Planetaki Planet movies

Stardust Awards 2012 - Bollywood Awards Pictures

2012-02-11T07:27:47Z

Movie News After Dark: More ‘Game of Thrones,’ Sci-Fi Bars, Selena Gomez Replacing Miley Cyrus, and McG Getting Shot in the Ass

2012-02-11T07:27:44Z

What is Movie News After Dark? Tonight it’s the column I’m filling in on as Neil Miller journeys to the mystical, frozen land of Chicago. It’s also a list of links to movie or entertainment related things that I either found interesting, noteworthy, or that involved super famous young girls from the Disney channel.

Tonight we begin by getting a glimpse at the second season of HBO’s Game of Thrones. WinterisComing.net has a whole host of pictures from the second season that have reminded me of how much I like the show and reinforced the three reasons why I’m looking forward to new episodes so much: boobs, blood, and Brienne. Hopefully we’ll be getting a lot of each.

Mike Ryan over at Moviefone has written a running diary of what it was like seeing The Phantom Menace 3D at midnight last night. This is a useful service because who in their right mind would ever be willing to go see The Phantom Menace at midnight? I mean, in 2012. Now we can all stop wondering if it was worth the effort. It wasn’t

io9 is usually a good source for fun lists, and today was no exception. Behold, their list of the ten science fiction bars that they would most like to visit. I could definitely see myself getting loaded on whiskey and annoying the patrons in each of these bars by filling the juke box up with Tom Waits. That’s how I roll.

Good news, people who like to be tortured by inane nonsense! The guy in charge of Lionsgate, the company that now owns the rights to the Twilight franchise, has told the L.A. Times that he’s rrrreally hoping that they can make more Twilight stuff; even if it means making a TV show or begging Stephenie Meyer to write another book. Get ready for a few more years of teenage girls telling the rest of the Internet that they just don’t “get it.”

Neil usually likes to break up the middle of this column with some images, so I did some poking around and stumbled across these fan made concept images for an imaginary sequel to The Incredibles that Movies.com posted. They’re fun, but the fact that I had to write the word “imaginary” before sequel kind of bums me out.

The AV Club staff have revealed which fictional characters they have dirty, shameful crushes on. I have to say, they did a great job of coming up with fake people who I would totally boink. I was a little disappointed that nobody mentioned my number one pick, the Chicken Lady from The Kids in the Hall, though.

What? I like sluts.

E! Online has a pretty big scoop about Adam Sandler’s upcoming movie monster cartoon Hotel Transylvania. It turns out Miley Cyrus is out as the voice of Dracula’s daughter and fellow Disney Channel alum Selena Gomez is in. I don’t know how you feel, but my years of watching Disney shows for creepy, inappropriate reasons leads me to believe that this is a serious upgrade.

Lists, they’re the bread and butter of the Internet, and /Film has posted one of the better ones I’ve seen in a while. This time they’re looking at the Best WWII movies that you’ve never seen. If they’re half as good at predicting what I’ll like as they are at predicting what I haven’t seen, then I’m super excited to check some of these out. My queues have been updated.

Variety says that Disney’s upcoming entry into the Snow White War, The Order of the Seven, has cast its lead. But the more I hear about this movie the less it seems like it has anything to do with Snow White and the more it just sounds like it’s just about a girl teaming up with seven warriors. I gotta say, I’m okay with that. And I’m super-okay with the fact that this movie now stars Saoirse Ronan.

An essay on Movies.com asks the question of whether or not this will be the last good year for comic book movies, and if after this we will experience the downfall. I’m not so sure myself, but I could definitely stand to take a break from spandex and origin stories. Me and Superman are totally dunzo.

Finally, as per tradition, we end the column with a video. This one is really good because it involves butts, and butts are funny. Check out Tom Hardy and McG dropping trou and getting shot in their asses with close range paintball fire. It’s funny because they’re famous.

Lisa at Moet & Chandon Valentine Evening - Bollywood Miscellaneous Pictures

2012-02-11T07:27:47Z

Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya Movie Stills - Bollywood Movie Stills Pictures

2012-02-11T07:27:48Z

Kevin Carr’s Weekly Report Card: February 10, 2012

2012-02-11T07:27:44Z

This week, Fat Guy Kevin Carr dresses up in his Jedi robes and grabs his lightsaber, heading to the theater to see the 3D re-release of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. While there, he faces a sea of estrogen as ladies of all type swarm into the multiplex to see Channing Tatum’s abs multiflex. After using his lightsaber to break through the wall of pre-Valentine’s Day ladies, he faces more obstacles with twentysomething dudes heading out to see Safe House and obnoxious families to see Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Fortunately for Kevin, he is able to dispatch everyone with his Rock-inspired “pec pop of love.” It was an early Valentine’s Day massacre.

Want to hear what Kevin has to say on the Fat Guys at the Movies podcast? Click here to listen as Kevin is joined by Drive-In Horrorshowdirector Michael Neel to chat about this week’s big releases.

STAR WARS: EPISODE I – THE PHANTOM MENACE 3D
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Rated: PG for sci-fi action/violence

Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd and Ian McDiarmid

Directed by: George Lucas

What it’s about: Whether you consider him “man” or “devil” (to paraphrase Edgar Allan Poe), George Lucas retrofits his first Star Wars prequel with a 3D treatment. Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are dispatched to settle a trade dispute and end up rescuing the Queen of Naboo and picking up the Force prodigy Anakin Skywalker along the way.

