My next full-length adult thriller, the Wall Street-based "Running of the Bulls," is being published the first week of June 2011.   For those who read "Fifth Avenue," this book brings back the villain from that book--Spocatti--but in a a leaner, tighter thriller.  I wrote the novel in such a way that it's a straight, blistering shot to the end.

It takes place over the course of only two days.  And my, how the body count builds up in such a short time.

Check out the preface here.

My next full-length adult thriller, the Wall Street-based "Running of the Bulls," is being published the first week of June 2011.   For those who read "Fifth Avenue," this book brings back the villain from that book--Spocatti--but in a a leaner, tighter thriller.  I wrote the novel in such a way that it's a straight, blistering shot to the end.

It takes place over the course of only two days.  And my, how the body count builds up in such a short time.

Check out the preface here.

Stephenie Meyer’s ‘The Host’ Heading to the Big Screen

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

Despite a clear inability to craft a decent sentence, Stephenie Meyer certainly knows how to tap into the hearts of young girls everywhere. That’s what propelled her “Twilight” novels to sales most hard-working writers don’t even dream of, and that’s what allowed the films based on the books to succeed at the box office.

So, of course, it’s no surprise that another novel of Meyer’s, “The Host,” is getting the big screen treatment. According to Deadline, Andrew Niccol has been hired to direct the film with Saoirse Ronan in the starring role.

Wow, with talent like that involved, against all odds, this might actually be pretty good. As a filmmaker, Niccol has remained fairly under-the-radar, but he’s delivered some great speculative fiction to our screens since he hit the scene, writing and directing films like “Gattaca” and penning an early, less comedy-centric script for “The Truman Show.” He might be able to bring something special to the table.

Of course, Saoirse Ronan is quickly establishing herself as a strong young performer who can play a wide range of roles. Casting couldn’t be better.

Still, it’s based on a Stephenie Meyer novel, so we’re not going to get too excited about this one. While it might be better than any of the “Twilight” films, that doesn’t exactly mean it will be great.

Stephenie Meyer’s ‘The Host’ Heading to the Big Screen

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

Despite a clear inability to craft a decent sentence, Stephenie Meyer certainly knows how to tap into the hearts of young girls everywhere. That’s what propelled her “Twilight” novels to sales most hard-working writers don’t even dream of, and that’s what allowed the films based on the books to succeed at the box office.

So, of course, it’s no surprise that another novel of Meyer’s, “The Host,” is getting the big screen treatment. According to Deadline, Andrew Niccol has been hired to direct the film with Saoirse Ronan in the starring role.

Wow, with talent like that involved, against all odds, this might actually be pretty good. As a filmmaker, Niccol has remained fairly under-the-radar, but he’s delivered some great speculative fiction to our screens since he hit the scene, writing and directing films like “Gattaca” and penning an early, less comedy-centric script for “The Truman Show.” He might be able to bring something special to the table.

Of course, Saoirse Ronan is quickly establishing herself as a strong young performer who can play a wide range of roles. Casting couldn’t be better.

Still, it’s based on a Stephenie Meyer novel, so we’re not going to get too excited about this one. While it might be better than any of the “Twilight” films, that doesn’t exactly mean it will be great.

Ashton Kutcher Replaces Sheen on ‘Two and a Half Men’

Television News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

No folks, we’re not getting Punk’d. After his antics more or less destroyed any chance of him returning to “Two and a Half Men,” Charlie Sheen has officially been replaced by Ashton Kutcher, Deadline reports.

While Sheen often insisted in recent months that he was integral to the show’s success, it looks as though creator Chuck Lorre is willing to try and prove him wrong. Rumors regarding a replacement cast member have been circulating for a while now, with names like Hugh Grant’s being thrown around, but it looks like the gig is Kutcher’s.

Whether or not he can fill Sheen’s shoes is anyone’s guess, but given the fact that these two stars appear to be operating on completely different wavelengths (consider that a compliment to Mr. Kutcher), we can’t imagine that he’ll be trying to emulate Sheen’s style.

Then again, insane as he clearly is, Sheen may have been correct when he stated that the show can’t survive without him. Given the recent media frenzy surround the series, we’re sure that some curious viewers will tune in when it returns, but in the long run, replacing Sheen may prove disastrous for the series.

Of course, letting him return would have definitely proved disastrous, so all in all, they’re probably doing the smart thing here.

Ashton Kutcher Replaces Sheen on ‘Two and a Half Men’

Television News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

No folks, we’re not getting Punk’d. After his antics more or less destroyed any chance of him returning to “Two and a Half Men,” Charlie Sheen has officially been replaced by Ashton Kutcher, Deadline reports.

While Sheen often insisted in recent months that he was integral to the show’s success, it looks as though creator Chuck Lorre is willing to try and prove him wrong. Rumors regarding a replacement cast member have been circulating for a while now, with names like Hugh Grant’s being thrown around, but it looks like the gig is Kutcher’s.

Whether or not he can fill Sheen’s shoes is anyone’s guess, but given the fact that these two stars appear to be operating on completely different wavelengths (consider that a compliment to Mr. Kutcher), we can’t imagine that he’ll be trying to emulate Sheen’s style.

Then again, insane as he clearly is, Sheen may have been correct when he stated that the show can’t survive without him. Given the recent media frenzy surround the series, we’re sure that some curious viewers will tune in when it returns, but in the long run, replacing Sheen may prove disastrous for the series.

Of course, letting him return would have definitely proved disastrous, so all in all, they’re probably doing the smart thing here.

Charlie Hunnam Circles Pacific Rim

Movie News


By our guest blogger, Nick Hanover

Charlie Hunnam Circles Pacific Rim

Movie News


By our guest blogger, Nick Hanover

‘Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon’

Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

Judging by the latest trailer, whether or not you’ll enjoy “Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon” will depend heavily on how much you enjoyed the previous two installments, as it looks to offer little that those films haven’t already given us. True, as the potential series-capper, it looks like this movie is adopting a decidedly darker tone than the playful vibe of its predecessors, but it’s still chock-full of CGI robots, major cities being destroyed, and Shia LaBeouf screaming “NO NO NO!”

These movies never aspired to be great storytelling, but it’s a shame that they could never offer us anything more substantial than popcorn entertainment. Some of the greatest films of all time—“Star Wars,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Jaws”—were little more than fun-filled blockbusters, but they were able to endure by also giving us likeable characters and genuine thematic depth. While Michael Bay truly is a master of action choreography, he can’t give the audience any reason for emotional engagement. He’s all about visual flair, and while that may be enough to draw us to the theater, it isn’t enough to make his films truly great.

