn’t been released, it’s being reported that Clarke will play a family man with a wife and young daughter.

Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast in a lead role, but no other information has been given regarding what that might be. Cumberbatch can currently be seen on the big screen in War Horse and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. He is best known for portraying the character of Sherlock Holmes on the BBC adaptation series.

Source: Bloody Disgusting

Lily Collins has been cast in the lead role of FilmDistrict’s remake of the Sam Raimi cult classic Evil Dead. Collins will play the part of Mia, a drug addict who is heading to the cabin along with her friends in an effort to detox.

But wait… isn’t the lead supposed to be that of Ashley J. Williams (Ash), as previously portrayed by the amazing Bruce Campbell? Not in this version. And honestly, can you blame them? Bruce Campbell IS Ash. While I don’t agree that the movie needs to be remade at all, since they’re going ahead with it anyway it actually makes more sense to avoid trying to accomplish the impossible task of finding a new Ash. You can’t get farther away from that than changing the character’s name and gender.

Collins was most recently seen opposite Taylor Lautner in last year’s Abduction and stars as Snow White in this year’s Mirror Mirror.

The remake of Evil Dead is coming courtesy of Ghost House Pictures, with the help of Sam Raimi and original producing partners Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell. Fede Alvarez will direct.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the writing team behind Horrible Bosses, have reportedly signed on to write a sequel to the surprisingly profitable 2011 comedy.

The movie, made for about $35 million, ended up grossing $117 million domestically and $209 million worldwide.

While nothing has been confirmed for returning cast members, it’s expected that Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis will again take on the starring roles. Director Seth Gordon is already in talks with the studio to make his return.

A new trailer for Magnet Releasing’s Goon has debuted online.

Starring Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Liev Schreiber and Alison Pill, Goon was written by Baruchel with Superbad and Pineapple Express scribe Evan Goldberg and tells the story of Doug Glatt (Scott), a dumb but loveable bar bouncer plucked from obscurity to be the enforcer for a minor league hockey team.

Goon will be available on-demand February 24, 2012 and in theaters starting March 30th.

The first trailer for Bryan Singer’s Jack the Giant Killer has debuted online.

The film tells the story of an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend—and gets the chance to become a legend himself.

Starrring Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy, Eleanor Tomlinson and Ewan McGregor, Jack the Giant Killer hits theaters in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D on June 15, 2012.

Paramount Pictures has released the trailer for The Dictator, starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, Megan Fox, John C. Reilly and J.B. Smoove.

Opening in theaters on May 11, the comedy tells the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.

Armando Alvarez (Ferrell) has lived and worked on his father’s ranch in Mexico his entire life. As the ranch encounters financial difficulties, Armando’s younger brother Raul (Diego Luna) shows up with his new fiancée, Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez). It seems that Raul’s success as an international businessman means the ranch’s troubles are over as he pledges to settle all debts his father has incurred. But when Armando falls for Sonia, and Raul’s business dealings turn out to be less than legit, all hell breaks loose as they find themselves in a war with Mexico’s most feared drug lord, the mighty Onza (Gael Garcia Bernal).

Source: LA Times Hero Complex

Christopher Nolan recently opened up to the LA Times about why he chose Bane as the newest villain in his Dark Knight trilogy.

“I didn’t know him very well,” Nolan said. “David Goyer got me a bunch of stuff on him and we looked into him. I only knew him by name, I wasn’t familiar with his back story. He’s a very cool character. And getting an actor like Tom to take it on, you know you’re going to get something very special. Tom is somebody who really knows how to put character into every gesture, every aspect of his physicality in the way that great actors can. He’s a very, very physical actor. He transforms himself and it’s there in every movement. He’s not afraid to look at a character from the outside as well as the inside so there’s a deep psychological branch to the character but also a very, very specific awareness of how he’s going to use his body and his appearance to express that character too. Christian is like that too, very much.”

“With Bane, the physicality is the thing,” he continued. “With a good villain you need an archetype, you know, you need the extreme of some type of villainy. The Joker is obviously a particular archetype of diabolical, chaotic anarchy and has a devilish sense of humor. Bane, to me, is something we haven’t dealt with in the films. We wanted to do something very different in this film. He’s a primarily physical villain, he’s a classic movie monster in a way — but with a terrific brain. I think he’s a fascinating character.  I think people are going to get a kick out of what we’ve done with him.”