What makes the grade: Let me preface this by confessing that I am an unabashed Star Wars fan, to the point that I even like all three sequels. I know there’s tons of foibles in this movie in particular, but for someone who grew up with the movies and appreciated as both a child and adult, I am quite forgiving.

Still, looking past its flaws, there are some awesome moments in The Phantom Menace, particularly the action sequences, including the dive through Naboo’s core, the pod race and the final climactic battle sequence that remains one of the greatest three-ways ever committed to film or video.

The 3D conversion looks great here, pulling depth out of even relatively flat shots. Considering Lucas couldn’t go back and shoot the movie in 3D, this is one hell of a treatment, matching the expertise put into Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II. And damn, if that pod race doesn’t look even better in 3D.

What fails: Let’s face it, people. This is 99% the same movie that came out thirteen years ago. So aside from replacing the weird-looking 1999 Yoda puppet, everything else is there, for better or for worse. Jar Jar Binks is still annoying (though my kids loved him), Jake Lloyd still can’t act in three dimensions, the dialogue is cringe-worthy and the plot never quite finds a good momentum. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the hell out of the film again.

Who is gonna like this movie: Anyone who wants to see The Phantom Menace again, which contrary to what you might believe from the rants on the blogosphere, is quite a few people.

THE VOW
Studio: Screen Gems

Rated: PG-13 for an accident scene, sexual content, partial nudity and some language

Starring: Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, Sam Neill, Scott Speedman and Jessica Lange

Directed by: Michael Sucsy

What it’s about: Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum play a Paige and Leo, a young, married couple who are in a terrible car crash. Paige suffers brain damage, and when she wakes up, she cannot remember her husband at all. He spends the next months helping her fall back in love with him and to remember why she made significant changes in her life before.

What makes the grade: Rachel McAdams is about the only decent thing in this movie. She’s beautiful and charismatic. Her charm helps guys like me stomach movies like The Notebook. Too bad she’s paired up with Channing Tatum in this film.

On a side note, the film’s background is quite interesting as it is inspired by a true story. All the dramatic nonsense we see isn’t part of the inspiration, but there was indeed a couple who suffered a similar injury with similar amnesia issues. Look up the story, which is more inspirational than this film even attempts to be.

What fails: The Vow demonstrates how vain Hollywood is, in the sense that it presents an inspiring story but has to slather on cliches because the industry thinks that will make it better. Here, it just gets in the way.

As if not remembering your husband isn’t enough, The Vow shoe-horns in the fact that Paige had a falling out with her family, was basically a different person (a more shallow and dreadful person, I might add) and still was carrying a torch for her asshole boyfriend. This all-too-convenient storyline is nearly impossible to swallow.

Add to this the fact that Channing Tatum may be a good-looking man, but he’s a blithering idiot of an actor on-screen. Anything meatier than G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra leaves him with this embarrassing deer-in-the-headlights look. Even with a script, he’s unable to articulate himself and remind his co-star’s character that she changed for a reason. I really couldn’t care less whether this couple got back together or not.

Who is gonna like this movie: Ladies, and guys who are dragged to the movie (who will probably hate it but lie about it just to get laid).

SAFE HOUSE
Studio: Universal

Rated: R for strong violence throughout and some language

Starring: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson and Sam Shephard

Directed by: Daniel Espinosa

What it’s about: Denzel Washington plays Tobin Frost, an ex-CIA agent who is an expert at psychological manipulation. Since leaving the CIA, he’s gone rogue and sold many American secrets. After a botched job in South Africa, he lands in a CIA safe house where Ryan Reynold’s character must try to keep him under control and bring him in for questioning.

What makes the grade: Yeah, Denzel Washington is a badass even at his age. He plays the stoic gray character well, and he manages his own in the action sequences. Even Ryan Reynolds is able to look competent as a CIA agent. If you’re a fan of one or both of these guys and don’t mind the many problems with the film (see below), you can enjoy yourself with a Saturday viewing.

What fails: The most noticeable problem with this film is the overdone, grainy and palsied camerawork, even during otherwise steady scenes. This makes the movie a nauseating view on the big screen, but probably preserving its longevity on cable and home video.

But in the end, the plot is convoluted yet entirely predictable. With the action impossible to focus on, that leaves us with the characters. Unfortunately, there’s no real depth to them, and when we finally break through the hard-ass exterior of each, the revelations we get are confusing and boring. It’s a film of all flash and no substance.

Who is gonna like this movie: Fans of Denzel and people who want to see a flashy, gritty action movie that is on the par with last month’s Contraband.

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND
Studio: New Line Cinema

Rated: PG for some mild adventure action, and brief mild language

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens and Kristin Davis

Directed by: Brad Peyton

What it’s about: Josh Hutcherson returns as Sean, a “Vernian,” which is someone who believes that the subjects of Jules Verne’s books were real places. Along with his step-father (Dwayne Johnson), he embarks on a journey to find the Mysterious Island where his grandfather has been living.

