PIRANHA 3DD (2012)

RATING: 2/5

For the record, Alexandre Aja's extremely gory remake of PIRANHA (2010) wasn't as good as one might suggested. But at least that remake have its fair share of guilty-pleasure entertainment, and you've gotta admit that Aja knows well a lot about how to make a gory movie. Now here comes PIRANHA 3DD (no, that "3DD" is not a typo error), a follow-up that I bet a lot of those who've watched the remake, are naturally expecting something "bigger" or "more outrageous". Heck, even this sequel has been heavily promoted with the self-proclaimed tagline of "Double the action. Double the terror. Double the D's". However, PIRANHA 3DD fails to live up its "double the (insert the pun)" promise and instead delivers more of the same without the technical expertise that Aja has fashioned rather well in his remake. This time, there's no Aja in sight here as the sequel is replaced by FEAST director John Gulager. And Gulager is no Aja. What you get here instead is a cheap and uninspired follow-up that makes Aja's PIRANHA looks like a genre classic.

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Fan Bingbing May Be Part Of The Cast For IRON MAN 3!

Mainland Chinese superstar actress Fan Bingbing, who graced herself at international carpet events including this year's Cannes, has been widely praised for her stunning fashion sense. The 30-year-old actress has been long hinted she wants to enter Hollywood this year, and a news broke out that she may potentially sign on as the latest addition to the cast of Shane Black's upcoming IRON MAN 3. As of now, there's no official statement yet whether the casting of Fan Bingbing is actually takes place or not.

Still DMG Entertainment, the China-based production company which will be co-producing with Walt Disney, has already contacted Fan's agents to handle the offer and is now awaiting confirmation on whether or not she's interested.

On a related news, Yao Chen and Liu Ye have also been contacted about roles for IRON MAN 3. But DMG movie co-producer Dan Mintz has earlier revealed that Andy Lau wasn't contacted, but didn't rule out the possibility of working with the Hong Kong superstar.

Whichever the outcome is, Mintz has pointed out that IRON MAN 3 will feature plenty of Chinese actors and this third installment will incorporate elements of Chinese culture while remaining an international movie.

IRON MAN 3 is scheduled to hit theaters on May 2013.

What Makes Marvel's THE AVENGERS Such A Box-Office Phenomenon?

By now, I guess (everybody) knows how enormously successful Marvel's THE AVENGERS is, both critically and financially at the worldwide box-office. As of this writing, THE AVENGERS has already grossed an astounding $486.3 million in just 22 days at the U.S. box-office alone, and also earned its spot at No. 4 (beating STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 - THE PHANTOM MENACE's $474.5 million) for the all-time domestic box-office results! So deep down, what makes THE AVENGERS such a phenomenal summer-movie blockbuster at the first place?

1. KEEPING THE PROMISE OF A "BIG THING" WILL COME AFTER A SERIES OF POST-CREDITS TEASERS FROM INDIVIDUAL MOVIES.

Beginning from 2008's IRON MAN to 2011's CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, all these Marvel-produced superhero movies have interlinked altogether to mash up for the all-star superheroes movie extravaganza called THE AVENGERS. And for that, the studio holds the promise well enough to justify all the long wait where die-hard fans and moviegoers alike are reward with a spectacular movie it's hard to give it a miss.

2. DIRECTOR JOSS WHEDON KNOWS WHAT FANS WANTS FOR A SUPERHERO MOVIE.

In order to make THE AVENGERS works in full circle, choosing the right director is the most crucial aspect for this process to be successful. THE AVENGERS was originally opted for Jon Favreau (IRON MAN, IRON MAN 2) to direct before subsequently bowed out to make way for a little-known director named Joss Whedon, who is only primarily known for his extensive TV background including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Angel, and Dollhouse. However, the studio made a very risky but right choice to put him in charge for THE AVENGERS. Well, the huge gamble pays off handsomely because Whedon is a die-hard comic book fans himself who knows how to handle such material inside out. Unlike most big-budget superhero movie (e.g. Brett Ratner's X-MEN: THE LAST STAND), Whedon is given creative freedom to make an entertaining genre with a fundamental and technical know-how.