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Vin Diesel has confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that both a sixth and seventh film are being planned for The Fast and the Furious franchise.

Diesel explained, “With the success of this last one, and the inclusion of so many characters, and the broadening of scope, when we were sitting down to figure out what would fit into the real estate of number six, we didn’t have enough space. We have to pay off this story, we have to service all of these character relationships, and when we started mapping all that out it just went beyond 110 pages. The studio said, ‘You can’t fit all that story in one damn movie!”

Universal is currently set to begin production on Fast & Furious 6 next year with Justin Lin back as director, aiming for a May 24, 2013 release. Rumors say that 6 and 7 may shoot back-to-back, but no confirmed information has been given.

Source: People.co.uk

It’s being reported the Daniel Craig has been offered a deal that would make the actor the longest reigning James Bond in history.

The current record-holder is Roger Moore, who played 007 over the course of twelve years, making seven appearances as the secret agent. Craig is currently shooting Skyfall, his third film in the role, and if it’s up to legendary Bond producer Michael G Wilson, he’ll be offered five more opportunities.

Wilson stated, “Filming has gone very well so far and I’d love Daniel to surpass Roger’s record and do eight pictures. Daniel’s been an absolute pleasure to be around because he takes the role so seriously. There’s really no one more passionate about making these films work than him – he’s a film maker’s dream. A lot of people have said Daniel’s been their favourite Bond since Sean Connery and I can’t argue with them. He’s doing a great job.”

Last we heard, director Joss Whedon had promised there would be no 3D release of The Avengers. Things have apparently changed. It’s now being reported that The Avengers will in fact have a 3D release as well as its 2D release.

Whedon says that the 3D aspect will not be obnoxious. “There definitely are movies that shouldn’t be in 3D. The Avengers isn’t obnoxiously 3D. There’s no, ‘Oh look, we’re going to spend 20 minutes going through this tunnel because it’s in 3D!’ And no one is pointing at the screen the entire time. But it’s an action movie. Things tend to hurtle toward the screen anyway.”

The Avengers is on tap for a May 4th, 2012 release.

Article by: Dan Clark

With the release of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo I thought I’d look at other American remakes of foreign films. Looking back on the list I realized it’s full of less than stellar titles. There are plenty of films that have long been forgotten, or simply remembered for their wretched quality. Even with that I attempted to form a list of the Top 10 American Remakes of Foreign Films. Here goes nothing…

#10 – The Next Three Days
Remake of: Anything for Her (French Title: Pour Elle)

I understand we aren’t starting off on the strongest foot here, but I was actually a fan of The Next Three Days. This film stars Russell Crowe as a man who attempts to break his wife out of prison for a crime he feels she was wrongly accused of. With all of his real life issues, Crowe does make it hard to like him at times, but you cannot deny his talent. While this won’t go down as one of his greatest roles, he does a solid job of playing a man who has simply run out of options. Elizabeth Banks, who plays Crowe’s wife, is capable in her role as well. She is able to ride that line of innocent victim and secret psychotic . You wonder if her character is actually innocent, or if she has the ability to take the life of another person. In addition to the main leads, the director’s final climatic escape was full of well designed sequences that really ratcheted up the tension. Perhaps low expectations allowed me to enjoy this film more than I should have, but in the end I felt it was good enough for the 10 spot.

#9 – EDtv
Remake of: Louis 19, King of the Airwaves (Quebec Title: Louis 19, le roi de ondes)

Canada is still considered a foreign country, right? I think being made in Quebec makes it a safe choice. If South Park has taught me anything, it is a completely foreign land that can easily be blamed for all the world’s greatest problems. Besides being a remake of a Canadian film, EDtv also has the pleasure of being in the “Double Movie Club”. You know, when two films come out that are extremely similar. This year Friends with Benefits had No Strings Attached, Tombstone had Wyatt Earp, and EDtv had The Truman Show. Then next year we have the dueling Snow White films Mirror Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman. It always seems strange to me how often that occurs. Though EDtv was a disappointment at the box office, it has gained fans as the years have gone by. It helps that the hyper reality that was shown in the film has become truer today than ever. In a world filled with Kardashians, Hiltons, and Real Housewives, the idea of EDtv seems like a relief from that insanity.