Sadly, most studios don’t care about greatness, they just care about the bottom line, and the “Transformers” franchise is profitable. As long as it keeps making money, these films will continue to get made. We’d like to see more ambitious blockbusters like last year’s “Inception,” but it looks like we’ll be forced to settle for this kind of flick for now.



“Transformers 3” won’t be anything we haven’t seen before, but if that doesn’t bother you, then feel free to check it out.

‘Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon’

Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

Judging by the latest trailer, whether or not you’ll enjoy “Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon” will depend heavily on how much you enjoyed the previous two installments, as it looks to offer little that those films haven’t already given us. True, as the potential series-capper, it looks like this movie is adopting a decidedly darker tone than the playful vibe of its predecessors, but it’s still chock-full of CGI robots, major cities being destroyed, and Shia LaBeouf screaming “NO NO NO!”

These movies never aspired to be great storytelling, but it’s a shame that they could never offer us anything more substantial than popcorn entertainment. Some of the greatest films of all time—“Star Wars,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Jaws”—were little more than fun-filled blockbusters, but they were able to endure by also giving us likeable characters and genuine thematic depth. While Michael Bay truly is a master of action choreography, he can’t give the audience any reason for emotional engagement. He’s all about visual flair, and while that may be enough to draw us to the theater, it isn’t enough to make his films truly great.

Sadly, most studios don’t care about greatness, they just care about the bottom line, and the “Transformers” franchise is profitable. As long as it keeps making money, these films will continue to get made. We’d like to see more ambitious blockbusters like last year’s “Inception,” but it looks like we’ll be forced to settle for this kind of flick for now.



“Transformers 3” won’t be anything we haven’t seen before, but if that doesn’t bother you, then feel free to check it out.

“Conan the Barbarian”

Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

No one goes into a movie entitled “Conan the Barbarian” expecting subtle, nuanced drama. Fans of this rebooted franchise want nothing more than to see a muscular maniac attacking countless enemies, and from the looks of this latest trailer, that is exactly what they will get. We can’t really call whether or not it will be an entertaining film—it’s always easy to cut together a trailer featuring dozens of action scenes and make it look exciting—but we can say that it’s heading in the right direction.

Visually, the filmmakers appear to have taken a cue from Zack Snyder’s “300.” The world of this movie is abundant in computer-generated images, but rather than trying to incorporate them realistically into the film, those involved have decided to embrace the surreal quality that is sometimes unavoidable when actual sets are augmented with animated backdrops. While this visual style takes away from the grit of the original movies, it contributes to sense of fantasy pervading the story, and for some, that may be a good thing.

Of course, this genre isn’t for everyone. Movies like “Lord of the Rings” were able to deliver some truly thrilling fantasy action sequences, but at their core, they were driven by strong emotion. “Conan” doesn’t exactly look like it will be very heartwarming, but if you need to spend a night at the movies replenishing your testosterone, we suppose you could do worse.

“Conan the Barbarian”

Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

No one goes into a movie entitled “Conan the Barbarian” expecting subtle, nuanced drama. Fans of this rebooted franchise want nothing more than to see a muscular maniac attacking countless enemies, and from the looks of this latest trailer, that is exactly what they will get. We can’t really call whether or not it will be an entertaining film—it’s always easy to cut together a trailer featuring dozens of action scenes and make it look exciting—but we can say that it’s heading in the right direction.

Visually, the filmmakers appear to have taken a cue from Zack Snyder’s “300.” The world of this movie is abundant in computer-generated images, but rather than trying to incorporate them realistically into the film, those involved have decided to embrace the surreal quality that is sometimes unavoidable when actual sets are augmented with animated backdrops. While this visual style takes away from the grit of the original movies, it contributes to sense of fantasy pervading the story, and for some, that may be a good thing.

Of course, this genre isn’t for everyone. Movies like “Lord of the Rings” were able to deliver some truly thrilling fantasy action sequences, but at their core, they were driven by strong emotion. “Conan” doesn’t exactly look like it will be very heartwarming, but if you need to spend a night at the movies replenishing your testosterone, we suppose you could do worse.

Danny Boyle to Film Heist Thriller

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

Is there any genre that Danny Boyle can’t tackle? Whether telling the story of hopeless addicts, homeless slum kids, or the zombie apocalypse, he consistently delivers quality entertainment that blends true heart with genuine thrills. You walk out of a Danny Boyle film feeling reinvigorated. He reminds us that movies are meant to provide blissful entertainment that allows us to forget about our mundane realities, and over the past few years, he hasn’t failed to live up to that promise.

Now Deadline reports that he’ll be working on “Trance” this summer, an art-heist film, and we can only imagine how exciting that will be. However, because he’s also scheduled to direct the opening ceremonies of next summer’s Olympics, so he won’t get around to editing the film until he’s finished with those duties; it doesn’t look like the movie will see the light of day until 2013.

While we’re very excited to learn that Boyle has been bestowed the honor of working on the Olympics, as movie buffs, we can’t claim to be wildly enthusiastic about that news. Boyle’s style is purely cinematic, and while we’re curious to see what he can do in a different format, we’re also going to be honest and admit that few people tune into the Olympics to admire the creativity of the opening ceremonies. Most folks would just rather see their country emerge victorious from an event.

Still, Boyle is a relentless director who is constantly at work on one project or another, so we think it’s fair to give him a break from the world of movies to dedicate his talents towards a new creative outlet. While we’d probably rather see him finish up “Trance” quickly or take control of something like “28 Months Later” (we can dream, right?), we’ve still got films like “127 Hours” or “Trainspotting” to return to during the interim.

Hey, maybe by the time he returns to filmmaking, he will have reconciled with Ewan McGregor. Now that would be exciting.

Danny Boyle to Film Heist Thriller

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

Is there any genre that Danny Boyle can’t tackle? Whether telling the story of hopeless addicts, homeless slum kids, or the zombie apocalypse, he consistently delivers quality entertainment that blends true heart with genuine thrills. You walk out of a Danny Boyle film feeling reinvigorated. He reminds us that movies are meant to provide blissful entertainment that allows us to forget about our mundane realities, and over the past few years, he hasn’t failed to live up to that promise.

Now Deadline reports that he’ll be working on “Trance” this summer, an art-heist film, and we can only imagine how exciting that will be. However, because he’s also scheduled to direct the opening ceremonies of next summer’s Olympics, so he won’t get around to editing the film until he’s finished with those duties; it doesn’t look like the movie will see the light of day until 2013.

While we’re very excited to learn that Boyle has been bestowed the honor of working on the Olympics, as movie buffs, we can’t claim to be wildly enthusiastic about that news. Boyle’s style is purely cinematic, and while we’re curious to see what he can do in a different format, we’re also going to be honest and admit that few people tune into the Olympics to admire the creativity of the opening ceremonies. Most folks would just rather see their country emerge victorious from an event.

