Director Ridley Scott's new movie "Prometheus" is being referred to as a prequel to his classic movie hit "Alien". After seeing the trailer I realize that Ridley Scott can do no wrong. This movie looks like it will deliver the goods and then some.                   
                                                                        

                                                                                                  

      Word has it that Director Peter Jackson's movie version of  "The Hobbit" will be broken into two parts in order to have a more faithful adaptation of the book. The movie like the book predates the events that take place in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and tells the story of young Bilbo Baggins , Frodo's uncle and the what amounts to the original "Fellowship of the Ring".

                   

                                                                          

     Originally promoted as a spring release, "Justice League: Doom" is the latest offering from Warner Bros Animation the people who brought us "Batman: The Animated Series", "Superman: The Animated Series", "Batman Beyond", "Justice League", and "Justice League Unlimited". The trailer gives you a mere taste of what an awesome animated movie which is soon to be released on Blu-ray and DVD this February, will be. Loosely based on the " Justice League" comic book story arc "Tower of Babel, which is available in trade paperback. The movie which was written by the late Dwayne McDuffie, whose writing credits are far reaching, is a testimony to his talent as a writer.

                                                                                       

    

      The special features on Warner Bros Animated DVD's always have great features that reveal the next DC Animated movie. This feature reveals a great deal of detail that went into creating this particular animated movie and what thought processes went into putting it together. This an inside look at the making of "Justice League: Doom".

                                                                                  

 

 

                                                                                     

A new trailer for  "Dark Knight Rises" has been released and the word epic does not even come close to describing this movie. Director Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale clearly want to end the trilogy with a bang. This movie will have more twists and turns than your stomach could handle.

           

  "The Avengers" is probably the summer's biggest anticipated movie blockbuster following "The Dark Knight Rises" and I personally wish they were being released now I'm am chomping at the bit to see them. In case you have no idea what I'm talking about here's the trailer. Don't blink.

                                                                                                                                                                                


   Sam Worthington is back in the sequel to "Clash of the Titans" entitled "Wrath of the Titans". I haven't heard the synopsis of the plot and frankly, who cares , the sequel looks more action packed than the first, and that was no slumber party.

 

                                                                            


The 2nd trailer for "John Carter" a movie based on the character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the writer that also gave us Tarzan. As a kid I enjoyed reading all the books by Burroughs, they were chock full of action and adventure.

    


Unfortunately, a bit of sad news with the passing of two giants from the comic world.

Before Captain America was the star of last summer’s blockbuster movie, he was a comic book superhero. The man who co-created the character over 70 years ago, comic book writer and artist Joe Simon, passed away this last Wednesday in New York. He was 98.

  Another pioneer from the early days of the comics, and instrumental in the creation of Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred , Two-Face, Robin the Boy Wonder, and The Joker; Jerry Robinson died at the age of 89.                                                                     
                                                   

     The trailer for the latest "Men in Black" premiered yesterday and at the end of the trailer you'll get to see what I consider a brilliant piece of casting. In addition to actors Will Smith as Agent J, Tommy Lee Jones as Agent K, and Rip Torn as Zed. The trailer also reveals actress Emma Thompson as Oh.

                                                                                               

     The trailer for "G.I.Joe Retaliation" aired on Entertainment Tonight yesterday. I got three words for you ... firefights, explosions, and ninjas. Duane "The Rock" Johnson plays the BFG toting "Roadblock", Channing Tatum returns as Duke, and of course, Snake Eyes returns kicking some serious Cobra butt. The trailer looks intense and I can hardly wait to see this movie.

                                                                                                    

     There haven't been any new trailers for "The Dark Knight Rises" and I know that a lot of people are chomping at the bit for one. They have released a poster fot the movie that just screams ominous. Given the fact that in the comics, Bane is the only character who has managed to seriously defeat and devastate the seemingly invincible Batman, I can only imagine what director Christoper Nolan has planned. This is the final installment of Nolan's Batman trilogy and word is he's pulling out all the stops. This final movie has already been declared the most anticipated movie of 2012.



