Mission: Impossible 4 is Officially a Ghost Protocol

Doesn't Brad Bird's face say it all?

"That really isn't the title, right Tom? *Silence* Oh..."

Alright, I'm being harsh. But I'd be lying if I said I haven't spent my (rather busy) day laughing at the title for the currently-filming fourth Mission: Impossible film revealed today at a press conference via The Associated Press – Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.

That's not to say I'm suddenly not looking forward to it – I am, and seeing the two-time Oscar-winning Pixar alum stepping behind the camera for his first live-action feature has my interests.

But for reasons possibly amusing solely by me that title tickled my funny bone.

New Captain America Photos and Synopsis!

I love the friendly rivalry between Marvel and DC comics film divisions. Just yesterday the title of Chris Nolans' final Batman film was announced along with a few other bits of info, then today Marvel fires back with our first real look at Captain America.

As well as the new EW cover which was revealed earlier today we now have a look at the photos from inside the issue as well. The first official look of Evans in full Cap gear looks a lot more promising then the stunt pictures which recently surfaced from the set, not to mention holy shit balls did he get into great shape for the role!

We also got our first look at the back of Stanley Tucci's head inside a 1940's era science lab, Hugo Weaving as the Nazi villain Johann Schmidt prior to becoming the disfigured Red Skull, and an alternate and equally bad ass shield.

The official synopsis is as follows:

The year is 1942, and Steve Rogers is a scrawny lad who desperately wants to fight Nazis for his country but can’t because he’s been deemed physically unfit. His fate — and his physique — is radically transformed when he signs up for Project: Rebirth, a secret military operation that turns wimps into studs using drugs and assorted sci-fi hoo-ha. There’s a love interest (Major Peggy Carter, played Haley Atwell), there’s a sidekick (Bucky Barnes, played by Sebastian Stans), and there’s the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), Hitler’s treacherous head of advanced weaponry, whose own plan for world domination involves a magical object known as The Tesseract (comic fans know it better as The Cosmic Cube).

Captain America: The First Avenger opens in 3D on July 22, 2011

First Look at the First Avenger

"I'm sorry? Johnny Storm? Afraid I don't know who that is."

It's one of the biggest comic-book movie gambles (which remains to be seen if it works or not) having an actor already associated with one superhero franchise doing the same for another. Ryan Reynolds wanted to be the first guy to pull it off, but it appears that distinction goes to Chris Evans – first of the Fantastic Four series and now Captain America.

Entertainment Weekly has the official "First Look" at Evans in the star-spangled suit (minus the mask) on the front-cover of their latest issue. As much as the notion of John Krasinski intrigued me, I have to admit Evans was always the best choice of the (many) actors we heard in contention. He certainly looks like he belongs in the 1940s here.

Let's just hope the movie (opening on July 22, 2011: aka the week after Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows – Part II) works.

Charlie Chaplin's Time Traveling Dude In Drag

I don't know where this story originated but it has been all over the inter-webs and the tube for a day or so. It's not that I am lazy to look it up, its just that I am not going to. Considering the theme of our site is based of the best time travel movie ever made, "Back To The Future" I thought it was fitting that we posted this.

A filmmaker by the name of George Clarke was watching footage from the premiere of Charlie Chaplin's "The Circus" when he noticed what he believes to be a man in drag talking on a cell phone. Typical day in the city you say? Not so much. Consider that the premiere of "The Circus" took place in 1928.

If you don't want to liste to George talking Jive for a couple minutes, scroll over to 2:38 of the footage and you will see what looks like a dude in drag talking on a cell phone. It is quite strange. Of course this is ludicrous for a number of reasons that I shouldn't even have to get into.

Viral marketing for the new "Back To The Future" DVDs? You be the judge.

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Festivities

For anyone who's already finished watching their Back to the Future blu-rays (hell, for anyone who was able to get those discs out of that crazy packaging successfully) and still wants some more BTTF goodness, there are some terrific videos floating around the interwebs of the cast and crew celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original film and this week's bluray release.  Oh, and it was also Christopher Lloyd's birthday.  Happy Birthday, Doc!

You can also learn what Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Lea Thompson's favorite lines in the film where here:

And what props Lea, Michael, and co-writer/producer Bob Gale still have (several of which are about to be auctioned off for Team Fox, Michael's foundation for Parkinson's research):

 Who was Marty McFly's favorite band?  Huey Lewis and the News, of course!

And everyone reminiscing about the enduring appeal of the film, and what it meant to them:

And if that's not enough for you, they also appeared on the Today Show yesterday, which you can see here:

So I think it goes without saying it's been an awesome week to be a Back to the Future fan.  Then again, it's been totally awesome to have been a Back to the Future fan for the last 25 years.  If you haven't gotten the blu-ray set yet, definitely pick it up.  Yes, the packaging for the discs is some sort of crazy plastic contraption that even Doc Brown couldn't figure out the mechanics of, but once you manage to get them out...it's all worth it. 