Still, Boyle is a relentless director who is constantly at work on one project or another, so we think it’s fair to give him a break from the world of movies to dedicate his talents towards a new creative outlet. While we’d probably rather see him finish up “Trance” quickly or take control of something like “28 Months Later” (we can dream, right?), we’ve still got films like “127 Hours” or “Trainspotting” to return to during the interim.

Hey, maybe by the time he returns to filmmaking, he will have reconciled with Ewan McGregor. Now that would be exciting.

‘Glee’ Coming to Theaters in 3D

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

“Glee” has taken the world by storm, winning the hearts of American teenagers who respond to the show’s refreshing take on high school life. While it may not be as insightful or honest as “Freaks and Geeks,” it will have to do, for now.

As pleased as fans have been with the show, we can only imagine how thrilled the suits at 20th Century Fox are. They scored an unlikely hit, and according to Deadline, they are making the most of it. As dedicated Gleeks know, stars from the series will be taking the show on the road for a major North American tour before heading off to Europe, and as is to be expected, it wasn’t all that easy to get tickets. To satiate the fans that missed out, the studio is filming a 3D movie of the performance, with plans to release it in August.

While it certainly isn’t the same as seeing the stars perform on stage—especially since their show is very much a tribute to stage performance itself—we can imagine that plenty of people will turn out for the film. Love it or hate it, “Glee” has struck a chord with a generation, and so far, it has done little to disappoint its core audience. By taking the cast on tour, the team behind the show has proven that they truly have the talent that the show hints at. It is one thing to perform songs and choreography when an episode can be edited together, but it is something else entirely to go out on stage and flawlessly deliver the same entertainment live.

‘Glee’ Coming to Theaters in 3D

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

“Glee” has taken the world by storm, winning the hearts of American teenagers who respond to the show’s refreshing take on high school life. While it may not be as insightful or honest as “Freaks and Geeks,” it will have to do, for now.

As pleased as fans have been with the show, we can only imagine how thrilled the suits at 20th Century Fox are. They scored an unlikely hit, and according to Deadline, they are making the most of it. As dedicated Gleeks know, stars from the series will be taking the show on the road for a major North American tour before heading off to Europe, and as is to be expected, it wasn’t all that easy to get tickets. To satiate the fans that missed out, the studio is filming a 3D movie of the performance, with plans to release it in August.

While it certainly isn’t the same as seeing the stars perform on stage—especially since their show is very much a tribute to stage performance itself—we can imagine that plenty of people will turn out for the film. Love it or hate it, “Glee” has struck a chord with a generation, and so far, it has done little to disappoint its core audience. By taking the cast on tour, the team behind the show has proven that they truly have the talent that the show hints at. It is one thing to perform songs and choreography when an episode can be edited together, but it is something else entirely to go out on stage and flawlessly deliver the same entertainment live.

“Green Lantern”

Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

It’s been a little more than a decade since Bryan Singer’s “X-Men” hit theaters, sparking the revolution of comic book movies that continues to this day. While we’ve seen some excellent entries into the genre—“The Dark Knight” and “Iron Man” come to mind—we’ve also encountered our fair share of disappointments. While it would be foolish to attempt to explain in simple terms why some of these films worked while others failed, it must be said that the memorable ones all share a strong focus on character. Sure, we like special-effects spectacles and action movie thrills, but it is the inner struggle that makes us care about these characters enough to be invested in the film.

So, we’re a little wary of “Green Lantern.” From a fanboy perspective, it does look fairly exciting; the idea of a ring which allows the wearer to conjure up anything he can imagine is enticing for those of us who grew up desperately wanting superpowers. However, from this trailer, we’re not noticing any strong emotional conflict. Sure, there appears to be a love story injected into the plot, but this is Hollywood we’re talking about—studio execs would find a way to toss a sexy romance into a movie about Buddhist monks if they thought it would sell more tickets.

The problem is Ryan Reynolds. While anyone who saw “Buried” knows that he has come a long way since his “Van Wilder” days, he doesn’t seem to be hitting the right notes for this character. Part of that may be the fact that he is forced to spend most of his time acting on a green-screen; moments in the trailer are reminiscent of the kind of inauthentic drama that plagued the “Star Wars” prequels.

To be fair, though, it’s never easy to cut a trailer that can balance thrills and story. From an emotional perspective, “Green Lantern” doesn’t look all that promising, but there’s still a good chance it will surprise us.

“Green Lantern”

Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

It’s been a little more than a decade since Bryan Singer’s “X-Men” hit theaters, sparking the revolution of comic book movies that continues to this day. While we’ve seen some excellent entries into the genre—“The Dark Knight” and “Iron Man” come to mind—we’ve also encountered our fair share of disappointments. While it would be foolish to attempt to explain in simple terms why some of these films worked while others failed, it must be said that the memorable ones all share a strong focus on character. Sure, we like special-effects spectacles and action movie thrills, but it is the inner struggle that makes us care about these characters enough to be invested in the film.

So, we’re a little wary of “Green Lantern.” From a fanboy perspective, it does look fairly exciting; the idea of a ring which allows the wearer to conjure up anything he can imagine is enticing for those of us who grew up desperately wanting superpowers. However, from this trailer, we’re not noticing any strong emotional conflict. Sure, there appears to be a love story injected into the plot, but this is Hollywood we’re talking about—studio execs would find a way to toss a sexy romance into a movie about Buddhist monks if they thought it would sell more tickets.

The problem is Ryan Reynolds. While anyone who saw “Buried” knows that he has come a long way since his “Van Wilder” days, he doesn’t seem to be hitting the right notes for this character. Part of that may be the fact that he is forced to spend most of his time acting on a green-screen; moments in the trailer are reminiscent of the kind of inauthentic drama that plagued the “Star Wars” prequels.

To be fair, though, it’s never easy to cut a trailer that can balance thrills and story. From an emotional perspective, “Green Lantern” doesn’t look all that promising, but there’s still a good chance it will surprise us.

Rachel Weisz to be the Next ‘Bourne’ Gal?

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

With star Matt Damon and two-time director Paul Greengrass removed from the equation, Universal has thankfully opted to take the spinoff route with the next installment of the “Bourne” franchise, with freshly minted star Jeremy Renner appearing as another dangerous assassin on the run. Tony Gilroy, who penned the previous films and has proven to be a fantastic director with pictures like “Michael Clayton,” will helm the project.