                                                                             

                                                                              

                                                                                             

  The New 52 DCU hardcover compilation featuring all 52 of September's first issues plus extras will be soon be available and at only $150. That's one coffee table book that will make a nice stocking stuffer for a few happy comic fans. Even if they buy it for themselves. Wah wah.

  "Twilight: Breaking Dawn" was number one at the box office for the third week in a row with 16.9 million.

                                                                           

      "The Darkest Hour" is a new wrinkle on a classic theme.... alien invasion. This one is from the perspective of five young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow,fighting to survive in  the wake of a devasting alien attack. The movie stars Rachael Taylor, Emile Hirsh, Olivia Thrilby, Joel Kinnaman, and Max Minghella.

                                                                            

     "The Adventures of Tintin" directed by Stephen Spielberg and produced by Peter Jackson will arrive in theatres on Dec.21. The movie based on a series of classic comic books created by Belgian artist Georges Remi, who wrote under the pen name of  Herge'. The movie is being described as "Raiders of the Lost Ark" meets "Pirates of the Carribean". No surprise since the comic books were themselves inspired by the same kind of adventure stories that also served as inspiration for both of those movies.


                                                                                        

                                                                                                                      

   If you haven't seen the the new World of Warcraft commercial then you are in for a treat. The latest commercial features the one and only Chuck Norris. Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a huge Chuck Norris fan and that he continues to be an inspiration to me. I also love the fact there are websites dedicated to the legendary feats of Chuck Norris.

                                                                             

    I was never really a huge fan of Tom Cruise. Yes, I recognized that he is a talented actor, but I really felt that he was otherwise highly overrated. I was convinced that he was mostly hype and that at times he got caught up in his own hype. Do I have to really point to his famous antics on the couch while on "Oprah" or how during Red Carpet premieres for "Batman Begins" he made flashy entrances stealing the limelight from the film's star Christian Bale, and incurring the ire of both Warner Bros. and the head of Paramount studios. However, after seeing "Tropic Thunder" and "Knight and Day" I had to reprise my impressions of him. I am always impessed when an actor doesn't take himself too seriously and clearly he doesn't. I am looking forward to seeing the latest installment of the "Mission Impossible'' franchise and I really enjoyed the last installment which was directed by none other J.J. Abrams. That movie led to him and Tom Cruise co-producing the lastest movie in the franchise.

                                                                      

        Syfy has announced that "Do You See What I See?," a special animated episode of "Eureka" is schedued to air on Tuesday, Dec 6. The animation in the episode will be broken up into different styles, including Anime, claymation, Looney Tunes style animation, and modern CG animation and is being produced by Curious Pictures. Given how charming and brilliant last year's "Eureka" Christmas episode "O Little Town" was, I am eagerly looking forward to this one.

 

 

                                                                                      

 

 

 

       On the subject of Christmas specials, check out the trailer for the latest Doctor Who Christmas Special " The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe." There is something really cool about Matt Smith as The Doctor attempting to save Christmas, as well as a few people lives.

 

 

 

                                                                          

A copy of Action Comics #1 featuring the first appearance of Superman recently sold for 2 million dollars at auction. A figure made all the more impressive if you consider that the original newstand price was ten cents. Talk about a substancial return on your investment. Even more, the issue is reported to have once belonged to actor Nicholas Cage. Knowing his fanatical obssession with The Man of Steel, I can almost guarantee that Mr.Cage did not pay the original cover price to get his hands on this issue. Remember, we are talking about an actor who zealously pursued the Superman role during the mid-nineties when Tim Burton was attached to the project as a producer. Let's not forget that he has a son that he named Kal-el.

     Bradley Cooper recently backed out of consideration for the lead role in "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." movie citing scheduling conflicts. After all he is a sought after actor who was recently named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. Reportedly, the producers are courting another sought after actor, Channing Tatum, who is currently filming "G.I.Joe: Retaliation".