3. DIRECTOR JOSS WHEDON KNOWS HOW TO PUT THE "FUN" BACK INTO AN OTHERWISE "DARK AND BROODING" SUPERHERO MOVIE PLAGUED LATELY IN HOLLYWOOD

Okay, don't get me wrong here about all the criticism about those "dark and brooding" undertones that plagued (most) superhero movies nowadays especially if you notice the trend that many filmmakers wanted to ape Christopher Nolan's filmmaking techniques he did so successfully in BATMAN BEGINS (2005) and THE DARK KNIGHT (2008). It's just that not all superhero movies are suited to "dark and brooding" approach. So in THE AVENGERS, Whedon made a wise choice not to jump the bandwagon but instead, making his movie an all-out fun and entertaining movie for the masses.

4. DIRECTOR JOSS WHEDON KNOWS HOW TO MAKE GOOD USE OF EACH INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERS TO STRUT THEIR OWN STUFFS.

Superheroes ensemble like THE AVENGERS is actually not easy to pull off, especially so many superheroes characters shared at the same space. Look at movies like X-MEN trilogy, which they are generally showcased the most popular character to strut their stuff while others are neglected to fillers. Not so for THE AVENGERS here. Even less-popular superhero characters like Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Agent Hill (Cobie Smulders) are given enough limelights to show off their action skills.

5. DIRECTOR JOSS WHEDON KNOWS HOW TO INJECT COMIC RELIEFS AT THE RIGHT TIMING

Ever heard the famous quote that reads "dying is easy, comedy is hard"? Well, if a superhero movie ends up too jokey, it can ruins the entire premise into a self-parody. But Joss Whedon manages to pull this off handsomely with a load of comic reliefs here without being ridiculous. The good news is, (all) of them are spot-on hilarious (my personal favorite is the sarcastic encounter between Loki and Hulk) while Whedon's penchant for witty dialogues are simply unforgettable.

6. DIRECTOR JOSS WHEDON KNOWS HOW TO GIVE WAY FOR HIS ACTORS TO LET LOOSE

THE AVENGERS is certainly blessed with an all-star, yet highly talented cast. Each of them are given the chance to shine in their roles. In fact, they make such a great ensemble. I mean, the way they bickering at each other and such (e.g. Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark/Iron Man quibbles against Chris Evans' Steve Rogers/Captain America), are just fun enough to watch for.

7. DIRECTOR JOSS WHEDON KNOWS ACTION VERY WELL

Action-movie trend nowadays are all about rapid-fire/incomprehensible editing and jerky camerawork. But Whedon knows that resulting into this tired tactic is really a side-splitting headache for fans to enjoy their favorite characters in action. So he favors all the action scenes shot steadily so fans can see what's going on loud and clear.

8. SAVE THE BEST FOR THE LAST

THE AVENGERS is a classic example of an action-oriented genre where the best scene is saved for the climactic finale. Once again, Whedon pulls this off with a flying color. The all-hell-breaks-loose destruction at New York City which pitches The Avengers against Loki and an army of Chitauris is no doubt one of the most spectacular action scenes ever made in a long while.

9. DIRECTOR JOSS WHEDON KNOWS HOW TO ELABORATE KEY ACTION SCENES

By now, you should know that THE AVENGERS' most popular scene is the 30-minute, action-packed finale. I admit it's not easy to pull this off continuously but Whedon does it so well with varied camera techniques and even upped the excitement by orchestrating an unbroken long take following each of The Avengers fighting off against the Chitauris on their space chariots.

10. A PROMISE OF "BIGGER THING" WILL COME AT THE POST-CREDITS TEASER

Die-hard fans of THE AVENGERS' comic book should know that there are so much story to tell. Midway throughout the end credit, it's best not to leave your seat yet because Whedon reveals an all-important character that will make way for sequel(s) to come.

Even though THE AVENGERS isn't a pitch-perfect superhero movie by all means, it remains one of the best superhero movies ever seen in a long while. Additionally, you can check out my review here.