While it’s fair to be somewhat disappointed that the dream-team of Damon and Greengrass won’t be returning to these films, so far, we’ve only heard good news in regards to the development of this movie. Said good news continues, courtesy of Deadline, who are reporting that Rachel Weisz is in talks to appear as the romantic interest opposite Renner.

Although the love-story angle never fully squared with the character of Bourne, it did give him plenty of believable motivation in the second and third films, and honestly, it is nice to know that these movies refused to treat the female characters as mere sex objects; James Bond, we’re looking at you.

Rachel Weisz is, of course, a terrific actress, and if she takes on this role we’ll be thrilled. Unfortunately, she is also in talks to appear in the upcoming “Oz: The Great and Powerful,” and due to scheduling conflicts, she likely won’t be able to accept both gigs.

Cross your fingers, fans.

Rachel Weisz to be the Next ‘Bourne’ Gal?

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

With star Matt Damon and two-time director Paul Greengrass removed from the equation, Universal has thankfully opted to take the spinoff route with the next installment of the “Bourne” franchise, with freshly minted star Jeremy Renner appearing as another dangerous assassin on the run. Tony Gilroy, who penned the previous films and has proven to be a fantastic director with pictures like “Michael Clayton,” will helm the project.

While it’s fair to be somewhat disappointed that the dream-team of Damon and Greengrass won’t be returning to these films, so far, we’ve only heard good news in regards to the development of this movie. Said good news continues, courtesy of Deadline, who are reporting that Rachel Weisz is in talks to appear as the romantic interest opposite Renner.

Although the love-story angle never fully squared with the character of Bourne, it did give him plenty of believable motivation in the second and third films, and honestly, it is nice to know that these movies refused to treat the female characters as mere sex objects; James Bond, we’re looking at you.

Rachel Weisz is, of course, a terrific actress, and if she takes on this role we’ll be thrilled. Unfortunately, she is also in talks to appear in the upcoming “Oz: The Great and Powerful,” and due to scheduling conflicts, she likely won’t be able to accept both gigs.

Cross your fingers, fans.

Woody Harrelson Cast in Adaptation of ‘The Hunger Games’

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

With the “Harry Potter” franchise winding down, another young-adult series needs to take its place, and if all goes well, it appears as though Suzanne Collins’ “Hunger Games” trilogy will be the next in line. Having already attracted massive interest from readers, a cinematic adaptation of the first book in the series is in development, with Jennifer Lawrence appearing in the lead role.

Deadline reports that we can now add Woody Harrelson’s name to the cast. He’ll be taking on the role of Lawrence’s mentor in the film.

As far as adaptations of these kinds of books go, well, Hollywood has been inconsistent over the past few years. While “The Lord of the Rings” films are instant classics and most of the “Harry Potter” movies satisfied fans, the “Twilight” films have been detestable and the “Chronicles of Narnia” movies don’t quite live up to the promise of the books.

However, we have high hopes for “The Hunger Games.” The novels are original and engaging, and the talent in front of the camera is impressive. So long as all the pieces fall into place and studio interference doesn’t botch the project, we ought to be in for a great cinematic ride.

Woody Harrelson Cast in Adaptation of ‘The Hunger Games’

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

With the “Harry Potter” franchise winding down, another young-adult series needs to take its place, and if all goes well, it appears as though Suzanne Collins’ “Hunger Games” trilogy will be the next in line. Having already attracted massive interest from readers, a cinematic adaptation of the first book in the series is in development, with Jennifer Lawrence appearing in the lead role.

Deadline reports that we can now add Woody Harrelson’s name to the cast. He’ll be taking on the role of Lawrence’s mentor in the film.

As far as adaptations of these kinds of books go, well, Hollywood has been inconsistent over the past few years. While “The Lord of the Rings” films are instant classics and most of the “Harry Potter” movies satisfied fans, the “Twilight” films have been detestable and the “Chronicles of Narnia” movies don’t quite live up to the promise of the books.

However, we have high hopes for “The Hunger Games.” The novels are original and engaging, and the talent in front of the camera is impressive. So long as all the pieces fall into place and studio interference doesn’t botch the project, we ought to be in for a great cinematic ride.

‘Spider-Man’ Reboot to Focus on Real Stunts

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

With the overall disappointment that was “Spider-Man 3” still fresh in audiences’ minds, many have wondered whether or not there is really any reason to reboot the franchise so soon. (We know the real reason involves money, but hey, we can still ask the naïve questions from time to time.)

However, to be fair, it looks as though Sony is putting together a promising picture for us. First of all, they’ve cast Andrew Garfield as the web-slinger, and having proven himself to be a tremendously skilled young actor in “Never Let Me Go” and “The Social Network,” we’re confident that he can do the role justice. On top of that, Emma Stone, who is quickly showing the world that she is more than just a pretty face, will be taking on the role of Gwen Stacy, with veteran stars Martin Sheen and Sally Field playing Uncle Ben and Aunt May, respectively.

With Marc “500 Days of Summer” Webb stepping in as director, this might end up being more than just a cash-in.

Additionally, we now have some slight confirmation that, in terms of style, it won’t be a rehash of what we’ve already seen. Ain’t It Cool News has an interview with stunt coordinator Vic Armstrong who told the site that the filmmakers focused on incorporating real stunts into the movie, rather than relying on CGI, which came to dominate the action scenes of the original franchise. In an age where every single special effect appears to have been created on a computer, it is refreshing to know that some people are turning back towards real stunts.

We’re excited to see how this all turns out.

‘Spider-Man’ Reboot to Focus on Real Stunts

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

With the overall disappointment that was “Spider-Man 3” still fresh in audiences’ minds, many have wondered whether or not there is really any reason to reboot the franchise so soon. (We know the real reason involves money, but hey, we can still ask the naïve questions from time to time.)

However, to be fair, it looks as though Sony is putting together a promising picture for us. First of all, they’ve cast Andrew Garfield as the web-slinger, and having proven himself to be a tremendously skilled young actor in “Never Let Me Go” and “The Social Network,” we’re confident that he can do the role justice. On top of that, Emma Stone, who is quickly showing the world that she is more than just a pretty face, will be taking on the role of Gwen Stacy, with veteran stars Martin Sheen and Sally Field playing Uncle Ben and Aunt May, respectively.

With Marc “500 Days of Summer” Webb stepping in as director, this might end up being more than just a cash-in.

Additionally, we now have some slight confirmation that, in terms of style, it won’t be a rehash of what we’ve already seen. Ain’t It Cool News has an interview with stunt coordinator Vic Armstrong who told the site that the filmmakers focused on incorporating real stunts into the movie, rather than relying on CGI, which came to dominate the action scenes of the original franchise. In an age where every single special effect appears to have been created on a computer, it is refreshing to know that some people are turning back towards real stunts.