    The recent episode of "Batman: Brave and The Bold" entitiled "Mitefall" turned out to be the series swan song.The episode poked fun at the series through the eyes of the biggest Batman fan, the fifth dimension magical imp Batmite (voiced by actor Paul Rubens). The series even employed the time honored metaphor "jumping the shark" ... literally.The series end paves way for the next incarnation a CG animated Batman series.

       

        I intended to mention this last week, David Yates, director of four hugely successful films in the Harry Potter franchise has his sights on a big budget Doctor Who. Brace yourself. Yates is planning a stand alone franchise that has no connection to the popular television franchise or any of the previous incarnations of The Doctor. I can already hear the collective screams of die hard Whovians and imagine them climbing into their facsimile TAARDIS and pretending to go back in time to eighty six a young David Yates. Time travel, what a unnerving concept.

                                                               

      The sword and sandal epic "The Immortals" ruled the weekend box office with 32 million, followed by Adam Sandler's "Jack and Jill" which made 26 million, and rounded out by "Puss in Boots" which raked in 25.5 million bringing its total box office to date to over 100 million dollars.

      Mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano AKA "Crush" from the updated "American Gladiators" t.v. show is starring in a movie directed by Steven Soderbergh called "Haywire". The movie is chock full of the type of Hollywood talent that a director like Soderbergh attracts. Carano plays a C.I.A. trained assasin who is betrayed by the agency and declared rogue.She goes after them with a vengance. Despite a typical action movie plot, the movie features Gina Carano doing what she does best...some serious butt kicking in a movie directed by one of the most talented directors in Tinseltown. Go figure.

                                                            

        Jason Segel and Amy Adams the stars of "The Muppet Movie"... I'm still trying to digest that. The movie has plenty of actors who make cameos and we also get to see some our favorite Muppet characters up to their usual funny antics. I'm most looking forward to Stradler and Waldorf's comedic gaffs and I fervently hope that their scene from the trailer isn't their only appearance in the movie. That would be tragic.

                                                                               

       There is a lot of positive buzz surrounding "The Hunger Games" movie which is based on a trilogy of internationally famous young adult novels by Suzanne Collins. The story set in a dystopic future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from each of the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television. If the trailer is any indication this movie looks quite promising.

                      

While the latest installment of The Twilight saga "Breaking Dawn" is currently having Red Carpet premieres the trailer for Kristen Stewart's latest movie role "Snow White and The Huntsman" co-starring Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth.

                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                           

     The new movie starring Henry Cavill star of the upcoming Superman movie "The Man of Steel" will be released this Friday. "The Immortals" is an action movie in the style of the "300" and has some impressive talent. The movie also stars Mickey Rourke, Freda Pinto, Stephen Dorff, Luke Evans, John Hurt, Isabel Lucas, Kellan Lutz, and Stephen McHattie.

                                                                                             

     "Green Lantern: The Animated Series" will premiere on Cartoon Network this Friday. The series which is CG animated will focus on Hal Jordan, who lives a double life as Earth's guardian and protector Green Lantern and must adjust to his role as a member of the intergalactic peacekeeping force, The Green Lantern Corps.

 

 

                                                                                   

 

  

      The 23rd Bond movie will be entitled "Skyfall" and will be directed by Sam Mendes (Road to Perdition, Jarhead). Daniel Craig will reprise his role as Agent 007and Javier Bardem will play the movie's villain. The movie will also star Albert Finney, Ralph Fiennes, and Dame Judi Dench reprising her role as "M". Naomie Harris will play an agent named Eve and French actress Berenice Marlohe plays a character she describes as "glamorous' and "enigmatic".

 

 

                                      

 

     

     A new trailer for the movie "Underworld: Awakening" was recently released and just in the trailer alone the action scenes can only be described as "kick-ass". I eagerly look forward to seeing it. Thank you, Len Wiseman. Thank you, Kevin Grevioux. Thank you, Kate Beckinsale.