What makes the grade: I’ll be honest with you… this movie is dumb, stupid and ridiculous. The characters are barely two-dimensional, the dialogue is worse than what we have in The Phantom Menace and the story makes very little sense. However, the film moves fast enough through the set-up that we get to the island before you really have a chance to question all this.

When we finally get to the island, this becomes a wacky family adventure with wild, oversized animals and references to fun elements like an erupting volcano of gold and a search for Captain Nemo’s submarine. There’s not a shred of science in this movie, but the film doesn’t make the pretense that it’s trying to do that.

Instead, this movie brought back feelings of what it was like to watch old Saturday morning shows like The Land of the Lost and Danger Island, only with much better special effects. Once I got to that place, mentally and emotionally, I enjoyed the hell out of this movie. And it helped that I brought my kids with me to enjoy it.

What fails: While for the most part the visual effects work, there’s still a few moments that rip off other movies (including several Avatar-esque moments and even a line stolen from High School Musical that is dropped by none other than Vanessa Hudgens). It’s full of plot and character holes, often making giant leaps of logic and continuity.

Still, I enjoyed the Saturday morning adventure feel of it.

Who is gonna like this movie: Kids – particularly boys – and their families.

‘Dracula: Year Zero’ Is Back From the Dead: Universal Negotiating With Director Gary Shore

2012-02-11T07:27:44Z

Alex Proyas might want to look into getting some budgeting software or something, because this “over budget” thing is becoming bizarrely familiar. Let’s rehash! Just this week, Proyas’ Paradise Lost adaptation was shut down by Legendary due to a wicked combo of too much funds and too little technology, and now another project that Proyas lost out on because of a bloated budget is back in the news – but for a very different reason. Universal Pictures is apparently bringing Dracula: Year Zero back from the dead, complete with a new director and likely a new cast.

Don’t remember this one? Neither did I, so let’s dig back into the FSR Crypt! Back in 2008, Proyas was set to direct the flick, a supposed “medieval epic” that would serve as origin story for the toothy one. The project languished until 2010, when Sam Worthington of all people was set to star as Dracula himself (Vlad the Impaler, should we be sticking to history). And then the blood ran dry and the budget was too high, and as Deadline Kendal so amusingly puts it, Universal “close[d] the coffin.” But that coffin is now open again, and in a big (wide?) way.

Universal is reportedly negotiating with Gary Shore to direct the film, complete with a new draft of the screenplay from its originators, screenwriters Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless. The film would mark Shore’s feature debut, as his resume currently only includes one short (The Draft) and a mess of commercial direction. However, Shore is a notorious go-getter who was on the shortlist to direct The Wolverine (thanks to a spec trailer he crafted for the character) and who nabbed a deal with Universal and Working Title Pictures for his still-unmade feature The Cup of Tears after he made a similar spec trailer for that film. What I’m saying is, the guy is due.

Sazama and Sharpless have a similar resume – no features yet, but lots of hustle. The pair have been tapped to pen both a new Flash Gordon and the new Clue, and they sold a “futuristic pitch” to Chernin Entertainment back in September. They first sold their Dracula script to Universal back in 2006. Again, these dudes are due.

Yet, with all that new blood coming in, it looks like Worthington won’t be coming back, as “studio sources” report that he’s no longer involved.

You’re Going to Have to Wait to Snuggle Up With ‘Warm Bodies’; Release Date Pushed

2012-02-11T07:27:44Z

Looks like we’re going to have to adjust our list of The 52 Most Anticipated Movies of 2012, knocking the number down to a significantly less exciting 51. Summit Entertainment has just announced that they are pushing the release of Warm Bodies from August 10 of this year allllllll the way to February 1 of next year. When I touted the film as part of our most anticipated list of plenty, I explained it as such:

Jonathan Levine follows up his critical cancer comedy hit, 50/50, with an en vogue type of affair – a zombie love story based on a YA novel. But Isaac Marion’s source material shares considerably more with Romeo and Juliet than it does with The Walking Dead and that, along with its up-and-coming cast (Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Analeigh Tipton, Dave Franco, Rob Corddry, and no less than John Malkovich) recommend this original look at love at the end of the world.

And that’s all still true, but now we have to wait six more months to catch it. I feel like a zombie just took a bite out of my heart. While I’m not the biggest fan of Marion’s novel, I think it’s a fun basis for a film, and I believe in both Levine and the solid cast he’s assembled for this outing.

So why the move? Deadline Arlington believes it’s to get “it out of the way of tentpoles The Bourne Legacy and Total Recall,” both of which are releasing the week before the film’s original release date, which seems like a fair assumption. The film’s new release date does give it a bit more wiggle room – January has a few releases already on the docket, including Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, Broken City, The Last Stand, the 3D re-release of Monsters, Inc., Summit’s own Now You See Me, and Planet B-Boy (in 3D!), none of which seem poised to impact a monster-y YA love story like Warm Bodies, and yet… While not much else looks like the film in February, there is Lionsgate’s own I, Frankenstein, which reads a bit like a more grown-up take on the film. Hey, double feature!

'Breaking Dawn' Before 'Hunger Games': Five Other Big Trailer Debuts

2012-02-10T23:34:50Z

Arguably the biggest news of the day was Lionsgate's announcement that the studio would be premiering the "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2" trailer in front of "The Hunger Games" in theaters on March 23. Though this is definitely a match made in young-adult heaven, it's far from the first time trailers for highly anticipated films have premiered before similarly big new releases.