We’re excited to see how this all turns out.

Studios Fight for Next ‘Terminator’ Film

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

With his role as the Governor of California all wrapped up, Arnold Schwarzenegger is looking to get back into the world of movies, and what better franchise for him to return to than the “Terminator” films, which more or less launched his career. If all goes according to plan, he’ll be stepping back into his most iconic role ever, with Justin Lin, director of the bafflingly successful “Fast Five,” taking over directorial duties.

However, according to Deadline, the project is still between companies, with various individuals bidding on the property. Lionsgate wants to take it over, but Annapurna Films is now expressing interest as well.

While that means little to most casual fans, we do hope that the right people get control of this film. The “Terminator” franchise probably should have wrapped up after the second film, but if it has to continue, we’d at least hope to see it do so with style. “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” left quite a lot to be desired, and although “Terminator Salvation” was better than it could have been, it still felt as though it was trying too hard to be a gritty version of “Transformers.”

Of course, no one except James Cameron can truly do these movies justice, but he’s done with them. Justin Lin may be a competent action director, but is he the next Cameron? We doubt it.

Studios Fight for Next ‘Terminator’ Film

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

With his role as the Governor of California all wrapped up, Arnold Schwarzenegger is looking to get back into the world of movies, and what better franchise for him to return to than the “Terminator” films, which more or less launched his career. If all goes according to plan, he’ll be stepping back into his most iconic role ever, with Justin Lin, director of the bafflingly successful “Fast Five,” taking over directorial duties.

However, according to Deadline, the project is still between companies, with various individuals bidding on the property. Lionsgate wants to take it over, but Annapurna Films is now expressing interest as well.

While that means little to most casual fans, we do hope that the right people get control of this film. The “Terminator” franchise probably should have wrapped up after the second film, but if it has to continue, we’d at least hope to see it do so with style. “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” left quite a lot to be desired, and although “Terminator Salvation” was better than it could have been, it still felt as though it was trying too hard to be a gritty version of “Transformers.”

Of course, no one except James Cameron can truly do these movies justice, but he’s done with them. Justin Lin may be a competent action director, but is he the next Cameron? We doubt it.

‘Horrible Bosses’

Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

For fans of televised comedy, a cast consisting of Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, and Charlie Day is pretty hard to beat. Having brought in the laughs on “Arrested Development,” “Saturday Night Live,” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” respectively, these three have carved their own comedic niches and earned our praise. A film starring all three of them is guaranteed to draw a crowd.

But it gets even better, because for the first time in a while, we’ve got ourselves a movie trailer that actually has us laughing the whole way through. It is deceptively difficult to capture the comedic strength of a film in a two minute long promo—even the original trailers for “The Hangover” weren’t nearly as spectacular as the film itself was—but from the brief glimpse we have here of “Horrible Bosses,” we are in for one terrifically entertaining film.

First of all, while we’ve enjoyed the recent wave of Apatow comedies, which have managed to insert some relatively heartwarming drama in between all the raunchy humor, we’ve also got a craving for some dark humor, and it looks like “Horrible Bosses” will deliver. This doesn’t look like it aspires to be a movie about coming to terms with your station in life and liberating yourself from corporate drudgery, ala “Office Space.” Nope, this is simply a film about abused employees who are planning on murdering their bosses.

C’mon, just the premise itself is funny.

On top of that, the supporting cast looks great. Colin Farrell has shed his bad boy image to play what appears to be a middle-class executive with extreme delusions of grandeur—he’ll be the unsung hero of this picture. Kevin Spacey is there, and he’s always dependable. Jennifer Aniston might not stand out, but on the plus side, it looks as though there is a scene in which Wendell Pierce from TV’s “The Wire” will be appearing once again as a police officer.

We’re convinced. Can we see this one right now?

‘Horrible Bosses’

Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

For fans of televised comedy, a cast consisting of Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, and Charlie Day is pretty hard to beat. Having brought in the laughs on “Arrested Development,” “Saturday Night Live,” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” respectively, these three have carved their own comedic niches and earned our praise. A film starring all three of them is guaranteed to draw a crowd.

But it gets even better, because for the first time in a while, we’ve got ourselves a movie trailer that actually has us laughing the whole way through. It is deceptively difficult to capture the comedic strength of a film in a two minute long promo—even the original trailers for “The Hangover” weren’t nearly as spectacular as the film itself was—but from the brief glimpse we have here of “Horrible Bosses,” we are in for one terrifically entertaining film.

First of all, while we’ve enjoyed the recent wave of Apatow comedies, which have managed to insert some relatively heartwarming drama in between all the raunchy humor, we’ve also got a craving for some dark humor, and it looks like “Horrible Bosses” will deliver. This doesn’t look like it aspires to be a movie about coming to terms with your station in life and liberating yourself from corporate drudgery, ala “Office Space.” Nope, this is simply a film about abused employees who are planning on murdering their bosses.

C’mon, just the premise itself is funny.

On top of that, the supporting cast looks great. Colin Farrell has shed his bad boy image to play what appears to be a middle-class executive with extreme delusions of grandeur—he’ll be the unsung hero of this picture. Kevin Spacey is there, and he’s always dependable. Jennifer Aniston might not stand out, but on the plus side, it looks as though there is a scene in which Wendell Pierce from TV’s “The Wire” will be appearing once again as a police officer.

We’re convinced. Can we see this one right now?

‘Final Destination 5’

Teaser Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

Aren’t we done with this franchise yet? While the first “Final Destination” film offered some originality amidst the slasher revival, by now, the formula has worn itself out. Aside from some more unique death scenes, we can’t imagine that the next addition to this franchise will have anything all that exciting to offer.

Then again, if you are interested in the death scenes, then maybe this film will be for you. The teaser begins with a reasonably troubling scenario—no one likes being subject to an uncomfortable medical procedure, and the thought of something going severely wrong in that situation is a fear which plenty of people actually have. If the movie contains more moments like that one, it might be worth it for some viewers.

Still, the first film, while by no means a subtle and nuanced picture, at least evoked a melancholy atmosphere that allowed the picture to linger in the viewer’s mind. Death was something real in that film, and not merely a gimmick. Unfortunately, as this franchise has trudged on, that’s all that it has become, and it doesn’t look as though “Final Destination 5” will change that.

‘Final Destination 5’

Teaser Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

Aren’t we done with this franchise yet? While the first “Final Destination” film offered some originality amidst the slasher revival, by now, the formula has worn itself out. Aside from some more unique death scenes, we can’t imagine that the next addition to this franchise will have anything all that exciting to offer.