 

                                                                                  

      According to The Hollywood Reporter, SyFy films has acquired the screen rights to "Wild Cards", a popular superhero anthology edited by George R.R.Martin. The books which debuted in the early 90's quickly gained popularity due to their very realistic and gritty treatment of the superhero genre. If done right, the films will have the style and tone of "The Watchmen". Here's hoping they don't frack them up.

      Entertainment Tonight was on the set of "G.I.Joe: Retaliation" with Duane "The Rock" Johnson, filming scenes as "Roadblock" on location in Louisiana. The movie will be in theatres on June 29, 2012. "The Rock" as "Roadblock". 'Nuff said.

        "Underworld: Awakening" is due out on Jan. 20, 2012 and I couldn't be happier. I love Kate Beckinsale as Selene the  Death Dealer. The movie looks action packed and full of everything I loved about the first two movies and then some. Who cares about anything else.

                                                                          

                                                                             

       G4 channel's "Attack of the Show" host Kevin Pereira and co-host Sara Underwood got into the Halloween spirit by dressing as up zombie looking Terminator and Leeloo from "The Fifth Element" respectively. On a show where everyday is practically Halloween, they really outdid themselves.

         Bill Paxton ("Aliens","Titanic") is in talks to direct an adaptation of the tv series "Kung Fu" for Legendary Pictures. Wait...what?!

Now that "Batman:Year One" has been released on DVD, the next DC Animated movie to be released has been unveiled with an enticing trailer. A featurette revealing the creation of this new animated movie from the minds that also brought you "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths" and "Superman Batman: Public Enemies" can be found in the special features on the DVD.You can check it here.

                                                                                    


                                                

                                                                                       

    

       In related news, in addition to a CG animated Green Lantern Animated series there is a new CG animated Batman planned that boggles the mind called "Beware the Batman". The show which is executive produced by Glen Murakami ("Teen Titans") and features a gun-toting Alfred and a female ninja sidekick named Katana. Wait ..what!?

 

 

                                                      

 

       I had heard whispers and rumors, but until the Wall Street Journal broke the news I refused to give them rumors any credence. J.J.Abrams is going to produce a movie based on the popular Hasbro toy line "The Micronauts". I would be dubious of how successful a movie would be were it not for J.J. Abrams involvement or the fact that word is they will adapt the storyline from the popular comic series once published by Marvel. Anyone who doubts how good this can be, allow me to direct your attention to his adaptation of "Star Trek". By the way, there is a sequel of that movie in the works. 'Nuff said.

        Director Steven Soderbergh is remaking the popular "Man from U.N.C.L.E." t.v. series into a big budget movie. According to recent news, Bradley Cooper will star as super spy Napoleon Solo. The movie which is being made for Warner Bros. Studio has planned for filming to start next spring. The original t.v. series starred Robert Vaughn as Napoleon Solo and David McCallum as Illya Kuryakin and ran from 1964 to 1968.

                                                                                      
                                  

   Spike TV Scream Awards aired tonight and among the winners were: Best Fantasy Movie: X-Men, Best Superhero Movie: Chris Evans, Captain America: The First Avenger, Best Cameo: Hugh Jackman, X-Men: First Class, Fight Scene of the Year: Final Battle, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Best 3D Movie: Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Best Comic Book or Graphic Novel: The Walking Dead, Best Comic Book Writer: Ed Brubaker, Best Comic Book Artist: John Romita Jr., and Best Comic Book Movie: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Among the presenters were The Dark Knight Rises' Anne Hathaway,Gary Oldman and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, The Avengers' Robert Downey Jr. and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengance's Nicholas Cage.


         

      X-Men Anime premieres this Friday on G4. The third of Marvel's Anime series to premiere on the G4 network X-Men is produced by Madhouse, the same Japanese animation studio that brought us one of the segments of "Batman: Gotham Knights", " Supernatural: The Anime Series", as well as, both the "Iron Man" and "Wolverine" anime series. Marvel's Blade Anime series will premiere on G4 in January. Harold Perrineau will be providing the voice of Blade. Perrineau who is best know for his roles as Michael on "Lost" and Link in "The Matrix" Trilogy.

