Trailer and One-Sheet For Edge of Darkness Unveiled

Regardless of your views (politics, religion, film, American Idol results, etc.), we can all agree on one thing. Mel Gibson hasn't been the same since The Passion of the Christ. I mean people used to love the guy. He was just a regular Joe who happened to be a movie-star headlining films that folks went to see in droves. One DUI and a drunken "The Jews control everything!" rant later, he lost us. Gibson became a member of a race of long-beloved stars who lost that touch with the general public becoming the butt of many of late-night jokes.

Same thing happened to Tom Cruise, as we all remember. After much hard work (most likely on the part of his publicist), he went back to his "Nice Guy" phase. But more importantly, he appeared to films that people actually paid money to see - his cameo in Tropic Thunder and the Bryan Singer-helmed WWII thriller Valkyrie. Now he's back in everyone's good graces.

And to his credit, Gibson has been attempting the same. He's made his public apologies (quiet a few times, in fact) and even did The Colonel that everyone enjoyed. I dare you not to laugh during that fake trailer. Now comes the ultimate test - old crazy Mel has a new film coming out in the form of Edge of Darkness. Will people check it out? 

Yahoo! Movies has the trailer (embedded below for your viewing pleasure) and Coming Soon has the film's theatrical one-sheet.

Favreau Doesn't Approve Of "The Avengers"

Jon Favreau sure has some "Geek Cred" on his resume. First playing sidekick to Ben Affleck as Foggy Nelson in 2003's "Daredevil". Next parking himself behind the lense and owning "Iron Man". Now Favreau is faced with the tall task of competing with his own success as he works on "Iron Man 2". At the press junket for "Couples Retreat" MTV had the pleasure of speaking with Favreau as they cruised around on a golf cart. Video & what I deem the most important quote below.

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

"It's going to be hard, because I was so involved in creating the world of Iron Man and Iron Man is very much a tech-based hero, and then with 'Avengers' you're going to be introducing some supernatural aspects because of Thor," he continued. "How you mix the two of those works very well in the comic books, but it's going to take a lot of thoughtfulness to make that all work and not blow the reality that we've created."

To me it doesn't sound like Jon Favreau is interested in injecting a technologically advanced Iron Man into a world that features an angry Nordic God wielding a giant hammer. I don't blame him, what's next a giant green angry monster or a guy fighting crime with a star spangled shield. Asking Favreau to direct "The Avengers" is like asking Christopher Nolan to direct "The Justice League". Do we really want to see Nolan struggling with the proper wind resistance needed to properly portray Wonder Woman's invisible plane. I think not.

I don't want Favreau tackling "The Avengers", his heart and mind aren't into it. Bring somebody in that can look at this project from the outside and attack it. Favreau is obviously too close to Iron Man and his love and passion for said character won't allow him to previs giant hammers. "Thor" seems like it is moving forward but "Captain America" might be buried under a thick chunk of ice somewhere, pun completely intended. When "The Avengers" finally does enter the world of production, if at all, we'll see a director who can embrace the world of technology and magic. I heard George Miller is available.

'Daybreakers' & "Doctor Parnassus" Posters

"Daybreakers" Poster Courtesy Of Latino Review

"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" Poster Courtesy of Coming Soon

J.J. Abrams Taking Over The Film World - One Project At A Time

J.J. Abrams has reached the level of success few genre filmmakers attain. He is a god among geeks standing shoulder-to-shoulder next to Christopher Nolan at the top of the mountain. And he has the massive popularity of Star Trek to thank. It’s the kind of scenario where his name will be suggested by studio executives and fanboys alike for any franchise that needs Adrenaline to the heart. In their eyes, he can do no wrong. That is until (or if?) he falters.

So what’s a geek god to do now that he’s had said success? Keep yourself up to your eyeballs in projects, of course.