Then again, if you are interested in the death scenes, then maybe this film will be for you. The teaser begins with a reasonably troubling scenario—no one likes being subject to an uncomfortable medical procedure, and the thought of something going severely wrong in that situation is a fear which plenty of people actually have. If the movie contains more moments like that one, it might be worth it for some viewers.

Still, the first film, while by no means a subtle and nuanced picture, at least evoked a melancholy atmosphere that allowed the picture to linger in the viewer’s mind. Death was something real in that film, and not merely a gimmick. Unfortunately, as this franchise has trudged on, that’s all that it has become, and it doesn’t look as though “Final Destination 5” will change that.

Sucker Punch

The Wait is Over: Summer Preview: Part 1

Feature Story

By our guest blogger, Matt Schimkowitz

With the dry spell of the Spring movie season now thankfully over, it’s time to get excited for the wham-bam spectacle of the summer months and all its wonderful car chases, talking animals, and explosions.  Here's what's creating a buzz:

“Sucker Punch” – Zach Snyder once again kicks off the season, and it looks like he has enough fanboy wish fulfillment in “Sucker Punch” to keep action fans quivering for weeks. The plot: A couple of scantily clad female warriors battle their way across a robot and zombie filled dream-world to escape their own asylum-imprisoned reality. Frank Miller must be kicking himself for not thinking of this one first.

“Super” – Do we need another post-modern superhero movie? Director James Gunn seems to think so. “The Office” star Rainn Wilson stars as the ill-equipped hero who turns to crime fighting after his wife leaves him. Gunn proved his genre-lampooning worth with the hilarious, and disgusting, horror-comedy “Slither.” But it remains to be seen if people actually want to see these self-referential superhero movies. The lackluster returns of “Watchmen” and “Kick-Ass” point to no.

“Your Highness” – There are few things more intriguing in Hollywood right now than the star power of Danny McBride, who’s caused a well-deserved stir with HBO’s “Eastbound and Down,” and the living art project James Franco, and “Your Highness” is the proof. The film follows these two playing a couple of knights searching for a lost princess. Natalie Portman, Zooey Daeschenel also star in this epic comedy from “Pineapple Express” director David Gordon Green. Who knows who approved this one, but let’s thank Merlin they did.

“Thor” – Thor is one of the most mythic and dramatic of Marvel’s hero’s gallery, so who better to direct his feature film debut than the Shakespearian madman Kenneth Branagh. The director hopes to bring that kind of over-the-top dramatics to the son of Odin, and given that Thor’s a pretty over-the-top character, Branagh’s sense of indulgence already seems to fit like a glove. At the very least, Branagh’s directing makes “Thor” one of the more intriguing superhero pictures this year.

“Bride’s Maids” – There are two big reasons to be excited for “Bride’s Maids.” 1) This is the first collaboration between writer/director Paul Feig (“The Office” and “Arrested Development”) and super producer Judd Apatow since the beloved cult classic “Freaks and Geeks.” 2) The hilarious Kristin Wiig finally gets to be the star of her own show. It’s about time for both.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” – After the disappointing response to the second two “Pirates” sequels, Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney went for the cash grab, dragging Johnny Depp back into puffy shirts and boots. “Stranger Tides” features the iconic Jack Sparrow on a quest for the Fountain of Youth; though, it doesn’t look too different from his search for Davy Jones’ locker. Still, with Penelope Cruz coming aboard, as well as “Chicago” director Rob Marshall, the franchise should have a couple surprises left in store.

“The Hangover: Part Two” – Comedy sequels are tricky territory -- just ask “Caddyshack.” But there’s something about Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis putting their night back together in Bangkok that seems destined for hilarity. Director Todd Phillips returns as well, and hopefully, can keep the laughs going over this second film.

“Kung-Fu Panda 2” – There are few things DreamWorks likes more than beating a dead horse, or I guess, in this case, Panda. Here’s the first of what will probably 10,000 sequels in the franchise. Jack Black returns to fight a new villain. Thrilling.

“X-Men: First Class” -- This ones been in development for awhile, but apparently all it took was “Kick-Ass” director and “X-Men” expatriate, Matthew Vaughn. He may have quit filming “X-Men 3,” once upon a time, but he’s back to finish the job, by bringing the story of Magneto and Professor X’s broken friendship to the screen. Don’t let the laughably Photoshopped posters fool you, the yellow spandex is back and the trailer promises everything “X3” lacked: story and character.

“Super 8” – As if anyone had more reasons to be excited about “Star Trek” director J.J. Abrams mysterious “Super 8,” the trailer is rife with early-Spielberg fun. Not much is known about this one, but it follows a gang of kids trying finish a movie, while some sort of mutant terrorizes their small town. It kind of looks like “E.T.” had E.T. been played by Godzilla. More than that, it looks fantastic.

“Green Lantern” – Ryan Reynolds fights intergalactic crime in brightest day and blackest night in the live-action first “Green Lantern” movie ever. Lantern has always been one D.C.’s most popular heroes, but because of a convoluted mythology and kooky character designs, he’s always been left out of box office. He gets his chance this summer as Reynolds dons the ring and gives the Green Lantern the shot he deserves.

“Bad Teacher” – Cameron Diaz tries to get her “There’s Something about Mary” groove back in “Bad Teacher.” She plays an incompetent teacher raising money for breast implants to impress the school’s new model educator, Justin Timberlake. Jason Siegel also pops up to give the film a comedic nudge in the right direction.

“Cars 2” – Are there any Pixar franchises less exciting than “Cars”? No, of course not. “Cars 2” doesn’t promise much. From its lifeless trailer to the casting of Larry the Cable Guy, there are few reasons to see “Cars 2.” But keep in mind, a bad movie produced by Pixar is about 10 times better than a good movie produced by a different studio.

Check back with us in a few weeks for the rest of this summer’s most anticipated movies.

Sucker Punch

The Wait is Over: Summer Preview: Part 1

Feature Story

By our guest blogger, Matt Schimkowitz

With the dry spell of the Spring movie season now thankfully over, it’s time to get excited for the wham-bam spectacle of the summer months and all its wonderful car chases, talking animals, and explosions.  Here's what's creating a buzz:

“Sucker Punch” – Zach Snyder once again kicks off the season, and it looks like he has enough fanboy wish fulfillment in “Sucker Punch” to keep action fans quivering for weeks. The plot: A couple of scantily clad female warriors battle their way across a robot and zombie filled dream-world to escape their own asylum-imprisoned reality. Frank Miller must be kicking himself for not thinking of this one first.

