Olympus Has Fallen Trailer Breaks the Cliché-O-Meter

"He is ex-Special Forces!"

"Can we trust him?"

"With all due respect, I'm the best you got!"

The go-to comparison to Olympus Has Fallen is Die Hard for obvious reasons. But my first thoughts went to all those Die Hard rip-offs.

If you like your cheesy cinema with extra cheese, none of the irony, and can stand Gerald Butler (I can't; awful actor), then enjoy. Who wants to bet Speaker of the Houser-cum-Acting President Morgan Freeman is behind it all?

When the White House (Secret Service Code: "Olympus") is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped within the building. As our national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning¹s inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President and avert an even bigger disaster. Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) directs an all-star cast featuring Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo, Ashley Judd, and Rick Yune.

Does The Man of Steel Feature a Female Jimmy Olsen?

Not one to take IMDB listings to heart. The Room auteur Tommy Wiseau was starring in Garth Edwards' Godzilla. According to whatever thirteen year-old who thought it'd be funny to list him. It's just that easy. But this find, from Digital Spy, is plausible.

The Man of Steel had already made changes to distinguish it from previous Superman incarnations. An English Superman (albeit not in the film itself but played by British actor Henry Cavill), changing the ethnicity of Perry White and even radical alterations to the classic red-and-blue suit. How about turning Superman's pal Jimmy Olsen to a girl?

That's what the cast listing suggests as newbie Rebecca Buller is credited as Jenny Olsen. She's spotted for a few seconds running next to Fishburne's Perry in the trailer.

Enough tweaks have been made to what we recognize as Superman canon, this one feels legit. If so, that certainly changes up the Clark Kent/Olsen dynamic.

"LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out" DVD On March 26, 2013

After a record breaking debut on Cartoon Network, The LEGO Group and Lucasfilm announced today that LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out will release on DVD this coming March 26, 2013. The 22-minute original standalone special will bring the same tongue-and-cheek humor fans know and love in a brand new epic adventure featuring everyone's favorite LEGO Star Wars characters. Distributed by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, the DVD will include an exclusive collectible Darth Vader LEGO minifigure.

The title is filled with charm, action and irreverent humor this original story features characters, locations and vehicles across the entire LEGO Star Wars universe including Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, C-3P0, R2-D2, Darth Maul, and more. When the premiere of LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out aired on Cartoon Network, it became the number-one telecast of the day with kids ages 6-11 and boys ages 2-17. Written by Emmy Award winner Michael Price ("The Simpsons"), the show features many of the beloved Star Wars voice-actors fans know and love including Anthony Daniels, Sam Witwer, Ahmed Best and more.

LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out is described as follows:

Your favorite characters are back to save the galaxy in LEGO® Star Wars®: The Empire Strikes Out™. The heroes of the Rebel Alliance including heroic Luke Skywalker, swaggering Han Solo and steadfast Princess Leia have no time to celebrate their victory over the Empire as a new Imperial threat arises. But as Jedi-in training Luke embarks on this next mission, he discovers that his celebrity status as a “Death-Star-Blower-Upper” can be a double-edged lightsaber when he’s constantly mobbed by crazed fans. So much for secret missions! Meanwhile, Darth Vader and Darth Maul are locked in a hilarious “Sith-ling” rivalry as they compete for the Emperor’s approval. It’s an action-packed comic adventure that’s out of this world!

RADiUS Knocks It Out With "Concussion"

TWC proudly announced tonight that it has acquired North American rights to CONCUSSION, one of the most provocative and well received films at this year's Festival that is drawing endless comparisons to BELLE DE JOUR.

Written and directed by Stacie Passon in an auspicious directing debut effort, and produced by Rose Troche, CONCUSSION is a poignant sexual examination of Abby (Robin Weigert in a star making breakout turn), a forty something married wealthy, lesbian housewife who, after suffering a blow to the head from getting smacked by her son’s baseball—walks around every corner of her suburban life to confront a mounting desire for something else. She takes on a new project and purchases a pied-à-terre in Manhattan. Walking around the city streets reminds Abby what it feels like to be sexy, and her pent-up libido shakes off its inhibitions. Her newfound desire though is not a take-home item, so Abby inaugerates a double life as a high end escort.  Palpably sensual and deliciously contained, CONCUSSION is a keen observation of the complicated contours of midlife crisis.

According to RADiUS co-presidents Tom Quinn and Jason Janego: "We were mesmorized by CONCUSSION and the job Stacie did in creating such rich, relatable characters. This film made an indelible impression anchored by Robin's exceptional performance - - one of the best we've seen on screen in a very long time."

Stacie Passon goes on to say: "RADiUS is continuing to define itself as a home for artists. We are thrilled with the passion and dedication of Tom Quinn and Jason Janego and their exceptional team. We know we are in excellent hands."

RADiUS has slated an early fall 2013 release.

In 2012, CONCUSSION was chosen for the Independent Feature Project’s narrative lab.  Additionally, CONCUSSION received the Adrienne Shelly Director’s Grant and the Calvin Klein Spotlight on Women Filmmakers Live the Dream Grant at the Gotham Awards.

In addition to Reigert (DEADWOOD), CONCUSSION also stars Maggie Siff, Johnathan Tchaikovsky, Julie Fain Lawrence, Emily Kinney and Laila Robins.  The executive producers are Anthony Cupo and Cliff Chenfeld. Rose Troche Is the producer.

Quinn and Janego negotiated the deal with Paradigm's Ben Weiss and attorney Andre Des Rochers both of whom brokered the deal on behalf of the film.

