Looper Trailer

It goes to show you can never tell who will take off, and who won't.

Hard to imagine anyone thinking "that kid from 3^rd Rock from the Sun" would become Joseph Gordon-Levitt, one of our most versatile, talents onscreen today. Thumbing through his filmography, you think the guy fighting in zero-gravity in Inception is the same guy from 50/50 and Brick. Oh yeah, and he played Cobra Commander too! And he's still got varying roles in The Dark Knight Rises (The Internet is convinced he's playing Robin), Lincoln and Premium Rush coming up.

Who else is there for him to play? Bruce Willis, as demonstrated in the time-travel, action-thriller Looper from writer/director Rian Johnson. This whole week has been a build-up of the nauseating, bullshit "Teaser to a trailer" gimmick. But that's over with (Thank God) and here's the trailer:

It's Not a Good Idea, but Sin City 2 Is Really Happening

Here's the press release announcing Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, set begin production with most of the returning cast this summer.

I'd honestly like to know why this isn't being perceived as bad an idea as when Robert Rodriguez did for the same to Spy Kids. But because this is a geek property, everyone pretends this isn't him returning to the well (after promising this for the last seven years) judging by the reactions:

"Filmmakers Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, along with producer Alexander Rodnyansky, have announced that production will commence on the highly anticipated sequel to 2005’s Sin City, entitled Sin City: A Dame To Kill For. The film will be produced by AR Films and Quick Draw Productions, financed through AR Films U.S and released domestically by Dimension Films.

'The first question I am always asked is 'When will you make another Sin City?,' said Rodriquez. 'I have wanted to re-team with Frank Miller and return to the world he created since the day we wrapped the original, but have felt a duty to the fans to wait until we had something truly exceptional that would meet and exceed what have become epic expectations. A Dame To Kill For will certainly be worth the wait.'

Sin City creator, screenwriter and co-director Frank Miller said, 'The first Sin City knocked out audiences who had never seen anything like it before. Robert Rodriguez and I are going to shake things up and deliver a ferocious film experience that is going to go even further than the first.'

The script and details of the film’s story have been kept tightly under wraps. Casting will begin next week, with many of the original cast expected to return. The film, a Quick Draw Production, will be produced by Rodriguez and producing partners Aaron Kaufman and Iliana Nikolic; and by Alexander Rodnyansky and Sergei Bespalov and Stephen L'Hereux. Miller, The Weinstein Company’s Harvey and Bob Weinstein and Miramax's Adam Fields will act as executive producers. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For was developed by Frank Miller based upon his graphic novel, with a screenplay by Frank Miller and Academy Award winner William Monahan (The Departed). The film is expected to begin production this summer at Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios in Austin, Texas.

Alexander Rodnyansky said, 'We are delighted to continue our relationship with Robert Rodriguez and Quick Draw Productions. It is a rare opportunity to produce and finance a film with the high profile and enormous fan base of the Sin City franchise. AR FIlms will be managing worldwide sales of Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, as well as Robert’s Machete Kills at the Cannes Film Festival in May.'

The original Sin City was brought to the screen by Rodriguez and Miller and released by Dimension in 2005, and proved to be a landmark step forward in filmmaking, breaking ground with immersive green screen to create its iconic stylish look. The first film, released on April 1, 2005, grossed over $160 million (US) worldwide and is a consistently strong home video and television performer.

'Audiences have been clamoring for Sin City 2 with Robert and Frank for a long time and trust me, it will be worth the wait,’ said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company. 'This will be my 11th collaboration with Robert in 16 years and he’s become a great friend. I look forward to continuing our long lasting relationship and partnering on more projects in the future.'

The deal was negotiated by Aaron Kaufman, Craig Emanuel of Loeb & Loeb and Robert Newman of WME on behalf of Rodriguez; David Glasser and Andrew Kramer on behalf of Dimension Films; Schuyler Moore of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan and Jere Hausfater on behalf of AR Films; Kenneth Keller and Garth Rosengren of Krieg, Keller, Sloan, Reilley & Roman and John LaViolette of Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal LaViolette Feldman Schenkman & Goodman on behalf of Stephen L’Heureux and Solopsist Films and Mark Lichtman and Neil Meyer and Allison Binder of Stone, Meyer, Genow, Smelkinson & Binder on behalf of Miller."

New Official TDKR Images

Batman-News.Com has gotten hold of some high-res new images from the hottest movie of the summer; The final part of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy 'The Dark Knight Rises." Check out three images below and three more at the link.

Django Unchained Teaser Poster

"The New Film By Quentin Tarantino."

Teaser as it is (The whole point is to be vague after all), bold move to not even slap Django Unchained on this obviously Mondo-influenced one-sheet, courtesy of Yahoo! Movies. Truth is a Spanish-language version leaked first via Screen Crush, and being one to react ASAP for us lazy Americans, here is the English one.

'X-Men' production date forced Gary Ross out of 'Catching Fire'

Gary Ross' exit from the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire sent waves of shock throughout the blogosphere. From Nikki Finke's Toldja! vehemently denying the rumors, then confirming it days later, but the real reason has been confirmed by an exclusive scoop at Latino Review.

