Mediocrity Reigns - Marc Webb Directing Amazing Spider-Man Sequel

Fascinated how anyone with taste says they preferred The Amazing Spider-Man to Spider-Man 1, 2 or, yes even 3. You may not like where Sam Raimi took the web-slinger or how he did it (Revisionist history speaking or not), but you felt a specific voice heard and style in play. Marc Webb's re-launch was the embodiment of cynical, made-by-committee filmmaking.

But one can't place the blame on Webb. Sure he knew what he was getting into. Maybe he had great, game-changing ideas for Spidey onscreen when first offered the franchise circa late 2009. But it was clear in the final results. We got a product directed by a gun-for-hire following the orders of his masters. That's why the controversy of Webb's not-returning, stemming from (500) Days of Summer and a pre-existing option at 20^th Century Fox, was in truth a non-controversy.

One that's ceased to be according to Variety. Sony and Fox made peace, allowing Webb to direct The Spectacular Spider-Man (or whatever the title ultimately is). Unless Webb gets free reign on the sequel, it won't matter since he's still gonna have Avi Arad and whatever not-yet-fired Sony executive on his ass. Hopefully they'll stick to their guns and not jettison crucial plotlines come May 2014.

Evangeline Lilly: One Sexy Elf

Courtesy of One Ring is the Lost alum as Tauriel, the elven warrior princess invented for Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy. From where else, but the action-figure display art!

Eh, the Indifference - Len Wiseman Directing the Reboot to the Remake of The Mummy

That sinking feeling of "God, I'm old" settles into the bones when you see Universal is rebooting the remake of The Mummy. The sequels and spin-offs (both theatrical and DTV) are hard to forget. But Stephen Sommers' serialized adventure from May 1999 starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz (Our living answer to Dorian Grey) still works.

Having squeezed the last ounce of sand (Read: dollar bill) from the Fraser incarnation, crap writers-turned-crap producers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman are in charge and promise another four-quad friendly Mummy, just darker and modern. So expect the Mummy to be involved with 9/11?

Enough bashing of K&O for the moment (Their Abrams-absent filmography does that on its own), there has to be a director and oh has Universal found their connoisseur: Len Wiseman. A guy the Internet hates because he started in props, shags Kate Beckinsale on a regular basis and then visually brags in his work. Notice the wide shots of her in white panties in the Total Recall remake. Can't say I blame the guy. Who wouldn't brag?

His films look great, despite varying degrees of quality. By that I refer to Live Free or Die Hard, assuming you're amongst the general populous who rightly likes it. Not that his participation on a new Mummy will make it any better or worse, let's be honest.

Internet Boogeyman Tom Rothman Producing Steven Spielberg's Robopocalypse

Fanboys are so stupid they get ideas planted in their head (or, as they say in geek, incepted) and never let go. Or God forbid grow a brain and have ideas of their own. Tom Rothman is not, nor has he ever been, the boogeyman. Getting to the top of a multi-billion-dollar company doesn't entail walking li'l old ladies across the street. You have to kick ass. Every day.

In fact, do me a favor and find a studio-head who isn't a total bastard. When you don't (Since, like Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny, they don't exist!), you have my permission to shut the Hell up. Forever.

There were two clear paths for Rothman on his way out of Fox. Run another studio or developing his own projects as a producer full-time. THR says it's the latter. Rothman is in talks to produce Robopocalypse, the Steven Spielberg-helmed sci-fi actioner headlined by Chris Hemsworth and, apparently now, Anne Hathaway.

That's about as big a project to get your feet wet on as it gets.

First Look at The Wolverine

Any first thoughts of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in The Wolverine?

He's been playing the character for twelve years onscreen, spanning five films. How can he look any different? Didn't think it was possible, but he does. The Aussie star lacks the trademark Wolverine standup hair and side-burns. He's also so flexed up, his veins have veins!

Not bad.

47 Ronin Minus 1 Director Equals 1 Potential Mess

47 Ronin could have been another expensive gamble that didn't pay off for Universal. No harm, no foul. Were it for the noticeable change of release dates (Went from November 2012 to February 2013 to Christmas 2013), few would bat an eye. Even with the reported reshoots, that doesn't paint a picture of disaster because, as you know, reshoots are a normal practice.