"Stoker" Trailer

EMPIRE

After India's (Wasikowska's) father dies in an auto accident, her Uncle Charlie (Goode), who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable mother Evelyn (Kidman). Soon after his arrival, she comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives, but instead of feeling outrage or horror, this friendless girl becomes increasingly infatuated with him.

Vin Diesel Shares New "Riddick" Still Via Facebook

Vin Diesel's Facebook Via ComingSoon.Net

The infamous Riddick has been left for dead on a sun-scorched planet that appears to be lifeless. Soon, however, he finds himself fighting for survival against alien predators more lethal than any human he's encountered. The only way off is for Riddick to activate an emergency beacon and alert mercenaries who rapidly descend to the planet in search of their bounty. The first ship to arrive carries a new breed of merc, more lethal and violent, while the second is captained by a man whose pursuit of Riddick is more personal. With time running out and a storm on the horizon that no one could survive, his hunters won't leave the planet without Riddick's head as their trophy.

New Poster For "The Croods"

When their cave is destroyed, the Crood family is forced to embark on an epic adventure into a pre-historic world in search of a new home. With the help of a brash, know-it-all nomad named Guy, the Croods learn to conquer their fears and discover what it takes to survive – each other.

"The East" Poster & Trailer

ComingSoon.Net

Starring Brit Marling (who co-wrote with Batmanglij) Alexander Skarsgård, Ellen Page, Julia Ormond and Patricia Clarkson, The East follows Sarah Moss (Marling), a brilliant operative for an elite private intelligence firm whose top objective is to ruthlessly protect the interests of their A-list corporate clientele. She is assigned to go undercover to infiltrate an anarchist collective known for executing covert attacks upon major corporations. Living amongst them in an effort to get closer to their members, Sarah finds herself unexpectedly torn between two worlds as she starts to fall in love with the group's charismatic leader, finding her life and her priorities irrevocably changed.

Disney Wants Good Posters for Episode VII - Approaches Drew Struzan

Lawrence Kasdan is back at the typewriter. George Lucas is nowhere in sight. One of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford will most likely return. Yeah, Disney was serious. They want back in fans' good graces with their handling of Star Wars, starting with Episode VII in 2015.

Even the minor, while still important, details aren't being ignored. During an interview with Fanhattan, artist Drew Struzan, renowned for his poster artwork for both Star Wars trilogies, in addition to the Indiana Jones saga, Harry Potter and John Carpenter's The Thing, has been approached by Disney to work his magic on Episode VII:

"Oh, well, never say never, [laughs] because…in fact, I got a couple calls already this week on Star Wars from Disney. Oh my god, I'm trying to be retired! You know, I spent 35 years painting Star Wars. [laughs] I painted Star Wars before most of you were born! But I guess there is always a chance. There's no intention. But I would love to have a day off every now and again, and I have to work a weekend and all through the night. If the opportunity arises, it will be a real temptation. But it's going to have to be a real temptation to get me away from my wife and my little grandkids and my family. Away from the green trees and the blue skies for a change instead of just locked in the studio. But, you know, never say never. All things are possible."

Not exactly a "Yes" or "No" answer but encouraging and again a sign Disney is serious about taking Star Wars back to its original trilogy glory days. No, this isn't director, returning cast or release date confirmations, but it'll do.

Weekend Box Office: January 18-20

Courtesy of BoxOffice.com: 

1.  Mama - $28.1 million

2.  Zero Dark Thirty - $17.6 million

3.  Silver Linings Playbook - $11.3 million

4.  Gangster Squad - $9.1 million

5.  Broken City - $9 million

6.  A Haunted House - $8.3 million

7.  Django Unchained - $8.2 million

8.  Les Miserables - $7.8 million

9.  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - $6.4 million

10.  The Last Stand - $6.3 million

It was a good weekend for horror movies and Oscar hopefuls, but not so much for Arnold Schwarzenegger, as his big comeback, The Last Stand, turned out to be a box-office bust.  The movie barely managed to crack the top ten, landing (at least until the actuals are totalled up tomorrow) in tenth place, just behind The Hobbit, which has been in theaters for more than a month.  Yikes.

Meanwhile, moviegoers were seeing plenty of Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain this weekend, as the horror film Mama easily took first place with a terrific $28.1 million, and Zero Dark Thirty was in second place $17.6 million - dropping only 28% from its first-place finish last weekend.  So even if Mama takes the inevitable horror movie dive from here, at least the movie Chastain was actually nominated for remains the more popular of the two films. 

Fellow Best Actress nominee (and this weekend's SNL host) Jennifer Lawrence also had a good weekend, with Silver Linings Playbook finally - it's been in theaters for 10 weeks, longer than any other movie in the top 10 - going into wide release and earning a solid $11.3 million.  Other Oscar nominees continue to do well, with Django Unchained officially becoming Quentin Tarantino's highest grossing film with $138.3 million, and Les Miserables boosting its own total to $130.3 million.  Overseas, the musical has grossed an additional $115 million.  And while it may have only scored nominations in the technical categories, The Hobbit still has $300 million in its sights as its total went up to $287 million after this weekend.

This weekend's other dud was Broken City, which flopped with only $9 million.  The delayed Gangster Squad continued to underperfom, having only earned $32 million through its second weekend.

Next weekend is not looking like much, with Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (seriously?) opening in theaters, along with the comedy Movie 43.  Might be a good time to catch up on some of those Oscar movies, if you haven't already.