'Iron Man 3' Trailer Sneak Peak #s 1 & 2 Along With Teaser Poster

Yup, this is what it's come to.

No longer do we anticipate the release of a film by viewing its trailer but now we get to anticipate the trailers themselves with sneak peaks.  Think about that for a second.  Your anticipation builds for a film by watching a trailer which builds for that by watching a trailer in itself.

Anyway, Disney & Marvel have given us two sneak peaks from the first trailer for Iron Man 3 which goes online tomorrow.

My anticipation for IM3 is kind of meh considering the 2nd one was more of the same of the first but they do have Shane 'Lethal Weapon' Black directing this time (and co-writing as well) so here's hoping the man has come up with something great.

You can view both sneaks peaks below as well as the film's teaser poster with it's official synopsis:

Marvel Studios' "Iron Man 3" pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Ben Kingsley as the Mandarin in Iron Man 3 - Minus the Racism

This is about as politically-correct as it's gonna get. Ben Kingsley's playing the Mandarin in Iron Man 3, a villain dreaded in the translation from 1960s comics to 2012 multiplexes. For obvious reasons. I remember the mid 90s Shellhead cartoon, and accompanying toy-line featured a green-skinned (!) Mandarin. Me so sowwy indeed, 90s politically-incorrect Marvel!

Courtesy: Entertainment Weekly

Weekend Box Office: October 19-21

Courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1.  Paranormal Activity 4 - $30.2 million

2.  Argo - $16.6 million

3.  Hotel Transylvania - $13.5 million

4.  Taken 2 - $13.4 million

5.  Alex Cross - $11.7 million

6.  Sinister - $9 million

7.  Here Comes the Boom - $8.5 million

8.  Pitch Perfect - $7 million

9.  Frankenweenie - $4.4 million

10.  Looper - $4.2 million

It may have come in first place as expected this weekend, but Paranormal Activity 4's $30.2 million opening was as underwhelming as the movie itself (unfortunately) was.  Of course, the Paranormal movies are made for basically pocket change, so a $30.2 million opening is actually good news for any low-budget horror movie, but seeing as how Paranormal Activity 3 opened with $52.6 million a year ago, that's an alarming drop for this series.  Add in the awful reviews, not just from critics but from audiences who gave it a dreadful "C" Cinemascore rating, and it looks like they really dropped the ball on this fourth entry.  That's a shame, since the the third film was actually the best in the series.  Let's hope that the already-announced Paranormal Activity 5 gets its groove back this time next year.

More impressive was the second weekend performance of Argo, which dropped a mere 14% to earn an estimated $16.6 million.  The Iranian-hostage drama has earned $43.1 million so far.  Hotel Transylvania is still proving to be a family favorite for Halloween, earning another $13.5 million.  Taken 2 crossed the $100 million mark this weekend, earning $13.4 million.

This weekend's other new release, the revamped version of the Alex Cross series starring Tyler Perry, disappointed this weekend with only $11.7 million. 

In very limited release (4 theaters!) Oscar hopeful The Sessions opened very well, earning $121,000.

Next weekend, the Wachowskis are back to blow your mind with Cloud Atlas, Nickelodeon dives perilously close to R-rated comedy with Fun Size, the latest chapter in the Silent Hill series arrives just in time for Halloween, and surfers take to the big waves with Chasing Mavericks. 

David Oyelowo To Play Sugar Ray Robinson in Feature-Film Biopic

David Oyelowo (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, upcoming Jack Reacher) has signed on to play legendary boxer Sugar Ray Robinson in a feature-film biopic based on the Wil Haygood biography, Sweet Thunder: The Life And Times Of Sugar Ray Robinson.

The film will be produced by Moneyball producer Rachael Horovitz and written by Danny Strong (Game of Thrones).  Oyelowo will also executive produce the film which came together recently on the set of the Lee Daniels-directed The Butler, a film in which Oyelowo stars and Strong also wrote himself.

This is definitely a high-profile project as boxing films typically garner Oscar worthy buzz as well as breakout stardom.

Keep an eye on this project as it takes shape.

Sweet Thunder: The Life And Times of Sugar Ray Robinson [synopsis via Amazon]:

Sugar Ray Robinson was not only one of the most iconic figures of the fight game; almost all sportswriters agree that he was the greatest boxer of all time. This illuminating biography grounds the spectacular story of Robinson’s rise to greatness within the context of the fighter’s life and times. Born Walker Smith Jr. in 1921, Robinson’s early childhood was marked by the seething racial tensions and explosive race riots that infected the Midwest throughout the twenties and thirties. After his mother moved him and his sisters to the relative safety of Harlem, he came of age in the vibrant post-Renaissance years. It was there that--encouraged to box by his mother, who wanted him off the streets--he soon became a rising star, cutting an electrifying, glamorous figure, riding around town in his famous pink Cadillac. Beyond the celebrity, though, Robinson would emerge as a powerful, often controversial black symbol in a rapidly changing America.

From Robinson’s gruesome six-bout war with Jake “Raging Bull” LaMotta and his lethal meeting with Jimmy Doyle to his Harlem nightclub years and thwarted show-biz dreams, Haygood brings the champion’s story, in the ring and out, powerfully to life against a vividly painted backdrop of the world he captivated.