First and foremost, there’s the Star Trek sequel which he’ll produce (with a strong indication that he may direct again), Mission: Impossible IV (developing with Tom Cruise), the comedy Morning Glory with Rachel McAdams and Harrison Ford coming July 2010 (produced by Abrams and directed by Roger Michell), The Untold Story of the World's Biggest Diamond Heist (which again he may or may not direct himself) and a just purchased “mystery project.”

That doesn’t include the various television-related items he’s working on. The much-popular Lost starts up its swan-song season this coming January 2010 and Fringe (with Trek screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman) is in its sophomore year. Plus there’s two forthcoming projects in development - the currently untitled “spy drama” recently set up at NBC and a “medical comedy” with Fox.

God knows what other projects are in development that haven't been announced yet. Knowing Abrams, quiet a few. For me, the bigger question is he stretching out a bit thin? Possibly. But one has to strike while the iron is hot.

David Tennant Joining Burke and Hare

After two months or so of waiting, it looks like director John Landis has found someone to starting grave-robbing next to Simon Pegg.

Bloody-Disgusting reports that David Tennant (soon to be exiting Doctor Who and rumored Hobbit candidate) will co-star in Burke and Hare along with the new Scotty.

If you’ll remember this is the horror/comedy chronicling the two 19^th century gents who made a killing (no pun intended) selling corpses to med schools…that they dug up themselves. And later supplied said dead folks the good old fashioned way by murdering people themselves.

The casting is perfectly fine and I’m sure it’ll be something worthwhile. But I have to admit all enthusiasm towards the project went straight to Hell after hearing Landis is one of many Hollywood douchebags jumping on the “Free Roman Polanski!” bandwagon. I’ve long been in the “Judge the art – not the artist!” category.

But goddammit, the idea that someone should be excused for raping a child just because he made a couple of great movies just…pisses me off. And I’m utterly disgusted by those who actually support that fucktard.

Brett Ratner Welcomes Fanboy Hatred

I just don’t understand this inane hatred for Brett Ratner. The dude’s made a couple of decent films like Red Dragon and The Family Man and seems likeable enough. Oh that’s right. “He ruined X-Men!” screams fanboys. Reality check, people. Ratner was brought so late into the game of X-Men: The Last Stand that he had little-to-no impact on key decisions made for the third installment.

The producers and 20^th Century Fox had already settled on the story, casting, locations, etc. under director Matthew Vaughn. But after he jumped ship at the 11^th Hour, they needed someone to do a “9 to 5” job in order to make its Memorial Day 2006 release, tell the DP where to point the camera, bullshit with the cast/crew between takes, etc. Ratner happened to be available just at that moment.

You wanna place the blame on someone? Take your hatred to the studio (for basically settling on a release date 100% to say “Fuck you!” to Bryan Singer for leaving to helm Superman Returns), the producers and Matthew Vaughn who cooked up the story with the screenwriters. Hell, one could even place a bit of blame on Singer too for jumping ship like he did (even though it was understandable and I’m personally on his side in that situation!)

But no, fuck the facts. It’s still all Ratner’s fault. Give me a break. It doesn’t help matters that Ratner himself is adding fuel to the fire with some of his recent statements like this month-old interview with Star Pulse - which for some odd and unexplained reason is just now making the rounds. To be fair, he makes some valid points like this one:

“Every single person that wrote shit went to see that movie multiple times because a movie doesn't gross $200 something million unless people go to see it more than once. Every single person who said, ‘I'm never seeing that movie,’ they were the first ones there.”

At the same time, he comes off like a douche stating that his solo X-Men outing remains the franchise’s highest grosser “by far.” 

Although that fact is undeniable (unless you're an idiot fanboy who ignores said facts), it's two-fold. Bryan’s first two films were so damn popular (and successful) that it didn’t matter who the Hell directed the third one. It was going to be a monster hit regardless based on how effective Bryan adapted that universe to the silver screen, cast the roles, etc. Can't have it both ways, Brett.

Then again, there's nothing he can do to "win" with some of these idiots.