We've decided to go back and pick our five favorite examples of big trailer premieres from the past couple decades. The movies haven’t always matched the hype (we're looking at you, "Phantom Menace"), but they certainly gave us good reason to get excited.

"Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace" before "Meet Joe Black"
Come with me back to a time long, long ago (1998) in a galaxy far, far away (where Brad Pitt was still playing romantic leads). "Meet Joe Black" was just hitting theaters, but fans weren't necessarily flocking to theaters opening night to catch Pitt playing the Death. Instead, many fans were anxiously awaiting the first trailer of George Lucas's highly anticipated "Star Wars" prequel, "The Phantom Menace." Considering the public's changed opinion on the movie as "The Phantom Menace" launches its 3-D rerelease today, it's hard to believe people were once so excited about the movie. But they were — seriously.

"The Dark Knight" before "I Am Legend"
At the time, a viral-marketing campaign had possibly never created quite the fervor for a movie that Warner Bros' had for "The Dark Knight." Between the "Why So Serious?" campaign and Empire's slow reveal of Heath Ledger's Joker, fans were desperate for a first-look at the much-hyped film. A trailer finally came in 2007 before non-IMAX screenings of "I Am Legend." But most of us were willing to shill out the extra dough and catch the "The Dark Knight's" opening sequence and sizzle reel before IMAX screenings of Will Smith's post-apocalyptic film.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" before "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"
Say what you will about comparing "Harry Potter" to "The Twilight Saga," but both Warner Bros and Summit Entertainment knew their audiences overlapped when one studio paired its highly-anticipated trailer for the final two "Harry Potter" films with the similarly-anticipated release of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" in 2010. Not only was the "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" teaser our favorite trailer of the year, "Eclipse" also went on to become the highest-grossing "Twilight" film at that time. Friendship!

"The Avengers" after "Captain America: The First Avenger"
Ah-hah! A change in the trailer-before-a-movie scheme! Marvel switched things up a bit when they had "The Avengers" teaser trailer premiere after screenings of "Captain America: The First Avenger." It was more of a cliffhanger sizzle-reel than an actual trailer, but it still got fans pumped for the movie. Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye and Black Widow all in one place?! Heck, we're still getting excited about that here at MTV News.

"The Hunger Games" before "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1"
Much like "Harry Potter" before it, the first full-length "The Hunger Games" trailer premiered before 2011's "Twilight Saga" installment, "Breaking Dawn — Part 1." "But wait!" you say. "Isn't the 'Breaking Dawn — Part 2' trailer now coming out before 'The Hunger Games'?" Very intuitive of you, faceless, nameless MTV Movies Blog reader. It seems as though Lionsgate (who has recently taken over Summit) has decided to reciprocate the hype that "The Hunger Games" gave "Breaking Dawn" by doing a little switcheroo. If the "Breaking Dawn — Part 2" trailer is even half as good as that first full "Hunger Games" trailer, I'll be thrilled.

What are some of your favorite trailer premieres before movies? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Review: ‘Perfect Sense’ Proves To Be Better Than Its Title Suggests

2012-02-10T23:34:49Z

Perfect Sense is a bad, misleading, and laughable title. With the premise and that eye-rolling title, you’d expect it to be a shoddy romantic comedy, one about people coming to love each other when all else goes to hell. “When everyone’s losing their senses, we’re doing something that makes…Perfect Sense! Get it?” Yes, all around cringe-worthy, but, thankfully, the actual film is not.

Set in the magical and wet land of Glasgow, director David Mackenzie‘s chronicles both the multiple destructions and reconstructions of the world and a relationship. Michael (Ewan McGregor) is a charming and scruffy cook who’s lucky enough to have someone who looks like Susan, played by Eva Green, live right next door to his workplace. Both being the two good-looking people that they are, the obvious consequences come about: they fall in love, just as an epidemic begins to eat away at the world.

It’s no real shock in saying the epidemic is a subtext for the transitions that Michael and Susan go through. A relationship involves adaptation, as would an epidemic which diminishes our five sense: smell, taste, touch, sound, and sight. Mackenzie conveys the grand-scale world effects and the love and turmoil between Michael and Susan with a fair amount of subtlety.

Michael and Susan are self-proclaimed and proud assholes, meaning there’s not a large deal of difficult-to-bare bogus sentimentality. Even after the first time the couple sleep together, one of them is kicking the other out of bed, and not because they did anything wrong. They’re relatable cold individuals, not naive romantics.

By the end, they do grow to become romantics, and it’s earned. Green and McGregor are both lovable and seriously flawed as Michael and Susan. When their relationship is going smoothly, it’s impossible not to crack a smile. For the lesser joyous moments between the two, it’s uncomfortable and slightly heart-wrenching.

Mackenzie handles all the emotions with intimacy. As for the grand scale epidemic, it’s shown with a similar amount of realism. How would the world respond to losing their senses? Not as if they’re in a Roland Emmerich movie, but in the way you’d expect them to: by adapting. Despite the absurd premise, Perfect Sense is surprisingly grounded and, at times, poignant.