Alas The Wrap paints a messier frame of events. "Nightmare" is thrown around by their peeps. Long story short, with additional photography wrapped, the studio has shown helmer Carl Rinsch the door. Universal co-chairwoman Donna Langley is sitting in his chair overseeing the editing.

Handing the responsibility of a unique-sounding and ambitious project from its first-time director to those who don't even "get" it? Yeah, that will ease concerns. Studio thought early cuts were "too Japanese." An odd assertion since they greenlit Ronin knowing its intentions and allowing an all-Japanese cast, save for star Keanu Reeves. The reshoots in question imply Reeves, touted as the lead, ate it mid-point. Not anymore he won't.

New Trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

You're either with Peter Jackson you're not.

Those still cling to the hope Jackson can reclaim the same magic that wowed us eleven years ago. Others see this as the cinematic equivalent of stretch pants. Both sides have merits. Truth is, right or wrong, Jackson is going to have to win many over again (Yes, The Lovely Bones was that bad and Guillermo del Toro was that much better a directing choice!)

Thankfully relying less on nostalgia for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and excerpts from the book appealing only to the devoted (Look! Singing Dwarves!), this new trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a straight-forward affair. More focus on Martin Freeman's Bilbo Baggins and, of course, Gollum. Have to hand it to Weta. They've outdone themselves here.

It's an upgrade from the teaser trailer, that's for sure. But that isn't saying much. Still remain indifferent.

No More Monkeying Around - Rupert Wyatt Exits Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Two vital components made Rise of the Planet of the Apes one of the surprise hits of summer 2011. Andy Serkis' leading performance as Caesar, so good it brought up the debate once again why the Academy continuously snubs motion-capture acting. The other was Rupert Wyatt's direction. Let's face it, leading up to its release, we were all laughing, "A Planet of the Apes prequel?! Who's gonna pay to see that?"

Plenty.

Enough that 20^th Century Fox positioned its sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes with a prime Memorial Day 2014 release and a paycheck for Serkis to stay fat on mo-cap bananas. And enough for Wyatt to effectively shut his critics up, myself included. Unfortunately while Fox was wise to make Serkis' recommitment as their first priority for the follow-up to move forward, they relied on a sequel clause to keep Wyatt onboard. The deal was reportedly firm enough to kept Wyatt from directing Londongrad with Michael Fassbender to play ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko. Until now.

"TOLDJA" indicates Wyatt is on his way out. Their wording is wonky (Reads very "Have your cake, eat it too"). But it comes down to this. He's not "comfortable" making that May 23, 2014 release date with the current time afforded him. The same official reason given to Gary Ross' exit from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. And like that what they really mean is this is an clash over money, me thinks.

Wyatt's earned whatever he wants. If he does so exit Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the studio will have no problem finding his replacement. Good luck expecting the same results.

Trailer to Steven Spielberg's Lincoln

The trailer for Steven Spielberg's Lincoln is here.

Happy to say everything on display is exactly how you imagined Lincoln as directed by Spielberg and starring Daniel Day-Lewis, who yes looks superb as our greatest U.S. President in the final months of his life.

3D Gimmick Claims Latest Victim - Pacific Rim

Guillermo del Toro doesn't want Pacific Rim in post-conversion 3D. As he reasonably explained to Collider, the format changed the scale of what was intended to be giant buildings, robots and monsters. Even if his stance boiled down to a "Fuck 3D!" train-of-thought, his reasoning on display was perfectly sound.

Between those statements in July and today however, Warner Brothers is forcing the Mexican filmmaker's hand. Variety reports Pacific Rim is the latest in a long-line of pricey pictures slapping on 3D purely as an afterthought. Truth is del Toro doesn't have the clout to say "No," like Christopher Nolan.

So much is riding on Rim. The studio needs every affordable option to ensure profitability. Loud as the Comic-Con praise heard, that's playing to a predisposed crowd. They're going to see it anyway. Until we see theatrical trailers, there’s no indication the thought of giant robots fighting giant monsters in a futuristic background results in "SOLD OUT" signs in front of box-offices nationwide.