#8 – Three Men and a Baby
Remake of: Three Men and a Cradle (French Title: Trois homes et un coufflin)

I’m not going to lie, I was surprised myself to find out that Three Men and a Baby was actually a remake. It was in fact a remake of a French film that had pretty much the exact same story. While the original was unknown to most of America, the remake was huge at the box office. To be fair, the original French version didn’t have the greatness that is Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson. I mean, when you have those three aces in your deck why would others even bother playing a hand? The possibility for them to compete was washed away the moment Selleck and his mustache walked onto the set. Even with those amazing three, it does feel dated when you watch it today. Luckily enough you can still find some harmless fun in there. The three main leads are not surprisingly very likeable. Each plays the part of “clueless guy not ready to be a father” quite well. Plus, you have to give a film that was directed by Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy, some major geek cred. Sadly enough, there are rumors that this too will be remade by Adam Sandler’s production company. I can see it now… Adam Sandler is attempting to put on the kid’s diaper with Rob Schneider standing in the corner yelling; “You Can Do I!” Then, wait for it… the baby craps onto Sandler’s face. Then, in a stroke of directing genius, the camera pans back to Schneider who then says, “He did it!” (Otherwise known as your basic instant hilarity.)

#7 – Let Me In
Remake of: Let the Right One In (Swedish Title: Låt den rätte komma in)

This is when I feel like we hit some really good movies. Let the Right One In was looked at as a game changer in the horror genre. Injecting a vampire into a coming of age tale seems like a gimmick on paper, but it ended up really working. The filmmakers were able to establish a huge sense of heart that made the horror even more effective. Aiding in their effort were the strong performances they received from their two main leads. It’s not often that you get such strong performances from child actors. Of course, when an American remake was announced there was a huge amount of apprehension. Why remake a movie that came out so recently? It had struck a chord with a lot of the American audience already making a remake even less necessary. Matt Reeves answered that question by directing a tremendous film. Reeves made the film his own, but was able to stay true to the vision of the original. Some do argue that Let Me In is a basic carbon copy of Let the Right One In, however I disagree with that assumption. I felt it differentiated enough from the original to more than legitimize its existence. One way was in Reeve’s ability to build tension. That ability really aided the pacing throughout the early portion of the film. It helped avoid some of the lagging the original was guilty of. In addition, the child acting Let Me In was on par, if not better, than the original. Most notably I felt Kodi Smith-McPhee was a better lead than the original. Let Me In did exactly what it set out to do. It made a great film that would easily appeal to the American audience.

#6 – 12 Monkeys
Remake of: The Jetty (French Title: La Jetée)

This remake is a little different than the rest of the list so far due to the fact that it was based off of a short film. That fact gave the filmmakers a lot more leeway with their own vision. That leeway also creates a new challenge though. Taking a short story and expanding it to feature length is a tricky endeavor. Think about TV shows that attempt to do a movie version of their show. Very rarely does it lead to success. Sometimes changing the format is too much to overcome. Interestingly enough, even with that challenge 12 Monkeys is easily one of the more underrated films of the last twenty years. When people think of the best Science Fiction of the 1990’s, you hear Terminator 2 and The Matrix, but rarely is 12 Monkeys mentioned. It’s a shame because even though 12 Monkeys didn’t redefine the genre like those films, it was able to achieve what all great Science Fiction hopes to accomplish. That is to create a narrative that goes beyond a simple fight of good and evil. It uses a decent amount of social commentary to hammer in the film’s theme. While the idea of a bleak future isn’t new, it was done with great effect. Throw in a number of great performances and you have one high quality remake.

#5 – True Lies
Remake of: La Totale !

At this point in his career, we have come to know James Cameron as one of the biggest innovators in all of cinema. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny the guy is a masterful visionary. Even a filmmaker of the caliber of Cameron didn’t shy away from remaking a foreign film. In True Lies, Cameron took the story of the original and added in plenty of American special effects to make a true blockbuster. There was the perfect combination of fun, action, and comedy that you want in a summer film. Action sequences were well choreographed and the use of both special and practical effects allow the film to hold up today. A great cast that includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jame Lee Curtis, Bill Paxton, and in one of her first major roles, the geek icon that is Eliza Dushku. True Lies was simply the total package that proved sometimes America does do it better.