The Upside: Ewan McGregor and Eva Green are excellent; is effectively sweet and tragic; approaches human’s ability to adapt in both broad and small ways; features a suitably bittersweet ending.

The Downside: There’s a narration crosses the point of grating at times, despite its attempt to show there’s plenty of other beautiful and sad stories going on elsewhere in the world making for an admirable storytelling choice; one loss of sense scene is more comical than horrifying, but maybe that’s the point.

On The Side: Thank God there’s no major “We gotta find a cure!” subplot.

The Carpetbagger: A Puppet Dog Wants Some Respect

2012-02-10T23:34:48Z

Move over Uggie, Cosmo and Blackie. Triumph the Insult Comic Dog wants in on the awards-season action. Never mind that he's human and hasn't been in a film.

Merch Hunter #24: Batman Spud, LOTR Lego and Star Wars: The Blueprints

2012-02-10T23:34:49Z

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so you might have expected something here dedicated to the merchandise of romantic films. But until you can get an official When Harry Met Sally orgasm sandwich, there’s very little overlap in terms of those films and the collectible world. Unless we’re talking Twilight. And I can assure you right now, we bloody well aren’t talking Twilight.

So instead, this week’s column is once again dedicated to the finest things in collecting life, including a further addition to the Mr. Potato Head film co-licensed products. You can’t see it, but I can assure you that the excitement radiating from my every orifice is tangible.

There’s also even more Lego – almost a weekly addition to this column you’ll note, but a wholly justified one in this case - and a book that would make Crime & Punishment blush for being so rubbish. It might also be the most expensive book I have ever recommended people buy, but who cares really – the only way out of recession is through frivolous, short-sighted spending. Probably.

1. The Dark Knight Spud

It was inevitable, given Hasbro’s existing co-licensed Mr. Potato Head lines, that someone would get the idea to release a Batman tie-in, and now PPW, who also have previous with the world’s favorite potato (but not with the same quality as Hasbro it has to be said) have done just that. The design is good, but as a dedicated follower of everything Potato Head related, I can’t help but wish it was Hasbro and not PPW who were in charge of this line.

My only other real issue is the name – I have every movie-themed Mr. Potato Head in my collection and there are a number with ingenious pun-heavy names like Tony Starch and R2-Potatoo. Adding “Spud” to the end of the film seems slightly lazy in that respect. Why not Batato-Man?

Pre-order one now for $17.99, and you can expect to receive your spud in June.

2. The Lord of the Rings Lego

Okay, so I’m addicted to Lego. But who can blame me? As toys go, it’s about the manliest endeavor one can turn ones hand to combining actual fun with real construction world concerns like surveying, material inventory and meticulous planning. I like to go really balls deep, and have had several stern letters back from the government in response to my planning applications, but you can’t just approach these things frivolously.

Anyway, the latest addition to Lego’s link-up with the world of film is their forthcoming Lord of the Rings series, which once again is likely to attract a hell of a lot of attention when they start to appear in June. The first series will feature the Fellowship of the ring, and the second collects some of the film series’ villains, including Gollum and a Ringwraith – all wonderfully, charmingly designed of course. The Hobbit will get its own Lego series around the film’s release in December.

Bookmark this page for your Lego needs.

3. Star Wars: The Blueprints

Arguably the greatest book I’ve ever clapped eyes on (alongside the Art of Pixar, which is far cheaper and just as wonderful incidentally), and a genuine collectible thanks to the limited print run and the sheer quality of the content. $500 is a lot of money for a book, especially in a world that will soon all be governed by apps and mobile technology, but The Blueprints is a tangible piece of cinema history, brilliantly animated and wonderfully comprehensive. And in the future when electricity is rationed by our alien overlords, you can laugh at those trying to read their e-books with no battery power as you flick through your copy, which will probably be the most valuable thing left in the post-apocalyptic world.

Buy one here.

T-Shirt of the Week

The Pythons are back. Sort of, even if they’re obstinate about calling their upcoming project a Monty Python film. I say we all gleefully ignore that and then criticize the film for being nothing like Life of Brian. That’s how I approach all films these days anyway. Buy it here.

Hide your pocketbook before you enter the Merch Hunter archives.

Trailer for ‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’ Makes the End Times Look Like Fun Times

2012-02-10T23:34:49Z

Everybody knows that the world is going to be ending sooner rather than later. Heck, the end of days is getting so close that we’ve been counting down our must-see apocalypse films. But until I watched the trailer for the upcoming comedy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, it didn’t occur to me how much fun those last few days we all spend on Earth are going to be. I mean, other than when faced with impending asteroid-related doom, when else is a guy like Steve Carell going to get a chance at a girl like Keira Knightley?

Stress-induced romantic hook-ups aren’t the only perks of the world ending, either. There’s slacking off at work, taking part in some cathartic looting, and who knows how many other base pleasures to partake in. Heck, this movie sees Patton Oswalt turning into some sort of hedonistic little Satyr, Gillian Jacobs kissing everyone on the mouth, and Connie Britton hosting dinner parties for her single friends. Not only are these all great ideas for how to spend your last days, they’re also glimpses at a movie that seems to have a stellar supporting cast. Check out how the end times might look with the first trailer for Seeking a Friend for the End of the World after the break.