     "Thor 2" will be directed by Patty Jenkins which is scheduled Nov 15, 2013 release. Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and Tom Hiddleston will reprise their roles. Jenkins directed "Monster" starring Charlize Theron, who won an Academy Award. Other movies also scheduled for release from Marvel Studios are "The Avengers" on May 4,2012 and "Iron Man 3" on May 3, 2013. The "Thor" Blu-ray trailer reveals some of the behind the scenes of "Thor" and production of  "The Avengers".

 

 

 

                                                                                 

 

                                                                            

     I recently saw a commercial for the "Batman: Arkham City" video game that featured Arleen Sorkin ("Bosom Buddies", "Batman: TAS") voicing her signature Harley Quinn character. It was so cool I had to include it here. I also included  a commercial that preceded it that I found quite amusing.

                                                                          

    

    This past Monday, Entertainment Tonight premiered a new trailer for the upcoming "Avengers" movie, but that was abbreviated compared to the one Marvel just released. We finally get a look a the charaters in action and a look at Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner complete with a transformation into The Hulk. By the time this movie arrives in theatres excitement will be at a fever pitch. The movie may even be the breakout hit of the Summer 2012 box office. I know that I'm eagerly looking forward to it.

                                                                                


       

      "Batman: Year One" comes out on DVD/ Blu-ray next Tuesday and I have no doubt that it will be another indication of DC Animated knocking it out of the ballpark. They always seem to raise the bar with each new animated movie and they manage to also wet your appetite by revealing the next animated movie to be released. In this case, the next project in the queue is "Justice League: Doom". I firmly beleive that if the powers that be wise up they'll give us a Justice League feature film that's completely state of the art CG animated. That's the only way we'll ever see a Justice League feature film especially since they can't seem to get a "Wonder Woman" movie made. Joss Whedon was once attached to a Wonder Woman movie and left the project due to creative differences with the producers. This is the same Joss Whedon who is directing "The Avengers". Brilliant.

 

 

                                                                            

       "The Avengers" movie cast is featured on the cover of the new issue of Entertainment Weekly including a previously absent and completely slender looking Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner.




       The previously revealed cast of "Justice League: Doom" has been updated to include Carl Lumbly as J'onn J'onzz, The Martian Manhunter, Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman, and Bumper Robinson as Cyborg.

       Thanks in part to modern technology, specifically smart phones and ultra hi-tech telephoto lens, it's even harder to keep top secret movie sets secure and under wraps. A recently leaked photo of Anne Hathaway in full regalia as Catwoman has made it all over the web. This version is even better than the one that the studio revealed.

 

 

       

 

The first month launch of the DC Comics 52 comic event was a huge success and for those of you who have no idea what I'm referring to. Now that you've left your cave, I suggest you watch the following promo.

 

 

 

                                                                              

 

                                                                

       The voice cast of "Justice League: Doom" , the DC Animated Movie to follow "Batman: Year One" will feature Nathan Filion ( "Firefly", "Castle") as Green Lantern, Tim Daly ("Eyes", "Private Practice") as Superman, Kevin Conroy ( Batman: The Animated Series", "Justice League") as Batman, Michael Rosenbaum ("Smallville", "Justice League") as The Flash, and more to be revealed later.          NBC is developing "Revolution" a new adventure thriller series from J.J. Abrams and Eric Kripke. I don't even need to know any more details, they had me at J.J. Abrams. Now that's a recipe for success.
         The cast of the movie "Dark Shadows" directed by Tim Burton has been revealed. Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, Helena Bonham Carter as Dr. Julia Hoffman, Jackie Earle Haley as grounskeeper Willie Loomis, Jonny Lee Miller as Roger Collins, Michelle Pfeiffer as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, and Chloe Moretz as her teenage daughter Carolyn. The new movie tells the story of Barnabas Collins, turned into a vampire by a witch whose heart he broke. She entombs him for 200 years, until he emerges in 1972 where the story really begins. Originally, a daytime drama on ABC starring Jonathan Frid as Barnabas, the series ran from 1966 to 1971 and is the basis for the new movie. There was a reboot of the franchise in 1991 starring Ben Cross as Barnabas and also starring Joanna Going and Joseph Gordon-Levitt that ran for 12 episodes.
         