#4 – A Fistful of Dollars
Remake of: Yojimbo

Sergio Leone is one of the greatest names in the Western genre. His “Man with No Name” trilogy has stood the test of time, and is still looked at as one of the greatest movie franchises of all time. That trilogy actually started with the remake of Akira Kurosawa’s classic Yojimbo. With two of the greatest movie icons attached to a film, it’s hard for it not to be great. Both Leone and Kurosawa are masterful at creating an amazing atmosphere. The cinematography, score, and pace all compliment each other to great effect. When Leone created A Fistful of Dollars he didn’t dictate his vision based upon the rules that were already established in the western genre. He took what former western greats did, like John Ford, and completely made it his own. Besides Leone’s direction, you also have the icon that is Clint Eastwood, in what may still be his most career-defining role. Spaghetti westerns changed the film industry forever, and A Fistful of Dollars helped begin that revolution.

#3 – The Ring
Remake of: Ringu

Every so often, a horror film comes out that helps redefine the genre. Duplications shortly follow that attempt to piggyback on the success of the previous blockbuster. For example, Halloween helped inspire the 1980’s slasher phenomenon. While in the 1990’s Scream’s breakout success invigorated the genre once more. Then in the early 2000’s The Ring burst onto the landscape. A remake of the Japanese film Ringu, The Ring provided American audiences an eerie imagery style they hadn’t seen the likes of before. That style, as well as the story format in which it was placed, made it an instant horror classic. Even today you can hear people whispering “Seven Days” into a phone. Of course, like all horror staples before it, The Ring inspired a slew of imitators. While films like The Grudge managed to find success, none quite hit the mark like The Ring. The Ring even inspired people to state that it surpassed the quality of the original. Some may scoff at that notion, but being able to even argue that fact is a great accomplishment.

#2 – The Magnificent Seven
Remake of: Seven Samurai (Japanese Title: Shichinin no Samurai)

Seven Samurai is clearly one of the greatest films ever made. A statement that is true for pretty much every Akira Kurosawa film. Most of the world’s greatest filmmakers point to his works as one of their largest inspirations. His knack for storytelling crosses all borders. The plot may be simple, but the message is universal. That is one reason Seven Samurai has be consistently remade. Out of all the remakes that have been created, The Magnificent Seven has steadily held its ground as the best of the bunch. It’s not hard when you have the direction of John Sturges and the likes of Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, and Charles Bronson starring in your film. The Magnificent Seven is one of the best examples of how to properly Americanize a foreign film. You instill what made the original successful. For example, The Magnificent Seven established quality characters that were dynamic and easy to root for, just like the original. That alone is a huge accomplishment. Establishing one quality protagonist is hard enough, so to expand it beyond that is nearly impossible. It kept the same story and themes as the original, just changed the location. It seems easy enough, but at times when remakes are done you get a lot of changes for change sake. Sometimes a change of scenery is the only major alteration you need.

#1 – The Departed
Remake of: Infernal Affairs

One thing I quickly noticed when creating this list was that some of the greatest names in cinema history have taken part in remaking a foreign film. Greats like Cameron, Sturges, Leone, and of course the director of The Departed Martin Scorsese have all created a film based upon another’s work. With remakes, like with all films, the outcome of the quality of it is greatly dictated by the inspiration of its creator. If that inspiration is purely profit, you will most likely wind up with a less-than-stellar film. However, if someone legitimately feels a great movie can be made from another you can be left with a rare gem. Call me gullible but I tend to believe Scorsese is a man who makes films without profit in mind. His mindset is what helped make The Departed such a great film. Not only was The Departed the only remake of a foreign film to win Best Picture, it was also Scorsese’s first Best Director win. Though that may do more to delegitimize the Oscars then legitimize this movie. The Departed was full of some of the greatest actors of this generation and past who all provided first-rate performances. Like all Scorsese films, it was also accompanied by an amazing soundtrack. To me “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys will always be linked to this film. Scorsese is a man known for his New York routes so it was surprising how authentic this Boston felt. While this may not be Scorsese’s best film, to me it is the best foreign film remake ever created.