MEN IN BLACK 3 (2012)

RATING: 2.5/5

When we last saw MEN IN BLACK II (2002), that was like 10 years ago. So what's been keeping off MEN IN BLACK 3 to arrive sooner back then? To begin with, this long-delayed third installment of the successful MEN IN BLACK franchise has gone a treacherous journey to finally make it to the big screen -- troubled shoot without a finished script, production delays, and a particularly controversial Will Smith's 53-foot trailer (nicknamed "The Heat") which angered Manhattan residents during the filming process last year. And thanks to all the delays and hiatuses, MEN IN BLACK 3 costs a staggering $215 million budget to complete this notoriously-difficult production. When this movie finally came out, I went in with a low expectation (after all, a big-budget tentpole movie with so much negative buzz is always a disaster). But to my surprise, MEN IN BLACK 3 proves to be quite a decent sequel. The good news is, this third installment is a huge improvement over the messy MEN IN BLACK II. But the bad news is, this movie doesn't quite matches the entertainment level of the first MEN IN BLACK (1997).

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DARK SHADOWS (2012)

RATING: 2/5

Prior to the release of Tim Burton's highly-anticipated, big screen adaptation of TV's Dark Shadows, I admit I never come across this popular cult series before. But this four decades-old classic gothic soap opera proves to be personal favorites for both Tim Burton, Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer when they were young. And it's no doubt that Tim Burton is a natural choice to direct DARK SHADOWS. After all, (nobody) does quirky gothic elements better than Burton himself. Too bad his eighth collaboration with Johnny Depp proves to be another creative misfire since their last outing in 2010's ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Not only that, DARK SHADOWS is also their worst collaboration to date. It's really hard to believe, especially given the source material that they suppose to pull it off with relative ease. Instead what you get here is a listless gothic drama that doesn't really goes anywhere (read: interesting).

The movie opens with a brief prologue as we learn how 18th century fishing mogul Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), who is also the master of Collinwood Manor, located near the seaside Maine town of Collinsport, is being cursed with a stroke of bad luck by a jealous witch named Angelique (Eva Green). It begins with the unfortunate death of Barnabas' parents and also caused his true love, Josette DuPres (Bella Heathcote) plunges to her death down the ocean cliff. Angelique also ends up cursing him into a vampire and subsequently left buried deep in the earth by the angry community.

Cut to some 200 years later in 1972, Barnabas is finally awaken from his chained grave after being dug up by a construction crew. He makes his way back to Collinwood Manor and discovers that his home is now resided by Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer), live-in psychiatrist Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), rebellious teenage daughter Carolyn Stoddard (Chloe Grace Moretz), Elizabeth's widowed brother Roger (Jonny Lee Miller) and a young governess named Victoria Winters (Heathcote, again) who is hired to look after young David Collins (Gully McGrath) to get over the mysterious death of his beloved mother. As Barnabas gets acquainted with his distant ancestors, he also learns that Angelique has nearly driven his family out of business and turned the townspeople against them. But he pledged to restore his family's once-successful fishing business to its former glory. At the same time, he also falls in love with Victoria, which is ironically looks identical to her beloved Josette who died two centuries ago. When Angelique discovers that Barnabas is back, she vows to make him suffer again at all cost.

It's a shame that Seth Grahame-Smith's adapted screenplay wastes a lot of time going around in empty circles with nothing much going on in the story. Most of the movie here are all unnecessary fillers that it takes its sweet time to get to the point. Even though the movie does have its (short) moments of fun parodying the 1970s pop culture especially when Barnabas is trying to adapt to the particular era, the jokes are average at best. And by the time the story finally gets its act together during the climactic finale (ramped-up action scene and unexpected twists), it's just too little and too late to redeem its wasted potential altogether.

Cast-wise, Johnny Depp is typically good when comes to his trademark hilariously deadpan performance. It's just too bad the lackluster story doesn't gives him much room to improve his character further. In the meantime, Eva Green almost steals the limelight out of Depp with her perfectly diabolical turn as Angelique. The rest of the supporting cast, however, are mostly wasted here. Not even the highly-anticipated presence of Michelle Pfeiffer (who supposed to return big-time here) is actually worthwhile. The less said for Jonny Lee Miller and Chloe Grace Moretz the better because their presence here are merely fillers.

As for the technical credits, DARK SHADOWS is gorgeous enough to look at. From Bruno Delbonnel's eerily atmospheric cinematography to Rick Heinrich's elaborate production design, all the visuals here are nevertheless a feast for the eyes.

Catwoman Spikes Her Cat's Tooth Boots On The Batman Symbol In THE DARK KNIGHT RISES New Poster!