        Terra Nova aired on Fox Monday Night and the show was better than I expected. They took a few classic sci-fi premises and managed to completely incorporate them into a brilliant new sci-fi adventure. Hopefully, this show will have the kind of success that will allow the story to fully unfold.

 

 

                                                                                      

         I recently watched "Season of the Witch" starring Nicholas Cage and Ron Perlman. The movie was the story of two medival knight who after fighting in The Crusades are drawn into service by The Church to transport a witch who unleashed a plague to a group of monks who can break her spell. The movie was better than advertised and quite a surprising suspense and horror movie.

          The season finale of "Alphas" aired on Monday and the season ended in grand fashion, and much to my delight SyFy picked the show up for a second season. The show is about people with extraordinary powers and abilities who solve mysteries and combat enemies who are gifted like them.

 

 

 

 

                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                

     Cartoon Network premiered new episodes of their Friday Night animated block. All of the shows are debuting new episodes. The line-up is as follows:6;00 p.m. "Batman: The Brave and The Bold" ,6:30 p.m. Young Justice, 7:00 p.m. Generator Rex, 7:30 p.m. Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, 8:00 p.m. Star Wars: The Clone Wars which is followed at 8:30 p.m. with a rebroadcast episode of the new "Thundercats" series.

                                                                                

     Marvel Comics are coming out with a group of graphic novels called Season One which retells and updates the origins of The Fantastic Four, X-Men, Daredevil, and Spider-Man. The one-shot books launch starting in Feb. 2012 with Fantastic Four and ending with Spider-Man in May 2012.

                                                                                              

    "The Immortals" a movie that features Henry Cavill, the new Superman, is opening on 11.11.11. The movie is an high octane action packed version of the mythical tale of Theseus. The movie also features Mickey Rourke, Luke Evans, John Hurt, Kellan Lutz, Frieda Pinto, and Isabel Lucas.

                                                                           

                                                                                   

     "Marvel's X-Men Anime" to debut on G4 on Friday, Oct. 21. X-Men will join "Iron Man" and "Wolverine" anime on the G4 network. A another anime series "Blade" will air on G4 this winter.

                                                                                

                                                                        

     "X-Men: The First Class" debuted on DVD and Blu-ray last week. I watched this movie over the weekend I had to reassess my reasons for not seeing this movie in the theater. The movie was far better than I expected it would be. Although, I had to give it low marks for not maintaining continuity with the other X-Men movies and that includes "X-Men Origins: Wolverine". I would recommend that if you don't see any other superhero movie ( and I don't say that lightly) that you see this movie.

                                                                                                                                                                        

           

         And the remakes just keep on coming, I just saw a trailer for a remake ( and this will be the third time this movie has been made) of "The Thing". The original novella that was made into the 1951 movie "The Thing from Another World" and is perhaps one of the most chilling and creepiest pieces of sci-fi/ horror ever written. The 1982 version of "The Thing" starring Kurt Russell really tapped into the horror aspect of the story and this remake promises to raise the game.

 

 

 

 

      

         "Thor" was released this Tuesday on DVD/Blu-ray. The movie directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring newcomer Chris Hemsworth as title character was the next to last puzzle piece setting the stage for next summer's blockbuster"Avengers' movie. The movie also stars Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, and Stellan Skarsgard. Incidently, Stellan Skarsgard's son, "True Blood" actor Alexander Skarsgard was a fan favored pick to play the role of "Thor".

 

                 

                                                                                  

      Lastly, "Contagion" ruled the weekend box office making 23.1 million dollars, " The Help" was number two taking in 8.5 million dollars, and at number three "Warrior" taking in 5.6 million dollars.