The thing that I think has me most intrigued to give this film a longer look is how much dark humor they’re able to pack into one little trailer. I mean, this thing’s look at what the end of the world is going to be like is pitch black satire. That line at the beginning about “all your classic rock favorites” killed me. I’m not too familiar with the work of write and first-time director Lorene Scafaria yet, but this trailer has convinced me that I need to be.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World opens on June 22nd. [Yahoo! Movies]

The Carpetbagger: James Cameron, Wim Wenders Thanks You

2012-02-10T23:34:48Z

Wim Wenders on how "Avatar" paved the way for "Pina," his Academy Award-nominted film.

Hamilton Morris’s Web Series ‘Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia’

2012-02-11T07:27:42Z

Hamilton Morris’s series on Vice.com, “Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia,” tries to expand viewers’ knowledge of drugs and temper a subject that can be romanticized.

New 'Game Of Thrones' Photos: Winter's Greatest Hits

2012-02-10T23:34:50Z

Holy Westeros, that's a lot of "Game of Thrones" goodness!

HBO has released 17 new stills ahead of the second season premiere of "Thrones," airing on April 1. In the new batch of photos, you'll get acquainted with newcomers Stannis Baratheon, Melisandre of Asshai, Davos Seaworth and more. You'll also see familiar faces like Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen and the Imp Tyrion Lannister.

Check out the whole gallery by clicking on Dany's exhausted face below, and check out our rundown of all the new "Game of Thrones" characters while you're at it!

Vincent Cassel and Léa Seydoux Will Become ‘Beauty and the Beast’

2012-02-10T23:34:49Z

Christophe Gans, who first turned heads in the U.S. by making Brotherhood of the Wolf and last gave us Silent Hill back in 2006, finally has another project on the horizon – and it’s a doozy. The French director, perhaps best known for his moody yet kinetic visual style, will be taking a crack at playing around with the classic Beauty and the Beast story, starting this October. Gans told THR, “Although I will keep to a form of storytelling of this timeless fairy tale that is in keeping with the same pace and characters as the original, I will surprise the audience by creating a completely new visual universe never experienced before and produce images of an unparalleled quality,” then added, “Every single one of my movies has presented me with a challenge but this one is, by far, the most exciting and rewarding.”

Though I’ve yet to be rewarded by Gans’ new endeavor, I’m certainly already excited about it. But, honestly, it’s not necessarily because of Gans’ involvement, and it’s not even for any particular love of the Beauty and the Beast story. No, the reason my blood is pumping is the quality of the cast that is being assembled.

First off, Gans has cast one of the true heavyweights of the acting world, Vincent Cassel, in the role of the beast. From his work in Gaspar Noé’s films, to his starring role in the Mesrine movies, to his role as the ballet instructor in Black Swan, Cassel has proven to be one of those powerful actors who just commands your attention and manipulates your reactions every second that he’s on screen, and I always love to see him pop up in things. A big, meaty, starring role where he gets to really work out some issues surrounding anger and disfigurement sounds great to me.

Cassel isn’t the only name already attached to this one, though. We’ve got a beast, so there also needs to be a beauty. To that end Gans has procured the services of Léa Seydoux. She’s an actor I’m less familiar with than I am Cassel, but I have to say she’s really impressed me in the last year. She went from playing the sweet, pretty shop girl that Owen Wilson has a flirtation with in Midnight in Paris to playing the dangerous, sexy assassin that Paula Patton has a problem with in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, losing herself so well in two completely different roles that I didn’t even realize she was the same actress at first. Needless to say, I’ve got a big crush on her now and will be watching everything she does in the future.

So heck, I’m sold. You can tell me that Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman did the definitive version of these characters all you want (please don’t), I say bring on more Beauty and the Beast.

Ridley Scott to Direct Cormac McCarthy’s ‘The Counselor,’ Possibly Starring Michael Fassbender

2012-02-10T23:34:49Z

Sold. No, really. I’m sold on this project already. Deadline Tucson reports Ridley Scott is now officially signed on to direct The Counselor, from Cormac McCarthy‘s latest spec script (a probable move we reported on last week). But as if the prospect of Scott (who recently seems bent on getting back to his former glory) directing a fresh McCarthy script wasn’t enough to get you excited, word is now out that Scott is looking at his Prometheus star, Michael Fassbender, to lead the film. Again – sold.

The Counselor has been described, quite tantalizingly, as “No Country For Old Men on steroids.” The film is a modern tale that takes place in the American Southwest and will reportedly center on “a respected lawyer who thinks he can dip a toe in to the drug business without getting sucked down. It is a bad decision and he tries his best to survive it and get out of a desperate situation.” Hmm, dangerous business, bad choices that consume characters, seedy lifestyles? Sound a bit like Shame, meaning it’s something that Fassbender can do, and handily.

Producer Steve Schwartz’s quote on the project has been reported for a couple of weeks now, but it’s a fine one that gives some insight into what we can expect from The Counselor. He said, “since McCarthy himself wrote the script, we get his own muscular prose directly, with its sexual obsessions. It’s a masculine world into which, unusually, two women intrude to play leading roles. McCarthy’s wit and humor in the dialogue make the nightmare even scarier. This may be one of McCarthy’s most disturbing and powerful works.”