Not getting enough of THE DARK KNIGHT RISES posters galore that have been spreading all over the internet so far? Well, how about this latest poster of Christopher Nolan's upcoming trilogy-ending finale which features Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) showing off her Cat's Tooth boots spikes on the Batman's (Christian Bale) symbol? Check it out right below.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES hits theaters on July 19.

GET THE GRINGO (2012)

RATING: 2/5

Lately, Mel Gibson's offscreen bad antics have really ruined his reputations as a Hollywood's A-list superstar. His previous two "comeback" movies, EDGE OF DARKNESS (2010) and THE BEAVER (2011), failed to ignite box-office success. This year, the once-bankable superstar attempts to make (yet) another comeback in a tongue-in-cheek, neo-noir thriller titled GET THE GRINGO (previously known as HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION). Here, Gibson who also acts, produces and writes the movie, made a boldest move by releasing his movie primarily straight-to-VOD (video on demand) instead of a wide theatrical release. Whatever marketing tactic Gibson is trying to pull here, the good news is that this movie does sounds and looks like a vintage Mel Gibson in a classic action-movie mode (at least that's what the promotional trailers have indicated so far). Make no mistake, GET THE GRINGO does possesses some of those quick wits and robust violence you've come to expect from an action movie starring Mel Gibson. It's only too bad that the movie is mostly a half-baked effort.

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All The Glitz, Glamour And Swagger In Baz Luhrmann's THE GREAT GATSBY Trailer!

Baz Luhrmann's long-awaited, big-budget romance drama THE GREAT GATSBY starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton, is finally debuts with the first trailer. Check out the lavish footage below to see what's the fuss is all about.

THE GREAT GATSBY hits U.S. theaters on December 25.

Batman, Bane And Catwoman In THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Character Posters!

Three character posters from Christopher Nolan's highly-anticipated THE DARK KNIGHT RISES has unveiled over at Yahoo! Movies. Check out these one-sheets below to get a full look of Batman (Christian Bale), Bane (Tom Hardy) and Catwoman (Anne Hathaway).

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES opens on July 19.

A Fire Will Rise In The New DARK KNIGHT RISES Poster!

The highly-anticipated new poster from Christopher Nolan's trilogy-ending THE DARK KNIGHT RISES is finally unveiled from the movie's official Facebook page! Check it out below!

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES hits locally on July 19, one day before the U.S. opening on July 20.

Feel The Adrenaline Rush From The New MOTORWAY Trailer!

Soi Cheang's long-awaited action movie MOTORWAY will be hitting our local theaters on June 28 next month. In the meantime, check out the new Hong Kong trailer of this highly-anticipated blockbuster to catch Shawn Yue and Anthony Wong in action behind the wheels, right below.

SKYFALL Teaser Trailer Is Finally Here!

The long-awaited 007 latest adventure is finally arrived with the official teaser trailer! Check out the footage to get a glimpse of Daniel Craig returning as the iconic James Bond as he caught in the action for the third time, right below.

SKYFALL opens in theaters on November 1.

[UPDATE] Jackie Chan Doesn't Really Quits Fighting After All!

Yesterday, I'm sure many fans around the world are shocked (and disappointed) to learn that action superstar Jackie Chan announced to the media he quit doing action movie while promoting his upcoming CHINESE ZODIAC at the Cannes Film Festival. But Jackie Chan is quickly responded to the news stories via his Facebook page stating:

Hello all my friends and fans,

Yesterday in my press conference in Cannes for Chinese 12 Zodiac I said that this movie was my last big action movie.

Today I was shocked when I woke up to read all the news coverage that I was retiring from doing Action movies.

I just want to let everyone know that I am not retiring from doing action movies. What I meant to say is that I need to do less of the life risking stunts on my movies. After all these years of doing so many stunts and breaking so many bones, I need to take better care of my body so I can keep working.

I will continue to do international action movies.

And I will keep improving my English :-)

I love all of you!

Jackie

(Whew!) There you have it! It's really a relief that Jackie Chan doesn't really quits doing action movie after all. Even though he'll be doing less death-defying stunts than his previous movies, I'm sure this news is far better than he claims he quits doing action movie entirely.

New Poster And Trailer From Jackie Chan's CHINESE ZODIAC!