Contrary to what The Playlist said, Ross withdrew from the production because he wouldn't be able to complete filming on a rushed production with a firm release date set. LR confirms that due to Jennifer Lawrence's sequel clause for X-Men: First Class taking first prescient over Hunger Games, Lionsgate's bond company had to guarantee a summer production start and complete filming on Catching Fire by December 20th before Lawrence had to commit for the X-Men sequel, which begins shooting January 2013. (Hence my colleague Jamie confirming the X-Men production delay Fox made with Lionsgate to ensure that Lawrence could do both movies.)

The race is still on for Lionsgate to find a replacement director for Catching Fire, which will release November 22, 2013. Fox will release the X-Men: First Class sequel in summer 2014.

New Skyfall Photos Make You Wish It Was November

Nothing gets divulged plot-wise, though everyone and their mother saw this headlined-spoiler from The Sun coming miles away, from these new Skyfall photos. Simply setting a mood (Thank you very much, Director of Photography Roger Deakins), our first good look at Ralph Fiennes' M and getting yours truly ready for our first Bond installment with Academy-Award winning pedigree sitting in the director's chair.

Shocker: The Dark Knight Rises On Entertainment Weekly Cover

Some complained of the lack of The Dark Knight Rises marketing in recent weeks (What, the web hasn't talked it up since the day after The Dark Knight opened?) as its release date approaches, a third trailer is expected in the coming month and rumblings of it already being finished.

Bats and Anne Hathaway's Catwoman, whose ass you can also drool over at Super Hero Hype!, are front and center on this week's issue of Entertainment Weekly. Right in time for their big summer movie splash edition. As noted by our pal Renn Brown at CHUD it continues the tradition of Meh-to-terrible poses.

There are quotes about from Christopher Nolan about how evil Bane is, how tough Hathaway trained and so on. But that's puff-piece bullshit and what you're in for till July 20^th.

You're Gonna Need a Bigger TV: "Jaws" is Coming to Blu-Ray

Jaws remains one of the few classic Steven Spielberg films that I have yet to see in a movie theater.  However, even in home video form the movie is still scary as hell, which is pretty amazing considering that, as Marty McFly once pointed out, "the shark still looks fake."  And it does.  In fact, in some of its scariest scenes, you don't even see the damn thing.  I blame the John Williams theme music.  I'm still hoping to catch a theatrical re-release someday soon, but until then, I'm looking forward to the upcoming blu-ray edition, which arrives on August 14. 

Originally released in 1975, Jaws was the very first summer blockbuster, since obviously there was no better time to release a movie about a killer shark terrorizing a beach community then at the height of beach season.  And although the film did not do that tourism industry any favors - beach attendance actually dropped during that summer after the movie was released - Jaws went on to become the highest-grossing film of all time, until Star Wars took over that spot two years later. 

With the impending blu-ray release, Jaws is going through a major restoration, which you can get a look at in this video from the official Jaws blu-ray site:

Features on the blu-ray will include:

The Shark is Still Working: The Impact & Legacy of Jaws - All-new feature-length documentary featuring never-before-seen footage and interviews with cast and crew including Steven Spielberg, Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider.

The Making of Jaws: A feature-length documentary featuring interviews with key cast and crew

Jaws: The Restoration: An all-new in-depth look at the intricate process of restoring the movie.

Deleted Scenes

Outtakes

From the Set: An insider's look at life on the set of Jaws

Storyboards

Production Photos

Marketing Jaws

Jaws Phenomenon

Original Theatrical Trailer

BD-Live: Internet-connected features

My Scenes: Bookmark your favorite scenes

Pocket BLU App: App for smartphones and tablets. Take content on the go!

You can also watch this quick trailer for the blu-ray release, which remains a valid public service announcement as to why drunken skinny-dipping is just an awful idea:

Freestyle Digital Media To Release "Hard Breakers" & "Swinging With The Finkels" On July 3, 2012

Freestyle Digital Media, LLC (FDM) announced the release of two new feature comedies “Hard Breakers” starring Sophie Monk and Cameron Richardson, and “Swinging with the Finkels” with Mandy Moore and Martin Freeman. These are the first titles to be released in a new partnership with Gaiam, Inc. who is handling DVD sell through for all Freestyle Digital Media film releases. Both films will have a street date of July 3, 2012.

The deal was brokered by Susan Jackson, CEO of Freestyle Digital Media, and Sam Toles, Gaiam’s Vice President of Content and Acquisitions.  Freestyle Digital Media will continue to handle online film rentals and VOD directly. 

 “We have watched Gaiam’s growth and are very excited to be working with the largest independent DVD distributor in America,” said Jackson. “Gaiam’s excellent track record with quality product made them a great fit for Freestyle Digital Media.”

Freestyle Digital Media’s recent slate of releases includes DEADHEADS, the acclaimed horror-comedy from directors Brett and Drew Pierce, SWINGING WITH THE FINKELS starring Mandy Moore and directed by Jonathan Newman, and TOMORROW, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN directed by Stuart Beattie, which also marked the first feature film debut on Facebook back in February.

"The Magic Of Belle Isle" Official Poster

Reuniting with his director from the hit film, The Bucket List, Morgan Freeman plays Monte Wildhorn, a famous Western novelist whose struggle with alcoholism has sapped his passion for writing. He takes a lakeside cabin for the summer in picturesque Belle Isle, and befriends the family next door—an attractive single mom (Virginia Madsen) and her young daughters—who help him find inspiration again.