Source: Deadline

"California Solo" Poster & Trailer

LACHLAN MacALDONICH (Robert Carlyle) is former Britpop rocker who has settled into a comfortably numb existence in farm country just outside Los Angeles. By day, he works on an organic farm and travels regularly to the city’s farmers’ markets to sell produce. By night, he retreats to his crummy apartment to record "Flame-Outs," his podcast that recounts the tragic deaths of great musicians. The only spark in his humdrum existence is BEAU (Alexia Rasmussen), a lovely struggling actress and amateur chef who frequents the Silver Lake farmers’ market.

One night, Lachlan gets pulled over for a DUI, a charge that dredges up his past drug offense and threatens him with deportation. Lachlan’s only hope of staying in the U.S. is proving that his removal would cause “extreme hardship” to a U.S. citizen spouse or relative. Lachlan contacts his estranged ex-wife and daughter, raising past demons that he must finally confront. CALIFORNIA SOLO is a touching, human story about post-fame life and personal redemption.

Ready for Paranormal Activity 4?

Tonight, screenings offically roll out for Paranormal Activity 4, the latest chapter in the found-footage series about the world's most unfortunate demon-possessed family.  If you're heading out to see it this weekend - and trust me, it's worth it just for the audience reactions when all hell breaks loose - but you're not caught up on the story far, the Paranormal Activity folks were nice enough to put together a super-trailer that puts the previous movies in somewhat of a chronological order:

 Can't wait to see this one.  Paranormal Activity 4 is in theaters now

"Dragon" Starring Donnie Yen and Takeshi Kaneshiro Reveals Poster

Liu Jin-xi (Yen) is a village craftsman whose quiet life is irrevocably shattered by the arrival of two notorious gangsters in the local general store. When Liu single-handedly saves the shopkeeper’s life, he comes under investigation by detective Xu Bai-jiu (Kaneshiro). Convinced that Liu’s martial arts mastery belies a hidden history of training by one of the region’s vicious clans, Xu doggedly pursues the shy hero—and draws the attention of China’s criminal underworld in the process.

Brad Pitt May Go '20,000 Leagues Under' With David Fincher

If this happens, I'm in.

David Fincher - long attached to direct Disney's planned remake of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - is reportedly courting frequent collaborator Brad Pitt to star in the film.  Tylder Durden himself would play sailor Ned Land while an older A-list actor would vie for the anti-hero role of Captain Nemo.

Fincher has been keeping himself busy lately, directing the first couple episodes of the Kevin Spacey Netflix series House of Cards, but has been taking his time in choosing his next feature-film project.  The exceptional filmmaker is said to be waiting on a draft for the follow-up to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,  The Girl Who Played with Fire, but screenwriter Steve Zaillian is preferably taking his time.

Disney has yet to greenlight the project but has put Fincher on a three-month hold to see if they can finally get the big-budget tentpole off the ground.

Pitt has been keeping himself busy as well, finishing up re-shoots on next summer's World War Z and filming a small role in Ridley Scott's The Counselor.  Obviously, with Pitt's soon to be open schedule and his previous collaborations with Fincher in Se7en, Fight Club, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; there's a good chance he'll agree to star in the project.

Not to mention, Se7en screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker was said to be doing re-writes for Fincher on the film as well.

More on this project as it becomes available.

Source: Variety

Warner Brothers Yanking the Justice League Chain, Again

Warner Brothers won big yesterday in the courts over Superman. Today they're cocky. Their victory opens up the possibilities to utilize Supes past The Man of Steel next June, including sequels, cartoons and most importantly the oft-rumored, oft-planned, oft-sighed upon Justice League movie.

In lieu of said big win, the LA Times says the studio is "aiming" Justice League for summer 2015. Yes, intentionally pitting them against The Avengers 2:

"The studio is expected to accelerate development of a planned ‘Justice League’ movie that would join Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and other characters, according to a knowledgeable person not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Warner hopes to shoot the film next year and release it in the summer of 2015. The studio already has a 'Justice League' script in the works. Next it needs to attach a director and then cast the lead roles."

We've heard this kind of excitement before from studio-brass (That Wall-Street Journal Jeff Robinov interview I've often referenced). More likely scenario is the Man of Steel follow-up hitting that summer instead. Until more information gets out, one would be wise to not take this development to heart.

Warner Brothers Scores Key Superman Rights Win

The Siegel/Shuster heirs don't have my sympathy. And that bullshit "Letter" written by co-creator Jerry Siegel's daughter (You can read it here) was a piss-poor attempt at gaining fan-support against big-bad Time Warner. You totally aren't cynically thinking us fans are idiots and don't understand that this continued legal disputes against Warner won't affect Superman negatively.

I have one simple question were I ever in their presence. One they can't answer. When your dads created Superman and sold away the rights fair and square decades ago, what grounds do you have to claim money now? This is 100% about grabbing as much cash from the Big Blue Boy Scout and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

The LA Times has a great breakdown on the latest court rulings. It's all a bunch of legal word-salad but in lament's terms, Time Warner defeated the estate of co-creator Joe Shuster's attempt at terminating their half of the copyright. Essentially they tried to weasel their way outta a 1992 agreement:

"Had Warner and its DC Comics subsidiary lost the case, they would have soon been unable to continue using certain key elements of the Superman mythos -- including his super strength and speed, secret identity as Clark Kent and girlfriend Lois Lane --without reaching a costly new agreement with the estates of Shuster and co-creator Jerry Siegel."

That, in effect, means puts less pressure on Zack Snyder's The Man of Steel, which the studio would have been stuck with any changes to the Superman mythos from here on out until any settlements. Far from over but this means you won't stop seeing Superman in his red and blue suit beyond next year.