Action superstar Jackie Chan is currently promoting his last action movie, CHINESE ZODIAC, which due here on December 13, at Cannes Film Festival. And here's the teaser poster as well as the eagerly-awaited first official trailer from his latest action-adventure blockbuster right below.

Jackie Chan Quits Fighting After CHINESE ZODIAC!

Action superstar Jackie Chan has cited many times he would like to concentrate more on acting, rather than spending his entire career focusing solely in action movie. According to AP, the Hong Kong actor said that his upcoming action adventure CHINESE ZODIAC will be his last action movie.

Chan, who had recently launching the movie at the Cannes Film Festival with co-stars Kwone Sang Woo, Yao Xingtong and Liao Fan, said that people finds it hard to believe when he says he's going to retire.

They say 'no, you're still young, you can still do it', but I have to stop one day."

In CHINESE ZODIAC, due December 13, the 58-year-old plays a fortune hunter who travels around the world trying to locate the missing astrological antiques. He has spent seven years working on the movie, in which he writes, produces, directs and coordinating fight scenes.

For the last ten years I've been choosing the director to direct me. This one I direct myself." he said. "I hope this movie, 20 years later, people still remember it. For me, for the audience, for my future, for my history — it's very important

He also added that CHINESE ZODIAC, and many other action movies before it, have finally taken their toll on his body.

It hurts, it really hurts. The shoulder, the ankle, it really hurts. You don't know because I still look healthy.

After quitting action movies, he will flex more on his acting skills.

When I look at Hollywood, at Robert De Niro, he can do anything — comedy, drama. Clint Eastwood— 60-70 years old, he can still move. I said yes, that's my goal. Because action stars' life is so short. Actor's life is very long. I want to show audiences I can act.

Ryan Reynolds Is The Hot Favorite For HIGHLANDER Reboot!

It's been quite some time since Summit Entertainment has broke the news that HIGHLANDER reboot is greenlighted, and director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is attached to direct. Now, hot in-demand actor Ryan Reynolds has been heavily tipped for the role of Connor MacLeod, which was previously played by Christopher Lambert.

It is uncertain at this time whether an actual offer has been made, but the actor is reportedly in talks for the role nonetheless.

HIGHLANDER is expected to hit theaters in 2014.

Original BLADE RUNNER Writer Hampton Fancher Enlisted For The Sequel!

Ever since Alcon Entertainment announced the plan for more BLADE RUNNER movies, it has been debatable whether it's going to be a prequel or sequel. Now that original director Ridley Scott has already confirmed his comeback, another good news has surfaced that original BLADE RUNNER writer Hampton Fancher is in talks to pen an idea for an untitled sequel to that landmark sci-fi masterpiece. Note that it's going to be a sequel after all.

As for now, no plot details are revealed other than confirming the fact that the story will be be set "some years after the first movie concluded".

New SKYFALL Poster Sees James Bond Walking In Style!

Check out the new poster below from Sam Mendes' upcoming Bond adventure, SKYFALL, which sees Daniel Craig reprised his role for the third time as the suave Agent 007.

SKYFALL hits theaters on November 1.

Rachel McAdams And Noomi Rapace Ignites The Passion In Brian De Palma's PASSION Poster!

It's been a long while since once-acclaimed director Brian De Palma (DRESSED TO KILL, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, FEMME FATALE) made headline in the Hollywood. But his latest erotic thriller, PASSION, looks set to be his potential comeback. The movie centers on the power struggle between two contemporary women played by Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace, in which both of them involves in a game of seduction and manipulation. Sounds like a sizzler to me. While I bet a lot of die-hard fans are eagerly awaited for his new movie, check out the international sales poster below. That's not all, there's six images as well. PASSION is expected to hit theaters in 2013.

 

THE SOCIAL NETWORK Scribe Aaron Sorkin Adapts STEVE JOBS Biopic!

Academy Award winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (THE SOCIAL NETWORK) is will be adapting the much-anticipated biopic of the legendary Apple co-founder simply titled as STEVE JOBS, which is based on the best-selling biography written by award-winning journalist Walter Isaacson. Here's what Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment has to say about Sorkin's participation in this biopic:

Steve Jobs' story is unique: he was one of the most revolutionary and influential men not just of our time but of all time. There is no writer working in Hollywood today who is more capable of capturing such an extraordinary life for the screen than Aaron Sorkin; in his hands, we're confident that the film will be everything that Jobs himself was: captivating, entertaining, and polarizing.