While McCarthy’s novel have spawned such films as No Country for Old Men, The Road, and All The Pretty Horses, this marks his first foray into straight screenwriting.

'Star Wars,' 'Safe House,' More: Double Feature Friday!

2012-02-10T23:34:50Z

If one movie a night is never enough for you and you're looking for a flick to get you in the mood for this week's new release, Double Feature Friday is here to help. This new weekly column takes a look at the week's releases and pairs them with a complimentary film to watch before, after or as a substitution.

"Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in 3D" & "Serenity"
The connection between these two goes deeper than their deep space setting. Joss Whedon filled the big-screen continuation of his television space opera, "Firefly," with the fun and swagger of their original "Star Wars" trilogy, while creating a vision that was entirely his own. Sure, Mal burrows from Han, but that doesn't make Nathan Fillion an ounce less likable or cool. You could easily argue that "Firefly" and "Serenity" were more earnest continuations of the space opera/western combo-genre that Lucas established with "Star Wars" back in 1977. "Serenity" can stand on its own, but watching "Firefly" beforehand will increase your enjoyment exponentially. Also, 2D.

"Safe House" & "Green Zone"
Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass' post-Bourne collaboration fell victim at the box office to "Alice and Wonderland," quickly and unjustly fading from the conversation. "Green Zone" meets the standard set by the duo's previous work together and takes on a more contemporary edge with its "ripped from the headlines" story about WMDs. As with "Safe House," Damon's character must go against the wishes of his commanding officers—one of whom is also played by Brendan Gleeson—to find out the truth behind the government's misdealing.

"The Vow" & "Memento"
What better way to journey across the memory loss spectrum than with Christopher Nolan's sophomore effort before diving into its polar opposite! Instead of Rachel McAdams desperately trying to piece together the relationship she's lost with the help of Channing Tatum, you get Guy Pearce desperately trying to piece together the relationship he's lost with the help of body tattoos and Joe Pantoliano. Plus, there's no better time to check out the movie that made the man before "The Dark Knight Rises" comes out in July.

"Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" & "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore"
Listen, there are only so many reasons you would get up to go see "Journey 2." It may be because of your love of Dwayne Johnson, but I'm guessing there's probably a deep seeded irony/curiosity. If that's your poison, I recommend director Brad Peyton's previous directorial effort, the sequel to 2001's "Cats & Dogs." Before you scoff, read a sample of the cast: Academy Award nominees Nick Nolte and Bette Midler, J.K. Simmons, Neil Patrick Harris, James Marsden, and James Bond himself, Roger Moore. It is by no means a good film, but shouldn't matter too much to you.

"Rampart" & "The Shield"
When FX initially ran promos for the gritty cop drama starring Michael Chiklis, it went by the name of "Rampart." The shared name comes from the real-life Rampart Division scandal in the LAPD during the 1990s. If you weren't able to catch the series back when it originally aired, "The Shield" remains a series worth watching, as it launched the careers of many of today's top TV talents, like Walton Goggins from "Justified."

Amanda Seyfried Plays Linda Lovelace in Biopic

2012-02-10T23:34:48Z

“Lovelace,” an independent film starring Amanda Seyfried, depicts the life of Linda Lovelace, the star of the 1972 pornographic film “Deep Throat.”

The Carpetbagger: A Brief Look at Oscar-Nominated Shorts

2012-02-10T23:34:48Z

Images from the "Oscar Nominated Shorts 2012" program.

The forthcoming releases of 2010

2012-02-10T23:34:58Z

Well begun is half done-the proverb is just the right one for the Mumbai film industry of Bollywood. Having hit the road with the successful extravaganza of a remade wonder, it is but natural to a...

The Reject Report Episode I: Again

2012-02-10T23:34:49Z

A long time ago in little place called Hollywood four films vied for the top honors, the #1 spot in the charts, the chance to say for one weekend they were biggest thing out there. One of these films is familiar to making that claim. This weekend sees the return of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace to movie theaters, and it’s bringing its good friend 3D along for the adventure. Other combatants going up against the George Lucas cash cow feature Denzel Washington playing training day with Ryan Reynolds, the Rock flexing his chest muscles, and Rachel McAdams forgetting who Channing Tatum is. Can you blame her?

There’s plenty in the way of counter-programming out there, so you might be inclined to say it’s anyone’s prize to win. Our good friend Jar Jar might have something to say to yousa.

BIG HITTERS

It’s a little movie called Star Wars. You might have heard of it. You might have also heard these 3D re-releases are all the rage these days. The Phantom Menace pulled in $431m domestic during its initial release in 1999, $924.3m worldwide, but that doesn’t seem to be enough for George Lucas. Despite the rage people have for Lucas and what he’s done with his films in recent years, this 3D re-release of The Phantom Menace will be pulling in its own chunk of change. Even some of those who are irate with the man will gladly lay down $10-15 to see a Star Wars movie, any Star Wars movie, on the big screen again, added 3D bonus or not. The re-releases of the original trilogy in 1997 proved diminishing returns with each release, A New Hope opening to $46.4m in January that year, The Empire Strikes Back with $27m in February, and Return of the Jedi with $19.9m in March. Nonetheless, the 12-year gap since Phantom Menace‘s original release and the 3D ticket prices will be enough to get it somewhere past $30m this weekend. Who knows? Lucas might even feel so good about it that he re-releases the original trilogy just how they were before his edits. Don’t hold your breath, though.