Captain Kirk IS Jack Ryan

I think it's safe to say. Paramount and Chris Pine are officially BFFs.

Earlier this morning, it was revealed that the current Captain Kirk was in the middle of hammering out a deal to star in The Art of Making Money for the studio. Now cut to mere minutes ago and Variety reports that the actor is also in negotiations to headline their long-in-development Jack Ryan reboot.

If this follows through, he'll be the fourth actor to play the CIA analyst after Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck. He'd also have the distinction of being one of the few actors to juggle multiple franchises concurrently. Christian Bale gave it a shot on his Batman films with Christopher Nolan and Terminator: Salvation. Needless to say, the latter didn't work out as well as the former.

Interestingly, the article also adds its unclear whether the Ryan reboot (which is currently in rewrite stages and, as of yet, without a director) would film before or after Pine returns to the U.S.S. Enterprise for the Star Trek sequel. Considering that both properties are under the same studio, I think there's more to this than they'll willing to admit at the moment.

This adds fuel to the fire towards my theory that Trek 2 will beam into cinemas for summer 2012 instead of the originally announced 2011. No, I won't shut up about this until Paramount sends some goons over to my house. That or the theory is proven right or wrong. Either one.

In case you're wondering (or care), I do like the idea of Pine in the role. Let's just see who Paramount and producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mace Neufeld commission to direct before anyone starts nerdgasming and what not.

Captain Kirk Works Hard For the Money

God bless Chris Pine and/or his agent. He’s doing exactly what he should be to help his career in the long run. After exploding with Star Trek this past summer, he made the logical choice of taking on a role that didn’t involve science fiction, space, etc. Show the general public he can be more than just Captain Kirk in their eyes while there’s still time to avoid type-casting.

First he signed up to co-star in the Tony Scott/Denzel Washington action Unstoppable (which for awhile looked like it wasn’t happening). With that about to wrap filming, Pine has lined up another gig before commanding the U.S. Enterprise for its sophomore voyage – whenever that will happen.

As per Variety, he’ll headline The Art of Making Money, based on a Rolling Stone article-turned-book, playing counterfeiter Art Williams. D.J. Caruso will be sitting in the director’s chair with production possibly commencing at the start of 2010.

Hell if Pine will fit a third project into his schedule before the Star Trek sequel starts up, I say go for it. Maybe it’s just me, but I get the impression he knows that his current gravy-train with Trek won’t be long-term as say the Shat had it.

Warcraft Inches Closer to Actually Happening - Screenwriter Hired

While pimping the home video release for his underrated horror gem Drag Me To Hell (if you didn’t check it out during its theatrical run, shame on you!), director Sam Raimi gave an update on the World of Warcraft film. Remember, he signed up to helm the property with Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures forking over the mullah back in July.

He revealed to MTV Movies Blog that screenwriter Robert Rodat (credited for solely penning Saving Private Ryan) has been commissioned for writing duties. The project (simply titled Warcraft) is expected to fully move forward once Raimi finishes Spider-Man 4. Yeah, I’m still waiting for actual news to come from that production myself. Enough with this “Yeah, we’re writing it right now and we’ll start up next year” crap, man.

If there's anything Drag Me To Hell proved, it's that Raimi still has that "crazy" energy he became known and loved for among us film-fans back in the 80s. It also showed that he'll be able to move away from ol Webhead once he finally gathers up the strength to do so. The idea of him helming a fantasy film is just too damn intriguing to pass up. I mean there was that period where he could have directed The Hobbit after all.

'Couples' Causes A Zombie Retreat

Weekend Actuals: Oct. 9th - Oct. 11th

1 Couples Retreat $34,286,740
2 Zombieland $14,802,431
3 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs $11,527,480
4 Paranormal Activity $7,900,695
5 Toy Story / Toy Story 2 (3D) $7,766,643
6 Surrogates $4,268,314
7 The Invention of Lying $3,339,263
9 Capitalism: A Love Story $2,630,292
10 Fame (2009) $2,543,067