STEVE JOBS is slated to hit theaters in 2013.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 4-Minute Preview Is... Amazing!

Is it me or the once-skeptical reboot of SPIDER-MAN franchise is actually looks like a good idea after all? Well, at least for this exclusive 4-minute preview from Marc Webb's upcoming comic-book movie blockbuster, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, which hits theaters on July 5. Check out the amazing footage right below.

THE GANGSTER SQUAD First Trailer Is Awesome!

Sean Penn goes full Al Pacino-like mode as the lead gangster, Mickey Cohen? How about a stellar cast featuring Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Giovanni Ribisi, Emma Stone, Nick Nolte, Michael Pena and Robert Patrick? From the look of the first trailer at Ruben Fleischer's highly-anticipated gangster drama THE GANGSTER SQUAD, I just can't help it but feel all pumped up that the director might be pulling Brian De Palma's THE UNTOUCHABLES-like gangster classic-in-the-making. Check out the exciting video below.

GONE (2012)

RATING: 1/5

On paper, Brazilian director Heitor Dhalia's Hollywood feature debut in GONE sounds like a potential psychological thriller: Amanda Seyfried plays Jill, a former kidnapping victim who also previously institutionalized following the death of her parents. She claimed she managed to escape from death a year ago when a mysterious man abducted her and dump her in deep down a well-like hole somewhere in Portland, Oregon's Forest Park. However the police found no evidence of the crime after her escape whatsoever. A year later, she is convinced that the same kidnapper is back for revenge, and this time her sister Molly (Emily Wickersham) has gone missing. Wasting no time, Jill races against the time to play vigilante in an effort to find the kidnapper all by herself, especially when the head of the police detective Powers (Daniel Sunjata) who previously handled her last case, claimed she is delusional all over again. So the biggest question: is Jill really delusional or Molly's sudden disappearance turns out to be true after all?

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Gareth Evans' Indonesian Actioner THE RAID Gets Claymated!

This year's hottest action movie, THE RAID, has been making waves in the film festival circuits as well as die-hard action fans around the world. Now for a bit of fun, check out Lee Hardcastle's parody version of the critically-acclaimed movie made entirely with claymation cats right below! (Note: it's really gory for claymation though, so obviously it's not for kids!)

Disney CEO Bob Iger On The Prospect For THE AVENGERS Sequel!

With Marvel's THE AVENGERS already made box-office opening weekend history with a whopping $207.4 million at the U.S., as well as additional $475.8 million at the international box-office -- a worldwide total of $700 million!, there's no surprise that Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger is very happy with the result. Now he has spoken with CNBC about the huge success of THE AVENGERS and further comments about the future for the cinematic Marvel Universe in the coming years.

The Avengers isn't just a film. It's a franchise from our perspective. Obviously, it was helped a lot by the success of the 'Iron Man' movies and of 'Thor' and 'Captain America'. From 'The Avengers' we get a chance to make 'Thor 2' and 'Captain America 2' and 'Iron Man 3' and hopefully another 'Avengers' movie. So this one film that is immensely successful... is going to get a number of other films and franchises.

We have an ability to leverage what was a very fun film done by a great group of filmmakers into something much bigger for the company, and the effect will be prolonged and that's very, very exciting for us.

As for now, we get to see three upcoming Marvel movies as follows: IRON MAN 3 and THOR 2 in 2013, followed by CAPTAIN AMERICA 2 in 2014. In addition, the studio has also announced plans for an as-of-yet-undisclosed project set to be released on May 16, 2014. Currently there's no confirmation whether the mysterious project is going to be the much-anticipated AVENGERS sequel or a movie based on a new Marvel Universe character.

Cole Hauser To Terrorize Bruce Willis In A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD!

Another supporting role has been added in A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD, the fifth installment of the lucrative DIE HARD series. The actor in question is Cole Hauser, who will play a villain named Collins. Both Hauser and Bruce Willis, who returns as the indestructible John McClane, have previously worked together in HART'S WAR (2002 and TEARS OF THE SUN (2003).

A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD hits theaters on February 14, 2013.

SHAME (2011)

RATING: 5/5

An unflinching look at the life of a sex addict, British director Steve McQueen's SHAME is a fearlessly uncompromising, yet mesmerizing drama anchored by Michael Fassbender's tour de force performance.

