The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug "Preview"

With the purchase of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on DVD/Blu-Ray, you got an access code that unlocked a special live event hosted by Peter Jackson, promising a fans-submitted Q&A session and an early look at The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. An excerpt from the event is now available online.

And by "early" footage of The Desolation of Smaug, I mean seconds of behind-the-scenes footage of them filming. Better than nothing, I suppose. That's all well and good but taking up your time answering questions from Stephen Colbert (Okay???) and Billy Boyd? Seriously, Jackson, you can talk to them any time. This is supposed to be for the fans. Way to waste their time, buddy.

2 Guns Trailer Is Boring

A buddy-cop actioner where neither guy knows the other is an undercover cop? Alright, that's intriguing. Hire Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg as the cops in question. You have my curiosity. There's a pair I never thought of before but could see bouncing off each other well. And who doesn't enjoy the action flick during August, the hot closing month of summer where studios get more experimental with their releases.

Too bad I was ready to fall asleep during the trailer. God knows how I'll manage during the actual film. Maybe you'll like what you see in 2 Guns.

For Chinese Eyes Only - Iron Man 3 Gets Separate Version in China

Back in its heyday, this would result in a three-disc DVD set. In today's environment focused less on Special Features and more on Instant Access, it's a montage some kid with editing software will cut together and post on YouTube.

Marvel is preparing a Chinese version of Iron Man 3. For the best to please our future Masters once the US dollar bottoms out and they bail our asses out. We're getting the same basic film courtesy of Marvel and director Shane Black. Just adjusted for the Chinese market. You know, minor things like the Mandarin being the hero. Nothing major, kids.

Here's the press release:

"Marvel Studios and DMG announced that a Chinese version of Iron Man 3 will be released in China on a date to be announced in the near future. DMG, a Chinese media and entertainment company, collaborated with Marvel Studios on the Chinese elements in the film, and is marketing and distributing the film in China. While Marvel and DMG have decided not to apply for co-production status in China, the film includes significant Chinese elements. Renowned Chinese actor Wang Xueqi will appear in both the studio’s Chinese version of the film and in its international and domestic US version. Both versions of the film include Iron Man 3 footage filmed in Beijing in December. The Chinese version of the film will also feature a special appearance of China’s top actress, Fan Bingbing, and will offer specially prepared bonus footage made exclusively for the Chinese audience. Marvel Studios’ experience working on this film with Fan Bingbing and Wang Xueqi and in shooting in China has been very positive and has created a springboard for future collaboration with China’s talented stars and its growing film and television industry. The Iron Man cast and filmmakers look forward to bringing Iron Man back to China."

The Griswolds Return for Vacation Sequel

The way Variety suggests it was never a done-deal Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo were coming back for the forthcoming Vacation sequel. Always felt like the other way around.

They participated in the Hotel Hell Vacation short film and those Old Navy commercials. That said it all. It would take an act of God for them not to return. Ed Helms and Christina Applegate are the fresh-faces; the young hot stars if you will. But it isn't a Vacation movie without Clark and Ellen Griswold.

It's all good though. Talks are underway. Even if their roles are nothing beyond extended cameos (which sounds like the case), they have enough material to flash their faces across every trailer and TV spot.

Matthew McConaughey Offered Lead Role in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar

We have nothing on Interstellar to go by. It's set in space and involves worm-holes and time travel. That's it. Given the shall-we-say "coldness" Christopher Nolan's style is labeled (An odd assertion in the wake of the closing ten minutes to The Dark Knight Rises) and its association to legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, we're assuming this will have undertones of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

These assumptions extend to casting. We fans are playing with the notion Nolan will reunite with his thespian alum. There's a history to that but he's been known to throw casting curveballs. Hugh Jackman in The Prestige, Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, Leonardo DiCaprio in Inception; this isn't unprecedented for the British helmer.

Well, he's in the mood to surprise us once again. The Dark Knight Trilogy director has reportedly offered the lead role of his space-exploration project to none other than Matthew McConaughey. Being a Nolan project, the fact we even have a name to his character is a coupe; Cooper.

The Texas-born actor is only now turning his career around thanks to Killer Joe, Magic Mike, The Paperboy and in the upcoming The Wolf of Wall Street and Dallas Buyers Club. The deal is far from closed but McConaughey is nuts to throw away such an opportunity.

White House Down Trailer

They might be second out the gate, and arguably lost momentum to Olympus Has Fallen, but that isn't going to stop White House Down.

The rival Oval Office-set actioner sports a bigger cast, director, budget, and release date. Based on the trailer, it's also not going for cheese. Funny consider the director is Roland Emmerich. This is a straight-up action thriller; emphasis on both terms. 

Pain & Gain Red-Band Trailer Sells the Dark Humor

The new red-band trailer for Michael Bay's Pain & Gain has been released online. Where the initial trailer sold you the plight of Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson's in-over-his-head bodybuilders, this one is more comedy-centric selling the humor hard. It looks like a good old time with promises of midget violence, misshaped kidnappings and Rebel Wilson sex scenes (You read that last part right). And then it gets dark like Johnson having his toe cut off. Wait till you see what he does with it. Gross.

A good Michael Bay movie? When was the last time you said that? Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Trailers can be deceiving, but so far, so good.

Source: Yahoo! Movies

New Pacific Rim Poster Is Pretty Cool

It's about time Pacific Rim started looking as cool as director Guillermo del Toro, the cast, the studio and those who have seen it say it is. This is more like it.

Source: Facebook

World War Z Trailer - Attack of the CG "Zombies"

The "zombie tsunami" quips aren't entirely accurate. We still haven't seen these so-called zombies in action. No KNB makeup effects, no flesh-eating and not a single extra screaming "BRAAAAINS!"

Either the makers of World War Z are ashamed it's a zombie movie (To which I counter, "What did you think you were making?") or they honestly don't see it as one. Whatever the case, the new trailer is creatively impotent. Brad Pitt has to leave his family to save the world from…CG people who get on top of each other? Question mark.

Bonus points for David Morse as Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel.

Wolverine Fights Photoshop Ninjas in New Poster

You forgot The Wolverine was coming this summer, didn't you? It's OK. 20^th Century Fox forgot too. Someone tapped their shoulder and reminded them it opens in July and we're almost into April with nary a trailer and only increments of production stills.

The first gander at footage is forthcoming (Reportedly later this week). But in the meantime, Coming Soon has a poster and Entertainment Weekly has stills with Hugh Jackman looking aged and first looks at Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova) and Yukio (newcomer Rila Fukushima) and quotes from director James Mangold about how it's about death.  Since Wolverine can't die, you know, and not because of his healing powers. Fox wouldn't allow killing their cash cow.