Batman 3 Officially Titled The Dark Knight Rises

Alright, Christopher Nolan crossed out Mr. Freeze from the list of potential Batman 3 heavies awhile back. Now he's done so to another: the Riddler. At this point, I'm fine with whomever he, his brother Jonah and David Goyer chose as the next villain(s). But I'm also relieved they're not going the expected route with Edward Nigma. Then again, there are still those Catwoman rumors...

In an interview with Hero Complex, Nolan officially unveiled the title for his third (and final) go-around in Gotham City will be The Dark Knight Rises. No, I doubt it concerns Bruce Wayne's morning wood as a buddy of mine tweeted a few minutes ago. On the other hand, Nolan has such clout at Warner Brothers right now I'm sure he could make the argument for it (I'm kidding!)

I say that bad joke because Nolan also confirmed not to expect to see the Tumbler jumping out of theatre screens in 3D - thank God. Nice to see he was able to sway the top-level WB executives ouf ot the gimmick. At this point, it doesn't need the tacked ticket-costs in order to make a fortune come July 2012.

This mixed together with our recent scoop of the production headed to New Orleans and Movie Hole reporting the current search for new leading lady makes for exciting times for Batman fans, and nerd/geeks/fanboys in general.

Avatar Sequels Coming December 2014 and 2015

Every time James Cameron directs a sequel, it works out - Aliens and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. That is if you don't count Piranha 2: The Spawning. But I don't recall how much of that flick was actually his at the end of day. But that's beside the point.

There's been plenty of talk about how Cameron would follow up "biggest movie ever" Avatar. We knew Fox obviously wanted a sequel, and that Cameron would direct it...eventually. The most recent rumors suggested Cameron would helm two sequels back-to-back while others pegged him eyeing Sony's 3D Cleopatra with Angelina Jolie. That would most certainly have thrown a monkey wrench in Fox's plans for more Pandora-set follow-ups. I wasn't fond of Cameron's 3D sci-fi epic (putting it lightly). So the whole thing is indifferent to me.

Well, the trades confirm Cameron has made his decision. He'll start officially banging out the scripts for Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 early next year, and if things go smoothly (Do they ever with Cameron productions?), production could get going by year's end. Whether or not they'll be shot back-to-back hasn’t been determined as of now.

Fox and Cameron have also set December 2014 and 2015 release dates for both perspective sequels.

New Zealand is Officially (Still) Middle Earth

Just when logic and common sense dictated the next step for The Hobbit and its troubled path to the silver screen, here comes another surprise.

After several days of intense negotiations (and various television/radio interviews painting the bleakest of pictures), the two Hobbit films will stay in its home-stead of New Zealand after all, according to THR. Color me shocked.

Things were getting quite ugly in the press and the multiple statements from the likes of Peter Jackson and Kiwi officials suggested the writing was on the wall and the Lord of the Rings prequel was headed the fuck out of there ASAP. Had these arguments been kept to a faint pulse away from the press (and handled at the very start of the dispute with the local New Zealand actors' unions), then perhaps I'd have been more optimistic.

There have been so many set-backs for The Hobbit it's hard to imagine there won't be another problem on the horizon. For their sake, I hope that isn't the case. Nonetheless, its great news for the local hard-working film economy that would have, no doubt, been crippled had the production up and moved to the UK as many of us suspected.

Exclusive: Batman 3 IS Headed to the Big Easy

A few weeks back, Coming Soon/Super Hero Hype reported rumblings of New Orleans as a potential shooting location for Batman 3. Nothing was concrete, but Warner Brothers was wrapping up on the long Green Lantern shoot down here, and things went relatively smooth on the effects-heavy tentpole. So why not stay in business with folks one gets along with?

TMT has now received word from our sources that Christopher Nolan & Co. are in fact bringing the third Batman installment down to the Big Easy. Although it appears this will be entirely for interior shoots. Like Batman Begins and The Dark Knight before it, Chicago will once again be used for exterior filming.

So I wouldn't expect to see Christian Bale walking outside New Orleans wearing whatever new suits Team Nolan concoct. He'd have a real reason to yell at the crew with the intense humidity. Nor does this suddenly refuel those silly Killer Croc rumors.

Zach Galifianakis Joining New Muppet Movie

This (almost) makes up for his (reported) hypocrisy that led to Mel Gibson's The Hangover 2 firing.

E! Online reports Zach Galifianakis is in talks to co-star in the still untitled new Muppet movie. We can all thank his Due Date co-star Robert Downey Jr. for letting the cat out of the bag. Check out Galifianakis' reaction when Downey reveals the scoop – made me laugh.

He'll join Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Rashida Jones and Chris Cooper, and the Muppets, of course. James Bobin (writer/producer/director behind Flight of the Conchords) will direct.