It’s the Yoda dance. It’s dub step. Don’t question it. Just enjoy it:

Denzel Washington can’t seem to do any wrong with these R-rated actioners. Nearly every one of them has opened to a $20+m weekend. Safe House looks to be no different. Its advertisements make it seem like yet another pairing of Washington and director Tony Scott, but that’s just what they want you to think. Safe House was directed by Daniel Espinosa, and he chose a nice, financial combination for his first American feature film. Washington and Ryan Reynolds in a movie where lots of bullets fly and lots of cars blow up? We’re looking at a $20m weekend for sure, and it could be closer to $25m. Expect somewhere in that range to keep the Washington streak alive.

Did you know Denzel didn’t know he was running a daycare center? Well, now you do. Here’s a little impression of what you might expect from Safe House. Hahaha, alright:

Channing Tatum is back, and this time he’s bringing his Kleenex with him. You can’t blame the guy for wanting to throw in a movie like The Vow every now and then between The Eagles and GI Joes of his career. Dear John pulled in $30.4m in its opening weekend back in 2010. That film came out the weekend before Valentine’s Day, too. Still, with Rachel McAdams as the co-star, an actress who isn’t exactly box office gold, and with another romance movie hitting next week in This Means War, the date nights might be skipping The Vow for something more entertaining and less heartbreaking. Who really wants to see a movie that puts them in a somber mood, especially when you’re out with your significant other. Look for The Vow to drop in somewhere around the $15-16m range. Expect GI Joe: Retaliation to do much better.

Speaking of GI Joe, another star from Retaliation has a movie hitting this weekend. You know Dwayne Johnson loves these kids movies like Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, a title that sounds like something Prince came up with. If he isn’t blowing stuff up or punching Vin Diesel in his big head, Johnson’s films tend to come in a little quieter at the box office, as well. Gridiron Gang opened to $14.4m in 2006 while Tooth Fairy pulled $14m even in its opening weekend in 2010. Journey 2 could fend slightly better than that with 3-D ticket prices involved, but don’t expect too much better. Mid $15m range is the best estimate for this sequel, which may have actually benefited from bringing back Brendan Fraser. I almost got through that without cracking myself up.

LITTLE OPENERS

Opening in limited release are Chico & Rita opening in select cities, Death of the Virgin opening in select cities, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu opening in select cities, In Darkness opening in New York and L.A., Kung Fu Joe opening in select cities, the Oscar Nominated Short Films both live action and animated playing this weekend in select cities, Rampart opening in New York and L.A., and The Turin Horse opening in New York City.

Here’s how the weekend is shaping up:

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in 3D – $31.2m NEW
Safe House – $23.5m NEW
The Vow -$16.4m NEW
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island – $15.5m NEW
Chronicle -$12.8m (-41.8%)
The Woman in Black – $11.9m (-44.5%)
The Grey – $4.5m (-50.6%)
Big Miracle – $4.3m (-43%)
One For the Money – $2.6m (-49.8%)
Underworld Awakening – $2.4m (-55.2%)

Told you the box office would bounce back. That’s exactly what it’s looking to do with that $125.1m estimation we’ve got here. The second weekend in February is generally a bounce back from the Superbowl weekend with Just Go With It hitting big in 2011 and Valentine’s Day raking the audience in in 2010. Even 2009 saw a bounce back with Friday the 13th taking out the Valentine’s Day counter-programming with a dull machete. Star Wars looks to do the same here with a lightsaber unless George Lucas has already replaced them with CG foam bats. Guess we’ll have to pay to see it and find out for ourselves.

We’ll be back early next week to go over the weekend numbers.

Click here for more of The Reject Report

Simon Pegg Hates 'Star Wars: The Phantom Menace'

2012-02-10T23:34:50Z

I enjoy "The Phantom Menace." I know I'm in a small club of people who don't think the first entry in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy is wholesale trash. And I know it's an unpopular group to be a part of, but I stand by my membership. Sure, the first two hours are pretty much garbage, but then you get duel of the fates! Darth Maul with a double-edged lightsaber! It's so wonderful!

But Simon Pegg disagrees. He thinks there's nothing whatsoever to enjoy about "Phantom Menace." In the latest episode of After Hours, he does his best Red Letter Media impression and tears the 1999 "Star Wars" movie to shreds in a quick two-minute assault. It's hard to disagree with him on any of his points, really. But no amount of sense or logic will ever convince me that duel of the fates isn't awesome.

Hear all about Pegg's "Phantom Menace" vendetta in this week's After Hours.

DVD: Hitchcock’s ‘Notorious,’ ‘Rebecca,’ ‘Spellbound’ on Blu-ray

2012-02-10T23:34:48Z

New Blu-ray editions of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rebecca” (1940), “Spellbound” (1945) and “Notorious” (1946),

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Superheroes, Fried Chickens And Sacred Cows

2012-02-10T23:34:51Z

This week, we touch on the Super Bowl, Madonna, Watchmen, Scarlett O'Hara, and ... well, just about everything. Plus: the glorious return of a mom we all enjoy.

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