“Super” – Do we need another post-modern superhero movie? Director James Gunn seems to think so. “The Office” star Rainn Wilson stars as the ill-equipped hero who turns to crime fighting after his wife leaves him. Gunn proved his genre-lampooning worth with the hilarious, and disgusting, horror-comedy “Slither.” But it remains to be seen if people actually want to see these self-referential superhero movies. The lackluster returns of “Watchmen” and “Kick-Ass” point to no.

“Your Highness” – There are few things more intriguing in Hollywood right now than the star power of Danny McBride, who’s caused a well-deserved stir with HBO’s “Eastbound and Down,” and the living art project James Franco, and “Your Highness” is the proof. The film follows these two playing a couple of knights searching for a lost princess. Natalie Portman, Zooey Daeschenel also star in this epic comedy from “Pineapple Express” director David Gordon Green. Who knows who approved this one, but let’s thank Merlin they did.

“Thor” – Thor is one of the most mythic and dramatic of Marvel’s hero’s gallery, so who better to direct his feature film debut than the Shakespearian madman Kenneth Branagh. The director hopes to bring that kind of over-the-top dramatics to the son of Odin, and given that Thor’s a pretty over-the-top character, Branagh’s sense of indulgence already seems to fit like a glove. At the very least, Branagh’s directing makes “Thor” one of the more intriguing superhero pictures this year.

“Bride’s Maids” – There are two big reasons to be excited for “Bride’s Maids.” 1) This is the first collaboration between writer/director Paul Feig (“The Office” and “Arrested Development”) and super producer Judd Apatow since the beloved cult classic “Freaks and Geeks.” 2) The hilarious Kristin Wiig finally gets to be the star of her own show. It’s about time for both.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” – After the disappointing response to the second two “Pirates” sequels, Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney went for the cash grab, dragging Johnny Depp back into puffy shirts and boots. “Stranger Tides” features the iconic Jack Sparrow on a quest for the Fountain of Youth; though, it doesn’t look too different from his search for Davy Jones’ locker. Still, with Penelope Cruz coming aboard, as well as “Chicago” director Rob Marshall, the franchise should have a couple surprises left in store.

“The Hangover: Part Two” – Comedy sequels are tricky territory -- just ask “Caddyshack.” But there’s something about Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis putting their night back together in Bangkok that seems destined for hilarity. Director Todd Phillips returns as well, and hopefully, can keep the laughs going over this second film.

“Kung-Fu Panda 2” – There are few things DreamWorks likes more than beating a dead horse, or I guess, in this case, Panda. Here’s the first of what will probably 10,000 sequels in the franchise. Jack Black returns to fight a new villain. Thrilling.

“X-Men: First Class” -- This ones been in development for awhile, but apparently all it took was “Kick-Ass” director and “X-Men” expatriate, Matthew Vaughn. He may have quit filming “X-Men 3,” once upon a time, but he’s back to finish the job, by bringing the story of Magneto and Professor X’s broken friendship to the screen. Don’t let the laughably Photoshopped posters fool you, the yellow spandex is back and the trailer promises everything “X3” lacked: story and character.

“Super 8” – As if anyone had more reasons to be excited about “Star Trek” director J.J. Abrams mysterious “Super 8,” the trailer is rife with early-Spielberg fun. Not much is known about this one, but it follows a gang of kids trying finish a movie, while some sort of mutant terrorizes their small town. It kind of looks like “E.T.” had E.T. been played by Godzilla. More than that, it looks fantastic.

“Green Lantern” – Ryan Reynolds fights intergalactic crime in brightest day and blackest night in the live-action first “Green Lantern” movie ever. Lantern has always been one D.C.’s most popular heroes, but because of a convoluted mythology and kooky character designs, he’s always been left out of box office. He gets his chance this summer as Reynolds dons the ring and gives the Green Lantern the shot he deserves.

“Bad Teacher” – Cameron Diaz tries to get her “There’s Something about Mary” groove back in “Bad Teacher.” She plays an incompetent teacher raising money for breast implants to impress the school’s new model educator, Justin Timberlake. Jason Siegel also pops up to give the film a comedic nudge in the right direction.

“Cars 2” – Are there any Pixar franchises less exciting than “Cars”? No, of course not. “Cars 2” doesn’t promise much. From its lifeless trailer to the casting of Larry the Cable Guy, there are few reasons to see “Cars 2.” But keep in mind, a bad movie produced by Pixar is about 10 times better than a good movie produced by a different studio.

Check back with us in a few weeks for the rest of this summer’s most anticipated movies.

Major Actors in Talks to Join Spielberg’s “Lincoln”

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

After years in development hell, it looks as though Steven Spielberg’s Abraham Lincoln biopic is finally getting off the ground, with Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field taking on the two major roles. According to Deadline, casting is now continuing, with stars like Tommy Lee Jones and Joseph Gordon-Levitt being sought out for the film.

Tommy Lee Jones will play the part of Thaddeus Stevens, a congressman from Pennsylvania who was strongly opposed to slavery. Joseph Gordon-Levitt will be cast as the President’s oldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln.

Other notable names in the running for roles are Hal Holbrook and James Spader. As the film will center around Lincoln’s often difficult relationships with his cabinet members during the Civil War, we can expect that these actors will be filling those parts.

While he certainly hasn’t been directing the kinds of films that we got in his glory days, Spielberg is still a highly skilled filmmaker who knows how to tell a story that provides us with an equal balance of entertainment, emotion, and thematic depth. He’s often had a strong interest in history, and while this is a particular point in history that he has never tackled before, we expect that he’ll craft a memorable film. With a cast like this, we can’t imagine this film being anything but great.

Major Actors in Talks to Join Spielberg’s “Lincoln”

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

After years in development hell, it looks as though Steven Spielberg’s Abraham Lincoln biopic is finally getting off the ground, with Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field taking on the two major roles. According to Deadline, casting is now continuing, with stars like Tommy Lee Jones and Joseph Gordon-Levitt being sought out for the film.

Tommy Lee Jones will play the part of Thaddeus Stevens, a congressman from Pennsylvania who was strongly opposed to slavery. Joseph Gordon-Levitt will be cast as the President’s oldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln.

Other notable names in the running for roles are Hal Holbrook and James Spader. As the film will center around Lincoln’s often difficult relationships with his cabinet members during the Civil War, we can expect that these actors will be filling those parts.

While he certainly hasn’t been directing the kinds of films that we got in his glory days, Spielberg is still a highly skilled filmmaker who knows how to tell a story that provides us with an equal balance of entertainment, emotion, and thematic depth. He’s often had a strong interest in history, and while this is a particular point in history that he has never tackled before, we expect that he’ll craft a memorable film. With a cast like this, we can’t imagine this film being anything but great.