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THE AVENGERS Breaks All-Time U.S. Box-Office Opening Weekend Record With A Whopping $200.3 Million!

All hails Marvel's THE AVENGERS as the well-received crowd pleaser has pulled off the biggest win for the U.S. box-office opening weekend record with an estimated $200.3 million from 4,349 locations! This astounding record has certainly flew beyond the $169.1 million of previous record-holder HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 last summer. Wow.

James Cameron ONLY Wants To Make AVATAR Movies!

Last month, director James Cameron has expressed great interest that he's still keen on doing the long-gestating BATTLE ANGEL movie. Heck, he's even insisted that he'll never let go of this project either.

But apparently, all that signs of promise is merely smokes-and-mirrors when Cameron says things otherwise during his recent visit to China for the Beijing Film Festival. Here's what he says below:

I’ve divided my time over the last 16 years over deep ocean exploration and filmmaking. I’ve made two movies in 16 years, and I’ve done eight expeditions. Last year I basically completely disbanded my production company’s development arm. So I’m not interested in developing anything. I’m in the Avatar business. Period. That’s it. I’m making Avatar, Avatar 2, Avatar 3, maybe Avatar 4, and I’m not going to produce other people’s movies for them. I’m not interested in taking scripts. And that all sounds I suppose a little bit restricted, but the point is I think within the Avatar landscape I can say everything I need to say that I think needs to be said, in terms of the state of the world and what I think we need to be doing about it. And doing it in an entertaining way. And anything I can’t say in that area, I want to say through documentaries, which I’m continuing.

Now all of the sudden, Cameron wants to devote his time entirely by developing more AVATAR sequels? If this turns to be true, it will be a devastating news for many die-hard fans out there expecting Cameron to develop something more than just sticking to AVATAR sequels. I mean, he's one of the most visionary filmmakers of all-time and I can't see anybody else (as for now) developing BATTLE ANGEL other than Cameron himself.

TOP 10 MUST-SEE SUMMER MOVIES OF 2012!

1. THE AVENGERS (APRIL 27)

At the time of this writing, Marvel's THE AVENGERS has pulled off an amazing estimate of $80.5 million on the Friday opening day at U.S. box-office, making it the second-biggest opening day for a movie ever (last year's HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 2 still hold the record with $91 million). This well-received superhero movie has already grossed $415 million in worldwide box-office.

Nonetheless, THE AVENGERS is a great summer popcorn movie extravaganza. You can check out my full review right here.

2. PROMETHEUS (JUNE 7)

Fanboys will be rejoiced that veteran director Ridley Scott has made a timely comeback into science fiction genre after previously helmed timeless classics including 1979's ALIEN and 1982's BLADE RUNNER. What's more, PROMETHEUS is actually a prequel to that groundbreaking ALIEN. Judging by the numerous trailers so far, this highly-anticipated sci-fi adventure shows a lot of promise. A classic-in-the-making? Probably.

3. BRAVE (JUNE 21)

Last year, Pixar suffered a (minor) setback in the heavily-criticized CARS 2. But this year, the animation studio is set to bounce back into top form with a Scotland-set medieval action-adventure BRAVE.

4. G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (JUNE 21)

Forget about the fact that Jon M. Chu is an odd choice to direct this kind of summer movie blockbuster (yup, he's the guy who helmed STEP UP 2: THE STREETS). Subsequent trailers so far has indicated that G.I. JOE: RETALIATION has plenty of stylish action and explosive entertainment to boot. After all, it's especially hard to ignore that more new iconic characters appear in this much-anticipated sequel. Case in point: Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock, Adrianne Palicki as Lady Jaye, Elodie Yung as Jinx and of course -- Cobra Commander!

5. ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER (JUNE 28)

The title itself is more than enough to warrant this as one of the most conceptual summer movie extravaganzas of the year. Cool premise, with plenty of stylish action set-piece. Simply love all the slow-mo glory, since this is helmed by none others than WANTED director Timur Bekmambetov and produced by Tim Burton himself.

6. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (JULY 5)

When Sony announced that they are rebooting SPIDER-MAN franchise, following from Sam Raimi's heavily-criticized SPIDER-MAN 3 back in 2007, I was shell-shocked. But subsequent trailers (especially the new one, where you can check it out below) has indicated that director Marc Webb shows a lot of promises in rebooting this much-beloved franchise with a different light. Among the most interesting factor about this reboot is the "untold story" of Peter Parker's (Andrew Garfield) parents, which is yet to be explored in any previous SPIDER-MAN movies. Plus, the acrobatic action sequence and the special effects are simply eye-catching.

7. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (JULY 19)

To me, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES is the most anticipated summer movies of the year. After making such worldwide impact in 2008's THE DARK KNIGHT, I'm sure (everybody) are all hyped up to see how Christopher Nolan can bring his highly-praised Batman trilogy to an epic conclusion. The late Heath Ledger's iconic performance as The Joker in THE DARK KNIGHT aside, I'm eager to see how Tom Hardy can pull off a would-be amazing performance as Bane. After all, Bane isn't much a popular character in Batman universe especially for mainstream audience.

8. TOTAL RECALL (AUGUST 2)

Paul Verhoeven's TOTAL RECALL (1990) was one of the most iconic sci-fi movies of the '90s. Not only that, it's also one of the most popular movies Arnold Schwarzenegger has ever made. So a reported $200 million budget reboot sounds like a (terribly) risky choice. I mean, Colin Farrell stepping in as Douglas Quaid? But when the first full trailer arrived, I'm convinced that UNDERWORLD and DIE HARD 4.0 director Len Wiseman knows what he's doing. The new TOTAL RECALL is devoid of Mars setting, and the special effects shown in the trailer is top-notch and more high-tech. Plus, it's hard to ignore that Kate Beckinsale plays a bad-ass villain and Jessica Biel as the good side.

9. THE BOURNE LEGACY (AUGUST 9)

Let's get one thing straight -- Matt Damon is simply irreplaceable as the iconic Jason Bourne. So when Damon and director Paul Greengrass decided not to continue with the lucrative BOURNE franchise, all hopes are gone. But still, Universal takes a huge gamble by expanding the BOURNE universe by introducing new character. Then again, they made a right choice anyway by casting the currently on-demand actor Jeremy Renner as the lead. So far, the teaser has indicated that THE BOURNE LEGACY does evokes that familiar sense of sheer urgency previously seen in the BOURNE trilogy.

10. THE EXPENDABLES 2 (AUGUST 17)

More action, more iconic stars, and more of "everything". And the new trailer has clearly shown just that in THE EXPENDABLES 2. This is definitely a heaven-sent for all action fans out there. I mean, how often you get all those familiar iconic faces from the '80s and '90s action genre (Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and many others) appear in one movie?

THE HULK Is Getting (Third Time) Reboot In 2015!

Of all the recent Marvel's comic-book movie, HULK movies have been generating lackluster response in term of satisfying box-office returns. Case in point: Ang Lee's HULK (2003) and Louis Leterrier's THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2008).

But Hulk has now made positive headline when he appears for the third time in Marvel's THE AVENGERS which have already making waves for both international and domestic box-office (with currently an impressive $18.7 million from midnight screenings -- a record-breaking triumph for superhero movie!). In fact, Mark Ruffalo (the third actor who portrayed Hulk after Eric Bana and Edward Norton) has been widely praised by critics and viewers alike. Because of the overwhelming response, Marvel now already has plans for a new Hulk reboot in 2015!

Hopefully this time, they get it right because frankly, a reboot this much is just annoying.

THE EXPENDABLES 2 New Trailer Is Extremely Bad-Ass!

Action fans, THE EXPENDABLES 2 explosive new trailer is finally here! Check out the exciting footage below to catch Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Liam Hemsworth, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis in action!

THE EXPENDABLES 2 hits theaters on August 17.

Terry Crews Urges You To Check Out THE EXPENDABLES 2 Teaser Of An Upcoming Trailer!

Bucking on the recent (annoying) trend of a teaser trailer for the trailer, Lionsgate is now jumping the similar bandwagon as well. But at least, the studio goes one step ahead by having fun with the trend. And here's THE EXPENDABLES 2 teaser trailer for the trailer, which features one of the stars, Terry Crews doing his typical Old Spice-like commercial shout-out. Check out the video below.

THE EXPENDABLES 2 explodes into theaters on August 17.