“Jackass Dildo Bazooka”

Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

Well, that title just about says it all, huh? We may no longer be shocked by how far the “Jackass” guys will go to get an audience laughing, but sometimes we have to hand it to them: they are one creative squad of maniacs.

This brief Internet trailer doesn’t show us all that much, but at the same time, it shows us all we need to know. A man is bent over at the waist. Another man is aiming a weapon called the “dildo bazooka” at him.

Well, we can see where this is going. Whether or not we’d like to see where it is going is another question entirely

Ok, so the “Jackass” movies don’t offer up any witty wordplay or insightful commentaries into the absurdity of modern life, but they do give us hours worth of “oh wow I cannot believe they actually did that” comedy, and while some “humor enthusiasts” may reject such childish behavior, we have to admit, at times it can be pretty entertaining.

The difficulty in saying anything worthwhile about the “Jackass” films is the fact that they are what they are. You can call them good, you can call them bad, but there’s really no way to make an honest critical evaluation. Either you like seeing human beings destroy themselves and their dignity for the sakes of laughs, or you don’t.

Which side are you on?

View the trailer below. Thoughts?

“Jackass Dildo Bazooka”

Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

Well, that title just about says it all, huh? We may no longer be shocked by how far the “Jackass” guys will go to get an audience laughing, but sometimes we have to hand it to them: they are one creative squad of maniacs.

This brief Internet trailer doesn’t show us all that much, but at the same time, it shows us all we need to know. A man is bent over at the waist. Another man is aiming a weapon called the “dildo bazooka” at him.

Well, we can see where this is going. Whether or not we’d like to see where it is going is another question entirely

Ok, so the “Jackass” movies don’t offer up any witty wordplay or insightful commentaries into the absurdity of modern life, but they do give us hours worth of “oh wow I cannot believe they actually did that” comedy, and while some “humor enthusiasts” may reject such childish behavior, we have to admit, at times it can be pretty entertaining.

The difficulty in saying anything worthwhile about the “Jackass” films is the fact that they are what they are. You can call them good, you can call them bad, but there’s really no way to make an honest critical evaluation. Either you like seeing human beings destroy themselves and their dignity for the sakes of laughs, or you don’t.

Which side are you on?

View the trailer below. Thoughts?

“Colombiana”

Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

After appearing in “Star Trek” and “Avatar,” it’s safe to say that Zoe Saldana has established herself was a badass action star who can seduce the good guys and beat up the bad guys in equal measure. A film like “Colombiana” looks like something designed specifically with her in mind, and for all we knot, it was.

From the writers of “Taken,” “Colombiana” tells the story of a young woman who grows up to be a vengeance-fueled assassin after witnessing the murder of her parents. Of course, as the trailer suggests, this emotional backstory exists primarily so we can watch Saldana fight her way through dozens of enemies, but we don’t ask too much from our action movies these days. We’d like them to feature engaging characters, but so long as they keep us excited, we’ll be satisfied.

From the looks of it, “Colombiana” will do just fine as an action film. However, we would like to see Zoe Saldana show up in a movie that asks her to deliver a more subtle performance. She appears to be a genuinely skilled actress, and it’s time she showed the world that she doesn’t need to play the sexy-killer type to impress an audience.

Will “Colombiana” be a classic? No, we doubt it. But it looks like it will be a fun night at the movies, and sometimes that’s good enough.

View the trailer below.  Thoughts?

“Colombiana”

Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

After appearing in “Star Trek” and “Avatar,” it’s safe to say that Zoe Saldana has established herself was a badass action star who can seduce the good guys and beat up the bad guys in equal measure. A film like “Colombiana” looks like something designed specifically with her in mind, and for all we knot, it was.

From the writers of “Taken,” “Colombiana” tells the story of a young woman who grows up to be a vengeance-fueled assassin after witnessing the murder of her parents. Of course, as the trailer suggests, this emotional backstory exists primarily so we can watch Saldana fight her way through dozens of enemies, but we don’t ask too much from our action movies these days. We’d like them to feature engaging characters, but so long as they keep us excited, we’ll be satisfied.

From the looks of it, “Colombiana” will do just fine as an action film. However, we would like to see Zoe Saldana show up in a movie that asks her to deliver a more subtle performance. She appears to be a genuinely skilled actress, and it’s time she showed the world that she doesn’t need to play the sexy-killer type to impress an audience.

Will “Colombiana” be a classic? No, we doubt it. But it looks like it will be a fun night at the movies, and sometimes that’s good enough.

View the trailer below.  Thoughts?

WB Moves Into Conflict of Interest Territory with Rotten Tomatoes Acquisition

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Nick Hanover

Warner Brothers recently acquired Flixster in a move to streamline its attempts to allow users to experience WB product on any and every platform. Which is a perfectly smart business move that will potentially help consumers as much as it will help the WB. The only problem is that Flixster itself also owns Rotten Tomatoes.

As perhaps the largest review aggregate, Rotten Tomatoes is a pretty important tool for moviegoers, compiling as it does all the major reviews of a film (as well as the not so major) and turning that into an easy to digest critical consensus. Deadline's article on the acquisition barely mentioned Rotten Tomatoes let alone the possible ramifications of the aggregate being owned by a major movie studio. The AV Club reported the news in a decidedly funny fashion but nonetheless raised some real issues.

Specifically, will WB use the deal to keep bad reviews of their films minimized? Will they use Rotten Tomatoes as a gigantic advertisement for their product? WB has of course assured the media that they will allow Rotten Tomatoes to be wholly independent but given the historical precedence of the government blocking studios from doing things like owning theater chains it would seem that people don't have a lot of trust in studios to play fair.

WB Moves Into Conflict of Interest Territory with Rotten Tomatoes Acquisition

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Nick Hanover

Warner Brothers recently acquired Flixster in a move to streamline its attempts to allow users to experience WB product on any and every platform. Which is a perfectly smart business move that will potentially help consumers as much as it will help the WB. The only problem is that Flixster itself also owns Rotten Tomatoes.

As perhaps the largest review aggregate, Rotten Tomatoes is a pretty important tool for moviegoers, compiling as it does all the major reviews of a film (as well as the not so major) and turning that into an easy to digest critical consensus. Deadline's article on the acquisition barely mentioned Rotten Tomatoes let alone the possible ramifications of the aggregate being owned by a major movie studio. The AV Club reported the news in a decidedly funny fashion but nonetheless raised some real issues.

Specifically, will WB use the deal to keep bad reviews of their films minimized? Will they use Rotten Tomatoes as a gigantic advertisement for their product? WB has of course assured the media that they will allow Rotten Tomatoes to be wholly independent but given the historical precedence of the government blocking studios from doing things like owning theater chains it would seem that people don't have a lot of trust in studios to play fair.